Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide additional financial support to outdoor educational centres.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the government has sought to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods across the UK, and support businesses and public services. The government has provided over £280 billion through small business grants, COVID-19 loan guarantee schemes, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), deferral of VAT and income tax payments, and more. The measures introduced have been designed to be accessible to businesses in most sectors and across the UK.
In January 2021, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced an extension to the deadline for applications of the Bounce Back Loan scheme and other loan schemes until 31 March 2021. Further measures were announced in the Budget 2021 on 3 March including the extension of the CJRS until the end of September 2021, and increased support for the self-employed through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grants, with a fifth grant available from July 2021, and the Recovery Loans Scheme launching to make finance available to help businesses of all sizes through the next stage of recovery. More details of the scheme will be announced in due course.
The government will continue to work closely with local authorities, businesses, business representative organisations, and the financial services sector to monitor the implementation of current support and understand whether there is additional need.
The government encourages businesses who are unable to access support or who are unsure of the support available to access free tailored advice through the Business Support Helpline via the Business Support website at: www.gov.uk/business-support-helpline or through local Growth Hubs in England: www.lepnetwork.net/local-growth-hub-contacts. Businesses in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can access business support through the devolved governments.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many care home residents and staff (1) tested positive for, and (2) died as a result of, COVID-19 in (a) England, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Scotland, and (d) Wales, in (i) November 2020, (ii) December 2020, (iii) January, and (iv) February.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician
The Rt Hon. the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath OBE
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
15 March 2021
Dear Lord Hunt,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking how many care home residents and staff (1) tested positive for, and (2) died as a result of, COVID-19 in (a) England, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Scotland, and (d) Wales, in (i) November 2020, (ii) December 2020, (iii) January, and (iv) February (HL14039).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes statistics on deaths registered in England and Wales. Mortality statistics are compiled from information supplied when deaths are certified and registered as part of civil registration. National Records for Scotland[1] and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency[2] are responsible for publishing statistics on deaths registered in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.
Table 1 below shows the number of deaths involving COVID-19 among care home residents registered for the months November 2020 to February 2021 in England and Wales. The term "care home residents" refers to all deaths where either (a) the death occurred in a care home or (b) the death occurred elsewhere but the place of residence of the deceased was recorded as a care home.
We do not hold any information on the number of care home staff who have died as a result of COVID-19 therefore we are not able to provide this information. The Department of Health and Social Care are responsible for data on care home infections.[3]
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
Table 1: Number of deaths involving COVID-19 among care home residents registered from November 2020 to February 2021 in England and Wales[4],[5],[6],[7],[8],[9],[10]
Month | England | Wales |
Nov-20 | 2,321 | 239 |
Dec-20 | 3,393 | 284 |
Jan-21 | 7,587 | 482 |
Feb-21 | 5,067 | 191 |
Source: Office for National Statistics
[1]https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/
[2]https://www.nisra.gov.uk/
[3]https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
[4] Deaths for England and Wales exclude non-residents.
[5] Figures are provisional for 2020 and 2021.
[6] The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10) definitions are as follows: coronavirus (COVID-19) (U.071, U.072, U.099, U.109).
[7] Deaths "involving COVID-19" includes deaths that have COVID-19 mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, whether as underlying cause or not.
[8] These figures are calculated using the most up-to-date data we have available to get the most accurate estimates.
[9] Based on boundaries as of November 2020.
[10] Based on deaths registered in each calendar month.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of prioritising the allocation of driving theory test slots to (a) essential workers and b) people who had those tests cancelled due to the covid-19 lockdown.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Following the Prime Minister's road map announcement, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is now planning to resume its services. In England, it intends to restart theory test services on 12 April 2021. This is providing that the Government’s coronavirus data shows it is safe to move from step 1 of the road map to step 2.
Dates for Scotland and Wales remain subject to agreement with the devolved administrations.
It would be unfair on other candidates, who have also waited patiently for their theory test, if certain groups are given priority. The DVSA is increasing theory test capacity and will make available between 120,000 -135,000 additional appointments per month.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the level of personal debt due to the covid-19 outbreak in (a) Cynon Valley, (b) Rhondda Cynon Taf and (c) Wales.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Data on levels of over-indebtedness in Cynon Valley, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wales was last published in 2018 by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). MaPS is currently completing a review of its measure for need for debt advice and will publish the outcome and latest data later in 2021.
The Government has delivered unprecedented support for living standards during this challenging time, protecting livelihoods with the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), and temporary welfare measures.
The Government will extend the CJRS for a further five months from May until the end of September 2021. Furloughed workers in the UK will continue to receive 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to £2500 per month. The scheme will be extended on current terms – with no additional employer contributions – until the end of June 2021. The SEISS will also continue until September, with a fourth and a final fifth grant.
At Budget 2021, the Government also announced a six-month extension to the temporary £20 per week uplift to the Universal Credit (UC) standard allowance, well beyond the expected end of restrictions and reopening of the economy. The Government has also announced similar support for eligible Working Tax Credit (WTC) claimants.
The Government is also maintaining the increase to Local Housing Allowance rates for UC and Housing Benefit in cash terms in 2021-22, an increase which is worth an extra £600 on average in 2020-21 for over 1.5 million households.
To help people in problem debt get their finances back on track, an extra £37.8 million support package has been made available to debt advice providers this financial year (2020-21), bringing this year's budget for free debt advice in England to over £100 million. Delivery of debt advice is a devolved matter and this additional funding was matched for the devolved administrations, resulting in an extra combined £5.9 million that was made available to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Last year, the Government also announced the immediate release of £65 million dormant assets funding to Fair4All Finance, an independent organisation that has been founded to support the financial wellbeing of people in vulnerable circumstances. The funding is used to increase access to fair, affordable and appropriate financial products and services for those in financial difficulties
From May, the Breathing Space scheme will offer people in problem debt a pause of up to 60 days on most enforcement action, interest, fees and charges, and will encourage them to seek professional debt advice.
Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the first 100,000 people to die as a result of COVID-19 died in (1) England, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales, and (4) Northern Ireland; how many of those died (a) in hospital, (b) in care homes, and (c) elsewhere; and how many of those were (i) over 80 years old, (ii) over 70 years old, (iii) under 50 years old, (iv) BAME, (v) male, and (vi) female.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician
The Lord Marlesford DL
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
03 March 2021
Dear Lord Marlesford,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what proportion of the first 100,000 people to die as a result of COVID-19 died in (1) England, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales, and (4) Northern Ireland; how many of those died (a) in hospital, (b) in care homes, and (c) elsewhere; and how many of those were (i) over 80 years old, (ii) over 70 years old, (iii) under 50 years old, (iv) BAME, (v) male, and (vi) female (HL13602).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes statistics on deaths in England and Wales and produces a weekly report[1] on provisional numbers of deaths involving COVID-19. Mortality statistics are compiled from information supplied when deaths are certified and registered as part of civil registration. National Records for Scotland[2] and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency[3] are responsible for publishing statistics on deaths registered in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.
We cannot precisely organise deaths involving COVID-19 into the ‘first 100,000’ at this time. However, we have provided figures for deaths registered up to the end of Week 2 of 2021 (ending 15 January 2021) which is when deaths involving COVID-19 first passed 100,000 in total.
Table 1 below provides the number of deaths involving COVID-19 in the UK, and the proportion of these in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Table 2 provides the number of deaths involving COVID-19 by place of death in each UK country. Table 3 provides the number of deaths involving COVID by age group and sex. Please note that the UK totals in Table 3 are slightly different from Tables 1 and 2, as published data by age group and sex are only available for England and Wales combined (including non-residents) rather than England and Wales as individual countries.
The ONS has published a report on ethnic contrasts in deaths involving COVID-19 in England and Wales[4]. Table 4 shows the number of deaths involving COVID-19 in England and Wales; data have been published for deaths that occurred (rather than were registered) between 2 March 2020 and 28 July 2020. Please note this data includes only deaths that could be linked to the 2011 Census, as this was necessary to obtain ethnic group data. Because the method of calculation is different, the numbers do not relate directly to those in Tables 1 to 3.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
Table 1: Number and proportion of deaths involving COVID-19, weeks ending 13 March 2020 to 15 January 2021, England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland [5][6][7][8][9]
- | UK | England | Wales | Scotland1 | Northern Ireland |
Number of deaths involving COVID-19 | 104,446 | 88,974 | 5,884 | 7,460 | 2,128 |
% of UK total | 100.0% | 85.2% | 5.6% | 7.1% | 2.0% |
Source: ONS, NRS, and NISRA
Table 2: Number of deaths involving COVID-19, weeks ending 13 March 2020 to 15 January 2021 by place of occurrence, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland [10][11]
Place of death | UK | England | Wales | Scotland1 | Northern Ireland |
All places of death | 104,446 | 88,974 | 5,884 | 7,460 | 2,128 |
Home | 5,256 | 4,376 | 286 | 459 | 135 |
Care home | 26,393 | 21,615 | 1,267 | 2,869 | 642 |
Hospital | 70,793 | 61,101 | 4,247 | 4,116 | 1,329 |
Other | 2,004 | 1,882 | 84 | 16 | 22 |
Source: ONS, NRS and NISRA
Table 3: Number of deaths involving COVID-19, weeks ending 13 March 2020 to 15 January 2021, by broad age group and sex, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Sex | Age group | UK total6 | England & Wales6 | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
People | All ages | 103,720 | 94,132 | 7,460 | 2,128 |
- | Under 1 year | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
- | 1-14 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
- | 15-44 | 1,004 | 941 | 49 | 14 |
- | 45-64 | 9,615 | 8,777 | 670 | 168 |
- | 65-74 | 15,798 | 14,305 | 1,188 | 305 |
- | 75-84 | 33,855 | 30,647 | 2,478 | 730 |
- | 85+ | 43,436 | 39,451 | 3,074 | 911 |
Males | All ages | 56,596 | 51,693 | 3,831 | 1,072 |
- | Under 1 year | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
- | 1-14 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
- | 15-44 | 587 | 554 | 27 | 6 |
- | 45-64 | 6,188 | 5,656 | 433 | 99 |
- | 65-74 | 10,036 | 9,119 | 729 | 188 |
- | 75-84 | 19,848 | 18,067 | 1,376 | 405 |
- | 85+ | 19,931 | 18,291 | 1,266 | 374 |
Females | All ages | 47,124 | 42,439 | 3,629 | 1,056 |
- | Under 1 year | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
- | 1-14 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
- | 15-44 | 417 | 387 | 22 | 8 |
- | 45-64 | 3,427 | 3,121 | 237 | 69 |
- | 65-74 | 5,762 | 5,186 | 459 | 117 |
- | 75-84 | 14,007 | 12,580 | 1,102 | 325 |
- | 85+ | 23,505 | 21,160 | 1,808 | 537 |
Source: ONS, NRS and NISRA
Table 4: Number of deaths involving COVID-19 by ethnic group and sex, deaths occurring 2 March 2020 to 28 July 2020, England and Wales[12][13]
Ethnic group | Sex | Aged 9 to 64 years | Aged 65 to 110 years |
Bangladeshi | Male | 61 | 112 |
Bangladeshi | Female | 19 | 54 |
Black African | Male | 159 | 188 |
Black African | Female | 85 | 96 |
Black Caribbean | Male | 95 | 514 |
Black Caribbean | Female | 67 | 306 |
Chinese | Male | 16 | 78 |
Chinese | Female | 8 | 55 |
Indian | Male | 180 | 525 |
Indian | Female | 80 | 357 |
Mixed | Male | 29 | 144 |
Mixed | Female | 30 | 99 |
Other | Male | 186 | 351 |
Other | Female | 85 | 226 |
Pakistani | Male | 119 | 286 |
Pakistani | Female | 75 | 156 |
White | Male | 1,939 | 20,531 |
White | Female | 1,184 | 18,201 |
Source: ONS
[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/latest
[2]https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/
[3]https://www.nisra.gov.uk/
[4]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/articles/updatingethniccontrastsindeathsinvolvingthecoronaviruscovid19englandandwales/deathsoccurring2marchto28july2020
[5] Weeks for Scotland run Monday to Sunday rather than Saturday to Friday, so Week 2 of 2021 is week ending 11th January 2021 rather than week ending 15 January 2021
[6] Figures for individual countries exclude deaths of non-residents. Figures for “England and Wales” totals include non-residents of England and Wales; for this reason, UK totals in Table 3 differ from Tables 1 and 2.
[7] Data in Tables 1, 3 and 3 are based on date a death was registered rather than occurred. Data in Table 4 are based on the date a death occurred, registered up to 24 August 2020. There is a delay between a death occurring and it being registered
[8] All figures for 2020 and 2021 are provisional.
[9] The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10) definitions are as follows: coronavirus (COVID-19) (U07.1 and U07.2). We use the term “involving COVID-19” when referring to deaths that mentioned these ICD-10 codes anywhere on the death certificate, whether as the underlying cause of death or elsewhere.
[10] Deaths at home are those at the usual residence of the deceased (according to the informant)‚ where this is not a communal establishment. Other Communal Establishments include (for example) prisons, student residences, and hotels. Elsewhere includes all places not covered above.
[11] "Other" includes deaths in communal establishments other than hospitals and care homes, in hospices, and that occurred "elsewhere".
[12]Data in Table 4 includes only death records that could be linked to the 2011 Census, to obtain ethnic group data.
[13]The detailed composition of each ethnic group is available to download: https://www.ons.gov.uk/download/table?format=xlsx&uri=/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/articles/updatingethniccontrastsindeathsinvolvingthecoronaviruscovid19englandandwales/deathsoccurring2marchto28july2020/22f0c996.json
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish a timeline for the return to normal proceedings for wedding ceremonies.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
On 4 January, the Prime Minister announced a National Lockdown for all of England, in accordance with growing evidence of virus prevalence. Under these new restrictions, weddings and civil partnership ceremonies should only take place in exceptional circumstances. Up to six people can attend (including the couple). Anyone working is not included in that limit.
We recognise the restrictions may be disappointing for those planning such events. By their nature, weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are events that bring families and friends together, including from across the country and sometimes across the world, making them particularly vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. We do not wish to keep restrictions in place for any longer than we have to, and restrictions will be kept under review in line with the changing situation. For further information, please refer to the guidance for small weddings and civil partnerships https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-small-marriages-and-civil-partnerships/covid-19-guidance-for-small-marriages-and-civil-partnerships. There is different advice for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The government continues to regularly make available scientific evidence supporting its COVID-19 response, including at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/scientific-evidence-supporting-the-government-response-to-coronavirus-covid-19.
On 22 February, the Prime Minister will set out the plan for reopening schools, and gradually reopening the economy and society, in a sustainable way in England.
For further information, please refer to the Coronavirus (COVID‑19) page on gov.uk, which will publish further information regarding the roadmap on 22 February, https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what scientific evidence his Department is using to base its decision to restrict marriage ceremonies to only couples with exceptional circumstances under the January 2021 covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
On 4 January, the Prime Minister announced a National Lockdown for all of England, in accordance with growing evidence of virus prevalence. Under these new restrictions, weddings and civil partnership ceremonies should only take place in exceptional circumstances. Up to six people can attend (including the couple). Anyone working is not included in that limit.
We recognise the restrictions may be disappointing for those planning such events. By their nature, weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are events that bring families and friends together, including from across the country and sometimes across the world, making them particularly vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. We do not wish to keep restrictions in place for any longer than we have to, and restrictions will be kept under review in line with the changing situation. For further information, please refer to the guidance for small weddings and civil partnerships https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-small-marriages-and-civil-partnerships/covid-19-guidance-for-small-marriages-and-civil-partnerships. There is different advice for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The government continues to regularly make available scientific evidence supporting its COVID-19 response, including at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/scientific-evidence-supporting-the-government-response-to-coronavirus-covid-19.
On 22 February, the Prime Minister will set out the plan for reopening schools, and gradually reopening the economy and society, in a sustainable way in England.
For further information, please refer to the Coronavirus (COVID‑19) page on gov.uk, which will publish further information regarding the roadmap on 22 February, https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Asked by: Jonathan Lord (Conservative - Woking)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of allowing virtual wedding ceremonies to take place in England during covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
On 4 January, the Prime Minister announced a National Lockdown for all of England, in accordance with growing evidence of virus prevalence. Under these new restrictions, weddings and civil partnership ceremonies should only take place in exceptional circumstances. Up to six people can attend (including the couple). Anyone working is not included in that limit.
We recognise the restrictions may be disappointing for those planning such events. By their nature, weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are events that bring families and friends together, including from across the country and sometimes across the world, making them particularly vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. We do not wish to keep restrictions in place for any longer than we have to, and restrictions will be kept under review in line with the changing situation. For further information, please refer to the guidance for small weddings and civil partnerships https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-small-marriages-and-civil-partnerships/covid-19-guidance-for-small-marriages-and-civil-partnerships. There is different advice for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The government continues to regularly make available scientific evidence supporting its COVID-19 response, including at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/scientific-evidence-supporting-the-government-response-to-coronavirus-covid-19.
On 22 February, the Prime Minister will set out the plan for reopening schools, and gradually reopening the economy and society, in a sustainable way in England.
For further information, please refer to the Coronavirus (COVID‑19) page on gov.uk, which will publish further information regarding the roadmap on 22 February, https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Asked by: Jonathan Lord (Conservative - Woking)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will adjust the current restrictions on wedding ceremonies to allow them to be held in England with up to five people, including the couple, witnesses and the officiant, providing that the venue's capacity allows for 2m social distancing.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
On 4 January, the Prime Minister announced a National Lockdown for all of England, in accordance with growing evidence of virus prevalence. Under these new restrictions, weddings and civil partnership ceremonies should only take place in exceptional circumstances. Up to six people can attend (including the couple). Anyone working is not included in that limit.
We recognise the restrictions may be disappointing for those planning such events. By their nature, weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are events that bring families and friends together, including from across the country and sometimes across the world, making them particularly vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. We do not wish to keep restrictions in place for any longer than we have to, and restrictions will be kept under review in line with the changing situation. For further information, please refer to the guidance for small weddings and civil partnerships https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-small-marriages-and-civil-partnerships/covid-19-guidance-for-small-marriages-and-civil-partnerships. There is different advice for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The government continues to regularly make available scientific evidence supporting its COVID-19 response, including at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/scientific-evidence-supporting-the-government-response-to-coronavirus-covid-19.
On 22 February, the Prime Minister will set out the plan for reopening schools, and gradually reopening the economy and society, in a sustainable way in England.
For further information, please refer to the Coronavirus (COVID‑19) page on gov.uk, which will publish further information regarding the roadmap on 22 February, https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Asked by: Mick Whitley (Labour - Birkenhead)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of making loans available to people in rent arrears as a result of the covid-19 outbreak, on similar lines to the Tenancy Saver Loan Scheme in Wales and the Tenant Hardship Loan in Scotland.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
This Government has provided an unprecedented package of financial support to protect renters whose income has been affected throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Notably, to help prevent people getting into financial hardship, we have increased the local housing allowance rate to the 30th percentile of local market rents in each area. The increased LHA rates will be maintained at the current levels in cash terms in 2021/22, even in areas where the 30th percentile of local rents has gone down. We have boosted the welfare system by billions of pounds, including increasing Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit by up to £1,040 for the year
In addition, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has offered support for businesses to pay staff salaries, enabling people to continue to pay their rent and has been extended until April 2021.
For those who require additional support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) are available. As announced at the spending round for 2020/21, there is already £180 million in DHPs for local authorities to distribute for supporting renters with housings costs in the private and social rented sectors. For 2021-22 the Government will make available £140 million in DHP funding, which takes account of the increased LHA rates.
We continue to closely monitor the ongoing effects of the pandemic on renters.