In support of the statement issued by Scottish Chambers of Commerce (see here), Russell Borthwick, chief executive of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce added:
"This is yet another example of a government out of touch with business, the economy and the impact of its propaganda and policy-making around CV19.
"Can Mr Swinney explain the rationale for this? Specifically his threat about the “prospect of future lockdowns”. How, exactly, could this be funded or enforced with the business support schemes having ended? And what does he think this does for business and consumer confidence just as we might be seeing the beginnings of recovery?
"What does the government seek to achieve by extending a scheme that is already increasing business costs and suppressing income as people choose simply not to go to affected places and events?
"Is this further evidence of cajoling people to get vaccinated? Let’s look at the facts. Scotland has an adult population of around 4.6 million. Four million of them have already been double vaccinated. Together with natural immunity, is this not as close to full protection as we can possibly achieve?
“Roll up your sleeves (twice) for Scotland", we were told, and we would see an end to restrictions, a return to normality. Yet what we heard yesterday flies totally in the face of this. We must now live with this, not continue to run and hide from it.
"Cases remain concerningly high, we are told, yet data tells us that today in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire less than 350 people per 100,000 of the population have returned a positive test. Put another way, more than 99.6% of the population has NOT. At what other time would policy be determined and businesses, jobs and the economy put at existential threat for such a statistically insignificant minority?
"Even trailing this idea, far less implementing it will put Scotland’s economy at a further competitive disadvantage.
"This is supported anecdotally by hundreds of engagements with business leaders over recent months. But what do you think?