Speaking from the House of Commons, Mr Sunak said: “From August to October, the scheme will continue for all sectors and regions of the UK but with greater flexibility to support the transition back to work.

“Employers currently using the scheme will be able to bring furloughed employees back part-time.

“And we will ask employers to start sharing with the Government the cost of paying people’s salaries. Full details will follow by the end of May.”

After the end of July, the scheme will work to try to hep phase workers back into their jobs.

Firms will be expected to pick up some of the tab when they do this in order to ease the cost of furlough on the UK taxpayer.