Covid-19: Economic Package Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Covid-19: Economic Package

Nigel Mills Excerpts
Tuesday 12th May 2020

(3 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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Let us go over to Derbyshire now to Nigel Mills.

Nigel Mills Portrait Nigel Mills (Amber Valley) (Con) [V]
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I thank the Chancellor for his announcement today, which is exactly what Amber Valley businesses have been asking for. Is there any way he can allow them to bring back some employees part-time, earlier than his extension, so that they can perhaps reopen their businesses next month rather than having to wait until a later date?

Rishi Sunak Portrait Rishi Sunak
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That is a very fair question and one that I have looked at. There is an issue of operational complexity in designing the part-time aspect of the scheme in consultation with business and unions to ensure that we can enforce it properly. I think that the earliest that we can reasonably do it is in the extension period, as I mentioned. Of course, if there are ways for us to do that sooner, we will, but I would not want to commit to that today as it is a complicated thing to get right.