Fife businesses land £150m of COVID support

But suspected fraud and inability to repay the borrowed money could cost taxpayers across the UK tens of billions, an official report has warned.

Companies in Fife’s parliamentary constituencies and Clackmannanshire got 5,792 loans worth £158.4 million through the Bounce Back Loan Scheme by October 4, the latest government-owned British Business Bank figures show.

The loan scheme started in April and helps small and medium-sized businesses hit by the pandemic to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000, capped at 25% of their turnover.

The Treasury backs the loans, which are handed out by commercial lenders, and borrowers do not have to pay fees or interest for the first year.

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But a report by the National Audit Office, the UK’s public spending watchdog, warned the Government could face huge losses due to fraudulent claims and firms being unable to repay.

Across the UK, 1.3 million payments worth £38 billion had been issued through the BBLS by October 4.

The British Business Bank – which delivers the scheme – and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy estimate that 35% to 60% of borrowers could fail to repay the money.

The NAO said this could lead to a maximum of £26 billion in losses if lenders pay out £43 billion by November 4, although it warned the estimates are “highly uncertain”.

The deadline for applications has been extended to the end of November.

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