BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats

Responding to the government's announcement that it will postpone plans to offer parents 1140 hours of free childcare by August 2020, Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Beatrice Wishart MSP said:

"As we try to get our economy back on its feet after this crisis the nursery care provision will be more important than ever to help parents get back to work and rebuild their businesses.

Edinburgh West Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine welcomed the UK Government's commitment of £75m to make sure Brits stranded abroad get home safely, but criticised the delay and sought assurances that more will be done if necessary.

Christine Jardine commented:

"The news that the government is committing significant sums to rescue flights will bring relief to thousands of Brits trapped abroad at this worrying time.

Responding to the Chancellor's announcement that the self-employed will receive 80% of their income up to £2,500, mirroring measures already in place to support those in employment, Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"The Chancellor's offering to the self-employed will make a material difference to the stability of thousands of families across the UK.

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP has today written to the Justice Secretary calling for the Scottish Government to look at ways it can mitigate the impact of coronavirus on the prison service including reforms to remand and offering prisons access to telephone services to alleviate unrest as a result of longer periods of isolation.

Responding to the Health Secretary outlining the planning around continuing vital cancer care, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP commented:

"For patients going through cancer treatment and their families this is an immensely worrying time.

"The distressing reality is that other illnesses will not push pause while we deal with this crisis.

Reacting to news that HIAL will close its airports to non-essential flights, Alistair Carmichael MP and Beatrice Wishart MSP have given their reaction.

Alistair Carmichael MP said:

"In recent days many local people have contacted me to voice their concern that flights remained open to everyone including tourists, long after ferry services moved to only allow essential travel.

Commenting on today's column in the Scotsman from East Lothian MP Kenny Macaskill in which he calls for a "reckoning" in the SNP and says that resignations should take place "quietly under the cover of coronavirus", Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine said:

"I am appalled that once again senior SNP figures seem to care more about internal bickering than the public good. With a national crisis facing us, perhaps Alex Salmond's proxies should put the settling of grievances aside and focus on supporting and reassuring their constituents.

Speaking after the Scottish Parliament approved a legislative consent motion, enabling the introduction of emergency powers to tackle the coronavirus crisis, Mr Rennie said:

"This is a national emergency and emergency powers are clearly necessary to keep individuals and communities safe from the virus at this time.

Responding to reports that that the Government has refused to axe the five-week wait for Universal Credit payments despite an additional 500,000 claims in 9 days, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said:

"The Coronavirus crisis is an unprecedented threat with millions of families facing financial hardship.

Liberal Democrat MP Jamie Stone has secured cross party support for his letter to the Chancellor calling for a moratorium on VAT on energy bills through the coronavirus crisis.

The letter comes in the wake of figures from Uswitch forecasting that households could see bills increase as much as £195 as a result of spending more time at home due to government restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.

Jamie Stone, Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross said:

"Right across the UK people are desperately worried about how they will make ends meet in the face of this crisis. Many already find themselves out of work, on reduced pay or having to rely on Universal Credit. Ensuring people using prepaid meters are not cut off is a first step, but there are many who will need further assistance.

"The very least the government can do is offer people a break from VAT on energy bills - this would be a quick and effective step which will immediately assist some of the poorest in our society. It will at least partly alleviate the additional financial pressure created by the need to stay at home."