Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has released guidance on the appropriate use and hygiene requirements of face covering. You can find a copy of the face coverings guidance on the Scottish Government website here .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30295 on 26 August 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

The Scottish Government does not hold current or past employment information on the number of specialist infection control nurses within individual NHS Boards.

The NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) website includes information on the Infection Prevention and Control Service in NHSGGC and the local Infection Prevention Control Teams (IPCTs) which cover different geographical sectors. This information can be accessed via the NHSGGC website: https://www.nhsggc.org.uk/your-health/infection-prevention-and-control/about-us/#

As at 13-08-2020 the total number of tests carried out in (a) West Dunbartonshire and (b) Argyll and Bute are:

West Dunbartonshire – a total of 7,800 tests of which 7,364 were negative and 436 positive.

Argyle and Bute – a total of 6,183 tests of which 6,015 were negative and 168 positive.

The numbers quoted above are for individuals tested and not overall tests.

On the 29 June, I wrote to Scottish Hospices to confirm that their funding requests related to loss of income during the pandemic during the first financial quarter of 2020 would be met in full, and that £10.1m in total would be provided to Scottish Hospices for this purpose. Integration Authorities and NHS Boards were also notified of this on the same date, and the funding was processed for onward allocation to hospices at the end of quarter 1 (June 2020). The funding that has been provided to each hospice as per their request has been broken down in the following table.

It is important to reflect that this funding was provided on a one off basis to account for loss of income during the pandemic, and that we expect the existing commissioning arrangements between hospices and Integration Authorities to be maintained going forward.

When we have clarification on the total consequential funding we will receive this will be allocated in full to Scottish Hospices.

Under section 46 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, around 180 public bodies listed in The Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies: Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Order 2015 must report annually to the Scottish Ministers on compliance with the climate change duties placed on them by section 44 of the Act.

The format of the required report includes whether public bodies have plans or strategies covering specific climate change topics, including business travel, as well as any targets for transport and travel.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an economic challenge on an unprecedented scale. The Scottish Government continues to take a holistic and inclusive approach to the mitigation of COVID-19’s economic impacts.

We established an independent Advisory Group on Economic Recovery, and published a response and implementation plan on 5 August 2020. Our response focusses on protecting jobs and supporting business recovery and sustainable green growth. In addition to our ongoing analysis and modelling, we continue to press the UK Government for additional resources and necessary changes to the Fiscal Framework.

Further economic policy measures, to support businesses and employees, will feature in the forthcoming Programme for Government as well as in our Infrastructure Investment Plan and our Climate Change Plan update. However, Scotland's established Zero-Covid approach remains the best way to address the risk of a second wave and the associated economic impacts.

Information on individual revenue streams is available in the annual accounts, which are available online and are laid in Parliament. To protect the commercial interests of the business, information on revenue is not broken down by individual customer in published accounts.

I recognise that children and young people with additional support needs, including those with complex needs such as a visual impairment, will require support to return to school. Schools and local authorities are best placed to identify how to meet the individual needs of their pupils and have been working hard to develop plans to do so as schools reopen.

Following the First Minister’s statement to Parliament on 30 July confirming the reopening of schools on 11 August, accompanying guidance to support a safe return to school for all children, young people and staff was published on the Scottish Government’s website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-preparing-start-new-school-term-august-2020/ . The guidance takes full account of the scientific advice received and the advice of the Education Recovery Group and other key stakeholders.

We have also published continuity in learning guidance, which sets out the latest advice on what education authorities and schools should consider for pupils with additional support needs, including those with complex support needs. This focuses on reviewing individualised plans in discussion with parents, carers, children and young people, with support from partner services. It also recognises that some children and young people will have new needs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the guidance outlines, individual provisions and interventions will require constant review to ensure they continue to meet children and young peoples’ learning and wellbeing needs as they return to school.

The Commission off-sets its carbon footprint by making a contribution to woodlands being planted in Scotland. This contribution is based on the carbon footprint for the previous financial year, as published in its annual reports.