Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts is calling for the furlough scheme to be extended even further.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, announced today that the job retention scheme across the UK would be extended until the end of October, with furloughed staff being paid 80 per cent of their salary by the state.

Responding to a statement by the Chancellor in the House of Commons on the furlough scheme, Ms Saville Roberts said that it must remain in place as long as necessary to “enable expert-led public health guidance to be followed in each nation”.

During the statement, the UK Chancellor announced there would be no changes to the furlough scheme until July, then some flexibility brought to allow part-time working thereafter. The Chancellor said that the 80 per cent wage support measure will be extended until October.

Ms Saville Roberts said: “In Wales, workplace restrictions have not been changed, as many parts of the country have not yet passed the peak of infection. The economic taps must not be turned off in Westminster, before the public health emergency has subsided in Wales.

“Will the Chancellor ensure that the furlough scheme remains in place for as long as necessary and in such as form as to enable expert-led public health guidance to be followed in each nation?”

Following the statement, Ms Saville Roberts added: “The UK Chancellor must now ensure that the nations, and for that matter regions of England, that may need to see restrictions on travel and work remain in place for longer than others are able to access this vital support when they need it.

“Public safety must come first and each area will be facing unique challenges from this virus for months and perhaps even years to come.

"The Chancellor must ensure any financial support is flexible enough to allow the targeted support that will be needed to ensure the expert-led public health guidance can be implemented and followed.”