Scottish Parliament to be recalled over summer for Nicola Sturgeon statements

Alison Johnstone, the Parliament’s Presiding Officer, has decided that on two dates MSPs will be recalled for virtual meetings.

A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: “This will allow updates related to Covid-19 to be made in Parliament, and for MSPs to scrutinise the Scottish Government.”

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The First will be on July 13 to allow Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister, the opportunity to update MSPs and the country on the decision if Scotland can move down to level zero six days later, on July 19.

The second date is August 3 when, again, Nicola Sturgeon will be expected to make a statement on the removal of the levels system and all covid regulations.

The First Minister will be expected to also set out what guidance and mitigating measures will remain once the restrictions levels are ended.

The Parliament is in the summer recess since it broke up on June 26 and is not due to return fully until August 31.

It is unusual for the parliament to be recalled during the summer months but it has happened before on six occasions in its history, since 1999.

It was recalled, most recently, in April this year to allow MSPs to pay tributes to Prince Philip when he died.

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It was first recalled in October 2000 following the death of First Minister Donald Dewar.

In April 2002 it was recalled following the death of the Queen Mother.

In 2009 MSPs were recalled during recess after the Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill announced the release of the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi.

It was also recalled in December 2020 to debate and discuss the UK’s Brexit deal with the European Union.

And in January this year it was brought back early from the Christmas and New Year recess to discuss the rising  number of coronavirus cases.