Half of firms jib at passport extension
Half of Scottish businesses oppose the prospect of Scotland’s vaccine passport scheme being extended, a polll found.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) survey found 50 per cent were against an extension while 26 per cent backed it. The rest did not offer an opinion.
However, 78 per cent of hospitality and leisure sector respondents are opposed to an extension with only 11 per cent supportive.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said on Tuesday the Scottish government was considering extending the vaccine certification scheme – already in place in nightclubs and at other large events – to more of the hospitality and leisure sector. He said a decision had not been made but said Covid-19 was at a “concerningly high level”.
The FSB found that among the 92 hospitality and leisure businesses which responded, 90 per cent believe extending the scheme would hit takings and 62 per cent believe it would increase overheads.
Some three-quarters believe it could cause increased conflict with customers, while 10 per cent said it would lead to a positive response from staff and customers.
Andrew Mcrae, FSB’S Scotland policy chair, said: The Scottish Government justified their current vaccine passport scheme by arguing it would be focused 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.”
Business leaders and opposition politicians have reacted angrily to the prospect of an extension, with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce insisting it would be a “massive step backwards”.
Scottish Conservative economy spokeswoman Liz Smith said: “The FSB’S polling demonstrates just how damaging any extension of the vaccine passport scheme would be for small Scottish businesses.
“The SNP’S shambolic vaccine passport scheme is already causing significant financial damage to the businesses it currently applies to – any move to widen its scope would be disastrous for our economic recovery.”