LAST week Jamie Greene MSP and Saltcoats business owner Brian Jay met Cabinet Secretary for Justice Michael Matheson MSP over concerns about policy changes damaging local businesses.

Mr Jay owns ‘Jay’s Wedding Cars’, a successful wedding car company in Saltcoats, but changes in the Air Weapons and Licensing Act (2015) threatened significant portions of his business with huge licensing hikes.

Jamie Greene had written to Michael Matheson on a number of occasions regarding the Air Weapons and Licensing Act. An exchange between Nicola Sturgeon and Jamie during First Minister’s Questions prompted the meeting and spurred the Scottish Government into action over the issue.

During the meeting, which was held in the Scottish Parliament, Michael Matheson gave Mr Jay assurances that further consultations will take place before any changes are made to the current licensing system.

Jamie Greene MSP commented: “The three of us had a very productive and frank discussion about the future of the private car hire industry and the challenges this legislation brings. Mr Jay has been in contact with over 100 firms across Scotland who face the threat of increased hardship over these new rules. Times are already tough and the last thing we need is regulatory red tape stifling business.”

“Whilst I welcome Michael Matheson’s comments about further consultation being needed before changes take place, this needs to be better communicated to business owners across the country. It took months of writing letters and a question to Nicola Sturgeon in the Scottish Parliament before I was able to get this meeting. This could have been resolved in a matter of days instead of months.

“I would urge all business owners across North Ayrshire and Inverclyde to take part in the upcoming consultations and make sure your concerns are heard. People ask me what a strong opposition really looks like. Well this is it in action. Standing up for local businesses in the face of the SNP government.”