Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross clearly very worried re furlough issue..An extension when England needs it, but not when devolved govs called for it. UK Gov "must treat Scotland the same way as England" & "immediately" guarantee it's available to Scotland if in future if needs

SNP Commons leader @Ianblackford_MP: "We would have been grateful if Douglas Ross had joined the devolved administrations when they were calling for a furlough extension way back in September. Frankly, it isn’t good enough that Douglas has taken so long to recognise this."

Availability of furlough will be significant factor in Scot Gov thinking on moving Scotland to a near-full lockdown this month. Initial lockdown plan for England is 4wks. If 80% furlough goes after Nov as it's tied to England, then Nov Scot lockdown becomes more likely

I don't see how any UK Government that actually wants to keep the union together could tie the availability of UK-wide 80% furlough to the situation in one home nation only. As yet, Treasury have not provided clarity on this.

Deputy First Minister @JohnSwinney: “Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, asked the UK Government for an extension to furlough several weeks ago and we were told a very firm No, and there was no money available"

, @JohnSwinney: "We need urgent clarity today from the Treasury about the circumstances in which furlough will be available & crucially, whether it's going to be available to all nations of the UK, when we require to use it, rather than just when England has a particular problem"

There may be an update later in the day on the furlough availability issue, with dialogue between Scot Gov and UK Gov expected this pm. For now, this will make fans of the union wince... no guarantee as yet re future furlough for devolved nations https://twitter.com/ChrisGreenNews/status/1322910102899273728?s=20

Doesn't look like Treasury will budge (today, at least) on issue of guaranteeing 80% furlough in future if devolved nations need at a point when England doesn't. Updated HMT response, after Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross (followed SNP) and called for parity for home nations: