Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has participated in the UK Civil Service People Survey each year since 2009, and prior to that held its own local survey. These surveys include figures regarding bullying, and have been published each year since 2005. These can be accessed at Scottish Government People Survey - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Tackling bullying and harassment, and ensuring that the Scottish Government is a more diverse and inclusive organisation, sits at the heart of the Scottish Government’s organisational strategy. Since the introduction of the UK Civil Service People Survey in 2009, the SG has never had a higher than average result for bullying and harassment across the UK Civil Service and is currently below the civil service median. Our analysis of bullying and harassment responses – which have risen since 2009 from 8% to 11% in 2019 - finds that staff in particular demographic groups are more likely to report that they have experienced Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination 1 . This is influencing how we think about testing procedures and routes to raising a complaint to ensure our policies are sensitive to the diverse needs of employees. Whilst the 2020 survey results are still to be published, they will demonstrate we are making headway in our organisational efforts, with our highest-ever score on inclusion and fair treatment, and the lowest-ever proportion of colleagues responding that they had been bullied or harassed at work.

The Scottish Government will continue to work in close partnership with our Trades Unions to take action on the findings of the People Survey to reduce bullying and harassment, and improve the experience of working in the Scottish Government towards its aim of a more diverse and inclusive organisation.

1 Equality outcomes and mainstreaming report 2019 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

RT-PCR Testing

Each laboratory that carries out RT-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 validates and verifies the tests that are used. This includes External Quality Assessment participation, which independently reviews the tests used in each laboratory. The initial laboratory verifications are held by NHS Scotland’s National Laboratories Programme Quality Group and the laboratories themselves. Ongoing review data is held by the individual laboratory and the Lighthouse Laboratory Network.

Testing using lateral flow devices

The Lateral Flow Antigen Tests, also referred to as Lateral Flow Devices, have been validated by Public Health England Porton Down and the University of Oxford as having a sensitivity rate of 76.8%, which means they will identify 7 in 10 positive cases. This rises to over 95% of individuals with high viral loads, who are the most likely to be most infectious. The Scottish Government’s Covid-19 Assay Diagnostic Innovations Group has reviewed the Porton Down validation data. All positive results from Lateral Flow Tests are also offered a confirmatory PCR test. We are aware that sensitivity of Lateral Flow Tests can vary in different settings. However, the lateral flow test continues to be a valuable to tool increase the capacity and accessibility to testing, identify positive cases and break chains of transmission.

The relevant regulations and guidance are applicable to all car dealerships and it is up to those businesses to ensure that they adhere to them. Indoor car showrooms must close and outdoor vehicle lots must ensure that car sales are operated lawfully and safely and in line with the relevant guidance. In addition, the current stay at home regulations state that people should only leave their homes for an essential purpose.

Currently drivers are advised not to take the groceries inside the customers house to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection. The driver delivers the groceries to the door and it is for the customer to take the crate, the bags or items inside the home to unpack. If this causes difficulties to the customer they are advised to contact the supermarket for assistance.

All nurseries and out of school care settings can currently remain open but should only accept children of keyworker families or vulnerable children.

All 3 and 4 year olds and eligible 2 year olds can access at least 600 hours of funded early learning and childcare each year. We are investing £2 billion over five years to almost double that funded entitlement to 1140 hours, and many local authorities are already delivering that offer.

Essential informal childcare is allowed under the restrictions currently in place in Scotland. On 5th January, the Chief Medical Officer wrote to all individuals on the shielding list, and parents and carers of children who are advised to shield.

We have made £15 million of funding available to local authorities at protection level 4 to strengthen their local response and support the needs of people in their communities who don’t have support networks and are struggling with the restrictions or guidance at protection level 4, particularly those most at risk through health or social inequalities. This could include people at higher clinical risk such as those shielding, older people or people with disabilities who encounter barriers that emerge at level 4, for example in accessing food.

Anyone requiring support as a result of these restrictions, who cannot get the help they need from family or friends, should contact the free-phone national helpline on 0800 111 4000 which continues to provide a free-phone connection to local authorities. Local officers will assess need and can provide a range of support.

Public health measures have been implemented at borders to minimise the risk of importation of the virus from foreign travel. This includes the requirement for travellers to self-isolate for 10 days upon arrival in Scotland. This applies to all arrivals with a few limited sectoral exemptions provided for. Travellers are permitted to leave their self-isolation accommodation in limited circumstance, including on compassionate grounds such as making an end of life visit to a relative.

We are not asking people to return to full shielding as we did during the first lockdown. We are not advising people on the shielding list to stop going outside, which we know is beneficial; or, to stop going for essential shopping or medicines. The extra advice for those on the shielding list has not changed since level 4 areas went into lockdown on 5 January except in relation to going to work.

The Chief Medical Officer has advised those who cannot work from home, not to go to work for as long as the area where they live or work is in lockdown. Employers can, at their discretion, furlough people through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme which has been extended until April 2021. Furlough is always a decision for employers but we strongly encourage them to do everything they can to support their employees, including through furlough where appropriate.

Some employers may offer additional financial support for employees who are off work for coronavirus-related reasons which may be set out in their terms and conditions of employment. Otherwise, people who don’t attend work for this reason may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay, Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, or other benefits.

Anyone who is worried about affording essentials or needs additional support or help, can call the free National Assistance Helpline on 0800 111 4000. This helpline continues to provide a free-phone connection to local authorities which can provide additional support including access to food, fuel, and third sector services or volunteers.

The rapid scoping exercise to develop an ePrescribing system across primary care is progressing even with the added ongoing pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic response. In addition to initial work undertaken to clearly outline an initial solution required to develop a nationally implementable digital solution for ePrescribing and dispensing, work has also taken place by NHS NSS to outline the current digital infrastructure supporting medicines, prescribing and dispensing which will be used as a baseline for development. The initial tranche of the work is planned to start in February 2021.

Staff working for a registered adult social care service or in a role supporting those registered services in a head office, for example finance and administrative staff, will be in scope of the pro rata £500 payment being made to those NHS and adult social care staff who have been employed since 17 March 2020. This includes those employed in the statutory, third and private sector.

In December 2020, the Scottish Government reached an agreement with the three PFI hospital car park providers to extend the free car parking arrangements until March 2021. This extension of free parking continues to support staff and remove the barriers to our staff working with the NHS during these unprecedented times.

The Health Boards, together with the PFI providers, are currently reviewing the options for beyond that period. Parliament will be updated once these discussions have concluded, but as they are commercially sensitive negotiations we are not in a position to provide further detail at this point.