MSPs will hold an inquiry into the Scottish Parliament’s working practices during the coronavirus pandemic with a view to making permanent changes to its rules. It will also look into the Parliament’s ability to scrutinise the work of the Scottish Government in the context of COVID-19.
It comes amid mounting pressure on Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish Government over their commitment to the pandemic.
Bill Kidd MSP, Holyrood’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee convenor, said: “The past seven months have seen extraordinary changes to the working practices of the Scottish Parliament – changes that had to be made urgently through absolute necessity.
“This inquiry will seek to evaluate the effectiveness of Holyrood’s recent working practices and review our capacity to scrutinise the government and to hold it to account during this time of crisis.
“Our intention will be to make procedural recommendations that promote the future resilience of the Parliament.”
Patrick Harvie MSP, co-leader of the Scottish Greens and deputy convenor, said: “Having the opportunity to scrutinise the government of the day and hold it to account is vital.
“It’s important, therefore, we look back on the last seven months and learn from that experience what worked well, what should be replicated and what can be improved upon as a Parliament.”
At the same time, opposition politicians and business leaders have called on Nicola Sturgeon to commit to holding a public inquiry following a number of controversial decisions.
Richard Leonard called on ministers to ensure that any COVID-19 inquiry in Scotland investigates decisions to send students to university campuses during the pandemic on the basis of human rights.
It comes after figures showed that Scottish health boards transferred patients with COVID-19 into care homes during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Scottish Government had confirmed 1,431 untested patients were moved to care homes between March 1 and April 21 before testing of new care home admissions became mandatory.
But it was…
— to www.express.co.uk
