NEWS SPECIAL
COVID-19 UPDATE FOR ALL THE LATEST CORONAVIRUS NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/
PHASE 3 IN SCOTLAND: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
BOOTS CUTS STAFF Boots has announced plans to cut around 7% of its workforce within retail, head office and opticians in order to mitigate the impact of Covid-19.
FURLOUGH FRAUD HMRC investigations are now under way to claw back money from fraudulent claims made to the government’s
THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT HAS BEGUN IMPLEMENTING PHASE 3 OF ITS STAGED EXIT FROM LOCKDOWN PLAN WITH IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS FOR LOCAL RETAILERS.
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furlough scheme. One man was reportedly arrested on suspicion of defrauding the scheme out of nearly half a million pounds.
TESTING EXTENDED The Department of Health and Social Care has announced
cotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said last week that coronavirus had been suppressed to a “low level”, allowing Scotland to enter Phase 3 of the stepped exit from lockdown. Some key elements of Phase 3 include: Q People are allowed to meet up in extended groups outdoors, and with two other households indoors. Q Exemptions to the 2m physical distancing rule were also introduced, although the use of face coverings in shops will be mandatory. Q Indoor areas of bars and restaurants can reopen today.
Q Couples who do not live together no longer have to physically distance. Q Shopping centres were able to reopen from Monday and dentists and optometrists are now allowed to begin scaling up their work again. Q Hairdressers and barbers will also resume business today – along with libraries, museums and cinemas. Q Personal retail services like beauticians and nail salons can start up from next Wednesday. Q Universities and colleges can implement a phased return from next Wednesday, while schools are due to reopen from 11 August.
that shop workers in some areas and businesses will be tested for Covid-19 as part of a new pilot, even though they have no symptoms.
WASTE NOT Zero Waste Scotland has launched an online matchmaking service to “rescue food” that would otherwise be wasted during Covid-19.
8 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 13 / WEDNESDAY 15TH JULY 2020
C-STORES TO BENEFIT FROM VAT CUT Local retailers will indeed benefit from the reduced rate of VAT on specific food and drink sales. Confusion arose after the Chancellor announced that the rate of VAT would be cut from 20% to 5% on eat-in or hot takeaway food but failed to clarify whether convenience stores would be eligible for the cut. The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) and the Scottish Grocers’
Federation Promptly sought clarity on the issue. ACS Chief Executive James Lowman welcomed the confirmation from the government: “Food service is a significant growth area in the convenience sector which will receive even more of a boost during the reduced VAT period, and with customers able to eat food at tables put outside the store.”
