Islands MP says oil and gas workers should be treated more fairly.

Exemptions apply to some oil and gas workers arriving from countries not on the acute risk list and are in Scotland to carry out specific forms of essential work. However, offshore oil and gas workers returning home to Scotland after working on a rig in another country will have to quarantine for 10 days in a hotel, even if it is from a country with a lower covid rate than Scotland, such as Norway.

Seamen and masters, inspectors and surveyors of ships who travel from countries not on the acute risk list are exempt from isolation.

Commenting Angus said: “I have been contacted by oil workers who work in Norway. These workers already leave home early in order to get a test and are now looking at spending 10 days isolating before they return to their families.

“While there are some exemptions for seafarers coming from safer countries, such as Norway, oil rig workers are strangely not included. Workers coming from ‘acute risk’ countries will have to isolate as this list of countries has far less exemptions.

“Workers even from the acute list maintain that they are frequently tested, have strict procedures in place on ships and rigs and each vessel is effectively in isolation. They are working hard to support their families and perhaps they should be allowed to isolate at home, subject to testing.

“I am writing to Michael Matheson MSP, to ask that he reviews this decision, and brings oil workers in line with seamen and mariners.”