A spokeswoman for The Treasury issued a statement this morning saying: “The Chancellor will be setting out the next stage of the Job Support Scheme later today that will protect jobs and provide a safety net for those businesses that ‘may have to close’ in the coming weeks and months.” That statement effectively confirms that the government is likely to announce hospitality closures.
Most in hospitality will be watching Rishi Sunak’s announcement on further Covid-19 business support this afternoon with bated breath. For all too many their livelihoods rest on his words.
The exact time of the Chancellor’s address has not yet been confirmed but it is understood to be after 2pm.
All restrictions currently reported to be under consideration, will make it even more difficult, some might say impossible, for hospitality businesses to survive without further substantial help from the Chancellor.
Unless support from the government returns to similar levels of the original furlough scheme, due to end later this month, unemployment will hit levels unseen since the 1980’s.
The Chancellor has one chance this afternoon to get it right and support hospitality. That support needs to be unambiguous and immediate.
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Hospitality & Catering News: Treasury confirms hospitality closures – 9 October 2020 – Treasury confirms hospitality closures
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