CENTRAL Devon MP Mel Stride, Chair of the Treasury Select Committee, has welcomed the move from the Chancellor to extend the eligibility cut-off date for Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to March 19.

The change will mean that thousands more workers can be furloughed, with employers able to claim a grant covering 80 per cent of the wages for a furloughed employee, capped at £2,500 a month.

To qualify and to protect against fraudulent claims, individuals originally had to be employed on February 28.

But following a review of the delivery system and to ensure the scheme helps as many people as possible, new guidance has confirmed the eligibility date has been extended to March 19, the day before the scheme was announced.

In a letter to the Chancellor earlier this month Mr Stride had pressed HM Treasury to take action to provide greater support for workers who had missed out.

Mr Stride said: “The Government is providing unprecedented levels of support for both employers and employees and this welcome extension will benefit around 200,000 more employees.”