Half of all Scottish small businesses are opposed to the extension of the vaccine passport scheme with around a quarter of firms supportive of such a change, according to a snap poll of 500 operators from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
However, amongst hospitality and leisure businesses, more than three quarters (78%) of firms are opposed and just one in ten (11%) are supportive.
FSB says local and independent Scottish businesses with fewer staff will face a disproportionate burden if the vaccine passport scheme is extended.
Andrew McRae, FSB’s Scotland policy chair, said: “Every minute spent administering the vaccine passport scheme is time that can’t be spent elsewhere in the business. So this could be a real headache for the small cafés, restaurants and pubs already facing a shortfall in workers.
“The Scottish Government justified their current vaccine passport scheme by arguing it would be focussed on a small number of the largest, highest risk operators. We would ask Ministers to carefully consider whether extending the scheme to smaller lower-risk operators is the right move when many of these firms are already under pressure.
“Virtually any public health measure is more palatable than a fresh lockdown. But that doesn’t mean that Ministers should pile pressure on firms without a clear rationale for their actions and support for the hardest hit businesses.”
The poll, opened on Thursday (11 November), shows that amongst hospitality and leisure firms:
• 90 per cent believe that the extension of vaccine passport scheme would lead to a drop in takings
• 62 per cent say such a move would force up overheads
• 10 per cent say it would lead to a positive response from staff and customers
• 75 per cent say that believe that it could lead to a rise in conflict with customers
• 64 per cent say that it would lead to a loss of staff or management time.
Andrew McRae said: “Our polling clearly shows that smaller hospitality and leisure businesses are most worried about the prospect of an expanded vaccine passport. Even among businesses that won’t be directly impacted by the change, twice as many are opposed to it than in support.
“If Ministers believe that such a scheme will be easy to administer and won’t burden local firms, they’ve a huge job to do to get these businesses on side.”
It is expected that Ministers will announce a decision regarding the expansion of the scheme during a statement to the Scottish Parliament next Tuesday.
Notes
FSB opened a snap poll on this issue on 11 November 2021 and had received 513 responses by 11.30am on 12 November. Key findings include:
- 50% of businesses opposed the extension of the vaccine passport scheme, 26% supported the extension and 24% did not offer an opinion
- Amongst hospitality and leisure businesses (sample 92), 78% oppose the extension of the vaccine passport scheme, 11% support the extension, and 12% didn’t offer an opinion
The poll will remain open here.