Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with his Danish counterpart on the feasibility of implementing a Danish-style system for income protection for workers in the UK.

The Government is taking an approach that best fits the specific circumstances of the UK. On Friday 20 March, the Chancellor announced the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment. This is in addition to nearly £7bn of extra funding for welfare, including: a £20 per week increase to the Universal Credit standard allowance and Working Tax Credit basic element; a relaxation of earnings rules for self-employed Universal Credit claimants affected by the economic impacts of Covid-19; and extension of Statutory Sick Pay from day one.