A LOCAL MP concerned about government support offered to self-employed people has launched an online survey to gauge the feelings of entrepreneurs in the area.

John Healey, MP for Wentworth and Dearne, will use responses from the survey which runs this month to write a report for Chancellor Rishi Sunak ahead of a possible Budget in July.

On May 28, the Chancellor announced a second taxable grant for self-employed workers would be launched in August, but he confirmed this is the final grant of its kind that will be available on the Self-employed Income Support Scheme.

John has raised his concerns that support is being withdrawn too early - and could leave thousands of self-employed people in the borough struggling to make ends meet.

The survey asks local entrepreneurs how Covid-19 has affected their business, what issues they have faced accessing government funding and what other support they’d like the government to provide.

John said: “The government's help for the self-employed is limited and came late in the day.

“Some small business owners who have contacted me have been concerned the most support has been going to bigger companies and people in employment who could go on furlough.

“Sole traders and small businesses are the backbone of our economy.

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“These are the start-ups, the brickies, the plumbers, designers and beauticians that make up our community and generate so much wealth in our local economy.

“I want to know from them how their income has been affected by the coronavirus crisis, and what more the government could do to help them keep afloat as they come out of lockdown.

“Their livelihoods are vital to their own families, as well as our country’s economic recovery.

“I want to make sure it’s not just big business that survives Covid-19.”

To complete the survey, visit johnhealeymp.co.uk/self-employed-covid-19-survey.