Stop Furlough Cliff Edge

Scottish Government to put forward costed options for post 30/6/20 furlough arrangements or their replacement.

The current furlough arrangements, whilst welcome, are due to end on 30/6/20. The cost to the UK Government for April was reported to have been around £10bn, so Scotland’s share was say £1bn.

If the cost for whatever the UK Government proposes for post 30/6/20 for Scotland is say £800m for July, £700m for Aug & £600m for Sep, could the Scottish Government (with all-party agreement in the Scottish Parliament) propose options for how this could be spent that is best for Scotland's people and economy?

Options could include:
1. reduction in current furlough % for those currently eligible (those on payrolls at 19/3/20), possibly with varying reduced % and timing for different sectors – ie what the UK Government is expected to do
2. a universal basic income for everyone, or for designated sectors or groups
3. replacement of furlough scheme with a targeted negative income tax applied through payrolls for people unable to resume work partially or fully
4. anything else that works

If legislative change at Westminster is required to implement the preferred option, it should be possible to swiftly implement the change required.