Landlords and restaurant owners have called on the Government to end the furlough scheme to help offset a recruitment crisis, saying that those on furlough would rather stay at home than come out and work.
The Government is expected to spend £372 billion in its response to Covid, according to the National Audit Office, with the estimated cost having risen by £100 billion since January.
Firms owned by some of the world's wealthiest people have claimed millions of pounds in furlough money over the past year. £3 million was claimed by the Qatari owners of Harrods and the Ritz in December alone.
