Sporting businesses must not lose out on government support says Highland MSP
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Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron is supporting calls for sporting businesses to receive government assistance during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Mr Cameron, who is also the shadow finance minister, has given his strong backing to a motion submitted to the Scottish Parliament by fellow Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser.
It underlines the importance of the industry to rural Scotland as with hundreds of people employed on sporting estates across the north and on the islands often to sustain many of the more remote communities.
The motion notes the: “Concerns raised by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation and the Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group regarding what they consider is a fundamental lack of support for sporting businesses in Scotland during the Covid-19 outbreak.
“That many non-domestic, rate-paying sporting organisations are not eligible for the small business support grant, understands that many sporting businesses consider that they should get 100 per cent relief to offset the ongoing hardship facing them at this time.”
A wide range of support is already available for a variety of businesses front grant schemes to support furloughing staff unable to work because of the lockdown however some find it difficult to access some elements of the funding.
Now Mr Cameron has raised the issue of those who work on the land as commercial estates will not be able to have guests while government guidance insists on strict self-isolation.
He said: “No-one can doubt the contribution that gamekeepers, ghillies and estate staff make to rural communities across the Highlands and Islands.
“Like other sectors, country sport businesses and the people who rely on them for employment, are facing unprecedented challenges which threaten their jobs and way of life.
“The Scottish Government should extend the same support to them that it does to other business sectors which require help to see them through this crisis. They must not be overlooked.”
