Chamber and committees

Thank you, Dr Davies. Before I bring in Dr Fitzgerald, I note that we live in Scotland, which is very cold, we are now moving into winter and energy prices are increasing astronomically, so I hesitate a little bit at the suggestion that we should open our windows. I understand that we would do so for ventilation, but I wonder whether in reality it will happen when people cannot afford to pay their energy bills.

I will bring in Dr Fitzgerald at this point.

I think that Professor Noakes has asked to speak.

Under agenda item 2, the committee will take evidence on the ministerial statement on Covid-19, subordinate legislation and the other matters that are noted on the agenda. I welcome to the meeting our witnesses from the Scottish Government: John Swinney, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery; Professor Jason Leitch, who is the national clinical director; Elizabeth Sadler, who is deputy director for Covid ready society; and Graham Fisher, who is deputy director in the legal directorate. I thank the witnesses for attending the meeting.

Deputy First Minister, would you like to make any remarks before we move to questions?

Mr Fraser, motion S6M-01399 is about local authorities.

Good morning, and welcome to the ninth meeting in 2021 of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee. I give a warm welcome to Graham Simpson MSP, who is joining the committee this morning.

The first agenda item is a decision on whether to take in private agenda item 5 and all future consideration of the evidence that we will hear in future meetings. Do members agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

I am sorry, Mr Simpson, but we really have to move on. Perhaps I can ask Professor Leitch or the Deputy First Minister to respond.

We are running a bit short of time, but Professor Leitch will be back next week, so we can ask him more general questions then.

Item 4 on the agenda is consideration of the motions on the affirmative instruments that we considered under the previous agenda item. The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee have yet to consider the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel and Operator Liability) (Scotland) Amendment (No 5) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/359), so we will take the relevant motion at our meeting on 18 November.

I see that the minister does not wish to make any further comment on the instruments. If members are content for the motions to be moved en bloc, I invite the cabinet secretary to move the motions.

Motions moved,

That the COVID-19 Recovery Committee recommends that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel and Operator Liability) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/322) be approved.

That the COVID-19 Recovery Committee recommends that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel and Operator Liability) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/328) be approved.

That the COVID-19 Recovery Committee recommends that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel and Operator Liability) (Scotland) Amendment (No 2) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/343) be approved.

That the COVID-19 Recovery Committee recommends that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel and Operator Liability) (Scotland) Amendment (No 3) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/350) be approved.

That the COVID-19 Recovery Committee recommends that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel and Operator Liability) (Scotland) Amendment (No 4) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/357) be approved.—[Graeme Dey]

Motions agreed to.

Good morning, and welcome to the eighth meeting in 2021 of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee. I apologise for the slightly late start this morning.

The second agenda item is a decision on whether to take item 5, which will be consideration of evidence, in private. Do members agree to take item 5 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

That is appreciated, thank you.

The committee will publish a report to Parliament setting out our decision on the statutory instruments that have been considered at this meeting.

That concludes our consideration of this agenda item and our time with the minister. I thank the minister and his supporting officials for their attendance this morning. The committee’s next meeting will be on 4 November, when we will take evidence from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery.

That concludes the public part of our meeting this morning. We now move into private session.