Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether there is Government support available for businesses affected by covid-19 (a) tier 2 and (b) tier 3 restrictions in place in neighbouring areas.

Throughout the pandemic, the government’s priority has been clear: to protect lives and livelihoods. The government has had to take the difficult step of introducing restrictions on businesses and individuals to bring the virus under control. As measures to control the virus have changed, government support has evolved too.

In response to the England-wide restrictions announced by the Prime Minister on the 31 October, we have announced a new set of national support measures. This includes an extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, more generous support for the self-employed, extended application windows for government-backed loans and cash grants of up to £3,000 for businesses forced to close. We have also provided local authorities with £1.1bn to enable them to support businesses over the coming months, as they form a key part of local economies.