Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nicola Richards and Greg Smith

Tuesday 22nd June 2021 Commons Chamber

[Nicola Richards (West Bromwich East) (Con)]

What recent estimate his Department has made of the number of furloughed employees moving back into work.

[Greg Smith (Buckingham) (Con)]

What recent estimate his Department has made of the number of furloughed employees moving back into work.

[The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rishi Sunak)]

Between the end of January and the end of April, 1.5 million people left the furlough scheme. The most recent business survey from the Office for National Statistics estimates that the number of employees furloughed continued to decline after that point, to approximately 2 million at the end of May, which is the lowest level reported by the survey since June last year. At the same time, the number of payrolled employees has increased for six consecutive months. I believe that the coronavirus job retention scheme is striking the right balance between supporting the economy as it opens up, continuing to provide support and protect incomes, and ensuring that incentives are in place to get people back to work as demand returns.