Chamber and committees

In line with our Programme for Government commitment, the paper outlining the principles and commitments that underpin our care and support for people with long COVID has been published today, 30 September 2021. This is available on the Scottish Government website at www.gov.scot/isbn/9781802013559 .

The Scottish Government is committed to contributing to international development as an essential part of being a good global citizen. Within that, we have committed to Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD) as part of a holistic, cross-Government, approach to our international development offer. The aim of the Ministerial Working Group on PCSD is to support that ongoing commitment by the Scottish Government. Our work on PCSD considers not just our needs but the needs of others overseas, the overall impact of our policies on poor people and poor countries. It will remain a vital component of our contribution to international development as we strive to build a green economy and “leave no one behind” in line with the ethos of the UN SDGs. Our approach is for responsibility for PCSD and its delivery to reside across all Ministerial portfolios, with the Group providing Ministers with the opportunity to reflect on how their portfolios shape and influence these issues, and what is required to improve policy coherence, not just within but across portfolios.

Following publication of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2), Initial Appraisal: Case for Change Reports in February 2021. The following fixed links were included for consideration as part of the appraisal process for Phase 2 of the review:

• New rail connection to/from Cowal linking to the West Highland Line or rail network in Inverclyde or North Ayrshire, including fixed link or ferry crossings
• New rail connection to/from Kintyre linking to Cowal, including fixed link or ferry crossing
• From South Ronaldsay (Orkney Islands) to Gills Bay (Scottish Mainland)
• Sound of Harris
• Sound of Barra
• From Western Isles to the Scottish Mainland
• Between Mull and Scottish mainland
• A tunnel between Benbecula and Skye

From 1 April 2022, ScotRail Trains Ltd will be responsible for engaging with the trades unions.

The information requested is not collected and held centrally

We are currently considering the appropriateness of such agreements, similar to those developed south of the Border, for Scotland. Initial discussions have been held with trade union colleagues and we are keen to explore constructively how they might be involved in any such future arrangement.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2021, which amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021, were made today and will take effect on Friday, 1 October 2021, with the offence provisions coming into effect on 18 October.

The Regulations implement the Scottish Government’s COVID-19 vaccine certification scheme. The scheme is intended to add to the other control measures currently in place and help reduce the rate and impact of transmission of coronavirus while seeking to alleviate the economic harm caused by its transmission. The Regulations support the Scottish Government’s strategic intent to “suppress the virus to a level consistent with alleviating its harms while we recover and rebuild for a better future”.

In line with our strategic intent, the COVID-19 vaccine certification scheme will allow us to meet the following aims:

• reduce risk of transmission;

• reduce risk of serious illness and death and in doing so alleviate pressure on the healthcare system;

• to allow high risk settings to continue to operate as an alternative to closure or more restrictive measures; and

• increase vaccine uptake.

The Regulations provide that late night premises and premises where a relevant event is taking place must operate a reasonable system for checking that persons on, or seeking to enter, their premises are fully vaccinated against coronavirus or are exempt from the requirement to demonstrate that they are fully vaccinated. Relevant premises must also prepare a compliance plan describing how their systems will operate and other measures in place to prevent or minimise the spread of coronavirus.

The Regulations enable a local authority to take appropriate steps to enforce the requirement to operate a vaccine checking system and introduce a right of entry for persons designated by a local authority to enter premises to which this requirement applies. The Regulations also remove capacity limits on stadia and live events above which a capacity exemption application must be approved by a local authority.

The Regulation provides that the system will come into place on 1 October but that the enforcement provisions will be delayed until 18 October, when those provisions come into effect.

The regulations amended by this regulation require Scottish Ministers to review the requirements at least once every 21 days and the regulations require Scottish Ministers to revoke any requirement as soon as it is no longer necessary.

The Regulations have been published at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2021/349/contents/made .

Police Scotland have advised that this has been an exceptionally busy period for the service and particularly for the Contact, Command and Control Division, with an unprecedented call levels to both the 101 non-emergency number and 999 call lines. The COVID pandemic has and continues to place unprecedented pressures on our emergency services. Across Scotland all organisations have had to manage increased leaves of covid-related absence while maintaining service levels.

While delivery of the police 101 service is a matter for Police Scotland, I have sought assurances around its operation and the Chief Constable has outlined a number of improvements, including updated options for callers and system changes to better prioritise calls have been outlined as part of these discussions. Callers to the 101 service are advised if their call is related to an emergency to dial 999. The latest figures show that 999 calls are answered on average within 7 seconds.

It will be a matter for professional judgement for practitioners as to whether the behaviour carried out by the child has caused or is likely to cause “significant harm or abuse” requiring the intervention of a Bairns’ Hoose. It is recognised that children exhibiting or carrying out harmful behaviour are often themselves victims of significant harm and abuse. It is with this in mind that a Bairns’ Hoose is considered the most holistic form of intervention and support for the child to ascertain the circumstances of the harm, whilst at the same time offering therapeutic support to a child who may themselves have been harmed.

There is no legal definition of significant harm or distinction between harm and significant harm. The extent to which harm is significant will relate to the severity or anticipated severity of impact upon a child’s health and development. ‘Harm’ in this context refers to the ill treatment or the impairment of the health or development of the child, including, for example, impairment suffered as a result of seeing or hearing the ill treatment of another. ‘Development’ can mean physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development. ‘Health’ can mean physical or mental health.

Forming a view on the significance of harm and whether or not a child is suitable for a Bairns’ Hoose will be undertaken by an Inter-agency Referral Discussion (IRD). An IRD is a formal process of information sharing, assessment, analysis and decision making following a reported concern about abuse. Placing this decision making forum ahead of any child attending a Bairns’ Hoose is necessary to ensure multi agency professional judgement and decision making informs all decisions relating to investigating harm and subsequent interventions, including whether accessing a Bairns’ Hoose is in the best interests of the child.

The frequency of Working Group meetings will be decided by the group itself when it meets, as it will depend on the issues to be considered.