Nus Ghani, MP for Wealden, has welcomed the publication of a report from the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee, of which she is a member. The report, 'The impact of Coronavirus on businesses and workers: interim pre-Budget report', recommends the Chancellor should use next week’s Budget to address gaps in financial support, affecting the self-employed, mothers who have recently taken maternity leave, and those working in sectors such as the creative industries.
The report makes a series of recommendations to plug gaps in support, review arbitrary exclusions, and refine the Government’s support so it is targeted at those most in need. The report finds the premature withdrawal of furlough or the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme risks damaging sectors such as the creative industries and hampering the UK’s ability to recover quickly with a focus on good quality work.
The report commends the Government for moving quickly at the start of the pandemic to implement wide-ranging and unprecedented financial support schemes but also finds the Government has not used the opportunity to identify long-term solutions, including on the outstanding issue of commercial rent arrears.
The report can be read in full here.