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Chamber and committees

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 27 July 2025
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Displaying 2148 contributions

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COVID-19 Recovery Committee [Draft]

Covid-19 Surveillance

Meeting date: 15 December 2022

Siobhian Brown

I will bring in Professor Gunson. I am sorry, but we have only a couple more minutes before we have to finish.

COVID-19 Recovery Committee [Draft]

Covid-19 Surveillance

Meeting date: 15 December 2022

Siobhian Brown

I will bring in Jim Fairlie, very quickly.

COVID-19 Recovery Committee [Draft]

Covid-19 Surveillance

Meeting date: 15 December 2022

Siobhian Brown

Thank you. That is us at time today. I thank all the witnesses for their evidence and for giving us their time this morning. If any of you would like to raise any further evidence with the committee, you can do so in writing; the clerks will be happy to liaise with you on how to do that.

The committee’s next meeting will be in the new year, and the details will be published on our website in due course. That concludes the public part of our meeting this morning. We now move into private session.

11:21 Meeting continued in private until 11:29.  

COVID-19 Recovery Committee [Draft]

Covid-19 Surveillance

Meeting date: 15 December 2022

Siobhian Brown

That is really helpful.

I know that I have missed most of the session, and I apologise for that. It has been fascinating to read in the papers all the work that has been going on, and I commend you for that, because, in the dark cloud of Covid, there has been a silver lining in such ground-breaking work. Thank you.

COVID-19 Recovery Committee [Draft]

Covid-19 Surveillance

Meeting date: 15 December 2022

Siobhian Brown

Thank you for that. I will bring in Murdo Fraser.

COVID-19 Recovery Committee [Draft]

Covid-19 Surveillance

Meeting date: 15 December 2022

Siobhian Brown

I will bring in Professor Rory Gunson.

COVID-19 Recovery Committee [Draft]

Covid-19 Surveillance

Meeting date: 15 December 2022

Siobhian Brown

I will ask the first question, which is very simple. Will you explain how genomic sequencing works and what it is?

COVID-19 Recovery Committee [Draft]

Covid-19 Surveillance

Meeting date: 15 December 2022

Siobhian Brown

Thank you, deputy convener. I apologise to everyone for my late arrival, which is due to my having to deal with another matter. I also apologise if I should repeat any questions.

I thank Dr Isabel Fletcher for her written evidence, which was based on research conducted by her and Professor Catherine Lyall. It noted some interesting things, such as:

“In crisis situations, people initially turn to their existing networks for assistance with unexpected and urgent tasks.”

It also highlighted that

“the climate crisis will result in increasing threats to human health (including future pandemics) demanding responses that span public health, animal health and environment. This, in turn, will require more joined-up approaches with effective day-to-day working relationships”

with the Scottish Government and other agencies.

My colleague John Mason said that it was suggested that there would be benefit in creating a post of chief scientist for public health. Are there any other ways in which such approaches could be co-ordinated by the Government?

COVID-19 Recovery Committee [Draft]

Covid-19 Surveillance

Meeting date: 15 December 2022

Siobhian Brown

That is helpful. Thank you.

COVID-19 Recovery Committee [Draft]

Covid-19 Surveillance

Meeting date: 15 December 2022

Siobhian Brown

That is really helpful.

I will move to my next question. Do you feel that Scotland is well placed at the moment for any future pandemics, as well as for any other threats, such as antimicrobial resistance?

10:30