That concludes general questions. We will now move on to the next item of business, which

is First Minister's questions. At question number one, I call Douglas Ross.

Thank you very much, President. An email revealed yesterday at the UK COVID inquiry included

really, S&P members are groaning because we're asking about the COVID inquiry. So let me start again.

Thank you, Mr.

An email revealed yesterday by the UK COVID inquiry included senior S&P government figures discussing the travel ban to Spain in July 2020.

The email says, I am extremely concerned about this.

It won't matter how much ministers might justify it on health grounds.

The Spanish government will conclude it is entirely political.

They won't forget.

There is a real possibility they will never approve EU membership for an

independent Scotland as a result. This wasn't a low-level consideration. The people included

in this discussion were Nicola Sturgeon, absent again from Parliament, John Swinney, absent

again from Parliament. John Swinney, absent again from Parliament,

Jean Freeman and Hamza Yusuf.

So, First Minister, why was independence even considered in a decision about public health?

Of course, it wasn't, Presiding Officer.

Douglas Ross, when he says this email came from a senior SNP official,

it was from a Scottish government civil servant, not from John Swinney,

nor Nicholas Sturgeon, nor from myself, or indeed from Jean Freeman.

To suggest the decision around Spain was made for any other reason than epidemiology, I'm

afraid, is an absolute fantasy.

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