First Minister tells business she will do 'everything she can' to help
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Scotland’s First Minister has said that the government recognises the “unimaginably difficult time” businesses are experiencing and will do everything it can to help.
In her daily press briefing on coronavirus she said she recognised that the necessary guidance insisting people remain at home is having a “severe impact” but vowed to address the issue.
"My message to businesses large and small is that we know this is difficult, we know times are hard and we will do everything we can to help you,” she said.
“Earlier this morning I chaired a cabinet sub committee of my economy ministers to discuss the government's economic response.
“We have already made £2.2 billion available through business rates and grants, and in the coming days and weeks we will be expanding what is called our PAYE system which helps those who become unemployed into alternative jobs – and we know that there are sectors right now who are expanding at seeking to employ more workers.
“We will also use our procurement systems in government contracts to keep financial support flowing to companies and will be asking local government to do the same. And we are looking across a transport system and key industries to identify further actions that we can take.”
The First Minister also said she had called on the UK government to “put substantial support toward helping companies pay wages and keep people in jobs."
She said: “It's essential that the government takes action to put money into people's pockets.
"Whether that is through the tax system or national insurance it is the biggest known health intervention that we can take now to support society through this crisis.”
Related article: Government could move to subsidise wages in response to coronavirus crisis
