Chamber and committees

Work is underway in delivering the Framework for Supporting People through Recovery and Rehabilitation. The National Advisory Board for Rehabilitation was established in December last year (2020) and is supporting with this implementation work.

The Scottish Government is meeting regularly with key stakeholders to ensure they are properly involved in the implementation of the Framework. This has included engagement with the British Healthcare Trades Association and we continue to work with them, and others, as we deliver the key priorities in the Framework.

An audit of shared optometry clinics is currently being undertaken by Public Health Scotland. This audit will consider the number of patients seen, location of where patients are being seen, as well as current ‘did not attend’ (DNA) rate. This audit is currently being reconciled against Health Boards plans.

In addition, a qualitative evaluation is planned to assess the patient experience of optometry. This results if this evaluation will be published in due course.

Regrettably, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed that these payments made to employees are regarded as earnings and will be liable for tax, national insurance contributions and student loan repayments, where appropriate. The Scottish Government cannot give tax guidance as this matter is reserved for HMRC. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport is writing to UK Government to ask that this payment be exempt from tax and benefits calculations.

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.

I refer to my letter sent to all members on 16 July 2020 which confirmed that EU citizens who hold Settled Status under the UK Government EU Settlement Scheme will continue to be eligible to access home fee status and support from Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).

The current regulations limit the entry of other people into homes for the purpose of the upkeep, maintenance or functioning of the house to where the work is essential for that purpose in level 4 of the Strategic Framework. These restrictions have been put in place to limit the transmission of the virus. As set out in our guidance, essential work includes domestic cleaning in support of a clean and safe living environment for people in vulnerable circumstance or living with a disability, where as a result of that vulnerable circumstance or disability are unable to clean their own home.

The Scottish Government is currently reviewing the Strategic Framework. As part of this, we will review the content and application of the levels, to ensure that they continue to balance Four Harms consequences while pursuing our aim of suppressing the virus to the lowest possible level.

Hepatitis C treatment is provided by territorial NHS Boards in Scotland, using funding from the core grant they receive from the Scottish Government. Each board decides how to allocate the funding to deliver healthcare services in line with the needs of their local populations.

Since the Hepatitis C Action plan was published in 2019, we have provided over £1.2m of funding to support Third Sector organisations for projects working to tackle blood borne viruses, including Hepatitis C.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has had considerable impact on sexual health and blood borne viruses (SHBBV) services this year, the Scottish Government and partners remain committed to eliminating Hepatitis C by 2024.

We have made two commitments in our 2020-21 Programme for Government that will directly impact our progress towards that goal. The first is to develop a Recovery Plan for SHBBV services to help respond to the impacts of COVID-19 in 2021. The second is towork with the Scottish Health Protection Network, third sector and people who use services to understand how the Tayside approach, which resulted in the elimination of Hepatitis C 11 years ahead of the 2030 World Health Organisation target in that health board area, can be replicated across Scotland.

As announced in First Minister’s statement on 2 February, we are now introducing an enhanced asymptomatic testing programme for school and early learning and childcare staff and senior phase pupils. Staff and senior phase pupils will be offered twice-weekly, at-home testing using Lateral Flow Devices which will be used for “test to find” purposes. Regular staff and senior pupil testing is just one potential COVID-19 mitigation in addition to the robust package of measures already in place in schools such as face coverings and distancing.

The pathfinder pilots we are currently running in partnership with a small number of schools have provided valuable learning around delivering a sustainable asymptomatic testing system in a school environment. The initial focus will be on schools based settings, with an extension to the wider childcare sector in the weeks following introduction.

The Scottish Government does not have current plans to review restorative justice or diversionary measures specifically for young people who commit violent offences. However, we continue to promote and support high-quality restorative justice and the use of diversionary measures for young people who offend, where appropriate.

Sentencing decisions are a matter for courts. These decisions are taken within the overall legal framework, taking account of all the relevant facts and circumstances of each case. The independent Scottish Sentencing Council are currently developing guidelines on the sentencing of young people and recently undertook a consultation on a draft guideline. Further information can be found at: https://www.scottishsentencingcouncil.org.uk/sentencing-guidelines/guidelines-in-development/sentencing-young-people-guideline/ .

In 2019 the Scottish Government published the Restorative Justice Action Plan . It sets out how services will be developed to achieve our commitment to having restorative justice services widely available across Scotland by 2023, with the interests of victims at their heart. This includes mapping existing availability of restorative justice in Scotland and how best to support consistent provision across the country.

Scotland has adopted a public health approach to violence that focuses on tackling the underlying causes of violence through collaborative prevention and early intervention work.

Over the last decade, Scotland has made a decisive shift towards preventing offending by young people through the roll out of the whole system approach. Since 2011, we have seen dramatic changes in the youth justice sector, including major reductions in the number of young people prosecuted in court and sentenced to custody. A new action plan for Youth Justice in Scotland is currently being developed. This will continue the commitment to a whole system approach for young people ensuring that the asks of the Promise are responded to and that young people’s rights are respected.

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, including supply 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 new funding can be used to recruit additional teachers and may offer further employment opportunities for supply teachers.