Coronavirus News


Further coronavirus support announced in Budget 2021


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n the House of Commons on Wednesday, March 3, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak unveiled the contents of the Budget 2021.


Setting out the government’s tax and spending plans for the year ahead, he announced new measures to help business and jobs through the pandemic and to support the UK’s long-term economic recovery and a series of tax-raising plans to help rebalance the public finances.


Here is an overview of the coronavirus support in the Budget 2021: • The Coronavirus Job Support Scheme has been extended until the end of September.


• The government will continue to pay 80% of employees’ wages for hours they cannot work.


• Employers will contribute 10% of wages in July and 20% in August and September.


• Support for the self-employed is also extended until September.


• 600,000 more self-employed people will be eligible for help as access to grants is widened.


• £20 weekly uplift in Universal Credit worth £1,000 a year to be extended for another six months.


• Working Tax Credit claimants will get £500 one-off payment.


• Minimum wage to increase to £8.91 an hour from April.


This further support rises the spending


total for pandemic support to £407bn. To compensate Mr Sunak announced a rise in corporation tax from 19% to 25%, to be introduced in 2023, and froze income tax personal allowance thresholds until 2026.


Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown


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n Monday, February 22, the government published its four-step roadmap to easing lockdown restrictions across England.


The first step happened on Monday, March 8 when all children and students returned to face to face education in schools and college. Also, from this date, people could now leave home for recreation outdoors such as a coffee or picnic with their household or support bubble, or with one person outside their household.


As part of step one from Monday, March 29 outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households was allowed. This included private gardens. Outdoor facilities such as tennis courts and golf courses were allowed to reopen.


From Friday, April 12 non-essential retailers, most outdoor attractions such as zoos and indoor facilities such as gyms and swimming pools will be allowed to reopen. Hospitality venues will also be allowed to reopen, but will only be able to serve people outside. Step three will take place no earlier than Monday, May 17 when most outdoor social contact rules will be lifted – although gatherings of over 30 people will remain illegal. Indoor hospitality, entertainment venues such as cinemas and soft play areas, will reopen. Indoors, the rule of six or two households will remain. Larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is lower) will also be allowed, as will those in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full (whichever is lower).


The final step will take place no earlier than Monday, June 21, when it is hoped that all legal limits on social contact will be removed. The government hopes to reopen nightclubs and lift restrictions on large events and performances that apply in step 3.


Alexandra donates clothing to online furlough community


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lexandra has donated over 100 T shirts to an online community supporting


furloughed employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.


FurLearn will be using the shirts as a reward for their #Giveitago campaign, which encourages people who’ve been furloughed or made redundant to set themselves a personal goal to achieve as part of their health and wellbeing. Some of the challenges being undertaken include walking 10,000 steps a


GFORCE Sportswear offers bespoke face coverings


A The FurLearn T shirt


day, learning a new language, signing up to a virtual marathon, and completing employability skills courses.


FurLearn was set up last March with the idea of empowering, inspiring, and uplifting furloughed and job-searching UK talent during the uncertainty of a global pandemic.


www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk


s schools across the country return to the classroom, GFORCE Sportswear is offering bespoke face coverings as part of its new Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) range. The wider PPE range also includes a variety of medical-grade disposable items and customisable face shield visors. Gemma Puffer, marketing director for Grahame Gardner and GFORCE Sportswear, said: “We know how important it for schools and school retailers across the UK to get access to a full range of high-quality PPE. “It is essential everyone in the school environment – pupils, colleagues, parents and the wider community – feel safe as we


Gemma Puffer with the bespoke face masks


all enter into our new way of working and interacting with others on a daily basis again.”


Pupils in Year 7 and above in England are required to wear face masks in the classroom and communal areas if the two-metre social distancing rule cannot be followed.


April 2021 | 19 |


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