Highlands and Islands MSP, Edward Mountain is calling on the Scottish Government to take up the MOD’s offer of assistance for rolling out Covid-19 vaccines.
Yesterday, the UK Secretary of State for Defence confirmed that the MOD had not received a request from the Scottish Government for the use of quick reaction vaccine teams. The Defence Secretary added that these teams will be available if asked for.
Edward Mountain MSP has now lodged a series of questions with the Cabinet Secretary for Health to find out whether the Scottish Government are taking up all the opportunities available to them to deliver the vaccine.
Edward Mountain MSP said:
“I question why the Scottish Government haven’t made more requests for additional help from our armed services with the rollout of the vaccine.
“Only thirty-two personnel are helping with the logistics currently. However, there are thousands of soldiers stationed in Scotland who could be deployed if only the Scottish Government made that request.
“Our armed services personnel can play a vital role in logistics by setting up vaccination centres and can therefore take the pressure off the NHS so that they can administer the jabs.
“The army played a key role in operating Covid-19 testing centres at the start of the pandemic and we should call on them again to help with the vaccination rollout.”
ENDS
NOTES:
Questions put to the Cabinet Secretary:
I would be very grateful if you could answer the following questions (please consider this as a Freedom of Information request):
In the last six months :
1. Has the Scottish Government requested the deployment of service personnel under the MACA (Military Aid to Civil Authority)? If so, please can you confirm what was assistance asked for, when it was asked for and what was the response form the UK Government
2. What assessment has been carried out by the Scottish Government of the role MACA could provide to the delivery of vaccine roll out?
3. Have the MOD been asked to provide an assessment of what help could be provided under MACA in relation to Covid 19?
4. Has the UK Government offered help to the Scottish Government under the MACA to help with Covid. If so, when and what was offered?
