Online delivery charges for Caithness shoppers branded 'a disgrace'
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THE £5.2 million spent by online shoppers in Caithness and other parts of the north on delivery surcharges has been branded “a disgrace” and “unfair” by local politicians.
MP Jamie Stone and MSP Gail Ross hit out after the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) revealed the figure in its latest report.
It shows that across Scotland, online shoppers paid an extra £43.1 million in delivery charges – an increase of £6.8 million in the past three years – with the Highlands and Islands the worst affected area, with £30.2 million in additional cost.
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross recorded the third highest figure at £5.2 million – 12 per cent of the total cost to Scotland – with Inverness and Nairn at £7.8 million and Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch at £6.7 million.
It comes as shoppers are turning increasingly to online orders during the pandemic, whether for Christmas gifts or everyday essentials.
Jamie Stone, the Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said: “It is a continuing disgrace that people in the far north should face these additional charges. It is, in effect, an additional tax on people simply because of where they live.
“Citizens in all parts of the UK have a fundamental right to an equality of costs and services. This is why I tabled a motion which was chosen for a debate in July 2019.
“While the minister’s reply at the time was helpful in tone, the fact remains that over a year later we are no further forward. Indeed, the situation is probably worse owing to the Covid pandemic, because of which more and more people are ordering goods online.
“As and when I get the opportunity, I intend to point out this most unfortunate consequence of Covid. I very much hope that it will nudge the conscience of the UK government so that they actually do something about the problem.”
SNP MSP Gail Ross described the surcharges as unfair and said they had created a postcode lottery for many.
She added: “It is very disappointing that people in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross are having to fork out more than others in Scotland just because of where they live.
“Despite efforts from MSPs, the charges continue to sky-rocket. During theCovid-19 pandemic, many of us have relied on online shopping in one way or another and we should not have to be punished purely on postcode alone.
“Now, more than ever, delivery charges across the UK should be fair and transparent.”
Trudy Morris, the chief executive of Caithness Chamberof Commerce, is concerned that “the scale of the problem remains so significant despite all the work done by Scottish Government on this important
issue.”
She said the charges could result in “a significant additional cost to doing business in the region, which is clearly unacceptable”.
She added: “The events of the past year and the impact of the pandemic have only accelerated the trend towards online shopping and delivery of items, and this is no longer a luxury but a necessity for many.
“We need Scottish Government to expand its work on this issue to ensure those of us in the north Highlands are treated on an equal footing with those in the more densely populated areas of Scotland.”
