THE coronavirus furlough scheme will be extended to the end of April, the Chancellor announced today, less than 24 hours before bosses were expected to decide on possible redundancies.

The scheme had been due to expire in March, but Rishi Sunak said that the government will continue for an additional month to pay 80 per cent of the salaries of employees for hours that they are unable to work.

Employers will only be required to pay wages, national insurance contributions (NICS) and pensions for hours worked; and NICS and pensions for hours not worked.