Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron has taken the opportunity of a ”virtual” Question Time today to question the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Kate Forbes, about support for businesses.
Mr Cameron, the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance, said: “The job of Parliament, and of shadow cabinet members like me, has to go on notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic. It is very important that the SNP Government’s actions are scrutinised and ministers held accountable. Democracy does not close for the duration of the virus any more than it did during wartime."
“I was pleased to be able to question Kate Forbes as there have been widespread concerns among the Scottish business community about discrepancies between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom in terms of business support."
“Specifically, I wanted to press the minister to consider re-allocating funding to improve support for business given various delays announced to other policy initiatives."
“It is very important that ministers are put on the spot so that people can understand what actions the Scottish Government is taking, or not, and be able to judge for themselves whether the actions are sufficient.”
Mr Cameron’s question was:
“This is a question for the Cabinet Secretary for Finance. This week's partial u-turn on business support still sees firms in Scotland only get 75% of a grant after their first property rather than 100% as in the rest of the UK. When the Scottish Government has decided to delay various policies such as aspects of social security devolution and early years nursery expansion, surely she can reallocate funding within the Scottish Government own budget, to improve support for business?”