Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 19 March 2020
19 Mar 2020 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Covid-19 (Education)
I am grateful to Mr Rennie for his opening remarks.
On the first point, about key workers, we must be able to leave room for local flexibility in establishing the key skills that will be required in individual localities around the country. We also have to balance that against creating a list of key tasks that does not narrow down those who might be eligible.
That leads to the second point that Mr Rennie raised. There will be limited provision available to accommodate children within the education and early learning system. If we do not limit provision, we will defeat the object of closing schools and nurseries. There is a fine balance to be struck there, and what must be the controlling influence in that judgment is scientific opinion about what will help to tackle the virus and what will hinder tackling it. Mr Rennie should not therefore think that there will be a dramatic change to the operating model, to somehow allow more children to be accommodated; it will be quite the reverse.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani)
SNP
The next item of business is a statement by John Swinney on education: Covid-19. The cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of his statement, so th...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (John Swinney)
SNP
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Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
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Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
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SNP
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The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
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Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
SNP
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John Swinney
SNP
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The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
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Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
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John Swinney
SNP
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Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
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John Swinney
SNP
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Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
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John Swinney
SNP
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Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
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John Swinney
SNP
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Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
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John Swinney
SNP
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Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (Ind)
Ind
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John Swinney
SNP
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Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
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John Swinney
SNP
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Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
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John Swinney
SNP
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Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
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John Swinney
SNP
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Johann Lamont (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
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John Swinney
SNP
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