Chamber and committees

This Scottish Government has not made any specific representations to the UK Government regarding the recent announcement that HS2 Phase 2a between Birmingham and Crewe has gained Royal Assent.

We have consistently supported HS2 and welcome the increased benefit that Scotland will realise from the improved connectivity and additional reduction in journey times between Glasgow and London that the extension of HS2 will bring.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-34055 on‎ 26 February 2021. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-34055 on‎ 26 February 2021. 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

As set out in our October 2019 position paper and September 2020 response to the Scottish Commission on Social Security’s recommendations ; it would not be feasible to deliver an automated Scottish Child Payment until full roll-out of Universal Credit, which is currently scheduled to be 2024 at the earliest. To deliver an automated payment earlier, we would have had to build interfaces with all the legacy benefits, which would be complex, time-consuming and impossible to deliver within the timescales of the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan (2022), especially given the already full programme of work to deliver the devolved benefits.

We remain committed to automation where possible, and we will review the feasibility again as part of the wider review of Scottish Child Payment after full roll out. However, an automated service would still be complex and require substantial work, as well as a significant level of support from the Department for Work and Pensions. We would be absolutely dependent on the UK Government to provide the necessary data we would need to automate the payment, which is not currently provided.

We are currently working through groups one to nine of the JCVI's prioritisation list and aim to have reached the whole of the JCVI priority list by early May. Vaccination of the rest of the adult population will follow thereafter. Prioritisation decisions for phase two of the vaccination programme will be influenced by any additional clinical considerations and further advice from JCVI. Before making any decisions the JCVI will review data on the impact that vaccines have on transmission and effectiveness, when considering how to prioritise vaccination amongst the rest of the population.

Additional information about vaccine delivery is available from NHS Inform and our COVID-19 Deployment plan .

Throughout this pandemic, the Scottish Government has had regular and extensive engagement with airports, airlines and aviation-related stakeholders on a wide range of matters, including quarantine.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35039 on 23 February 2021. 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

We understand the concerns of businesses that are not eligible for the Strategic Framework Business Fund or other COVID-19 specific schemes. That is why we created and have increased the funding for the Local Authority Discretionary Fund to £120 million. It’s aim is to empower local authorities to direct funding to businesses that haven’t received other forms of direct financial support from the Scottish Government.

We understand the concerns of businesses that are not eligible for the Strategic Framework Business Fund or other COVID-19 specific schemes. That is why we created and have increased the funding for the Local Authority Discretionary Fund to £120 million. It’s aim is to empower local authorities to direct funding to businesses that haven’t received other forms of direct financial support from the Scottish Government.

We have increased the Local Authority Discretionary Fund from‎ £30 million to £120 million.