Question reference: S5W-29802
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 9 June 2020
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Current status: Answered by John Swinney on 23 June 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether members of the merchant navy returning from oversees are expected to undertake a 14-day isolation period.
Answer
Under the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 introduced to the Scottish Parliament on Monday 8 June, anyone returning from overseas to the UK must undertake a 14-day quarantine period unless they are classed as exempt.
These regulations include an exemption for Seamen and masters as defined in section 313(1) Merchant Shipping Act 1995, maritime pilots as defined in para 22(1) of schedule 3A of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, and inspectors and surveyors of ships appointed under section 256 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
This means that seamen (including those in the Merchant Navy) will need to complete the Public Health passenger locator form before they travel to the UK, but will not be required to self-isolate for 14 days.
On 20 June, the Scottish Government made a minor drafting amendment to the original regulations in order to clarify the original policy intention with this exemption in Scotland. The full regulations can be found at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ssi/2020/169 .