North East Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles has issued a scathing rebuke of Scottish Government ministers for failing to provide information about the number of people quarantined after arriving in Scotland and refusing to publish its evidence for restricting international travel in June.
Despite waiting longer than the four week deadline to respond to Parliamentary Questions raised by Mr Rumbles, the Scottish Government's health secretary refused to provide any answers whatsoever. Claiming that she will 'reply as soon as possible'.
Mr Rumbles said: "The Scottish Government has made a huge blunder here. If ministers are confident in their decision to differ from the rest of the UK by maintaining quarantine regulations and delay opening 'air corridors', there is no good reason refuse to answer my questions.
"It should be straight forward for ministers to get the information I have asked for. The only explanation is that the Scottish Government is either withholding critical information from the public or it has no clue what is going on.
"It is clear to me that this Scottish Government is utterly incompetent and it is playing politics with peoples lives and livelihoods just so the SNP can take a different position to the rest of the UK."
ENDS
Notes for editors:
- WRITTEN ANSWER - 28 July 2020 - Index Heading: Health and Social Care - Mike Rumbles (North East Scotland) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the evidence that it has taken into consideration when deciding to maintain quarantine arrangements for international travel, including potential "air corridors". S5W-30328
Jeane Freeman: I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.
- WRITTEN ANSWER - 28 July 2020 - Index Heading: - Mike Rumbles (North East Scotland) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government, since quarantine regulations came into force on 8 June 2020, how many people arriving in Scotland have been (a) quarantined, (b) contacted by NHS boards and (c) identified as bringing COVID-19 into the country. S5W-30329
Jeane Freeman: I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.
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