Scottish Parliament's new COVID-19 committee to question Scottish Government response to pandemic

The cabinet secretary for the constitution, Europe and external affairs Michael Russell will appear before the committee via video link

The Scottish Parliament’s new COVID-19 committee will meet for the first time on Friday to question the Scottish Government on its response to the pandemic.

Cabinet secretary for the constitution, Europe and external affairs Michael Russell will appear before the committee via video link.

The session will be broadcast on the Scottish Parliament TV website from 10am on Friday 24 April.

The committee was formally created after a vote to change the standing orders on Tuesday afternoon that would allow committees to conduct business remotely.

Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser is expected to be elected convener at the first meeting, with Labour’s Monica Lennon expected to be deputy convener.

In total, nine MSPs will sit on the committee, including the SNP’s Willie Coffey, Annabelle Ewing, Shona Robison and Stewart Stevenson.

Adam Tomkins will join Fraser for the Conservatives, with Ross Greer from the Scottish Greens and Beatrice Wishart from the Liberal Democrats.

The committee’s remit is: “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.”