Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-34055 on‎ 26 February 2021. 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-34055 on‎ 26 February 2021. 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 held discussions with the Minister of State for Transport on‎ 19 May 2020 and 20 September 2020 regarding HS2.

Transport Scotland Officials and Department for Transport Officials are working in partnership with HS2 Ltd and Network Rail to identify further options that could improve Anglo-Scottish connectivity and the next Working Group Meeting is scheduled for 2 March 2021.

This Scottish Government has not made any specific representations to the UK Government regarding the recent announcement that HS2 Phase 2a between Birmingham and Crewe has gained Royal Assent.

We have consistently supported HS2 and welcome the increased benefit that Scotland will realise from the improved connectivity and additional reduction in journey times between Glasgow and London that the extension of HS2 will bring.

As set out in our October 2019 position paper and September 2020 response to the Scottish Commission on Social Security’s recommendations ; it would not be feasible to deliver an automated Scottish Child Payment until full roll-out of Universal Credit, which is currently scheduled to be 2024 at the earliest. To deliver an automated payment earlier, we would have had to build interfaces with all the legacy benefits, which would be complex, time-consuming and impossible to deliver within the timescales of the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan (2022), especially given the already full programme of work to deliver the devolved benefits.

We remain committed to automation where possible, and we will review the feasibility again as part of the wider review of Scottish Child Payment after full roll out. However, an automated service would still be complex and require substantial work, as well as a significant level of support from the Department for Work and Pensions. We would be absolutely dependent on the UK Government to provide the necessary data we would need to automate the payment, which is not currently provided.

We are currently working through groups one to nine of the JCVI's prioritisation list and aim to have reached the whole of the JCVI priority list by early May. Vaccination of the rest of the adult population will follow thereafter. Prioritisation decisions for phase two of the vaccination programme will be influenced by any additional clinical considerations and further advice from JCVI. Before making any decisions the JCVI will review data on the impact that vaccines have on transmission and effectiveness, when considering how to prioritise vaccination amongst the rest of the population.

Additional information about vaccine delivery is available from NHS Inform and our COVID-19 Deployment plan .

Throughout this pandemic, the Scottish Government has had regular and extensive engagement with airports, airlines and aviation-related stakeholders on a wide range of matters, including quarantine.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35039 on 23 February 2021. 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

Ministers across the Scottish Government have had a number of meetings with the trade unions relevant to their portfolios to consider and inform policies to tackle Covid 19, and its impact on workers and the wider economy and society. In addition to these, I chair a regular roundtable engagement with STUC and affiliate unions on a weekly basis to help manage the impacts of the Covid-19 crisis on workers and in workplaces. The Minister for Older People and Equalities also attends this meeting and has chaired on occasions where I have been unable to attend.

There have been 60 roundtable engagements to date, since 18 March. Initially these engagements were twice weekly with the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture chairing the first 20 meetings and the current weekly arrangement being in place since summer.

The First Minister also continues to meet biannually with the STUC and affiliate trade unions, most recently on 18 January, which included discussion on the impacts of the pandemic.

Separate to these direct ministerial engagements, trade unions have been invited to support the development of sector specific guidance wherever possible. Their input has been obtained either through engagement in working groups or, where that is not feasible, through direct contact with the unions. Contributions from unions have been considered in the shaping of a range of sectoral guidance including in the following areas:

• Horticulture, fruit and vegetables
• Working from home
• Museums, Galleries and Heritage attraction
• Contact Centres
• Stadium guidance for professional football and rugby
• Community Learning & Development Workplace
• Soft play centre
• Financial sector
• Research and laboratories
• Manufacturing
• Home moves
• Performing Arts and Venues
• Events
• Construction
• Food and Drink
• Public Libraries
• Retail sector
• Small and Micro Business
• Transport
• Tourism and Hospitality
• Forestry Sector Safe Working
• Creative Industries

There have also been various other meetings between Ministers and unions related to specific policy areas and COVID-19.

We have increased the Local Authority Discretionary Fund from‎ £30 million to £120 million.