Chamber and committees

There is currently no NHS approved testing for COVID-19 available for purchase on a commercial basis.

Health and social care workers in Scotland continue to be the top priority for testing and will continue to access testing through the NHS and through the UK programme if necessary.

Through the UK wide testing programme announced on 25 April eligible employers in these additional sectors will be able to register their employees for a test and key workers will then be able to book a test for themselves or members of their household if they are symptomatic.

The additional key workers eligible for testing include those in critical national infrastructure which is fundamental for safety and security and lifeline services, staff in other essential services, and volunteers in areas important to economic sustainability and growth.

The Scottish Government is in regular dialogue with key stakeholders to understand the impact of reported increases in people exercising their access rights during the Covid-19 pandemic and to develop an agreed position. Officials have engaged and consulted with the National Farmers’ Union Scotland, Scottish Land and Estates, the Ramblers Association and Scotways, as well as with Scottish Natural Heritage.

As a result, on 9 April 2020 I released a statement - endorsed by all of the stakeholders mentioned above - setting out what ‘responsible access’ means in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The statement makes it clear that while access rights will continue to apply, exercising those rights responsibly means respecting the needs of other people, and emphasises that people will need to adapt their behaviour in the national effort to contain the disease’s spread. It stresses that farmers must be allowed to go about their business without interference or fear of unnecessary exposure to Covid-19. It also notes that land managers should respect access rights, which are particularly important at this difficult time, and if necessary should use helpful signs to indicate where access may be problematic and suggest reasonable alternative routes.

The full statement, setting out what exercising rights of responsible access under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 means during the coronavirus emergency is available on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/ministerial-statement-on-access-rights-during-covid-19/ .

This statement has been supplemented by further, more detailed guidance and signage, produced by Scottish Natural Heritage, which is available on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code website:

https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/access-outdoors-during-current-coronavirus-outbreak-guidance-public-and-land-managers .

The Oil and Gas Energy Transition Strategic Leadership Group last met on 2nd April. I chaired an extraordinary meeting of this Group, convened virtually, and which heard directly from the sector and supply chain on the immediate impact and response to COVID-19, and the predicted medium to longer term challenges caused by a sharp drop in oil and gas prices due to a global oversupply and falling global demand as a consequence of COVID-19 related lockdowns in major economies across the Globe. This Group comprises key stakeholders including senior representation from the Oil and Gas Authority, Oil and Gas UK, the STUC and offshore trade unions, offshore operators and the wider supply chain.

A further meeting of the Strategic Leadership Group is scheduled for 7 May, where SLG members will seek to take a task force approach, to reflect the severity of challenges faced by the sector. It is expected that subsequent meetings of the SLG will be held on a monthly basis to ensure regular opportunities for senior-level engagement on measures to support the sector at this most challenging time.

The Scottish Government has published analysis of the economic impact of COVID-19 in the State of the Economy report in April. It includes analysis on how COVID-19 is affecting sectors of the economy in different ways. The publication can be found via https://www.gov.scot/publications/state-economy-april-2020/

COVID-19 associated lockdowns have seen global demand for oil fall by around a third, while gas demand has also declined, resulting in sharp falls in the price of oil and gas and concerns over storage capacity. The oil and gas industry has also faced significant operational issues as a result of COVID-19 given the nature of its offshore working environment, and has responded by reducing offshore operations to minimum levels.

Oil and Gas UK estimate that capital expenditure across the UK Continental Shelf could decrease by between 30-40% in 2020 from original plans, while operational expenditure is anticipated to be reduced by between 10-20%. Deferrals and cancellations of new projects is expected to put further pressure on the fragile supply chain, with sectors most exposed to capital projects such as drilling and well contractors most impacted. Direct and indirect jobs in the UK supported by industry could decline by between 25,000-30,000 over the next 12-18 months according to Oil and Gas UK.

Ministers, officials and Scotland’s enterprise agencies continue to engage closely with counterparts in the UK Government, industry, unions, and academia to monitor developments and their impacts and consider appropriate support mechanisms.

The current timetable for the Strategic Review of Charges process is detailed in our recent consultation “Investing in and paying for your water services from 2021: final consultation”. This states that the Water Industry Commission for Scotland expects to publish its draft determination of charges in May 2020 and following consideration of this document I expect to publish the final Objectives and Principles of Charging in June 2020. However, this is subject to review and may be adjusted to allow more consideration of the impacts of the current pandemic.

I refer the member to the answer to S5W-23948 on 28 June 2019 and re-iterate that the Scottish Government will continue to listen to a wide range of views as it develops the policy framework that enables the independent regulator to determine a fair structure of water charges.

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

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28268 on 4 May 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28268 on 4 May 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to S5W-27963 on 15 April 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 .

The Scottish Government is committed to its National Infrastructure Mission which will increase investment by £1.5 billion per annum by end 2025/26. The economic case for this increase is only strengthened by current circumstances. Infrastructure Investment will be instrumental in supporting the economy and offering stimulus for resilience and recovery of the Scottish Economy in response to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Of course the full impact of Covid 19 will take time to emerge. We will consider how best to restart those elements of infrastructure investment which have been affected when restrictions are able to ease, including possible options to accelerate spending.

Within the constraints of available capital grant and borrowing powers, the forthcoming Infrastructure Investment Plan and Capital Spending Review will support Scottish industry to remain resilient through the initial stages of the crisis and provide the most positive impact in the medium and long term.