Stone calls for more support for far north tourism industry
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Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, Jamie Stone, yesterday spoke in a debate in the House of Commons about the far north's tourism industry.
This debate was granted after several e-petitions on the issue of the economy's future met Parliament's threshold for debating a petition.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Stone said: "I fear very much that many of the tourism businesses in my constituency, even if they re-open on July 15, will not put enough cash in the bank to see them through.
"My plea is this, we are going to have to have some kind of tailored package based on the measures that the Government has rightly put in place at the moment to try and help the tourism industry through the longer periods.
"If tourism goes down the tubes in my constituency, frankly the economy will be damaged irreparably. That means that people will lose their livelihoods and the curse of the Highland clearances will come back to haunt us yet again."
Speaking afterwards, Mr Stone said: "Parts of the tourism industry is planning to open up in Scotland from next week, but they have lost a huge chunk of their predicted high season earnings this year due to the pandemic.
"Despite calls from me and my Liberal Democrat colleagues, Fergus Ewing – the Scottish Tourism Minister – and indeed many of the Conservative party’s own MPs, there has been absolutely no willingness from the Treasury to engage with us on our proposal for a specialised 12-month support package.
"Persistence is key. I will not stop until I secure a specialised 12 month financial support package for tourism and hospitality businesses in the Highlands."
