Dundee Liberal Democrats - www.dundeelibdems.scot

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today called on the Scottish Government to make use of the "colossal" Scotland Cares volunteer database to tackle loneliness across Scotland this winter.

He stressed that staying apart and indoors for months has been "an incredibly isolating experience" for thousands of people who would benefit from check-in calls and safe, friendly contact.

The Liberal Democrat gain this week in Scotland was part of the final contests of the year. Which means we can also tally up the net score for each party during 2020. It's the Lib Dems who come out on top:

• Liberal Democrats: net 4 seats gained
• SNP: net 1 seat lost
• Labour: net 2 seats lost
• Conservatives: net 2 seats lost

Scottish Liberal Democrats have today called on the Transport Secretary to "hammer home" to the DVSA that they should not be dispatching driving examiners from their usual centres in level four areas to conduct tests in other areas of Scotland, after staff contacted the party to raise concerns over the practice.

Welcome to the Weekly Whip. Your one-stop shop for Lib Dem Parliamentary updates, covering the week that was and the week to come.

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Weekly Whip w/c 23rd November

Monday 23rd November

The Prime Minister's announcement on Monday did not quite go to plan. After his statement to the House on Coronavirus, delivered virtually from Downing Street, the PM's connection dropped out and the Secretary of State had to stand in his place, fielding questions from around the Chamber.

The coronavirus crisis has shone a new spotlight on the issue of child hunger, with demand for food banks soaring and almost a fifth of households with children unable to access enough food in the first weeks of lockdown.

The Government has repeatedly overlooked the needs of children from low-income families.

Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate Liz Barrett "stormed to victory" today in the Perth City South by-election. Party leader Willie Rennie said the "fantastic win", beating the SNP from third place, shows the momentum behind Lib Dem ahead of next year's Holyrood elections.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie added:

Yesterday, on Carers Rights Day, we launched our campaign Stand Up for Carers - calling on the Government to immediately raise Carer's Allowance by £1,000 a year.

After the Chancellor's Spending Review earlier this week, it's more important than ever that we support the incredible work that carers do.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today called on the Scottish Government to deliver a fresh plan to enable "compassionate" care home visits in the face of horrifying accounts from families.

The warnings were collected by campaign group Care Home Relatives Scotland and passed to Mr Rennie. A survey undertaken by the group warns: