Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 03 February 2021
03 Feb 2021 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Universal Support for Self-Isolation
I would never doubt Mr Cole-Hamilton’s sincerity, for which I know he is reputed across the chamber. However, I question the motives of the UK Government, given that it is briefing about quantities of the vaccine while insisting that the Scottish Government does not put that information into the public domain. I raise the issue for a very straightforward reason: that creates uncertainty and worry among constituents. Countless constituents have got in touch with me after reading newspaper headlines on the back of Opposition party attacks. I phone to reassure them and, a day or two later, they have had their vaccine and everything is fine.
I encourage members to resist the temptation to create uncertainty. If they do raise the issue, they should temper their language and be cognisant that a lot of very vulnerable people are very worried. We have a responsibility not to needlessly spread fear.
15:54In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani)
SNP
I remind everyone that social distancing measures are in place in the chamber and across the campus. I ask everyone to take particular care when they are ent...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
I start by expressing my gratitude to all those who are working so hard to keep us safe during the pandemic, not least those who work in our front-line healt...
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People (Shirley-Anne Somerville)
SNP
I thank the Scottish Greens for bringing this very important debate to the chamber. Alongside the vaccination programme and the testing programme, compliance...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The cabinet secretary is just finishing, and she is over time.
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
My apologies. I hope that that gives a flavour of the support that is available from the Scottish Government. We are pleased to support Pauline McNeill’s ame...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Rachael Hamilton to speak to and move amendment S5M-24029.3. 15:33
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
In opening the debate on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, I echo the thanks that are expressed in the Greens’ motion to our hard-working national health...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Could you come to a close please?
Rachael Hamilton
Con
I certainly will. We cannot support the SNP amendment, given that it offers no measures that have not already been announced and only a tweak to improve self...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Scottish Labour supports the Green motion because we agree with the basic principle that everyone should be able to afford to self-isolate. The pandemic has...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
I am grateful to the Green Party for making time for this important debate today. We have some differences of opinion on universality, but it is important th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to the open debate. I ask for speeches of no more than four minutes, please. 15:50
Tom Arthur (Renfrewshire South) (SNP)
SNP
I am grateful for the opportunity to make a few brief remarks in the debate. I join Mark Ruskell and colleagues from across the chamber in thanking our front...
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
Will the member give way?
Tom Arthur
SNP
I will, but I can anticipate what the member is going to say.
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
The member is belittling real and genuine concerns that have been raised in good faith by Opposition parties that want the SNP to succeed with its vaccinatio...
Tom Arthur
SNP
I would never doubt Mr Cole-Hamilton’s sincerity, for which I know he is reputed across the chamber. However, I question the motives of the UK Government, gi...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
Other members have begun with thanks, and I echo one line in the Government amendment and thank those who have done the right thing by self-isolating as nece...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Donald Cameron. Excuse me, Mr Cameron, we seem to have an issue with your sound. Perhaps you could hold on for a moment. Can you say hello to us, Mr...
Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
SNP
The financial support that is being provided to people who are self-isolating is really important, and I have no doubt that it is much welcomed. As usual,...
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Notwithstanding the Government’s action to widen the entitlement criteria, which was announced yesterday, I welcome today’s debate and agree that the self-is...
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I hope that you can hear me, Deputy Presiding Officer. The Covid-19 pandemic has been a horrific experience for many, and in different ways. First and forem...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Mr Cameron’s was the last of the open-debate speeches, and we now move to the closing speeches. We are running a bit over time, for various reasons, so pleas...
David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
This has been an excellent debate, with helpful and well-argued contributions from across the political divide. I, too, congratulate Mark Ruskell and the Sco...
Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank hard-working NHS staff who are doing all they can to keep us safe and protected during these unparalleled times. Now that the vaccination programme i...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
I thank members for their contributions to this very important debate. We all appreciate and share an understanding that compliance will continue to be criti...
Patrick Harvie
Green
I am sure that the cabinet secretary recognises that people face threats of consequences, and coercion, from employers, and have fears of such. Surely, as ho...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
I was just coming on to the remarks that Patrick Harvie made earlier and to that point. He rightly raises the issues that some employees have been facing, an...
Mark Ruskell
Green
I thank members for their contributions and warm words. I hope that the debate has put a strong spotlight on one aspect of our Covid response, and I look for...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
That concludes the Scottish Green Party debate on universal support for self-isolation.