Scotland to receive an extra £220m Covid funding from Treasury

Scotland is to receive an extra £220m funding from the UK Government to help tackle coronavirus.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed the funding following a meeting with the devolved administrations on Sunday as Omicron cases continue to rise across the country.

The UK Government said the additional amounts are being provided to each government on top of their autumn Budget 2021.

Before we get spin on ‘doubling’:
1/ the £220m announced last week was NOT new or additional (it was actually £48m less than we had been expecting). Seeking confirmation if this new £220m is additional (tho if so £48m will just make up last w/k loss) & if it has to be repaid https://t.co/9cMhLxN9nG
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) December 19, 2021

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the First Ministers of Wales and Northern Ireland had called for more financial support ahead of this weekend’s Cobra meeting.

However, Sturgeon said that she was checking whether the funding was indeed additional.

She tweeted: “Before we get spin on ‘doubling’: 1/ the £220m announced last week was NOT new or additional (it was actually £48m less than we had been expecting). Seeking confirmation if this new £220m is additional (tho if so £48m will just make up last w/k loss) and if it has to be repaid.”

She said that “to the extent it is new/additional”, the Scottish Government will make sure it goes in full to helping business and the overall Covid effort.

Sturgeon added: “As infections soar and businesses suffer, we still need much more urgency in action/support from UK Gov – so that devolved gov hands not tied.

“To that end, it was disappointing and frustrating that neither the PM nor the Chancellor attended this evening’s Cobra.”

When the UK Government announced £220m of funding for Scotland earlier this week, Sturgeon said the money was cash “being brought forward from money we were expecting in January and had already budgeted for”.

In total, the UK Government said it had doubled the amount of additional funding available for the devolved governments from £430m to £860m, with £270m going to the Welsh Government and £150m to the Northern Ireland Executive.

Sunak said: “Following discussions with the devolved administrations, we are now doubling the additional funding available.

“We will continue to listen to and work with the devolved administrations in the face of this serious health crisis to ensure we’re getting the booster to people all over the UK and that people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are supported.”