Covid: Mark Drakeford 'will take PM at word' on continuing furlough

Wales' first minister has said Boris Johnson should make good on an offer to subsidise wages if needed after the furlough scheme ends in December.

It comes after the prime minister said the funding would be available in the devolved nations "not just now but in the future".

But one of Mr Johnson's ministers has since said it would be a decision for Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said he would "take the PM at his word".

The prime minister's spokesman said Mr Johnson had "set out the position of the government", but Chief Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Barclay refused to say whether the furlough scheme would be made available beyond 2 December.

The funding available for businesses and staff who cannot work during Wales' 17-day firebreak lockdown has caused a row between the Welsh and UK governments.

Mr Drakeford said it was not fair that the Treasury waited until England's lockdown was announced to extend furlough throughout the UK.

The scheme has been extended to December, with the English lockdown due to end on the second day of that month.

The prime minister was asked in Parliament on Monday what would happen if lockdowns were required after that.

He said: "If other parts of the UK decide to go into measures which require the furlough scheme then of course that is available to them - that applies not just now but in the future."

However on Tuesday, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told Sky News: "If it's necessary to be deployed again then that's a decision that the Chancellor will have to make in the future."

Asked in the Commons to clarify whether furlough and its 80% wage protection would be available in devolved parts of the UK if they went into lockdown later in December, Mr Barclay repeatedly said that "furlough has always been a UK wide scheme" but that the government will "always provide support for whole of the UK."

On Twitter, Mr Drakeford said: "We take the PM at his word and would expect him to instruct any Chancellor in a government led by him to do the same."

Later in the Senedd he said it was "very disappointing that we're back in confusion, having had it clarified as it seemed yesterday by the prime minister, when UK government ministers were pressed hard by Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales in a Cobra meeting yesterday, to make sure that we have the clarity that we need.

"But it cannot possibly be only English ministers who can declare a public health emergency and invoke a furlough scheme.

"And I thought what the prime minister said yesterday at the House of Commons was very helpful to that - and on this one what the prime minister says really does need to go."

On Tuesday, the prime minister's spokesman said: 'The PM set out the position of the government. The furlough scheme is a UK-wide scheme. That is available where needed.

"If other parts of the UK decide to go into measures that need direct economic support of course we will make that available to them.

"The furlough scheme ran until October providing support at 80% - that has now been extended."

Plaid Cymru Ceredigion MP Ben Lake accused the UK government of dressing-up funding to the devolved nations throughout the Covid crisis "as benevolent charity rather than the duty it really is".

"Today the UK government failed to ensure furlough support would be available to Wales, or any UK nation, as standard practice should public health priorities require restrictions to be reintroduced." he said.

Yesterday the prime minister said that if other parts of the UK decided to go into measures in the future which required the furlough scheme then "of course" it would be available to them - not just now but in the future.

No.10 and the Treasury didn't confirm that on Monday night, and on Tuesday the language from UK government has shifted.

The PM's official spokesman said if other parts of the UK decide to go into measures that "require direct economic support, we will of course make that available to them".

But he would not be drawn on who decides when it is "required".

And note - they're not committing yet, in the same way the PM did yesterday, that the furlough scheme specifically could be extended if parts of the UK were to go back into lockdowns in the future.

The Treasury are ultimately responsible for big financial commitments like furlough so until we get detail from them, which the BBC has asked for, there are more questions than answers.