Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02296 on
‎ 10 September 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The First Minister announced in the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government on 7 September that this Government will carry out scoping work on the remit and powers of a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill, in this Parliamentary year.

A decision on the timing of a Bill will be taken by Cabinet in the context of setting the content of future legislative programmes. Meantime, the Scottish Government will work closely with stakeholders to consider the issues and how to deliver change quickly and effectively to uphold people’s rights.

The Scottish Government aims to carry out scoping work on the remit and powers of a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Commissioner in this Parliamentary year.

Following the successful passage of a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill, a Commissioner would be appointed as soon as possible.

The Scottish Government is not currently introducing on-demand antibody testing.

Immune responses are more complex than the measure of an antibody test. The Chief Medical Officer's advice urges caution around the interpretation of antibody test results, and has advised Health Boards in Scotland to focus on using antibody tests to improve our understanding of COVID-19, and in the clinical management of patients, where appropriate.

Clinicians have the discretion to request an antibody test for an individual if they determine the result will be of benefit to the clinical management of a patient.

We know the vaccine offers significant protection against the virus, and as further research of the immune response to COVID-19 vaccinations in patients with immunosuppressed conditions continues, we would urge those individuals to continue to be cautious to help keep themselves safe.

Research is underway which will help us better understand the immune response to COVID-19, and vaccine efficacy in immunosuppressed groups, and which will be instrumental in helping inform how best to protect immunocompromised individuals from COVID-19 infection in the future.

Our approach to antibody testing is being kept under review.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02569 on
‎ 9 September 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Local authorities and integration authorities have legal duties to provide carer support under the Carers Act. In practice they commission third sector organisations, including carers centres, to provide much of that support on their behalf. The 2021-22 budget contains an additional £28.5 million in the local government settlement for Carers Act implementation. Added to similar (baselined) increases in previous years since the Act came into force in April 2018, this brings the total investment in the Carers Act for 2021-22 to £68 million per year. It is for local authorities and integration authorities to decide how to use the funding to meet their duties under the Carers Act, but it is expected that this will include providing additional funding to carers centres and other organisations commissioned to expand carer support.

The previous Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport wrote to local authorities in March 2021 to highlight the importance of using this additional funding to expand carer support: www.gov.scot/publications/carers-act-finance-2021-2022-letter

Alongside funding for the Carers Act, the Scottish Government also funds the Time to Live scheme, administered by Shared Care Scotland, to enable local carer organisations to provide small grants for carers to spend on short breaks or something that gives them a break from caring. In response to the pandemic, we put an additional £910,000 into the scheme in 2020-21 and have committed a further £400,000 in 2021-22.

In 2019 the Scottish Government launched the Young Carers Package with Young Scot. The idea behind this was to help support young carers with their well-being, education and life goals as well as taking some sort of a break. So the package offers exclusive discounts, vouchers, opportunities and prizes to win all geared towards this goal.

In recognition of the pressures on young carers during the pandemic, an additional £300,000 has been provided to Young Scot to add new e-vouchers and opportunities suitable for home use and physical distancing to their young carer package for 11-18 year olds. New opportunities include subscriptions to mindfulness relaxation apps, mobile data top ups, sanitary product vouchers, entertainment subscriptions and e-vouchers to some of the most popular stores and wellbeing boxes filled with things to help young carers take care of their mental wellbeing.

Following the publication of Guidance on the provision of wheelchairs on short term loan in March 2021 ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/guidance-provision-wheelchairs-short-term-loan/ ) Scottish Government officials will shortly commence a 6 month review of implementation with Health and Social Care Partnerships, who have delegated responsibility for the provision of community equipment, including short-term wheelchair loans.

The review will seek an update on local areas progress towards implementation and will also offer implementation support to any areas requiring it. Following the 6 month review we would expect the guidance to be fully implemented across all Health and Social Care Partnerships by March 2022.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02569 on
‎ 9 September 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02569 on
‎ 9 September 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Local authorities are expected to respond to statutory nuisance complaints on council owned property, such as where the deposit of bird droppings may have an effect on public health. The responsibility for dealing with nuisance gulls on private property is for the relevant owner although local authorities can provide advice and assistance, and have powers under environmental protection legislation to tackle nuisances.