Furlough reminder

Perth and Kinross’s two MPs and two constituency MSPs have joined forces to urge companies to apply for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Pete Wishart MP, John Nicolson MP, Roseanna Cunningham MSP and John Swinney MSP sent out a joint press release on the subject earlier this week.

The scheme, which went live on Monday, allows companies to furlough workers who are not working as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

The SNP politicians have also called for the Treasury to fix some of the problems with the scheme, such as the problems of paying seasonal workers and issues surrounding freelance and agency workers.

Perth and North Perthshire MP Mr Wishart said:“While I welcome the opening of the Coronavirus Job

Retention Scheme, there remains a significant number in society who cannot access this or the self-employed scheme, and the chancellor must address this.”

Ochil and South Perthshire MP John Nicolson added:“The Coronavirus Job Retention scheme, though imperfect, is a crucial lifeline for employers in Ochil and South Perthshire, and I would urge every business with furloughed staff to apply as soon as possible to the scheme in its current form.”

Businesses can apply to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme at https://www.gov.uk/ guidance/ claim-for-wagesthrough-thecoronavirus-jobretention-scheme

HMRC aims to make payments to businesses who qualify within six working days.