REMINDER TO APPLY FOR SECOND ROUND OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR SELF-EMPLOYED

National Policy Circular No. NP/218/JW

To all Taxi Branches and Regional Councils

 

Dear colleague,

REMINDER TO APPLY FOR SECOND ROUND OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR SELF-EMPLOYED

 

The Coronavirus crisis has hit the taxi trade hard, disrupting demand and generating new health and safety threats for drivers. RMT has fought for recognition of the issues facing the trade, calling for recognition that taxis are part of the public transport eco-system and should be treated as such, with:

 

• Direct support for drivers whose livelihoods are under threat, including taking them into local authority employment as part of emergency public transport services;
• Improved access to road space and recognition that schemes that drive taxis away from roads are damaging the trade;
• Deeper recognition that years of de-regulation have left the high quality taxi trade in a perilous situation, which the Coronavirus crisis is only worsening.

 

The government’s response has been muddied by its failure to see the public service element of the taxi trade and its fixation with seeing it simply as a business.

 

However, it has belatedly recognised the some of the hardship facing self-employed people and put in place a grant scheme and the second round of applications for these grants is open now.

 

Under the Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) those eligible will receive a government grant worth up to £6,570. To make a claim for this grant, your business must have been affected on or after 14 July 2020.

 

The deadline for applications for this grant is 19 October 2020.

 

You can find out how to apply here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme

 

The government intends this to be the final round of grant provision but RMT will keep fighting for more support for the taxi trade and to win recognition of the role it plays in our public transport system.

 

I would be grateful if you could bring the content of this circular to the attention of all members in your Branch.

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Mick Cash

General Secretary