Covid-19 Update from Scottish Government on 18 March

1. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland's schools and nurseries are to close from Friday
2. Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell provides details of the £350m package of welfare and wellbeing support
3. Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop announces £1.9bn in business support

Schools to close from Friday 20 March
Scotland's First Minister confirmed today, 18 March 2020, that Scotland's Schools and Nurseries would close from this Friday 20th March 2020 and would NOT reopen after the Easter break.

£45m for fund providing crisis grants

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell announces:
• £45m for the Scottish Welfare Fund to provide community grants and crisis grants for those in financial crisis
• this will be accompanied by flexibility and new guidance
• £50m increased demand for social security benefits and the increased cost for expanding the council tax reduction scheme
• establish a £70m food fund for those with a drop in income or self-isolating, including the elderly
• local authorities will be able to use funds to support those who get free school meals

Latest Summary of Business Support Measures
Yesterday evening, 17 March 2020, the Chancellor set out a £330 bn package of additional measures to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19.
Today, Wednesday 18 March, Scotland's Economy Secretary, Fiona Hyslop, confirmed that these measures will be mirrored in Scotland.
The additional measures include:
• a 12-month business tax holiday for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses
• small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief
• grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value between £18,000 and £51,000
• the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme to support long-term viable businesses who may need to respond to cash-flow pressures by seeking additional finance
• the HMRC Time To Pay Scheme
There are no details currently available on how to access this support.
Please be assured we will circulate any such clarification as soon as it is available.
Easing Regulation
The Scottish Government has further confirmed an easing of certain regulatory pressures:
• restaurants will be able to operate as takeaways
• deposit return scheme implementation has been delayed until July 2022
• tourist tax legislation halted

Accessing Business Support
Scottish Enterprise has set up a helpline to support businesses with access to support. Advisers will answer questions from businesses related to COVID-19.
The business helpline number is 0300 303 0660. The helpline will be open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm.
At the time of issuing this update however, members should be aware that there is a lengthy wait to speak with an adviser.
To complement the helpline a new website has been created to keep businesses up-to-date with the latest guidance across a comprehensive range of important areas relating to COVID-19.
• Click FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot to access this website.

There is a seperate HMRC tax issues helpline: 0800 0159 559
New International Travel Advice
British nationals should avoid all non-essential foreign travel to tackle the spread of coronavirus, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised. The restrictions will be in place for 30 days initially but could be extended.

Regards