Highlands and Islands list Conservative MSP, Edward Mountain, demands clarity from the Scottish Government over 'lack of B&B support' during Covid-19 coronavirus crisis
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A HIGHLAND MSP has hit out at the Scottish Government for failing to deliver on promises to provide hard-pressed B&B owners with an update on support.
Conservative Edward Mountain says he was contacted by hundreds of B&B owners over the weekend frustrated at a lack of support and information.
Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop had said new financial support for small businesses operating without business bank accounts – the lack of which prohibited them from accessing support already available – would be unveiled at the end of last week, but this did not happen.
Mr Mountain, who has launched a Help Our B&Bs campaign, criticised the government for continuing to leave businesses in the dark.
He said: “Our Highland B&Bs deserve better than this. These businesses have no income without a summer tourist season and they have waited long enough for lifeline support.
“Hundreds of struggling Highland B&Bs need the Scottish Government to deliver on the promises of support that were meant to be set out last week.
“There is no time for more delay. The Scottish Government must stop dithering and deliver for our B&Bs as a matter of urgency.”
A spokesman for finance secretary and Ross-shire MSP Kate Forbes: “We have been working with local authorities to support small businesses who are not on the rates system and were not eligible for the hardship fund scheme, solely because they did not have a business bank account.
"The detail of these arrangements will be set out by the Cabinet Secretary to Parliament on Tuesday, which allows for scrutiny of the proposal which appeared to be what the Conservatives have been calling for.
“But if the Tories are so concerned about financial support for the hospitality industry, they might do well to ask their bosses in the UK government why so many self-catering properties and B&Bs aren’t eligible for self-employed income support simply by virtue of how their income is classified.”
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