Summer Statement: Bishop's Stortford MP Julie Marson welcomes Chancellor Rishi Sunak's jobs package

Bishop's Stortford's MP Julie Marson has welcomed the Chancellor of the Exchequer's summer budget.

In Parliament on Wednesday (July 8), Rishi Sunak announced a number of packages to aid the country's economic recovery in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, with a particular focus on jobs.

Measures include:

• a £1,000 bonus for every staff member kept on for three months when the furlough scheme ends in October;
• a new 'kickstart scheme' to subsidise six-month work placements for people aged 16-24 on Universal Credit at risk of long-term unemployment;
• a temporary stamp duty holiday exempting the first £500,000 of all property sales from the tax, to stimulate the property market; and
• vouchers of up to £5,000 for homeowners to pay for at least two-thirds of green home improvements, such as loft, wall and floor insulation.

Mrs Marson said: "This is an economic package to help Hertford and Stortford residents. The lockdown has had a devastating impact for many and it's great to see the Government responding to our community's needs.

"For the workers of our community, I am glad that bonuses will be paid to businesses who bring employees back from furlough and continue to employ them through to January.

"I'm especially pleased to see a number of measures targeted at young people. As 16- to 24-year-olds are the most likely age group to have seen a drop in their income during this pandemic, it is only right that we support them. Providing £2,000 for every apprentice hired under the age of 25 and introducing the kickstart scheme are great ways to help the young people of Hertford and Stortford.

"Supporting green improvements will help residents too. These vouchers will allow us to take a big leap towards our 2050 net-zero deadline and will cut the cost of living for residents at the same time."

Mrs Marson, who held the Hertford and Stortford seat for the Conservatives in last December's General Election, also urged constituents to 'Eat Out to Help Out', following the announcement that the Government will pay for up to half of people's meals out at restaurants, pubs and cafés on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout August.

The Eat Out to Help Out scheme will entitle everyone to a discount of up to 50% on their meal, up to a maximum of £10 per person. Businesses can claim the money back from the Government, which will be paid in five working days. Up to 295 businesses in Hertford and Stortford could benefit from the move.

Mrs Marson added: "I have worked hard with Government ministers to secure these measures and will work to ensure that our residents benefit from them."

The Chancellor's measures include:

• Temporarily cutting VAT for the tourism and hospitality sectors from July 15, 2020, from 20% to 5% until January 12, 2021.
• Launching a new Eat Out to Help Out scheme. Anyone who eats at a participating business, Monday to Wednesday for the month of August, can receive up to 50% off food and non-alcoholic drinks, up to a value of £10 per person. Businesses can claim the money back from the Government weekly, receiving funds within five working days. Guidance for businesses will be published next week.
• Rewarding and incentivising employers who successfully bring furloughed staff back through a new Jobs Retention Bonus Scheme - a one-off payment of £1,000 to the business for every employee who was furloughed previously and who is successfully kept on continuously until next January.