Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh) NPA

The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S5M-23640, on the approval of a Scottish statutory instrument. It is the one that r...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP

The purpose of the Scottish statutory instrument is to amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Am...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Can I double-check, minister, to which SSI you were speaking? I was expecting you to speak to the travel restrictions SSI; that is, SSI 2020/389.

Graeme Dey SNP

I think that we have a bit of confusion, Presiding Officer.

The Presiding Officer NPA

Yes. I think that that particular one might have been SSI 2020/392. SSI 2020/389 is the one that restricts travel into and out of level 3 and 4 areas. That i...

Graeme Dey SNP

I apologise, Presiding Officer. I move, That the Parliament agrees that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) ...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Colin Smyth wishes to speak against the motion. 18:15

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

One of the consequences of the Parliament not voting on or scrutinising Covid regulations until several weeks after they have been imposed is that the regula...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

Does Mr Smyth recognise that Conservative members have reservations about the travel ban, but because it is contained in regulations that contain a number of...

Colin Smyth Lab

I certainly would have no objection to that, but the really important thing is that the Government should update the regulations to reflect changes in circum...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Order, please.

Colin Smyth Lab

I recently highlighted the case of constituents of mine who live in East Ayrshire, on the boundary with South Ayrshire, both of which are on the same level o...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Will you wind up, please, Mr Smyth?

Colin Smyth Lab

Frankly, however, passing the regulations today will send a signal that that does not include South Scotland and our Borders communities.

The Presiding Officer NPA

I remind members that they are supposed to speak for three minutes on such motions, not five. I apologise to the minister, who spoke to the right motion. I ...

Graeme Dey SNP

I do not want to take up any more of the chamber’s time—not least because members are concerned about late decision times. I simply say that such statutory i...

The Presiding Officer NPA

I clarify that the vote on the relevant SSI will be taken at decision time. The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S5M-23...

Graeme Dey SNP

The purpose of SSI 2020/392 is, or was, to move Midlothian and East Lothian from level 3 to level 2 restrictions and requirements. It came into force on 24 N...

The Presiding Officer NPA

The next item of business is consideration of two Parliamentary Bureau motions. I call Mr Dey to move, on behalf of the bureau, motions S5M-23642, on approva...