Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to provide financial support for workers who are ineligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme as a result of their start date.

The Government is supporting people on low incomes who need to rely on the welfare system through a significant package of temporary measures. These include a £20 per week increase to the Universal Credit standard allowance and Working Tax Credit basic element, and an almost £1 billion increase in support for renters through increases to the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants. These changes will benefit all new and existing claimants. Anyone can check their eligibility and apply for Universal Credit by visiting https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit.

Mortgage lenders are also offering a three-month mortgage holiday for borrowers who are unable to make their repayments as a result of COVID-19.