WHO SUPPORT OUR TRADE
FIRST MINISTER URGED TO OUTLINE WHEN SCOTTISH TAXI DRIVERS CAN EXPECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to set out when financial assistance which could help struggling taxi drivers will be made available. GlasgowLive reports that Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said cab drivers are in “dire need” of help, as he called on the First Minister to clarify when they might receive support. It comes after Ms Sturgeon announced a £30 million “discretionary fund” is being made available to councils to deliver extra support for businesses, including taxi drivers. Mr Leonard said taxi drivers had been contacting him “seeking urgent advice” about when the cash will be available. He said: “Many are facing very real hardship”, and his office has been “inun- dated with queries from taxi drivers”. In a letter to Ms Sturgeon, he said: “Many are scouring the websites of their local authorities for further information, but this does not yet appear to be avail- able. Can I therefore request that you provide information on when these funds will be allocated and disbursed to local authorities, and provide an indica- tion as to when this group of workers may be able to access these funds.” A Scottish Government spokeswoman said further details about the fund - which was promised when Ms Sturgeon announced 11 council areas were being placed in Level 4 restrictions earlier this month - will be announced “shortly”. The spokeswoman said: “We have lis- tened to businesses and tailored our support. Our total package for busi- nesses is over £2.3 billion and we have announced an additional £45 million in funding will be made available to local authorities to support businesses impacted by coronavirus. “We welcome the extension of the SEISS so drivers can obtain 80% of pre- vious earnings. We are currently considering further support for fixed costs pressures on self-employed taxi drivers and others.
DECEMBER 2020
“We are actively taking steps to fill in the gaps in UK-wide schemes. This includes £15 million for newly self- employed people who are not able to access other forms of financial support.
“We are also establishing a £30 million discretionary fund to enable local authorities to provide additional sup- port for businesses where they consider that necessary.”
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