Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP Alasdair Allan earlier today raised the need for additional support for businesses in the Western Isles in conversations with the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance Kate Forbes MSP.

Mainland Scotland is currently at Covid Protection Level 4, the most restrictive level, while the Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland and island communities without a road link to the mainland are at Level 3.

Additional support has been made available to businesses on the mainland required to close in line with Level 4 lockdown restrictions. However, the islands MSP has been contacted by a number of businesses who have been seriously impacted by the lockdown on mainland Scotland and who also need access to additional support.

Alasdair Allan commented:

“Over the last week, I have been contacted by a variety of businesses who have seen their customer base disappear or their ability to trade curtailed due to the mainland lockdown restrictions. However, because we are at a different protection level, they do not have access to the same support as mainland businesses. It’s great that the islands have been able to avoid a return to lockdown, but businesses shouldn’t be in a position of being disadvantaged because of that.

“I have raised this issue with the Scottish Government. This is something that is being actively working on and I am hopeful that a solution will be forthcoming soon.”