Furlough figures

A total of 26,000 West Lothian employees were furloughed to the end of June - nearly 30 per cent of the workforce.

Figures released by HMRC in Scotland have shown that 29 per cent of the 88,400 people eligible have been placed on furlough.

The Government’s Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) has also helped 4600 people in the county to June 30 out of a potential total of 6000 self-employed workers.

More than £ 12,800 has been paid out through SEISS, with an average payment being £2800.

The take up rate was 79 per cent.

Across Scotland take up rates were broadly similar for CJRS with the figures for Glasgow being 88,300 or 32 per cent and in the capital 69,500 or 28 per cent.

Nationally the figure was 736,500 people furloughed, or 30 per cent of the 2,431,300 eligible under the scheme’s rules.

Councillor Damian Timson, leader of the Conservative group on West Lothian Council, said it was thanks to Scotland being in the UK that the country had received over £6.5 billion to tackle coronavirus.

He continued: “It is not just that we are in the UK that has enabled this, it is that we have a Conservative Government that has managed the economy so these incredible levels of support can be given.”

Conservative Lothians MPS Miles Briggs added: “It is remarkable that the UK government has been able to protect so many jobs during this pandemic.

“We must now focus on getting the economy moving again so that West Lothian’s economy can start recovering from the Covid-19 outbreak.”

A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: “Plans to tackle the economic recovery of the West Lothian area are well underway and a draft Economic Recovery and Growth Plan has been developed.”

Labour Lothians MSP Neil Findlay added: “The furlough scheme as a temporary measure helped people through the worst of the crisis but we cannot now just leave them to the whim of the market.

“Without major state intervention and a change in the way our economy operates the threat of long-term mass unemployment looms.

“I hope and pray that this won’t happen but it will require coordinated action to prevent it.”

And SNP councillor Frank Anderson said: “It is encouraging to see that in West Lothian, considering our economy is mainly retail/ distribution, that there was no more need for furlough than the national average. Whilst it must have been a struggle for those who only received the 80 per cent payment, it is vital now that companies accept their responsibility to make up their employees wages when the JRS payments are further reduced.

“Our local economy will be very reliant on local people spending as much of their spare cash as possible locally.”

His SNP colleague, MSP Angela Constance, added: “What we need now as a matter of urgency is a Job Guarantee Scheme particularly for young people.

“The UK Government should therefore devolve the necessary financial powers so we can ensure we deliver the right support at the right time.”