Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for industries including aviation, which do not expect to return to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels in the short term.

As set out at Budget 2021, the Government will extend the CJRS for a further five months from May until the end of September 2021 in order to aid businesses and employees through the next stage of the pandemic. Furloughed workers in the UK will continue to receive more generous support than those in many other countries, as the CJRS ensures employees receive 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to £2,500 per month.

The scheme will be extended on current terms – with no additional employer contributions – until the end of June 2021.

As the economy reopens and demand returns, the Government will ask employers to make a small additional contribution, of 10% towards the cost of paying for unworked hours, from July. As the economy reopens further, this employer contribution will increase to 20% in August and September.