Today (June 24) the Scottish Government announced further details about the route map through and out of Lockdown. Provisional dates for a variety of areas, including relaxation of travel restrictions, restarting of the hospitality industry, and the reopening of hairdressers were announced. Key indicative dates from today’s briefing include from Phase 2: 3 July – Travel distance limit for leisure… Read more »
I welcome the Scottish Government announcement today that, providing we stay on track with suppressing the virus, school children will return full time at the start of the new academic year. This will be accompanied by £100m of funding to support a safe return as well as attainment. Planning for blended learning was essential and I am glad that it… Read more »
I welcome the First Minister’s announcement today that we will be commencing Phase 2 of the COVID-19 – Framework for Decision Making. Phase 1 has been hard for everyone, especially those who are lonely, vulnerable and isolated. We still need to be cautious. We need to look after ourselves and ca canny when out and about, but for those who… Read more »
The Scottish Government has rolled out the next step of it’s Test and Protect strategy today (28 May). You can read the full announcement at the Scottish Government website. From today everyone who has symptoms of Coronavirus is asked to book themselves in for a test as soon as those symptoms start to show. Testing is available at several drive-in… Read more »
The Scottish Government have today published their route map, indicating how we will proceed to ease the lockdown, continue to work to mitigate the damage of the virus and progress to a new normal. It is important for the many isolated and vulnerable people in East Lothian that start bringing this plan into reality, but it is equally important that… Read more »
Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech this evening (10 May), I wrote, along with Cllr Stuart Currie, SNP Group Leader for East Lothian Council that: “As representatives for East Lothian, we welcome Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s statement this evening, following the lead of devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland in confirming that the lockdown will continue with some… Read more »
A £100 million package of additional grant support for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) and newly self-employed people opened today (30 April). Scottish Government Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Our economy has been hit hard by this crisis and previously profitable businesses have seen demand dry up overnight. Our support will help alleviate the hardship those individuals and companies… Read more »
UPDATE 22 April: A reminder that the deadline to be sure payment comes through before the end of the month is today (Wed 22 April). HMRC have produced advice having difficulty accessing the system because they do not have an active PAYE enrolment. In order to make a claim they will need to: • have a Government Gateway (GG) ID… Read more »
In my column in the Scotsman Newspaper I write about how COVID-19 will only be wiped out if we do so all over the world, and how the poorest nations on earth will need our help. You can read the full piece at the Scotsman’s website here.
The Scottish Government have set up a new helpline for those in vulnerable groups who do not have family or community support. From the Scottish Government website: “The service – which opens tomorrow (Tuesday) – will offer help to those who do not have family or existing community support and cannot get online and who are over 70, disabled, require… Read more »