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Category: Covid-19

Parliamentary Questions February 2022

Posted on by Fiona Campbell

The following written questions and answers have been submitted:

Short-Term Lets

S6W-06372: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/02/2022 To ask the Scottish Government whether all short-term holiday let properties will be required to have an EPC rating of C or above by 2025; whether any short-term holiday let properties that do not meet an EPC rating of C or above by the deadline will, as a result, no longer be permitted to be let, and, if so, what it anticipates the financial impact will be on the Scottish tourism industry. Current Status: Expected Answer date 08/03/2022

S6W-06006: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2022 R To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2022 and Town and Country Planning (Short-term Let Control Areas) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022 being approved, whether overall responsibility for oversight of businesses in the short-term letting sector will (a) move to its Housing and Social Justice Directorate and (b) remain within the overall responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy. Current Status: Expected Answer date 04/03/2022

S6W-06372: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/02/2022 To ask the Scottish Government whether all short-term holiday let properties will be required to have an EPC rating of C or above by 2025; whether any short-term holiday let properties that do not meet an EPC rating of C or above by the deadline will, as a result, no longer be permitted to be let, and, if so, what it anticipates the financial impact will be on the Scottish tourism industry.Current Status: Expected Answer date 08/03/2022

Tourist Tax

S6W-06283: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 04/02/2022 To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to empower local authorities to introduce a Transient Visitor Levy; whether it will be for local authorities to decide (a) when and (b) how to use such a levy, and whether it will affect the distribution formula of the block grant to local authorities. Current Status: Expected Answer date 04/03/2022

Answers

Self-Catering

S6W-06118: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 02/02/2022 To ask the Scottish Government on what date did it last (a) meet and (b) correspond with the UK Government about the provision of support for self-catering businesses that have seen their business disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answered by Ivan McKee: While the Scottish Government has not met or corresponded with UK Government on this question specifically, we meet and correspond with UKG regularly about funding in general.

Over the course of the pandemic we have worked closely with the self-catering accommodation sector and Scottish Tourism Alliance on the recovery and support for the sector and we will continue to do so.

The Scottish Government recognises that the self-catering accommodation sector, alongside many other businesses across Scotland has been adversely affected by Covid-19. In addition to the regular Strategic Framework Business Fund which previously supported small accommodation providers, a range of tailored support to meet the needs of tourism businesses was developed. This included the Small Accommodation Providers Paying Council Tax Fund (SAP-CTF) which eligible Bed & Breakfasts, Guesthouses, small serviced accommodation providers and other self-catering businesses that paid council tax were able to access. Other targeted funds included the large self-catering grant and support for the B&B sector via a fund of up to £3 million to support those B&Bs with no business bank account. Equivalent tailored funds have not generally been available in England.

We will continue to engage in dialogue with the UK Government on issues of funding and to monitor the impacts of COVID on Scotland’s tourist industry.

Short-Term Lets

Question S6W-05750: Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20/01/2022 To ask the Scottish Government whether it has completed its consideration of how to complete the review of the tax treatment of short-term lets; whether the review is complete, and whether it will (a) publish the review or (b) outline the timetable for completing the review.

Answered by Shona Robison (02/02/2022): During the COVID-19 pandemic we prioritised work on the Short-term lets Licensing Order and Amendment Regulations for short-term let control areas. This enabled the statutory instruments for these to be considered by the Scottish Parliament in this session and meant the review of the tax treatment of short-term lets was deferred.

We intend to recommence the tax treatment review in the coming months to ensure that short-term lets make an appropriate contribution to the communities they operate in.

Parliamentary Questions – Funding for Self-Catering Businesses

Posted on by Melanie Allen

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT – WRITTEN ANSWERS TO PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

24 January 2022

Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government for what reason self-catering, bed and breakfast accommodation and guest houses have reportedly been excluded from COVID-19 business funding delivered through VisitScotland, while hotels and hostels have been eligible for support.

Ivan McKee: The funding package to deal with the Omicron crisis was focused on those businesses most severely impacted by the cancellations due to public health advice and re-introduction of regulations on some businesses. The hostel sector whose business model is reliant on accommodating large numbers of (often unrelated) households mixing at one time, was particularly impacted during this period. Similarly hotels with bars and restaurants were particularly affected and therefore made eligible for hospitality top-up payments.

We sympathise with businesses such as self-catering, B&Bs and Guesthouses and others which have also been impacted by COVID-19. However, with limited funds available we have had to focus support on those most severely affected by restrictions. We will continue to consider the impacts of COVID and make the case with the UK Government for more comprehensive support.

Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available to self-catering businesses that have seen their business disrupted by COVID-19.

Ivan McKee: The funding package to deal with the Omicron crisis has been targeted at those businesses most severely impacted by the cancellations due to public health advice and re-introduction of restrictions on some businesses. For this tranche of funding this has meant support for the hostel sector, and hotels with bars and restaurants.

We recognise that the self-catering sector, alongside many other businesses across Scotland has also been adversely affected by COVID-19 and we strongly sympathise with them in light of the challenges this has presented. Limited funding available has necessitated our focus on targeting those most impacted by restrictions. We will continue to monitor the impacts of COVID on businesses and to engage in dialogue with the UK Government on the case for support.

 

First Minister’s Statement 18th January 2022

Posted on by Fiona Campbell

The First Minister updated Parliament today on COVID-19 and confirmed that additional measures aimed at stemming the spread of the Omicron variant whilst the vaccination booster programme took effect are to be lifted.

The First Minister provided a Covid-19 update to the Scottish Parliament which covered the following issues:

  • Latest statistics: 7,752 positive cases were reported yesterday through PCR and LFTs. 1,546 people are in hospital with Covid (-21) and 59 people are in intensive care (+1). A further 31 deaths were reported, taking the total number of deaths under the daily definition to 10,093.
  • The FM confirmed the Scottish Government’s steps in lifting the protective measures against omicron which were introduced in December. She added that “the data gives us confidence that we have turned the corner on the Omicron wave” but “significant pressures and uncertainties remain”. She claimed that a combination of booster vaccinations, the willingness of the public to adapt behaviours, and the “temporary protective measures” had helped suppress the impact of the Omicron wave.
  • The following measures would be lifted from Monday 24th January: limits on attendance at indoor public events, the requirement for 1m social distancing in indoor public places, table service in hospitality venues serving alcohol, and the closure of nightclubs. Furthermore, from this date, the guidance on asking people to stick to the three household limit with indoor gatherings would be removed.
  • However, the mitigation measures that were in place before omicron will be retained at this stage. She also noted that the Scottish Government would not extend the vaccine certification scheme to other venues.
  • People will continue to be asked to work from home whenever possible, with employers asked to facilitate this. However, the Government will engage with businesses now about a return to a more hybrid approach from the start of February if case numbers continue to decline.