Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether businesses not listed as non-essential shops and public spaces which choose to close to safeguard their staff will be entitled to assistance under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is designed to help firms that have been severely affected by coronavirus to retain their employees and protect the UK economy. The scheme is open to all UK employers providing they have created and started a PAYE payroll scheme on or before 19 March 2020 and have a UK bank account.

The Government has designed this package to be straightforward and comprehensive for businesses. Employers can claim a grant for the associated Employer National Insurance contributions and pension contributions (up to the level of minimum automatic enrolment employer pension contribution) on the subsidised furlough pay.

Full guidance for employers, including the requirements on businesses, can be found at: www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.