Hospitality leaders hit out over lack of ‘specific evidence’ for restrictions

HOSPITALITY leaders have criticised the Scottish Government over a lack of “specific evidence” to support restrictions on the sector.

The Scottish Hospitality Group, which represents some of the biggest names in the sector, called on ministers to “listen to businesses and make sensible changes to the levels system to give us a viable trading chance”.

It submitted a Freedom of Information request asking for documents relating to the

“scientific, statistical, or medical evidence” for restrictions.

The Scottish Government said that neither it, the Chief Medical Officer’s Advisory Group nor the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies had produced evidence papers on a sectoral basis.

SHG spokesman Stephen Montgomery said it had pursued its enquiry for months.

He said: “After nearly four months, we have finally secured the truth that the government has no specific evidence to justify the restrictions placed on our industry.

“It’s also deeply disappointing to see no thought given to the knock-on effects of closing hospitality, such as driving people towards house parties, which we know has been a major issue.”

He added: “We completely understand that lockdown measures were necessary and remain so.

“But there’s always been the chance to work a lot smarter by partnering with the industry to have systems in place that protect both public health and people’s jobs.

“We have repeatedly offered the government different solutions at their request, and proactively ourselves.

“Now that we’re approaching an easing of restrictions, there’s still time for the government to listen to businesses and make sensible changes to the levels system to give us a viable trading chance. These levels must not leave us disadvantaged to our colleagues in England.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We fully understand the challenges facing the hospitality sector during the coronavirus pandemic and no-one wants the restrictions in place a moment longer than necessary.

“There is extensive evidence which proves that the virus is transmitted particularly readily in environments with close contact at less than two metres, and where ventilation may be poorer.

“This is even more the case since the emergence of new and more transmittable variants.

“It is therefore essential at present to reduce the amount of time people spend in these non-essential settings, and this does unfortunately include hospitality.

“We’re providing more than £3 billion in support for businesses affected by restrictions including grants for hospitality and tourism, and an extension of non-domestic rates relief for 2021-22.

“We are also presently working on detailed preparations for the restart of tourism to be activated and published as soon as we are safely able to do so.”