Today the First Minister has announced the official allocation of tiers zero to four for all 32 Scottish local authorities.

West Dunbartonshire will remain with the current set of restrictions and are required to follow tier three restrictions from 2 November 2020 and Argyll and Bute will be required to follow tier two restrictions.

Tier two includes:
1. No mixing of households with the exceptions of those in bubbles and with caring responsibilities. Groups of six people from two households can meet outdoors.
2. Cinemas, amusement arcades and bingo halls remaining open but soft play, funfairs, indoor bowling, casinos, theatres, snooker or pool halls, music venues, nightclubs and adult entertainment venues will be closed.
3. Indoor hospitality – such as restaurants, bars and cafes – will be able to stay open until 8pm and alcohol will be on sale to those who are having a meal.
4. Travel into tier three areas is advised against for all but essential purposes.

Tier three includes:
1. The same restrictions on household mixing as those within tier two.
2. All entertainment venues will be closed.
3. Restaurants will be allowed to function like cafes – opening until 6pm but with all alcohol sales prohibited.
4. Travel outwith tier three areas is advised against for all but essential purposes.

During a debate within the Scottish Parliament on this new tiered system, Jackie Baillie called on Nicola Sturgeon to ensure that the public, workers and business owners had as much clarity as possible To try to ensure compliance with the rules. She also called for specific support to be given to the hospitality and tourism sectors to help mitigate the effects that the crisis has had on their ability to operate. Jackie has been contacted by a number of local hospitality businesses who have not received support from the Scottish Government and are on the brink of collapse.

Jackie Baillie MSP said:

“I welcome the fact that only hospitality businesses in tier four will have to close completely. Allowing restaurants to start selling alcohol again in tier two areas, and being able to open at all in tier three, will come as a relief to business owners who continue to face huge uncertainty.

“However, there is certainly no return yet to ‘business as usual’ for these hospitality businesses. They will still experience huge revenue losses and it is vital that local authorities and the Scottish and UK Governments work together to ensure that support is in place for those who need it. There are local hospitality businesses that are on the brink of collapse and assistance must be provided quickly. Locally we can do our bit to try to support them.

“The First Minister is asking local people, especially those who live along the boundary of West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute, not to travel between these areas or indeed into Glasgow for all but essential purposes. Doing so will only lead to a rise in case figures and will increase the likelihood of transmission.

“I encourage everyone to follow these new sets of restrictions – I know that they are hugely disruptive to our lives and we all want to go back to a sense of normality. These tiers are in place to keep us safe and we will hopefully begin to see the benefits of our sacrifices when case figures drop and fewer lives are lost.”