REDDITCH MP Rachel Maclean says the Government’s plans for jobs will protect people’s livelihoods in Redditch.

Yesterday, (Wednesday, July 8) Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed the Government’s £30 billion Plan for Jobs – designed to support people to find the jobs that are out there, creating new jobs through investing in our infrastructure and housing, and protecting jobs by revitalising the hard-hit sectors upon which many jobs depend.

As the furlough scheme tapers off, the Government will ‘rewarding’ employers who successfully bring staff back from furlough. The Jobs Retention Bonus Scheme will see a one-off payment of £1,000 to the business for every employee who was furloughed previously and who is successfully kept on continuously until January.

Mrs Maclean said: “This is a comprehensive and generous Plan for Jobs. I am proud that the Government has put an unprecedented and generous package of support in place to protect people and their livelihoods in Redditch.

“In the coming weeks we will be presenting our recovery plan for Redditch. As part of a ‘One Redditch’ approach, all levels of local government have come together to draw up ambitious plans for our vision for Redditch for years to come. We must recharge Redditch in the wake of coronavirus, whilst continuing to unlock our town’s full potential.”

The Government will also pay employers £1,000 to take on trainees, with triple the number of places there are now, to help get young people ready for work. The £111 million funding will be used to triple the scale of Traineeships, which consist of work experience placements, training and work preparation for 16-24 year olds.

The National Careers Service will be expanded to help more young people find work or training. A stamp duty will be temporarily scrapped on all homes under £500,000 to boost confidence in the housing market which will help to drive growth and create jobs.

VAT will be temporarily cut to 5 per cent for the tourism and hospitality sectors, giving a boost to some of the industries hardest hit by coronavirus.

A new Eat Out to Help Out scheme has also been launched, which will give people up to 50 per cent off meals out, encouraging people back into restaurants, cafes and pubs.