Murdo Fraser MSP has raised the plight of nightclubs being ineligible for Covid funding with the SNP Government.
The Scottish Conservative politician recently asked Finance Minister Kate Forbes at Holyrood if she will review the criteria to enable operators of nightclubs to qualify for the Nightclub Closure Fund.
In her response to Mr Fraser, the Minister promised she would look at the criteria for eligibility for the fund.
Mr Fraser has been contacted by the owner of The Loft nightclub in Perth on this issue and feels the night-time sector has been left “high and dry” without proper support from the SNP Government.
Commenting, Mr Fraser, who represents the Mid Scotland and Fife region, said: “The night-time economy in Scotland was hard-hit by the closures over the festive period, as this is usually one of their busiest periods. The difficulty is that many nightclubs, including The Loft in Perth, are simply not eligible, because they are deemed to be ‘hybrid’ premises – operating a bar alongside a nightclub, as many of them do.
“Accordingly, despite suffering severe financial losses, they are not deemed eligible for support, which is frankly ridiculous. I entirely sympathise with nightclubs like The Loft, who feel let down by the SNP as I’m sure the venue would have been full on the likes of Hogmanay, when instead it was closed.”
Mr Fraser continued: “Nightclubs are part of a business sector which has been hardest hit by the Covid restrictions that were brought in, and yet one that is being left high and dry without proper financial support. I know that the SNP Government will say that there is more support for business in Scotland than applies south of the border, but we have to remember that businesses in England were not restricted in the same way as businesses were here.”
Mr Fraser had raised the issue during Stage 3 of the Budget (Scotland) Bill.