Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33197 on 2 December 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Pay negotiations are a matter for CalMac Ferries Ltd. CalMac only provide Transport Scotland officials with updates on process and timing where appropriate. There have been no formal discussions between Ministers or officials with CalMac regarding pay negotiations.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken an assessment on this level of information and does not expect CalMac to ask where customers are travelling to and from. This is similar to in line with other travel operators. It is for individual travellers to ensure they are complying with the restrictions in movements between tiers when travelling to or from our islands.

CalMac port staff and vessel crew are classified as essential workers and therefore it is permissible for them to travel between Local Authority areas that may be subject to tier level 3 or level 4 Covid-19 restrictions.

The impact of US sanctions on the Cuban Economy was highlighted during the meeting but there was no discussion regarding calls for the removal of the sanctions. We consider the US embargo against Cuba to be a counterproductive measure that serves no useful purpose.

Our priorities for testing are guided by scientific, clinical and public health advice from our expert advisory structures.

In October we published the Clinical Review of our testing strategy which set out clear clinical advice on the priorities to be followed – clinical care of patients and responding to symptomatic demand. https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-review-of-testing-strategy-october-2020/ .

As capacity builds, and in line with clinical and public health priorities identified, we will continue to review routine weekly testing of asymptomatic groups in a way which focusses on protecting those most vulnerable to the most harm, including those at highest risk of mortality.

There are a number of groups to be considered as part of that process, including NHS and social care frontline staff along with care home visitors, emergency admissions and visiting professionals to care homes.

I will update Parliament later this month about the plans, timescales, test type and test routes for the roll out of asymptomatic testing to these groups.

A full risk assessment and Covid-19 operating policy were provided by the contractor and reviewed by the Facilities Management Office prior to reopening the service in September 2020. As a result of this risk assessment and in line with the Scottish Government’s ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19) Phase 3: Guidance on reopening early learning and childcare services’, a number of additional measures were put in place. These included the introduction of staff bubbles, specific booking windows to minimise interaction between children and different staff members, social distancing between creche staff and parents and the additional cleaning of all toys, equipment and surfaces throughout the day. The layout of the facility was also adapted with several soft furnishings removed to assist with cleaning the area.

The contractor also provided specific risk assessments on infection control, exclusion policy and site operating procedures prior to reopening. These were followed up by an onsite walkthrough with the Creche Manager and the contract manger from Facilities Management, with input and coordination from the cleaning services contract manager and our Health & Safety Advisor. contractor creche staff were trained on the new working procedures by the contractor’s senior management virtually and then had a full day’s training onsite led by the Creche Manager.

The reopening of the creche on business days was communicated to building users via the Covid-19 update email on Thursday 3^rd September, which highlighted the additional cleaning measures and the changes to normal booking procedures. The same information was included in the ‘Facilities and Services’ section of the coronavirus FAQs online.

Under section 21 of the Scotland Act 1998, the SPCB is empowered to provide the Parliament, or ensure that the Parliament is provided, with the property, staff and services required for the Parliament’s purposes. The SPCB is therefore not empowered to consult with the City of Edinburgh Social Work Department in order to provide or contribute to services to parents who are resident in the area. 

In addition, in order to comply with the Coronavirus Regulations; adhere to Scottish Government guidance on public health measures; and to safely and sustainably ensure the continuation of essential parliamentary business there has been no public access to the Holyrood Campus since March 2020.  Therefore even if the SPCB were empowered to consult with other organisations to provide or contribute to services, which it is not, parents/their children who are resident in the area along with other members of the public do not currently have access to the Holyrood Campus/the creche.

Under section 21 of the Scotland Act 1998, the SPCB is empowered to provide the Parliament, or ensure that the Parliament is provided, with the property, staff and services required for the Parliament’s purposes. The SPCB is therefore not empowered to enter discussions with NHS Lothian regarding the possible development of a partnership support service for new parents.

In addition, in order to comply with the Coronavirus Regulations; adhere to Scottish Government guidance on public health measures; and to safely and sustainably ensure the continuation of essential parliamentary business; there has been no public access to the Holyrood Campus since March 2020.  Therefore even if the SPCB were empowered to enter discussions with NHS Lothian regarding the possible development of a partnership support service for new parents, which it is not, new parents and their children along with other members of the public do not currently have access to the Holyrood Campus/the creche.

Under section 21 of the Scotland Act 1998, the SPCB is empowered to provide the Parliament, or ensure that the Parliament is provided, with the property, staff and services required for the Parliament’s purposes. The SPCB is therefore not empowered or required to enter discussions with the City of Edinburgh Council on its contract for creche services or its decision to terminate the contract.

The SPCB are liable to pay redundancy costs as part of bringing this contract to an end.  The redundancy costs are off-set by the financial savings for not continuing the contact, and therefore there is no financial penalty for the SPCB.