Chamber and committees

We will have the opportunity to ask scientific evidence-based questions in the next evidence session with the medical experts.

As members have no further questions, I thank the witnesses for their evidence and for giving us their time. It has been informative. If they would like to raise any further points with the committee, they can do so in writing. The clerks would be happy to liaise with them about how to do that.

I suspend the meeting to allow for a changeover of witnesses. I advise members that there will be time for a short comfort break.

At item 2, we will take evidence from a range of stakeholders on vaccination certification. I welcome to the meeting Neil Doncaster, the chief executive of the Scottish Professional Football League and a member of Scottish football’s Covid-19 joint response group; Gavin Stevenson of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association; and Dr Catriona McMillan, the convener of the Law Society of Scotland’s health and medical law sub-committee.

On 1 September, the Scottish Government announced its intention to introduce and put in place a vaccination certification system by 1 October. The purpose of today’s meeting is to take evidence from stakeholders on the proposed scheme. Some of its details are still to be worked out, so we intend to listen to your views and feed them back to the Scottish ministers directly in our regular evidence sessions with them. Any issues that you raise will also inform our scrutiny of any relevant legislation that is introduced to give effect to the scheme. Your input is very valuable to the committee.

I will ask the first question. What are the key issues for the committee to consider in scrutinising the implementation of the proposed scheme?

The next item of business is an evidence-taking session on the latest ministerial statement, the Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Act 2021 reports to the Scottish Parliament, and subordinate legislation.

I welcome to the meeting John Swinney, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery, and, from the Scottish Government, Elizabeth Blair, team leader, Covid co-ordination, governance and decision making; and Professor Jason Leitch, national clinical director. Thank you for attending this morning.

Deputy First Minister, do you wish to make any remarks before we move to questions?

If the committee does not mind, I will go round members in reverse order this time.

I am conscious of the time. John Mason is next.

Thank you, Mr Doncaster. Your feedback is appreciated.

I invite Murdo Fraser to begin the questioning from members.

Good morning and welcome to the fourth meeting in 2021 of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee. We have received apologies from Jim Fairlie MSP, who is unwell.

Agenda item 1 is to decide whether to take item 5, which is consideration of evidence that we have heard, in private. The committee is also invited to consider its work programme and selection of advisers in private at future meetings. Do members agree to take those matters in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you, Deputy First Minister. I will begin the questioning. From discussions with local clubs and the late-night sector—and, indeed, from the previous evidence session—it has become evident that, when the system gets up and running, it will need to work for businesses and the general public. However, people who have been vaccinated outwith Scotland and, indeed, overseas might find it difficult to access the scheme. I have also been made aware of a large backlog in second vaccinations being updated on the national health service portal. With that in mind, and given that the scheme is due to be rolled out in less than two weeks, is there any flexibility with the hard-start date or could a more phased approach be considered to iron out any teething issues?

I apologise to other members who wanted to ask more questions, but we are really pushed for time. That concludes our consideration of the agenda item. I thank the Deputy First Minister and his officials for their time today.

We now move to consideration of the motion on the made affirmative instrument that was considered under the previous item. Deputy First Minister, would you like to make any more remarks on the Scottish statutory instrument before we vote on the motion?