SCOTLAND needs a government commission to investigate high street malaise, retail union Usdaw has said, after new figures showed that one in every 10 shops are shuttered.

Industry statistics showed a 4.8 per cent dip in high street footfall last month. Across all Scottish stores, footfall was 2.8 per cent in July — a third successive month of decline. There was a recorded growth of 2.4 per cent in retail parks.

The town centre vacancy rate remained at 9.8 per cent, with one in every 10 shops lying empty.