Hospitality trade ‘deserves better’ says Tory MSP
Tory MSP Graham Simpson has said the hospitality industry “deserves better”after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced pubs and restaurants serving booze were to close as of Friday.
In five health board regions across the central belt – including NHS Lanarkshire – licensed premises will close altogether for two weeks, with non-licensed premises operating restricted hours.
Mr Simpson said: “Scotland’s hospitality sector has complied with everything that the Scottish Government has asked of them but many of these small businesses are now running on empty and all reserves are gone.
“A discussion about how to compensate businesses that might be affected by any new measures should have taken place weeks ago.
“Nicola Sturgeon has been warning of the potential of a second wave or possible regional lockdown measures for weeks.
“We know there were problems in businesses accessing support after the local lockdown in Aberdeen and we don’t want to see those same problems replicated across the central belt.
“A one-day consultation after the SNP Scottish Government’s announcement – and just hours before businesses were forced to close their doors - is just not good enough.
“Our local businesses deserve so much more from the SNP Scottish
Government.”
Meanwhile Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: “These strict restrictions being put on Lanarkshire and the rest of the central belt of Scotland by the First Minister means there are extremely tough times ahead.
“Everyone understands the need to suppress the virus to stop it getting completely out of control again, but pubs and restaurants which are being forced to close need full financial mitigation from the Scottish Government. Otherwise,the economic and social harms risk becoming irreversible.
“We also need greater clarity - already constituents are in touch with me who do not know whether they are coming or going when it comes to travelling to other parts of the country next week during the school break.”
But SNP East Kilbride MSP Linda Fabiani said although “tough,”the restrictions “were necessary” according to the scientific evidence paper published alongside the First Minister’s Statement and Scottish Government guidelines.
“No-one wants to see a return to the pandemic peak by the end of this month, undoing all of the effort and sacrifices made by so many,”she added.
“It’s hard for hospitality businesses and the Scottish Government have announced a £40 million support fund for the sector.
“This will be a difficult couple of weeks. If we all follow the rules then surely we can be in a better position in a few weeks’ time.”