Extract from Scottish Parliament statement on Suppressing Covid: The Next Phase - May 12
Wednesday, 13 May 2020 08:01
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD): John Swinney and Murdo
Fraser put their finger on it: we are talking about the balance of
the competing factors that we need to consider when deciding on
whether to keep the lockdown measures that we have or the ones that
we might have in the future. Although we are protecting ourselves
from the virus with the lockdown, it is also causing harm.
Operations are being delayed. The man whose hip has been causing
immense pain has been waiting a long time...Request free trial
(North East Fife)
(LD): and put their finger on it: we are
talking about the balance of the competing factors that we need to
consider when deciding on whether to keep the lockdown measures
that we have or the ones that we might have in the future. Although
we are protecting ourselves from the virus with the lockdown, it is
also causing harm. Operations are being delayed. The man whose hip
has been causing immense pain has been waiting a long time for his
replacement operation, but it has been cancelled. People who have
serious mental health problems or people who are on
the Autism spectrum are in isolation
at home. Some people are just miserable because they cannot see
their family. All of that is a cost to our wellbeing and our
future. Putting aside the interests
of the economy, all those factors compete against the factors that
we are trying to deal with in relation to the virus, so this is
really difficult...
...There are also other steps that we need to take. The Chancellor
of the Exchequer’s announcement today on the furlough scheme is a
step in the right direction and something that we have argued for.
That extension and flexibility should also be extended to the
self-employment schemes. There needs to be a universal basic income
to fill the holes in the various financial measures. We need to pay
front-line NHS and social care workers a supplement of £29 a day.
Non-urgent treatment in hospitals and general practices should
start again. People with mental health issues and those on
the Autism spectrum need extra support
as well...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
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