FURLOUGH U-TURN IS WELCOMED
CHANCELLOR IN LAST-MINUTE EXTENSION FOR SCHEME THAT WALES’ ECONOMY MINISTER BRANDS ‘ESSENTIAL’
THE extension of the jobs furlough scheme demonstrates the “value” of the union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Wales’ economy minister has said.
Ken Skates welcomed Rishi Sunak’s decision to extend the scheme until the end of March, saying it is what Wales has been calling for “for some time”.
The decision came just weeks after the Chancellor rejected Wale’s request for flexibility over job support schemes to accommodate the start of the country’s two-week lockdown, which ends on Monday.
Yesterday, Mr Skates said Welsh ministers had not been briefed about the extension, but he nevertheless “welcomed” the U-turn.
He told the Welsh Government’s coronavirus press briefing in Cardiff: “Unfortunately, the media, it appears, were briefed ahead of Welsh Government ministers on the further support from UK Government.
“But I do welcome what appears to be an announcement that meets what the Welsh Government has been calling for for some time.
“Of course there is a necessity to support people for as long as it takes to get through the pandemic.”
Mr Skates said he would “be digesting the detail of the announcement and the implications for Wales”.
He also said the biggest risk to Wales’ economy and the public’s wellbeing is “doing too little, too late”, describing the extension as “essential”.
The minister also said the move demonstrates the benefit of Wales being part of the United Kingdom, following a recent surge in membership for Welsh independence campaign group YesCymru.
“I think this also shows the value today of a union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland working together to overcome the crisis of coronavirus,” Mr Skates said.
Wales’s Finance Minister Rebecca Evans later warned that the “last minute U-turn” had “come too late”.
She said: “I am pleased that businesses and workers now have some much-needed certainty, but it is unacceptable that the UK Government waited until a nationwide England lockdown before acting.
“For many businesses and workers this extension has come too late.
“It is now clear that the Chancellor could have provided greater support for Wales’ essential 17-day firebreak. I will continue to press HMT (Her Majesty’s Treasury) to backdate support for this period.”
The leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, Paul Davies, said it was important that both the UK and Welsh Governments continued to work together now the furlough scheme had been extended.
He told BBC Wales: “People want their Governments – the UK Government and the Welsh Government – to actually work together to tackle this pandemic.
“And that’s what I urge both Governments to do. We do need to see a much more co-ordinated approach and I think the signals from both the Welsh Government and the UK Government is that’s the direction they both want to take.
“Both Governments should be working together in the interests of the people of Wales. But I’m absolutely pleased to hear what the Chancellor has said today.” Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said the extension would provide “certainty” to people and businesses in the nation.
“We have supported more than half a million livelihoods in Wales so far during the pandemic, and the package announced today provides people and businesses with the certainty they need in the months ahead,” he said.
“We are tackling the pandemic as one United Kingdom, and workers, families and businesses across Wales will continue to have full access to our unprecedented UK-wide financial support.”
But Plaid Cymru’s MP for Ceredigion, Ben Lake, said Mr Sunak’s failure to extend furlough at an earlier stage had created “uncertainty” for people and businesses.
Mr Lake said: “The Chancellor previously dismissed calls to extend furlough in this way, and so the boastful rhetoric that accompanied today’s announcement was in poor taste.
“An acknowledgment of the uncertainty that his initial refusal, and subsequent U-turn, had caused households and businesses would have been more appropriate.
“Greater clarity is needed regarding flexible working, and I urge the UK Government to explore accompanying measures to help businesses, including debt relief, to mitigate the growing economic damage to the economy.”