Highland Council's chief executive Donna Manson gives evidence to the Scottish Parliament Covid-19 committee
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A top council official has been giving evidence to a Government committee this morning.
Donna Manson, Highland Council's chief executive, was speaking to the Scottish Parliament's Covid 19 committee via a remote online connection.
She outlined various aspects of the council's response to the coronavirus pandemic, including preparations ahead of August's return to school, as well as how residents had reacted to the restrictions and the threat presented by the virus.
When asked whether the Scottish Government had provided enough support and guidance ahead of the "blended learning model" Mrs Manson said that, when decisions changed quickly, such as accommodating pupils at least 50 per cent of the time, it had set education professionals into a "bit of a flurry".
She said Highland schools had been given a deadline of Friday to finalise plans and staff were looking at which other buildings could be used to help achieve the 50 per cent target.
Mrs Manson said that it had been clear in recent weeks that the model would be a mixture of blended learning as well as home schooling and added: "Many people were involved in working through the guidance that we received."
She said that it was recognised that sometimes things needed to change and she was aware of the economic pressures.
Mrs Manson said there were different issues and anxieties in the various regions and there had been positivity around simple messages that had been delivered on a daily basis.
Concerns for residents in the Highlands had included people visiting second homes.
Mrs Manson described some incidents and said: "People from European countries, who have been with our communities for a long, long time, have experienced some unpleasant incidents in terms of comments that they should go home."
She also objected to incidents where posters had been put up in the Highlands warning tourists to stay away which she described as "really unpleasant stuff".
Mrs Manson agreed with a national rather than a regional response to the pandemic and said: "National messages have kept everybody feeling safe and it has kept everybody together."
