Home visits review 'a real boost' for north, says MSP

PLANS by the Scottish Government to review the ban on home visits in the Highlands would provide "a real boost" for the area in the run up to Christmas.

So said Edward Mountain, the Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands, who welcomed the announcement by First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, to look again at the situation in the north where the number of coronavirus cases is low.

Mr Mountain raised the issue in the Scottish Parliament and urged the government to consider ending the ban on household visits in the Highlands and Moray. He is pleased that indoor socialising may be permitted again.

It was confirmed that Highlands and Moray will remain under Level One restrictions along with the Shetland Isles, Orkney Isles and the Western Isles.

But indoor socialising has been permitted in Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles since the 10 November although it continues to be banned in the Highlands and Moray.

Addressing Ms Sturgeon at Holyrood earlier this week, Mr Mountain, said: "First Minister, on the November 10, you allowed up to six people from two households on Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles to meet. This was due to a lack of meeting places and the need to address isolation. Given that the Highlands and Moray have the same issues and have the same level on the allocator of levels table will you consider mirroring the islands’ home visit rules to the rest of the Highlands and Moray?"

The First Minister replied: "Yes we are considering that. The advice to date has been on a precautionary basis not to make that change. However, it’s one of the issues we will be considering up to and through next week’s review, and if there is any changes to that next week I will set that out to Parliament."

Afterwards, Mr Mountain welcomed the First Minister's statement and said the need to address isolation "is just as important in the Highlands and Moray as it is in the islands."

He added: "While Covid-19 remains a serious threat, I am encouraged to see that the Highlands and Moray have very low rates of infection. If this trend continues and the rules are relaxed, then this would be a real boost to the remote areas of Scotland as we head into Christmas."

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