Chamber and committees

At all of the protection levels, people can still go into another household to provide care and support for a vulnerable person, or to avoid illness, injury or harm. This can include providing emotional support for someone whose wellbeing is at risk, including for those who are isolated because of disability or a caring situation. For this reason, the Scottish Government does not plan to make changes to the extended household policy on this issue.

The Scottish Government has prioritised the needs of vulnerable pupils including those with additional support needs as part of our response to COVID-19. We have asked that schools remain open to provide for vulnerable pupils and those children of key workers.

The First Minister confirmed to Parliament on 16 February that the phased return of in-person learning would begin on 22 February and updated guidance to support this was published on the same day. The guidance outlines that a small number of further children and young people with additional support needs should be considered for return to school. This should include those across any stages of learning within special schools and enhanced provision for whom there is a clear and demonstrable necessity for in-person learning and support that cannot otherwise be provided at home.

These decisions are best made locally to allow the circumstances of pupils, their families and establishments to be taken into account in the decision making process.

Children from families with someone who is on the shielding list can return to schools when they start to re-open. The Chief Medical Officer has not advised that those children should stay off school.

A range of previously published evidence has made clear that schools are not high risk environments when the appropriate mitigations and safety measures are implemented. There is to date no evidence that in-school transmission is a significant driver of increasing infection levels. The Scottish Government has issued guidance to education authorities and schools on reducing the risks in schools and further supplementary guidance on the arrangements for re-opening of schools in January 2021 which set out further mitigation measures. This includes that all school staff and senior pupils who are going into school will be able to get twice-weekly at home tests from 22 February. This guidance will continue to the considered and updated as necessary in the coming weeks.

Information for parents and carers on the reopening of schools can also be found on the Parent Club website: FAQs on Scottish schools reopening | Parent Club

We continue to work closely in partnership with sportscotland and wider partners to ensure that physical activity is a key part of Scotland’s wellbeing and recovery plans from the pandemic.

Scotland’s Strategic Framework Oct 2020) sets out how we are working to suppress the virus, rooted in the approach and principles set out in the Framework for Decision Making (April 2020). The First Minister informed Parliament on‎ 15 December that we were conducting a focused review of the Strategic Framework and would report back to Parliament on the outcome. Since then, the emergence of new virus variants, the surge in infections caused by a new strain, the urgent action taken in December and January, the approval of vaccinations and publication of the vaccination programme have changed the context for this work, and also underlined its necessity. Given where we are now, it has become necessary to refresh the framework to ensure it continues to be fit for purpose and to map out our approach for the period ahead.

Returning Officers are responsible for delivering elections, including the operation of polling stations and assessing safety. Decisions on use of locations are being made on a case-by-case basis, informed by each Council’s Health and Safety assessments, public health advice and using risk assessment tools and guidance for electoral professionals produced by the Electoral Management Board for Scotland (EMB) and the Electoral Commission.

Organised sport and exercise for under-12s can continue in line with workplace and socialising guidance, and sport-specific guidance agreed between the Scottish Governing Body of Sport and sportscotland. Sports providers must ensure they operate in line with the relevant guidance.

The Scottish Government has provided local authorities with‎ £80 million of additional investment in education staff, sufficient for the recruitment of around 1,400 additional teachers, and 200 support staff this year.

In addition, a package of £45 million of new funding was announced on 13 January to support the delivery of remote learning. This funding is sufficient to employ an additional 2,000 teachers during this financial year, and a further £25 million has been made available to local authorities to support this to the end of the school year.

The funding is not ring-fenced for a specific group of teachers, and may be used by local authorities to recruit additional newly qualified teachers, recently qualified teachers and other qualified teachers.

This money is additional to the £160m that we have already committed for education recovery since the start of the pandemic.

As set out in our Clinical and Scientific review of the Testing Strategy, the consensus clinical view of the prioritisation of capacity, over and above that required to meet symptomatic demand, clinical care requirements and existing commitments, is that the focus in any extension of routine regular asymptomatic testing should be on protecting those most vulnerable to severe harm. Further details of the review can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-review-of-testing-strategy-october-2020/

In line with clinical priorities we have broadened NHS staff testing to include patient facing NHS staff in hospitals and expanded care home testing to visiting professionals and visitors, care at home staff, personal assistants, staff working in sheltered accommodation and housing with multiple occupancies and day services.

As the First Minister outlined to Parliament on 2 February, the next phase of our testing expansion will include widening the regular testing of healthcare workers to cover primary care workers in patient-facing roles such as general practitioners, dentists, optometrists and pharmacists. We also intend to expand the availability of regular testing in other health settings such as addiction and mental health services.

Decisions on making testing available to new groups are based on careful consideration of the benefits, limitations and operational implications of broadening access to testing for those who do not have symptoms. We will continue to keep the position on testing under review, in light of relevant health protection advice.

Testing is only one measure of protection against COVID-19, and must be seen alongside a strong emphasis on robust infection prevention and control measures, including the use of PPE, the extended use of face masks, physical distancing and good hygiene.

The Coronavirus regulations set out which business premises are required to restrict access or to close at level 4.

Car valeting businesses are not currently restricted by the regulations . All businesses which continue to operate in level 4 must adhere to the published guidance and regulations to reduce the risk of transmission and keep their workforce and the public safe.

The payment process for third, voluntary, charitable or private sector providers opened on 1 February. There are approximately 170,000 people working for 1,200 employers, plus personal assistants in adult social care. Whilst this means some complexity, we are working urgently with partners to ensure the relevant information is submitted and payments are made as soon as possible.