Chamber and committees

The single most important action people can take, in fighting coronavirus, is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives.

Travel is permitted where essential and the Health Protection (Coronavirus)(Restrictions)(Scotland) Regulations 2020 ( http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/103/contents ) and social distancing guidance ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others-social-distancing/ ) contain a non-exhaustive list of reasons for when you may leave your home.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 explicitly makes reference to taxis as a service that can continue to operate (Part 3 of Schedule 1). They must comply with the requirements in regulation 4(1) which include taking reasonable measures to ensure a distance of 2 metres is maintained between persons on any premises used by a taxi and/or private hire firm such as a booking office. This requirement does not extend to the taxi or private hire vehicle itself.

The Scottish Government is working to ensure that people who are not eligible for support through the UK Government’s interventions, including workers who have been made redundant and who cannot access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), are aware of alternative support available to them through the welfare system. We would encourage those who have seen their income reduce as a result of COVID-19 to check whether they are eligible for benefits from the UK Government such as Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance.

As part of the Scottish Government’s response to COVID-19, we are providing an additional £45 million for the Scottish Welfare Fund, a form of locally administered financial assistance. This more than doubles the current £35.5 million Fund and will be accompanied by an increase in flexibilities and new guidance to make sure this fund is accessible to people in financial hardship.

The Scottish Government continues to pursue emerging queries not addressed by the guidance and has called for the Job Retention Scheme to be more flexible to accommodate the variety of working patterns of employees and to provide further guidance to employers on which members of staff to furlough to ensure equity and transparency of those decisions.

Workers are encouraged to check whether they are eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). If the employee and employer both agree, the employer may be able to retain or rehire the employee even if they have no work for them to do because of COVID-19. Through the scheme, employers can be supported to pay 80% of employees’ regular wages, up to a monthly cap of £2,500.

Workers are also encouraged to apply for all of the support to which they may be entitled. Those who are ineligible to receive Universal Credit could receive support via contributory benefits, including Contributory Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or Contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Eligibility for contributory benefits depends entirely on National Insurance contributions and is not affected by savings or capital or whether the applicant’s partner is working.

Workers who require urgent financial assistance can apply to their local authority for a grant from the Scottish Welfare Fund. We are providing an extra £45 million for the Fund to meet additional demand arising as a consequence of COVID-19. That is on top of the £35.5 million already provided for 2020-21. The Fund can provide an immediate source of financial support but it is not designed to provide a regular source of income. Local authority decision makers will be expected to consider whether applicants have access to other resources to tide them over the crisis.

We are also putting in place a range of other measures as part of a £350 million package of support to ensure local authorities, community groups and the third sector are able to support people and communities affected by COVID-19.

The Scottish Government has established a national digital emergency response team to find, equip, train and support households who currently lack access to the internet at home and who are in one of the most vulnerable population groups. We are working collaboratively to empower people with the access and skills they need to become digitally included to continue to make purchases and claim benefits. We are developing a service to identify those people, provide them with a tablet, provide support to set up the device, and provide ongoing technical support.

We are also working with the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) to map the arrangements that have been put in place by local authorities throughout Scotland for those who rely on access to public library computers. Using this information, SLIC have developed a Signposting Resource to support library staff as they develop services remotely, including guidance on digital isolation.

The UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued guidance related to claiming benefits: if people cannot make claims online, they can do so by phone on a free number. Jobcentres themselves are not closing during this time so people can still attend appointments in person if they have absolutely no alternative.

As the regulation of financial services is reserved to the UK Government, Scottish Ministers are unable to directly intervene in the commercial decisions made by financial services companies. However, I spoke with Alastair Ross, Chair of the Association of British Insurers, on 31 March and made clear the expectation of Scottish Ministers that the industry does everything it reasonably can to support businesses and citizens at this difficult time.

As the regulation of financial services is reserved to the UK Government, Scottish Ministers are unable to directly intervene in the commercial decisions made by financial services companies.

However, I spoke with Alastair Ross, Assistant Director, Head of Public Policy (Scotland, Wales and NI) of the Association of British Insurers, on 31 March and made clear the expectation of Scottish Ministers that the industry does everything it reasonably can to support businesses and citizens at this difficult time.

The Scottish Government has introduced a scheme that delivers for the needs of Scottish businesses and offers better value for money for the Scottish taxpayer. The Barclay Review of Non-Domestic Rates identified that some second homes may be listed as self-catering properties in order to avoid property tax and the eligibility criteria for the grant scheme seek to ensure that the grant is only available to genuine self-catering businesses where the property represents a primary source of earnings for the ratepayer. This will reduce the risk that exists of significant benefits accruing to second home owners.

Self-catering accommodation and caravans may be eligible for grant funding if they were let out for 140 days or more in financial year 2019-20 and receipts represent a primary source of income for the ratepayer (for example, one third or more).

There are many other packages of support available to businesses including 100% non-domestic rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure properties including self-catering accommodation for one year, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Self-employment Income Support Scheme. Information on the range of packages available can be found on the Find Business Support website https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/coronavirus-advice .

In addition, the Scottish Government has just announced a £100 million fund to help micro and SME businesses and the newly self-employed not eligible for other schemes and with immediate cashflow issues.

The Scottish Government considers the latest health advice and global evidence when looking at our guidance. Undertaking daily physical activity is vital to both our physical and mental health. This can be achieved safely providing the current guidance on social distancing is observed. This includes staying at least 2 meters away from others and only exercising once per day on your own or with members of your household.

Should circumstances change, we will amend our social distancing and hygiene guidance for people exercising in accordance with the latest scientific evidence.

Public health advice can be found on NHS Inform at: https://www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus and at Public Health Scotland at: https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/covid-19/ .

The advice on these websites is being constantly reviewed and updated based on the developing evidence base to ensure information relevant to specific vulnerable groups is included and up-to-date.

Treatment plans are specific to individuals and should not be changed without advice from a medical professional. There has been adverse publicity regarding ACE inhibitors and susceptibility to coronavirus (COVID-19) but there is no evidence to support this. Treatment with ACE inhibitors must not stop unless an individual is told to do so by a medical professional.