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Rishi Sunak urged to extend furlough

Shops to open 24-hours over Christmas

Furlough scheme to be extended until end of April

Rishi Sunak urged to extend furlough

Rishi Sunak has been urged to extend furlough scheme and business rates holiday until summer.

Shops to open 24-hours over Christmas

CBI, Confederation of British Industry, suggests the government considers extending the furlough and business rates holiday schemes – and to act before March’s budget.

The discussion is to allow the furlough scheme to continue until Easter.

The business group said firms needed to know whether financial lifelines will be available as they plan for the months ahead.

Having the scheme as a financial back up will allow businesses to see what they can and can not afford in moths to come and plan what they should do in terms of the next step.

The furlough scheme, which pays 80% of peoples’ wages up to £2,500 a month, is currently set to finish at the end of April and a rates holiday closes at the end of March.

The CBI estimated the cost of extensions to the furlough scheme and rates relief to the end of June at £6bn and £1.3bn.

CBI director-general Tony Danker said: “Many tough decisions for business owners on jobs, or even whether to carry on, will be made in the next few weeks.”

“If the government plans to continue its support then I urge them to take action before the budget.”

About 9.6 million people have benefited at one time or another, with more the highest amount of people receiving furlough with in the first few months of the pandemic.

However, some have questioned whether all the money has been wisely spent.

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