A UNITED set of recommendations from organisations representing Scotland’s hospitality sector has been submitted to the Scottish Government.

The groups have urged the Government to mirror the re-opening plans for England as closely as possible, with the stripping away of additional restrictions such as a curfew and the service of alcohol only with a meal. 

However, the groups have also provided the Government with a series of small tweaks to the levels in the current system that would allow the sector to meet both public health and economy objectives as strict Covid measures remain in place.

The group argue research from leading economic consultancy, BiGGAR Economics, shows that the proposed approach is essential if the Scottish Government is to avoid catastrophic business failure across the hospitality sector.

Figures show that under the current Level 3 restrictions, 54% of hospitality businesses could be operating, which generates a turnover of £269 million and supports 21,900 jobs.

If the Government was to open with the proposed Level 3 industry ask, 73% of businesses could be operating, generating a turnover of £927m and supporting 53,300 jobs.

Graeme Blackett, director of BiGGAR Economics, said: “This study highlights the severe negative economic impact that the Covid-19 lockdown has had on the hospitality sector, the businesses and people who work in the sector itself, and in the supply chain. It also demonstrates that the changes to the restrictions in the level system that the hospitality sector has proposed, can place the hospitality sector and the wider food and drink supply chain in a much stronger position. Adjustments to the restrictions could get thousands of people back to work and allow the sector to generate turnover and contribute significantly to the public finances in the coming weeks and months.”

The study found under the newly-proposed Level 2 changes, 91% of businesses could be operating, generating a turnover of £1.2 billion and supporting 68,000 jobs. This is compared to current Level 2 restrictions in which only 73% of business could operate, generating a turnover of £634m and supporting 34,900 jobs.

Dayalan Nayager, managing director of Diageo GB, said: “We support our colleagues across the hospitality sector in seeking a safe and sustainable reopening of businesses, with appropriate measures to protect people and communities while also securing the economic future of the industry and those who work in it.”

Meanwhile, Scotland has recorded two more coronavirus deaths and a further 484 positive cases, the latest figures show.

The Scottish Government’s daily statistics for yesterday show an increase in positive cases from the same point last week, when 390 were recorded. However, positive cases are down from 639 on Saturday, March 13. The death toll under the daily measurement, of people who first tested positive for Covid within the previous 28 days, now stands at 7510.

Registrar offices are often closed at weekends, affecting the reporting of deaths. Some 461 people are in hospital with recently confirmed Covid-19 and 40 are in intensive care.
A total of 1,888,697 people have received their first dose of a Covid vaccine, an increase of 21,574 on the previous day. 160,038 people have received their second dose.