A Conservative minister appeared to not realise the cut off to new entrants into the Government's furlough scheme closed 14 weeks ago.
Apprenticeships and skills undersecretary Gilligan Keegan suggested hospitality staff who lost work when Bolton went into local lockdown overnight in September could've signed up for the support package.
However, after reiterating it was "still in place today", the MP for Chichester was quickly informed the scheme had been cut off to new applicants on June 30.
The gaffe came during Thursday's Question Time amid a heated row with Labour's Mayor for Greater Manchester Andy Burnham. The former Cabinet member in Gordon Brown's Government had said he would challenge the proposed closure of pubs and restaurants
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