Barry's letters to the Chancellor on the Winter Recovery Plan

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.

Too many people have been excluded from the economic support provided by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Although the Government has introduced temporary welfare measures to help those unable to access these schemes, I believe it must urgently go further.

I am also concerned the measures announced by the Chancellor in the Winter Recovery Plan pose a threat to the fragile economic recovery with the resurgence of the virus. 

• The Job Support Scheme will only support “viable business” but many businesses were successful prior to March, but now in accordance with Government guidance remain closed with no income. 

• Those previously excluded from the financial support schemes remain excluded.

• The grants offered to the Self-Employed are far less generous. 

I have written three separate letters to the Chancellor setting out my concerns on the recent financial measures announced which you can find below.

Barry writes to Matt Hancock to demand assurances for testing capacity in Brent

Barry has written to Matt Hancock to seek assurances on 3 very important matters for Brent :

• Seek assurance that the London Borough of Brent will be given priority access to testing given its history of vulnerable and deprived communities being so badly affected by the first pandemic wave.

• Ask for confirmation that household-level information and contact tracing data will be available to Brent Council in real time?

• Ask for confirmation that additional testing capacity and targeted testing hubs will be available within our vulnerable communities and that local residents can access tests at those hubs so that my constituents are not compelled to travel to distant areas and risk spreading the virus?

You can read Barry’s letter below.

Barry writes to Boris Johnson regarding Covid-19 Compensation Scheme for Transport Workers

Barry has written to Boris Johnson to demand the COVID-19 Compensation Scheme be Extended to Bereaved Families of Transport Workers.

During this pandemic, Transport workers have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus. Thirty four London bus workers have now died of COVID-19 and the death rate among bus workers is 3.5x higher than other roles. Our transport workers have played an absolutely vital role in facilitating the travel of NHS staff and other key workers around the country and without their dedication and hard work this country would be a lot worse off. You can see my letter below

Barry writes to the Home Secretary regarding concerns over the Reinstatement of Minimum Income Requirement

Barry has raised concerns over the governments reinstatement of the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) from 1 August 2020.

The MIR of earnings above £18,600 a year is simply unattainable for a large number of families during the current pandemic. Latest figures show that over 600,000 jobs have already been lost since lockdown started, and this figure is likely to grow substantially once wage support schemes end on 31st October.

It is inevitable that the reinstatement of the MIR from August 1st will put couples and families already established in the UK at risk.

Barry writes to the Transport Secretary regarding British Airways redundancies and a Support Package for the Aviation Industry

Barry wrote to Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Transport regarding the very worrying news regarding redundancies at British Airways.

Following a report published this month by the New Economics Foundation that said up to 124,000 jobs in the aviation industry and its supply chains were at risk of being lost in the next three months as firms continue to ground their fleets,  Barry also has urged the Secretary of State to release a support package for the aviation industry.

Barry writes to the Chancellor regarding support for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Industry

Barry has written to Rishi Sunak regarding the inadequate Government  support for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Industry.

The Government promised to do “whatever it takes” to combat the economic and health impacts of Covid-19. Therefore, the latest announcement that Government has allocated just £3.3m to the London Borough of Brent is pitiful.

There are 9,000 businesses in Brent that might reasonably qualify under the government’s published criteria. Simple arithmetic dictates that on this basis, each firm could expect no more than £366. This is nowhere near the sums of £10,000 or £25,000 that businesses were led to expect.

Barry writes to the Chancellor regarding the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Grant

Barry has written to Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Grant.

The financial situation of the small businesses in Brent North is the same as those individually registered with the council and paying business rates.

The Chancellor has only made £3.3 billion available to businesses in Brent and Barry has asked how the sum came to be calculated

Barry writes to the Chancellor regarding the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme

Barry has written to Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to establish what the government plans are about the rollout of the Self Employment Income Support Scheme.

Barry urged the Chancellor to continue the scheme and to lay Brent North constituents fears to rest by announcing the details at the earliest possible date.

Barry writes to Secretary of State for Housing regarding urgent action for private renters

Barry has written to Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing. In the letter stressed that many private renters say they are likely to lose their job in the next three months because of the coronavirus outbreak. Without urgent additional support, these households will emerge from this crisis with unsustainable levels of debt and rent arrears and this will lead to them being deemed intentionally homeless.

Barry asks for more support for the early years sector

Barry has written to Vicky Ford, the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Children and Families to ask for further financial support for those in the early years sector following further guidance issued to them during the pandemic.

Barry writes to Chancellor regarding Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Barry has written to Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the Coronavirus business interruption loan scheme(CBILS).

Barry writes about an experience of a business in his constituency. The CBILS is simply not working well enough. We need change now. The Chancellor must move to a 100% guarantee of loans for smaller businesses as other countries have done. In this economic emergency, it is the right thing to do.

Barry co-signs letter regarding lack of PPE for care workers

Barry has co-signed initiated by his colleague Kate Osborne MP. The letter is addressed to Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and is in relation the urgent matter of a lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for care workers during the coronavirus outbreak.

Barry writes to the Chancellor regarding help for dentists

Barry has written to Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking about the difficulties facing the dental profession both in the Brent North Constituency and across the U.K who feel they have been left behind by a lack of financial assistance from the Government. Urgent clarification and reassurance is now required on what support is available to maintain their cash flow and prevent their imminent collapse. You can see a copy of Barry’s letter.

Specifically Barry has asked for clarification on:

• Business Rates

• The Coronavirus Interruption Loans (CBILS)

• The Coronavirus self-employed scheme

Barry writes to the Chancellor with concerns over The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Barry has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak with concerns raised by constituents trying to access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. Barry has urged the Chancellor to look at moving towards a 100% guarantee of loans for smaller businesses such as other countries have done.

Barry writes to the Secretary of State for DCMS asking for a review on the level of support for charities

Barry has written to Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sports regarding an urgent review for the level of funding charities are receiving from Government.

Charities are doing all they can to keep services functioning. However,  further support from the Government at this time will be essential as they continue to play a vital role in the national response to Covid-19 both now and in the months to come.

Barry has asked for a review of the level of support provided for charities as the crisis continues and ensure that the third sector is able to benefit from existing schemes for business and support the following calls from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.

• A £4 billion stabilisation fund to help charities stay afloat, pay staff and continue operating during the pandemic.

• A ‘mobilisation fund’ to provide emergency funding for frontline charities and volunteers currently supporting the response to Covid-19.

• To provide clarity as to whether they would consider covering all or part of our liability and/or paying the salaries for professionals working in the NHS redeployed to support the response to Covid-19.

• Allow charities to recover irrecoverable VAT.

• Waive the apprenticeship levy which many organisations struggle to recoup even in normal times

• Consider allowing charity staff furloughed from other areas of the organisation to volunteer for their charity’s frontline services.

Barry calls for the virtual recall of Parliament

Barry was pleased to join with colleagues from across the house to call for the recall of Parliament. Barry agreed that Parliament must be recalled so that the Government can continue to be held to account whilst the pandemic of Covid-19 continues.

The letter outlines how there is the available technology to continue to hold debates via video link and despite it not replicating how the House may normally sit, it would allow Parliament to continue to serve the public and for the executive to be scrutinised whilst following social distancing guidelines.

Barry’s Easter letter to the children of Brent North

Barry has written a letter for the children of Brent North regarding the status of the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny. The letter can be found above.

Happy Easter.

Barry co-signs letter to Ensure a Safe Working Environment for Royal Mail Staff

Today, Barry co-signed a letter to Alok Sharma MP, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Rico Back, Chief Executive of Royal Mail.

Throughout our country the Royal Mail staff are working to ensure the postal system is running as smoothly as possible, and are responsible for delivering critical items such as prescription medication. It is vital that these key workers have access to adequate Personal Protective Equipment and if they are required to self-isolate they must be given full sick pay for the duration of the time they are unable to work.

The letter was written by Gill Furniss MP, Labour’s Minister for Postal Affairs and co-signed by around 90 Labour MP’s.

Barry writes to the Foreign Secretary demanding a reciprocal scheme to repatriate foreign nationals

Below you can find the letter that Barry wrote to Dominic Raab MP demanding a reciprocal scheme to repatriate foreign nationals who are legally domiciled in the UK.

We need a reciprocal scheme to repatriate foreign nationals who have lived in the U.K. for years:
This is the letter we wrote to Dominic Raab. pic.twitter.com/OVlFqw21f7

— Barry Gardiner (@BarryGardiner) April 3, 2020

Barry writes to The Chancellor regarding the 28th Feburary cut off date for support

Barry has written to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak for clarification on why he has chosen the 28th February as the cut off date for those seeking financial assistance and why this wasn’t the end of the tax year. Many constituents have contacted Barry having started their employment on 1st March and have since been told they will not be furloughed but instead will be made employed. Barry has asked that the Chancellor look again at the date and consider changing it.