Coronavirus in Scotland - Ninth weekend in lockdown - BBC News
The latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic in Scotland.
Grant Shapps says Dominic Cummings was safeguarding the safety of his son Image caption: Grant Shapps says Dominic Cummings was safeguarding the safety of his son

Asked by reporters about Dominic Cummings, the Prime Minster's special adviser, who has faced criticism for travelling to Durham from London, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says it was a different situation to the resignations of Dr Catherine Calderwood, Scotland's former chief medical officer, and government scientific adviser Prof Neil Ferguson.

"This wasn't visiting a holiday home or going to visit someone," he says. "This was to stay put and remain in isolation to deal with what I hear was a significant bout of coronavirus and then return to London only when well. There is every difference."

Mr Shapps says Boris Johnson knew of Cummings' whereabouts and has "his full support".

He insists that people should follow the guidance "to the best of their ability" but it was "for an individual to make the decision of how do I ensure I have enough support around the family".

Dr Jenny Harries, England's deputy chief medical officer, says the scientific and medical advice behind the self-isolation rules is "to take people symptomatic out of the public domain and those likely to develop symptoms" but adds that "the only exception is around safeguarding".