Responding to new analysis from independent economic thinktank the Fraser of Allander Institute, which noted there was a "healthy dose of politics" to SNP tax demands over a payment for NHS workers, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"Since the start of the pandemic Scottish Liberal Democrats have argued for an additional payment of £29 per week payment for frontline workers. It is disappointing that workers had to wait months for this payment.

Responding to the news that just 60.6% of children who started mental health treatment in the quarter ending September 2020 did so within 18 weeks, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP commented:

Responding to the new analysis showing that 135,000 scheduled operations have now been lost to the pandemic, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP commented:

"These statistics are terrible reminder of the wider harm being caused by COVID-19. While the NHS works hard to protect people from the virus, the impact on normal procedures means people are in pain, conditions are deteriorating and they are being prevented from getting on in life.

Responding to new statistics showing the number of households in extreme fuel poverty increased 11.5% in 2019 to 311,000 and fuel poverty in remote rural areas getting worse, Liam McArthur MSP, whose Orkney constituency is consistently the worst affected, commented:

"For all the warm words, the SNP Government hasn't made a dent in Scotland's shameful levels of fuel poverty. It declared energy efficiency a national priority five years ago but today's statistics show the situation getting worse.

Scottish Liberal Democrats have today called for the 2021 exams to be cancelled because pupils around the country "don't have a level playing field" and are demanding that the Education Secretary make the announcement immediately so an effective alternative can be put in place before schools break up for Christmas.

This World AIDs Day we have the opportunity to set ourselves an ambitious but achievable target: to end the transmission of HIV in England by 2030. Published today, the HIV Commission has outlined 20 measures necessary to achieve this worthy goal.

As Liberal Democrats we have a responsibility to help make sure that we achieve it.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today called on the Scottish Government to review its guidance on what type of masks are issued to healthcare workers after being contacted by staff. They believe the current surgical masks do not afford adequate protection when caring for positive or suspected positive Covid patients.

Responding to the First Minister's address to the SNP conference, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"The First Minister has put independence first.

"Everything else that needs to be done in Scotland, the mammoth task of recovery in front of us, all of that will have to wait for years in the queue behind another referendum.

Today marks Guru Nanak's Gurpurab, which commemorates the birth of the founder of the Sikh faith, Guru Nanak.

Guru Nanak was a significant figure: his message of acceptance, compassion and community remains relevant even today.

I have seen these values put into action by British Sikhs, be it through the practice of the langar, especially in gurdwaras, or through dedicated service in our schools and emergency services.

The country is desperate to get life back to normal, particularly given how much has already been sacrificed.

Time and time again, the Government has squandered the sacrifices the British people have made.

But time and time again, the Government has squandered the sacrifices the British people have made through Ministers' unbelievable incompetence.