Speaking in the House of Commons, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the expansion of the furlough replacement scheme with the government paying a larger share of workers’ wages to protect companies struggling with Covid-19 restrictions.

The big changes to the Job Support Scheme (JSS) are set to replace furlough scheme in November.

The government will now fund 62% of the wages for hours not worked. This more than doubles the maximum payment to £1,541.75 a month. In the most generous case, the taxpayer will now go from funding 22% of wages to just under half.