Seòmar agus comataidhean

This is an operational matter for South of Scotland Enterprise. I have asked the SoSE Chief Executive to respond to you directly.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28357 on 12 May 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

A collaborative multi-agency response to COVID-19 is being delivered by the enterprise and skills agencies. Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise are reviewing and reprioritising their spending plans for 20/21, so that existing funds can be used to address the impacts of Coronavirus on businesses and the economy. The agencies are working closely with communities in some of the most rural and fragile areas to ensure that they are accessing the support they need.

To date, measures with an estimated cost of over £2.3 billion have been committed to business support and the £100 million package of additional grant support for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) and newly self-employed people announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture for Finance, opened for applications on 30 April:

• £45 million Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund, managed by the Enterprise Agencies providing bespoke grants and wrap around business support to viable but vulnerable SMEs who are vital to the local or national economic foundations of Scotland.
• £20 million Creative, Tourism & Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund, managed by the Enterprise Agencies in partnership with Creative Scotland and VisitScotland for small and micro creative, tourism and hospitality companies not in receipt of business rates relief with grants of up to £25K.

The Scottish Government is also providing £1 million to top up Creative Scotland’s Bridging Bursaries in the not-for-profit sector.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28694 on 7 May 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at- http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28694 on 7 May 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at- http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Scottish Government supports the Four Nations approach where this aligns with the science as part of our commitment to aligning decision making with evidence and expert advice. Where the evidence supports the case for different approaches, we will make decisions which reflect our top priority of minimising the harm in Scotland.

The Scottish Government updated its assessment framework “COVID 19 - A Framework for Decision Making” on 5 May. The framework makes clear that we will consider the case for different approaches to meet the needs of specific geographic areas where such options can be implemented safely and communicated effectively – and are supported by the available evidence. No decisions have been made about this yet and we are committed to listening to the views of local people, business and organisations most affected by these decisions as we develop our approach.

A new digital platform was launched on 5 May to give people most affected by decisions about transitioning from the lockdown the opportunity to engage with the issues and evidence we are setting out through publications such as the framework document so that their views and ideas can help inform our decision-making process.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. P&O Ferries and Stena Line operate commercial ferry services connecting Scotland with Northern Ireland, including ensuring the movement of critical category 1 goods and essential workers. Questions regarding specific operating criteria of the routes should be directed to the ferry operators.

Both ferry operators have implemented a number of measures to minimise the risks including intensifying the cleaning protocols on board their ships, and enforcing social distancing at terminal and onboard to protect staff and customers.

The Scottish Government has not held specific discussions with the UK Government regarding measures to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on seafarers and port workers in the ferry industry.

However, there have been numerous general exchanges between officials on the UK Government’s support measures such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and Ministerial and official engagement with UK Government counterparts regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the economic wellbeing of maritime and freight sectors, including the impact on ferry routes between Scotland and Northern Ireland and support for lifeline services to Scotland’s islands communities.

COVID-19 outbreak has affected a range of areas within Serco NorthLink operations. For example, crew changeover on freight vessel Helliar and Hildasay was impacted due to travel restrictions. To accommodate the current travel guidance from UK Government and Scottish Government on-duty crew on Helliar and Hildasay vessels extended their duty period by two weeks. The in-coming crew have arrived and will also work in this way until a relaxation of travel restrictions.

The carrying statistics for Serco NorthLink Ferries in January, February and March 2020 are in the following table.