Question reference: S5W-35868
- Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 9 March 2021
-
Current status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 22 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether, in line with UK Government policy, it will re-classify garden centres and plant nurseries as essential retail premises in order to allow them to reopen.
Answer
The First Minister announced on 16 March that the impact of the current lockdown and the positive effect of the vaccine roll out give us more confidence about mapping a path out of lockdown, with a firmer indicative timeline for lifting restrictions.
This means that garden centres and plant nurseries can open in line with stringent physical distancing and other hygiene measures from 5 April 2021.
We hope to move back to a levels system from the last week in April with a phased but significant re-opening of the economy, including non-essential retail. However we will continue to monitor the impact of these changes.