The government did not have in place a plan for how it would provide support to businesses during a national emergency like the pandemic. At the time the pandemic started there were no contingency plans in place between central and local government on how to provide support to businesses. HM Treasury, BEIS and local authorities therefore had to react in the absence of pre-agreed processes. Local authorities were often not aware of new schemes until they were publicly announced, leaving them t...

The government did not have in place a plan for how it would provide support to businesses during a national emergency like the pandemic. At the time the pandemic started there were no contingency plans in place between central and local government on how to provide support to businesses. HM Treasury, BEIS and local authorities therefore had to react in the absence of pre-agreed processes. Local authorities were often not aware of new schemes until they were publicly announced, leaving them to field questions from local businesses without being in a position to provide ready answers. Lessons began to be learned as the pandemic unfolded, for e Type: conclusion | Number: 6 | Response status: accepted Government response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. anticipated guidance (Cabinet Office “Emergency Situation Grants” and the HM Treasury “Managing Debt in a Crisis” paper which are both currently being drafted) when planning future schemes and for contingencies