Retail Sector (Support)

Part of Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament am ar 12 Mehefin 2024.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Daniel Johnson Daniel Johnson Llafur

I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests and the fact that I am a member of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers.

I was at the Scottish Grocers Federation election event yesterday afternoon. What is clear is that the biggest issue that the sector faces is retail crime. Indeed, the USDAW survey shows that the proportion of retail workers reporting that they have suffered violence has risen from 2 per cent in 2016 to 18 per cent. Although that is largely a justice issue, will the minister outline how bodies such as the industry leadership group could be used to coalesce and provide an interface with other parts of the public sector, and will he outline in what other ways the economy brief and portfolio is looking at how it can tackle that issue, which the industry is facing?