CBI Scotland responds to new ‘five-tiered’ lockdown system

Tracy Black, CBI Scotland Director, said:

“Business supports the simplification of COVID rules, the clear attempt to avoid another national lockdown and the announcement of a plan for living with COVID in the coming months. Clarity and consistency are vital to support the huge efforts firms have already made to keep customers and employees safe, as well as giving them vital additional time to plan.

“However, with firms under significant pressure already, they want guarantees that changes in tier status are communicated clearly, in good time and involve genuine consultation with business. The Scottish Government must show its workings and evidence base, including outlining trigger points, for new restrictions – particularly any proposals to move areas into tier four.

“No more pubs, cafés or shops should be forced to close at short notice or manufacturers asked to down tools with essential orders unfulfilled.

“At all levels, support must be made available from the moment any restrictions come into force, have a clear point of contact and be commensurate with their impact. Anything less and even more businesses crucial to our recovery will go to the wall, with further job losses inevitable.

“Ultimately, mass rapid testing must also ramp up significantly if we’re to prevent a second wave from further harming economic growth. Every day counts.”