Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser has welcomed the continued amount of jobs being supported in Perth and North Perthshire by the UK Government’s furlough scheme.
With the scheme set to end at the end of September, there was once again a fall in the number of workers still furloughed across Scotland at the end of June.
However, a total of 141,500 workers in Scotland were estimated to still being supported by the scheme, with 2,300 of these in Perth and North Perthshire.
Mr Fraser, who represents the Mid Scotland and Fife region, says it is welcome so many employees have returned to work as restrictions have eased, while in turn critical furlough support is still in place from the UK Government.
The latest statistics show that at the end of June, the UK Treasury were still protecting 2,300 jobs in Perth and North Perthshire through the furlough scheme, while a total of 17,800 cumulative jobs have been protected since March 2020 in the area.
Mr Fraser says the UK Government have stepped up at every turn to support vital jobs and livelihoods in Perth and North Perthshire throughout the crisis. By contrast, SNP Ministers have failed to engage with businesses and been slow to get funding out the door to them.
Commenting, he said: “As we continue to ease restrictions, it is welcome to see more employees in Perth and North Perthshire returning to work.
“Ever since the pandemic began, the UK Government have stepped up to protect vital jobs and livelihoods in Perth and North Perthshire through the furlough scheme and that will continue until the end of September.
“The crisis has shown the economic strength of the United Kingdom. As well as the furlough scheme, the UK Government have also provided support for the self-employed and billions in business loans. The furlough scheme is still protecting 2,300 jobs in Perth and North Perthshire.
“That is in contrast to SNP Ministers who have failed to engage with businesses throughout the pandemic and been slow to get funding out the door to them.”
Mr Fraser continued: “It is now imperative that they ramp up the vaccination programme so that we can ease restrictions as planned on August 9, which will help more and more employees in Perth and North Perthshire safely return to work in the coming weeks.”