Highlands MSP calls for commercial loans to be cut to base rate for businesses
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, David Stewart has launched a campaign to help businesses in the north stem financial fears during the coronavirus outbreak.
Having been contacted by concerned business owners, the MSP has contacted fellow north MSP, Kate Forbes, Scotland’s new Cabinet Secretary for Finance, asking her to suggest to banks to alter their charges for commercial borrowers during the time of the outbreak.
He has asked the Cabinet Secretary to ask Scottish banks to charge their commercial borrowers the recently cut Bank of England rate of 0.1 per cent for a period of three to six months.
Mr Stewart said “I have received representation from commercial outlets who are seeking help to weather the unprecedented financial storm of the coronavirus outbreak.
“What I am being told is that they want to see Scottish banks charge their commercial borrowers the Bank of England rate of 0.1 per cent for three months initially then month to month as the government sees fit.
"This would take a huge strain off businesses and yes, the banks would lose out on their profit margin for the period but it would help an untold amount of hotels, restaurants and other businesses survive this crisis.”
The call has also come from the Chair of Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club, Ross Morrison, who explained: “At the moment the banks are offering to defer capital payments on commercial loans.
"This is all well and good and helpful but what does this cost the banks? Very little.
"The banks will still charge the lenders the rates over base rate as this margin is where their profit lies.
“With this current situation set to continue to deepen this measure would help businesses survive the crisis and there would be a lot less liquidations at the end of this outbreak.”
He added: "The state bailed the banks out when they needed it.
"We are all in this together and it’s only fair now that the banks should return that favour to ensure the viability of hundreds of businesses in the north and tens of thousands in the rest of Scotland.”
Mr Stewart said the move was logical.
He commented: “This makes good commercial sense to me and I have contacted the Finance Secretary to seek her backing for this.
"This could be absolutely critical in keeping businesses alive and could make the difference between survival and failure for businesses throughout the Highlands and Islands, and indeed the whole of Scotland.”
Cabinet Secretary for Finance Kate Forbes MSP said: “I want to help businesses to get through this period of uncertainty, and that is why the Scottish Government is offering a package of support worth £2.2bn to businesses.
“That includes rates relief and one-off grants, to help businesses deal with the impact of Covid-19.
“I know that doesn’t take away the difficulties and stress of the economic uncertainty right now, but it hopefully helps.”
