Chamber and committees

All of our decision making in the approach to responding to Covid-19 is guided by the latest scientific evidence from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) , advice from Health Protection Scotland and our Interim Chief Medical Officer. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provides advice on immunisation to all UK Health Departments, including on the efficacy and safety of vaccines.

Those with severe learning difficulty are considered clinically vulnerable by the JVCI, and are part of cohort 6. This includes all those with severe and complexes learning difficulty and not only those with downs syndrome. The JCVIs full list of those who are considered clinically vulnerable includes,

•Chronic respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis and severe asthma

• Chronic heart disease (and vascular disease)

• Chronic kidney disease 8

• Chronic liver disease

• Chronic neurological disease including epilepsy

• Down’s syndrome

• Severe and profound learning disability

• Diabetes

• Solid organ, bone marrow and stem cell transplant recipients

• People with specific cancers

• Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment

• Asplenia and splenic dysfunction

• Morbid obesity

• Severe mental illness

Scottish Ministers meet regularly with the whisky sector and the Scotch Whisky Association to discuss issues of interest. We share the entire sector's concerns about the impact of US tariffs on Scottish Single Malt whisky. We continue to press the UK Government to resolve the situation and bring it to an end.

The breakdown of Financial Transactions allocated in the Scottish Budget 2021-22 by portfolio is available in table A.05 (page 146) of the Scottish Budget 2021-22 document published on 28 January 2021. The Scottish Budget 2021-22 is still subject to Parliamentary process.

The Budget document is available on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-budget-2021-22/

It should be noted that the figures for the deployment of Financial Transactions provided in answer S5W-34615 on 29 January 2021 were year-end figures showing actual disbursements whereas the Budget document is showing intended allocations which may be subject to in-year adjustments.

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

This fund opened for applications on 16 February. Driving Instructors are also eligible to apply for grants through this fund. The fund will remain open until 16 March 2021.

We recognise that due to Covid-19, there will be increased financial pressures on many households. Since the beginning of the pandemic the Scottish Government has made available support for households struggling with their energy bills through a variety of channels. We increased the budget for the Scottish Welfare Fund to meet additional demand arising as a consequence of Covid-19, as well as providing £15 million further funding for Local Authorities to be used flexibly to provide support to those facing financial insecurity, including support for fuel costs.

Most recently we have distributed £7 million via the Help with Fuel element of the Winter Support Programme. This includes £4 million for a Home Heating Support Fund administered by Advice Direct Scotland, £2 million to the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations for grants to Registered Social Landlords for practical initiatives to help tenants struggling to meet their fuel costs this winter and £445,000 for the Fuel Bank Foundation to help households on prepayment meters, or who rely on unregulated fuels like heating oil, who are at risk of self-disconnection.

Furthermore, Home Energy Scotland (HES) is funded by the Scottish Government to provide a range of energy related advice services and support to householders in Scotland. HES can make referrals for benefit checks, manage energy supplier switching, help with accessing the Warm Home Discount and other financial assistance, as well as providing advice on how to use energy in the home more efficiently. They can also assess eligibility for the Scottish Government’s energy efficiency schemes, which could help make long lasting improvements to home heating systems and insulation.

Individuals that require adjustments in order to receive vaccinations should contact their Health board and GP, so that specialists who are aware of their specific needs may make adjustments best suited to the patient. Appointments may be moved to a clinic if this would be a more comfortable setting, and the individual may be accompanied by their carer. Information on how to facilitate these conversations are available on at NHS inform, in accessible formats.

The Lighthouse Laboratories are the responsibility of the UK Government with regards to operations.

The Scottish Government has been working closely with Health Boards to monitor the performance of turnaround times across all channels including NHS Laboratories and Regional Hubs. Performance is good, with a high percentage of results being returned within 24 hours. The opening of our three regional hub laboratories are an enormous step in our response to the pandemic and will reduce our reliance on the UK Government Lighthouse Lab Network.

Turnaround Times are management information and is not in the position to be published.

As of Boxing Day all non-essential travel abroad has been prohibited by law to and from all areas of Scotland, including those that are currently under the Level 4 Stay At Home order.

The reason this decision was taken was to guard against further avoidable import of new strains of the corona virus (covid-19) in light of published evidence of the significant role that international travel played in re-seeding the infection in Scotland in the second half of 2020.

Since the start of the pandemic the Scottish Government has allocated over £3 billion to help businesses through a comprehensive package of support measures. This includes among others, the Business Support Grant Scheme, the Strategic Framework Business Fund, and the Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund. In total, around 383,000 business support awards totalling‎ £2.3 billion were made between March and the beginning of October 2020. More than 90% of the funds allocated to business support since October are now live with the bulk of funding to support businesses affected by legal restrictions under the Strategic levels.

The Business Grant Funding Scheme was introduced to support businesses occupying non-domestic properties. This included the Small Business Grant which provided £10,000 for the first eligible property, and 75% grants (£7,500) to each additional property, in receipt of the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS), or eligible for the SBBS but in receipt of other reliefs such as charitable rates relief. Phase 3 of this scheme extended eligibility to businesses typically occupying shared spaces , business incubators or shared industrial units, but who are not the ratepayer, provided they could evidence that they were required to contribute towards the charges associated with the non-domestic rates liability. This Scheme closed on 10 July.

From 2 November the Strategic Framework Business Fund offers financial support for businesses required to close by law, or specifically required to modify their operations by law. Eligibility depends on where the premises are located and what level of restrictions are in place at any point in time. These grants are available for eligible business with premises registered for Non-Domestic rates. Businesses that pay non-domestic rates through their landlords may also apply if they can provide evidence of this.

Further, the Local Authority Discretionary Fund empowers local authorities to support businesses and self-employed people in their area who require additional financial support, including supply chain businesses impacted by restrictions. This fund is specifically designed to target businesses who have not received direct financial support through other Scottish Government schemes, and recognises the insight that councils have on the business community in their area and where funding would be most effectively deployed in supporting local economies. It is for Local authorities to use this fund at their discretion, and they will undertake their own assessment of need.

We continue to seek the funding and powers we require to support Scottish businesses through this pandemic and to engage with specific sectors who may face unique impacts and consider how best to provide help and support.

Non-domestic rates relief awards reduce the rates liability associated with a non-domestic premises. A property may still be eligible for a particular relief regardless of the agreed terms of a tenancy agreement. The Scottish Government delivers the most generous non-domestic rates regime in the UK, which includes a package of reliefs that in 2021-22 is worth an estimated £914 million. As part of this we provide the Small Business Bonus Scheme which, based on official statistics as at 1 July 2020, lifts 117,000 properties out of rates altogether.

Tenants who feel that their tenancy agreement should better reflect the costs of operating from a particular premises may wish to discuss this matter with their landlord. The Scottish Government strongly endorses the Code of practice for the commercial property sector Code of practice for the commercial property sector - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and expect landlords and tenants to come together to arrive at a mutually beneficial agreement. Landlords should also provide support to businesses if they too are able to do so .