SNP approaches other UK nations over combined care homes inquiry
THE Scottish Government has been accused of “an arrogant reluctance to do the right thing” after ministers appealed to health officials in other parts of the UK for a four nations care home inquiry to take place instead of listening to MSPS calling for a probe to be held immediately.
The move comes after the SNP was defeated by opposition parties in a Holyrood vote on Wednesday, who called for an immediate public inquiry to be started to examine what went wrong in Scotland’s care homes during the first wave of the pandemic.
Opposition MSPS have warned that attempting to set up a four nations inquiry should not result in a delay to the inquiry.
At First Minister’s Questions, Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has written to her counterparts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, calling for a four nations care home inquiry.
In her letter, Ms Freeman asks whether it is possible to be “establishing discussions as soon as is practicable”.
The Health Secretary also told her counterparts that “during the debate it was considered that there may be merit on any public inquiry on Covid-19 being taken forward on a four-nations basis if possible”.
It was Ms Freeman who brought up the four nations idea.
The Scottish Government has committed to all issues of the pandemic, including care homes to be investigated in a public inquiry, but not while the immediate focus remains on suppressing the virus.
Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government has “long been clear we would be instigating a public inquiry into all aspects of the response to and impact of Covid, and that includes care homes”.
But she said ministers will “take note of the views of Parliament” after the Holyrood vote.
She added: “Because of that this morning the Health Secretary has written to counterparts in the Northern Irish, Welsh and UK Governments to seek early discussions on whether and how such an inquiry could be established on a four-nations basis.”
As well as Ms Freeman contacting other UK health ministers, Ms Sturgeon said the Health Secretary will also be seeking talks with her opposition counterparts.
Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Donald Cameron, who brought forward the inquiry debate, said: “Parliament voted for a public inquiry into the care homes scandal in Scotland to begin immediately.
“Yet less than 24 hours later, this jaded SNP government has again demonstrated an arrogant reluctance to do the right thing.”
Scottish Labour health spokesperson Monica Lennon added: “Consideration will need to be given to decisions that were taken on a four-nation basis but that should not delay the vital crossparty talks and preliminary work that MSPS have agreed should happen now.”