Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to provide financial support to the live entertainment industry and the (i) self-employed and (ii) freelance workers it supports.

During this difficult time the Treasury is working intensively with employers, delivery partners, industry groups and other government departments to understand the long-term effects of social distancing across all key areas of the economy.

The Government recognises the extreme disruption the necessary actions to combat Covid-19 are having on sectors like the entertainment industry.

That is why the Chancellor has already announced unprecedented support for individuals and businesses, to protect against the current economic emergency. This includes to our welfare system including Universal Credit and Statutory Sick Pay; grant schemes such as the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund and the Discretionary Grant Fund; a range of government-backed and guaranteed loan schemes; the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).

The CJRS was announced in March to help firms keep millions of people in employment, it is a temporary scheme ending at the end of October which has so far helped 1.1 million employers across the UK furlough 9.3 million jobs, protecting people’s livelihoods (as at midnight 28 June 2020 - here is a link to the latest figures). The SEISS helps self-employed workers adversely affected by COVID-19. The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an extension of the scheme on 29 May and eligible individuals may now qualify for a second and final grant. This means the UK continues to have one of the most generous self-employed COVID-19 support schemes in the world as the economy reopens.

We will continue to monitor the impact of government support with regard to supporting public services, businesses, individuals, and sectors such as the entertainment industry as we respond to this pandemic and consider the longer-term economic recovery.