Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of adapting the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to provide further support for businesses who are unable to furlough staff due to the critical nature of their work yet are facing severe financial difficulties as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

This question was answered on 4th May 2020
The purpose of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is to support people who would otherwise have been made redundant. Furloughed employees cannot work for their employer and must remain on furlough for a minimum of three weeks. This is consistent with public health guidance seeking to minimise the number of people outside their homes on a regular basis.

This scheme supplements the other significant support announced for UK businesses, including the Bounce Back Loans Scheme for small businesses, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the deferral of tax payments. More information about the full range of business support measures is available at www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/