Asked by: James Murray (Labour (Co-op) - Ealing North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to make sure the instruction to ensure bank staff and subcontractors receive full pay when in self-isolation, as referred to by NHS England and NHS Improvement in a letter of 2 March 2020 to NHS Trust executives, is (a) funded, (b) monitored, and (c) enforced.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is essential for infection control purposes that staff members who are told to self-isolate, do so as quickly as possible.
As such we have made sure that we have issued guidance to employers to ensure that all National Health Service staff, including bank workers and subcontracted staff who must be physically present at an NHS facility to fulfill their role, receive full pay should they need to self-isolate. Our guidance states that employers should use their usual methods for calculating full pay using agreed processes at a local level and in line with NHS terms and conditions.
NHS England and NHS Improvement wrote to NHS organisations and providers on 17 March 2020 with details of updates to financial arrangements during the 2020/21 financial year, stating that NHS providers and commissioners must carefully record the costs incurred in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak and report actual costs incurred on a monthly basis.
We are continuing to review our guidance and working closely with trade unions to monitor and address any related concerns as and when they arise.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have broadcast advertisements to warn the public, in particular those who are vulnerable, of scams related to the COVID-19 pandemic; if not, why not; and what plans they have to provide advice about how to avoid becoming a victim of such scams.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government has not broadcast advertisements to specifically raise awareness of scams related to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are a number of initiatives and public information campaigns aimed at tackling scams and disinformation connected with the pandemic.
The Rapid Response Unit, operating from within the Cabinet Office and No10, is tackling a range of harmful narratives online - from purported ‘experts’ issuing dangerous misinformation to criminal fraudsters running phishing scams. Up to 70 incidents a week, often false narratives containing multiple misleading claims, are being identified and resolved. The successful ‘Don’t Feed the Beast’ public information campaign has also relaunched, to empower people to question what they read online.
HMG believes the best way to ensure the public’s safety is to make sure that they know how to protect themselves – which is why we have been communicating both through our own channels, and using partner organisations like Trading Standards, the Financial Conduct Authority and working with all the major banks, so that the public know how to spot a scam and protect themselves from them. We have recently launched a GOV.UK page on coronavirus related fraud and cybercrime including easy-to-follow steps for people to better protect themselves as well as signposting all relevant advice and tips. This page can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-fraud-and-cyber-crime.
In order to avoid falling victim to misinformation, we encourage the public to continue to check GOV.UK, where up to date guidance can be found, as well as watch the daily briefings on the government's response to COVID-19, which are broadcast live.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the prevalence of online crime during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
While it is yet too early to identify any trend in online crime since the outbreak of Covid-19 the Government and law enforcement colleagues are working tirelessly to identify and disrupt those seeking to use online platforms to commit these crimes.
Criminals are looking to take advantage; Covid-19-related fraud and cybercrimes now represent 2.7% of all reported fraud to Action Fraud. Operational partners, the National Crime Agency, the National Cyber Security Centre and City of London Police, have thwarted over 2,000 scams in April alone.
The Government is committed to preventing criminals from profiting from covid-19 and ensuring that the public and business can protect themselves.
On 21 April the National Cyber Security Centre launched the Suspicious Email Reporting Service. This allows members of the public to report any suspicious emails. This has received over 160,000 reports, leading to over 300 previously unknown phishing campaigns being taken down.
On 23 April the Home Office launched a gov.uk page on coronavirus-related fraud and cybercrime, including easy-to-follow steps for people to better protect themselves as well as signposting all relevant advice and tips. This page can be at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-fraud-and-cyber-crime
The Home Office are working closely with partner organisations such Trading Standards, the Financial Conduct Authority and all major banks to ensure key online safety guidance and messages are communicated
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to increase the support that community development financial institutions can offer to SMEs during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government recognises the vital role that non-banks – including Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) – play in the provision of credit to SMEs. It is grateful for the way the sector has responded to the current crisis and remains committed to promoting competition and widening the funding options available to UK businesses.
The Government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) provides financial support to SMEs across the UK that are losing revenue, and seeing their cashflow disrupted, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Of the 80 lenders currently accredited by the British Business Bank to offer these loans, 15 are CDFIs. The Government welcomes CDFIs’ participation in CBILS, as well as their continued work to support SMEs beyond this loan scheme.
On broader support for CDFIs, Fair4All Finance, the independent body set up to distribute dormant assets funding to support financial inclusion, has set up a £5 million resilience fund to support credit unions and CDFIs in England. Fair4All Finance have also launched their Affordable Credit Scale-up Programme, designed to provide tailored support?to?sustainably scale?affordable credit.
On 20 May, the Government announced that £65 million of funding through the dormant assets scheme will be released immediately to Fair4All Finance, to increase access to fair, affordable and appropriate financial products and services for those struggling financially, particularly in light of the coronavirus outbreak. This includes an expanded Affordable Credit Scale-up Programme, which aims to improve the access and availability of affordable credit. Additional funding will be made available to the devolved administrations under normal processes through the dormant assets scheme, to be distributed as they see fit.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment will be made of the adequacy of their financial package of support for the dairy industry during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government has continued to engage closely with representatives from all parts of the dairy supply chain throughout this difficult period to assess the challenges facing the industry and to ensure that appropriate financial support is provided. The vast majority of Britain’s dairy farmers continue to supply their contracts at or around the usual price. Approximately 5% of total milk production, however, goes to the service trade. A small proportion of farmers supplying milk to processors that sell into the food service sector have seen a reduction in demand with the closure of food service. A small proportion of suppliers have therefore seen a reduction in demand. We have provided a range of support to help these affected farmers.
At the outset of the pandemic, the Government announced a number of emergency measures to support farmers, processors and retailers. These include designating the food sector as critical to the response, with people working in the production, processing, sale, distribution or delivery of food categorised as key workers and granting derogations on drivers’ hours limitations.
In addition, to support milk producers, the Government announced on 17 April a temporary easing of some elements of competition law to make it easier for the dairy industry to come together to maximise production, processing and storage efficiency and to ensure that as much product as possible can be processed into high quality dairy products. This Statutory Instrument was laid on 1 May and applies retrospectively from 1 April.
On 6 May we announced a new scheme specifically to provide support to eligible dairy farmers in England who have lost more than 25% of their income over April and May because of coronavirus disruptions. This will provide farmers with funding of up to £10,000 each, to cover 70% of their lost income during the qualifying period, enabling them to continue to operate and to sustain production capacity without impacts on animal welfare.
Defra and the devolved administrations are also jointly contributing towards financing the new £1 million campaign by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board and Dairy UK to drive an increase in the consumption of milk. Running over 12 weeks, the campaign is highlighting the role that milk plays in supporting moments of personal connection during times of crisis.
Our Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans Scheme is available to farmers, milk buyers and processors. Responding to industry feedback on this scheme, Defra held urgent discussions with the major banks to ensure they understand that farmers, milk buyers and milk processors are eligible. In addition, the new Bounce Back Loan scheme, which applies to businesses operating in agriculture, ensures that the smallest businesses can access loans up to £50,000. To give lenders the confidence they need, we have provided them with a 100% guarantee on each loan and will cover the first 12 months of interest payments and fees.
Public intervention for skimmed milk powder (SMP) and butter continues to be available in the UK. Alongside this we have also ensured the availability to UK dairy processors of private storage aid for cheese, butter and SMP. These measures will help to underpin prices, providing a floor in the market by reducing the volume of product coming on to the market.
We will continue to engage with the dairy industry throughout this period of disruption to monitor the impact of the range of financial and other measures we have implemented, ensuring that the sector continues to have the support that it needs.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department has taken to support shared-ownership housing scheme applicants who are enrolled on the Government furlough scheme.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The furlough scheme is a strong package of financial support, so where they can, shared owners should still pay the rent to their landlord and mortgage to their lender as normal.
Shared owners who are struggling to meet their financial commitments can apply for universal credit to get help paying their rent and might be able to get Support for Mortgage Interest if they have been on benefits for 39 weeks without any breaks.
On 17 March the Chancellor also announced, on behalf of the sector, that banks and building societies will offer a 3-month ‘mortgage holiday’ for borrowers struggling financially as a result of COVID-19. Like other mortgage holders, shared owners who are struggling to meet their mortgage payments will be able to request a mortgage payment holiday from their lender.
Shared owners should not be forced out of their home during this difficult time. The Coronavirus Act 2020 rules that landlords must give three months’ notice of possession, and the moratorium on repossessions by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) means that lenders should not commence or continue repossession proceedings against their customers.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that banks are providing fair advice in the interests of small businesses on whether they should apply for financial support through the (a) Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme or (b) Bounce Back Loan Scheme.
Answered by Paul Scully
Accredited lenders are responsible for providing loans under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS). Businesses should approach accredited lenders in the first instance, providing information about the type and amount of finance they need to access. The lender will determine the right type of finance for a business’s needs. A full list of accredited lenders can be found on the British Business Bank website.
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) allows business with a turnover of less than £45 million to access working capital (including loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance) of up to £5 million for up to six years.
The Bounce Back Loan Scheme helps small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and up to 25% of their turnover. The maximum loan available is £50,000.
Full details of both the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) can be found on GOV.UK and the British Business Bank websites.
Decision-making on whether a business is eligible to access the CBILS or the BBLS is fully delegated to the accredited lenders, and individual lending decisions remain at the discretion of these lenders.
The Government continues to work closely with lenders to help SMEs access the finance they need.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of homes that could be repossessed due to the economic effects of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Department does not forecast future repossession rates. Currently, both arrears and repossession rates are close to historically low levels.
The Government is determined that lenders should treat borrowers fairly. The independent Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is responsible for the regulations that are in place to protect customers in their dealings with financial services firms, and these include at their heart a requirement that firms must deal fairly with customers in payment difficulties. Their rules require lenders to consider a variety of options to help the borrower cope with these difficulties and any agreed solution should meet the needs of both borrower and lender.
The Government has been working to keep repossessions at a minimum at this time. The Government has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency including an initial £330 billion of guarantees – equivalent to 15 per cent of UK GDP. This includes the extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which will help keep people in employment, protecting livelihoods and helping people to remain in their homes. On 17 March the Chancellor announced, on behalf of the sector, that banks and building societies will offer a ‘mortgage holiday’ for borrowers struggling financially as a result of COVID-19. This forbearance measure enables affected borrowers to defer their mortgage payments while they get back on their feet. Lenders have also agreed to a moratorium on residential and Buy-to-Let possession action to provide customers with reassurance that they will not have their homes repossessed at this difficult time. The Master of the Rolls, with the agreement of the Lord Chancellor, has also suspended?all ongoing and new housing possession cases for 90 days?from 27 March 2020. These measures have been strengthened by the Financial Conduct Authority’s new draft guidance for lenders which sets out the expectations for firms and the options available to their customers. This includes extending the application period for a mortgage holiday until 31 October so customers that have not yet had a payment holiday and are experiencing financial difficulty will be able to request one. In combination, these measures will serve to protect homeowners from repossession at this time.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps the Government has taken to ensure that banks provide loans under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) is part of a comprehensive package of measures designed to support businesses facing difficulties in this period.
Accredited lenders are responsible for providing loans under the CBILS. Decision-making on whether a business is eligible to access the CBILS is fully delegated to the accredited lenders, and individual lending decisions remain at the discretion of these lenders.
Since the CBILS launched, Government has listened to feedback from stakeholders and made changes to ensure that loans are processed as quickly as possible. These changes include:
The Government continues to work with banks and other finance providers to help SMEs access the finance they need.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if his Department will take steps to ensure that the British Business Bank reduces the time taken for the accreditation process for (a) fintech banks and (b) other new lenders to be eligible to provide Government backed covid-19 loans.
Answered by Paul Scully
Accrediting new lenders for the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) is a priority for the British Business Bank. The Bank is working at pace to accredit more lenders to further extend the Schemes’ reach and provide more choice for businesses whilst ensuring the accreditation process remains robust.
The Bank has put substantial additional resources in lace to create a streamlined process within the Bank to help onboard new lenders seeking accreditation as quickly as possible. For example, existing lenders accredited under the CBILS may have an expedited accreditation process for the BBLS.
There are currently 16 accredited lenders for BBLS, over 60 accredited lenders for CBILS and 10 accredited lenders for CLBILS.