SUPPORT funds for B&B and self-catering businesses in Moray and the Highlands have still not opened, Moray's MP has claimed.

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Conservative MP Douglas Ross has accused SNP government ministers of letting down local businesses due to the fund not yet being open a month after it was supposed to be.

The Scottish Government said on January 21 that B&Bs and self-catering firms would be able to access Covid grant support.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing then said in a letter to Mr Ross dated February 17 that a support scheme for businesses that do not pay rates or council tax “is now open” and a separate fund for larger self-catering premises “is now open”.

However, Mr Ross said Moray Council has not issued any funds nor contacted any businesses.

This follows previous reports that councils have struggled with a lack of guidance and changing rules on more than 40 different Scottish Government-announced support schemes.

Mr Ross said: “Yet again, SNP ministers are saying one thing in public while the reality for businesses is completely different.

“These badly-needed support schemes were announced more than a month ago but affected businesses in Moray still can’t access the funds.

“B&B and self-catering firms have struggled with a lack of support from Scottish Ministers during this pandemic.

“I recently held a meeting with more than 120 operators who were very unhappy and felt they were being ignored.

“Scottish Ministers must act to ensure these funds are open and the cash gets paid out to those that need it as soon as possible.”

Scottish Conservative council group leader for Moray Councillor Tim Eagle (Buckie) added: “Throughout this pandemic, the SNP government has announced dozens of different support schemes – most of which have to be administered by local councils.

“Councils like Moray are working as best they can with limited resources, but the way in which this has been managed by the SNP has led to confusion and delay.

“The end result is that the businesses are having to wait even longer to access these vital support funds.

“The UK government has now provided nearly £10billion in direct funding to the Scottish Government to deal with the Covid pandemic.

"The SNP are quick to make announcements but have been too slow to act and actually get the money out to those that need it.”

A spokesperson for Moray Council said: “Earlier this month three new business support funds administered by local authorities became operational: large self-catering units; exclusive use venues providing overnight accommodation; bed and breakfast establishments paying council tax.

“We have not yet been able to contact businesses who may qualify for an award under these schemes; for the first two we require further information from the Assessor’s Office and for the latter, we’re awaiting information from the Scottish Government which we need to proceed.

"Once we receive all the required information we will be able to contact businesses directly.”