Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you, convener, and good morning, witnesses.

In his opening remarks, Neil Doncaster said that we are looking at a very short timescale for this; indeed, I think that the first weekend that it will apply will be that of Saturday 2 October, which in effect gives us two weeks. How realistic is it for clubs to bring these measures in, given that, at the moment, we seem to have very little clarity as to what exactly will be required of them?

Thank you for that response. It occurs to me that whatever system is put in place will require significant additional resource from clubs, for example to provide additional stewarding. That in itself will not be easy, and the requirement to recruit additional stewards at short notice at a time of significant labour market issues might well present a significant challenge. Have there been any discussions about how stewards might be found and trained? Are you aware of any assessment that has been done of the additional cost to clubs, should these measures be required?

Thank you for that. Let me press you on that point. Individuals have contacted me to say that they have been on the Scottish Government website, where the information says, “Work is being done to resolve this issue,” but they have told me that there is no signposting to the exact steps that they need to take to resolve the issue. Can you provide some clarity?

We know that such codes were available to residents in England and Wales much earlier. Is there any reason why it took the Scottish Government so long to introduce them?

Thank you, cabinet secretary. I think that that would be helpful and is perhaps something that we can discuss with your officials separately.

I want to ask a couple of follow-ups to the convener’s questions. Constituents of mine who are travelling to France for family reasons are concerned that the QR code will not be available in time. I understand that it was made available as of Friday last week, but it would be helpful if you could confirm that. To the best of your knowledge, is it working well? Have there been any problems with it, or is it too early to say?

Before I come to my substantial questions, I want to ask a process question. Cabinet secretary, it looks as though you are sitting in your ministerial office, which is a few feet away from our committee room. Is there any particular reason why you are not joining us in the committee room, which, from our point of view, would be a better venue and would enable us to have a more helpful exchange than we can have with you sitting in your office contributing via videolink?

I have just one more question for, I think, Professor Leitch, given that he is the expert on vaccinations.

The convener asked about the problems of those who have been vaccinated overseas, but another issue that lies closer to home relates to those who participated in early vaccine trials and who therefore did not get certification. In fact, my colleague Douglas Lumsden, who is a North East Scotland MSP, falls within that category, and last week he raised the issue with the First Minister, in the chamber. Has that issue now been resolved and are those who took part in vaccine trials able to get certification?

To go back to the issue of vaccine passports, John Mason mentioned COP26, which will be held in Glasgow in November. I assume that, under the plans being announced by the Scottish Government, everyone attending COP26 will have to provide proof of double vaccination. Is that the case?

My question is on SSI 2021/277, which requires, subject to some exemptions, that face coverings should still be worn in some indoor spaces. That was the subject of some discussion in the Parliament’s Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee on Tuesday of this week. It identified that

“The guidance ... states that face coverings are not required to be worn while dancing in a nightclub or dance hall. However, a specific exemption for dancing is not listed in the instrument.”—[Official Report, Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee, 31 August 2021; c 2.]

I ask for clarity on that issue. Has there been an omission from the terms of the instrument?

I would like to raise one more issue in relation to Covid vaccination, if I may. I go back to correspondence on the issue that I have received from constituents. My question is about the practical implementation of the measures. We know from what was announced yesterday that vaccine certification will be required for outdoor events that are attended by more than 10,000 people.

We can see what would happen at football or rugby matches, for example. As I understand it, 50,000 people turning up at Murrayfield, Hampden, Ibrox or Parkhead would be required to have proof of vaccination. From a practical point of view, how would you expect that to be addressed? It would require the authorities at stadia to employ stewards to check people as they arrive. I presume that they would have to have the technology to be able to do that and that there would be training and cost implications, as well as issues with supply of the technology. Has the Scottish Government given thought to how those issues might be dealt with? What timescale are you looking at for the introduction of the measures, given that all those issues have to be considered?