‘Chancellor must do more to support struggling businesses’

Today’s announcement by Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlining measures to address the rising cost of living is good news for struggling families but does nothing for hard-pressed businesses.

Colin Wilkinson, managing director of the SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association), said: “Businesses across the country are only just starting to get back on their feet after enforced closures and restrictions during the pandemic and the spiraling cost-of-living crisis is already having an impact on licensed hospitality and many other sectors.

“Add to the mix the ScotRail situation with a third of services being cut and the ongoing challenges of staff shortages, supply issues, and new legislative measures that have been on hold for the last two years now looming – for example the deposit return scheme (DRS) and the business rates review – and businesses are in a perilous situation.

“Our colleagues at the Night Time Industries Association warned this week that cuts to rail services will have an adverse effect on hospitality and events as people will be unable to get home at night.

“Our hope today was that the Chancellor would recognise these issues and announce some measures to help struggling businesses and stave off the very real threat of ‘tumbleweed’ city and town centres.

“With the key summer tourist season fast approaching it is more important that ever that Scotland has a reliable and efficient train service along with late-night public transport provision.”

As per Sunak’s announcement today (26), every household in the UK is to get an energy bill discount of £400 this autumn as part of a package of new measures.

The poorest households will also get a payment of £650 to help with the cost of living, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said as he also announced a 25 percent windfall tax on oil and gas producers’ profits, alongside a £15 billion package of support for households struggling to meet soaring energy bills.

It follows warnings that millions could be left struggling if energy prices rise again in October as expected.