Question reference: S5W-34644
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 21 January 2021
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Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 February 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will extend its COVID-19 business support funding to dry cleaners, which it has categorised as essential businesses that can remain open, making them ineligible for grants or other support except the furlough scheme, in light of the financial impact they have experienced as a result of their main customers having to close during the current restrictions.
Answer
We understand the economic impact that restrictions are having on businesses. We have significantly increased our financial support for businesses to match the severity of the restrictions necessary to control the virus and since the beginning of the pandemic have allocated £3 billion for business support. Local authorities are also empowered through the Local Authority Discretionary Fund, which we recently doubled to £60 million, to direct funding to specific groups or sectors within their local economies based on specific needs of local economy. Our focus is on delivering the maximum support for business and we will continue to consider new ways to support businesses.