There has been much talk over the recent treatment of students.
The issuing of contradictory statements when initital restrictions for students were announced by the Scottish Government was completely shambolic and arguably the most inept handling of key public health advice so far during the pandemic.
At the time of writing, confusion remains over key issues including whether students who felt they had to leave their accommodation will receive rent refunds, as the Scottish Conservatives have called for, or even if the young people will be allowed to return home for the Christmas holidays.
It is worth noting that a significant number of first year university students in Scotland will be the same young people who were put through the exams fiasco in the summer.
The SNP are failing them all over again.
Closer to home and almost one month ago, local people contacted me to question the placement of a new COVID-19 test facility at The Greenlaw Works in Newton Mearns after the centre opened with no advance warning for residents on a Saturday morning.
The introduction of a new test centre at this location caused a number of problems for constituents including the closeness of the facility to nearby residential housing and a very significant increase in parking and traffic problems when the site opened.
It is clearly a matter of key importance to public health in Scotland that testing capacity is increased and as the MSP for Eastwood, it is a priority for me that constituents can easily access COVID-19 tests if it is possible they have come into contact with the virus.
Nonetheless, the practical experience of local residents did raise some legitimate issues about the specific location of the new test centre and I made representations to the Chief Executive of East Renfrewshire Council on their behalf.
The council’s Chief Executive advised that the difficulties first experienced with the test facility were largely due to it opening in error on the Saturday and it now seemed to be operating smoothly.
The layout of the mobile test centre has been adapted so that it is further away from the homes of residents and signage has been introduced directing visitors to the entrance of the site where parking is available.
The changes made should hopefully achieve the balance of ensuring people can receive vital COVID-19 tests at the centre and without any further disruption to the home lives of local residents.
Meanwhile, developments in recent weeks have shown that the SNP Government will continue to pursue divisive plans for a second independence referendum.
In her Programme for Government speech at the beginning of September, the First Minister confirmed that draft proposals for a referendum bill will be put together and later in the month, the SNP opposed a Scottish Conservative debate motion at Holyrood to prioritise schools over separation.
It is utterly shameful that the SNP are choosing to keep Scotland locked in the divisions of the past and the bread and butter issues of devolved governance will continue to suffer in consequence.