First Minister Humza Yousaf has announced the Scottish Programme for Government which outlines the legislative priorities for the next parliamentary year.
Announced today (5th September) the programme includes plans to address vaping in Scotland both in terms of use of vaping products by nonsmokers and young people and tackling the environmental impact of single-use vapes.
In a joint letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, a coalition of businesses, charities and consumer groups, including ACS, have called for urgent action to protect cash as a critical payment method for both consumers and businesses.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called on energy regulator Ofgem to take urgent action to limit the way that suppliers can put non-domestic customers onto expensive deemed rates, as part of a wider ambition to make the market fairer and more transparent.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has echoed concerns raised by the Co-op about the levels of retail crime over the past year and the impact that this has on local shops and the communities that they serve.
New data published today (27th July) from the Co-op has seen crime, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour jump 35% year-on-year, with more than 175,000 incidents recorded in the first six months of this year – almost 1,000 incidents every day.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a consultation from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, calling for better regulation of the energy market and greater protections for small businesses.
In the submission, ACS has highlighted the need for tougher regulation of energy suppliers which will then in turn provide businesses with clarity on their billing, payment options, data transparency, contract terms, and termination.
The Welsh Government has announced plans to introduce restrictions on high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products in an effort to tackle obesity in Wales.
Announced today (27th June) the Welsh Government confirmed plans to introduce restrictions on temporary price reductions of HFSS products, including meal deal type offers and restrictions on where products high in fat, salt or sugar can be displayed.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to the publication of a report from HM Revenue and Customs on the prevalence of non-duty paid alcohol and illicit tobacco in the UK, calling for tougher enforcement and continued focus on tackling the illicit trade.
According to HM Revenue and Customs, the tobacco tax gap driven by the illicit market in cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco is estimated to be £2.8 billion in 2021-22. Of this, £2.2 billion was lost in tobacco duties and a further £0.6 billion in VAT.
The body representing UK’s 48,000 convenience stores has called on police forces to introduce a ‘Most Wanted’ list for prolific shop thieves as part of new plans to tackle repeat offending.
The call comes as figures from the Association of Convenience Stores’ annual Crime Report, published today (22nd June), show that their theft index* has reached new record levels. The record was previously broken last quarter after standing for over 10 years.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has again called on the Government to take meaningful action on energy support for local shops in response to a damning Public Accounts Committee report on the operation of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme and Energy Bill Discount Scheme.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has briefed parliamentarians ahead of a Ten Minute Motion Bill led by Emma Lewell-Buck MP proposing to create a law so those eligible for the Healthy Start scheme are automatically signed up, to stop them from missing out on vital support.
