Question reference: S5W-36026
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 11 March 2021
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 24 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider allowing people to exercise outdoors within a travel radius from their homes that is not restricted by local authority boundaries, given the geography and wide variation of population distribution in many local authority areas.
Answer
People are currently permitted to travel in their own local authority area and up to 5 miles into the neighbouring local authority area for essential outdoor exercise. On 16 March, the First Minister set out a firmer timetable for the easing of restrictions and highlighted a revised Strategic Framework document will be published in coming days.
On 10 March the First Minister outlined in her statement that from 12 March a travel exemption has been put in place for young people. This exemption means that children are not prevented from taking part in sport, if for example they belong to a club which is a bit outside their local authority area. The legislation allows travel out of /into a level 4 area to participate in or facilitate organised activity, sport or exercise which is for persons under 18 years of age. The exemption applies to those under 18 and those transporting under 18s. The same exemption is in place for travel to/from a level 3 area.