NICOLA Sturgeon is “considering” handing out shopping vouchers to help retailers impacted by the continuing Covid-19 restrictions.

Non-essential shops in 11 health board areas moving out of tier 4 lockdown restrictions can re-open from today, including in Glasgow.

Northern Ireland is due to roll out a voucher scheme early in the new year, with qualifying people to be given between £75 and £100 to spend in shops – but not online.

David Lonsdale, the director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said the fact Ms Sturgeon was mulling over the idea was “encouraging”, stressing that it could give a “much-needed shot in the arm” to shops and other businesses during the normal post-Christmas lull in trade.

He spoke after Ms Sturgeon confirmed the Scottish Government is “looking at that and considering that”.

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She said: “It is something that is under consideration. Northern Ireland have recently announced an initiative of that nature, so we will look at their example as well.”

Mr Lonsdale said: “It is encouraging that Scottish ministers appear to have listened and are responding positively to our calls to consider the potential for a high street voucher scheme.

“The retail industry and our high streets are facing profound challenges at the current time due to a combination of factors including pandemic-induced restrictions and economic downturn, which have weighed on consumer demand.

“If a voucher along the lines envisaged for Northern Ireland is introduced here it could put money into people’s pockets and help get the Scottish economy moving again, giving a much-needed shot in the arm to shops and other consumer-facing firms like eateries in the leaner months early in the New Year.

“Our hope is that any such voucher would trigger additional spending by shoppers and consumers beyond the value of the voucher transaction, creating an even larger economic multiplier.”

The SRC has already used its budget submission to the Scottish Government to call for a voucher scheme to be brought in.

It also raised the issue directly with Ms Sturgeon at the Business in the Parliament conference last week.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said, in answer to a written parliamentary question, that ministers will “continue to weigh up the impacts that each scheme can have and ensure that the most effective support is targeted to support different sectors”.