During the Department for Work and Pensions Questions I had another chance to speak up for the aviation workforce and highlight British Airways treatment of staff, through their use of the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme. Thanks to the Secretary of State for Work & Pensions, Therese Coffey, for strong words supporting the correct intent of the furlough scheme.

Huw Merriman

"Many of us are concerned about jobs in the aviation sector, particularly British Airways, which is not only making up to 12,500 redundancies but firing and rehiring virtually the remainder of the workforce, despite its group putting €1 billion into a new airline and BA staff putting 66% of profits into that group. What can the Government do to ensure that our employers do the right thing by the workforce who have previously delivered those profits?"

Dr Coffey

"As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has previously said to my hon. Friend, we are concerned about the way that some companies are treating their workforce and we are actively looking into the issue. The furlough scheme has been a huge success in keeping over 9 million employees connected to their jobs, but companies should not be using it cynically to keep people on their books just to then get rid of them. The whole point of the furlough scheme is to help people to get back into their jobs and the country back on its feet."