Mixed reaction in the north for Chancellor's budget measures By Gordon Calder Published: 09:00, 05 March 2021 Get the Courier and Groat sent to your inbox every week and swipe through an exact replica of the day's newspaper THE measures announced in this week's budget received a mixed reaction in the far north with the extension of the furlough scheme being welcomed but the reduction in VAT for the hospitality industry described as "hugely disappointing." Trudy Morris, the chief executive of the Caithness Chamber of Commerce, said:"The news that the furlough scheme is being extended until September will be welcomed by many businesses, who would otherwise be facing a cliff edge come the end of April. While we understand the need to begin increasing the business contribution towards the scheme, this must come hand-in-hand with the reopening of the economy.