Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential risk to (a) nightclubs, (b) dance halls and (c) discotheques of ending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in October 2020.

The Government is aware that the outbreak presents a significant challenge to nightclubs, which are unable to operate safely during the COVID-19 pandemic and must remain closed. The Government has put in place an unprecedented programme of support to help businesses across the economy through the crisis, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, loan guarantees, grants, VAT deferral and the forfeiture moratorium.

The Chancellor has said there will be no further extensions or changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). After eight months of the CJRS, the scheme will close at the end of October.

It would be challenging to target the CJRS to specific sectors in a fair and deliverable way, and it may be the case that there are more effective ways to help those businesses who are still unable to reopen.