SRC reaction to FM’s Programme for Government

In a preliminary response to the First Minister’s Programme for Government, the Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, David Lonsdale, said:

“There are several aspects of the First Minister’s programme for government that the retail industry can get behind and support, including the efforts to combat retail crime and anti-social behaviour and the scrapping of peak rail fares which should entice more shoppers into our larger towns and conurbations and improve footfall. The delay to the mooted new levy on disposable cups is encouraging and shows Ministers are listening; albeit we think the deeply flawed levy should be dropped entirely.

“However, retail sales are flatlining and public policy is ratcheting up the cost of employing people and operating shops. As such we would have liked to have seen a greater emphasis on policies to reduce the cost of doing business, along with more clarity over the government's intentions towards mooted new restrictions on in-store promotion of alcohol and certain food products high in salt and sugar.”