Scottish Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has responded to Boris Johnson's comments earlier this evening assuring that the furlough scheme will be available to workers in Scotland after December if required.
Speaking as he made a statement concerning the four-week lockdown for England in the House of Commons this afternoon, the Prime Minister told Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross that the scheme would be available “in the future” if the devolved nations declared nationwide lockdowns.
Responding to the Prime Minister's comments in the House of Commons today, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said: “The Prime Minister appears to have agreed – at last – that the furlough scheme will be available to Scottish businesses after December if required.
“While this is welcome, it has followed two days of completely unnecessary confusion which has left thousands of people fearing for their jobs at an already anxious time.
“We are seeking urgent clarification from the Treasury as to the exact terms under which the furlough scheme will be available to us. For example, we need to know that it will be at the full 80% level currently available to businesses, that it will be available on the same eligibility criteria as before, and that the enhanced scheme to support the self-employed at 80% rather than 40% of income will also be available to Scotland when it is needed.
“People in Scotland and across the UK are making enormous personal sacrifices to help us reduce the spread of coronavirus. All of us in government have a duty to offer them the support they need, for as long as they need it.”
The Finance Secretary's comments echo those of Nicola Sturgeon, who earlier this evening tweeted: " "If this bears out, it is v welcome. However Scottish Government seeking urgent confirmation from Treasury that it will be exactly as we asked for - furlough beyond 2 December, non time-limited and on same basis as available through Nov, inc on eligibility and 80% wages paid."
