Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the number of people who will return to work from furlough as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme ends.

The CJRS has helped over one million employers protect over 9.1 million jobs. As the country re-opens, Government support will need to be adjusted in a way that ensures people can get back to work, and get the UK economy up and running again.

The CJRS has been designed to flexibly and gradually enable employees to return to work. From 1 July, employers can bring back to work employees that have been furloughed for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while still being able to claim a CJRS grant for the hours not worked. From August to October, an employer contribution will be introduced gradually.

It is the case that some employers and sectors will be affected by coronavirus for longer than others, and the Government will seek to support these firms appropriately. CJRS is just one form of support on offer to employers during this difficult period. The Government will continue to engage with businesses and representative groups with the aim of ensuring that the support provided is right for these sectors and for the economy as a whole.