Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron has expressed concern that the Scottish Government’s decision to take a different approach to the UK Government on supermarket deliveries may mean vulnerable people in his region are put at a disadvantage.
Last week, following concern that some people in the Highlands and Islands were missing out, Mr Cameron had urged local supermarkets to go “the extra mile” to help customers who faced challenges in shopping personally instore.
Mr Cameron spoke after the issue was raised again at First Minister’s Questions: “The UK Government simply passed its list on to the big chains, which allowed them to prioritise delivery slots for those who needed them most."
“But here, the SNP decided to take a different and more complicated approach which, judging by the results, has meant a lower number of shielded people receiving the help they need. Frankly, our big supermarket chains could do without having to manage a separate system in Scotland which has been introduced by the SNP simply for the sake of being different."
“While I have urged the supermarkets to do as much as possible, they badly need the Scottish Government to get its act together fast so that local people receive the supplies they require.”
HCUA Comment:
The SNP government failed to pass big stores its “shielded” list, containing the country’s most vulnerable people who can’t leave their home during the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of following the UK Government approach, which saw that list being handed over last month, ministers here have dithered and chosen a more complex approach - for absolutely no good reason and purely for the sake of trying to show that they can do things "differently", even if that works against the best interests of Scottish people. This is typical of SNP thinking - Party advantage first at all costs.
Yesterday, after launching a text service which forced the shielded group to get in touch with the Scottish Government, Nicola Sturgeon revealed just 21,000 had been able to sign up to have their details passed onto supermarkets.
There has also been confusion over exactly how many people are in the shielded group. The First Minister initially said there were 200,000, but it was quickly reduced to an estimated 120,000. Then it was increased to 136,000 and, shortly after, 144,000. Yesterday at the virtual First Minister’s Questions exchange, Ms Sturgeon stated it was now 157,000. Sturgeon needs to get a grip and concentrate on delivery, not political manoeuvring.
