Taxi driver support amid funding row
A new grant will be launched this week for taxi and private hire drivers affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Scotland's local authorities will directly approach an estimated 38,000 drivers inviting them to claim the £1,500 funding to help with their fixed costs. Drivers must be licensed for the period October 9, 2020 to at least January 31 this year to be eligible.
The grant comes on top of support from other funding for loss of income available from the Scottish Government's Covid-19 Public Transport Mitigation Fund and the UK Government's Self-employment Income Support Scheme.
But drivers and trade union leaders said the one-off payment is short-changing the trade, warning many face mounting debts to keep their vehicles on the road while takings are down by up to 80 per cent.
The pledge came after a number of politicians criticised the Scottish Govern
ment for failing to help struggling businesses. Last week Ruth Davidson accused the government of being “great at making announcements” but failing to get vital financial support into hands of businesses.
And Chief Secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay revealed Westminster is to bypass Holyrood and replace EU structural funds with a new Whitehall-run “shared prosperity fund”.
Mr Barclay also accused the Scottish Government of deliberately ignoring the financial support it has received to help businesses survive.