Airdrie MP raises furlough scheme concerns with Prime Minister

Virtual contribution to PMQs highlights problems being faced by Neil Gray's constituents

NEIL Gray raised furlough scheme issues being faced by his Airdrie constituents with Boris Johnson via a virtual contribution to Prime Minister’s Questions.

The town’s MP, who is the SNP’s shadow work and pensions secretary at Westminster, highlighted “failings” with the scheme and asked that the government introduce an appeals process “to save unnecessary redundancies or hardship”.

In response, the Prime Minister replied that the Airdrie politician was “making an excellent point”.

Mr Gray told Parliament of a 17-year old constituent who “has now found himself without a job or furlough support and is classed as ineligible for social security because of his age”, adding: “The employer is refusing to engage with my correspondence.”

He said: “I have a number of cases where employers are refusing to furlough staff, either because they do not understand or are unwilling to follow the guidance.

“For such cases, will the Prime Minister consider a furlough appeals process to assist employees, ex-employees and employers to ensure that people are treated fairly, according to the guidance, to save unnecessary redundancies or hardship?”

Mr Johnson promised to look into the specific constituency case raised, saying: “The honourable gentleman is making an excellent point.

“If he could send me details, we will be very happy to take up the case that he describes.”

The government’s coronavirus job retention scheme pays 80 per cent of the salaries of workers who are temporarily unable to be given work by their employers.

It has so far been used for 7.5 million employees at nearly a million firms across the
UK, with the scheme being extended until October by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Airdrie representative Mr Gray said: “Unfortunately, cases like Ben’s are all too common just now – he is just one of many constituents for whom coronavirus has become the stuff of nightmares.

“I have been approached by several constituents regarding various issues including employers refusing to furlough them, being unable to claim Universal Credit and losing job offers due to the virus after handing in their notice. While many issues were caused by employers not fully understanding the complexities of the scheme, some were just not willing to change their decisions, leaving employees both current and past in a financial nightmare that they did not cause.

“I have written to the Prime Minister as he requested, highlighting not just Ben’s case, but the many other issues that have been raised with my team and I over the past seven or so weeks, and hopefully some form of assistance will be forthcoming soon.”

Mr Gray added of the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic: “Foodbank use in Airdrie & Shotts has risen by 47 per cent since the start of lockdown, and I can’t see things getting better any time soon.

“This cannot be allowed to continue – the government must do something to help people like Ben across the whole of the UK.

“I cannot thank those fantastic volunteers who run foodbanks enough; without them, so many of my constituents and their families would be struggling to get enough food to see them through the week.”