The spending of the Department for Education
There will be a debate on estimates relating to the department for Education in the House of Commons chamber on 6 July 2022. This debate will be led by Robert Halfon MP.

What economic support have governments given to businesses and individuals to tackle the impact of the coronavirus? This paper looks at the policies put in place by the EU, governments in Europe, the US and other developed countries.
Coronavirus: Support for economies by European and other states (704 KB , PDF)
The Covid-19 outbreak has caused a world-wide economic shock, on a scale not seen since the 2008 global financial crisis.
Governments have undertaken unprecedented actions to shut-down large parts of their economies, while also providing massive amounts of financial aid to businesses and individuals.
This paper provides information about the policies the EU, European and some other governments have put in place to support their economies. The primary focus is on major European economies, the United States of America, and other OECD countries.
Information on how the UK Government is supporting businesses affected by the pandemic can be found in the Library Briefing Paper: Support for businesses during the Coronavirus (covid-19) outbreak.(CBP 8847).
Other Library resources on the response to the pandemic include:
European countries have used a variety of measures to support businesses and their economies. Common approaches have included:
There have been fewer schemes to support the self-employed. This might be in part because governments have less information about these workers than those who are employed by companies, and that their earnings are more variable. Schemes to support these workers are, therefore, likely to be more complex and take more time to devise.
Italy has provided an allowance of €600 for self-employed and seasonal workers for the month of March (this might be extended further).
The EU’s response to the Coronavirus has focused on co-ordinating Member States activities, for example ensuring the availability of health supplies and equipment, as well as providing funding and financial measures to help address the crisis and relaxing state aid and fiscal rules to facilitate greater Member State intervention. Among the specific measures adopted are:
President Trump’s administration has used executive actions to implement measures to support businesses and the economy including:
Congress passed two major pieces of legislation that support the economy by:
In addition, Congress has just passed a $2 trillion economic stimulus package that provides:
All OECD countries are taking dramatic action to confront the crisis. Examples include:
Australia is helping companies with their cash flow in an effort to help keep employees on the payroll. Trainees’ and apprentices’ wages are also being subsidised by 50 percent, and there are various measures to reduce the tax burden on companies.
Canada is backing lines of credit for affected companies, up to C$10 billion. It is reducing the stability buffer that banks are required to hold, allowing them to loan more money. Ottawa is making it easier for people affected by coronavirus to claim sickness benefits.
Japan is making about 1.5 trillion yen of financing available for small and medium sized enterprises and the Bank of Japan is making interest-free credit available against corporate debts.
New Zealand has a support package worth a total of some NZ$16.1 billion.
Coronavirus: Support for economies by European and other states (704 KB , PDF)
There will be a debate on estimates relating to the department for Education in the House of Commons chamber on 6 July 2022. This debate will be led by Robert Halfon MP.
A Backbench Business Committee debate on a motion on economic crime enforcement resourcing is scheduled for Thursday 7 July 2022 in the House of Commons Chamber
Data on house prices, mortgage approvals and house-building.