Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Recommendation 12
12
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The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme have been a lifeline...
Recommendation
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme have been a lifeline for all those in the creative industries who have been eligible for them. However, the closure of the schemes in October and the fact too many self-employed people have missed out on support to date, means the future of our creative workforce remains at significant risk. From October 2020 at the latest, the Government should introduce flexible, sector specific versions of the CJRS and SEISS guaranteed for the creative industries until their work and income returns to sustainable levels. Any such measures should account for the differences in timeframes for the easing of Covid-19 restrictions across the four nations. Support for the self- employed, in particular, should be urgently reviewed and amended so that it covers people who have been excluded to date. The Treasury Committee’s report, ‘Economic impact of coronavirus: Gaps in support’, proposed practical solutions for how this might be achieved, which we endorse.
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56
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
It is the case that some organisations will be affected by Covid-19 for longer than others, and the Government will seek to support them appropriately. In the Plan for Jobs, the Chancellor announced measures to support businesses in particular sectors, including targeted action to support jobs in the hospitality and tourism sectors, such as the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme and temporary VAT reductions. The Chancellor has said there will be no further extensions or changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and after eight months, the scheme will close at the end of October. they furlough to match their speed of reopening. Thereby, businesses will be able to flexibly claim under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme until October. Further to this, on 24 September, the Chancellor announced the Winter Economy Plan to protect jobs and support businesses over the coming months which includes: • a new Job Support Scheme, beginning on 1 November and running for 6 months • an extension to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) Grant which The Government will continue to engage with businesses and sectors with the aim of ensuring that the support provided is right for those sectors and for the economy as a whole.