Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of extending the length of time of the operation of the (a) Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, (b) business rates relief scheme and (c) the five per cent VAT rate for the hospitality and leisure sectors.

In order to support businesses retaining their employees and protect the UK economy, the Chancellor has already extended the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) until the end of April 2021. As of 13 December, the CJRS has helped 1.2 million employers across the UK to furlough 9.9 million jobs, protecting people’s livelihoods with £46.4 billion having been paid out in grants. The Government has also provided an unprecedented business rates holiday for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties due to the direct adverse effects of COVID-19, worth over £10 billion, as well as cutting VAT on hospitality and tourism from twenty per cent to five per cent.

The Government is considering options for COVID-19 support measures for 2021-22, and will outline these at the Budget.