Doubts over Halloween guising

A lack of clarity over rules around whether children will be able to go trick or treating means parents are still left in doubt as to what they can and can’t let their children do on Halloween.

It is understood there will not be an update from the Scottish Government as to whether children will be able to go guising on the Saturday after next.

Nicola Sturgeon is due to announce new tiered restrictions later this week which will come into force in Scotland on 2 November, but has not given an update on guidance around Halloween since 16 September.

At the time she said she wished she had a “crystal ball” to know, and said the decision would be made closer to the time.

The First Minister said: "I don't want to be the person here telling children they can't go guising.

"But if that is necessary because of where we are, then it's better than allowing children to be at risk. I will try to take these decisions, with my colleagues here, in the best way, with the overall interest of keeping the country as safe as we can."

Also in response when asked in September, national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch said: “I have had early conversations with Parent Club - our website with information for kids and parents - about what a 'safe' Halloween might look like.

"Pending the fact that we don't know where we're going to be, we don't know what the prevalence will be and we don't know if we'll have restrictions in place.”