SCOTLAND'S leading tourism body has warned the Chancellor that her Budget could have severe impacts on the industry.

Marc Crothall, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA), has warned that the decision to raise the minimum wage for 18 to 20-year-olds by 8.5% will add to business costs and damage the sector’s ability to invest in Scotland.

He claimed that increased wages will act as a disincentive to employ less experienced young people, having a “detrimental impact” on fostering new talent in the sector.

This claim has however been rejected by the Scottish Greens , as Patrick Harvie MSP said: “Everybody deserves a real living wage. Nobody should be forced to work for poverty pay, and even with today’s changes the highest rate for the minimum wage will leave full t

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