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The Covid Corporate Finance Facility (CCFF) was introduced by the UK Government to provide financial assistance to support large businesses experiencing disruption as a result of Covid-19. This scheme is delivered by the Bank of England on behalf of the UK Government and is open to all businesses across the UK which meet the eligibility criteria.

On 2 April the UK Government announced the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) in response to concerns from a number of quarters, including the Scottish Government, about the level of financial support available for larger businesses which do not qualify for either the CCFF or the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. CLBILS provides loans of up to £25 million for businesses with an annual turnover of between £45m - £500m and is also available to all business across the UK.

The Scottish Government will continue to engage with the business community to ensure that companies of all sizes receive the financial assistance that they require through the Covid-19 pandemic. The Scottish Government is taking steps to identify any gaps in business support and will work with partners to try to remedy them.

The Scottish Government’s priority is responding to the current global and national crisis. We expect our response to the coronavirus outbreak will be sustained over an extended period. For that reason, careful consideration of a date for introduction of the Continuity Bill will take place as part of the wider work being carried out to prioritise essential non-coronavirus related legislation in the government's legislative programme. As part of this consideration, we will assess the impact on future domestic arrangements for environmental principles and governance.

A decision by the UK Government to take sensible steps to negotiate an extension to the implementation period would, of course, have an important bearing on those considerations.

Our Enterprise Agencies are engaging with businesses to ensure they have information about, and understand how to access, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the wider package of support announced from both the Scottish and UK Governments to help employers preserve their business, maintain jobs and pay their workers throughout the coronavirus crisis. In addition, Coronavirus advice for businesses in Scotland is available through findbusinesssupport.gov.scot . We are urging all businesses to make use of this.

We are also urging employers, trade unions and staff to work together to reach the right decisions on all workplace issues that arise throughout the Coronavirus outbreak, in line with the Covid-19 Fair Work Principles, announced jointly by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture and the STUC General Secretary on 25 March.

In 2016 the Scottish Government supported the GFG Alliance with their acquisition of the Lochaber aluminium smelter. We underwrote this transaction as part of a clear commitment to Scotland’s industrial infrastructure and rural economy and to inclusive and sustainable growth in the West Highlands.

The GFG Alliance remain fully committed to investing in future downstream manufacturing at Fort William. Before making a final decision with regards to the timing of their investment, the GFG Alliance continue to monitor the instability in the UK automotive market and issues relating to Brexit and now the developing COVID19 pandemic.

The financial package extended was provided after seeking and securing the agreement of the Finance Committee.

In relation to the proposed future downstream manufacturing at Fort William, the company have not received financial assistance from the Scottish Government or Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Staff coming into the sector to provide frontline care will get immediate job-based training from employers, in line with the responsibility employers have to ensure staff have the skills and knowledge they need for the role they are being asked to do. The Scottish Social Services Council, the workforce regulator, is already working with COSLA and NHS Education Scotland to produce a specific Training Development Pack to support those moving to or across care services at this crucial time. This will clarify the minimum training requirements for social services staff and enable the redeployment of staff to other roles if required, so that we maximise the flexibility of the workforce. The intention is to publish the pack this week.

The Scottish Government has recently invested £57 million in the Highland Mainline to improve services and performance along the length of the route. This includes improvements works at and around Aviemore station.

Network Rail Scotland is also working closely with Highland Council to take steps to mitigate the risk of flooding on the Highland Mainline in the vicinity of the Gynack river bed, which has flooded in the past.

Network Rail’s performance requirements and funding for its day to day activities are set by the Office of Rail and Road. This is done on a five year cycle called a Control Period, and is based on performance requirements for rail services set by the Scottish Government.

In preparing for Control Period 6 (2019-2024), Network Rail undertook a thorough and detailed assessment of the performance and resilience requirements across the Scottish network, with support from Transport Scotland, including the Highland Mainline. This has been supported by a 21% increase in Scottish Government funding over Control Period 6.

The Office of Rail and Road is responsible for ensuring that Network Rail meets its performance requirements, including resilience.

Transport Scotland meets regularly with the Office of Rail and Road and Network Rail to monitor performance and resilience across the rail network in Scotland, including the Highland Mainline.

The Scottish Government has invested £57 million on major projects on the Highland Mainline over the last 5 years.  This investment will contribute to our aspiration of a ten minute average journey time reduction between Inverness and the Central Belt.

The Scottish Government has also invested £2.2 million in other works along the route, including improving accessibility at both Aviemore and Pitlochry Stations.

A breakdown of the £57 million project spend is as follows:-

These improvements to the Highland Mainline are in addition to Scottish Government investment in Network Rail’s day to day running (operations, maintenance and renewal) of the route.  Network Rail’s performance and funding requirements are set and monitored by the Office of Rail and Road.