Chamber and committees

NatureScot has provided statutory conservation advice for a flapper skate nursey area identified in the Inner Sound highlighting that the habitat is of national importance. They recommended that the Scottish Government implements permanent spatial protection at this site, and that interim protection is put in place while further survey work is carried out to assess the extent of the habitat.

We are working to ensure everyone is fully informed regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. A national door drop arrived with households on the week starting January 4th, as well as our digital and social media campaigns, which went live on this date.

Our outdoors advertising campaign Started from 11th of January and a TV and radio campaign began on January the 21st.

The Scottish COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline (0800 030 8013) is now open, to make sure those who are called forward for the vaccine can get the information they need.

Health Boards have set out in their vaccination delivery plans the services that they will provide to meet the needs of their local communities. COVID-19 vaccinations may not take place at all GP practices, however, NHS Scotland will confirm local arrangements. NHS Scotland will invite those on the priority list by phone or letter for an appointment. The Coronavirus Vaccination Helpline on 0800 0308013 is now open to answer any questions, or provide further information about the coronavirus vaccine and its delivery. Website can be accessed at NHS Inform .

We recognise the importance of providing vaccinators with the training and support they require to undertake their role effectively.

Our approach builds on the Green Book on immunisation against infectious disease and aligns with the approach taken by Public Health England.

For individuals who are experienced active vaccinators, training need only cover the specific characteristics of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Where an individual is returning to vaccinations after being inactive for a period of time, their training requirements will be informed by a short self-assessment.

Individuals with no experience as vaccinators will be required to undertake core vaccination training and will require clinical supervision when administering vaccine until confident and competent.

The Scottish Government is provided with the supply forecasts from the NHS NSS on a weekly basis which are refined each week, which can make forward operational planning challenging. These reports forecast up to 4 weeks in advance. The UK vaccines taskforce provides a longer range forecast but this is subject to change.

The Scottish Government has been very clear from day one that the pace of our national vaccine programme is dependent on vaccine supply and delivery timescales and we continue to work closely across the 4 nations to ensure this is as smooth as possible.

New and comprehensive quarantine rules are essential to prevent new variants from entering the country and undermining the roll out of the vaccination programme. Restricting national and international travel allow us to lower the risk of new variants undermining our vaccination programme.

Any decision on ending the policy of managed isolation will be contingent on the epidemiological data and wider evidence about the rollout and success of our vaccination programme. Such a decision will be considered, in due course, in the context of a refreshed strategic approach to suppressing the virus.

The UK Government has awarded a contract enabling the call-off of security services in respect of the managed isolation programme, including in Scotland. The company appointed through that contract to provide security services in Scotland is G4S. The costs of the security services provided are met by the UK Government, with no payment passing directly from guests in the managed isolation programme to G4S.

We will keep these rules under regular review alongside the other international travel restrictions. Ministers must review the need for restrictions imposed under the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 at least once every 28 days. The results of these reviews are reported to Parliament.

We are actively working with the UK Government to ensure financial support can be provided to eligible travellers. The UK system that enables travellers to book managed isolation facilities and pay associated fees has been set up at pace and changes need to be made to that UK system in order to waive fees in certain cases. We have asked for those changes to be made urgently and are waiting for this to be actioned. This support will be available as soon possible.

This Scottish Government has not made any specific representations to the UK Government regarding the recent announcement that HS2 Phase 2a between Birmingham and Crewe has gained Royal Assent.

We have consistently supported HS2 and welcome the increased benefit that Scotland will realise from the improved connectivity and additional reduction in journey times between Glasgow and London that the extension of HS2 will bring.