Chamber and committees

It is currently not practical to establish a definitive implementation timetable for bringing the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 (the Act) into force. Covid-19 has considerably stretched resources within Health Boards and the wider health and social care sector, with the focus being on maintaining and delivering essential services and rolling out the vaccination programme.

Prior to the pandemic, we proposed a phased commencement of the Act, with a programme of preparatory work to lay the way for implementation. This work had not concluded pre-Covid when the Act became one of several areas of policy/legislation to be paused in order to prioritise the Government’s and Health Boards pandemic response.

Additionally, during the previous session there were substantial demands on parliamentary time arising from Covid-19 and EU Exit legislation and also critical legislation needing to be progressed prior to the dissolution of Parliament.

However, the Scottish Government continues to be resolutely committed to the Act and its aims and principles. Health and social care staff across Scotland have risen to the very significant challenges posed by Covid, showing incredible resolve and flexibility, and as the Health Service recovers and remobilises we will ensure this Act is implemented as soon as is practicable to effectively drive positive change for NHS staff and patients .

The project was chosen for funding through engagement with regional partners including the Oil and Gas and Energy Transition Strategic Leadership Group and the North East Regional Economic Strategy Group as part of the wider Energy Transition Fund support package to help deliver net zero and help the energy sector recover from the dual economic impacts of Coronavirus and the oil and gas price crash.

The location of the ETZ is primarily a matter for local partners, and the planning authority, in the first instance, not the Scottish Government.

Recognising the value of green space to local communities, a critical success factor of the project is that the ETZ must offer communities societal benefits including coastal access, open space, landscape and biodiversity enhancements and that project owners are able to demonstrate meaningful engagement with local communities as the project develops.

The Scottish Government has supported the following research:

‘Genetic Testing for Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome and the British Coronial System’. This is currently in follow-up in NHS Grampian and ran from May 2014 to June 2020.

‘The Role of Genetic Testing & Molecular Autopsy in Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS)’, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde which ran from 2011 – 2014.

‘Phenotype-driven molecular autopsy for sudden cardiac death’ through the Familial Arrhythmia Network Scotland, the Scottish Genetics Consortium, NHS Grampian and NHS Highland which ran from 2001 to 2013.

‘Non-invasive prediction of total and sudden cardiac mortality in patients with heart failure’, University of Glasgow, which ran from 1994 to 1996.

COP26 presents a unique platform for communities across Scotland to showcase the innovative climate action being undertaken at a local level and to drive forward further collective action towards our net zero target. Our programme for COP26 will be underpinned around our two themes of Just Transition and People. We are committed to using our links through our communities work, civil society partners and local authorities to ensure that voices across Scotland are represented at COP.

We are working with partners to develop and deliver a community engagement programme in the run up to, and beyond, COP26 that will empower communities to take action in a way that responds to local circumstances and priorities. We will support them to host events relevant to their local areas that extend the climate conversation far and wide. We have also funded the Glasgow Science Centre ‘Our World, Our Impact’ climate change engagement programme as part of Scotland’s pre-COP26 activity. Communities targeted in Glasgow include Maryhill, Yoker, Govan and Glasgow Disability Alliance.

Climate Week 2021 will take place between 13 to 19 September and, coming 6 weeks before COP, will engage individuals, communities, businesses and organisations to build public understanding of how everyone across Scotland can play their part in tackling the global climate emergency.

We are also working with partners to design and deliver a youth engagement programme. This includes the COP26 Scottish Youth Climate Programme, delivered by Young Scot, YouthLink Scotland and Keep Scotland Beautiful, that will deliver youth engagement activities ahead of, during, and after COP26, with a focus on engaging young people in decision making in response to the global climate emergency. Education Scotland are also working with Local Authorities and third sector partners to develop and deliver a programme of learning and activity around the themes of COP26.

Under the current Forestry Grant Scheme (2014 - 2024), Scottish Forestry estimate that 160 million trees have been planted.

Of these, 93.6 million were non-native conifers (predominantly Sitka spruce, Douglas fir and other species), and 10.4 million were native conifers (mainly Scots pine). A further 52.5 million were native broadleaves (typically oak, alder, ash, birch, hazel and hawthorn) and 3.5 million were non-native broadleaves (sycamore, beech etc).

The Scottish Government does not offer any tax incentives to support woodland creation through any devolved taxes.

It is inevitable that an event of the size and complexity of COP26 will have an impact on the communities of the host City, we are working closely with Glasgow City Council to mitigate against impact and where possible create opportunities for communities to engage. For example, we are working with partners to develop and deliver a community engagement programme in the run up, and beyond, COP26 that will empower communities to take action in a way that responds to local circumstances and priorities, with a view to prompting a positive outcome for all involved.

A joint COP26 delivery framework has been agreed between the Government of the United Kingdom, The Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and Scottish agencies. This outlines the plans, organisation, structure, systems and methodology that will be used to manage delivery of COP26 including appropriate mitigation of impact on business as usual.

COP26 has a unique logistical plan to ensure a safe and secure event. A number of potential impacts that COP26 may have on the transport networks, that serve local communities and facilities, have been evaluated. These evaluations consider impacts within Glasgow, Edinburgh and across the strategic transport networks that serve wider parts of the Country.

The recent HMICS review into Police Scotland’s planning for the event offers a high degree of assurance around the service’s ability to balance business as usual policing with delivering a safe and secure COP26.

We want COP26 to be a platform for engagement that all of Scotland can be involved in and one that delivers a lasting legacy, maximising opportunities before, during and after the conference, and delivers economic benefits. We are committed to ensuring COP26 delivers a lasting legacy, with a particular emphasis on ensuring a just transition, and to encourage the behaviour change needed to reach our ambitious net zero target.

The Scottish Government’s Forestry Grant Scheme supports the planting of all types of trees to create new woodlands. Over the last 3 years it has supported the planting of over 12,000 hectares of native trees, including within commercial forestry schemes. This has more than met the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy target of between 3,000 and 5,000 hectares of new native woodland per year.

The current guidance, updated on 3 August Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on reducing the risks in schools - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) , remains that face coverings will continue to be worn by staff in communal areas in all schools, and in classrooms by staff and pupils in secondary schools, for up to 6 weeks. However, I am acutely aware that some young people find this challenging. Therefore the Scottish Government guidance on face coverings , which is referenced in guidance for schools, does set out some exemptions, including when communicating with someone who relies on lip reading and facial expressions to communicate.

The decision to retain the use of face coverings in schools has been taken after very careful consideration, especially with regard to face coverings in classrooms. But at the moment, our judgement remains that this is the best way to protect children, young people and staff in the school environment. This approach is in line with the latest recommendations of the Advisory Sub-group on Education and Children’s issues and is kept under regular review in light of emerging scientific evidence and advice.

The Scottish Government released new forestry cultivation guidance on 27 July.

The guidance can be found at: https://forestry.gov.scot/publications/1032-cultivation-for-upland-productive-woodland-creation-sites-applicant-s-guidance/viewdocument/1032 .

The Scottish Government, through its agency Scottish Forestry, issued new cultivation guidance on 27 July based on research evidence regarding carbon released as a result of different cultivation techniques.

The guidance can found at: https://forestry.gov.scot/publications/1032-cultivation-for-upland-productive-woodland-creation-sites-applicant-s-guidance/viewdocument/1032 .