Glasgow Taxis hit out at latest grant offer which excludes those currently claiming Universal Credit
With a fleet of over 800 taxis, Glasgow Taxis is one of the largest suppliers of licensed taxis north of the border. A spokesperson for the company has now spoken out about the announcement that eligible taxi drivers will be able to apply for a one-off support grant payment to help during the pandemic.
TaxiPoint recently confirmed that the Scottish Government has made available funding which is worth £57 million, but with certain criteria needing to be met by each driver to be eligible. This includes not having received Universal Credit payments and Glasgow Taxis have now hit out claiming that a better deal needs to be put in place for all drivers.
In a statement the company has said: “All and any financial support for the taxi trade during the pandemic, such as that made available today via the Scottish Government, is both welcome and appreciated.
“However, the model being used for this latest funding merits close scrutiny, in what is a complex industry. It is critically important that everyone involved in the trade can apply for support, but unfortunately eligibility for this particular grant means a number of businesses, owners and drivers have fallen through the cracks.
“Glasgow Taxis has been engaging with government (and respecting embargoes) throughout this process, including today, to make a case for the fund being more widely accessible.
“Specifically, we are upset that some drivers, who may have been so affected by the unprecedented circumstances in 2020 that they had no option but to claim universal credit, are unable to access this fund. Further, it is unfair that businesses and owners who have not qualified for any previous support are not eligible for this funding either.
“An additional issue is the fact that some drivers who have temporarily changed to other jobs, such as in supermarkets or the NHS, will benefit from the fund while operators cannot benefit from the fund and may not be able to continue with taxi loans, insurance, fixed costs and no drivers.
“Glasgow Taxis believes that with the full funding figure unlikely to be spent due to the nature of the exclusions from eligibility, the underspend should be considered as a means of providing additional support for others, especially operators.
“Further meetings with Scottish Government are planned in the coming weeks and Glasgow Taxis will continue to make the case for a fairer deal for the support of all involved in the taxi trade.”
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