Chamber and committees

Thank you—that is helpful. You just referenced that there will be substantially increased demand for boosters. The public will be seeing the news headlines about the omicron variant and will be concerned about it. There will be a lot of extra demand. Is the capacity in place to respond to that demand? What steps are being taken to increase capacity, particularly over the coming weeks?

That is helpful. We can take up the issue with the Scottish Government representatives when we see them.

I have a question on a different issue, which I will address to Susan McKellar from the Scottish Women’s Convention. I was concerned to read in your consultation response that none of the women whom you consulted had been successful in accessing the self-isolation support grant or local self-isolation assistance service, despite them all having had to self-isolate. I do not know how many women you spoke to in that respect, so it would be helpful if you would clarify. It is clearly a point of concern, because the whole purpose of putting in place the grant scheme for self-isolation was to support those who are in that situation and need additional financial assistance.

Will you give us a bit more background, and explain why people were not able to access the grant? Did they find that it was too difficult to apply, did they apply and get turned down, or were there other reasons?

I had hoped to make this point in the earlier session, but time ran away with us. I draw to the Deputy First Minister’s attention the comments that have been raised with this committee by the DPLR Committee, which considered the instrument on Tuesday.

The instrument that is before us allows for the use of a negative lateral flow test as an alternative to vaccine certification for entering certain premises. That is a welcome step—it has been welcomed by the business community, and it brings Scotland into line with most, if not all, other European countries that operate a vaccine passport scheme.

However, the DPLR Committee raised the issue that the change, in effect, relies on individuals’ honesty, because it will be relatively easy for someone, if they want to, to present a false negative test. The DPLR Committee asked the Government whether it had considered that and whether it had given any thought to making the system more rigorous, for example by introducing sanctions for people who present a false negative. I do not know whether the Deputy First Minister can respond to that, or whether he has any thoughts on that point on behalf of the Government.

Does Sandra MacLeod or Mike Brewer want to add anything? Sandra MacLeod is nodding.

Good morning. I would like to ask about two different areas. My first question is for Michael Clancy. In your submission on behalf of the Law Society, you make a process point about the Scottish Government’s power to make regulations and the requirement that it should publish a statement of reasons along with such regulations. You say:

“it should be made clear that the statement of reasons should also explain why it is necessary to make the regulations urgently before they were approved by the Parliament.”

Could you expand on that and explain the background to your thinking on that point?

Earlier, we were discussing the omicron variant and the impact that it might have. It is now generally understood that the best way to address the issue is to accelerate the booster vaccination programme. Yesterday, we heard about a number of incidents involving individuals who turned up at vaccination centres expecting to be given the booster but were turned away because it has been less than 24 weeks since their second jab. That was clearly not in line with the new Scottish Government guidance. Has the issue now been resolved?

Do I have time to ask one more question, convener?

That is helpful. I want to ask about the connection between the booster and flu jabs. Many people, including the over-50s—the cabinet secretary and I fall into that category—have been invited to get the booster and flu jabs at the same time. However, in some cases, that will mean that people will not have an appointment until January. Would that create an additional risk for people? The peak flu danger season is presumably in early January.

That is really helpful.

To follow up on that point, did you get a response from the women whom you consulted as to whether they thought that there was enough publicity around the scheme? Were they aware of it? If so, how did they hear about it?

I want to raise a slightly different issue: events in school, which are particularly relevant at this time of year. I am sure that you will have seen some of the commentary in the media about nativity plays taking place in schools with parents present. I am sure that all parents are aware of what an important rite of passage it is to have your children in a nativity play and to be able to watch them. As a parent, I can take my children to a crowded theatre or cinema, with lots of other people, who may or may not be vaccinated, yet the current guidance says that I cannot go as a parent into a school setting to watch children take part in a nativity play.

Do you have any thoughts on that? In particular, do you think that it is appropriate for the matter to be dealt with through a single piece of national guidance? Given that the Covid rates in schools are quite varied, should there be local discretion, with decisions being taken at school level or with local authorities, based on the situation on the ground, rather than having a blanket approach? We will start with Margaret Wilson on that one.