Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps have been taken to limit the use of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme by foreign nationals who meet the criteria for that scheme but have since returned to their home country.

To be eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) a person must have traded and be subject to UK tax in 2018/19, 2019/20 and intend to continue to do so in 2020/21. As part of the application process, therefore, a person must confirm that they do intend to continue to trade.

The Government expects self-employed people to do the right thing and not to make a claim unless they are eligible. HMRC will use their usual risk-based approach to compliance, and they will take action in cases of suspected fraud or organised criminal attack.