The SEC will not be charging rent for the event centre to be used as an emergency hospital during the coronavirus crisis, it has confirmed.

The Scottish Events Campus (SEC) in Glasgow is being turned into a temporary hospital to treat up to 1,000 patients with Covid-19.

Construction has started on what will be called the NHS Louisa Jordan - named after a First World War nurse from the city - but the government will not be charged rent for the use of the site.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has thanked the SEC for the "significant gesture" and praised construction staff for working round the clock to repurpose the venue.

READ MORE: Coronavirus in Scotland: Glasgow's SEC to be turned into 1,000-bed hospital

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Freeman said: "I'm astonished by the 24-hour working from construction workers across all the disciplines as well as SEC staff.

"I'm grateful to them that they are not charging us rent for these premises at all.

"That's a significant gesture by them as well as, of course, many, many NHS staff."

An SEC spokeswoman said: "We are not charging the NHS a rental for the venue but will charge for any costs directly attributable to the venue's use as a medical facility."

More than 400 contractors are working alongside nearly 150 clinicians and operational staff to build the new NHS Louisa Jordan.

The government has said it is hopeful an initial 300 beds will be ready by mid-April, with scope to increase the number of patients to 1,000 if necessary.

The chief executive BT has pledged not to fire or furlough any staff due to coronavirus for the next three months and will donate half his annual salary to charity.

Philip Jansen, who was infected with coronavirus last month, said his company would do "everything we can" to support employees.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: Debenhams files notice to appoint administrator with 22,000 jobs at risk

"For the foreseeable future - at least the next three months - no BT, Openreach, EE or Plusnet colleague will lose their job as a result of the changing trading conditions brought about by coronavirus. That's a promise," Mr Jansen wrote in a letter to staff on Monday.

"Secondly, I don't want any of you to worry about whether you'll be paid. The commitment I made to all of you at the start of the coronavirus outbreak still holds true: we'll continue to pay all of you, for at least the next three months, whatever the circumstances."

He also promised a 1.5% salary boost for team members but will freeze managers' pay. BT also recommitted to awarding all staff £500 in shares or equivalent.

Recruitment will also be put on hold for the time being, Mr Jansen said.

"Our networks, products, services and people, right across the world, have delivered under conditions we could never have imagined," Mr Jansen wrote to staff.

The telecoms giant said it has connected the NHS's new Nightingale hospitals and trying to ensure that isolated patients can keep in touch with friends and family.

Mr Jansen also committed to donating his salary for at least the next six months to charities. The money will go to NHS charities and small businesses in his local community.

"This period requires sacrifices from us all and I want our people to know we are all in this together," Mr Jansen said in a statement.

He added: "BT is stepping up, standing by the country in this time of need and standing by our people who are working tirelessly to keep everyone connected, safe and working."

Investors took some heart at what on the face of it looked like a problematic update from Rolls-Royce as it withdrew financial guidance and scrapped its final dividend.

The engine-maker said it had faced a £300 million headwind from the outbreak of coronavirus, which has grounded airlines' fleets around the world.

READ MORE: Monday Interview: Bank giant declares coronavirus will not derail £400m Glasgow project

Chief executive Warren East said: "We find ourselves in unprecedented times, both as a company and as a key player in vital power markets across the world.

"Our priority is to do everything we can to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of our people and to play our part in helping our customers, partners and communities."

Rolls-Royce said it would free up around £750 million in cash flow by slashing its global wage bill by at least 10%, not hiring external candidates, and cutting back on consulting, non-essential travel and sub-contractor costs.

Senior management and the board will take a 20% pay cut for the rest of 2020, the company said.

It will save another £137 million from scrapping the final dividend.

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