We have had the following guidance from the Scottish Government this afternoon:
Click on the Link Below to view details.
Key points:
- Outwith the festive period (23-27 December inclusive), it is illegal to travel for non-essential purposes from the rest of the UK to Scotland.
- Travel between Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland is permitted to allow families and friends to gather to form a Christmas bubble between 23 to 27 December (22 to 28 December for entering and leaving Northern Ireland).
- The location of a Christmas bubble in Scotland must be in the local authority area which a member of the bubble has their main residence.
- A bubble can meet in self-catered accommodation for a Christmas gathering, but only in the local authority area in which you or a member of your bubble lives.
- Operators should check that at least one household participating is from within the postcode area.
- Guests can only travel in line with festive guidance for bubbles but not for leisure. If they are not gathering with another household, the holiday relaxations do not apply to them.
- People should comply with the rules applicable to their local authority area in Scotland. Please note the levels and the contents of the levels is reviewed on a regular basis.
- Hogmanay does not fall within the agreed Four Nation festive period.
- In level 0, 1 or 2 you can move between levels in either 0, 1 or 2 but are advised to minimise rather than avoid these journeys to minimise any potential virus spread.
- This is Law – legal provisions are through the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements (Local Levels) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 3.) Regulations 2020.
Tourism – Covid-19 – Self-catering Guidance – 2 December 2020 (008)
VisitScotland have also compiled a list of the top 10 Frequently Asked Questions from what hospitality businesses can and can’t do in respect of bookings to what’s happening over the Christmas period to travelling between Levels. Read more here.
Financial Support
Oliver Mundell (Dumfriesshire) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party) tabled the following Parliamentary Question this week:
To ask the Scottish Government whether self-catering premises in local authority areas subject to Level (a) 1, (b) 2 and (c) 3 restrictions, whose businesses are directly affected by the impact of travel restrictions, are eligible to receive a COVID-19 business restrictions grant.(S5W-33530)
Fergus Ewing: The Strategic Framework Business Fund offers financial support to businesses legally required to close or to modify their operations. Self-catering businesses in Levels 1&2 or 3, affected by travel restrictions are not eligible for this support. Self-catering businesses required to close in level 4 may be eligible for support if they meet the eligibility criteria. Coronavirus Business Support Grants, the Tourism Hardship fund, rates relief and the £1.5 million Coronavirus Support scheme have all supported self-caterers. We have also provided an additional £30m to support businesses through the local authority discretionary fund. Scotland’s lack of borrowing powers prevents us from fully responding to the economic crisis, and limited funds mean that we must target resources.