Scottish small retailers should be paid 75 per cent of last year's takings to survive Christmas

Small retailers should be paid 75 per cent of last year’s takings to help them through Christmas – following in the footsteps of measures taken in Germany - a tax advisory firm has claimed.

Small shops have often struggled during the coronavirus pandemic.

Experts said the move would focus resources on the independent sector and would mean that consumers would not have to rely on internet giants.

Mark Hart, a partner at Blick Rothenberg, said: “The latest lockdown announcements are going to hit small retailers hard just when they were just starting to get their businesses back in shape. The Government should step in now and adopt the German model of guaranteeing small retailers incomes up to 75 per cent of last year’s November takings.

"By guaranteeing this level of income, it will give retailers the resources to be able to pay rent and other outgoings, including salaries. This would enable them to also invest in an online presence. Otherwise many of them will not be around to trade at all in the new year.”

“Thousands of small retailers have bought in stock for Christmas that they will now struggle to sell, so any form of support would be welcome.”

He added: “ A ‘shop-out-to-help-out scheme’ is needed to help families with their Christmas shopping, and would also give small retail outlets much needed support. We are looking at a very bleak Christmas unless the government takes action to keep the consumer spending."

Last week, German finance minister Olaf Scholz said small businesses would be compensated with up to 75 per cent of their revenue for the same time last year.

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