Justin Tomlinson corrected a written answer on Carers: Coronavirus

15 April 2020 · Commons written answer · Department for Work and Pensions

Marco Longhi (Conservative, Dudley North) asked written question 30043 on 16 March 2020. Justin Tomlinson answered on 24 March 2020 for the Department for Work and Pensions, and Justin Tomlinson corrected the answer on 15 April 2020. The corrected text adds the figure £2,500, which the original did not give. Altogether 297 words differ between the two versions.

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if the Government has plans to extend financial support for people that need to take time off work to care for vulnerable relatives suffering from covid-19.

Original and corrected answer

Struck through: original only. Bold: correction only.

Original	Corrected
~~As both~~ the ~~Prime Minister~~ and ~~Chancellor~~ have ~~made clear,~~ the ~~Government~~ will ~~do whatever it takes~~ to ~~support people affected by COVID 19~~ and we have ~~been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised~~ for ~~doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.~~	It is likely that many employees who have received a shield letter will be able to work from home and therefore be entitled to normal pay. We would encourage employers to make this happen where possible. For those that cannot work from home, we would encourage employers to furlough these staff. Under the scheme employers will be eligible to apply for a government grant of 80% of workers’ salaries up to £2,500 a month. The scheme will be backdated to 1st March and available for at least three months, with the first grants expected to be paid within weeks. There is also the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme which will help eligible freelance workers receive up to £2,500 per month in grants for at least three months. The Government has set up an advice contact centre and website exclusively to help those who have been identified as shielding to access support. A new Local Support System in England will make sure those individuals that have been identified by the NHS to stay at home, and who are without a support network of friends and family, will receive essential supplies such as groceries and medicine. Everyone infected with Covid-19 or required to self-isolate will be treated as having Limited Capability for Work in ESA and UC without the requirement for fit notes or undergoing a Work Capability Assessment. Those applying for Contributory ESA will be able to claim from day 1 – as opposed to day 8 - and we have removed the need for face-to-face assessment.

Original

Corrected

~~As both~~ the ~~Prime Minister~~ and ~~Chancellor~~ have ~~made clear,~~ the ~~Government~~ will ~~do whatever it takes~~ to ~~support people affected by COVID 19~~ and we have ~~been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised~~ for ~~doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.~~

It is likely that many employees who have received a shield letter will be able to work from home and therefore be entitled to normal pay. We would encourage employers to make this happen where possible. For those that cannot work from home, we would encourage employers to furlough these staff.
Under the scheme employers will be eligible to apply for a government grant of 80% of workers’ salaries up to £2,500 a month. The scheme will be backdated to 1st March and available for at least three months, with the first grants expected to be paid within weeks.
There is also the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme which will help eligible freelance workers receive up to £2,500 per month in grants for at least three months.
The Government has set up an advice contact centre and website exclusively to help those who have been identified as shielding to access support.
A new Local Support System in England will make sure those individuals that have been identified by the NHS to stay at home, and who are without a support network of friends and family, will receive essential supplies such as groceries and medicine.
Everyone infected with Covid-19 or required to self-isolate will be treated as having Limited Capability for Work in ESA and UC without the requirement for fit notes or undergoing a Work Capability Assessment. Those applying for Contributory ESA will be able to claim from day 1 – as opposed to day 8 - and we have removed the need for face-to-face assessment.

The question and answer on the Parliament website.

Receipt

Read from	https://questions-statements-api.parliament.uk/api/writtenquestions/questions/1185307?expandMember=true
Date read	15 October 2026
SHA-256	`f56b2d26906463cbaaa33cb2aa4ba4712d20ca8c8126372daf2584f4f6cc62e5`