Job Retention Scheme - Update 

The UK scheme to pay wages of workers on leave because of coronavirus will be extended to October, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said.  He said the government backed workers and companies going into the lockdown, and would support them coming out.  Mr Sunak confirmed that employees will continue to receive 80% of their monthly wages up to £2,500.  But he said the government will ask companies to "start sharing" the cost of the scheme from August.

Mr Sunak rejected suggestions some people might get "addicted" to furlough if it was extended.  Some 7.5 million workers are now covered by the scheme, up from 6.3 million last week, he said.  The chancellor told the Commons