Chamber and committees

COSLA and SOLACE sit on the Test and Protect Steering Group as the delivery leads for isolation support. This group, which meets weekly, provides leadership and oversight over the delivery of the Test and Protect strategy.

For those who need it, support to isolate is available via the National Assistance Helpline on 0800 111 4000. This number links to local authority teams who will help access support such as essential food and medication, social work services and emotional support. Local authorities are best placed to assess need and make the most appropriate support available.

On 15 July we published refreshed guidance for local authorities on supporting individuals at risk as a result of Coronavirus, to access food and other essentials. This guidance accompanies an additional £15 million funding to end September.

Additionally, local authorities have been provided with a range of options – set out on the Scottish Government website – detailing routes to access food for those who can pay. Following national level discussions, 100,000 priority delivery slots from Iceland supermarket have been made available for those who are at risk during the Coronavirus pandemic. This is a new offer and is in addition to slots allocated to the shielded group. Slots were allocated to local authorities in July.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30266 on 13 July 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

On Thursday 9 July, the First Minister announced that places of worship would be able to re-open for congregational worship and communal prayer or contemplation from 15 July, subject to 2 metre physical distancing and hygiene safeguards.

We will consider how to allow places of worship to fully reopen within the public health requirements advised as we move through Phase 3 and into Phase 4 of our route map. Any decisions on further relaxations will be in line with medical and scientific advice.

Guidance for the safe opening of places of worship at phase 3 of the route map is available on the Scottish Government website.

The Scottish Government will continue to engage closely with faith communities as we move through the easing of the lockdown.

The current Emergency Measures Agreement (EMA) for Abellio ScotRail is due to expire on 20 September 2020 and Transport Scotland is currently considering options beyond that date. Transport Scotland holds ongoing discussions and engagement with Abellio ScotRail.

Through the Emergency Working Principles Agreement (EWPA) agreed between GB Rail Unions and the Rail Delivery Group safeguards have been put in place to protect terms and conditions, this includes maintaining the Scottish Government policy of no compulsory redundancies policy for ScotRail staff.

The EWPA clearly states “in all such circumstances, rail workers will continue to receive their normal basic pay entitlements and any associated contractual allowances that would be normally payable. During this period (Emergency Measures Agreement) there will be no changes to rail workers’ terms and conditions”.

Transport Scotland has estimated an additional cost of around £250 million for both the ScotRail and the Caledonian Sleeper franchises, over the course of the six month Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs).

The current Emergency Measures Agreement (EMA) for Abellio ScotRail is due to expire on 20 September 2020 and Transport Scotland is currently considering options beyond that date.

In the continued absence of clarity from the UK Government concerning additional funding through the Barnett Formula for the Scottish Government to cope with financial pressures arising from Covid, the budgetary implications for ScotRail beyond 20 September are not yet known.

The current Emergency Measures Agreement (EMA) for Abellio ScotRail is due to expire on 20 September 2020 and Transport Scotland is currently considering options beyond that date.

The Scottish Government has a statutory duty to ensure the provision of rail services continue and therefore maintains the necessary contingency plans should an Operator of Last Resort be required.

We have now committed over £110 million directly to support people struggling to access food during the pandemic.

In addition to our original £70m Food Fund announced in March, we have now committed to supporting local authorities with a further £27.6 million over the summer months, and are providing a further £15m for an extension of the shielding programme. The Supporting Communities and Wellbeing Funds have further bolstered this support, investing £5.2m and £2.6m respectively in food related projects. These investments continue to provide support for a range of needs, including for those experiencing financial or physical barriers to food.

The Scottish Government has been taking a ‘cash first’ approach to tackling food insecurity, more than doubling the Scottish Welfare Fund budget and encouraging local authorities to provide support as cash transfers where appropriate.

Many local authorities have used their Food Fund allocation to purchase food from local producers, benefitting both those who have need and their local economies. Local authorities are showing great leadership in this area and we continue to support these efforts.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-29890 on 9 July 2020. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx