SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT SUPPORT NOW £1.8 BILLION TOWARDS COVID RECOVERY

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Scotland’s Finance Secretary Kate Forbes announced a range of measures across a number of sectors, including an extension of business rates relief for a further three months to allow firms to recover from a tough year.

The funding includes an extra £14.5m for Dumfries and Galloway’s NHS and Health and Social Care Partnership to help respond to the Covid crisis.

The SNP Government has also committed £100m to the Green Jobs Fund which will stimulate businesses that produce low carbon products.

The SNP Government is also supporting people back into employment by investing £125m in the Young Person’s Guarantee and giving £27m to Fair Start Scotland.

Commenting SNP MSP Joan McAlpine said:

“It was vital that the Scottish Budget prioritised Scotland’s recovery from COVID-19 and I am delighted to see a range of measures that will help support people, businesses and health services across Dumfries & Galloway.

“Businesses have faced an incredibly tough year and so the business rates relief extension will be welcomed, but we need a commitment from Westminster to continue to fund this, so it can be extended even further and I urge other local politicians to urge the Chancellor to commit to that in his March Budget.

“I have heard from many people in Dumfries & Galloway who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic. The SNP Government has committed millions to not only ensuring people can find work, but existing jobs are also supported by invested £100m in supporting jobs.

“I welcome these budget announcements and I would urge all local politicians to get behind the budget commitments to ensure Scotland recovers from the devastation of the pandemic.”

(image credit: journals.plos.org/plosone/article/figure?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0218370.g001 <journals.plos.org/plosone/article/figure?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0218370.g001>)