Workers and businesses across South West Devon have been given a boost by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who has announced the current furlough scheme would be extended by a further four months with workers continuing to receive 80% of their current salary.

After the Prime Minister's speech last night, the Government's Strategy for the next steps in tackling Covid19 has been published and is available here (PDF also available below).

A  very helpful FAQ document with a summary of what has changed is available here.

This afternoon, Gary Streeter used the new Parliamentary Questions system to ask the Health Secretary an Oral Question from his front room.

Each week, Conservative MPs representing seats within Devon County Council are meeting online to share experiences in their local areas and seek solutions to local challenges.

Dear Sir Gary, 

Employers in your constituency can now claim online for a grant for 80% of their furloughed employees’ salaries, up to a maximum of £2,500 per employee, per month, through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This scheme will be open until the end of June 2020. 

The Government has announced a package to support the fishing industry at this time.

Sport England has opened a new £20 million Community Emergency Fund to help sports clubs and community sport and physical activity organisations through the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis.

Not many of us thought we would ever have to live through such a time: the police stopping people at various places in SW Devon asking: “the purpose of your journey”. One of the historic definitions of English freedom is the ability to get on a train at Victoria station and go wherever you want.

Here is a summary of the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak's major announcement today.

Today, I've written the attached letter to regional managers for all the major High Street banks who work with our local businesses, particularly SMEs.