The different policies being taken by the devolved Governments in terms of unlocking their economies could create a “potential disparity”, according to Lord Christopher Fox. The Liberal Democrat peer grilled Chancellor Rishi Sunak during an Economic Affairs Committee session over the impact of the UK’s individual approaches. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has already diverted from the British Government on a number of measures during the coronavirus crisis.

Lord Fox asked the Chancellor: “There’s potentially a fiscal impact, in Scotland, for example, they could take a different view in how they unwind the furlough scheme.

“That would have a financial effect, which, at the moment, is coming out of Her Majesty’s Treasury.

“What’s the Treasury’s view if Scotland takes a divergent view on furlough?”

The furlough scheme was implemented to protect jobs during the pandemic by having the Government pay employees’ wages up to 80 percent.

READ MORE: Sturgeon shamed as Scottish care homes forced to accept PPE donations

Mr Sunak replied: “Just to be clear, the furlough is a UK scheme and will apply nationwide to all sectors, all devolved authorities, all regions equally.

“I’ve set out a very generous timetable all the way through to the end of October.

“This provides considerable runway for companies to start back up and for people to get back to work whilst making sure the scheme is overall affordable as well.

“So it is not differentiated, and I’ve made the decision for the United Kingdom because it is a United Kingdom policy.”

Mr Sunak told the committee: “It will be for devolved authorities to make their own decisions in their areas on things that they have competence on.

“I’m sure they’ll be making their own estimates on all of those things.

“I wouldn’t disagree that children being back at school is not just good primarily and most importantly for children themselves in terms of their educational and social development.

“It also has a beneficial impact on freeing up working parents to work.

“We know from the survey data that that has been an issue for many parents. So yes I agree that that may have an impact.”