Chamber and committees

Modernisation and investment in Air Traffic Control is essential if we are to ensure safe, reliable and sustainable air services for the future in the Highlands and Islands. Ongoing implementation of the Air Traffic Management 2030 Strategy, including potential mitigation measures arising from consideration of the Islands Communities Impact Assessment, remains an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.

Emerging data suggests that some individuals with suppressed immune systems may not mount a full immune response to COVID-19 vaccination.

The multi-centred OCTAVE study led by colleagues from Glasgow University published their preliminary findings with widespread media coverage. The study funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Medical Research Council (MRC) was designed to evaluate the immune responses following COVID-19 vaccination in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases including inflammatory arthritis and Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) (an auto-immune disease affecting small blood vessels) who have received Rituximab treatment, along with a host of other conditions with various degrees of immunosuppression.

Initial findings suggest that in total about 40% of those across the patient groups studied produced a low antibody response to two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, and the proportion varied depending on the nature of the immune impairment.

The OCTAVE group presented their findings to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and the Committee took into account these findings to make their recommendation on a third primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine for severely immunocompromised people.

A second study called OCTAVE DUO, led by the same researchers and also funded by UKRI, is examining whether a third dose will give a stronger immune response in people with impaired immune systems.

Information about these studies is available at: Vaccine responses in patients with impaired immune systems – UKRI

New study tests third jab for people with weakened immune systems – UKRI

On 3 September 2021 we introduced QR codes to vaccination status records. People can either download or request a paper copy of their vaccination status from NHS Inform or call the Freephone Helpline 0808 196 8565.

Scottish Government has a long-standing record of providing the most generous non-domestic rates regime in the UK and were the first Government in the UK to offer any extension to relief for the retail, hospitality, leisure and aviation sectors for 2021-22.

Decisions on non-domestic rates including the poundage and reliefs are traditionally set out in the Scottish budget alongside other government priorities. The Programme for Government recognises the importance of a fair, just and sustainable recovery with local business and communities at the heart, and future spend will be determined as part of the Scottish budget process.

Skills Development Scotland publish Modern Apprenticeship statistics quarterly under official statistics protocols, by financial year rather than calendar year.

Apprenticeships have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic as employers have reviewed, delayed and paused recruitment plans. Official statistics published by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) on 25 May 2021 reported 18,655 Modern Apprenticeship starts by the end of Quarter 4 2020-21. Prior to Covid-19 we consistently exceeded annual Apprenticeship targets and we were on track to meet our target of 30,000 Modern Apprenticeships starts by 2020-21. As part of the recovery, we will build back up to 30,000 starts.

For 2021-22, official statistics published by Skills Development Scotland on 10 August 2021 report 3,402 Modern Apprenticeship starts by the end of Quarter 1. This is 3.7 times the number of MA starts at the same time last year in Quarter 1 2020-21 (910 starts). In line with official statistics protocols Skills Development Scotland will publish further Modern Apprenticeship statistics at the end of each quarter.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented and continues to present unprecedented challenges for businesses across Scotland. Uncertainty in the labour market has led to many employers delaying and pausing recruitment decisions, which is impacting on apprenticeship starts.

Prior to the pandemic, we consistently exceeded annual Apprenticeship targets and were on track to meet our target of 30,000 Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships starts by 2020-21.

The Scottish Government will continue to work collaboratively with Skills Development Scotland to maximise apprentice uptake. As set out in our manifesto, we will build back up to 30,000 starts and assess demand to see how much further we can go, supporting the long-term future of work-based learning and our economy.

Official statistics published by Skills Development Scotland on 10 August 2021 show a positive increase in Modern Apprenticeship (MA) starts compared to the same time last year. There were 3,402 Modern Apprenticeship starts from 01 April to end of June this year – 3.7 times the number of MA starts at the same time last year. MA starts this quarter are still 21.5% lower than pre-pandemic levels in Q1 2019-20, reflecting continuing challenges from COVID-19 as many employers make difficult business decisions.

The Scottish Government has allocated £165,625 to NHS Shetland for 2021-22 to support the Scottish Rural Medical Collaborative develop the Rediscover the Joy in General Practice Project to ensure that remote and rural, including island, health boards can recruit and retain GPs to permanent positions. Currently there are 30 doctors recruited from other areas to work up to 18 weeks a year in practices in remote and rural areas.

Our approach is for people to have access to the support they may need for assessment, diagnosis, care and rehabilitation in a setting that is as close to their home as possible. This is being supported through local primary care teams, community based rehabilitation services and secondary care investigation where needed.

NHS Boards, including our Island Boards are developing pathways according to local services and the needs of their respective populations, to support people with long COVID. We continue to engage with Boards to identify their support needs in relation to delivering care and support to people with long COVID.

In addition, we have invested over £460,000 in Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland to enable them to deliver their ‘Long COVID support service’ which complements the support being provided by NHS Scotland.

Attendance and absence figures for 2020-21 are currently based on daily management information and has only been subjected to limited quality checking.

Bearing this in mind, since March 2021, this data shows that:

Primary Schools

• 26.1% of primary pupils were not in school more than 10% of the time
• 1.0% of primary pupils were not in school more than 50% of the time

Secondary Schools

• 50.1% of secondary pupils were not in school more than 10% of the time
• 5.0% of secondary pupils were not in school more than 50% of the time

Only pupils who had a total of at least 50 half day openings have been included in the analysis (note: where half-day sessions refer to mornings/afternoons when schools were providing learning), which was based on daily management information from 15 March 2021 – 2 April 2021 (inclusive - primary schools only) and 12 April 2021 – 25 June 2021 (inclusive - primary and secondary schools). Note that between 15 March 2021 and 2 April 2021 secondary schools were still closed to most pupils. As such, this period has not been included in the analysis for secondary schools.

The Scottish Government will be publishing its National Statistics on pupil attendance and absence in due course. These figures will be more subjected to quality assurance procedures, and as such, will be of higher quality than our current data.

Attendance and absence information is only collected every two years so no figures are available for 2017-18 or 2019-20.

Figures for 2018-19 and 2020-21 show that:

Primary Schools

• 14.6% of primary pupils were absent more than 10% of the time in 2018-19. In 2020/21, 25.4% of primary pupils were not in school more than 10% of the time.
• 0.2% of primary pupils were absent more than 50% of the time in 2018-19. In 2020/21, 1.0% of primary pupils were not in school more than 50% of the time.

Secondary Schools

• 29.3% of secondary pupils were absent more than 10% of the time in 2018-19. In 2020-21, 49.6% of secondary pupils were not in school more than 10% of the time.
• 2.0% of secondary pupils were absent more than 50% of the time in 2018/19. In 2020-21, 4.0% of secondary pupils were not in school more than 50% of the time.

The 2018-19 figures refer to absences from school. Pupils may be recorded as attending school without being in class in situations including attendance at school trips or work experience, when receiving educational provision outside of their school, when attending short medical or dental appointments or when physically in school but not in their class. These figures are from the biennial Attendance and Absence data collection and cover the entire school year. Published outputs from this collection are classed as National Statistics and data are subject to robust quality assurance procedures.

Whereas, figures for 2020-21 are based on daily management information and have only been subjected to limited quality checking. The results only cover the period from 17 August 2020 - 23 December 2020 (inclusive - primary and secondary schools), 15 March 2021 – 2 April 2021 (inclusive - primary schools only) and 12 April 2021 – 25 June 2021 (inclusive - primary and secondary schools) - as these were the periods when schools were fully open to all pupils in a particular school sector. Also, only pupils who had a total of at least 100 half-day sessions have been included in the analysis (note: where half-day sessions refer to mornings/afternoons when schools were providing learning).

Most schools operate 9 or 10 openings a week.

Figures from the 2020-21 daily management information are not directly comparable to the 2018-19 National Statistics due to differences in collection methods, the level of quality assurance undertaken and COVID-19 related school closures in 2020-21. The National Statistics on attendance and absence in 2020-21 are due to be published later this year.