Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Meeting date: Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Official Report 1089KB pdf

Points of Order

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Last week, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport assured me that islanders would have equal access to the Pfizer vaccine to people in the rest of the country. It now appears that, as a result of transport difficulties, that will not be the case for those who live on the smaller islands of Orkney and Shetland. As there was nothing on that in the First Minister’s statement, I wonder whether she might have an opportunity at some point to update Parliament on how islanders in my constituency and Shetland will have equal access to the Government’s on-going vaccination programme.

I thank Mr McArthur. I am sorry that we did not reach his question today. There will be other opportunities for him to put that point to the Government, for example by lodging a written question or by pressing his request-to-speak button at First Minister’s question time or portfolio question time this week.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Last week, at topical questions, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport advised me that urgent all-party talks would be convened to discuss care home visiting. I wonder whether she has intimated to you that she wants to correct the record, as nothing has happened since last week.

I thank Mr Findlay. That has not been intimated to me. The point that Mr Findlay makes is a point for him to raise and pursue with the cabinet secretary. I am sure that he will be able to do so by lodging a question, by writing to or emailing the cabinet secretary, or by taking up one of the other opportunities that Parliament offers members to put questions to ministers.

Before we move on to the next item of business, there will be a short pause while some members change seats. I encourage all members to wear their masks, observe social distancing and follow the one-way systems in the Parliament building.