THE Treasury is in “chaos” as officials scramble to provide clarity on furlough support for Scottish workers.
Boris Johnson provided last night what Douglas Ross has described as a “definitive” commitment to providing full furlough payments to Scots whenever they are required.
However, top SNP politicians including Nicola Sturgeon have demanded answers after Tory ministers, as well as the Prime Minister’s spokesman, appeared to backtrack on the pledge.
It has now been revealed that the problem stems from the Government not having fully thought through its new economic bailout package after hastily announcing an English lockdown over the weekend.
One Treasury source told the Herald that there was “chaos” in Westminster as officials desperately try to formulate a plan for devolved nations.
Another told the paper: “The policy is not 100% formed. The commitment [to allow an extended furlough should Scotland go into a future lockdown] is there; the full details are not.
"The Treasury got into a panic, asking how do they do it, what about the separate Scottish tax code…?”
The Treasury has not responded to requests for comment.
Johnson was pressed on the issue repeatedly in the Commons last night.
He stated: “The furlough scheme is a UK-wide scheme. If other parts of the UK decide to go into measures that require the furlough scheme, then of course it is available to them. That has to be right. That applies not just now but of course in the future as well.”
However, this morning, Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick appeared to backtrack on the commitment. He said the payments would only be in place until December 2, when the English lockdown is scheduled to be lifted.
The Housing Secretary added that is "a decision that the Chancellor will have to make in the future”.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick says it will be the chancellor's decision whether to extend the furlough scheme for Scotland if the country should stay in lockdown beyond December 2.#KayBurley https://t.co/vPJnOie6MO pic.twitter.com/Ts4hniVQVK
— SkyNews (@SkyNews) November 3, 2020
READ MORE: Boris Johnson furlough confusion 'risks ruining Douglas Ross's credibility'
The confusion has since been compounded by the PM’s spokesman, who again provided little in the way of detail.
He told reporters: “Furlough has always been a UK-wide scheme and the PM has said the government will always be there to provide support to all parts of the UK.
“If other parts of the UK decided to go into measures which require direct economic support, of course we will make that available to them, as we have done throughout the pandemic.”
He was asked to clarify whether Scotland could have a furlough scheme that only applies north of the Border. “You heard what the Prime Minister said in the House yesterday,” came the reply. “The UK Government will always be there to provide support for all parts of the United Kingdom and you can see our track record on that.”
Meanwhile, Steve Barclay, chief secretary to the Treasury, was repeatedly asked to provide clarity by Scottish and Welsh MPs in the Commons.
He parroted the response that the Westminster administration will "always be there" for "all parts of the UK", adding that the furlough extension of the furlough scheme was possible through the "broad shoulders that the United Kingdom offers".
Exasperated SNP MP Alison Thewliss was among those to probe Barclay for answers. She condemned the “shameful” response and said the saga was highly damaging for Scottish Tory leader Ross.
"It is staggering that yet another Tory Minister has rowed back on Boris Johnson's earlier commitment that full furlough support will be available to the devolved governments after December 2,” Thewliss commented.
"The repeated refusal by Tory ministers and the Prime Minister's own spokesperson to confirm Boris Johnson's earlier commitment is beyond shameful and is leaving devolved governments, businesses and workers in the dark at this critical time.
"This entire shambolic episode has also become a serious question of judgement for Douglas Ross, who has been left without a shred of credibility if commitments made to him are unravelling. His last-minute conversion to backing furlough will be seen as nothing less than opportunism and attempts to score political points.”
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