Moray MP Douglas Ross has welcomed the publication of UK Government figures today detailing the take up rate of the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has furloughed 736,500 workers across Scotland - an increase of more than 100,000 jobs since the end of May. The UK Government has also spent £449 million on supporting 155,000 self-employed people in Scotland through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. 

Commenting, Douglas said: “These figures highlight that nearly 13,000 people across Moray benefitted from the UK Government’s job retention scheme, which has enabled employers to retain their skills and keep jobs open. In simple terms the scheme has helped these individuals protect their jobs and their livelihoods as we faced the worst of this pandemic. 

“The take up rate in Moray at 31% is equal to the Scottish rate as a whole and slightly higher than the UK 30% average. 

“These figures show that a total of 736,500 workers across Scotland have been paid 80% of their wages by the UK Government during this Pandemic, and many will now have started to return to work. This scheme put in place by the Chancellor of the Exchequer has enabled businesses to get back up and running as soon as restrictions were eased.

“This situation was un-precedented and the UK Government has risen to the challenge. With other measures now put in place to help the hospitality sectorfor example, including a reduction in their rate of VAT, will assist the whole of the UK in our efforts to get theeconomy back up and running.”