Businesses and tourism organisations in the Largs area will get a helping hand from a new package to mitigate against the effects of the Covid-19 crisis.

MSP Kenneth Gibson has praised the Scottish Government's £2.2 billion to boost the Scottish economy at this testing time.

The actions to support businesses including a package of measures from 1 April which supersede previous announcements:

Measures include a full year’s 100% non-domestic rates relief for retail, hospitality and tourism, and a£10,000 grants for small businesses in receipt of the Small Business Bonus Scheme or

Rural Relief who currently pay no rates

Also a £25,000 grants for hospitality, leisure and retail properties with a rateable value between £18,000 and £51,000 and 1.6% relief for all properties

Kenneth said: “The overall economic impact will be significant, although the scale and duration of the impact are

difficult to predict.

“Depressed economic activity this year will have long-term implications for the public finances through lower tax receipts and higher welfare spending.

“This will have severe economic consequences and we are treating it as an economic emergency, triggered by the enormity of the COVID-19 crisis.”

“The Scottish Government is delivering substantial grant support and tax breaks to keep companies in business and people in jobs, with an emphasis on supporting individuals and households.

“These measures have already been warmly welcomed by business and tourism organisations and will help mitigate some of the damage currently impacting on much of our economy.”