NEW UNIVERSITY CASES AND PUBS ADVICE
A further five cases of Covid have been confirmed at St. Andrews University this week. This is in addition to the four cases notified on Monday. In total, since the university returned in September, there have been twelve confirmed cases, involving ten students and two members of staff. Of the five new cases notified this week, two are sporadic and three are linked to community transmission.
This weekend, with the strong encouragement of the Scottish Government, every university in Scotland will ask all students to observe a voluntary restriction on visiting pubs, bars and restaurants.
Willie asked the First Minister about the need for asymptomatic testing for students
JOB SUPPORT SCHEME
The UK government is introducing a new Job Support Scheme from the 1st November which will run for six months.
Employees (excluding those on a redundancy notice) will need to work a minimum of 33% of their usual hours.
For every hour not worked the employer and the government will each pay one third of the employee’s usual pay, and the government contribution will be capped at £697.92 per month.
Employees using the scheme will receive at least 77% of their pay, where the government contribution has not been capped. The employer will be reimbursed in arrears.
All Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) will be eligible; large businesses will be required to demonstrate that their business has been adversely affected by the pandemic, and the government expects that large employers will not be making capital distributions (such as dividends), while using the scheme.
SELF EMPLOYED INCOME SUPPORT SCHEME EXTENSION
The SEISS Grant is being extended for six months until April 2021.
The grant will be limited to self-employed individuals who are currently eligible for the SEISS and are actively continuing to trade but are facing reduced demand due to COVID-19.
The extension will be in the form of two taxable grants.
The first grant will cover a three-month period from the start of November until the end of January. This initial grant will cover 20% of average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months’ worth of profits, and capped at £1,875 in total.
The second grant will cover a three-month period from the start of February until the end of April. The government will review the level of the second grant and set this in due course.
5% VAT ON HOSPITALITY AND TOURSIM EXTENDED
The reduced rate will continue until March 31st and not end in January as originally planned.
This will continue to apply to supplies of food and non-alcoholic drinks from restaurants, pubs, bars, cafés and similar premises, supplies of accommodation and admission to attractions across the UK.
EXTENSION TO FINANCE SCHEMES AND PAY AS YOU GROW
The UK government is extending four temporary loan schemes to 30th November for new applications.
The government will also give all businesses that borrowed under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme the option to repay their loan over a period of up to ten years.
VAT REPAYMENT OVER GREATER PERIOD
The government will give businesses which deferred VAT due in March to June 2020 the option to spread their payments over the financial year 2021-2022. HMRC will put in place an opt-in process in early 2021.
SELF ASSESMENT TAXPAYERS GIVEN MORE TIME
The government will give the self-employed and other taxpayers more time to pay taxes due in January 2021, building on the Self-Assessment deferral provided in July 2020. Taxpayers with up to £30,000 of Self-Assessment liabilities due will be able to use HMRC’s self-service Time to Pay facility to secure a plan to pay over an additional 12 months.
FLU JAB APOLOGY
NHS Fife has now apologised for the problems with the flu jab programme. They are recruiting more staff to help cope with the calls. Our advice is to wait until next week to call. We are told there are plenty of appointments.
IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS If you have symptoms of the virus check out this link. You may be sent for a test which may be at the new facility at St. Andrews.
COMMUNITY MUTUAL AID
These are the links to their Facebook groups and websites. If you need help with groceries, medicine collection etc please contact them.
Please do let me know whether you are running a group in your community.
SUPPORT AND ADVICE
This is an anxious and uncertain time but we wanted you to know that Wendy Chamberlain MP, Willie Rennie MSP our local councillors are ready to help in whatever way that we can.
