Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 27 January 2021
27 Jan 2021 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Prioritising Covid-19 Vaccination and Economic Recovery
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I know that, in your role as Deputy Presiding Officer, you attend Parliamentary Bureau meetings. I know that it is not breaking the rules, because opening speakers are entitled to speak remotely, but I wonder whether you could mention to the bureau that MSPs such as me would find it helpful if, during a debate of the Parliament, opening speakers could speak from the chamber. Opening speakers are privileged, because they have a substantial amount of time to make their points. If they speak remotely, they make their speeches without the fear of taking interventions. It would be helpful, in order to allow for proper debate, if that issue could be raised at a bureau meeting.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Lewis Macdonald)
Lab
I remind members that social distancing measures are in place in the chamber and across the campus. Please observe those measures, including when entering an...
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
As we gather today for this important debate, it is perhaps fitting to acknowledge the sombre fact that, earlier this week, we learned that deaths from coron...
The Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs (Michael Russell)
SNP
No one can doubt that we live in troubled and difficult times, and no one, no matter our political divisions, can fail to pause today and remember that, what...
Mike Rumbles (North East Scotland) (LD)
LD
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I know that, in your role as Deputy Presiding Officer, you attend Parliamentary Bureau meetings. I know that it is no...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Thank you, Mr Rumbles. It is for you to raise the matter with your business manager, and it is for business managers to make suggestions at bureau meetings. ...
Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Covid-19 is a vicious virus that does not care about politics or the constitution. It is a virus that harms and kills regardless of people’s opinions, and it...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I call Willie Rennie.
Mike Rumbles
LD
Go on—take an intervention. Laughter. 15:49
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
The pandemic has knocked the country sideways, with 100,000 lost lives, grieving families and broken friends. Unemployment is skyrocketing, children have los...
The Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing (Mairi Gougeon)
SNP
I must counteract some of the nonsense that we constantly hear about supply and delivery, or comparing us to England or to other parts of the UK. We have fol...
Willie Rennie
LD
There are lots of words, but very few facts come from the Government. I can give an example from care homes. There are only 30,000 care home residents in Sco...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
The Conservatives could have brought a motion for debate that was purely about the Covid response, and they might well have found that they could win majorit...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
A fanatic is someone who cannot change their mind and will not change the subject. The SNP will clearly never take a referendum result against independence a...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
If Brian Whittle feels that our sheer priority should be tackling the pandemic—which I agree it should be—how does he explain his party’s focus on Brexit in ...
Brian Whittle
Con
Because the vote on Brexit took place before the pandemic, and the timetable for it was already set out. This is not about denying the SNP its right to beli...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I encourage Mr Whittle to conclude his remarks.
Brian Whittle
Con
I am sorry, Presiding Officer. I thought that I had six minutes.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
You may carry on.
Brian Whittle
Con
How long do I have?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
You are absolutely right—my apologies.
Brian Whittle
Con
How about a plan to give loved ones access to care homes as our most vulnerable people are vaccinated? Again, we have had no answer and no plan. Education w...
Shona Robison (Dundee City East) (SNP)
SNP
It was a year ago to the day that China reported its first death from coronavirus. No one knew then how quickly the virus would spread and become a global pa...
Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I begin by recognising the massive challenges that our country is facing and the incredible pressure that individuals and families are living under, with a c...
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
I agree with colleagues’ comments about the sad deaths of more than 100,000 UK citizens as a result of Covid. With every death, families mourn and communitie...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani)
SNP
Will you come to a close, please?
Stuart McMillan
SNP
That is something that the population is talking about, and it is clearly an issue for people. As we know, it has been obvious for many, many years that the...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Will you come to a close, please?
Stuart McMillan
SNP
—but it has resorted once again to telling people a lot of nonsense. I know that the population of Scotland wants a referendum after the pandemic. The actio...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Will you come to a close, please?
Stuart McMillan
SNP
—and I support the amendment in the name of Michael Russell.