Press Releases

ACS has welcomed the progress of a Bill in Parliament to postpone the next re-evaluation of business rates.

The Non-Domestic Rating (Lists) (No.2) Bill, if passed, would postpone the date on which the next re-evaluation of business rates in England and Wales takes effect from 2022 to 2023. MPs debated the Bill at Second Reading stage today and was progressed without the need for a vote. The Scottish Government has also committed to delay its 2022 revaluation until 2023.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is welcoming the inclusion of additional products to the Healthy Start scheme in England and Wales from October.

Healthy Start is a government initiative which provides pregnant women and parents with young children, who are in receipt of qualifying benefits, Healthy Start vouchers which can be used to purchase certain products in store.

The items currently in the scope of the scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland include: fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, cow’s milk and infant formula suitable for use from birth.

ACS  has welcomed additional details confirmed by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) today on the new requirements for colleagues to wear a face covering.

From today (24^th September), face coverings must be worn by colleagues as well as customers in shops. A key exemption for colleagues however is detailed in the below guidance:

ACS has submitted evidence to the Government’s first consultation on a fundamental review of the business rates system, detailing the how rate reliefs have enabled convenience retailers to invest in their stores and continue to provide essential services in local communities.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the extension of the ban on business evictions to the end of the year, as announced by Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick.

The initial ban on evictions was introduced at the start of the pandemic to protect struggling firms, such as restaurants and retailers, from being evicted to the premises and was due to expire at the end of September.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has submitted evidence to the Sentencing Council’s consultation on revised guidelines for assault offences, calling for sentencing guidelines to do more to address violence against shopworkers, and for penalties to better reflect both the physical and psychological impact on victims.

The NHS Covid-19 contact tracing app is due to be launched on 24^th September as part of the coronavirus testing and contact tracing programmes in England and Wales.

The app will be used, alongside traditional methods of contact tracing, to help prevent the spread of coronavirus by notifying users when they come into contact with someone who later tests positive for coronavirus and providing them with advice on what to do next.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee on the implications of Covid-19 on tax policy.

The House of Commons Treasury Select Committee launched an inquiry calling for views on whether the Government’s economic response to the pandemic should be reflected in changes to taxation.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is promoting new guidance for retailers developed by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on meeting legal requirements towards disabled customers.

The guidance outlines reasonable adjustments for retailers to consider in order to support disabled customers visiting their store, including:

ACS has welcomed the extension of the plastic bag charge to include all retailers.

From April 2021 in England, the new minimum charge of 10p will apply to plastic bags in all stores regardless of the size of the business. Currently the charge is set at 5p, and only applies in stores with more than 250 employees. Wales and Scotland both have universal charging schemes.

ACS has been calling for the charge to be universal in England since before its introduction in 2015, citing the success of existing universal schemes in Wales and Scotland.