Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron has said that the Scottish Government must provide clear travel guidance to residents of Argyll and Bute in the event of the Argyll islands being given a different Covid-19 tier designation to the adjacent mainland. The possibility of the two areas being treated differently was highlighted by Nicola Sturgeon earlier this week.
Mr Cameron, the chair of the Scottish Parliament committee on Covid-19, posed the question about possible travel restrictions within Argyll and Bute to Cabinet Secretary Michael Russell, and National Clinical Director, Jason Leitch, yesterday when they were giving evidence to the committee.
Mr Cameron, who is also the Scottish Conservative Shadow Health Secretary, said: “It was clear from the answers I received that there is still work to do on this issue."
“While there are certainly strong arguments for the Argyll islands being put into a low tier, like the other Scottish island groups, those benefits would be curtailed if it meant that the freedom of people to move to and from the nearby mainland areas of Argyll was restricted."
“Clarity is very important indeed and it is incumbent on ministers to ensure that any measures, such as those proposed, are properly thought through before they are implemented.”
Donald Cameron’s exchange with Michael Russell and Jason Leitch can viewed by scrolling to 11.07.20 here:
https://www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/covid-19-committee-october-28-2020
