Question reference: S5W-34687
- Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 20 January 2021
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Current status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 3 February 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional support is available for businesses in the bakery sector that continue to operate despite the closure of a majority of their customers’ businesses.
Answer
We appreciate that this is an extremely difficult time for businesses of all kinds across Scotland, including in the bakery sector. We have allocated almost £3 billion to support businesses in response to COVID-19.
The £30 million discretionary fund introduced in November 2020 targets businesses which are affected by COVID-19 restrictions but do not meet the criteria for other funds. The fund allows local authorities to allocate grants at their discretion to support businesses including those in the supply chain.
To help businesses deal with the impact of coronavirus, the Scottish Government introduced extra rates relief for non-domestic properties from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. This includes 100% relief for properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors where the property is wholly or mainly used for a purpose, or purposes, set out in Schedule 1 of the Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus Reliefs) (Scotland) Regulations 2020.