* Chancellor Rishi Sunak in the Commons yesterday.
Clwyd South Conservative MP Simon Baynes has sent a statement on the UK Government's announcements yesterday afternoon about the help it intends to give to businesses to help them recover from the coronavirus lockdown.
It says: "Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the Government has said it
will do whatever it takes to protect people and businesses from the immediate
economic crisis.
"As part of this, more than 8,200 jobs have been supported
through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, allowing employers to put workers
on furlough while the Government supports their wages in Clwyd South.
"The Chancellor has now set out the second phase of the Government’s
response, focusing on jobs: supporting people to find the jobs that are out
there, creating new jobs through investing in infrastructure, and protecting
jobs by revitalising the hard-hit sectors upon which many jobs depend.
"As part of this, employers will be encouraged to retain staff who have
been on the furlough scheme, with the Government paying a one-off bonus of
£1,000 for every employee who was furloughed and who is kept on until January.
"Also included in the Government’s £30 billion Plan for Jobs:
• A temporary cut
in VAT for the tourism and hospitality sectors, to give a much-needed boost to
some of the industries hardest hit by coronavirus.
• A new Eat Out to
Help Out Scheme, giving people up to 50 per cent off meals out at restaurants,
pubs and cafes on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August.
• The temporary
removal of stamp duty on all homes under £500,000 until the end of March 2021,
to catalyse the housing market.
• A new Kickstart
Scheme, which will create hundreds of thousands of new, fully-subsidised jobs
for young people.
"The Chancellor’s Summer Economic Update, along with the New Deal for
Britain announced by the Prime Minister last week, will benefit people and
businesses across Wales.
"This includes an additional £500 million of Covid-19
funding for the Welsh Government through the Barnett Formula. The UK Government
is now providing £2.8 billion through the Barnett Formula to help the Welsh
Government support individuals, businesses and public services through
Covid-19.
"Following the Plan for Jobs, the UK Government will turn its attention
to a third phase – a moment for rebuilding. The Chancellor will produce a
Budget and a Spending Review in the autumn."
Mr Baynes MP added: “Throughout the coronavirus crisis, the UK Conservative Government has
stood squarely behind people and businesses with one of the largest and most
comprehensive packages of support anywhere in the world.
“As we turn our attention to carefully reopening our economy, it is
right that the Chancellor is doing everything in his power to support, protect
and create jobs. This plan will be a lifeline for countless people and
businesses across Clwyd South.
“By levelling up the whole country, we will give businesses the
confidence to retain and hire, create jobs in every region and ensure young
people have the opportunity of a better start.”
Chamber's reaction to the measures
Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism has let llanblogger have its own reaction to the Chancellor's measures.
This says: "Any proposals by
the government to offer further financial support is positive.
"Llangollen is
predominantly made up from independent businesses that have been unable to open
and utilise the high level of tourist traffic that moves through the town and
this has had a profound effect.
"The cancellation of the annual Eisteddfod,
although understandable, is also a significant factor likely to also impact upon the town economic
viability.
"Many of the existing businesses have created alternative measures to
ensure their survival but not all of these carry sustainability in the long
term.
"Now that the travel restrictions
have been lifted by the Welsh Government, any ongoing support would assist in the town's recovery
and allow it to thrive, particularly as it has a large number of cafes, restaurants and pubs providing for the large numbers of regular visitors and
tourists.
"It is yet to be seen whether the
proposals will allow Llangollen to return to its normally vibrant self but it
is a start."
