Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01456 on 11 August 2021. In addition, the Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme has been costed using the best available data including feedback from dairy suppliers and an uplift was applied to the funding model to take account of uncertainties such as market variation and potential sensitivities around milk supply in rural Scotland.

Through the Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme we aim to embed the habit of regular consumption of high-quality dairy produce and fruit and vegetables from an early age. The Scottish Government will use Year 1 to gather and review evidence, including via an implementation group consisting of key partners, to ensure the Scheme is meeting policy objectives. Should evidence suggest otherwise, we will consider whether action is required as we look ahead to Year 2 and beyond.

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 .

We have removed the requirement for self-isolation for under 18s who are normally resident in the UK or are a dependent of those exempt having been fully vaccinated. Children aged 12-17 travelling from Amber list countries will only take day 2 test and younger children are already not required to take tests. Other children are still required to follow self-isolation and testing rules.

We have been able to introduce a policy of exempting people from self-isolation where they arrive from an amber list countries and have been fully vaccinated as part of the UK rollout. Those who have been exempted must show evidence at the point of entering Scotland that they have received a full course of the vaccine and 14 days have passed since the final dose. The exemption from amber list country for fully vaccinated individuals only applies to self-isolation and day 8 tests, and those applicable must still follow the other rules, including taking tests prior to their departure and on or before day 2 once in Scotland.

This change applied to people coming into the country from 19 July onwards and therefore those who arrived in Scotland before then are unable to leave self-isolation until they have completed the 10 days or are otherwise exempt.

It is currently not practical to establish a definitive implementation timetable for bringing the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 (the Act) into force. Covid-19 has considerably stretched resources within Health Boards and the wider health and social care sector, with the focus being on maintaining and delivering essential services and rolling out the vaccination programme.

Prior to the pandemic, we proposed a phased commencement of the Act, with a programme of preparatory work to lay the way for implementation. This work had not concluded pre-Covid when the Act became one of several areas of policy/legislation to be paused in order to prioritise the Government’s and Health Boards pandemic response.

Additionally, during the previous session there were substantial demands on parliamentary time arising from Covid-19 and EU Exit legislation and also critical legislation needing to be progressed prior to the dissolution of Parliament.

However, the Scottish Government continues to be resolutely committed to the Act and its aims and principles. Health and social care staff across Scotland have risen to the very significant challenges posed by Covid, showing incredible resolve and flexibility, and as the Health Service recovers and remobilises we will ensure this Act is implemented as soon as is practicable to effectively drive positive change for NHS staff and patients .

While the Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally, the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) hold information about defibrillators across Scotland – available at: Registering your Automated External Defibrillator . The key aspect of the information held relates to the location in order to support SAS call handlers to direct OHCA bystanders to the nearest publicly accessible defibrillator, rather than maintaining a record of the type of building where the defibrillator is placed.

In searching this publicly accessible information, there are over 150 defibrillators at school locations across Scotland currently registered with the Scottish Ambulance Service.

It is, however, it is important to note that registration of defibrillators is voluntary, and the responsibility of the defibrillator guardian, therefore this may not be an accurate picture of the number of defibrillators placed in schools across Scotland. I refer the member to my answer given to PQ S6W-01501, in which I recommend that you may wish to contact Scottish Local Authorities individually for information they may hold.

The Scottish Government encourages any defibrillator guardian, including those placed in primary or secondary schools, to register their device with the Scottish Ambulance Service to enable an accurate and up to date central record of defibrillators across Scotland.

Through encouraging registration of defibrillators across Scotland, we can better understand their placement, usage and maintain a more accurate and up-to date record.

In Scotland, the height and weight of children entering Primary 1 is collated annually and children are assigned to healthy and unhealthy weight categories based on their body mass index (BMI), in line with an outcome of the 2018 Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan. These measurements were paused in school year 2020/21 due to disruption caused by the pandemic. In April this year we wrote to NHS Boards asking them to resume planning for this measurement to begin again in the new school term for academic year 2021-22.

Whilst a specific date cannot be given for the publication of the NHS Recovery Plan at this time the Scottish Government have committed to publishing this plan within the first hundred days of the new parliament.

The NHS Recovery Plan will set out our plans to increase inpatient, day case, and outpatient activity by 10% supported by the implementation of sustainable improvements and new models of care.

As part of this, the Finance Secretary announced an additional £60 million earlier this year to help NHS boards address the pandemic induced backlog and remobilise services.

While further details are still being developed, the Plan will:

• Ensure patients who have been impacted by the pause in services receive access to the care they require.
• Improve patient pathways from primary through to secondary care – engagement with stakeholders and patients will be key to delivering this.
• Put in place additional staff to meet anticipated increase in hospital activity and new ways of working.
• Further invest in a network of National Treatment Centres which will provide additional capacity for elective care.

We have agreed with Health Boards and Higher and Further Education Institutions to appoint Single Points of Contacts in universities and colleges who will support the delivery of the vaccination to students across Scotland, including through the use of on-campus vaccination clinics.

University and College students will be vaccinated in line with the timetable for rest of the population.

Individuals can book their vaccination appointment by calling the Covid-19 Helpline on 0800 030 8013 or by visiting their nearest vaccination drop in clinic.

We are working with the with local Health Boards and Higher and Further Education Institutes to ensure that vaccines are accessible for all students.

Couples can attend together for all NHS IVF appointments, subject to local risk assessments and physical distancing requirements, which provide the best protection for patients and staff and ensure that services continue to be provided as the Covid-19 pandemic continues.