The Scottish Government has today announced that current restrictions on hospitality will be extended for at least another week.
Andrew McRae, FSB’s Scotland policy chair, said: “We asked Ministers to clarify whether the current hospitality restrictions would be lifted next week. Hopefully today’s announcement has come early enough to prevent independent pub and restaurants ordering unnecessary stock, disappointing customers or confusing staff.
“However there’s no hiding the fact that today’s extension won’t go down well with many firms. And while it is welcome news that extra grant help will be provided, this will mean modifying a scheme that only opened to applications yesterday.”
Looking ahead to the publication of the Scottish Government’s strategic plan for tackling the coronavirus, Andrew said: “Getting this virus back under control is in everyone’s interest, but current measures have a disproportionate impact on smaller firms in key sectors. This new strategy must have meaningful input from the business community. It must also result in sufficient financial help and crystal-clear guidance for the local businesses that form the bedrock of our communities.”
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