COVID-19: Support for jobs

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 21 Oct 2020 Closed: 25 Mar 2021 Parliament page
In mid-November the Committee will question the most senior officials at the Treasury and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in its latest inquiry into the Government’s response to the Covid-19: this time on the programmes to support jobs during the pandemic. The Government implemented the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - … Read more
16 Recommendations
6 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
4 Letters
1 Event
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
COVID-19: Support for jobs
Beth Russell · HM Treasury Jim Harra · HMRC Jo Rowland · HM Revenue and Customs Sir Tom Scholar · HM Treasury
Recommendations & Conclusions
3 results
8 Conclusion Acknowledged
Thirty-fourth Report - Covid-19: S…
HMRC used the data in its Self Assessment system to calculate how much self- employed...
HMRC used the data in its Self Assessment system to calculate how much self- employed people would receive as part of the SEISS grant award. However, this was developed in the 1990s and lags behind other countries’ systems. HMRC told … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's conclusion regarding the age and limitations of the Self Assessment system, outlining its commitment to the Making Tax Digital programme as part of its 10-year Tax Administration Strategy to enhance understanding of the international landscape.
HM Treasury
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13 Conclusion Acknowledged
Thirty-fourth Report - Covid-19: S…
As many as 2.9 million people may have been excluded from the first versions of...
As many as 2.9 million people may have been excluded from the first versions of CJRS and SEISS. The NAO found that people were excluded either because of policy design choices or due to constraints in the tax system. An … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's conclusion regarding the millions excluded from CJRS and SEISS. It explains the rationale for eligibility criteria based on available HMRC data and notes efforts to extend support to some groups, as well as future plans through the 10-year Tax Administration Strategy to use real-time data.
HM Treasury
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14 Conclusion Acknowledged
Thirty-fourth Report - Covid-19: S…
We were concerned that the extension to SEISS could leave more self-employed people without support...
We were concerned that the extension to SEISS could leave more self-employed people without support than the initial scheme. HMRC based eligibility for the initial SEISS on tax return data up to 2018–19 and estimated, as part of initial planning … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's concern about SEISS exclusions and data limitations for the newly self-employed. It reiterates the rationale for scheme design based on available HMRC data and highlights ongoing efforts through the 10-year Tax Administration Strategy to develop a real-time digital tax system.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 21 of 16 classified

Total 16 recs + 6 conclusions
Correspondence 4 letters
15 Sep 2021 Correspondence from Jim Harra, Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary, re Thirty-Fourth Report of Session 2019-21, dated 19 March 2021
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16 Apr 2021 Correspondence from Jim Harra, Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary, re Thirty-Fourth Report of Session 2019-21, dated 19 March 2021
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15 Apr 2021 Correspondence from Tom Scholar, Permanent Secretary, HM Treasury, re Thirty-Fourth Report of Session 2019-21, dated 19 March 2021
Parliament page
26 Jan 2021 Correspondence from Tom Scholar, Permanent Secretary, HM Treasury, re Thirty-Fourth Report of Session 2019-21, dated 20 January 2021
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