11th June 2020
The Scottish Chambers of Commerce has joined forces with over 20 UK organisations including Tourism Alliance, UK Hospitality and Universities UK calling for the UK Government to set out as soon as possible an integrated cross-Government plan to open up the UK to our trading partners. The attached letter calls for the following:
- A framework for establishing travel corridors between the UK and low-risk countries to enable exemptions from the blanket quarantine requirements for UK arrivals. A clear set of risk-based criteria should be set out so that businesses can start to plan for a controlled re-opening.
- A timeline for returning to risk-based travel advice from the Foreign Office. The indefinite and indiscriminate advice not to travel overseas prevents businesses and individuals from being able to plan with confidence. Government advice should recognise that whilst Covid-19 has struck every corner of the world, it has not struck evenly.
- A comprehensive approach to health screening for arrivals into the UK to help control the virus over the coming months. Combined with the UK Government’s track and trace system, this could support the economic recovery by allowing a controlled lifting of restrictions on movement.
