Douglas Ross has challenged the First Minister over her refusal to budge on the requirement for face masks to be worn in schools.
The Scottish Conservative leader was responding after Nicola Sturgeon told parliament in her latest Covid update that the curb would remain in place, despite a host of experts and Scottish Government advisers having talked up the case for it being lifted.
He asked why Scottish schoolchildren were continuing to have their learning experience curtailed by masks when adults in pubs no longer required face coverings.
Douglas Ross also criticised the First Minister over her proposed Covid Reform Bill, which would see the Scottish Government retain several of its ‘emergency’ pandemic powers indefinitely.
He described the Bill - which would give the government authority to shut businesses and schools, release prisoners early and impose lockdowns without parliament’s approval - as a “dangerous power grab”.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said:
“Even though the Covid data is very positive, the SNP Government are still insisting on the use of face masks in schools.
“Adults can be in pubs without a mask but young people are having their education held back by being forced to wear one in the classroom.
“The First Minister says no one wants young people to have to wear masks in class for a moment longer than necessary, so just what needs to happen for her government to finally remove this requirement?
“But face masks are not the only Covid rule that this government is keen to continue: the Coronavirus Bill they proposed last week is a dangerous power grab.
“It would give the government the power to close businesses and schools, let prisoners out of jail early and force people back into lockdown in their own homes.
“They could do all of that and much more without even consulting this parliament.
“These extraordinary powers were introduced to be used in an emergency only. Outside of the most severe crisis, no government should be able to curb freedoms and control people’s lives.
“That’s why so many people across Scotland oppose these plans.”
