Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron is supporting calls for sporting businesses to receive government assistance during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Mr Cameron is giving strong backing to a motion that has been submitted to the Scottish Parliament by fellow Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser which emphasises the importance of the industry to rural Scotland.
Mr Cameron 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.”
Murdo Fraser’s motion is provided below:
Title: Country Sports Businesses
Motion Text: That the Parliament notes what it considers the important economic and employment contribution of country sports in the Mid Scotland and Fife region and throughout Scotland; notes concerns raised by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group (SCSTG) regarding what they consider is a fundamental lack of support for sporting businesses in Scotland during the COVID-19 outbreak; further notes 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% relief to offset the ongoing hardship facing them at this time, and notes the calls for Scottish Government support to be extended to cover sporting businesses, including those that pay council tax in lieu of non-domestic rates.