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Month: November 2020

Financial Support for the Self-Catering Sector

Posted on by Fiona Campbell

The ASSC sought clarification on the following subject: ‘Apart from furlough, is there any support available to businesses who are partially closed due to people not being able to stay with them anymore?’

Response from the Scottish Government:

Regarding additional support to businesses such as self-catering, which are still able to operate but have reduced custom due to restrictions on households meeting indoors and / or travel restrictions due to the tier system – eligibility for business support grants (depending on rateable value) are now targeted at businesses required to close by law or at businesses that remain open but are directly impacted by restrictions. 

 This means that:

  • Businesses are only eligible for Hardship Fund support if they are in Level 3 or 4, and the regulations require them to close or operate differently
  • Self-catering businesses, that are in Level 1&2 or Level 3, but are finding visitor numbers lower because of the travel / gatherings restrictions are not eligible for Hardship Fund support.
  • Funding eligibility is dependent on what level the business itself is in and what direct restrictions are placed on it, rather than its customer base.  Indirect restrictions, arising from both travel and socialising restrictions are not a basis for additional financial support. 

I appreciate how tough the current conditions are for you and the self-catering sector and know that this is will not be the response you’d hoped for.  However, we have noted your call for an additional financial support package, and are considering all requests within the context of the recommendations within the Tourism Recovery Taskforce report.  In the current financial climate there are a number of sectors within  tourism and hospitality which have unfortunately not yet received any targeted financial support and this is likely to be the focus for prioritising limited financial support available.  We also continue to urge the UK Government to transfer the financial powers needed to fully respond to the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.

STA Statement in Response to the Chancellor’s announcements

Posted on by Fiona Campbell

Marc Crothall, Chief Executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance said;

“Today’s announcement by the Chancellor to extend furlough to March 2021, covering up to 80% of a person’s salary will come as a huge relief to tourism businesses across Scotland, as will the confirmation of the extra £1BN funding to the Scottish Government to allocate in response to the Covid challenge. However, furlough alone will not help the industry to survive as we move into what has now become known as ‘the third winter’ for the sector.

Both UK and Scottish governments must continue to recognise the urgent need for more robust funding to be channelled into the sector by way of additional grants so that businesses can remain solvent through to Spring 2021.

There continues to be gaps in government support as some in the industry remain excluded from these schemes, and there are many in the vital supply chain that will also need to be assured of guaranteed grant support to help them through the winter months.

We very much hope that both governments recognise this and that the additional £1BN made available to the Scottish Government will allow them to allocate realistic sums to address those gaps and provide a sufficient level of grant support to tourism and hospitality businesses in the coming weeks ahead.”

Marc Crothall, CEO Scottish Tourism Alliance.

Business Interruption Insurance: Publication of Documents for Policyholders 

Posted on by Fiona Campbell

In order to assist policyholders and other stakeholders in understanding the High Court judgment, High Court declarations and the test case generally, the Financial Conduct Authority has published:

  • A table setting out the appeal status and the most relevant declarations and paragraphs of the judgment according to policy type in the representative sample.
  • The representative sample of policy wordings with a contents page, which can be navigated to by clicking on the policy type in the table above (there is no other change to this document).
  • A contents list for the High Court judgment.

None of these publications contain any new information, but they are intended to aid navigation of the court documents. They are not definitive or legally binding. Policyholders are again encouraged to speak to their insurance intermediaries and/or their advisers in the first instance for questions arising from the judgment, declarations and appeal.