Programme for Government promises support for store owners
Photo credit: flickr.com/ScottishGovernment
THE Scottish Government has announced further support towards stamping out retail crime in Scotland as part of its new Programme for Government 2025-26.
Addressing Scottish Parliament on 6 May, First Minister John Swinney reminded MSPs that £3million in funding will go towards supporting the development of Police Scotland‘s Retail Crime Action Plan. This money will also support the newly formed Retail Crime Taskforce.
Swinney said: “This programme shows decisive action to protect Scotland’s economy and maximise our economic potential in the face of global challenges.
“It is a programme for a better Scotland, for a stronger NHS and a more resilient and wealthier Scotland. It is a Programme for Government that gets our nation on track for success.”
Additionally, Swinney also announced plans to suspend the use of concessionary travel cards on a temporary basis, and potentially a permanent one as a result of anti-social behaviour when using the card.
This comes after reports of people and youths who have been utilising these cards across Scotland to travel outside of their local communities to cause vandalism.
Recently retired retailer Mumtaz Ali was a victim of this and talked about how children had travelled outside of their local communities using their free bus pass and damaged the front door of his store.
The Government will also abolish peak rail fares permanently for train travel from 1 September to help encourage more shoppers to travel using the rail service more frequently and, potentially, bring more consumers back into city centres.
This decision has been welcomed by the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) who believe it will continue to support retailers, though admitted some disappointment that the new policies will not go further to support store owners.
David Lonsdale, director of the SRC, said: “There are several aspects of the First Minister’s Programme for Government that the retail industry can get behind an 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 cities and improve footfall.
“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.”
Whilst any mention of HFSS restrictions for Scotland was noticeably missing, ScotGov did make note of its plans to continue support for the nation’s food and drink sector.
Swinney announced that a draft will be laid down before Parliament for the Good Food Nation Plan by the summer and will establish the Scottish Food Commission.
Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Scotland has welcomed this initiative from ministers, calling it a move that will support the growth of Scotland’s food and drink industries.
David Thomson, chief executive at FDF Scotland, said: “We welcome measures including putting in place a new Six Point Export Plan; investing in Scotland’s food and drink strategy; re-opening the Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation Grant scheme; and providing further support to the Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund.
“All of this will be important in supporting the sustainable growth of our food and drink manufacturing industry. We will continue to work in partnership with the Scottish Government to ensure our food and drink businesses have the support they need for future success.”
