What financial support is on offer for Tier 3 regions?

21 October 2020, 15:44

A woman walks down the street in Ormskirk, Lancashire
Coronavirus – Fri Oct 16, 2020. Picture: PA

Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire, Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region will all be under Tier 3 restrictions.

Millions more people in parts of northern England will face stringent coronavirus restrictions in the coming days.

But what financial support is the Government offering to these areas – and is the support fair?

– South Yorkshire

Some 1.4 million people in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield will be affected by Tier 3 measures from Saturday morning.

The package of support agreed includes £11 million to invest in a localised test and trace system – equivalent to around £8 per capita.

A further £30 million of support for businesses affected by the restrictions, as well as their employees, will be offered. This equates to approximately £22 per capita.

HEALTH Coronavirus
(PA Graphics)

– Greater Manchester

A row over the financial support meant agreement was not reached between Westminster and local leaders before the Government announced Tier 3 measures were to be imposed.

Civic leaders wanted a minimum of £65 million to support the region’s 2.8 million people, but Boris Johnson refused to offer more than £60 million.

The Prime Minister confirmed to MPs that the £60 million for business support – which is in line with the offer for South Yorkshire of approximately £22 per capita – would be distributed to the region’s boroughs.

The Government has also agreed to £22 million to help authorities implement and enforce restrictions – approximately £8 per capita.

– Lancashire

The 1.5 million people of Lancashire were placed under Tier 3 restrictions last week, with the agreement of local leaders.

The county secured £30 million of business support – equivalent to approximately £20 per capita.

A further £12 million for enforcement was agreed – in line with the £8 per capita offered to other areas.

– Liverpool City Region

A Covid alert level sign in Liverpool
A Covid alert level sign in Liverpool (Peter Byrne/PA)

The Liverpool City Region was the first area to come under Tier 3 restrictions earlier this month, with tougher measures affecting its 1.6 million people.

It secured £14 million for enforcement, and a further £30 million of business support.

This equates to approximately £8 per capita for enforcement, and £19 per capita for business help.

By Press Association