Chamber and committees

Officials are currently working towards relaunching the consultation on the implementation of the proposed guidance on the provision of wheelchairs on short term loan this month. It is expected that the consultation will last for approximately three weeks, and following collation and analysis of the responses the final guidance will be issued for immediate effect.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32527 on 11 November 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32527 on 11 November 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

The Scottish Government holds no information.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32527 on 11 November 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32527 on 11 November 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

There is no direct legal power or duty for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland to set a minimum income requirement for Scottish Water. Water Industry Commission for Scotland has a duty to promote the interests of current customers and have due regard to the interests of future customers. If Scottish Water were not to raise the full amount of charges allowed for under the draft determination, future customers would face higher charges, less resilient services and pay a disproportionate contribution to the costs of transitioning to net-zero emissions. Water Industry Commission for Scotland considers that setting an expectation for the required revenue by the end of the regulatory control period in this manner will guide Scottish Water and safeguard[s] the interests of future customers.

As Scottish Water’s economic regulator, Water Industry Commission for Scotland sets expectations and/or targets for Scottish Water as part of its determination of charges. This is a key element of the regulatory framework and the relationship between Scottish Water and its economic regulator.

Scottish Water's Annual Accounts will be published and laid in Parliament as soon as possible. The delay in publication this year, in common with many other businesses and organisations, is a necessary consequence of action to address impacts of the ongoing Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic on Scottish Water.

Decisions on what sectors and activities to re-open on our route out of lockdown are guided by the principles set out in our Framework for Decision Making. Proposals are technically assessed using the best available evidence and analysis of their potential benefits and harms to health, the economy, and broader society to minimise overall harm and ensure transmission of the virus continues to be suppressed.

This assessment process includes oversight of the assessed health risks in different settings by the Chief Medical Officer and input from the other Chief Clinicians as appropriate. We have used scientific evidence on transmission coupled with the social and economic benefits which Ministers have used to make decisions. There are a number of relevant factors that would have been considered:

• Duration of contact.
• Ability to maintain distancing.
• Challenge of cleaning surfaces, spaces between and around users.
• Aerosol transmission risk since such activities could give rise to heavier breathing, panting, shouting etc which would all increase the chance of transmission particularly as masks cannot be worn.

The Scottish Government is currently preparing to publish this information in due course.

I refer the member to my answer to question S5O-04711, provided in the Chamber on 4 November 2020. The answer can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12916 .