Chamber and committees

Information on Ministerial engagements is routinely published on the Scottish Government website and can be found at: www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/ .

Visits are not recorded by parliamentary or constituency region.

As part of our enhanced surveillance systems, we continue to monitor, assess and be ready to respond to COVID-19 and other health threats.

Wearing of a face covering in public spaces and on public transport stopped being a legal requirement in April 2022 and the extended use of face masks and face coverings guidance across health and social care settings was withdrawn on 16 May 2023.

Current COVID-19 specific guidance is still in place for the public and wider guidance for individuals and workplaces promoting a risk-based approach to building resilience to respiratory infections, including Covid-19.

Scotland continues to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic and at this stage of the pandemic we are now living with COVID-19 as a respiratory infection and the Scottish Government has taken proportionate actions to do so.

Our guidance remains the same for the public; if you have symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19, try to stay at home and avoid contact with others – if you do need to go out, wear a well-fitting face covering. You may also wish to consider wearing, and you may be asked to wear a face covering in other settings.

In regard to health and social care settings Scotland has now reverted back to pre-pandemic guidance and health and social care staff are advised to follow the infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance on the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) which can be found in the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) and the Care Home Infection Prevention and Control Manual (CH IPCM).

Any change in response will be driven by the data and evidence gathered, as well as expert advice.

Yes, the Scottish Government annual surveys continue to gather data, in order to support future assessments on microplastics in surface water. Although there is currently no internationally agreed baseline for microplastics in surface water, as referenced in the answer to question S6W-23886, all our marine litter data contributes to regional monitoring across the North East Atlantic, through OSPAR (the Oslo-Paris Convention), and would contribute to any baseline developed in the future.

Further to the answers to questions S6W-01058 on 13 July 2021, S6W-23231 on 11 December 2023, S6W-23886 on 12 January 2024, S6W-23887 on 9 January 2024, and S6W-24462 on 16 January 2024, our microplastics monitoring programme began in the winter of 2013, and has continued to undertake annual surveys since that time. The current data collection season runs from November 2023 to the end of January 2024.

Data from this monitoring programme enabled the initial assessment for microplastics in surface water to be conducted. This was published in Scotland’s Marine Assessment 2020, which can be viewed at https://marine.gov.scot/sma/assessment/microplastics-surface-water

As referenced in the answer to question S6W-24462 on 16 January 2024, the 2022-23 data is currently undergoing quality control and processing. Once the 2023-24 data collection season has concluded, the processing will commence on the data for the whole season. Data from both these years will be published once processed.

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-24110 on 18 January 2024. 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-24444 on 22 January 2024. 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-24110 on 18 January 2024. 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-24444 on 22 January 2024. 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 .

This is a matter for the independent Scottish Housing Regulator to determine. The SHR has published information about the application process for statutory managers ( Statutory Manager List - Application pack | Scottish Housing Regulator ).

Further to my response to the question S60-02933 on 10 January 2024, I have not set a deadline for the full or partial reopening of sites affected by high level masonry issues. Historic Environment Scotland continues to put the health and safety of individuals first and will continue reopening sites when safe to do so.

Details of the inspection programme and site reopening's are published on the Historic Environment Scotland website: High Level Masonry Inspections | Historic Environment Scotland . Indeed the member will be pleased to note that the website currently advises that Bothwell Castle in her constituency is due to reopen for Easter 2024.

I will continue to engage with Historic Environment Scotland on the inspection programme and the reopening of sites affected.

The statutory manager is not an employee of the Scottish Housing Regulator or of the landlord. The appointment is to carry out a statutory function. It is for the SHR to determine the information it publishes on those appointed to the statutory managers list to ensure the process is open and transparent.