Labour has today called for “much greater transparency” on the implementation and effectiveness of the government’s schemes to support the economy, businesses and jobs during the coronavirus crisis.
Labour Leader Keir Starmer and Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds have demanded daily updates and the publication of figures on the performance of each of the government’s coronavirus schemes to ensure that these measures are implemented effectively and deliver support to all businesses and people who need it.
The request for daily updates includes figures and data on:
1. The number of applications for loans and loans issued under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme;
2. The number of new claims for Job-Seeker’s Allowance, New-Style Job-Seeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit, including the number of advance payments made to claimants;
3. The number of grants issued under the Small Business Grant Fund and the Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund;
4. The number of claims received for furloughed employees and grants made under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme when it is operational;
5. The number of claims received and grants given under the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme when it is operational;
6. The number of claims received and grants given under the Self-employment Income Support Scheme when it is operational.
The request for greater transparency and daily updates comes amid growing concerns about the implementation, uptake and performance of the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and before the roll out of the vital Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Self-employment Income Support Scheme and the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme.
Labour Leader Keir Starmer MP said:
“It is vitally important that the coronavirus economic schemes are effective so that we can protect people’s incomes, jobs and businesses and prevent a deeper and longer-lasting recession.”
“Labour is calling for much greater transparency and central co-ordination from the Government. That means daily updates about the delivery of their economic schemes so that any problems can be spotted early and ironed out.”
“We can and we must protect people’s livelihoods whilst they do the right thing and stay at home and save lives.”
Labour’s Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds MP said:
“The patchy uptake and implementation of the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme has left too many businesses waiting or without any support at all.
“During this time of huge insecurity businesses, workers and those who have lost their jobs need security and to know that when the government says support is on its way they will actually get this support.
“That is why we are calling on the government to publish these figures every day in order to increase confidence that measures are being implemented to protect people’s incomes, jobs and businesses as we get through this crisis.”
