THERE was good news for Swindon last week as the independent Swindon Town Deal Board, which I sit on, was awarded £1m from the Government’s Stronger Towns Fund.

The board worked very speedily to get funding proposals up and running and as a result of that hard work, I am delighted that Swindon has been awarded this additional government funding, which will help drive long-term economic and productivity growth through town centre regeneration.

In addition, there was further good news as Swindon’s House of Fraser, which was due to close, agreed to a last-minute rent deal with the Brunel Shopping Centre. This move will mean that the store remains open and 58 jobs have been saved in the town.

The next phase of the Government’s planned economic response to coronavirus was announced last week. Announcing the plan, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said that there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic thanks to the government’s comprehensive and generous response in March.

The country has seen three consecutive months of economic growth; millions of people have moved off the furlough scheme and back to work and consumer spending is returning. However, the Chancellor warned that a resurgence of the virus threatens our country’s recovery and the economic rationale for the next phase of support needs to be different.

As part of the Winter Economy Plan, I am glad that the Chancellor has announced a new Employment Support Scheme, which will directly support the wages of people in work, giving businesses who face depressed winter demand the option of keeping employees in a job on shorter hours rather than making them redundant. Running from November to April, all small and medium-sized businesses are eligible to apply, even if they did not previously benefit from the Furlough Scheme.

Employers retaining furloughed staff on shorter hours can claim both the Jobs Support Scheme and the Jobs Retention Bonus, significantly increasing the incentives to bring back previously furloughed employees.

I am also glad that to support self-employed traders through the winter, the Chancellor has announced that he is extending the existing self-employed grant on similar terms and conditions as the new Jobs Support Scheme.

The Chancellor has listened to evidence from business and acted decisively and these bold steps will save tens of thousands of viable jobs this winter, including here in Swindon, through wage support, tax deferrals and help for the self-employed.

Recent days have been a stark reminder of the threat that coronavirus still poses to our community and the new NHS Covid-19 app will be an important tool for helping to reduce the spread of the virus.

The NHS Covid-19 app will alert users if they have been close to someone who later tests positive for coronavirus, as well as providing risk alerts based on a user’s postcode, allow users to scan QR codes to check in at venues on the app and allow people to book tests, if they have symptoms. If you haven’t already done so and you can, I would urge you to download this app as soon as possible to help to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Finally, I would like to thank all of the local residents who attended my busy outdoor surgery at Lydiard Park last Saturday morning. If you have a local or national issue you would like to raise with me, please get in touch by emailing robert.buckland.mp@parliament.uk or writing to me at 29b Wood Street, Old Town, Swindon, SN1 4AN.