Coronavirus: Three-quarters of a million Scots on furlough

The schemes are intended to ensure those who cannot work have some financial support

The UK government has said 774,200 people in Scotland have been assisted by the furlough scheme and self-employment support.

The schemes were among measures introduced after the coronavirus lockdown to support people whose businesses could not operate.

Official statistics show 628,200 people in Scotland have been furloughed.

There have also been 146,000 claims to the Self Employment Income Support Scheme.

Currently, the furlough scheme pays 80% of an employee's wages, up to a maximum of £2,500 a month.

Employers will be expected to pick up more of the cost from August.

The average claim in Scotland under the support scheme for the self-employed has been £2,900.

A breakdown of the figures by parliamentary constituency indicates which areas have made most use of the furlough scheme.

• Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey has the highest total, at 15,800

• Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross has the lowest figure for a mainland constituency - 7,200

• Inverclyde is close to that, at 7,300

• Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles) - with a much lower population - has 2,600 people on furlough

Across the UK, employers in the wholesale and retail sectors have furloughed the highest number of employers, covering 1.6 million jobs, followed by accommodation and food service employers, which furloughed 1.4 million people.