Keith Brown MSP, Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Clackmannanshire & Dunblane constituency, has highlighted the publication of a Scottish Government consultation seeking the views of business, retailers and shop workers on changes to the rules governing trading on New Year’s Day.
Encouraging anyone with an interest in the issue to engage with the process, Keith said:
“This is a proposal that has come through the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions process and it is one that merits serious consideration.
“There are strong views and good arguments on both sides of the debate over whether we should change the current rules to restrict large retailers from trading on New Year’s Day, as is currently the case on Christmas Day.
“This last year has shown how reliant we are on the retail sector and the people who work in it. Do we really need big stores to be open on the first day of the year? Do shop staff not deserve that day as a guaranteed day off? Or, as we try and build our way out of the massive economic impact this pandemic has had, should we really be placing further restrictions on businesses ability to trade?
“These are the kind of questions that need to be addressed and the different interests that need to be balanced. I urge anyone with an interest in the outcome to engage with the consultation so that their voices can be heard.”
The Consultation will run for 10 weeks until 24 August 2021. Further information and details on how to respond can be found online at New Year's Day Trading for Large Retailers Consultation - Scottish Government - Citizen Space.