Call for MSPs to get the final say on tougher Covid passport rules
The First Minister is announcing if the scheme is being extended
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton is calling for a full parliamentary vote on any further expansion of restrictions.
We’ll know later today whether the coronavirus vaccine passport scheme is being extended to make them compulsory to get into cinemas and theatres, and possibly pubs and cafes, too.
The Scottish Cabinet is taking a final decision this morning before First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, updates MSPs this afternoon.
The scheme came into effect in October and currently encourages nightclubs and large venues to only allow entry to people who can show they have had two doses of a Covid vaccine.
Demand for MSPs vote
Speaking ahead of the statement, Mr Cole-Hamilton urged the government to ditch the "unworkable" system, abolish Covid ID cards and demanded a full parliamentary vote on any further expansion before it comes into force.
"This expensive and unworkable scheme is a very deliberate diversion from the real crisis in our NHS and the SNP's failure to build a contact tracing system that actually allows us to stamp out chains of infection," he said.
"Ministers are just trying to look busy. We know transmission continues even among people who have received two vaccine doses.
"All this system does is give people false confidence that they will not pick up Covid-19 and encourages risk taking."
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Economic damage warning
Dr Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, also called on the First Minister to "seriously consider the economic damage" further restrictions could have on businesses.
In a letter addressed to Ms Sturgeon she said Scottish businesses remain "unconvinced" that the public health benefits of an extension to Scotland's coronavirus scheme outweigh the negatives for individuals, businesses and the economy.
She said evidence shows extending vaccine certification has the potential to lock nearly one in three (31%) 18 to 29-year-olds out of pubs, restaurants, cafes, theatres and cinemas under the current rules.
"This is a critical time for Scotland's businesses as we enter the Golden Quarter over the festive period where many businesses make most of their earnings for the year, and our members remain concerned about the impact that an expansion of Covid-19 restrictions and vaccine certification will have on them financially," she added.
Dr Cameron said:"A return to a stronger message on encouraging home working from the Scottish Government, after months of collaborative working with businesses during which it was agreed that a gradual and phased return to offices could be done safely, would be a considerable step backwards," she added.