​HOLYROOD BACKS £4.23 MILLION FOR MIDLOTHIAN AND £4.75 MILLION FOR EAST LOTHIAN TO TACKLE COVID-19

SNP MSP Colin Beattie has welcomed a Holyrood vote approving £4.23 million extra funding for Midlothian and £4.75 million extra funding for East Lothian in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
 
Almost £258 million extra funding has been approved for vital local services across Scotland, such as food provision for those in need, education and social care.
 
The Scottish Government is in discussions with local authorities over providing a further £72 million – which will bring the total additional funding to almost £330 million.
 
This extra funding is on top of the local government finance settlement of £11.4 billion, which already provided an increase of £589.4 million (5.8%) compared to the previous year.
 
SNP MSP Colin Beattie said:
 
“The pandemic has put real pressure on families and local services, and it’s right that the Scottish Government has ensured Midlothian and East Lothian have more cash to deal with this.
 
“This funding boost is supporting access to food, welfare payments and frontline services.
 
“I also welcome the additional flexibility given to councils in how money is spent, allowing resources to be diverted to the COVID-19 response if required.”