Chamber and committees

Requirements for entering Scotland are currently aligned on a Four Nations basis and differ depending on whether the individual arrives from a red, amber or green listed country.

All arrivals are required to provide a negative Covid-19 test in the three days prior to travel, they are then required to undertake the following actions:

• Red – studying in the UK is currently one of the allowable reasons for entering Scotland from a red-list country. International students over 18 years old arriving from a country on this list, or who have been in a red list country in the 10 days prior, are required to enter managed quarantine for 10 days.
• Amber – International students arriving from amber-list countries, or who have been in an Amber list country in the 10 days prior, are required to isolate in their place of residence for 10 days, additionally they are required to take a Covid-19 test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8 of their 10 day isolation.
• Green – International students arriving from green-list countries are not required to isolate unless the result of a COVID-19 test taken on day 2 after arriving back in Scotland is positive.

Drawing on the expert advice provided through the Covid-19 Advisory Sub-Group on Universities and Colleges, we have been working intensively with student bodies, institutions and trade unions to now have published guidance, which supports the wider resumption of in-person learning and student activities for the next academic year. This focuses on the reduction and management of risk and good practice for achieving this, whilst institutions are also asked to ensure measures go further than the minimum baseline where that is necessary to keep people safe.

Physical distancing requirements were removed on 09 August when all areas in Scotland moved beyond Level 0, although some precautionary measures will continue to be in place. The cross-sectoral guidance for laboratories and research facilities has been replaced by a single piece of safer workplaces guidance.

Before the Summer break, schools and education leaders were advised to provide all staff and secondary pupils with a pack of Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs) test kits prior to going on leave that they can use to restart testing in the week prior to return. In addition, they were also advised to ensure they have sufficient stock to support testing for at least the first few weeks after the return and to make any necessary orders before the Summer break – though of course they are also free to make additional test kit orders after their return to school in August. In preparation for the return of schools this month, the Scottish Government has allocated sufficient stocks of lateral flow tests to support the continuation of the twice weekly testing programme in all schools and ELC settings across Scotland.

The Scottish Government has taken a range of actions, in collaboration with key partners including the UK Government, local authorities and Young Scot, to support staff and secondary pupils to test and record their results regularly. For example, in response to user feedback about the discomfort that some pupils experience when using tests, we will be transitioning from LFDs that require both throat and nasal swabs to a nasal-only LFD model over the first months of the new term. These new LFDs are also quicker to use, cutting down on the time it will take staff and pupils to test. Feedback suggests also that some participants are testing but not recording results for a range of reasons. We have shared relevant feedback with UK Government partners about the UK-wide online reporting portal to support ongoing improvements. To make reporting easier, users of the self-reporting portal now have the ability to create a “household account” where the results of multiple family members can be inputted at the same time without having to manually enter their child’s details every time they report. Best practice has been actively shared with local authority Directors of Education and we have refreshed national communications in advance of the new term, including a communications pack developed in collaboration with Young Scot that will be provided to every secondary school in Scotland. All local authorities have also been asked to ensure that their return to school communications make clear the need to test and record results prior to return and twice-weekly thereafter.

Information on (a) the current national waiting times statistics for CAMHS and Psychological Therapies (PT) do not provide information on diagnosis. Therefore we are unable to report on the average wait for mental health diagnosis.

A patient level data set (CAMHS and PT National Dataset) is currently under development by Public Health Scotland which will provide more detail on the diagnosis and treatments received by individuals, and associated waiting times.

Information on (b) the average waiting time for mental health treatment for Child Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Psychological Therapies (PT) is shown in the table below. The median is calculated by taking the middle data point when sorting the number of weeks taken to first treatment. Please note that this includes all patients accessing CAMHS and PT services and excludes other mental health treatment such as inpatients reported elsewhere.

The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Whistleblowing complaints and discipline are matters for the designated Deputy Chief Constable of Police Scotland, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority.

Police Scotland takes whistleblowing seriously and have set-up an independent advice line to provide confidential expert advice to officers and staff who have any concerns. They will continue to develop the Whistleblowing process to support Policing for a safe, protected and resilient Scotland.

The Independent National Whistleblowing Officer (INWO) was launched on the 1 st April 2021. The service is provided through the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO). As INWO operates independently, the Scottish Government does not hold information on cases which have been referred to it.

Through The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (legislation.gov.uk) face coverings remain a mandatory legal requirement at all protection levels including at level zero, in most indoor public places and indoor communal spaces, including places of worship.

On 13 July 2021, the First Minister said that the mandatory wearing of face coverings will remain in place for some time to come, stressing that they provide added protection to the population and assurance to those who are at the highest risk.

Further guidance and information on the wearing of face coverings can be found at Coronavirus (COVID-19): face coverings guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Since 31 May 2021, congregational singing and chanting has been permitted in places of worship at protection levels one and zero, subject to a risk assessment and mitigations including use of face coverings and physical distancing. From 19 July 2021, the whole of the Scotland moved to level zero.

Details of all the measures intended to help places of worship operate safely can be found at Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for the safe use of places of worship - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Scottish Government officials continue to work with faith and belief groups as we prepare to move beyond level zero.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01556 on 4 August 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

The Scottish Government published the Rural Payment Strategy Timetable for 2020 scheme year payments in November 2020 with payments to farmers and crofters starting in December 2020, the earliest point since 2015.

All elements of the 2020 payment strategy were successfully delivered by 11 June 2021, two weeks ahead of schedule. By the regulatory deadline of 30 June 2021, over 99% value across all schemes had been paid with a value of over £530 million delivered to the rural economy.

The second payment of convergence funds and the Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme provided a further £76 million.

In respect of the 2021 Payment Strategy, the strategy, announced on 12 February 2021, sets out our intention to match our 2020 payment performance.

In total over £660 million in ongoing agricultural support was approved as part of the 2021-22 Scottish Government budget.