Highland poliliticians welcome new business aid fund
Drew Hendry MP and Fergus Ewing MSP have welcomed the new Discretionary Grant scheme, announced, as part of ongoing efforts to provide support throughout the pandemic.
This follows the Scottish Government’s announcements that the Local Authority Discretionary Fund is being doubled again to allow councils to respond further to local economic pressures. The fund was originally £30m and has now been increased to £120m.
This discretionary funding package enables the Highland Council and other local authorities to help many of those excluded from UK Government support.
While previous funds have targeted specific groups or sectors impacted by the pandemic, thr scheme empowers vouncils to direct additional funding towards particular groups or sectors in the business community, where they consider it to be necessary, including those who may have previously fallen through the current funding gap.
Last week, Highland Councillors approved the use of the fund to offer grants of £2000 to local businesses that have not qualified for other grant support. The scheme aims to mitigate some of the short-term financial challenges faced by businesses impacted by ongoing lockdown measures. The news that the Scottish Government are doubling it will enable them to help more people than previously thought.
Mr Hendry said: "Times are extremely challenging just now, and people are struggling. This new fund will be a lifeline to so many businesses in my constituency, who have not benefited from previous grants.
“I would encourage any one who hasn’t yet received any support to have a look at this fund and to apply, as soon as it becomes available.
"It is inconceivable, that during this pandemic and with lockdown measures in place, the UK Government has repeatedly refused to support the 3 million people still excluded from any help.
"Families and businesses need more support, not less during this unprecedented emergency, and I will continue to urge the Chancellor to put much-needed support in place. In the meantime, I very much welcome this intervention by my colleagues in the Scottish Government and Highland Councillors' decision to focus this funding on helping those who have had no other help.”
Fergus Ewing MSP, said: “These are tough times and in Scottish Government we have been working hard to try to help people who have “fallen through the cracks” of financial schemes of support. So this discretionary scheme is to help to achieve that.
“I recognise the good work that people in the Highland Council are doing to help administer funding. I hope that it will provide the financial support to get us through this Covid crisis and the successful vaccination programme now means that there is hope of an end in sight.”
