It’s a time to come together
Over the next few weeks the priority is keeping people safe and supporting our health and social care staff, so please follow the medical and government advice as it is updated.
There are many questions remaining over people’s employment and housing rights, a range of issues arising from school closures, access to emergency welfare and social security, and support for both businesses and individuals.
I, along with my MSP colleagues, will do all we can to protect people’s health, their incomes and access to services.
The Scottish Parliament’s work over the next weeks and months will be focused on supporting people through this crisis.
Parliamentary business will centre on the response to coronavirus across all areas, from healthcare to transport, local government to enterprise.
The impacts are as many as they are wide-ranging and will be long term as well as immediate.
But there is also legislation that needs to be passed. MSPs have a role in scrutinising and approving appropriate emergency measures in response to the current situation, such as on financial support packages, access to services and changes stemming from delays to court proceedings.
While key staff in healthcare, transport, retail and other sectors continue to work hard to see us through the current situation, the most important thing that many of us can do now is stay at home.
In order for our NHS to cope we have to reduce the number of cases requiring medical assistance, and that means reducing contact and limiting it to our own households as far as we can to reduce the spread of infection.
We all have a responsibility to act with consideration to others during this time.
While people are able to go out to purchase supplies and for exercise once a day, we each should question whether our individual actions are appropriate during this period.
We are seeing communities coming together to provide support, with neighbourhood groups being set up across the region and beyond to ensure those unable to leave their homes or otherwise vulnerable are supported through this period.
I would urge everyone to do what they can to ensure those in their communities are supported and engaged as the situation progresses, be it through social media or a phonecall.
While we must heed the advice on staying in our homes it is also a time for us to connect as communities and ensure no one feels truly alone.
While my office is currently closed and I will not be holding surgeries or face to face meetings with constituents, my team continues working remotely and we can be contacted by email, letter or phone.
I will do all I can to support communities during this difficult time so please contact me if I can help with identifying organisations offering support or there are questions you want me to raise in parliament.