Chamber and committees

We welcome and have noted the technical report on ‘COVID-19 in children and the role of school settings in transmission – second update’ from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The COVID-19 Advisory Sub-Group on Education and Children’s Issues has previously recognised that the Delta variant is more transmissible than the previously dominant variants, including among children. However, compared to adults, children are at much lower risk of severe COVID-related health outcomes. Once infected, they are more likely to experience mild or asymptomatic infection. Severe illness, hospitalisation and mortality are rare. Moreover, the evidence base continues to suggest that children transmit the virus at lower rates than adults, are more likely to transmit among themselves than to adults, and that cases in education settings follow and mirror transmission rates in the community where adult to adult transmission is more common. The summary report of the evidence on children, schools, early learning and childcare settings and transmission from COVID-19 provides more detail.

From w/c Monday 20 September all 12-15 year olds will be eligible for one dose of the vaccine which should help reduce transmission in children 12 years old and above.

Public inquiries under the Inquiries Act 2005 do not determine civil or criminal liability. Those are matters for the courts.

The Lord Advocate is responsible for the investigations of deaths. This function is wholly independent of the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government is currently inviting views from the public on aims and principles for the Covid public inquiry, to help shape the terms of reference for the inquiry. A mailbox where views can be shared has been set up and will remain open up to 30 September. We are also arranging meetings with key stakeholders, including representatives of those bereaved during the pandemic, who remain at the centre of our engagement.

The Scottish Government does not collect statistics on private or fee-paying schools, including on the destinations of their leavers. Scottish Government statistical collections focus on publicly funded and Grant Aided schools for which it provides funding.

In the National Improvement Framework and Improvement Plan, we set out our approach to measuring the poverty related attainment gap with 11 key measures identified to assess progress. We have plans to formally review the 11 NIF measures with partners to ensure they are comprehensive, as we recognise that national data needs to provide an accurate understanding of the wide range of learners’ achievement. Local authorities and school leaders are also able to use local knowledge and data to ensure support is targeted towards the children and young people who require it most.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02795 on 21 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 delivery of training by Police Scotland’s International Development and Innovation Unit is a matter for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland. The Scottish Police Authority has responsibility for oversight of Police Scotland and to scrutinise the decisions of the Chief Constable.

As part of the NHS Scotland response to coronavirus (COVID-19), an Innovation Workstream has been created to manage the evaluation of antibody and swab (PCR) tests. This workstream is led by NHS NSS and clinical scientists from NHS Health Boards, and is designed to take advantage of rapid innovations within testing, while at the same time avoiding duplication of effort between Health Boards.

As part of this workstream, antibody tests being used within Scotland are validated by NHS Scotland. The evaluation reports for the antibody assays which have currently been validated and are in use are publicly available, and can be found on NHS Scotland’s Health Innovation Assessment Portal . These evaluation reports show the high sensitivity and specificity of antibody tests approved for use within Scotland.

Scotland is also part of the UK National Testing Programme, participating in UK-wide antibody studies such as the Post Positive PCR Antibody Testing Initiative, where antibody tests have been validated by the UK Government. These validation reports are publicly available, and can be found on the UK Government website .

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the newborn hearing test and newborn infant physical examination. These would need to be requested from health boards directly.

The following table shows the number of babies screened using the bloodspot test in the newborn screening programme between January 2019 and July 2021.

It is important to note that the data provided below is management information and has not been subject to the necessary quality checks carried out for an official publication.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02419 on 21 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 Scottish Government was deeply concerned to learn that CalaChem Ltd is entering into a consultation with its manufacturing services workforce in Grangemouth. Through Scottish Enterprise we have engaged with CalaChem Ltd, and will continue to work with them throughout its consultation period to explore all possible options to support the business and workforce.

In the unfortunate event that job losses should occur, the Scottish Government will provide support to all affected employees through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE). We have already contacted the company and have outlined the offer of PACE support for employees in the unfortunate event this may be needed.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00570 on 21 June 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.