The effects of the Covid pandemic are still being keenly felt in our lives.

That is why the UK and Covid inquiries that are currently underway are so important to get answers for those families who are grieving the loss of a loved one during that period.

The inquiries are also vital for ensuring that we learn lessons from the grave error that were made at that time.

That is why I am astounded and angry at the Scottish Government’s typical lack of transparency towards the inquiry.

Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has serious questions to answer.

Despite claiming she has nothing to hide, she still cannot tell if she deleted messages during Covid. We might never see those messages and if they have been lost forever, that wouldn’t only be a disgrace, it also might mean she has broken the law.

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For someone who loved getting herself on television, she has been strangely quiet – save for that media huddle where she said she had nothing to hide – on this matter since the claims first surfaced.

National Clinical Director Jason Leitch, who was also a regular on our screens, has also gone quiet since it was claimed he deleted his WhatsApp messages every day during the pandemic.

Even the Covid inquiry itself has shot down Ms Sturgeon's claims of not being able to say anything due to confidentiality reasons. Her credibility is diminishing by the day.

At the time of writing, it remains to be seen whether the SNP will meet their deadline of handing over 14,000 messages to the inquiry as promised. Bereaved families have already described the response from the Scottish Government as shameful. They should listen to them and stop dodging questions and reveal the full extent of the ir messages during the pandemic.

The Covid inquiry also puts into sharp focus the overwhelming pressures our NHS are still facing.

Humza Yousaf’s flimsy NHS Recovery Plan, produced over two years ago when he was health secretary has simply failed to remobilise our health service and far too many patients across this area are languishing on a waiting list, with no end in sight.

Suffering patients and dedicated frontline staff are staring down the barrel of the worst winter ever in our NHS, which is a truly terrifying prospect.

Humza Yousaf’s successor as health secretary – Michael Matheson – has delivered an equally flimsy plan to try and get through the winter. Donald MacAskill of Scottish Care said it isn’t worth the paper it is written on.

It is time for Michael Matheson to deliver a real plan to support patients and staff, otherwise lives will be well and truly on the line.

Norman Muir

Norman Muir was a great asset to our community in Helensburgh and Lomond and a gentleman who served the residents brilliantly by good and effective leadership as Convenor of the Helensburgh Community Council.

His military service was reflected very effectively in his great support to our Veterans Community as well. We shall miss Norman greatly as he inspired us all with his wonderful enthusiasm and leadership in our community.