Chamber and committees

Mr Stevenson, are bars and nightclubs using the track and trace QR codes that are already in place in restaurants as people gain entry?

We move on to item 2. We will take evidence from Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, on the ministerial statement on Covid-19 and subordinate legislation. The cabinet secretary is joined by officials from the Scottish Government. Professor Jason Leitch is national clinical director, Penelope Cooper is director of Covid co-ordination and Graham Fisher is deputy director in the legal directorate. I welcome our witnesses, who are joining us remotely.

The committee will consider the following regulations that were laid over the summer.

I am conscious of the time; I know that the cabinet secretary has to be in the chamber shortly, so that concludes the debate.

Item 3 on our agenda is consideration of the motions on the made affirmative instruments that we have considered. Cabinet secretary, do you want to make any further remarks on the instruments before you move the motions?

Cabinet secretary, would you like to make any opening remarks before we move to questions?

Thank you, cabinet secretary. We will turn to questions, and I will start by asking a few.

I welcome the recent implementation of the QR code for international travel, but what measures are in place for people who do not have access to the internet or a compatible mobile phone, or those who are digitally excluded?

In recent weeks, there have been problems with the recognition of vaccinations that took place outwith the Scottish national health service, such as where people had one vaccination in England and one in Scotland. I have a constituent who had two vaccinations in America, but those are not recognised by NHS Scotland when it comes to providing him with a vaccination certificate. What discussions has the Scottish Government had with the UK Government, the European Union or other countries regarding mutual recognition of vaccinations for vaccination passports for international travellers?

Are members content for motions S6M-00699, S6M-00697, S6M-00696, S6M-00698, S6M-00727, S6M-00726, S6M-00903, S6M-00833 and S6M-00976 to be moved en bloc?

Members indicated agreement.

Motions moved

That the COVID-19 Recovery Committee recommends that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 13) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/237) be approved.

That the COVID-19 Recovery Committee recommends that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel etc.) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) (No. 3) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/254) be approved.

That the COVID-19 Recovery Committee recommends that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 14) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/256) be approved.

That the COVID-19 Recovery Committee recommends that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel etc.) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) (No. 4) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/261) be approved.

That the COVID-19 Recovery Committee recommends that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel etc.) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) (No. 5) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/264) be approved.

That the COVID-19 Recovery Committee recommends that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel etc.) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) (No. 6) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/265) be approved.

That the COVID-19 Recovery Committee recommends that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 15) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/275) be approved.

That the COVID-19 Recovery Committee recommends that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel etc.) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) (No. 7) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/278) be approved.

That the COVID-19 Recovery Committee recommends that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 16) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/290) be approved.—[Michael Matheson]

Motions agreed to.

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

That concludes our consideration of the item and our time with the cabinet secretary. I thank the cabinet secretary and his officials for their attendance this morning.

The committee’s next meeting will be on 16 September, when we will take evidence from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery on ministerial statements on Covid-19, the Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Act 2021 reports to the Scottish Parliament, and subordinate legislation.

That concludes the public part of our meeting.

Good morning and welcome to the third meeting of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee in 2021.

Under agenda item 1, do we agree to take item 4, which is consideration of evidence heard, in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Murdo Fraser has the final question.

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