Economy and Fair Work Committee
Pre-Budget 2022-23 Scrutiny - Covid-19 business support funding
Letter to various stakeholders, 28 June 2021
The following letter was sent to:
- Scottish Enterprise
- South of Scotland Enterprise
- Highlands and Islands Enterprise
- Visit Scotland
Dear recipient,
As you know, the new Economy and Fair Work Committee met for the first time on Wednesday 23 June, when I was elected as Convener.
The Committee agreed at its first meeting to write to you ahead of its scrutiny of the draft budget 2022/23. As with previous years, the Committee intends to carry out pre-budget scrutiny before the publication of the draft budget. In particular, the Committee is exploring focusing part of this scrutiny on the funding allocated to provide Covid-19 business support.
The Committee welcomes the Scottish Government’s publication of a very detailed summary of business support funding and notes that, since the start of the pandemic, the Scottish Government has made available over £3.6 billion in business support to help mitigate the economic impacts of the virus.
To assist with the Committee’s planning, the Committee would appreciate input from Scottish Enterprise. The Committee has written in similar terms to Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise.
The Committee welcomes the publication of your business plan, setting out how Scottish Enterprise is responding to Covid-19 but would like some more information in some areas. Specifically, we are seeking the following information for the current financial year:
- How has the pandemic impacted the activities Scottish Enterprise deliver?
- What additional activities are Scottish Enterprise now delivering to provide Covid-19 related support to businesses; and support the economic recovery?
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What activities have been suspended, deferred, or scaled back?
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If activities were suspended, deferred or scaled back, how was this budget used?
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How has the Sottish Enterprise budget been impacted?
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Was Scottish Enterprise allocated additional funding by the Scottish Government to cover Covid-19 related business support; and Covid-19 related economic recovery?
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How much of any Covid-19 budget has been allocated? Has there been any underspend and, if so, what are the details of this?
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What have been the costs to Scottish Enterprise of administering Covid-19 related support and how were these costs covered?
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How has Scottish Enterprise been engaging and communicating with businesses to understand their business support needs?
- What engagement has Scottish Enterprise had with the Scottish National Investment Bank since its launch?
It would be helpful if you could provide this information to the Committee by 11 August 2021.
Kind regards