Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Meeting date: Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Official Report 929KB pdf

Covid-19 Regulations (Scrutiny Protocol)

Last week, a point of order was raised about the provision of information, including the draft regulations in respect of the vaccination certification scheme. I undertook to consider the matter in more detail and to return to the chamber if necessary. As members know, it is my view that information should always be provided to the Parliament in as timeous a fashion as possible.

Members may wish to know that in the previous session of Parliament, a protocol was put in place with the Scottish Government to confirm the processes for the scrutiny of Covid measures and the information that would be provided to the Parliament to better enable that scrutiny. That included the provision of draft regulations to the then COVID-19 Committee on the Wednesday afternoon following any statement by the Scottish Government. The protocol was agreed in the previous session as part of a package of enhanced scrutiny measures. I plan to invite the Parliamentary Bureau to review the protocol to ensure that it remains content with its operation.

We have arrived at decision time earlier than expected. I invite the minister to move a motion without notice under rule 11.2.4, to bring forward decision time to now.

Motion moved,

That, under Rule 11.2.4, Decision Time be brought forward to 5.04 pm.—[George Adam]

Motion agreed to.