Plaid Cymru Shadow Economy Minister Helen Mary Jones MS and Ben Lake MP, Plaid Cymru's Economy Spokesperson in Westminster have called on the Welsh Government to step in to help those who are ineligible for the UK Government’s job retention scheme
On 12 May, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced an extension to the Job Retention Scheme as early as tomorrow – but with the UK Government only paying 60% of an employee’s wages rather than 80%.
Wales’ Economy Minister Ken Skates has stated that 74% of Welsh businesses are participating in the Job Retention Scheme – the highest percentage uptake of any of the four home nations of the UK.
However millions of people are ineligible for the support and are also unable to claim Universal Credit – leaving them without any income. A recent survey undertaken by the New Starter Furlough Campaign showed that 83% of respondents had been unable to receive any support through Universal Credit.
Plaid Cymru Shadow Minister for the Economy Helen Mary Jones MS said the situation was “desperate and unsustainable” and warned the UK Government not to take a blind eye and called upon them to provide “crucial support” to those who had fallen through the net. Ms Jones said if the UK Government couldn’t deliver then the Welsh Government should “step up and provide a Welsh solution” to the problem.
Plaid Cymru's Economy Spokesperson in Westminster Ben Lake MP said:
“Thousands of Welsh households are falling through the cracks in the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and also unable to claim Universal Credit.
“These people, through no fault of their own, are dangerously close to defaulting on their rent or mortgage payments. The situation is desperate and unsustainable. It can’t go on like this.
“The UK Government must act now to provide crucial support to these people who have fallen through the net. To turn a blind eye would be callous.
“But if they fail, the Welsh Government must step up and provide a Welsh solution to this problem. Prove that you’ll stand up for Wales and give these people the hope and support that they both need and deserve.”