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Scottish taxi drivers and operators will learn details of next vital support grants next week
Desperate Scottish taxi drivers and operators will learn details of vital support grants promised to the taxi and private hire industry next week, according to Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Finance.
Concerned drivers have been urging the Scottish Government to release information on a future grant promised as part of the SNP’s ‘First Steps’ plan, which details the party’s planned actions over the first 100 days after the elections.
In those plans taxi firms across Scotland were promised grants of up to £10,000 once the SNP were re-elected earlier this month. The SNP also made a promise to taxi drivers that they will be able to claim a second £1,500 payment to assist them through the pandemic.
In the published plan it states the SNP will ‘provide a second payment of £1,500 to each taxi driver who previously received a Covid grant and up to £10,000 for taxi operator firms to help them through these difficult times’.
Government officials will now meet with Unite Union representatives early next week to discuss funding options. An announcement on the funding is expected soon after next week.
Kate Forbes, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, said via social media yesterday: “During the election, we pledged further support to taxi drivers. Establishing the scheme has been one of my primary priorities since the new Government was established last week.
“I am meeting with Unite reps early next week, before setting out the details of support by mid-week.”
