LAST summer, the Chancellor started to wind down the furlough scheme in his so-called ‘Plan for Jobs’, only to reinstate it just five hours before it was due to be wound up.

After several more last-minute changes, the scheme is now set to expire at the end of April, but rumours suggest the Chancellor might extend it again.

With 4.6 million people still on furlough nationally, I am calling for him not to repeat the mistakes of last year by waiting until the last minute to change course.

We must continue to support workers for as long as public health restrictions remain in place.

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But once again, the delay in announcing the future of furlough is causing uncertainty for local businesses and workers, and putting jobs on the line.

I am also calling for reform to make the scheme smarter by offering workers training opportunities so they can improve their skills while on furlough.

I also want to make sure that there are tough conditions so that employers cannot abuse the scheme or waste public funds.

Unfortunately, the Government has also left millions of self-employed people relying on the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) in the dark about future support.

Shops in Cornmarket Street, Oxford, closed for lockdown. Picture: Pete Hughes

Shops in Cornmarket Street, Oxford, closed for lockdown. Picture: Pete Hughes

Cornmarket Street in central Oxford during lockdown. Picture: Pete Hughes

The fourth grant of the scheme came into force at the end of last month, yet those still relying on it have no idea how much support they will receive from it.

Around 3,000 people in Oxford East had made claims for the Coronavirus SEISS by the end of the July.

That’s why I am calling on the Chancellor to set the fourth grant of the SEISS at 80 per cent of pre-crisis profits now, so that self-employed people can plan their budgets and feel more secure about the future.

I have also called for the scheme to be opened to the 200,000 people who only have a 2019/20 tax return, and for the Chancellor to urgently fix the holes in his support schemes that have left millions of others excluded from support.

It’s not just workers who need support – we need to back our businesses through this crisis too.

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That’s why Labour has called for the Government to extend business rates relief for another six months and the reduced rate of VAT for six months or three months after restrictions are lifted – whichever is later.

And last weekend I urged ministers to convert the Bounce Back Loans for smaller businesses into a student-loan style arrangement, so our smaller businesses would only have to start paying these loans back when they are making money.

And we’re recommending the creation of a British Business Recovery Agency to manage the loans offered to larger businesses.

Labour’s Covid debt plan would protect small firms and give larger ones flexible options to cope with the looming debt mountain, helping businesses in Oxford get back on their feet, secure our economy and get Britain back on the road to recovery.

As always, any constituents needing help with the furlough scheme, SEISS, Bounce Back Loans or indeed anything else, should please get in touch with my office.