THE government has helped pay the wages of more than 100,000 people in Oxfordshire since lockdown.

Businesses have furloughed 80,100 jobs in the county, up to May 31, since the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme was launched in April.

This is to help UK employers who have been severely affected by coronavirus to retain their employees.

Broken down by district and city councils in Cherwell 21,200 jobs have been furloughed, in Oxford 16,000, South Oxfordshire 15,400, Vale of White Horse 13,900, and West Oxfordshire13,600.

An announcement was made on May 12 that the scheme will run until the end of October to continue the support for jobs and businesses as people return to work.

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The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme was rolled out in May and has financially supported 23,100 self-employed people in Oxfordshire who have been adversely affected by the coronavirus outbreak and paid grants worth a total of more than £78m up to the end of May. On May 29 the Chancellor announced an extension to this scheme. Those eligible to claim the self-employed grant will be able to claim a second and final grant in August of up to £6,750.

Between the two schemes the government has supported the wages of 103,200 jobs in Oxfordshire.

Rishi Sunak said: “The UK Government is doing everything we can to protect jobs and businesses in Oxfordshire and across the UK during the crisis.

"Our unprecedented job retention and self-employment support schemes have supported the livelihoods of millions and will help ensure our recovery is as swift as possible.”