Continued Petitions

The final continued petition, PE1848, which was lodged by Paul Marinello, calls on the Scottish Government to allow snooker and pool venues to open at all levels of the five-level system of coronavirus restrictions, except level 4. Responses have been received from the Minister for Public Health and Sport, Scottish Snooker and the petitioner. In her response, the minister states that

“decisions on what sectors and activities to re-open ... are guided by our Framework for Decision Making.”

The minister confirms that she will

“ensure these points are considered in a further review of the Strategic Framework.”

Scottish Snooker raises concerns that the sector has previously been told by the Scottish Government that these issues would be looked at and, to date, no changes appear to have been made. It requests that snooker and pool halls are classed alongside other indoor non-contact sports to ensure that businesses can reopen should tier 3 lockdown be implemented.

10:15

The petitioner also highlights that the change must be made to the sector that has been allocated to snooker and pool halls before the strategic framework is reviewed to ensure that businesses are able to reopen as soon as possible. He also highlights that, taking into account the submissions that have previously been received on the petition, and the fact that snooker is a non-contact indoor sport, it would be reasonable to assess that snooker is no less safe than any other non-contact indoor sport.

My feeling on this is that a compelling case is being made, and the frustration seems to be that, when decisions are being made, although there is an acceptance that the points are well made, the sector is not being taken into account. As has been indicated, businesses need notice if there is going to be a change so that they can prepare for it.

I share the petitioner’s frustration. Therefore, on one level, I am reluctant to close the petition, because I think that timing is important with regard to this issue, as we are talking about something that is pretty immediate. Whether we close the petition or not, we need to find some way of highlighting this issue so that something can be done. Unless pressure is applied, it will not be looked at. It seems to me that there is a lack of understanding about what snooker and pool halls might be. Clearly, snooker and pool are not being counted as non-contact sports and are perceived to be less safe. However, I think that a strong case has been made that they are as safe as other non-contact indoor sports.

I am interested in the views of the committee on this, but I certainly think that there is a degree of urgency involved in making sure that the Scottish Government understands that it will need to be clear on the situation prior to any changes in lockdown.

I understand why people are torn by this, because they can see that there is an issue here.

If we keep the petition open, it will not be considered until the Parliament reconvenes and the committee is re-established. That might be in June. My instinct is to keep the petition open because I want the Government to look at the subject seriously, but I would be misrepresenting to the petitioner what is likely to happen if we keep the petition open. Who knows where we will be with lockdown by June?

The solution is for the Government to understand the case that the snooker halls are making and to look at that now. It might be different in areas where there is a high risk, but many areas will move to tier 3 as infection rates decrease. Snooker should be considered alongside the other non-contact sports that will take the necessary measures to reopen. Maurice Corry made an important point about places for people to go. We know the importance of sporting and social activity, which we should allow if we can.

My sense is that the Scottish Government does not understand the sector and has not listened. The Government has said that it will do something, but it has not done it. If we are to be honest with the petitioners, keeping the petition open is not the solution. We should close it, but we should write in strong terms to the Scottish Government to say that it is important that the Government looks at this now. It has misunderstood what is involved and the sector is seeking reassurance. The worst of all possible worlds would be for the Government to think that it has already made a decision and therefore not to look at this. It would then be too late for clubs to get ready.

Of course, there are other ways, via individual MSPs, that pressure can be brought to bear on the Government, and that might have a cumulative effect. I feel the frustration of the sector, which has been told that the Government is listening but nothing has changed. The issue is time sensitive, because, with any luck, restrictions will soon start to be lifted. However, if people are not given time to prepare their businesses, which are already under massive pressure, those businesses will be put under even more pressure.

I note from the chat box that Maurice Corry has said that he will raise the issue at this week’s COVID-19 Committee meeting. If he is able to do that, that would be helpful.

That would be very useful. You can refer them to the discussion that has taken place in this committee. The issue is not on the margins; it is about people feeling that their businesses have not been properly categorised. They fear that, even when the lockdown restrictions are lifted, because the Government has not thought about the issue—if it had thought about it, it would agree—their businesses will be disadvantaged.

We agree to close the petition. In closing it, we recognise that it raises serious issues and that it is a matter of timing. Even keeping the petition open would not allow for what the petitioner is seeking. As we have highlighted, we can write to the Scottish Government. As a member of the COVID-19 Committee, Maurice Corry is committed to flagging up the issue to that committee and to highlighting our discussion.

We very much thank the petitioner for bringing the petition to us. We trust that such matters can be resolved when we move out of the restrictions safely, as we all hope and pray will happen. We hope that people will be able to re-establish their businesses and that people will be able to return to doing things that enrich their lives, whether that is in sport or in any other area.

We have reached the end of the public session of the meeting. I thank broadcasting staff, the clerks, committee members, the petitioners and MSPs who are not committee members but have attended the meeting today.

10:28 Meeting continued in private until 10:47.