Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 02 March 2021
02 Mar 2021 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Covid-19
The main words of reassurance that I want to give, again, is that we take all decisions carefully. My position, which I suspect is that of most—if not all—parents across the country, is that parents would want to get children back to school full time tomorrow if it were safe to do so. However, it would not be safe, so we have to do that return on a phased basis, which is the main thing that we are doing to ensure that safety is prioritised.
Beyond that, we are in regular contact with unions and parent representative bodies about measures to reduce risks in schools. The Covid education recovery group, which the Deputy First Minister chairs, meets weekly. The guidance for schools is developed with input from all those stakeholders and others, and it sets out clear requirements for infection control measures and the use of PPE in appropriate circumstances. As I said in my statement, we have introduced twice-weekly at-home asymptomatic testing, which is available to all school staff and senior phase pupils and is another layer of assurance.
Every step that can be taken to ensure that the school environment is as safe as possible will be taken. As I said earlier, I am grateful to everybody in the school community for all the work that they are doing to put those plans in place.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh)
NPA
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The First Minister (Nicola Sturgeon)
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Ruth Davidson (Edinburgh Central) (Con)
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The First Minister
SNP
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Anas Sarwar (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
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The First Minister
SNP
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Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)
Green
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The First Minister
SNP
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Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
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The First Minister
SNP
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The First Minister
SNP
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The First Minister
SNP
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The First Minister
SNP
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Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
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The First Minister
SNP
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The First Minister
SNP
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Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
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The First Minister
SNP
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John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
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The First Minister
SNP
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Lab
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The First Minister
SNP
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The First Minister
SNP
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Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
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The First Minister
SNP
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