Chamber and committees

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.

Scottish Government does not hold information on how many agency workers are employed in the care sector, which as the member knows is delivered by a mix of private, independent and local authority providers.

Guidance has been developed to ensure that all staff deployed to care homes for adults and older people from staffing agencies are tested for COVID-19 prior to deployment. Agencies who provide staff to these care homes should utilise the UK Government employee referral portal to proactively ensure that a cohort of staff have been tested who can then be deployed in to care homes at short notice as required.

Agency staff who work in care homes on longer term contracts should be tested in the same way as substantive staff are tested in the care home, every 7 days, regardless of whether there has been a confirmed Covid-19 case in the care home or not.

Symptomatic agency care workers, not working in a care homes, can access key worker testing. More information on testing is available on the Scottish Government website - https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested/pages/overview

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.

As a body designated under the Water Resources (Scotland) Act 2013, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland is working to support the Scottish Government’s Hydro Nation initiative. The Commission makes a positive contribution to this initiative through collaborating with other regulators and water industry stakeholders, sharing Scotland’s expertise and best practice and to build capacity in economic regulation and water sector governance. As a founding member of the European Water Regulators Network (WAREG), WICS has built strong working relationships with water regulators across Europe. The Commission’s collaboration with WAREG members has been the foundation for developing memoranda of understanding (MoU) with 8 European water regulators. This allows it to exchange information, share knowledge and build the capacity of staff across organisations. There are no MoUs currently under negotiation.

WICS does not hold detailed information on the average cost of completing each memorandum. However, all revenue generated from international projects makes a significant contribution to the Commission’s overheads. This brings direct benefit to Scottish customers by reducing the levy it would otherwise charge Scottish Water which is money that would ultimately come from customers in the form of higher bills. In addition, the insights learnt from international partners helps the Commission to stay at the forefront of regulatory best practice.

This information is available in the following table.

The Commission is not required to have separate accounts for Hydro Nation activity.