Protecting the region’s businesses is a crucial part of the fight against the coronavirus virus according to Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron.
Mr Cameron, the Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance, said: “While protecting the most vulnerable people in our communities must be the number one priority during this crisis, we should also take action to protect the economic health of the Highlands and Islands."
“To do that we must get behind our small businesses and the self-employed who will be understandably very anxious about what the future may hold for them."
“I am therefore pleased that the Chancellor has outlined an extensive raft of measures of support, including scaling up the Business Interruption Loan Scheme, providing government grants which will cover 80 per cent of the salary of retained workers up to a total of £2,500 a month, and deferring the next three months of VAT. We are also pushing both the Scottish and UK Governments to consider further help for the self-employed."
“All this should help secure jobs and provide an injection of confidence, but I would really like feedback directly from local business-owners. Please drop me a line at [email protected]. Any information received will be treated in strict confidence.”