Businesses which believe that they might be eligible for relief should contact the rating departments in their local authorities with evidence of the hardship they are suffering. This is in addition to the commitments already provided by the UK government. The funding will be available for businesses with a rateable value up to 12,000 in rural local authority areas. We are encouraging local authorities to consider deferring rates payments for affected businesses. Local authorities can grant relief for premises which are not in use because of the foot and mouth outbreak.
Businesses can also apply for a reduction in their rateable value.
Secondly, an initial 5m will be made available now for visitscotland to tackle the misconceptions in key markets about the outbreak, build on the framework provided by the Comeback Code published on Friday 23 March, and to bring forward a range of other measures including support for local marketing initiatives. Further support for a longer term recovery plan will be available. Thirdly, a 5m immediate boost for the Enterprise Networks to provide emergency advice and assistance to affected businesses to support survival workshops, one to one counselling, assistance on minimising liabilities and access to other sources of support such as the Banks, the Inland Revenue and the Customs and Excise. The Executive is particularly conscious of the severity of the impact in Dumfries and Galloway and will discuss with the Enterprise Networks and visitscotland ways of ensuring that the help gets to those who need it most. Request from Ministers to Inland Revenue and Customs officials to take a very sympathetic approach to businesses experiencing financial problems as a result of the outbreak.