Westminster News

Over the past few weeks a lot of constituents have been in touch with us about the Agriculture and Trade Bills currently passing through parliament. You can learn more about both crucial pieces of legislation and their progress through the Houses of Parliament by clicking:

Trade Bill

Over the past couple of weeks, we have received a very high volume of campaign and personalised correspondence about racial justice following the death in the US of George Floyd and the impact of coronavirus on those from a black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) background.

HMRC has now written to MPs to let everyone know that the UK Government’s Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme is now live on GOV.UK.

For those who missed the daily briefing, here is the message from government on the extension of lockdown and the tests for adjusting current lockdown measures:

A number of constituents have been in touch with us to express concern about the previous eligibility date to qualify for furlough under the government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. We shared those concerns with Ministers and the eligibility date has now been extended to 19 March 2020.

Today we launched a new public awareness campaign highlighting the support available for people at risk of or experiencing domestic abuse, with £2 million to immediately bolster domestic abuse helplines and online support.

Combating the Covid-19 pandemic presents to our nation and the world at large an exceptional set of challenges. The government will be doing everything we can to protect lives, guided by the best scientists and clinicians in the world.

This information comes from Annex 1 of the briefing sent to MPs but it is also provided by gov,uk, and is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-

MPs have been sent the following briefing on the new Coronavirus Self-Employed Income Support Scheme - it includes some useful case studies to give constituents a better idea of how the scheme works as well as FAQs.

CORONAVIRUS SELF-EMPLOYED INCOME SUPPORT SCHEME (SEISS) 

MPs have received the following briefing from our Treasury team about the measures announced yesterday by the Chancellor to assist self-employed people during the coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus Update – Our Package for the Self-Employed