AN MSP from Greenock is urging the Scottish Government to provide Inverclyde businesses with urgent financial support to prevent more job losses.
Jamie Greene has made the call in response to reports that only seven out of 30 Scottish Government business funds are currently active - and that local authorities are still awaiting full details on the money available.
At a Scottish Parliament finance question session, Mr Greene quizzed cabinet secretary for finance Kate Forbes on how much of the £185m package of targeted coronavirus support announced by her in early December 2020 had reached local businesses so far.
He said Ms Forbes was unable to provide an exact figure for how much money had been distributed, or how many businesses the fund had supported.
The MSP said: "Too many Inverclyde businesses are not getting the support they need.
"The Scottish Government cannot simply announce funds and then not follow it up on the ground.
"I do not underestimate the scale of the challenge but where businesses have had their trading restricted through no fault of their own, they must be compensated and not met with excessive red tape or lengthy delays."
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