Written Question · S5W-35189 · Session 5
Whether self-employed, home-working travel agents are eligible for current COVID-19 support schemes, where such agents do not pay business …
The question
To ask the Scottish Government whether self-employed, home-working travel agents are eligible for current COVID-19 support schemes, where such agents do not pay business rates and own their own property, and what consideration it has given to introducing business support grants for this particular group.
The answer
Both the Strategic Framework Business Fund and the £5 million Travel Agent Fund are tied to having a business premises, which reflects the higher overall costs facing premises-based businesses including rent and utilities.
While self-employed, homeworking travel agents are not eligible for these support schemes, they may be eligible for other forms of support, including the UK Government Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS). In order to help those who are not able to access SEISS, the Scottish Government have recently relaunched the Newly Self-Employed Hardship Scheme, which makes grants of up to £4,000 available to qualifying self-employed people.
We have also recently increased our Local Authority Discretionary Fund from? £30 million to £120 million. Through this fund, councils can target additional support wherever they consider it most effective in the context of their local economy and business community. As such they have the option to provide direct support for self-employed or home working travel agents in their area if they consider it necessary.
Information on available support can be found on the Find Business Support website.
While self-employed, homeworking travel agents are not eligible for these support schemes, they may be eligible for other forms of support, including the UK Government Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS). In order to help those who are not able to access SEISS, the Scottish Government have recently relaunched the Newly Self-Employed Hardship Scheme, which makes grants of up to £4,000 available to qualifying self-employed people.
We have also recently increased our Local Authority Discretionary Fund from? £30 million to £120 million. Through this fund, councils can target additional support wherever they consider it most effective in the context of their local economy and business community. As such they have the option to provide direct support for self-employed or home working travel agents in their area if they consider it necessary.
Information on available support can be found on the Find Business Support website.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S5W-35189 by reference.