Local context

Government job retention schemes

The latest HMRC data shows that within the Hampshire County Council area, up to 31 July, a total of 244,300 residents have been covered by a government job retention scheme (SEISS or CJRS). Combined, the number of claims has increased by 13,100 compared to June, but the increase on the month is mostly attributable to furloughed employees (+12,500).

There were 192,400 employees furloughed through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). The take up rate for furloughed employment was 30% for July 2020, up 2 percentage points on June (28%).

There were 51,900 Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) claimants. The take up rate for the self-employed income support scheme was 75% for July 2020, up 1 percentage point on June (74%).

The data includes changes to the furlough scheme in July (allowing employers to bring furloughed employees back to work for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while still being able to claim CJRS grant for the hours not worked). However, the data does not reflect changes to the furlough scheme in August (requiring employers to pay national insurance contributions and pension contributions). In August the second round of SEISS was opened to claimants and the closing date for applications was confirmed as 19 October 2020.

Figure 1: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – furlough take up rate % (claims received to 31 July 2020)

Figure 2: Self Employed Income Support Scheme – take up rate % (claims received to 31 July 2020)

Source: HMRC 2020

Flying Start Hampshire

Hampshire Futures and the Hampshire Careers Partnership have launched a new website - Flying Start Hampshire. It aims to support the county’s young people as they prepare to move on from secondary education to further and higher education, training or employment, having secured their GCSE results.

Flying Start contains links to resources that will help students and young people consider their next steps and explore their options to achieve success. It also contains useful resources for young people on looking after their health and wellbeing. Parents and carers are supported with a section of specific information and links to help them as they support their family members.

GCSE Results

On GCSE results day yesterday (20 August), Hampshire County Council, issued a press release congratulating Hampshire students on their achievements.

Councillor Roz Chadd, Executive Member for Education and Skills is quoted: “With schools finishing so suddenly this year and exams not taking place, it’s been an uncertain and worrying time for many 16 year-olds and their families. I’d really like to congratulate them on how well they have done in the face of the coronavirus adversity… I have been really impressed with how schools and young people have coped and gone above and beyond to maintain such high standards. A huge ‘well done’ to pupils, parents and teachers alike. And, I’m extremely pleased that, generally, colleges have said they will honour places that they offered to this group of 16 year-olds prior to lockdown.”

National context

Communities

Face coverings

The guidance on the closure of certain businesses and venues has been updated to include the latest information on face coverings. The guidance provides a list of indoor settings where face coverings must be worn.

The public are also advised to wear a face covering in indoor places that are not listed where social distancing may be difficult and where they will come into contact with people they do not normally meet.

Homelessness

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published experimental statistics on statutory homelessness in England. The release provides information on statutory homelessness applications, duties, and outcomes for local authorities in England. It also reports on households in temporary accommodation.

Evictions

The MHCLG has announced that the ban on evictions will continue for four weeks, meaning in total no legal evictions will have taken place for six months. The Government also intends to give tenants greater protection from eviction over the winter by requiring landlords to provide tenants with six months’ notice until at least the end of March, excepting in cases raising other serious issues such as those involving anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse perpetrators.

Domestic abuse

A joint investigation by Panorama and Women’s Aid into the impact of Covid-19 on domestic abuse, found someone called the police for help every 30 seconds in the first seven weeks of lockdown. The investigation found that three-quarters of victims say the lockdown has made it harder for them to leave the perpetrators.

Social impact on disabled people

The Office for National Statistics has published indicators from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey on the social impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on disabled people.

Children and education

Awarding of GCSE, AS and A level

Ofqual yesterday (20 August) published guidance for teachers, students, parents and carers following the decision to issue results using centre assessment grades or calculated results where higher. 

University places

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced that the Government’s Higher Education Taskforce agreed to honouring all offers across courses to students who meet their conditions this coming year wherever possible, or if maximum capacity is reached to offer an alternative course or a deferred place.

To support this commitment, the Government has lifted the cap on medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and undergraduate teacher training places.

Vocational and technical qualifications

Ofqual has written to headteachers and principals about awarding results for vocational and technical qualifications in England, summer 2020.

Ofqual has also collated all publications relating to the awarding of vocational and technical qualifications in the academic year 2019 to 2020.

Autumn term

The DfE has updated the guidance for parents and carers about the new term by adding new information on school admissions, travelling to and from nursery, childminders, school and college, education, health and care (EHC) plans, wellbeing, online safety and assessment and exams.

Holiday and after-school clubs

The DfE has updated guidance for the autumn term on protective measures for providers of community activities, holiday or after-school clubs, tuition and other out-of-school settings offering provision to children during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Adults' social care and public health

Health and social care worker flu vaccination campaign launched

Public Health England (PHE) has launched a new campaign - I’ve had my flu jab -  to encourage health and social care workers to get the flu vaccination to protect themselves, their families and their patients. PHE has also created resources which can be adapted locally.

Social care funding

The NHS Confederation has published a new report, as part of the NHS Reset campaign, which explores the opportunities and challenges ahead for health and social care and considers the four critical factors needed to reset social care.

NHS staff

NHS Digital has published its monthly NHS workforce data for May 2020. It shows that the number of nurses in the NHS in England increased by 13,840 compared with last year, and the number of doctors has risen by 9,306. Numbers of professionally qualified clinical staff, doctors, paramedics and support to clinical staff are now at record levels.

Local action

The Government and local leaders in Oldham, Pendle and Blackburn have agreed additional measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, while removing Wigan, Darwen and Rossendale from intervention. Birmingham has been added to this week’s watch list as an ‘area of enhanced support’, and Northampton has become an ‘area of intervention’.

Economy and business

Health and Safety Executive offer to support spot checks

Following a successful pilot with East Hampshire DC and Havant BC, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is offering to undertake initial stage virtual spot checks to local authority enforced local businesses and pass the results to the local authority. This service will be provided by HSE to local authorities using the money the government has made available to the HSE to support regulatory activity in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

More details via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Indicators for the UK economy and society

The Office for National Statistics has issued the latest release (20 August) of early experimental data on the impact of Covid-19 on the UK economy and society. The indicators are created using rapid response surveys, novel data sources and experimental methods.

Environment, place and transport

Strategic road network investment

Highways England has announced details of plans for £27.4 billion investment in the strategic road network across the country. Highways England will deliver £14 billion of projects improving the quality, capacity and safety of the motorways and major A roads to support the nation’s recovery. Highways England has said its plans would help support 64,000 construction industry jobs.

Acceleration Unit

The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced a new ‘Acceleration Unit’ to speed up delivery of transport projects. The new team of specialists will join the DfT to tackle delays to infrastructure projects and drive forward progress for passengers.

Back to school transportThe DfT has published back-to-school transport materials to support councils’ communications to parents and children about the guidance on cycling and walking, and using public transport safely.

Travel corridors

The Government has announced that Croatia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Austria are to be removed from travel corridors list. People arriving in England from these destinations from 4am Saturday 22 August will need to self-isolate for two weeks.

National Covid-19 data