Eighth Report: Economic impact of coronavirus: the challenges of recovery
Select Committee
Treasury Committee
HC 271
11 September 2020
Government response
Fifth Special Report: Economic impact of coronavirus: the challenges of recovery: Government Response to the Committee’s Eighth Report of Session 2019–21 · published 20 Nov 2020
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
18
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 139
The Treasury and the OBR should consider raising the profile of regional data in their...
Recommendation
The Treasury and the OBR should consider raising the profile of regional data in their publications. We also recommend that the Bank of England develop their datasets from their Regional Agents network and Decision Maker panel and endeavour to highlight …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response copies the recommendation text but only addresses the Bank of England's part, stating the Bank will consider whether more regional data could be published. It does not address the recommendations for the Treasury and OBR to raise the profile of regional data or to review their remits.
HM Treasury
View Details
20
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 165
Local authorities are critical in responding to local outbreaks effectively.
Recommendation
Local authorities are critical in responding to local outbreaks effectively. In the forthcoming Spending Review or budget process, local government spending must not be treated as a residual and must be costed based on the submissions put forward by local …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response provides a general update on its economic support measures during the pandemic, including extensions to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and business loan schemes, but does not address the specific recommendation regarding local government spending and its costing in future reviews.
HM Treasury
View Details
21
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 166
The Government should as soon as possible set out in a public document the type...
Recommendation
The Government should as soon as possible set out in a public document the type of support available to local authorities in the event of a localised lock-down and how it will work with local authorities to support local businesses.
Government Response Summary
The government provided a general update on national support packages, including the extension of the CJRS and various loan schemes, following new national restrictions. However, it did not specifically set out a public document on support available to local authorities in localised lockdowns or explain how it would work with them.
HM Treasury
View Details
22
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 170
It is too simplistic to say that a compulsory lockdown is a trade-off between the...
Conclusion
It is too simplistic to say that a compulsory lockdown is a trade-off between the people’s health and the economy. The very presence of the virus, and how people respond to it regardless of what the Government mandates, has an …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response details its general economic support package during the pandemic, including extensions to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and loan schemes, but does not engage with the committee's nuanced observation on the trade-offs and impacts of lockdowns.
HM Treasury
View Details
23
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 171
When it imposes and removes social restrictions, the Government needs to be as clear as...
Recommendation
When it imposes and removes social restrictions, the Government needs to be as clear as possible that a) there are harms in restrictions and there is a trade-off between these harms and the harms of the virus spreading; and b) …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response details its general economic support measures, including extensions to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and business loan schemes, but does not address the recommendation about being clearer on the harms and trade-offs of social restrictions and how decisions are balanced.
HM Treasury
View Details
24
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 176
It is notable that the synchronisation of the OBR’s analysis and the Government’s announcements appears...
Conclusion
It is notable that the synchronisation of the OBR’s analysis and the Government’s announcements appears to have been challenged in the crisis. The OBR scenario analysis undertaken in the Fiscal Sustainability Report did not include the Government’s measures in its …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government's response did not address the committee's observation regarding the synchronisation challenges between OBR analysis and government announcements during the crisis. Instead, it discussed the OBR's mandate and the risks of expanding its responsibilities.
HM Treasury
View Details