Chamber and committees

The new computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (cCBT) platform to increase treatment choice was successfully introduced in October 2020. To support this expansion, the Scottish Government provided £1.2 million in 2020-21 to NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) to rapidly increase the deployment of cCBT services and to increase access to therapist led internet-enabled Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (ieCBT) services across all territorial Health Boards. The expansion of self-managed cCBT and ieCBT has the potential to support around 30,000 people each year.

The Scottish Government understands that some people, including those with sight loss, may find physical distancing rules more difficult to follow than others and our Stay at home guidance includes information on Support for people, which highlights these additional challenges. The section on Support for people – supporting others – reminds us to be considerate of others by giving way and offering help when we are out and about.

In addition , we have produced guidance for those providing guide support and produced a checklist for retailers that asks retailers to bear in mind that some people may find the physical distancing measures in shops more difficult to adhere to than others. There is also customer guidance that explains how the customer experience in shops has changed and what needs to be done to ensure a safer shopping experience for everyone.

We have also worked with NHS Inform colleagues to share various guidance including guidance on physical distancing and worked with a wide range of third sector partners to produce cross sectorial guidance for everyone on supporting people with a sensory impairment and for health and social care workers on communicating effectively with people with a sensory loss

The restrictions on gatherings are a consequence of the current pandemic and are designed to reduce the transmission of the virus. Marriage ceremonies are an exception to the general rules on social gatherings and the number of people who can attend a marriage is higher than the number of people who are generally allowed to meet in one place. This reflects the importance of marriage to society.

All of Scotland is currently at either level 3 or 4 of the Strategic Framework.

At level 4, under the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, only 5 people may attend a marriage ceremony (the couple, the celebrant or registrar, and two witnesses) or, where an interpreter is required, 6 people may attend.

At level 3, no more than 20 people should attend a marriage ceremony. However, children are at present included in the limit of 20 people. If we were to exclude children from this limit, children from several different households could attend, significantly increasing the number of people attending. This could increase the risk of transmission of the virus at a time when it is more important than ever before to limit transmission as much as possible.

All of Scotland is currently at level 3 or level 4.

At level 3, marriage ceremonies can take place with up to 20 people attending. At level 4, marriage ceremonies can take place, but under The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (legislation.gov.uk) no more than 5 people may attend (the couple, their celebrant or registrar and the two witnesses), or no more than 6 if an interpreter is required.

We have published guidance on marriage ceremonies and civil partnership registrations

At level 3, wedding receptions can take place with up to 20 people attending, whereas wedding receptions cannot take place at level 4.

There are restrictions on travel. At level 3, one of the examples of a reasonable excuse for entering or leaving a level 3 area is to attend a gathering which relates to a marriage ceremony or civil partnership registration: The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (legislation.gov.uk) This is designed to cover both the marriage ceremony or civil partnership registration and any associated reception.

One of the examples of a reasonable excuse for entering a level 4 area from another part of Scotland is to attend a solemnisation of a marriage or registration of a civil partnership: The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (legislation.gov.uk) This just covers the marriage ceremony or civil partnership registration and does not cover receptions.

One of the examples of a reasonable excuse for leaving home when you live in a Level 4 area is to attend a marriage ceremony or civil partnership registration. This applies only where the person travelling is in relation to that marriage ceremony or civil partnership registration a party, a witness, the religious or belief celebrant solemnising the marriage or registering the civil partnership, or a required interpreter.

In relation to travel to and into Scotland from certain other parts of the common travel area, an example of a reasonable excuse is to attend a marriage ceremony or civil partnership registration. Again, this is only where the person travelling is, in relation to that marriage ceremony or civil partnership registration, a party, a witness, the religious or belief celebrant solemnising the marriage or registering the civil partnership, or a required interpreter. Clearly, receptions are not taking place in level 4 in Scotland. Any person planning to travel to Scotland to attend a wedding should check restrictions on travel in place in the area where they live.

If the member has any specific concerns, he is welcome to write to me so I can consider any detailed points.

Respite foster care can go ahead under Level 4 COVID-19 restrictions subject to the appropriate professional assessments being carried out. Care planning and issues surrounding care planning are a matter for local authorities to decide and we would expect local authorities to consider the risks of respite foster care before making any decision on a case by case base, whilst adhering to public health measures.

Decision makers must ensure that the safety and wellbeing of children, young people, families, carers and staff members is at the heart of decision making. They must balance these safety considerations with a child’s rights and the detriment to the child if a respite placement does not go ahead.

The Scottish Government will shortly be publishing updated Coronavirus guidance about family contact for Looked After Children. This guidance will support decision makers in ensuring that the risk of exposure is minimised, whilst children are supported and enabled to meaningfully maintain relationships which are essential to their wellbeing.

The Scottish Government has not published specific guidance for ceremonies such as baby naming ceremonies, Christenings or baptisms. We have issued specific guidance for marriage ceremonies and civil partnership registrations .

Our guidance for the safe use of places of worship outlines that where ceremonies such as Christenings, baptisms and coming-of-age ceremonies form part of a wider religious service in a place of worship, the gathering should consist of no more than 50 people in total in areas at Levels 0-3 as set out in the strategic framework . Outdoor acts of worship conducted in accordance with Coronavirus (COVID-19): events sector guidance in areas at levels 0 and 1 areas may have up to 200 people in attendance.

Under the current Level 4 restrictions affecting most of Scotland set out in the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 as amended, places of worship must be closed to the public except for limited specified purposes. These specified purposes do not include a baby naming ceremony, Christening or baptism.

If a naming ceremony, Christening or baptism is not happening in a place of worship or as part of a permitted act of worship outdoors, the gathering should comply with the restrictions on social gatherings in the relevant protection level set out in the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 as amended.

Any celebrants conducting naming ceremonies permitted under the present restrictions should work with families on whether aspects of the ceremony need to be adapted in line with physical distancing and hygiene requirements in order to help ensure the safety of all present.

On 23 December 2020, the Scottish Government published full details of eligibility for the pro-rata £500 payment, including expected payment dates. Payments to health and care workers will commence in February 2021, with the majority of social care staff receiving payment in March 2021. To reduce the potential impact a single payment may have on any benefits staff may be receiving, we will ask employers to offer the option of spreading this payment over three months. Full details have been published at the following link:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): £500 payment for health and social care staff - questions and answers - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . .

Scottish Government Ministers want to recognise the extraordinary effort that front line NHS and social care staff have made to our national effort during this pandemic. There is no mechanism for opting out of receiving the payment or nominating a charity to receive it. All recipients are however free to do with they wish with the payment, including donating to charitable causes if they should choose. Full details have been published at the following link:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): £500 payment for health and social care staff - questions and answers - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

All social care staff employed in registered adult social care services and personal assistants 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, or by the person who they support directly.