SCC comment ahead of Scottish Government COVID-19 statement

Published

23rd November 2021

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SCC welcome changes to travel quarantine rules

Scottish Chambers of Commerce Chief Executive, Dr Liz Cameron OBE, has responded to the news that fully vaccinated travellers from the EU and US will not have to quarantine on arrival in Scotland. She said:

29/07/21

SCC respond to 3rd August Scottish Government update on lockdown restrictions

Scottish Chambers of Commerce Chief Executive, Dr Liz Cameron has responded to the First Ministers update on lockdown restrictions. She said:

04/08/21

DACC Quarterly Economic Indicator Q3 launches

The Quarterly Economic Indicator survey is an important opportunity for Scottish businesses to share feedback on current trading conditions and inform our representations to policymakers in Holyrood and Westminster.

23/08/21

Dr Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, has written to the First Minister ahead of the scheduled Scottish Government COVID-19 statement today, in which an update to Scotland’s COVID-19 Strategic Framework is due to be published. Commenting, Dr Cameron said:

“This is a critical time for Scotland’s businesses as we enter the Golden Quarter over the festive period where many businesses make most of their earnings for the year, and our members remain concerned about the impact that an expansion of COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine certification will have on them financially.

“Many businesses have gone above and beyond what is required of them when it comes to supporting public health measures, investing millions to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees, customers, suppliers, and communities. Businesses would back expansion of vaccine certification if the evidence being provided was clear, however, we remain unconvinced at this time that the public health benefits of an extension to the scheme outweigh the negatives for individuals, businesses and the economy.

“The SCC network have written to the Scottish Government to outline the concerns of Scotland’s business community and asking for the First Minister to seriously consider the economic damage that a return, or expansion of current restrictions, will have on Scotland’s economy by jeopardising recovery, creating more uncertainty for businesses and undermining consumer confidence.”

On home working

“The modelling being put forward by the Scottish Government fails to demonstrate that ‘workplace’ transmission is taking place in office settings, and with office occupancy and return rates remaining low, a further encouragement of home working will have a devastating impact on our town and city centre economies, which rely on office worker footfall, and which are already struggling to adjust to changes in consumer behaviour and competition from on-line retailers.

“A return to a stronger message on encouraging home working from the Scottish Government, after months of collaborative working with businesses during which it was agreed that a gradual and phased return to offices could be done safely, would be a considerable step backwards.”