National Day Of Reflection To Be Marked At The Scottish Parliament

The Presiding Officer will be joined by the Deputy Presiding Officers and the Parliamentary Party Leaders on the garden lobby steps as the country falls silent at 12 noon on Tuesday 23 March, as part of the National Day of Reflection.

Later that day in the Debating Chamber, Time for Reflection (TfR) will be delivered by Dr Richard Holloway. In a fitting tribute, the Presiding Officer has selected Dr Holloway to reflect on the events of the past year, in what will be the final TfR of his tenure.

Following that there will be a series of tributes in the Debating Chamber, with a statement from the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, followed by contributions from the Parliamentary Party Leaders.

Ken Macintosh MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, said; 

“This global pandemic has taken so much from so many. This Parliament stands shoulder to shoulder with all those who have suffered, all those grieving loved ones, and those whose lives have been changed forever.

This global pandemic has taken so much from so many. This Parliament stands shoulder to shoulder with all those who have suffered, all those grieving loved ones, and those whose lives have been changed forever.

“As parliamentarians we have heard directly from people who have been sorely affected, but we have also seen our own communities responding with care and understanding. This should give us all hope for the future as we seek to rebuild our country.”

The Presiding Officer will be joined by parliamentary party leaders at 12 noon in the garden lobby. Stills will be pooled by PA and our broadcast coverage available on SPTV here:　 https://www.scottishparliament.tv/channel/committee-room-6

Indicative timings for the afternoon Chamber session on the 23^rd is as follows (subject to change)

23 March – timings

2pm-2.05pm – Time for Reflection – Dr Richard Holloway

2.05pm-3.05pm – First Minister’s Statement: Covid-19: reflections and next steps