Since I wrote late, I have been working flat out on the spread of Covid19 and its effect on all of us. I have been taking part in daily meetings right through the weekend and continuing with daily Cabinet Committee meetings to help co-ordinate the Government’s response to the Coronavirus. I have also been busy answering emails from residents on how the Government is tackling the pandemic and how it will help support businesses and individuals through this period.
These are trying times for all of us as we get used to a different way of having to do everything. The Government is rightly committed to keeping the public informed every step of the way about what we’re doing to fight the spread of Coronavirus, when we’re doing it and why we’re doing it.
At all times we will be led by the science to bring forward the right responses at the right time to this global pandemic. Following this advice, the Government has said that everybody must stay at home, only leaving for the following very limited purposes: shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible; one form of exercise a day alone or with members of your immediate household; any medical need and to provide care or to help a vulnerable person; and travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.
The Government fully understands that people are deeply worried about coronavirus – the impact it will have on their jobs, their incomes and their ability to provide for their families. We said we would support the British people – and we meant it. We will do whatever it takes, and we will get through this.
We are standing behind employers – and we are asking that they do their bit and stand behind workers.
We will help pay people’s wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – offering grants to employers who promise to retain their staff, covering most of the cost of paying people’s wages.
We are also deferring the next three months of VAT until the end of the financial year – an injection of over £30 billion of cash to businesses to help businesses pay people and keep them in work.
The Chancellor has outlined an unprecedented package of measures to protect jobs and incomes as part of the national effort in response to coronavirus. I have been in regular contact with my Government colleagues in the Treasury about the need to go further to support the self. Please be assured that they are working at an unprecedented pace to develop further measures and I am confident that these will be announced in the coming days.
The Government is also introducing emergency legislation to protect renters, so that no one gets evicted if they cannot pay their rent. This will be taken forward as an urgent priority so that landlords will not be able to start proceedings to evict tenants for at least a three-month period. As a result of these measures, no renters in private or social accommodation needs to be concerned about the threat of eviction. We are also introducing a three-month mortgage holiday for those in difficulty due to coronavirus – so that people will not have to pay a penny towards their mortgage while they get back on their feet.
As the local MP, I am committed to helping people through this pandemic. Please do not hesitate to email at robert.buckland.mp@parliament if you have any questions or need any help or advice.
