Limiting the availability and operation of click and collect services.
Only retailers selling essential items will be allowed to offer click and collect. This will include, for example, clothes and footwear, baby equipment, homeware and books. All other click and collect services must stop. Click and collect services that are allowed, staggered appointments will need to be offered to avoid any potential for queuing, and access inside premises for collection will not be permitted. The details will be set down in regulations and in guidance.
Restrictions to takeaway services.
Customers will no longer be permitted to go inside to collect takeaway food or coffee. Any outlet wishing to offer takeaway will have to do so from a serving hatch or doorway.
Consumption of alcohol.
From Saturday, it will be against the law in all level 4 areas of Scotland to drink alcohol outdoors in public. This will mean, for example, that buying a takeaway pint and drinking it outdoors will not be permitted.
Strengthening the obligation on employers to allow their staff to work from home whenever possible.
The law already says that we should only be leaving home to go to work if it is work that cannot be done from home. This is a legal obligation that falls on individuals. Introduction of statutory guidance to make clear to ensure that employers support employees to work from home wherever possible. For all employers, the basic message is that if your staff were working from home during the first lockdown, they should be working from home now.
Working inside people’s houses.
Work is only permitted within a private dwelling if it is essential for the upkeep, maintenance and functioning of the household. We will now put this guidance into law.
Staying at home.
The final change is an amendment to the regulations requiring people to stay at home. However, this is intended to close an apparent loophole rather than change the spirit of the law. It will also bring the wording of the stay at home regulations in Scotland into line with the other UK nations. Right now, the law states that people can only leave home for an essential purpose. So the amendment will make it clear that people must not leave or remain outside the home unless it is for an essential purpose. This change will provide legal clarity to facilitate any necessary enforcement.
For further information, visit the Scottish Government website here
