Chamber and committees

We are committed to learning lessons on every aspect of the response to Covid-19 and are currently exploring the interplay between the UK inquiry and any Scottish inquiry. We will update Parliament on plans as soon as possible.

Information on cancelled planned operations are published by Public Health Scotland on a monthly basis. These details can be found at Cancelled planned operations 1 June 2021 - Data & intelligence from PHS (isdscotland.org)

This information shows the number of cancelled scheduled operations by NHS Board and the reasons for these cancellations.

Information on the number of NHS patients waiting for treatment is published quarterly by Public Health Scotland and can be found at NHS waiting times - stage of treatment 25 May 2021 - Data & intelligence from PHS (isdscotland.org)

This data shows the number of patients on waiting lists and how many have been waiting over 12 weeks. This is shown by NHS Board and can be filtered to show numbers by specialities.

We know the pandemic has had a significant impact on students with many facing resulting financial difficulties. That’s why, since the onset of the pandemic we have committed over £96 million, which includes the additional £20 million we announced on 13 June 2021, to help alleviate the financial burden and stress among students.

Students facing additional hardship, including rent issues, as a result of Covid-19 should apply to their college or university for financial support from the FE/HE Discretionary Funds.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00514 on 16 June 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

COVID-19 is first and foremost a public health crisis, and the measures to combat it have been necessary to save lives. But those measures also cause harm, including for our Faith and Belief Communities.

We know that the virus spreads between people and we’re particularly concerned when it spreads between members of different households. Over time, the virus has mutated to spread more quickly. The Delta variant is even more transmissible than previous variants.

In order to reduce transmission of the virus, we have to reduce opportunities for the virus to spread. There have been varying degrees of restrictions implemented and adjusted as the pandemic has progressed and our understanding has developed. Ministers are obliged to keep these restrictions under regular review to ensure that they remain necessary and proportionate in responding to the pandemic, This is particularly important given that many restrictions significantly interfere with fundamental rights as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights (e.g. Article 9 - freedom of religion, Article 8 - right to private and family life., Article 2 protocol 1 - right to education, Article 1, protocol 1 – right to property, and to the peaceful enjoyment of possessions – which protects every type of business).

The Scottish Government considers a wide range of evidence when making assessments to inform decisions on restrictions. Details of impacts from economic, general wellbeing, mental health and anxiety and other non-Covid related health harms can be found in the four harms dashboard which is updated weekly and can be found at https://data.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/ . Further information about the Scottish Government’s decision-making framework can be found in the paper published on 11 December 2020: Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for decision making - assessing the four harms. This paper provides an overview of key analysis and evidence (and links to more detailed evidence) in support of decisions on how best to limit the effects of COVID-19. In this document, we describe how the four harms approach works in practice and present evidence under each of the harms to illustrate how we used the four harms to make decisions about levels, activities and restrictions.

Protective measures, or non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), are a critical tool in the management of the epidemic. Our levels system is a crucial aspect of this and it works by limiting members of different households from interacting in different settings and activities. Decisions must be made about which activities and settings to restrict in order to achieve the required suppression of the virus. When different restrictions would have similar effects on transmission, difficult decisions must be made about which restrictions to apply, informed by the impacts on the four harms of the different options, as well as impacts on particular groups in society, including those with protected characteristics.

We understand that different sectors or interest groups will often want the restrictions that affect them, and their fundamental rights, to be eased more quickly and will perhaps argue that there is little or no evidence of transmission in that particular setting or activity, or that it is less risky than other comparable settings or activities facing lesser restrictions. Although we do take the transmission risk of different settings and activities very much into account, we take a broader view across all four harms in order to make judgements about the sequencing of any easing. As an example, the importance placed on the education and wellbeing of children led to a decision on the opening of schools as a priority.

The easing of restrictions, has to be balanced with the need to keep the virus suppressed. If we opened everything and lifted all restrictions too early, the virus would resurge. Notwithstanding the positive impact of the vaccination programme, this could lead to exponential growth in hospital admissions and serious health harm. So at this stage, with all adults yet to be offered both doses of the vaccine, we still need to keep some restrictions in place.

As the First Minister set out on 1 June, we do have cause for optimism. Emerging evidence is providing us with a firm basis to believe that in the next phase of the pandemic, expected during summer 2021, we will be able to deal with the virus differently and less restrictively. There should be much less need for legal restrictions on different settings and activities and more scope for people to apply personal judgement as the risk of harm from COVID recedes and much greater normality is restored to our lives.

The Scottish Government is reviewing physical distancing including the impact on places of worship, who are subject to physical distancing based capacity, and an announcement expected in the near future. The review will consider the faster spreading Delta variant as well as the effectiveness of the vaccination roll out. Sectoral guidance will be further updated to reflect the outcome of the review, including proposals for as clear a route as possible to the reduction/removal of physical distancing, enabling people and organisations to plan effectively for a full reopening. We continue to regularly engage with Faith and Belief Communities regarding the scope for further easing.

The Scottish Government works with a wide range of partners, particularly our enterprise agencies and local authorities, who have lead responsibility for local economic development in the area, to deliver investment and support job creation across Scotland, including the Central Scotland region.

We have committed £500 million to the Glasgow City Deal and £50 million to the Falkirk Growth Deal to support delivery of programmes of investment directly benefitting the Central Scotland parliamentary region. This investment will stimulate economic growth and create jobs in the construction phase of projects and beyond.

Scottish Enterprise works with a wide range of local businesses to help them to meet their growth aspirations and support job creation. Since 2019, Scottish Enterprise has invested over £3.35 million in Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) Grants, and almost £12 million in Research & Development (R&D) grants, to support projects that will help create and safeguard jobs in North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire and Falkirk.

Businesses are also directly supported via Business Gateway. Business Gateway, delivered by the local authorities, is Scotland’s first stop shop for businesses seeking public sector support, including how to grow their business and create jobs. Since 2019, Business Gateway has invested over £6 million in supporting businesses across the Central Scotland local authority areas, and through its DigitalBoost programme, delivered over £2.3 million to support companies to develop their digital skills and online presence to reach wider markets.

Additionally, the investment we make in areas such as local government, housing, education and skills, transport and health contribute to job growth. For example, in February 2021 we completed the £1.8 billion Scotland’s Schools for the Future Programme, which saw 117 new schools built or refurbished over the last ten years. Falkirk, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire collectively had 11 schools in the program, benefiting from £160 million investment, and the associated 1,500 construction jobs created by the programme at any one time. On Transport infrastructure, in March 2020 work completed on the £870 million Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme, improving railway infrastructure, rolling stock and service provision throughout central Scotland including Falkirk, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire. Construction supported around 600 jobs across the programme.

Since the start of the pandemic supporting the recovery of Scotland’s businesses is a key focus for the Government with businesses directly benefitting from £3.6 billion in support overall, with £434.6 million paid out through restart grants and transitional payments. The Scottish Government recognises it is crucial to get businesses open safely and back to full profitability, delivering the maximum support for businesses and the economy as possible.

The Scottish Government regularly publishes statistics and management information relating to its Covid-19 business grants on our website at Coronavirus (COVID-19): business support funding statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) , the next publication is due on 11 June 2021.

The national public bodies directory has been updated to reflect the most up to date funding information for individual public bodies. I refer the member to the website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-public-bodies-directory/pages/executive-non-departmental-public-bodies/

Skills Development Scotland does not report apprenticeship starts by parliamentary constituency or region, but by Local Authority. Published apprenticeship starts from 2019 in the local authorities within the Central Scotland Parliamentary Region are: