First Minister’s fury over Aberdeen footballers COVID spike

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s media briefing in St Andrew’s House, yesterday (Friday 7 August):

Good afternoon, and thanks for joining us. I’ll start with the usual update on the most recent Covid-19 statistics for Scotland.

I can confirm that an additional 43 positive cases were confirmed yesterday. That represents 0.9% of the people who were newly tested yesterday, and it takes the total number of cases in Scotland to 18,890

A full health board breakdown will be available later, but the provisional information I have is that 27 of the 43 cases are in the Grampian health board area.

It is not yet clear how many are connected to the ongoing outbreak in Aberdeen and I will say a little bit more about the situation there shortly.

A further 5 cases appear to be in the Greater Glasgow & Clyde area, which is a reduction in the numbers we have seen there in recent days. 

A total of 262 patients are currently in hospital with confirmed Covid-19, which is 8 fewer than yesterday.

A total of 4 people are in intensive care with confirmed Covid-19. That is the same as yesterday.

I’m also pleased to say that, in the past 24 hours, yet again no deaths were registered of patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 over the previous 28 days and therefore the number of deaths under that measurement remains 2,491.

Obviously the total number of deaths is still a sharp reminder of the dreadful impact of this virus and my condolences once again go to everyone who has suffered loss.

As always, I also want to thank everyone working hard to help our country through this pandemic. 

The main points I want to cover today are the outbreak in Aberdeen, but I also want to say something about further measures that we’re going to take to reduce the risk of transmission. 

The Economy Secretary will then say a few words about business support. And the Chief Medical Officer will give an update on this year’s seasonal flu vaccination programme.

Before all that, though, I want to draw your attention to an important announcement made last night.

The Scottish Government has taken the decision to add three additional countries to the list of those that are subject to quarantine restrictions.  Those countries are Belgium, Andorra and the Bahamas. 

Each of these countries has seen a significant rise in Covid cases, over recent days.   

So from tomorrow, people travelling to Scotland from those countries must self-isolate for 14 days. 

This is another reminder of how quickly the international situation can change.  And it’s why I would once again remind everyone to think very carefully about booking non-essential foreign travel.

Let me return now to the situation we’re dealing with in Aberdeen. I can confirm that – as of now – a total of 101 cases have been confirmed as part of that cluster.  That is an increase of 22 on the position reported yesterday.

And a total of 313 close contacts have now been identified and are being followed up – although we expect that number to rise further.

It was also confirmed yesterday that two players from Aberdeen Football Club are among those who have tested positive. In addition, a further six players have been identified as having been in close proximity with one of those individuals and they are all therefore self isolating.

It is now clear that all eight players visited a bar in Aberdeen on Saturday night.  In doing so, they blatantly broke the rules that had been agreed, between the SFA, the SPFL and the Scottish Government which, to put it mildly, is completely unacceptable.

This morning, the Scottish Government convened a meeting with the SFA and the SPFL.  And following those discussions, the football authorities have confirmed that the game against St Johnston – scheduled for tomorrow in Perth – will not now go ahead.

I think that is the right decision. We are expecting members of the public to behave in a highly precautionary manner right now.

When a football club ends up with players infected – and not through bad luck, but through clear breaches of the rules – we cannot take even a small risk that they then spread the infection to other parts of the country.

The Scottish Government will also be contacting all club captains and managers to emphasise the importance of complying with the guidance.

Let me emphasise that directly now. Football has been given the go ahead on the strict condition that clubs and players abide by the guidance that has been agreed. If they don’t do that, they put at risk the return of the professional game.

So I welcome Aberdeen’s statement that they have reminded players of their obligations. That’s important – footballers are role models and they should behave accordingly.

But it’s also important to remind the club – and indeed all clubs – of the obligation they have to ensure that their players are behaving responsibly and in line with the guidance.

Now, to say that this incident is deeply regrettable is an understatement. 

But it underlines an extremely important point. 

Any time one of us fails to abide by the rules, we put others at risk.  And we give this virus the chance to come roaring back. 

That’s something we can’t afford to do.  We’ve seen – every day of this outbreak – how easily Covid can spread.   So we do need to do everything we can to stop it in its tracks.

That’s why we have taken such decisive action in Aberdeen.  The new restrictions are designed to minimize the risk of transmission – as we get the bottom of this incident. 

These measures are tough – but they are necessary – especially at a time when schools are about to return. 

So I want to thank the people of  Aberdeen for your understanding – and for doing the right thing.  It is hugely appreciated.

The situation in Aberdeen is extremely challenging.  And our focus is on getting it under control.

At the same time, we want to learn the lessons of this outbreak.  We have  seen similar outbreaks in countries around the world. And it’s clear that a common factor in many of them is a link to hospitality.

We’ve always known that settings such as pubs and bars are particularly susceptible to the spread of this virus.  That’s why we held back the reopening of hospitality until a later phase.  It’s also why we staggered the reopening of hospitality – with outdoor venues opening first. 

We’ve also got clear guidance for the hospitality sector, on how it could operate safely.  Among other things, the guidance set out important advice on things like physical distancing, cleaning and hygiene arrangements, and the collection of customer details.  

Now, it’s very clear many businesses have complied very strictly with those kinds of measures, and I’ve very grateful to them for that.  However, we also know there are some where that has not been the case.  

The Scottish Government is determined to do everything we can to prevent further outbreaks.  And we want to ensure that our hospitality sector can continue to remain open. That’s why today I’m announcing two further measures.

The first is that we now intend to make it mandatory for a range of settings, including hospitality businesses, to collect customer details.

That requirement already exists in guidance, but we are now placing it on a statutory footing.    And it should help to ensure that our Test and Protect system can function as effectively as possible.

Second, we intend to issue new statutory guidance relating to indoor hospitality. 

We’ll set out more detail on this next week, but the aim is to ensure greater compliance with some of the key public health measures – such as physical distancing. And we will work closely with Police Scotland and local environmental health teams to explain these measures – and if necessary, enforce compliance.

Both these changes will take affect from next Friday.  And they will help to clarify exactly what is required of the hospitality industry. However, I want to be emphasise that businesses should already be doing these things.  So if you’re not – don’t wait till next week, start complying now:

Premises should be collecting and keeping contact details.

Wherever possible, people should pre-book tables in advance.  And there should be no queueing. 

People should be seated, with table service.

Customers should not be standing together to watch football, dancing, or queuing at the bar. 

There should be no queueing outside either. If it is unavoidable for any reason, those in queues should be physically distanced.  

And there should be no background music – or volume from the TV.  We don’t want people having to shout or lean in to each other in order to be heard.

Our hospitality businesses obviously have a vital role to play in making premises safe. But as I said yesterday, we are all the first line of defence against this virus. So please think about your own actions.

No more than three households should be meeting together in places like bars and restaurants at any one time.   People from different households should be staying physically distant from each other at all times.

The final update I want to cover today concerns the use of face coverings.

At the moment, the use of face coverings is mandatory in shops and on public transport.  And we are very satisfied that the vast majority of people are complying with those requirements, and I want to thank the public for that.

When it comes to other enclosed spaces, we currently advise people to wear face coverings.  But we have not made it mandatory.

However, as come further out of lockdown, the risks are. More people are out and about.  More places have reopened.  And more people are gathering together.

So as a precautionary measure, I am announcing today that we are expanding the range of indoor premises where people must wear a face covering.   

From tomorrow, that list will include venues like libraries, museums, and places of worship.   You’ll be able to find more detail on exactly which kinds of premises are covered, on the Scottish Government website.  

I can also confirm today that we are updating our guidance on face visors.  Based on the latest scientific evidence, we are not convinced that a face visor on its own provides sufficient protection – to the wearer or to others. 

So again from tomorrow, if a visor is worn it must be accompanied by another type of face covering.

These changes will help to reduce some of the risks that people face, and they are not any of them being made lightly. However, it’s important to remember that face coverings are just one additional form of protection.  We still must observe all of the other public health guidelines. 

So to close today,  as usual I want to remind you – once again – of the FACTS, the five rules that we all must follow to stay safe:

  • Face coverings in enclosed spaces
  • Avoid crowded places.
  • Clean your hands and hard surfaces regularly.
  • Two metre distancing remains the overall rule.
  • and self isolate, and book a test, if you have symptoms.

If we all comply with these five golden rules then we reduce the risk of this virus spreading and taking hold of us again, so my thanks to everyone who is complying and, as always, my encouragement to those who may need to take greater care in doing so.

Edinburgh Businesses Urged to Walk After Nationwide Challenge Success

– Successful Step Count Challenge encourages organisations to get walking –

BUSINESSES in Edinburgh are being encouraged to get their staff walking more and sitting less with the help of tailor-made challenges from Scotland’s walking charity.

Paths for All is inviting organisations of all shapes and sizes to set-up their own bespoke walking challenge to keep their workforce active and connected to their colleagues as Scotland eases out of lockdown.

During May, over 4000 furloughed and home workers participated in a special nationwide edition of the charity’s Step Count Challenge, with over 90 per cent of participants saying the motivation of the challenge helped them cope better with the Covid-19 restrictions.

Now, the charity is encouraging businesses to run in-house challenges so their staff can get active and stay connected with colleagues in a fun and interactive way whether working at home or in the office.

Ian Findlay CBE, Chief Officer at Paths for All said: “Our special lockdown edition of the Step Count Challenge was one of our most successful, with over 930 teams from across Scotland taking part. The vast majority of participants reported feeling much better for it and are planning to continue being more active during the working day in their ‘new normal’.

“The lockdown has reinvigorated many to get out and enjoy the outdoors – and surveys have shown that Scots have increased their walking during this unprecedented time more than any other part of the UK.

“Our hope is that we can build on this success by working with even more organisations to create a workplace walking culture and hence a happier and healthier workforce.”

The bespoke Step Count Challenge is made up of teams of five and has one simple aim of encouraging people to walk more to feel happier and healthier, with participants having access to leader boards, goal setting and team chat to keep them motivated and connected. 

Businesses can register a team of five for just £30 – and can customise their own challenges with tailored branding and personalised messaging.

More information about bespoke Step Count Challenges, can be found by visiting https://www.stepcount.org.uk/bespoke-step-count-challenges

Paths for All works with the Scottish Government and 30 partners to support and deliver national policies, such as the National Walking Strategy and active travel initiatives.

The charity awards thousands of pounds worth of grants to worthwhile projects that improve health, promote walking and improve environments for people to be active in.

Paths for All’s focus is clear: it wants to get Scotland walking: everyone, every day, everywhere.

For more information on Paths for All, visit: pathsforall.org.uk

Get on Board scheme honoured at national awards

Project aims to bring diversity to the boardroom

Edinburgh Napier’s ground-breaking Get on Board programme has been honoured with a prestigious Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE).

The programme – which places students with the boards of charities, voluntary organisations and public bodies, and gives them opportunities to network with professionals and help make decisions which impact their community – is one of 15 winning projects from universities across the UK.

The CATE awards, announced yesterday by Advance HE, the body dedicated to helping higher education shape its future, recognise collaborative work that has had a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning, highlighting the key role of teamwork.

Get on Board was established in 2015, with academics Miles Weaver and Jacqueline Brodie working with the University’s careers service to deliver an extra-curriculum programme to support employability of students and address the key Scottish national outcome of improving board diversity. The pilot project won a Herald HE Award for Enhancing Student Learning.

The programme’s development was supported by a student steering group called Young Trustees in Scotland led by Elena Pershina, who was a fourth year undergraduate at the time and President of Young Trustees in Scotland.

The Get on Board team later joined forces with RSM and Santander, and further organisations and universities became involved as the competency pathway was developed as an opportunity to bolster trustee skills among students in Scotland, each partner bringing their own capabilities, training and networking opportunities.

Dr Brodie, Associate Professor, Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Edinburgh Napier’s Business School, said: “The Get on Board team are honoured to be awarded an Advance HE CATE. It has been a privilege to empower students to make a positive difference in their communities and support the development of their employability and enterprise skills in the process.”

Alison Johns, Advance HE CEO, said: “I am sure I am joined by the entire sector in congratulating the 2020 CATE awardees. All of the winners should be extremely proud of their achievement.

“Their work epitomises the outstanding commitment to teaching in the UK higher education sector, which this year has been more demanding than ever before.”

The Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence scheme was introduced in 2016, and is open to members of staff from all providers of higher education across the UK.

Coronavirus support across every region and nation in the UK

New data published by HM Treasury reveals how businesses across every corner of the UK continue to be supported through government-backed coronavirus loan schemes.

  • new figures show government economic support is reaching every corner of the UK
  • businesses across the entire UK have received government-backed loans during outbreak – with more than 130,000 firms in devolved nations receiving £4.7 billion
  • data also shows that nearly 900,000 firms in England have benefitted from over £10 billion in business grants

Figures released by the Treasury show that more than 130,000 firms in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have benefitted from £4.7 billion of coronavirus support through the government’s Bounce Back Loan and Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).

This includes:

  • loans and support worth more than £2.3 billion have been given to more than 65,000 firms in Scotland since the outbreak
  • around 41,000 businesses in Wales have received more than £1.4 billion in finance
  • and more than 25,000 businesses in Northern Ireland have received over £1 billion

The figures also show that businesses up and down England have also benefitted from more than £10 billion in business grants, with equivalent funding being made available to the nations through the Barnett formula.

  • more than 102,000 business properties in Yorkshire and the Humber received £1.1 billion in grants since the pandemic
  • alongside 119,000 grants made in the South West, to the value of £1.3 billion
  • and 131,000 business properties in the North West receiving over £1.5 billion in support

Loan schemes, grants and business rates holidays have supported businesses across all sectors. But the retail, construction and hospitality sectors, including hotels and restaurants, have benefitted the most.

17% of loans went to the construction sector, and all retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses benefitted from a 100% business rates holiday – demonstrating how government support helped those businesses that were impacted hardest by the pandemic.

Ahead of a visit to Scotland to see the impact of the government support schemes and meet people who have benefitted, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said: “I recently set out the government’s next steps towards economic recovery and securing the UK’s long-term prosperity in our Plan for Jobs.

“As we embark on this next phase, the latest figures demonstrate that we are continuing to support jobs, incomes, and businesses across every corner of the UK.”

As well as loan schemes, grants and businesses rates holiday, around a third of employees in every region benefitted from the furlough scheme, in addition to support through the self-employed income support scheme, as the government moved quickly to support businesses across the whole country to protect jobs.

This is part of a package of over £50 billion in loans, £11 billion in grants, and 9.5 million people furloughed.

The Chancellor set out his Plan for Jobs last month, which will support jobs with the Job Retention Bonus to help businesses keep furloughed workers, and expand Worksearch Support including a Flexible Support Fund and a £2 billion Kickstart scheme to subsidise jobs for young people

The UK government is also creating jobs in the construction and housing sectors through funding to decarbonise public sector buildings, and protecting jobs with VAT cuts for hospitality and tourism, as well as the Eat Out to Help Out discount scheme. These schemes are union-wide, and support key industries across the whole of the UK.

This comes in addition to the government’s recent announcement that the devolved administrations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales will receive a minimum of £3.6 billion in additional funding this year, on top of the £8.9billion confirmed since March to support the coronavirus recovery.

Stephen Pegge, Managing Director of Commercial Finance at UK Finance, said: “Lenders understand that times are tough for businesses up and down the country, but the industry has a clear plan to help them get through this crisis.

“Whether you’re a sole trader in a rural area or a company with hundreds of employees in a major city, the banking and finance industry stands ready to offer the right support to suit your needs and these figures demonstrate that funding is well distributed throughout the UK.

“Businesses should remember that any lending provided under government-backed schemes is a loan not a grant, and so should carefully consider their ability to repay before applying.”

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: “Our unprecedented package of support has helped firms of all sizes, in all sectors, and in every corner of our United Kingdom.

“Today’s data shows just how big an impact our measures have had, providing breathing space for millions of businesses, safeguarding jobs and protecting people’s incomes.

“As we bounce back from the pandemic, we will continue to prioritise jobs and skills, while placing the environment at the heart of our recovery.”

Safety must be the priority as schools and colleges prepare to reopen, says teachers’ union

Robust safety measures, monitoring, testing and swift information sharing must all be in place in every school and college in Scotland in order to ensure that they can open their doors and keep them open whilst minimising the risk of a rise in COVID-19 transmission in the wider community, says teachers’ union NASUWT.

As schools and colleges prepare to reopen, the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union is highlighting the need for robust systems of monitoring and enforcement to be in place in every local authority to ensure schools are taking all necessary steps to keep pupils and staff safe.

Teachers who are preparing for the full reopening of schools remain anxious that everything that can be done should be done to make sure that schools are Covid-safe.

The NASUWT is also calling for effective systems of information sharing from employers about local infection rates and clear protocols about the arrangements to be adopted by schools and colleges in the case of any local outbreaks or lockdowns.

While the Scottish Government says its test and protect system will be sufficient to protect school staff and pupils, the NASUWT is urging the introduction of regular, routine testing of all school staff and pupils in order to ensure cases are not missed, particularly given that children and young people are more likely to be asymptomatic for COVID-19

Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, said: “While the vast majority of schools and colleges are doing everything they can to minimise the risks to staff and pupils when they reopen, it will be important to ensure that where appropriate safety measures are not fully in place, plans to reopen any individual school are paused to enable the necessary safety measures to be put into place.

“Teachers and other staff working in schools want to be assured that when they return to the workplace they will be afforded the same level of protection as staff in other occupations and workplaces.

“The Government and employers need to demonstrate that schools are ready to reopen safely and must not leave the safety of children, teachers and the general public to chance.

“Regular inspections of schools and colleges and public health communications to all staff, parents and in the wider community will be vital to guard against the risk over time that fatigue or complacency over safety could result in new outbreaks of the virus.

“It is important to remember that we remain in a public health emergency and the Scottish Government and employers must do everything they can to ensure that reopening schools does not lead to an increase in cases of COVID-19.

“This is why routine, widespread, testing systems, coupled with effective information sharing measures are so important, along with the mitigation and safety measures schools and colleges are being asked to take.

“There is a fine balance involved in fully reopening schools and easing other lockdown measures whilst trying to keep the virus under control. Ministers and employers must ensure that health and safety remain the paramount priority and that schools proceed with caution to safeguard the health and safety of pupils and their staff.”

Jane Peckham, NASUWT National Official Scotland, said: “School leaders and staff have been working phenomenally hard in very difficult and uncertain circumstances to ensure that they can safely reopen and many pupils and staff are looking forward to returning to school and college.

“However, many also remain anxious about their health and welfare and the provision of routine COVID-19 testing in schools, along with monitoring systems to ensure the safety of staff and pupils, would go a long way to providing extra reassurance that all steps which can be taken to keep schools safe environment are in place.

“Staff and parents also need to be clear about what safety provisions are in place in the event of any school-based or local outbreaks of COVID-19.”

Scots encouraged to follow crucial steps to control coronavirus

The role NHS Scotland Test and Protect plays in containing future coronavirus outbreaks has been highlighted, as new research suggests people know their actions count.

With the vast majority (89 per cent) of people believing it necessary to follow the Scottish Government’s guidelines if the country is to get out of lockdown, NHS Lothian has reminded people of three things they need to do to help suppress the virus as restrictions ease:

1:  Self-isolate and book a test immediately if you have coronavirus symptoms: a new, persistent cough, high temperature or loss or change in taste or smell.

2:  If the test result is positive, you’ll be contacted by a member of the NHS team and asked to provide them with the names of people you’ve been in close contact with as they may be at risk.

3:  If you’re contacted by NHS Scotland to say you’ve been in close contact with someone that has the virus, isolate for 14 days.  Following this advice is crucial as it can take 14 days for symptoms to develop, and the virus can be passed on during this time.

The research, released as the nation moves through phase 3 of the route map, shows that the majority of people in Scotland (92 per cent) see the role individuals have in suppressing coronavirus as important.

However, with one in ten (12 per cent) saying they are less likely to follow guidelines if others aren’t following them, NHS Lothian yesterday encouraged people to stick with it over the coming weeks and months to protect themselves, their loved ones and keep their community safe.

Professor Alison McCallum, Director of Public Health, NHS Lothian said: “Test and Protect is key to breaking the chains of coronavirus transmission, protecting the progress we’ve made and helping to save lives. 

“If you have symptoms, please self-isolate, get tested and share details of those you’ve come into close contact with.  If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive and are asked to self-isolate by the NHS, it’s essential you follow that advice.  Support to self-isolate is there if you need it.

“For this to work, we need everyone’s help. If you have symptoms, we’re asking you to self-isolate, get tested and share details of those you’ve come into close contact with. If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive and are asked to self-isolate by the NHS, it’s important to follow that advice. 

“These three steps, along with following the FACTS guidelines, shows people you care about others, sets a good example, will help keep the virus under control and will allow us to continue to emerge from lockdown.”

People can book a test at nhsinform.scot/test-and-protect or call 0800 028 2816 if they can’t get online.

The website provides information on additional support available. If you need to self-isolate and can’t get the help you need from family, friends or online, you can call the National Assistance Helpline on 0800 111 4000. Local help is there for you behind that national number.

To reduce the risk of catching or spreading coronavirus, or being asked to isolate, remember FACTS – Face coverings, Avoid crowded places, Clean hands and surfaces regularly, Two-metre physical distancing and Self-isolate and book a test immediately if you have coronavirus symptoms.

Chief Constable pledges to tackle assaults on police

Assault Pledge banner

Chief Constable Iain Livingstone QPM has outlined his commitment to reduce the impact of violence and improve the safety of officers and staff in a new pledge announced today.

The Chief has made it clear that violence against officers and staff is utterly unacceptable and should never be seen as simply part of the job. He has promised to provide appropriate support to colleagues where it does occur.

Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC and Cabinet Secretary for Justice Humza Yousaf have both backed the pledge, which also calls on wider society and the public to support policing.

Chief Constable Livingstone said: “As has been evident in recent weeks and months, at times of crisis, chaos and criticality, policing in Scotland brings order, discipline and compassion.

“It is, then, disgraceful and deplorable when officers and staff are subjected to violence during the course of their duties.

“I have enormous concern about assaults and attacks on police officers and staff, which are disgracefully on the increase. I utterly reject any suggestion or view that they come with the job.

“This pledge outlines my commitment to reducing the impact violence has on our officers and staff and to introducing measures to improve their safety.

“I am clear that it is the strong bond of trust and confidence forged between policing and our fellow citizens from which we obtain our authority. Your police service will always value that relationship.

“I’m grateful for the overwhelming support for policing from members of the public in recent weeks and months and I request that the same support and co-operation continues as we work together to build and maintain our collective safety and security.”

The Lord Advocate has made clear that offending against police officers will be prosecuted rigorously. James Wolffe QC said: “Assaults on police officers and staff are reprehensible and Scotland’s prosecution service will take action to protect their safety.

“COPFS works closely with Police Scotland to ensure the effective investigation and prosecution of crime, properly addressing any criminal behaviour that threatens public safety and the safety of police officers.”

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “I fully support the Chief Constable’s pledge and I am deeply concerned to hear that reports of violence on officers and staff are on the increase.

“It is simply not acceptable that they should be attacked or abused while going about their daily duty. The men and women of Police Scotland are the frontline in protecting communities and keeping Scotland safe.

“They are the very people who run to help others when it can be dangerous and often witness distressing scenes.

“No-one should face abuse or violence while at work and the courts have extensive powers to deal robustly with those who carry out such appalling behaviour on our officers and staff.”

The pledge and guidance were developed by members of the Your Safety Matters group, the membership of which includes staff associations, unions and experts from across Police Scotland.

Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor, who chairs the Your Safety Matters group, said: “The trend of increasing reports of assaults on officers and staff over a number of years is a matter of significant concern.

“It causes physical and psychological harm to dedicated public servants and also costs the public purse through days lost to ill-health or personal injury claims.

“We will continue to work closely with the Scottish Police Federation, staff unions, and our partners to support our people as they, in turn, support their fellow citizens.”

Fuel sellers pumping own margins instead of passing savings to motorists

During lockdown, the price of fuel hit a four-year low but new analysis from Which? has found that drivers were being overcharged at the pumps as sellers failed to pass on savings.

Rather than passing on the full reduction in wholesale prices, the consumer champion found that sellers were pumping up their own margins, which rose from 10p a litre to 18p – an increase of around 80 per cent – in the weeks after lockdown was introduced.

Despite a noticeable fall in the cost of unleaded petrol at forecourts across Britain, Which?’s study of fuel prices during lockdown suggests that drivers were actually still overpaying to fill up their cars as inflating margins allowed some fuel companies to pocket a proportion of the savings for themselves.

In March and April prices hovered between £1.02 and £1.04 a litre at supermarkets. In May, the price finally dropped below £1 at Morrisons, Asda and Tesco, while Sainsbury’s brought its prices down to the £1 mark. Independent petrol stations also followed suit but many remained several pence per litre more expensive.

Despite these noticeable savings, in the week that lockdown was announced in the UK, the average retail margin, which includes the cost of overheads and profit for suppliers and retailers, jumped from around 10p a litre to nearly 18p based on data supplied by the AA – by far the biggest jump of any week in 2019 and 2020.

For the same week in 2019, the margin was just 8p a litre and as little as 5p in April 2019.

The increase in margin may have been necessary for smaller independent petrol stations to survive the pandemic crisis, but some bigger independent petrol station groups – such as Motor Fuel Group, which has around 900 stations – are responsible for around 30 per cent of the market, and some will have made savings of millions of pounds during lockdown.

While this was partially due to financial measures introduced by the UK government, such as the business rate holidays, it raises questions about how high margins, such as those seen during the coronavirus pandemic, are set.

Currently, there are no established rules on the margins retailers can apply to pump prices, and, crucially, there’s not an independent fuel watchdog to monitor that these costs are fairly calculated.

Motorway services, which are privately owned, are able to charge large premiums for fuel compared with other forecourts. This also applies to the cost of items for sale in their service stations, meaning customers could be charged different prices for a cup of coffee if they stopped multiple times on a journey.

Which? found that sellers setting their own margins also have a role in regional differences and in the first week of lockdown, the difference in price between Northern Ireland and the South East of England was as much as 8p a litre for petrol and 6p a litre for diesel. Drivers in Northern Ireland get the best deal, because there is a proportionally high number of forecourts and therefore increased competition to keep prices low.

Which?’s own data also revealed that petrol is generally cheaper in towns and cities than in rural locations. But supermarket fuel forecourts, even in the countryside, are still cheaper than oil-company-owned petrol stations in cities.

Supermarkets sell 45 per cent of all fuel, benefiting from lower delivery costs due to the volumes they buy and sell, and bringing in footfall to their stores along with lower pump prices. In areas where there is less competition, particularly from large supermarket stores, drivers will get less value for money as independent fuel forecourts will be able to maintain higher margins with less impact on custom.

However, even supermarkets – which often reflect changes to the wholesale price more quickly than independent or oil-company-owned forecourts – sometimes choose to pass on any savings due to falling wholesale prices to customers through money-off vouchers instead of lowering prices.

In a survey, nearly half (45%) of respondents said that they use supermarket vouchers to reduce their fuel costs. However, the often high minimum spend requirements may mean that this is not a good value for money as it might seem, as those who can’t afford the minimum spend, or who don’t want to spend it, miss out on the savings on petrol.

The retail margin has already started to drop closer to pre-lockdown levels as demand returns to normal, but the pandemic has highlighted serious issues with the uncapped margins being set by fuel retailers, and the lack of an independent regulatory body to monitor these.

Which? believes drops in wholesale prices must be fairly reflected at the pumps and savings passed on to drivers, no matter where they buy their fuel.

Harry Rose, Editor of Which? said: “While there may have been fair cause for some fuel sellers to increase retail margins in order to survive lockdown, there really is no excuse for some larger retailers to be keeping savings for themselves during the pandemic. For customers to be charged fairly at the pumps wholesale savings must be passed on.

“If you want to save money on fuel, buy an economical car and fill it up at a supermarket. Although if you have a local and convenient garage that you like using, do continue to give it your support.”

Companies benefit from the Scottish Government’s business support package

The Scottish Government created a support package for businesses in Scotland affected by Covid 19 and enterprise agencies worked at pace with VisitScotland and Creative Scotland to design and deliver two short-term funds: 

The Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund for vulnerable Scottish SMEs deemed vital to local, regional and national economies and the Creative, Tourism & Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund for tourism, hospitality and creative industry businesses that experienced hardship due to Covid 19.  

A total of 3,656 awards have been made to companies across Scotland equalling around £145.3M. Visit the Scottish Government website for more information. 

Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise Steve Dunlop (above) said: “It is not an easy time for many businesses and Scottish Enterprise is working hard to provide funding, advice and resources to ensure businesses not only survive, but thrive now and in future.  

“The support from the Hardship and Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Funds has allowed companies across a range of industries to continue to trade. We will continue to work alongside Scottish Government and partners to focus on a fair, sustainable and jobs-focused recovery and play a critical role in rebuilding Scotland’s economy.” 

Precision engineering company Almond Engineering is based in Livingston and received £100,000 from the Pivotal Enterprise Fund and has remained in production throughout the pandemic by undertaking safety precautions. 

The business has also manufactured face shields to donate to the NHS as well as creating test equipment for ventilator manufacturers.

Managing director of Almond Engineering Michelle Quinn said: “The support from Scottish Enterprise has been so important for us. We have always really valued the help and support and in times like this it is doubly valuable.    

“The coronavirus has really impacted our orders at Almond and at times such as these when you don’t know how long the crisis will last nor how deep the recession will be, the government and Scottish Enterprise support allows time for the economy to start recovering and ensure that businesses such as ours are here once the world reopens.” 

Edinburgh based interior and graphic design firm 442 Design specialises in venue design, creating memorable customer experiences that challenge the conventions of traditional Food, Drink and Retail spaces. Their clients include Arsenal Football Club, Amazon, SSE Hydro, BBC Scotland, Adidas and Aramark. 

442 Design received £50,000 from the Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund, which was welcomed by Managing director David Dunn who said: “Our business relies heavily on crowds and entertainment whether through eating and drinking out, football matches or live gigs.

“The banning of crowd activity had a massively detrimental impact on our client businesses. Our business practically stopped with lockdown with all projects put on hold. 

“PERF has kept the company afloat during a time of forced abandonment of all projects, saved jobs and allowed 442 to reposition for the future. We’re now developing a different Covid-aware approach to designing spaces that can deliver both commercial return for client and ensure a great experience for our customers.” 

Arrayjet is a biotech company based in Roslin, Midlothian, supplying inkjet bio-printing instruments and also manufactures Covid 19 testing and research products.  

Iain McWilliam Chief Executive Officer of Arrayjet said: “The PERF grant helped support our cashflow during a critical period when revenue collection and generation was extremely difficult.

“Many of our customers had to cease operations temporarily, and the restrictions on travel prevented us from installing new instruments, look after our installation base, or to visit prospective clients.

“A large proportion of the Arrayjet team were already on the furlough scheme, but the PERF grant allowed us to continue some limited economic activity, to support our key local supply chain, to bring some staff back sooner and accelerate our recovery.  

“The PERF grant helped to stabilise our cashflow and gave our board the confidence to bring members of the Arrayjet team off furlough earlier than planned. As a result, we have been able to develop and market products and services related to Covid 19 research and diagnosis.” 

Police appeal following early hours robbery

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for information following an armed robbery in the city centre.

The incident happened around 2.45am yesterday (Thursday, 6 August, 2020) when a man entered the Costcutter Store on Lothian Road and threatened a member of staff with a knife. 

He then demanded money from the till drawer before leaving on foot in the direction of Princes Street with a small quantity of cash.

The suspect is described as a white man, around 5ft 8in tall and of a slim build. At the time of the incident he was wearing a black hooded top, black tracksuit bottoms, grey woollen gloves and his face was covered with black sunglasses and a red scarf.

Detective Sergeant Keith Taylor, of Edinburgh CID, said: “Thankfully nobody has been injured as a result of this incident but the member of staff has been left evidently shaken.

“Although this happened in the early hours of the morning, I would ask that if anyone noticed a man matching this description or anyone acting suspicious in the area to get in contact with police.

“I would also ask if anyone has any dashcam or CCTV footage of the surrounding area and may have information that could assist with our investigation to come forward.

“Police can be contacted on 101 quoting incident number 0400 of Thursday, 6 August, 2020. Alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.”