Question reference: S5W-33415
- Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: 20 November 2020
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Current status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 7 December 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to support taxi businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer
We acknowledge the devastating impact that restrictions have had on the taxi and private vehicle hire sector since the outset of the pandemic. We also recognise that this sector has particularly high fixed costs associated with financing and maintaining vehicles.
In addition to the £5 million COVID-19 Public Transport Mitigation Fund to support the installation of equipment that reduces the risk of coronavirus transmission on public transport, including taxi and private hire operators, we have announced a £30 million discretionary fund for local authorities. This is specifically aimed at providing financial support to those small businesses and the self-employed who have not yet been reached by the Scottish Government. This includes taxi drivers as referenced by the First Minister her statement on statement to Parliament on 17 November.
We are actively considering support for fixed costs pressures on taxi drivers distinct from the new Strategic Framework Business Fund.