The government has confirmed that people who can’t work their normal hours because of coronavirus (COVID-19) will still receive their usual tax credits payments.

Those working reduced hours due to coronavirus or those being furloughed by their employer will not have their tax credits payments affected if they are still employed or self-employed.

These customers do not need to contact HMRC about this change. We will treat customers as working their normal hours until the Job Retention Scheme and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme close, even if they are not using either scheme.

We’ll use the information we hold about the number of hours they normally work.

Customers can still report any other changes in income, childcare and hours in the normal way. However, they must tell us if they or their partner lose their job, are made redundant or cease trading.

Customers can continue to claim Working Tax Credit and be treated as though they are working their normal hours, but they should check GOV.UK to see if additional or alternative support is available based on their personal and financial circumstances.

The below statement was signed by United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, United States and the United Nations.

We, the undersigned international partners welcome the dialogue between the Jubaland administration and the leadership of the Jubaland Council for Change which culminated in a reconciliation agreement signed on 23 April.

Disputed electoral outcomes in Jubaland and other Federal Member States over the past 18 months underscore the importance of credible electoral processes in which Somalis may choose their leaders in accordance with the Provisional Federal Constitution and Federal Member State constitutions.

We encourage all Jubaland stakeholders, including political leaders, communities and traditional leaders to build upon the 23 April agreement, implement the follow-up steps, and continue their constructive dialogue.

We also welcome the willingness expressed by the Jubaland stakeholders to engage the Federal Government of Somalia, and that Jubaland is ready for full collaboration with the Federal Government. International partners urge the Jubaland administration and the FGS leadership to peacefully resolve their continuing differences through dialogue, and to de-escalate the ongoing tensions in Gedo region.

We stand ready to provide the necessary support to the FGS and all FMS leaders as they strive for reconciliation and cooperation to advance national interests. In this regard, partners also welcome other recent reconciliation initiatives, in particular in South West State and Galmudug, aimed at forming inclusive, unified state-level administrations.

We urge that these efforts continue throughout Somalia for the benefit of the people.We call on all Somalis to foster unity and reconciliation as they begin the Holy month of Ramadan while facing not only the unprecedented menace from COVID-19 but also the continuing threat from terrorism.

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Welsh Government ministers have agreed the Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards’ (ACCEA) proposals following suspension of the 2020 round.

They have agreed that:

• applications for the 2020 national Clinical Excellence Awards competition should remain suspended
• consultants and academic GPs unable to submit a renewal application in 2020 (whose awards are due to expire 1 April 2021) will not be disadvantaged – their awards will be extended by one year
• ACCEA should keep plans for new applications under review based on the ongoing impact of coronavirus (COVID-19)

ACCEA and DHSC and Welsh Government ministers have listened to advice from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Royal Colleges, employers and applicants in making these decisions.

ACCEA will further update award-holders and stakeholders on plans for the 2020 and 2021 national Clinical Excellence Awards competitions after the pandemic has subsided.

New support for SMEs during coronavirus has today been launched in the form of nearly 100 expert-led webinars

The webinars will offer practical advice to SMEs and focus on issues businesses trading internationally are facing.

Many webinars will be hosted by an International Trade Adviser and include question and answer sessions, while others will feature guest speakers from business and industry.

Topics covered will range from managing distribution of supply chains and the movement of goods, to support for selling online overseas.

Secretary of State for International Trade, Liz Truss said:

Maintaining trade is essential if the UK is to overcome the unprecedented economic challenge posed by Coronavirus.

In these uncertain times, SMEs doing business internationally need as much information as possible on how to adapt and continue to carry out their day-to-day business.

These sessions provide an essential service to help address the concerns we have heard from businesses across the country over the last few weeks.

My department is here to support all businesses trading internationally, using the UK’s clout on the world stage to reduce barriers and lower tariffs to helps small firms and through providing advice from our extensive teams across the UK and around the globe.

As of 1 May the department has hosted 15 webinars with more than 1,000 attendees. Speakers scheduled this month include International Trade Advisors and the Federation of Small Businesses.

Business can register via great.gov.uk where all recorded webinars are hosted. DIT is also working with partners to take the usual schedule of events online.

There is also significant programme of webinars from other government departments, including HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, listed here.