The committee that will scrutinise the Scottish Government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic has been announced.
Perth-based Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife Murdo Fraser is expected to be named convener of the group, while Labour health spokesperson Monica Lennon is to deputise.
As well as looking into the government’s response, the committee will also dive into and examine the powers handed to Holyrood as a result of the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act, which gave powers including a ban on public gatherings of more than two at a time.
The first meeting is expected to take place this Friday, where the convener will be elected.
Members of the group have been drawn from all of Scotland’s elected political parties.
Dundee East MSP Shona Robison, Willie Coffey, Annabelle Ewing and Stewart Stevenson will sit on the panel from the SNP, with Adam Tomkins joining Mr Fraser as the group’s second Tory member.
Extraordinary times
Mr Fraser said: “I expect to take up the role of convener of this important new committee at its first formal meeting later this week.
“We are in extraordinary times, with challenges facing our public services and our economy, the like of which most of us have never seen in our lifetimes.
“It is important government is put under robust scrutiny for the measures that it is taking and I look forward to taking the committee forward in coming weeks, to scrutinise government decisions and get the answers that the public want.”
Ross Greer from the Scottish Greens and Beatrice Wishart of the Lib Dems will also round off the group.
The first cabinet member expected to give evidence to the committee is Michael Russell, secretary for the constitution, Europe and external affairs.
The remit of the committee will be to “consider and report on the Scottish Government’s response to Covid-19 including the operation of powers under the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act, the Coronavirus Act and any other legislation in relation to the response to COVID-19 and any secondary legislation arising from the coronavirus (Scotland) Act and any other legislation in relation to the response to Covid-19”.
Mr Fraser has served as MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife since 2001.