Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about permission for Scottish businesses and venues to reopen.
Legislative competence in this area is devolved to the Scottish Parliament, so decisions on when and how to allow locations to reopen are the responsibility of the Scottish Government. Hospitality, tourism and retail businesses provide thousands of jobs and are the bedrock of communities across Scotland. Now they are facing a national economic emergency.
First Minister must take radical action to protect Scottish jobs and ensure businesses get all the support they need. This must include a review of the two-metre social distancing rule, a suspension of high street parking charges, and a major ‘buy local’ campaign to boost local economies.
The First Minister has announced that elements of the hospitality and tourism sector could open on 15 July, despite the same businesses being given the green light on 4 July in other parts of the country. Companies already struggling to stay afloat will have another fortnight of lockdown at the busiest time of the year. Every day counts for the Scottish hospitality trade at this time of year, and the Scottish Government’s inflexible approach is not helping them.
Lives and livelihoods are on the line. Scotland is facing potentially the biggest economic downturn in living memory. The Scottish Government must respond with urgency and ambition.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Kind regards, Alister