Debates and questions

Answered by: Fergus Ewing 8 July 2020

The Scottish Government is firmly committed to the future development of crofting so it can continue to play a significant role in sustaining remote rural and island communities.

The capacity of the Crofting Commission is key to that, including how its activity is supported in the most remote crofting communities.

I can therefore advise Parliament that additional funding of £325,000 is being provided to the Crofting Commission to enable the creation of four new jobs in the Western Isles, and extend its crofting development activities. The decision to site these new roles in the Western Isles reflects that this area of Scotland has the highest concentration of crofts.

This decision followed suggestions raised at a meeting with crofters in Barvas, Isle of Lewis, last November, and similar suggestions made by others, and I want to thank crofters for engaging with us positively on how to develop crofting to make it sustainable in the future.

Two of the job opportunities will be based at the RPID office in Stornoway, and two based at the RPID office in Benbecula. These will provide a welcome boost to the local economy and will also help strengthen the links between the Commission and the communities it serves.

These jobs will also help to deliver crofting development priorities, which will be set out in the National Development Plan for crofting to be published this year.

Our commitment to the future development of crofting is also evident in the support we provide for crofters. Since 2007, we have provided £21.2 million to over 1,000 crofters in Croft House Grants, and annually we are providing crofting businesses with over £40 million in grant support.

Answered by: John Swinney 6 July 2020

We have recently established a sub-group to our COVID-19 Advisory Group that specialises on education and children’s issues. The group will provide advice to support and inform the development of operational guidance for providers of learning, childcare and children’s service. As part of a range of work addressing health and safety issues, the sub-group will look at the evidence for face coverings and other protective barrier mechanisms such as visors, both in school and on school transport.

Guidance on this will be published in full in advance of schools reopening.

Answered by: John Swinney 6 July 2020

We have recently established a sub-group to our COVID-19 Advisory Group that specialises on education and children’s issues. The group will provide advice to support and inform the development of operational guidance for providers of learning, childcare and children’s service. As part of a range of work addressing health and safety issues, the sub-group will look at the evidence for face coverings and other protective barrier mechanisms such as visors, both in school and on school transport.

Guidance on this will be published in full in advance of schools reopening.

Answered by: Humza Yousaf 6 July 2020

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

It is not yet possible to confirm a date for when physical prison visits will resume. SPS has however now published its Operational Planning Route Map which sets out the criteria for how we will seek to reintroduce elements of our regimes, including prison visits. This Route Map is available on the external SPS website at:

https://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Information/covid19/covid-19-information-hub.aspx

SPS’ approach will be fully informed by the latest public health guidance and aligned with Scottish Government’s National Response Route Map. It is currently anticipated that prison visits will resume as Scotland transitions to Phase 3 of Scottish Government’s National Response Route Map.

It should be noted that some flexibility may be required in our approach in order to allow SPS to adapt to the evolving situation in terms of health, risk and staff availability. SPS will continue to engage with those who live and work in our prisons throughout implementation.

Answered by: Fiona Hyslop 6 July 2020

Through the work of the EventScotland Year of Coasts and Waters Steering and Working Groups, the Scottish Government has maintained close contact with a range of public, private and third sector stakeholders, including Creative Scotland, regarding the opportunities offered by the Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 to the tourism, creative and event sectors in all parts of Scotland.

The plans for the Year have been heavily impacted by the Covid restrictions but would have brought benefit to many areas outside Edinburgh and Glasgow. For example, Vision Mechanics received funding from, inter alia, Creative Scotland to create Storm , a 10m giant puppet which had a programme of appearances planned across Scotland, bringing an environmental message to a wide audience. Other Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 supported events were to be the RSPB DolphinFest in Aberdeen, Portsoy Traditional Boat Festival and concerts by the Nevis Ensemble in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Due to the necessary cancellation of most of the original planned schedule, consideration is being given to the potential rollover of the Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 programme through to 2021. EventScotland is currently undertaking feasibility work on the reshaped events programme with funded events partners.

In the meantime VisitScotland’s marketing campaign continues to harness the power of Scotland’s coastal landscapes and inland waters in celebration of the Year of Coasts and Waters. As the campaign currently draws on the planned re-opening of our tourism and hospitality sectors and the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors, visitors will be inspired to responsibly and safely enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of being close to Scotland’s ‘blue’ spaces, right across Scotland.

Answered by: Clare Haughey 3 July 2020

Respite and day care encompasses a wide variety of types of support. Some day care and respite support for people with learning disabilities has remained in place with appropriate physical distancing and hygiene measures, whilst other services have re-opened, or started to provide support in a different way.

For those services which had had to adapt during or after lockdown, design and development of support should be co-produced with people who use social care.

We recognise that communication will be an important factor in helping people understand why support may look different from before; and to be confident that it is safe.

Answered by: Paul Wheelhouse 3 July 2020

Despite all regulatory and legislative responsibility for telecommunications resting solely with the UK Government, the Scottish Government has taken decisive action to greatly improve digital connectivity in Scotland. The £463 million Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme has delivered transformative results across all parts of the country, including Dumfriesshire, where more than 31,000 properties in the constituency are now able to access fibre broadband as a direct result of the DSSB roll-out – with more than 27,500 able to do so at speeds of at least 24 Megabits per second (Mbps).

Of course, I recognise the ever-increasing importance of digital connectivity to all aspects of our lives – including education – and the COVID-19 pandemic has only served to reinforce that. Situations like this are why we made our commitment to ensure that 100% of properties in Scotland are able to access superfast broadband. This commitment will be delivered through three strands of activity – the main Reaching 100% (R100) contracts; a Scottish Government funded, nationwide superfast voucher scheme that will be demand-led; and continued expansion of commercial coverage. As you may be aware, the Scottish Government is funding £579 million or 96.5% of the £600 million R100 contracts with the UK Government contributing 3.5% of funding (£21 million), despite the latter having full responsibility for oversight of the UK telecommunications market.

With regards to the R100 contracts for the South and Central regions, surveys are being undertaken and we know that BT’s intention is to look to accelerate build wherever possible, with our expectation that work will begin in the South lot area this month. Of course in the South of Scotland, specifically, 100% of the build by BT, under our £134 million South Lot contract with them for R100, will be for a full fibre solution, with speeds of up to one gigabit per second. This is the current ‘gold standard’ and a tremendous outcome for almost all of the approximately 26,000 premises in the Lot area that have yet to receive a superfast broadband service.

We will launch an online checker this summer that will allow owners and tenants to determine if and when the R100 contracts will deliver a superfast broadband connection to their property.

Anyone who will be unable to access a superfast broadband service before the end of 2021 will be eligible for our new nationwide voucher scheme that will provide grants to customers in business and domestic premises; offering support to access a range of technologies and suppliers to deliver superfast broadband speed services. We are working through the details of the scheme, and I will update Parliament in due course.

Answered by: Jeane Freeman 3 July 2020

Public Health Scotland (PHS) this week, 1 July, published validated statistics on the number of nosocomial Covid-19 infections in Scotland, based on the agreed definitions of the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC).

Scotland is the only country in the UK to have published this data to date. The data provides a detailed picture of hospital associated infections.

The information is not directly comparable to previously published unvalidated management information. The validated statistics cover a longer time period, week ending 1 March to week ending 7 June. The new statistics also capture each individual laboratory confirmed case, rather than only those in a HAI infection cluster.

These statistics will be published weekly on the PHS website as part of the wider information already published. In addition, the National Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) Unit within NHS National Services Scotland are working on a statistical process to produce further information relating to COVID-19 Healthcare Associated Infection deaths where possible.

The data and supporting methodology is available at: https://beta.isdscotland.org/find-publications-and-data/population-health/covid-19/hospital-onset-covid-19-cases-in-scotland/

Answered by: Fiona Hyslop 3 July 2020

The Scottish Government today is announcing a new £10m fund to support not-for-profit venues in the performing arts sector who are experiencing significant difficulties from the impact of Covid-19. The fund adds to measures introduced for the culture sector and creative industries who were amongst those affected by closures in the very early stages of the pandemic. The £10 million will be aimed at organisations that cannot yet open because of physical distancing restrictions, but whose return to creative production is key to Scotland’s vibrant arts scene. Creative Scotland will manage the Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund and will be publishing further details shortly.

Answered by: Jamie Hepburn 2 July 2020

The Scottish Government was made aware of Momentums intention to cease operations on Fair Start Scotland in April 2020. Since then the Scottish Government has worked closely with Momentum to ensure there is no disruption to service delivery, both in terms of participants and Momentum staff where possible, as it is important to retain their expertise in employability support.

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, and I have asked them to respond directly in writing to your question.

Answered by: John Swinney 2 July 2020

The Scottish Government has today published COVID-19: Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis – Update on approach to physical distancing in light of advice from the Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group which provides an update on the approach to physical distancing in Scotland as we move through Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the Route Map. This approach continues to be informed by evidence and has been updated in light of advice from the Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group which has also been published today.

The publication also updates on the final stage of Phase 2 of Scotland’s Route Map. Continued progress in suppressing the virus, as measured by the latest data, means that we are able to confirm the indicative dates for the remainder of Phase 2, concerning relaxation of the 5 mile guidance on travel for leisure purposes, the re-opening of self-contained, self-catering accommodation and the re-opening of outdoor hospitality. Changes to allow children and young-people more opportunity to meet up are also set out.

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, and I have asked them to respond directly in writing to your question.

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

The decline in the numbers of Scottish wild salmon is of great concern and we are determined to safeguard the future of this important species. We recognise the problem is down to a range of complex factors and have identified 12 high level groups of pressures on salmon (which include barriers to migration) and will continue to work with stakeholders to better understand and tackle these issues.

The particular issue at the Muirtown Lock is an example of positive stakeholder engagement, with the River Ness District Salmon Fishery Board and Scottish Canals working together to ensure the protection of wild salmon during Covid-19, with support from Marine Scotland officials. Large numbers of outgoing smolts, trapped in the Caledonian Canal, were released and further discussions are now in hand to seek a longer term solution to manage future smolt movements in the area.

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, and I have asked them to respond directly in writing to your question.

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, and I have asked them to respond directly in writing to your question.

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, and I have asked them to respond directly in writing to your question.

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

The Commission’s duties are set out in the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, as amended by the Water Services etc. (Scotland) Act 2005. The process of determining charges is set out in section 29B of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002.

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

This is a matter for the independent economic regulator, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, and I have asked them to respond directly in writing to your question.

Answered by: Jeane Freeman 2 July 2020

At present we do not hold information on the specific number of patients tested before discharge. However, officials are working with Public Health Scotland to produce this data.

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

In its 2020 Delivery Plan Update, Scottish Water forecast capital expenditure of £730 million for 2020-21, however due to the COVID-19 crisis, this figure will be reduced. Scottish Water will be updating and re-forecasting in the next few months as the capital programme begins to re-start in line with Government guidelines.

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

Scottish Water is funded through revenue raised from customer charges and borrowing from the Scottish Government. This finances, amongst other spend, Scottish Water’s investment programme and therefore charge revenue, or any parts thereof, is not hypothecated to particular investments.

Answered by: Jeane Freeman 2 July 2020

Public Health Scotland (PHS), working with NHS Boards, are leading activity to put in place a contact tracing system that will rapidly enhance existing capacity, and evolve into a sustainable service that can be in place for as long as is required. The priorities for delivering this includes the establishment of a national service alongside the contact tracing services in every Board. The following table details the number of contact tracing staff in place for each NHS Health Board at the following points:

? 12 March: Transition point between the containment and delay phase

? 28 May: The point at which a commitment was made to have 2,000 contact tracers ready to deploy across Scotland.

Answered by: Jeane Freeman 2 July 2020

The COVID-19 data and trend charts for Scotland are published daily and provide a range of information, including the cumulative number of people tested for COVID-19 in Scotland and how many of the tests had a positive result. The link to the daily data update is: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-daily-data-for-scotland/ .

In addition, Test and Protect was rolled out across Scotland on 28 May 2020 and the Test and Protect data is published on Public Health Scotland's website at:

https://beta.isdscotland.org/find-publications-and-data/population-health/covid-19/covid-19-statistical-report/

Health Protection Scotland are conducting surveillance swab testing in the community for individuals with mild to moderate symptoms. Testing commenced on 27 April and results are available a week later by HPS report for internal planning and surveillance purposes. Details of this can be found at: https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/enhanced-surveillance-of-coronavirus-covid-19/

Antibody testing will help us understand if a person has had the infection and will enable us to learn more about the virus and gain an understanding of how it is spreading through the population in Scotland. Health Protection Scotland commenced antibody testing on 6 May. This will inform wider published information on the Government's response to the virus. Evidence is evolving on whether the presence of antibodies indicates that someone is immune, and if so, for how long that immunity would persist.

Answered by: Jeane Freeman 2 July 2020

All care home staff are routinely offered testing, even in care homes where there are no confirmed cases of Covid-19. This testing will be offered to both symptomatic and asymptomatic care home workers. Based on the advice of our Chief Medical Officer, these tests will be conducted every seven days to regularly assess the care home workforce.

Answered by: Jeane Freeman 2 July 2020

Information on the reason for delays is available in the monthly delayed discharge census, published by Public Health Scotland. The April census records 138 (22%)delays awaiting completion of care arrangements to go home, and 127 (21%) delays awaiting a care home place. There were also 148 (34%) patients delayed who were awaiting the appointment of a Guardian by the courts, and 60 delays (10%) with highly complex needs. There were no delays awaiting funding.

In comparison, in January 598 (36%) patients were delayed awaiting completion of care arrangements, 347 (21%) delays were awaiting a care home place, and 336 (20%) were delayed awaiting a social care assessment. There were also 210 (13%) patients delayed awaiting the appointment of a Guardian, and 78 (10%)delays with highly complex needs. There were 30 delays awaiting funding.

Answered by: Jamie Hepburn 2 July 2020

Under the terms of the contract novation from Momentum, Start Scotland have agreed that TUPE regulations apply and have taken action to transfer all relevant staff over, where staff choose to do so.

The undertaking of this process is a matter between Momentum and Start Scotland.

Answered by: Jeane Freeman 2 July 2020

Work on expanding testing for the NHS has focussed on NHS laboratories which already have arrangements in place for receiving samples from patients, testing safely and ensuring that the data from test results is captured. However, we are working with two laboratories based in the veterinary science sector to increase capacity: Biobest, and the Moredun Research Unit. Contracting is underway with both organisations.

This will further increase our testing capacity, which currently is as follows:

Active maximum weekday NHS lab capacity: over 10,000 tests a day;

Weekend capacity: around 8,000 tests a day.

In addition to this we have further capacity through the UKG run Lighthouse Laboratories. Glasgow Lighthouse Lab has capacity to process approximately 20,000 tests a day and may process tests taken from across the UK.

If organisations would like to submit offers of support they should contact the National Laboratories Programme Team or Scottish Enterprise who will share the survey to allow an assessment to be undertaken.

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

The Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) has worked with Scottish Government, Scottish Water, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Drinking Water Quality Regulator to identify the future investment requirements. The minutes of key meetings are already published on its website and it has published a range of relevant papers.

Answered by: Jamie Hepburn 2 July 2020

The Scottish Governments main priority is to ensure staff working on Fair Start Scotland are retained where possible, as their skills and expertise are essential in meeting the current demand for increased support in the employability market.

In this situation, Start Scotland have agreed that TUPE regulations apply and have taken action to transfer all relevant staff over, where staff choose to do so.

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, and I have asked them to respond directly in writing to your question.

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, and I have asked them to respond directly in writing to your question.

Answered by: Jamie Hepburn 2 July 2020

In the event of a prime delivery partner ceasing operations on Fair Start Scotland, the Scottish Governments main priorities are to ensure continuity of the service with minimal impact on its participants, and to protect delivery partner staff where possible.

In this event, a novation agreement has been signed between Momentum and Start Scotland – prime delivery partner in the East and South West of Scotland, who will take over operations from Momentum in the North East.

Answered by: Jeane Freeman 2 July 2020

The COVID-19 data and trend charts for Scotland are published daily and provide a range of information, including the number of care homes notifying cases of COVID-19 and the number of suspected cases of COVID-19 in care homes. The data also includes the daily number of people in hospital with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 but does not include details on how many of these are care home residents or staff. The cumulative number of people tested and the number of positive and negative tests is also provided.

Weekly data on COVID-19 in adult care homes in Scotland is available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-additional-data-about-adult-care-homes-in-scotland/

You can find figures updated every day at 2pm (including care home data) here: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Daily data for Scotland .

Answered by: Jeane Freeman 2 July 2020

Since 2006, a National Care Home Contract has been in place, which defines the terms of local authority (publicly) funded placements into private or voluntary sector care homes across Scotland.

The information requested in not available broken down by NHS Board or Integration Joint Board. However, the National Care Home Census, published by Public Health Scotland includes details of the average gross weekly charge for long stay residents in care Homes for older people in Scotland, with and without Nursing Care, by source of funding. This information can be found at:

https://beta.isdscotland.org/find-publications-and-data/health-and-social-care/social-and-community-care/care-home-census-for-adults-in-scotland/ .

Furthermore, agreement on the National Care Home contract for 2020-21 was reached between local government and Scottish Care - this has seen a 3.5% increase in the rate.

From 6 April 2020 the 2020-21 standard rates for publicly funded service users are:

? £714.90 a week for nursing care

? £614.07 a week for residential care

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, and I have asked them to respond directly in writing to your question.

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, and I have asked them to respond directly in writing to your question.

Answered by: Jeane Freeman 2 July 2020

All delayed discharge patients will have required some form of care after discharge, either in their own home, care home or other community setting. Using a Home First Discharge to Assess approach many partnerships are discharging people for further rehabilitation and on-going assessment at home, or in a more homely setting. This approach provides a much better outcome for the individual since the assessment is undertaken in a more realistic living setting than a hospital ward.

Delayed discharge management information is now being published regularly on the Scottish Government website at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-daily-data-for-scotland/ .

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

The Scottish Government welcomes Scottish Water’s adoption of the principles of Ethical Business Practice and expects it to engage as widely as possible with customers, communities and water industry organisations.

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

The Scottish Government is in close and regular contact with the Commission on a wide range of issues and was fully aware of the plan to publish the 2020 decision paper. The economic regulator is independent and as such it is not for the Scottish Government to signal whether it is content or otherwise.

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

Section 29G of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 provides that Scottish Water must deliver the Objectives set by Scottish Ministers at lowest reasonable overall cost. In determining charges under section 29B, the Commission will identify the lowest reasonable cost of delivering those objectives.

Answered by: Roseanna Cunningham 2 July 2020

This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, and I have asked them to respond directly in writing to your question.