Question reference: S5W-34193
- Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 21 December 2020
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 21 December 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the COVID-19 legislation in place.
Answer
Amending Regulations were made to the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 on 20 December 2020. These Regulations implement the changes that the First Minister announced on 19 December 2020.
The Regulations make adjustments to the provisions on festive gatherings and levels to which local authorities are allocated. These Regulations limit the exemptions which allow festive gatherings to apply to 25 December 2020, and removes the ability to form a festive gathering in other parts of the UK and Common Travel Area.
This action has been taken urgently given a new strain of coronavirus is circulating widely in some parts of the UK and is already circulating at a lower level in Scotland. Firm and decisive action has been taken now to prevent the new strain from taking hold in Scotland and to avoid our NHS being potentially overwhelmed in the coming weeks.
The Regulations have been published at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/452/contents/made .