COVID-19: Update: More pressure being put on Chancellor by MPs
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- Published: Wednesday, 29 April 2020 17:28
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Some 28 Conservative MPs from across England have sent a message to the Chancellor asking for relief from business rates to be extended to mixed and private dental practices, the BDA reports. There has, however, been mixed responses to questions from MPs and pressure put on Chancellor.
Pressure put on Chancellor
In their letter to Rishi Sunak, the MPs note: "These (dentists) are not wealthy people; in many instances they are small local practices employing one or two dental or other healthcare practitioners. In many ways, they are very akin to the retail, hospitality and leisure sector, yet they supply an essential healthcare service which, in normal times, would ease the strain on NHS providers.
"By extending the business rate relief, the Government would ensure the long-term viability of a vast number of businesses providing an essential service up and down the country, while similarly protecting individuals who would otherwise be forced to enter the welfare system. These are frontline staff, who are clearly as vital to the community and the economy as those in the retail, leisure and hospitality sector, and extremely deserving of this support."
Negative response to other MPs’ questions
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Steve Barclay, has responded[i] to Labour MP, Catherine West, who asked what steps the Treasury was taking to support ‘the dentistry sector during the covid-19 outbreak’.
The Minister said the NHS had ‘put out clear guidance that dentists will be fully remunerated for the NHS work they would have otherwise undertaken during the covid-19 outbreak, subject to some basic requirements.
Turning to non-NHS activity, he said the Government had set out a range of measures which will support private income for dentists. “If they meet the criteria, private dentists who are self-employed could be eligible for the Self-employment Income Support Scheme and those who are employees could be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. All employed staff in dental practices, including support staff, could also be eligible for this scheme. In addition, private dentists can access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, if they can channel their activity through a business account.”
He continued: “This is on top of other support, such as tax deferrals. Dental businesses may also be eligible for up to 100% Small Business Rate Relief where it has a single property with a rateable value below £15,000.” He has answered in a similar vein to other MPs asking about the impact on private dentistry.
Taxpayer backed loans
The BBC has reported[ii] that small firms are to get access to 100% taxpayer-backed loans after they raised concerns about slow access to existing coronavirus rescue schemes. Chancellor Rishi Sunak told the House of Commons the scheme would start next week, offering firms loans up to £50,000 within days of applying.
It aims to unlock a backlog of credit checks by banks amid fears many small firms could fold before getting loans. The scheme requires filling in a two-page self-certification form online. The loan terms mean that no capital or interest repayments will be due for one year. Instead, the government will pay the interest for the first 12 months.
To keep up to date with developments from the BDA, dentists should visit their Coronavirus update page[iii], which is available to all whether or not they are members and is continuously revised.
[i] https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2020-04-20.37778.h&s=Dental
[ii] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52445988
[iii] https://bda.org/advice/Coronavirus/Pages/latest-updates.aspx
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