BUSINESSES have put 19,500 people who are employed in jobs across St Helens on furlough during the coronavirus outbreak, it has been revealed.

A further 5,000 people who are self-employed have also received government help, according to the figures.

The support has been granted as part of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).

The schemes were announced by the Chancellor, and are run by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), as part of a package of support measures for businesses affected by the pandemic.

In a statement HM Revenue and Customs said: "Businesses have furloughed 19,500 jobs in St Helens, up to 31 May 2020, since the CJRS was launched on 20 April 2020.

"This is to help UK employers who have been severely affected by coronavirus to retain their employees and protect the UK economy."

An announcement was made on May 12, 2020 that the job retention scheme will run until the end of October to continue the support for jobs and businesses as people return to work.

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From July, furloughed workers can be brought back to work part-time but employers will have to pay for any of the hours that the employee works

Meanwhile, HM Revenue and Customs added that thousands of self-employed people had been supported, adding: "The SEISS was rolled out ahead of schedule in May and has financially supported 5,000 self-employed individuals in St Helens who have been adversely affected by the coronavirus outbreak and paid grants worth a total of £13,900,000 up to May 31, 2020."

On May 29, the Chancellor announced an extension to this scheme.

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Those eligible to claim the SEISS grant will be able to claim a second and final grant in August of up to £6,750.

Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “The UK Government is doing everything we can to protect jobs and businesses in the North West and across the UK during the crisis.

"Our unprecedented job retention and self-employment support schemes have supported the livelihoods of millions and will help ensure our recovery is as swift as possible.”

Last month constituency-level data for April 2020 obtained by St Helens North MP Conor McGinn from the House of Commons Library, revealed sharp increases in the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in St Helens North and the North West.

The number of people who claimed unemployment benefits in St Helens North in April increased by 72 per cent on the previous month’s figure, giving a total figure of 3,820.

Young people were also severely affected, with the new data showing 775 claimants aged 18 to 24 in April 2020, up 65 per cent on the previous month.