Mornings with Stephen Jardine
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, PA Media

Portaloos - and lots of them - are needed as Scotland begins to reopen to visitors, says James Fraser, chairman of Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.

Mr Fraser tells BBC Radio Scotland that it has been "sheer bedlam" in the national park area for the past month, with toilets and car parks closed and many people breaching the five-mile travel for recreation for guidance.

Littering and traffic congestion have been among the main problems, he says.

He describes the latest news on phased reopening as "sensible" and says the phone calls and emails have been "non-stop" for self-catering accommodations, but warns that existing public toilet facilities are not adequate to cope with the expected number of day-trippers.

He calls on local authorities to create new "comfort hubs" but says they will need government funding to bring in extra portaloos.

And what about locals who are worried about an influx of visitors?

"We really need to get businesses open," says Mr Fraser. "People need to be responsible - and most will be. Everyone must respect social distancing and be respectful to others."

Andrew Black
BBC Scotland Business Presenter

Small businesses across Scotland are adapting to the fast-changing coronavirus pandemic.

Edinburgh bakery chain Twelve Triangles saw what was coming a week before lockdown and launched an online sales and delivery service.

Co-owner Emily Cuddeford told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme they expanded from a sourdough and pastry seller to a mini-supermarket offering bacon, eggs and other products for people who couldn’t get out.

“The response from our customers is possibly one of the most overwhelmingly wonderful things - they were really appreciative,” she said.

Twelve triangles still faces challenges. They can’t have more than one person at a time in any of their four outlets while the two-metre rule remains in place.

Image source, Twelve Triangles

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee

Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing tells MSPs: "The tourism sector has been hit the hardest of all in this pandemic."

Mr Ewing says the situation has been catastrophic for the sector but insists the government is doing everything it can to support tourism, for example through the £2.3bn financial support for businesses.

He says he was pleased to announce on 10 June that the plan was to reopen the tourism and hospitality sector on 15 July.

There was further good news yesterday with relaxations on self-accommodation and travel on 3 July and outdoor hospitality on 6 July.

The minister also says he has created a Scottish Tourism Recovery Taskforce that will meet for the first time this afternoon.

The tourism committee is hearing from the cabinet secretary this morning on the impact of Covid-19 on the sector and efforts to support it.

The Scottish government has published guidance for the tourism and hospitality sector, external, including procedures for staff and customer safety and an operations checklist.

Read the papers here. , external

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

Like most of the population, Kate Forbes welcomed the news hairdressers will be able to reopen on 15 July.

She said it was the thing she was looking forward to most now that lockdown is easing further.

Nearly £500,000 will be shared between veteran charities that support serving personnel, veterans and their families during the coronavirus pandemic.

As part of a £5.5 million UK government fund for charities across the UK, £473,110 will be split across seven charities in Scotland.

The charities provide a range of support to veterans and serving personnel, in a range of areas including employment and mental health.

The Westminster government will also launch a consultation on employers paying no National Insurance contributions on the salary of any veteran they take on during their first year of civilian employment.

Image source, PA

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, PA Media

Kate Forbes says she will look at everything - including increased tax - to grow the Scottish economy.

But she won't be making knee-jerk reactions and says a range of options will be considered in future plans.

Mornings with Stephen Jardine
BBC Radio Scotland

• 9am: Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee takes evidence on the impact of Covid-19 on tourism. MSPs quiz Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing . Then from 11am MSPs will quiz UK Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove on Brexit negotiations, but rest assured many questions will be framed in the context of the pandemic. You can watch all of his committee live here with us.
• 9am: Equalities and Human Rights Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on equalities and human rights: MSPs will take evidence from- Older People and Equalities Secretary Christina McKelvie. Watch on Scottish Parliament TV.

• 11am: Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee: The impact on Covid-19 on Audit Scotland's work: MSPs will take evidence from- Caroline Gardner, Auditor General for Scotland. Watch on Scottish Parliament TV.
• 12.30pm: Scottish government daily coronavirus briefing
• 1.40pm -4.30pm: WESTMINSTER: Scottish Affairs Committee takes evidence from NFU Scotland, the Scottish Whiskey Association and Scotland Food and Drink
• 2pm: Covid-19: Virtual portfolio questions: Health and sport; communities and local government; social security and older people;

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Reuters

Kate Forbes says that if the furlough scheme is not extended, then all the UK government has done is pay wages for a few months rather than save jobs.

She says we need to look at the French example and do it on a sectoral basis.

She explains the Scottish government has a fixed budget, which means it can't borrow much for a pandemic and the only way to increase funding in one area is to take it from another area.

She has asked the chief secretary to the treasury for tools to manage her budget more effectively.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

Addressing the head of the Crieff Hydro group's call for hotels to be reopened sooner, Scotland's finance secretary says the 2m social distancing rule is under review and will be shared on 2 July.

She says a tourism task force is meeting later to look at how they can give confidence to customers.

She says she has also faced pressure as many tourism businesses are in her own constituency.

But she says it is all about safety.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland's Finance secretary says the Royal Mail announcement of 2,000 job cuts is proof the UK government needs to do more to support the economy.

She has written to the chief secretary to the treasury to request the power to borrow £500m.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

The boss of Edinburgh Airport says the airport can withstand zero revenue until next year, but that is not the case for other businesses at the terminal.

Yesterday saw Swissport, the airport ground handling firm, announce its intention to axe 4,500 jobs, around half its UK workforce.

There are 7,000 workers at the airport.

He says all companies in the industry are struggling.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Owners of self catering holiday accommodation welcome the news they can reopen on 3 July but some locals in tourist areas are concerned.

One owner explains it will be about managing a fine balance.

More bad news on the jobs front following three months of lockdown as Royal Mail announces cuts to management jobs.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Stephen Leckie from Crieff Hydro Group puts into perspective what difference it would make for hotels if the reopening date is brought forward from 15 July to 3 July.

He is calling for the first minister to reopen hotels sooner than the planned date to let the sector try to salvage the summer season.

He outlined the financial difference it could make.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, Google

The owner of a major group of Scottish hotels is calling on the first minister to reopen the hotel sector early.

The self-catering industry will be allowed to welcome visitors from 3 July, but hotels are not due to open until 15 July.

Stephen Leckie, from Crieff Hydro Group, fears it will not be soon enough. He wants to be able to let customers book now.

And he is still pushing for the 2m social distancing rule to be reduced to 1m as it is in England.

Good Morning Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, getty

The first minister announcement that self-catering accommodation can reopen on 3 July was a surprise for many owners.

Nicola Sturgeon says she's not prepared to put lives at risk in a "reckless race" with the rest of the UK, but she did lift the five-mile travel limit for leisure from 3 July and will allow holiday accommodation to reopen from then too.

She has urged visitors to "be sensitive to rural and island communities". But not everyone who runs these kinds of businesses is ready to jump in.

Image source, Getty Images

Edinburgh University researchers are to trial using salt water to treat Covid-19.

It is hoped it might help reduce the early symptoms and progression of the virus.

Previous research has shown that gargling and clearing the nose with a salt water solution can help reduce symptoms of a cold in adults.

Now Edinburgh University scientists want to see if it could help those who are experiencing symptoms of the new strain of coronavirus, which causes Covid-19.