Chamber and committees

The Scottish government will of course stay in close contact on any consideration of animal welfare labelling both by the UK government and the European Union.

Employment Support Allowance (ESA) is a UK wide benefit reserved to the UK Government. Guidance from the Department for Work and Pensions requires that GPs provide fit notes, as evidence of the advice the ESA applicant has been given about their fitness for work, and these are provided free of charge. These requirements do not apply where further non-mandatory evidence is sought to support a claim. The Scottish Government has not made any representations to the UK Government on this specific matter.

The 2021-22 local government finance settlement of almost £11.7 billion includes an additional £375.6 million. or 3.5 per cent for day-to-day revenue spending and represents a fair settlement. In addition, the value of the overall COVID-19 support package for councils now totals more than £1.5 billion and the Scottish Government also agreed a package of financial flexibilities for Scotland's councils to provide further assistance in responding to the pandemic.

Glasgow City Council will receive a total funding package of almost £1.5 billion to support local services, which includes an extra £29.8 million to support vital day to day services, equivalent to an increase of 2.2 per cent compared to 2020-21. To date, the council has been allocated an additional £221.7 million to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, through the local government settlement - over and above their regular grant payments.

In addition, Glasgow City Council will receive their fair share of a further £137 million included in the original 2021-22 local government finance settlement which is currently undistributed. The Council will also receive their fair share of the subsequent 2021-22 funding since the announcement of the settlement and any future funding will continue to be discussed and agreed with COSLA.

However, it is the responsibility of individual councils to manage their own budgets and to allocate the financial resources available to them, including on community facilities, on the basis of local needs and priorities. Ultimately, it is for locally elected representatives to make local decisions on how best to deliver services to their local communities.

Decisions on local government budget allocations for future years are subject to the outcome of negotiations with COSLA.

Concerns raised over the rising number of Covid-19 cases in South Glasgow over the past several days and its links to the more infectious Indian variant of COVID-19 B.1.617.2.

The JCVI highlighted the need to accelerate and promote vaccine uptake for everyone within priority groups 1-9 who have yet to be vaccinated, and bring forward the dose schedule from 12 to 8 weeks in areas where the 02 variant is of the highest threat.

The JCVI’s advice is that an age-based approach is the best way to quickly protect those who haven’t yet had the vaccine.

All of our decision making in the approach to responding to Covid-19 is guided by the latest scientific evidence from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) , advice from Health Protection Scotland and our Chief Medical Officer. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provides advice on immunisation to all UK Health Departments, including on the efficacy and safety of vaccines.

Current JCVI advice does not cover vaccination in those under 18 years old, so far only 16 and 17 years olds in groups 1 -9 are covered.

Clinical trials are currently underway for vaccination of children and young people.

We will continue to engage with vaccine developers, and the JCVI so that if trials are successful we are ready to vaccinate younger age groups, if that is what the clinical and scientific evidence supports.

The UK government`s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is responsible for the delivery of driving tests in Scotland, however the Scottish government works closely with the DVSA to ensure that waiting times to access a driving test are minimised as much as possible. In collaboration with the DVSA we secured delegated authority earlier this year for some transport operators and the emergency services to undertake driving tests for their own staff, thereby reducing the numbers of people awaiting tests at DVSA test centres. In advance of driving tests resuming when Scotland moved to Protection Level 3 on 26 April 2021, we engaged with DVSA on their remobilisation plans and the development of communications materials to ensure that candidates were “test ready” when they presented for a test. We continue to meet regularly with the DVSA to discuss ways in which we can expedite access to driving tests.

In December 2020, the Scottish Government were delighted to announce that Liberton High School would be included within Phase 2 of the £2 billion Learning Estate Investment Programme.

We remain committed to this funding commitment and expect Phase 2 projects, including the replacement for Liberton High School, to be completed by December 2025.

Wind and weather information in respect of the Queensferry Crossing and the Forth Road Bridge are published on a daily basis at https://www.theforthbridges.org/plan-your-journey/wind-and-weather/ . Historical records are available on request at [email protected] .

A review of ferry fares policy is being undertaken as part of the Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP), the successor to the current Ferries Plan (2013-22). This will consider issues such as seasonality and inform future ferry service contracts.

The Scottish Government will take decisions on international travel in the best interests of Scotland at the right time and based on the scientific evidence available. The Global Travel Taskforce and its recommendations are for the UK Government, but where possible we will continue to seek an aligned four nations approach to international travel restrictions.

Recently, this has included alignment on the traffic light system for international travel which came into effect on 17 May 2021. Officials are in regular contact with the Department for Transport and the other devolved administrations on this issue as we make progress in responding to the pandemic.