South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has said he is urgently seeking answers after hearing reports from constituents that the Covid-19 tracking app used in England and Wales does not work with a Scottish postcode.

Thousands of people in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders travel to Cumbria and Northumberland every day for work and leisure. However, those who live in Scotland have reported that they are unable to use the English Covid tracking app because they have a Scottish postcode and the Protect Scotland app doesn’t work with the English version.

Colin Smyth said: “I am very concerned about the level of confusion around which app people in my constituency should be using when they travel south of the border, we need answers as a matter of urgency.

“A number of people have told me that because they regularly go to Carlisle for example, they have downloaded the NHS Covid-19 app and have attempted to use it to record contact tracing details.

“However, when they open the app, they get to the point where a postcode is required and then are unable to proceed any further.

“We’ve been told the Protect Scotland app doesn’t work with the English version so what are people meant to do?

“With so many people in border communities travelling in normal times between Dumfries and Galloway and Cumbria and the Borders and Northumberland every day for work, health, education and leisure, the UK and Scottish Governments need to understand that the decisions they both make, will impact on people living on both sides of the border.

“I am demanding answers about this as a matter of urgency because it seems like once again, the border regions have been completely forgotten and overlooked by both governments.”