Question reference: S5W-35866
- Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 9 March 2021
-
Current status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 22 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial provision it will make to support businesses that are ineligible for its Self-Employed Hardship Fund due to commencing trading prior to 1 October 2018, and whether it has considered measures such as backdating eligibility to the beginning of the 2018-19 financial year.
Answer
The Newly Self Employed Hardship Fund was designed to help alleviate financial hardship for those who are newly self-employed and not eligible for the UK Government’s Self-employment Income Support Scheme. The fund closes to applications on 23 March 2021 and we have no plans to change the eligibility criteria. Based on the uptake in 2020, we expect more than 5,000 newly self-employed individuals to benefit from the fund.