CENTRAL DEVON MP Mel Stride, who serves as Chair of the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee, has today (15/06/20) released a report as part of the committee’s inquiry into the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. As suggested by its name, ‘Gaps in Support’, the report identifies people who have fallen between the gaps of the Government’s various support schemes. These include workers who started jobs after the 31st March cut-off date, newly self-employed workers without three years of accounts, self-employed workers with annual trading profits in excess of £50,000, small business owners who pay themselves a relatively small salary and make up most of their income from dividends, and freelancers or those on short term contracts.
Mr Stride said:
“The Chancellor has acted at an impressive scale and pace but the committee has identified well over a million people who – through no fault of their own – have lost livelihoods while being locked down and locked out of the main support programmes. If it is to be fair and completely fulfil its promise of doing whatever it takes, the Government should urgently enact our recommendations to help those who have fallen through the gaps.”
