News Summary 17 November

  • 19 council areas see no change to their levels this week.
  • 2 areas, East Lothian and Midlothian, move down from level 3 to level 2.
  • 11 local authorities will move from level 3 to level 4 starting 6pm on Friday, for 3 weeks, ending 11th December.
TRAVEL
  • The guidance that has been in place in recent weeks will become law from Friday.
  • That means people living in level 3 or level 4 must not travel outside their own council area, except for certain essential purposes.
  • People living elsewhere in Scotland must not travel to level 3 or level 4 areas, except for essential purposes.
  • And there must be no non-essential travel between Scotland and other parts of the UK.
FINANCE
  • In addition to the UK furlough scheme, all businesses that require to close, at any level, are eligible for a four weekly grant of £2,000 or £3,000, depending on rateable value.
  • Grants of £1,400 or £2,100 are available to businesses that are open, but subject to trading restrictions.
  • Eligible businesses can apply for these grants now through their local authorities.
  • The Scottish Government are establishing a £30 million discretionary fund to enable local authorities to provide additional support for businesses where they consider that necessary or justified – for example, for businesses in supply chains, or to taxi drivers suffering a severe but indirect effect.
  • The Government will make £15 million available for newly self-employed people who have not been able to access other forms of support.
  • An additional £15 million available to local authorities to help with the community and social impact of a move to level 4.