People ordered to isolate should be part of furlough scheme, MP says

THE GOVERNMENT has been urged to extend the furlough scheme to those told to isolate under the test and trace system to make the process economically viable.

Sheffield South East Labour

MP and chairman of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Clive Betts called on the Government to consider “something like the furlough scheme to recompense people who could lose financially by isolating themselves”.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock

said that while support has been put in place to ensure people get the financial help they need if told to isolate, the Government “keep this under review”.

It comes as earlier, during Prime Minister’s Questions, Boris Johnson urged employers not to lay off workers who they will need in the future “when the economy turns up again”. Mr Betts said the Government should offer more financial support to those isolating under the NHS test and trace service and called for “mandatory penalties” to be imposed on those who refuse to disclose their contacts after testing positive.

The Labour MP said his committee heard from representatives of the Local Government Association and directors of public health and that “concerns were raised” about the test and trace scheme.

During Prime Minister’s Questions, the SNP’s Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) called for an “extension to the furlough deadline” and asked Mr Johnson what he was going to do “to stop companies treating workers like numbers in a spreadsheet”.

Mr Johnson admitted he is “concerned” at the behaviour of some firms.