Responding to the June 14^th UK Government Coronavirus Briefing, Dr Liz Cameron OBE, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:

“Businesses who have been patiently waiting for restrictions to ease will be deeply frustrated by the Prime Minister’s announcement confirming the delay of the planned June 21^st lockdown lifting in England and the subsequent prospect of further delay in Scotland.

“After an incredibly challenging 15 months, businesses were finally daring to hope that we were now on the path towards the full re-opening of our economy. The continuation of restrictions will be a significant setback.

“It’s essential, if restrictions in Scotland are extended, that the Scottish Government implement a fair balance of targeted restrictions that allows the gradual reopening of the economy to continue whilst tackling the growth of the Delta variant.

“We must also see the vaccine programme accelerated wherever possible – dedicating all available resources to this – while looking at opening up areas of Scotland with low levels of transmission and high levels of vaccination.

“If such confidence, reassurance and support are not provided by the government, then we will see more jobs and livelihoods placed under immediate threat. For businesses who have come so far over the past year, all possible action should be taken to prevent job losses and business shutdowns.”