Chamber and committees

People with certain neuromuscular conditions, such as motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis, are eligible for antiviral medication The eligibility criteria for direct access to new COVID-19 treatments were developed by an independent expert working group commissioned by the UK Department of Health and Social Care and is based on detailed clinical evidence. The criteria are set out in a UK-wide clinical commissioning policy . The policy targets those higher risk individuals who have the potential to both be least likely to generate a material immune response to vaccines and be at highest risk of disease progression, hospitalisation and death.

Further information is available on NHS Inform .

In addition to the direct access arrangements described above for the most vulnerable, coronavirus oral antiviral treatments are being evaluated through a UK-wide study called PANORAMIC, run by the University of Oxford. Full details about the eligibility criteria for the study can be found at: https://www.panoramictrial.org/

The outcomes from the study will enable the NHS to fully understand how best to make use of these treatments in the future.

Where GP practices are unable to routinely accept new patients onto their lists, Scottish Government expects Health Boards to work with practices as constructively and as flexibly as is appropriate to help manage the situation.

We recognise the need for more GPs in Scotland and this is why we have committed to increasing the workforce by 800 by 2027.

As part of the 2018 GP contract, we have recruited over 2400 Multi-Disciplinary team members. The recruitment of these pharmacists, advanced practitioner nurses, mental health workers, MSK Physios and Community Link Workers is helping create additional capacity in practices.

The information requested is not held centrally. However, patients are asked to contact their local Health Board single point of contact telephone number if they believe they are eligible for treatment. The phone lines are open seven days a week, including public holidays. Further information is available on NHS Inform .

Some COVID-19 positive individuals who meet the eligibility criteria will decide not to receive antiviral treatments, or may be unable to, for example due to other medications they are taking.

We have established a process for individuals who have received their coronavirus vaccinations outwith Scotland which allows for them to upload official proof of vaccination from an approved country to their Scottish Vaccination Record through NHS Inform . This will allow those who have been vaccinated within the UK or internationally to receive a combined fully vaccinated status to show for travel and domestic purposes.

The Scottish Government continues to engage in discussions with the UK Government around reported labour shortages through several forums, including Business and Industry Interministerial Group QUAD Meetings and DEFRA/devolved administration inter-ministerial group meetings. Our concerns have been echoed by colleagues from Wales and Northern Ireland in these meetings, and the Devolved Governments have jointly written to the UK Government Minister for Safe and Legal Migration requesting regular and meaningful engagement on migration issues.

It is clear from engagement to date that the UK Government is unwilling to make the necessary changes required to address Scotland’s needs. The UK Government must revise its restrictive migration policy to prevent further harm to our economy and society, and establish a specific Labour Market Shortages Taskforce with the Devolved Governments to enable constructive discussion on the measures required to tackle labour shortages

Scotland’s next census will be held on Sunday 20 March 2022, with letters arriving in households across Scotland from today (28 February), providing instructions on how to take part.

Scotland’s census is the official count of every person and household in the country and the only questionnaire of its kind to ask everyone the same questions at the same time.

It is the responsibility of National Records of Scotland (NRS) to put in place a census that enables everyone across Scotland to participate so that information collected can be used to produce high quality outputs and deliver the benefits required by the people of Scotland. For the first time, Scotland’s Census 2022 will ask a question about previous service in the UK Armed Forces and voluntary questions on trans status or history and sexual orientation, for those over 16.

Scotland’s Census provides people, businesses and organisations with high quality data and analysis which is used to inform key decisions in relation to policy making, investment decisions and the planning and delivery of key services. The census also helps paint a rich picture of the of the population, helping us to better understand the similarities and differences in the population’s characteristics locally and nationally, now and over time. The census also becomes part of our history. In the future our descendants will be able to find out about us and how we lived.

This will be the first census to take place since the Scottish Government pledged to make public services “digital first”, recognising that this is now a favoured channel for many. This approach will also deliver a number of benefits in terms of ease of completion and accessibility for respondents. It is important however that all households are able to complete their census return, with paper questionnaires available upon request. Help and support will also be available for those who need it via a dedicated contact centre and the Scotland’s Census website.

I urge members to help ensure a successful census by encouraging maximum participation amongst all communities across Scotland.

The Nightclub Closure Fund was available to nightclubs for support with meeting staffing costs for the period during which they were required to close between the 27 December and 24 January 2022. In order to qualify for this funding, businesses were required to meet eligibility as set out in guidance. This included the requirement to be trading as a nightclub as of the 20 December. In order to prove this, businesses were asked to confirm that they met five conditions including that their licence confirmed that the music exceeded 85DB after 1am. Where this was not the case businesses have been asked to provide further evidence of this.

Following notification of a decision on their applications, businesses were able to ask for this decision to be reviewed, including where this has been due to out of date information contained on licensing details.

There have been 25 reviews requested; 14 decisions overturned, 6 of these where the reason for rejection was noise levels and upon receipt of further information have been overturned. In addition 11 decision have been reviewed and upheld.

The Scottish Government welcomed and supported the recommendation of the Virtual Trials National Project Board, which has the potential to deliver significant benefits for victims by reducing the traumatising impact of the court environment. The Report acknowledges that existing legislation with guidance issued by the Lord Justice General could support the further use of virtual trials. We will consider the need for legislation in a future consultation exercise.

The Scottish Government published the National Strategy for Public Space CCTV in Scotland in March 2011. The Strategy was created to provide guidance and a common set of principles to operators of public space CCTV across Scotland. It did not impose requirements but sought to provide advice and clarity to support decisions on the development of CCTV systems.

A number of Police Scotland CCTV cameras within the estate will be Hikvision or will contain Hikvision components. We are aware that the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee last year recommended to the UK Government that equipment manufactured by Hikvision and other such companies should not be permitted to operate within the UK. The UK Government’s response, published in November 2021, outlined the steps that had been taken to address the situation and undertook to take further steps in the coming months. The Scottish Government will continue to keep in close touch with developments and act accordingly, including consulting with Police Scotland on what measures they might take in response to these next steps.

Internationally renowned modelling company Operational Research in Health (ORH) were commissioned by the Scottish Ambulance Service to carry out an analysis on 7 years’ worth of data to help inform the review of demand and capacity.

ORH used a population growth data to predict future demand and resources required to meet performance standards. This included patient demand, types of clinical presentation, on scene times, at hospital times, travel times, vehicle tracking data, resourcing levels, receiving hospitals, station locations, rest periods and standard operating procedures.

In addition, Working Time Solutions were also commissioned to assist with the design and implementation of rosters that better match demand profiles.

Following approval, SAS will publish the third phase of the business case.