1. To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to create any new offences to enforce restrictions on travel distances for the purpose of exercise and leisure and group size for the purpose of meeting other households. (S5O-04404)

The overwhelming majority of people are acting in line with the guidance, and I would like to take this opportunity to record my thanks to them for playing a vital role in reducing the spread of the virus and saving lives.

I cannot stress enough how important it is that people follow the rules. The reproduction number remains precariously close to 1 and we are at a critical stage. People should stay within their local area for exercise and recreation and meet with members of no more than one other household at a time, outdoors and in small numbers—eight at most.

I am in regular contact with the chief constable about public behaviour and levels of compliance. The Scottish Government does not consider it to be necessary, at this time, to create new offences to enforce the rules. However, we will continue to monitor the situation and will not hesitate to legislate, or move these rules from guidance into regulation, if necessary.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Your microphone is switched off, Mr Smyth.

I was waiting to be unmuted, Presiding Officer.

Cabinet secretary

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Inaudible.

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— travelling to popular tourism hot spots that are more than 5 miles from their home. If there will be no legal measures to stop that, will he at least commit to ensuring that next week’s review on lockdown will look at how to mitigate its impact on communities?

The Government’s guidance is that car parks should remain closed, and that has led to a lot of residents’ lives being made a misery because visitors parking in streets and residential areas is having a big impact on them.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Did you manage to hear that, cabinet secretary?

I did indeed. Colin Smyth raised a very important, pertinent point. I give an absolute assurance that as we look towards the next review period we will absolutely consider that issue. Let me also give him an absolute assurance that we are not waiting for the next review period; we are already regularly consulting and in discussion with local authority partners and Police Scotland about beauty spots.

Although there were still some issues last weekend—Colin Smyth is right to raise some of those—there were far fewer than during the previous weekend, which was the first weekend of phase 1. That was because of a co-ordinated effort between Police Scotland, local authorities, national parks and others. However, where we can make improvements—and I certainly think that we can, whether in messaging, regulation or guidance—we will, of course, look to do so.