Chamber and committees

The UK-wide Principle Trial (Platform Randomised Trial of Treatments on the Community for Epidemic and Pandemic Illness) funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is looking at early treatment for COVID-19 to prevent ill health and hospitalisation. It is evaluating a number of potential treatments. More information about this trial is at: Join the PRINCIPLE Trial — PRINCIPLE Trial

The Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office is also funding a trial of a potential anti-viral medicine as an early treatment of COVID-19. More information about this trial is at: GETAFIX - Glasgow Early Treatment Arm FavipiravirX (getafix-trial.org.uk)

The performance and attainment data published by The Times was obtained from the Scottish Government and is publicly available via the School Information Dashboard Profile | Tableau Public . The Scottish Government does not produce school league tables and never will. The guidance published alongside the data makes it clear that statistical data alone is not a measure of how well a school is doing. All schools are unique. To properly understand how well a school is doing it is important to look at a range of different data sources, together with information about the individual school.

A wide range of school performance and attainment data is collected and analysed by the Scottish Government to inform the National Improvement Framework and Improvement Plan for education. The information gathered identifies where further improvements can be made which will, in turn, contribute to delivering our priorities to deliver equity and excellence in Scottish education.

Information on how many people have received a dementia diagnosis in each year since 2007, broken down by NHS board, is not collected or held centrally.

Waiting times statistics for patients requiring to see a dementia specialist for a consultation or treatment are not held centrally.

The Scottish Government is supporting vital research into the immune response to COVID-19 after infection and vaccination, which is being undertaken by the SIREN (Sars-CoV-2 Immunity & Reinfection Evaluation) research study. The primary aim of the study is to determine whether the presence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (anti-SARS-CoV-2) is associated with a reduction in the subsequent risk of re-infection over short term periods (reviewed monthly), the next year and in the longer-term. It will help us understand whether a previous infection of SARS-CoV-2 will offer an individual any protection against future infection of the same virus.

The Scottish Government is also participating in the recently launched Post Positive PCR Antibody Testing Initiative (PPPATI), which is using antibody testing to further our understanding of vaccine effectiveness and the immune response to COVID-19.

With the British Heart Foundation Data Science centre, the University of Edinburgh is looking at the long-term risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism after infection with COVID-19. Analyses are currently ongoing, but results are anticipated soon.

This work is funded by the British Heart Foundation and the Stroke Association, with support from Health Data Research UK.

The Scottish Government is not funding research specifically investigating links between long-COVID and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, both direct research funding and research support funding has been provided to projects that are investigating the longer term effects of COVID-19.

On December 22 2020, the Chief Scientist Office announced the outcome of its funding call for Scottish-led research on the long-term effects of COVID-19 infection. Following a competitive independently peer reviewed process 9 long-COVID research projects were funded with a total funding commitment of around £2.5 million. Details of the funded projects are available from the Chief Scientist Office website.

Long Covid Call – Chief Scientist Office (scot.nhs.uk)

It is not. The change to routine cervical screening intervals from three years to five years is due to the implementation of a test for high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) as the primary screening test in March 2020. The new test is more effective at identifying those at risk of developing cervical cancer, meaning women who don’t have HPV will be invited for a cervical screening test every five years instead of every three.

The Scottish Government met with the EIS on 8 September for their bi-annual meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. Education recovery, Staffing and COP26 were discussed.

The Scottish Government has regular meetings with the EIS to discuss a range of issues relating to education.

The Scottish Government has not made an assessment of the revenue levels generated by Police Scotland, through the activities of its International Development and Innovation Unit, as the management of all financial matters in relation to Police Scotland, is the responsibility of the Scottish Police Authority.

Scottish citizens, who have had their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine out with Scotland, and 8 or more weeks have past, will be able to receive their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in any of our available vaccination centres.

We have made the vaccine as accessible as possible such as having drop in clinics are available throughout mainland Scotland and also the option to phone the national COVID-19 Vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013.