Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he plans to take to prevent people who are currently on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and will not benefit from the Job Support Scheme from being made redundant.

The Job Support Scheme (JSS) is designed to protect jobs in businesses that are facing lower demand over the winter months due to COVID-19, to help their employees remain attached to the workforce.

It is widely recognised that some firms will be affected by coronavirus for longer than others, and the Government will seek to support these firms appropriately.

To provide additional support for firms to keep employees as economic demand returns, the Government is introducing the Job Retention Bonus, a one-off payment of £1,000 to employers for each employee who was ever furloughed, has been continuously employed until 31 January 2021 and is still employed by the same employer as of 31 January 2021.

Where firms make the decision that they cannot retain all of their staff over the longer run, the Government is ensuring that those looking for work are supported through:

• A package of measures in the Plan for Jobs that helps people find work by significantly increasing help offered through Jobcentres and providing individualised advice through the National Careers Service. The Government has also launched the Kickstart Scheme, a £2 billion fund to create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people.
• Temporary welfare measures announced in March including: £20 per week increase to the UC standard allowance and Working Tax Credit basic element, and a nearly £1 billion increase in support for renters through increases to the Local Housing Allowance rates for UC and Housing Benefit claimants. These changes will benefit new and existing claimants.