The Programme for Government 2025-2026, which was outlined by First Minister John Swinney this week, needs more focus on policies to reduce the cost of doing business, claimed the Scottish Retail Consortium.
The Programme included the government’s intention to continue to fund the Small Business Bonus, as well as to progress the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill, alongside investment in social enterprises, support for co-operatives and employee-owned firms.
The Programme also highlighted the government’s commitment to tackling retail crime, backed by £3m funding, which supports the development of Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Action Plan and the creation of a Retail Crime Task Force.
In addition, the Programme revealed plans to permanently abolish peak rail fares from 1 September, to encourage more people to travel by train, while the use of concessionary travel cards will be suspended on a temporary and potentially permanent basis as a result of anti-social behaviour when using the card.
Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, David Lonsdale, said:
“There are several aspects of the First Minister’s programme for government that the retail industry can get behind and support, including the efforts to combat retail crime and anti-social behaviour and the scrapping of peak rail fares which should entice more shoppers into our larger towns and conurbations and improve footfall.
“However, retail sales are flatlining and public policy is ratcheting up the cost of employing people and operating shops. As such we would have liked to have seen a greater emphasis on policies to reduce the cost of doing business, along with more clarity over the government’s intentions towards mooted new restrictions on in-store promotion of alcohol and certain food products high in salt and sugar.”
