STA Update: First Minister’s Policy Statement – Key Headlines for Tourism and Business
Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf, has today (Tuesday 18th April) delivered a policy statement, ‘Our Priorities for Scotland’, in the Scottish Parliament.
Key headlines from the statement for tourism and business are outlined below:
• Businesses, particularly small businesses, are the “backbone of our economy and government support for business is essential for the delivery of a wellbeing economy.”
• Need businesses to grow to create well-paying jobs that allow us to invest in initiatives to eradicate poverty. Also rely on businesses to pay for public services we rely on.
• No conflict in allowing economy to grow in line with net zero ambitions and introducing policy such a progressive taxation. “Both go hand in hand.”
• Need some regulation of business – the business community itself recognises that an unrestricted market is incompatible with the wellbeing of our people, our communities and our environment. But the “balance needs to be right.”
• Number of business organisations have expressed concern in recent months about the balance the Scottish Government has been striking. They’ve called for a “reset” in the relationship between business and government – FM happy to start that reset today.
The FM outlined three steps in doing that:
1. The Deposit Return Scheme – remains committed to scheme. Cited delay in UK Government decision on exemption from the Internal Market Act 2020. Scheme to be delayed until 1st March 2024. Additional 10 months to get ready will be used to work with business and Circularity Scotland to address concerns with the scheme. Also developed a package of measures to simplify and to de-risk the scheme to support small businesses and hospitality. Circular Economy Minister will give an update on this on Thursday in Parliament.
2. Restrictions on Alcohol Advertising Consultation – clear some proposals caused concern to industry already facing challenges on multiple fronts. FM has instructed officials to take ideas back to the drawing board and work with industry and public health stakeholders to agree a new set of proposals. All of us want to reduce the harm of alcohol to young people, but “without undermining Scotland’s world-class drinks industry or tourism sector.”
3. Has written to key business representative groups to ask them to engage in urgent discussions with the SG to agree “a new deal for Scottish businesses”. Sessions will be chaired jointly by the Cabinet for the Wellbeing Economy and a representative of the business sector. These discussions will explore among other things how government can better support businesses and communities using the policy levers we do have, including non-domestic rates. Co-chairs to report back to FM with initial thoughts this summer.
• Hopes the three measures will collectively send “a broader signal about this government’s approach to business.”
• “This government knows that Scotland can only be successful if our businesses are successful. So as First Minister, my door will always be open to you. We might not always agree, but I will always give you a fair hearing and I will seek to address your concerns wherever possible.”
The statement was accompanied by a newly published policy vision document; ‘Equality, opportunity, community: New leadership – A fresh start’ which can be read here.
