Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Scotland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Julie Marson Excerpts
Wednesday 7th October 2020

(3 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Ruth Jones Portrait Ruth Jones (Newport West) (Lab)
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What estimate he has made of the number of self-employed people in Scotland who have not received support from the Government’s covid-19 financial support schemes.

Julie Marson Portrait Julie Marson (Hertford and Stortford) (Con)
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What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on supporting job retention in Scotland during the covid-19 outbreak.

Alister Jack Portrait The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr Alister Jack)
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I have regular discussions with my Cabinet colleagues, including the Chancellor, on all aspects of how the UK Government continue to support Scotland’s economy. The Chancellor recently announced a package of measures that will continue to support jobs and help businesses through the uncertain months ahead.

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Alister Jack Portrait Mr Jack
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The hon. Lady will know that we have brought in a new set of measures, as she said. There is the self-employed support scheme and the new job retention scheme. We have made a cut in VAT for the tourism and hospitality sector, and introduced the kickstart scheme. The self-employed income support scheme was a broad scheme. By definition, in a broad scheme it is inevitable that some people will sadly miss out, but I would say that in Scotland 283,000 grants were given, which came to some £777 million of support. The scheme now continues for another six months.

Julie Marson Portrait Julie Marson
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Many hard-working people in Hertford and Stortford are set to benefit from the introduction of the job support scheme, offering employers and workers a transition from furlough. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that this job-saving measure will have the same impact north of the border, and that Scotland shares in this Government’s focus on jobs, jobs, jobs?

Alister Jack Portrait Mr Jack
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Yes. The whole United Kingdom will benefit from all the measures put in place by the Chancellor.