MP urges local businesses to take part in delivery charge survey

Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael is encouraging local businesses to take part in a survey that assesses the impact of unfair delivery charges on local businesses in the north of Scotland.

The survey, conducted by Citizens Advice Scotland, is the first of its kind assessing the impact of high delivery charges on businesses in rural parts of Scotland – having previously targeted individual consumers only.

Mr Carmichael said: “This survey could help to achieve the change to delivery policies that we want to see. Whenever the issue of high delivery charges is raised it almost exclusively focuses on individual consumers. What this survey will seek to gather instead is the views of businesses and their experiences of how they have been affected.

“In speaking to people who have been hit by high delivery charges, I know that some have decided to return to the local high street for their shopping. With this there comes opportunity for the local economy, however it may be the case that businesses suffer to the same extent as individual consumers. The result of the survey will help us to get to grips with this important and complex issue.”

The survey, which closes at 5pm on March 14, is available here.