Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to help (a) agency workers and (b) people on zero hours contracts during the covid-19 pandemic.

The Government is seeking to protect, as far as possible, people’s jobs and incomes. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will help employers to continue paying 80% of their employees’ wages and is open to individuals on any contract type who were on an employer’s PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020. To support those on low incomes through the outbreak the Government has also announced a package of temporary welfare measures, including an increase to the Universal Credit standard allowance and the working tax credit basic element.