Call for new payments to help people cope with local lockdown restrictions
The Scottish Government has been urged to introduce two new payments to help areas of Scotland cope with local lockdowns.
Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross called for the SNP to copy a trial under way in England where those selfisolating and on low income receive up to £ 182, while leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie wrote to finance minister Kate Forbes calling for an increase to business grants for those affected by local lockdowns.
Mr Ross s ai d: “We must restore and rebuild our econ
omy together, maximising the talents and skills of every worker and giving everyone the same opportunity to get ahead.
“People want to see both of Scotland’s governments working together to protect them from the damage of this virus. This is a perfect opportunity for the UK and Scottish governments to show what can be achieved.”
S ocial securit y secretar y Shirley- Anne Somerville said the Scottish Government has repeatedly asked f or more powers in regards to social security and again called for an extension to the job retention scheme.
She said: “The UK government has made clear there are no Barnett consequentials from the pilot project, so the UK government should either transfer the powers and the funding, or deliver for this scheme at higher rates for the whole of the UK.”