Scottish Conservative MSP Graham Simpson for Central Scotland has hailed continued UK Government support for local businesses.
Mr. Simpson highlighted new figures from the UK Treasury showing the support given to businesses to help them through the pandemic, in the form of Bounce Back loans and Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans.
Across Scotland, the Treasury gave out £2.9 billion in loans with 79,000 businesses benefitting, including over 76,000 bounce back loans and more than 3,300 business interruption loans.
The self-employed across Scotland have also benefitted from UK Government financial support, with 126,000 individuals receiving grants through the self-employed income support scheme.
In East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow alone, 1,425 were distributed to a total of £41,238,570, with a further 78 received by businesses in East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow to a value of £17,053,366.
Mr. Simpson says it is the latest example of the UK Government and Chancellor Rishi Sunak stepping up to protect jobs and businesses across Scotland and is calling on the SNP Government to lay out their plans.
Commenting, Graham Simpson said: “This support for businesses across East Kilbride from the UK Government is hugely welcome.
“It once again shows how the Chancellor Rishi Sunak has stepped up and supported jobs and livelihoods right across Scotland, including in East Kilbride.
“Hundreds of businesses have been supported through this pandemic in East Kilbride thanks to the UK Government.
“They have shown their plan to protect jobs and livelihoods across Scotland.
“Now, we must see the same urgency from the SNP Government.
“Where is their support for businesses in East Kilbride?"
