Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what comparative assessment he has made of the Newly Self-employed Hardship Fund that was made available in Scotland compared and the support available to the self-employed during the covid-19 outbreak in England.

As the Newly Self-employed hardship fund is administered by the Scottish Government, the UK Government does not hold information on data relating to this scheme. Through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme available across the UK, people have claimed £7.7 billion (including 155,000 self-employed people in Scotland receiving £449 million) and it remains open for applications for the second and final grant until 19 October.