Government supported Harlow with over £250 million through Covid pandemic
News / Wed 29th Sep 2021 at 07:20am
NEW figures reveal that the Government has supported Harlow with well over £250 million through the past eighteen months of the pandemic. The figure does not include the value of the furlough scheme which also protected some 19,500 jobs in Harlow through the lockdowns claims MP Robert Halfon.
Harlow’s MP, Robert Halfon, fought hard to secure much of the small business support and other packages to protect jobs and livelihoods in his many meetings with the Prime Minister, Chancellor, Treasury and Business Ministers as well as raising the need for the money many times in Parliament.
The overall package included over £180 million for Harlow’s small businesses and £60 million for self-employed workers. Further support also went to Harlow Council, local charities and community groups to provide Council Tax relief, vital community services and housing support.
Commenting on the news, Mr Halfon said: “Over the past 18 months residents and local businesses have faced unprecedented difficulties as a result of the pandemic. In that time, I have done everything to secure as much financial support as possible.
“The Government has spent over £407 billion to protect the NHS, save jobs and assist businesses across the country. In Harlow, nearly 20,000 residents were helped by the furlough scheme and over 10,000 self-employed grants have been paid out.
“I will continue to do all I can to ensure every resident and business has the support they need to bounce back. The Plan for Jobs is working and I am pleased that employment figures continue to rise and thousand more apprenticeship opportunities are being created thanks to Government grants.
“Only yesterday, independent financial institutions said that the furlough scheme ‘along with the other economic support measures, have ensured that the worst recession for 300 years saw the smallest rise in unemployment of any recession in living memory’.
“Harlow is open for business and with so many major investments coming into our town, I am more optimistic than ever before about our bright future.”
Steve
2021-09-29 08:07:07
I personally would like to see Harlow Council audit publish where the 250 million actually went as far as what they paid out to small businesses example driving instructors Hackney carriage drivers private hire drivers as the cab trade had to wait a long time for any help or support come it's come to light there's a discrepancy what was paid out to driving instructors and taxi drivers would be interesting to know how they worked out what each trade was valued at as far as Grant money I personally feel we were not awarded as individuals same as other individual small business as I've said how did Harlow Council came to the decision to pay a Driving instructor more than a taxi driver the taxi and cab trades got the feeling Harlow Council didnot want to give us anything,
Steven
2021-09-29 21:38:36
They pocketed the money its pretty obvious, a lot of people milked the system and this goes for companys as well, they took full advantage of the situation, if a business is making 2000 a week, pretty much claimed they needed 8000 and got the money... what a mess
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