Responding to the Chancellor’s latest announcement, Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Eecutive of the British Retail Consortium said:

“Retailers are working extremely hard to prepare shops for reopening and we welcome the furlough scheme extension which will continue to provide much-needed support.

“Businesses, however, will remain under pressure as discretionary spending is likely to remain subdued for some time, and there will be restrictions on the number of customers that can come into stores.

“The Government has listened to the industry by bringing forward the ability to furlough part-time workers from July as retailers manage their workforce in the phased return to operations. This is in direct response to the BRC’s ask of HM Treasury. We look forward to having clarity soon on how extremely vulnerable colleagues and those that are shielding or have childcare obligations will be affected in the long term”