Chamber and committees

This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland and I have asked them to respond directly.

This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland and I have asked them to respond directly.

This measure supports the liquidity of license providers, allowing them to assist customers through deferred payment terms. Businesses will need to pay their Licensed Provider back over time and Licensed Providers will need to pay Scottish Water for wholesale costs again over time.

This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland and I have asked them to respond directly.

The retail market structures in Scotland and in England are very different. The Scottish Government considers the overall package of support available to Licensed Providers and customers to be appropriate for the market structure in Scotland.

Guidance has been issued to public service providers and retailers that remain open, that they must ensure a distance of two metres between customers, and between customers and shop assistants, letting people enter the shop only in small numbers, to ensure that spaces are not crowded and to ensure queue control is consistent with social distancing advice. The guidance does not specifically refer to supporting people with sight loss or to the use of tactile markers, however, the Scottish Government would expect staff to be vigilant and assist any individuals who may face difficulty in maintaining a two metre social distance.

The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that a disabled person has, as far as is reasonable, the same access as a non-disabled person. The Scottish Government expects service providers to adapt these adjustments in light of the current COVID-19 situation and it is up to individual service providers to determine what these adjustments are.

We would also ask that the general public is similarly supportive and, in particular, that care is taken to give anyone with a visual impairment or other disability, sufficient space and time so that they can access supermarkets and other facilities safely, in line with the current Covid-19 guidance.

The First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport informed Parliament on 17 March 2020 that the National Health Service would contact people who are most vulnerable to Covid-19. The first letters with advice to people in the shielded groups were issued on 26 March 2020. Every person who was initially identified has been sent a letter of advice.

Guidance has been issued to public service providers and retailers that remain open, that they must ensure a distance of two metres between customers, and between customers and shop assistants, letting people enter the shop only in small numbers, to ensure that spaces are not crowded and to ensure queue control is consistent with social distancing advice. The guidance does not specifically refer to supporting people with sight loss or to the use of tactile markers, however, the Scottish Government would expect staff to be vigilant and assist any individuals who may face difficulty in maintaining a two metre social distance.

The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that a disabled person has, as far as is reasonable, the same access as a non-disabled person. The Scottish Government expects service providers to adapt these adjustments in light of the current COVID-19 situation and it is up to individual service providers to determine what these adjustments are.

We would also ask that the general public is similarly supportive and, in particular, that care is taken to give anyone with a visual impairment or other disability, sufficient space and time so that they can access supermarkets and other facilities safely, in line with the current Covid-19 guidance.

The Transport Transition Plan was recently launched and guidance has been issued to public transport providers. Further information can be found at:
https://www.transport.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/transport
-transition-plan/guidance-for-transport-operators/

Physical distancing measures are steps everyone should take to reduce social interaction between people. This will help reduce the spread of coronavirus. Guidance on physical distancing is available on the Scottish Government website physical (social) distancing guide and although this is not specific to those with sight loss, the Scottish Government has worked with NHS Inform to ensure that all Covid-19 guidance, as well as that on physical distancing, is available in accessible formats, including audio. Audio files can be found here -

https://www.nhsinform.scot/translations/formats/audio/coronavirus-covid-19

Additionally, vision impairment charities have produced some top tips on physical distancing, for those that are blind or visually impaired. Examples can be found here:

https://www.rnib.org.uk/campaigning/campaigning-news/rnib-sends-supermarkets-guidance

https://www.henshaws.org.uk/top-tips-for-social-distancing-if-you-are-blind-or-visually-impaired/

https://www.sightadvicefaq.org.uk/coronavirus-information/Getting-out-and-about/social-dist-CV

Where keeping a two metre distance is difficult or not possible, the message remains the same for us all, stay at home wherever possible, except for essential trips. For those who do not have someone in their household to accompany them and cannot safely make essential trips on their own and need urgent supplies, including; essential food and medication or local social work services or emotional support or to contact local volunteer group, a National Assistance Helpline has been set up to provide assistance. Further details can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-help-for-vulnerable-people/ .’