Chamber and committees

We are aware that the tightening of restrictions announced by the First Minister on 22 September may cause additional concerns and in some cases heightened emotional distress. However the Scottish Government is committed to both taking appropriate action to contain the virus and providing clear, comprehensive and accessible support for mental health.

As part of this commitment, during the Covid pandemic period we have provided funding to increase the capacity of NHS24’s telephone and online mental health support services. This includes expanding the NHS24 Mental Health Hub so that it is now available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; it also includes expanding the capacity of the Breathing Space telephone helpline and web support service, and providing extra capacity for Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

We have also expanded the Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) programme into a nationwide response for people in distress. Now, anyone who phones the NHS24 Mental Health Hub in emotional distress from anywhere in Scotland and who does not need emergency clinical intervention and is assessed as appropriate for referral to DBI can be referred to the DBI Programme for further support.

Further advice and support for mental health is available through the NHSInform and Clear Your Head websites, which have information on practical tips, resources, and services to support wellbeing.

Visiting is a fundamental part of the health and wellbeing of those who live in care homes, and I recognise how incredibly hard it has been for residents and their families not to have regular face to face contact.

The visiting guidance has been developed with input from members of the Scottish Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer and Care Homes Clinical and Professional Advisory Group, a multidisciplinary group providing clinical and professional advice throughout the pandemic on care homes. The guidance supports a visiting pathway on the reintroduction of visits and we are at stage 3 of the pathway. The Group is looking again at what more we can do to strike a better balance between family and visitor contact, activities, and healthcare services for residents, whilst at the same time protecting them from the introduction of the virus into their homes.

I am continually looking at this issue and working with Scottish Care and others, as well as meeting with campaigners from Care Home Relatives Scotland, to hear their views as to how we may further safely improve visiting.

The enforcement of the Coronavirus Regulations is a matter for the Chief Constable and Police Scotland. Police Scotland have indicated that, to date, the vast majority of people are, as we would expect, complying with the regulations.

In Police Scotland’s approach, enforcement has always been a last resort, where engagement, explanation and encouragement to comply have not secured the desired outcome. While the Chief Constable has made it clear that it is important that Police Scotland’s policing tone and style reflects the need for positive engagement and that common sense needs to be applied by everyone, he has said that officers will take decisive action to enforce the law in cases where it is being flagrantly broken.

Any breaches of the requirements in the regulations may be subject to enforcement action, including a fixed penalty notice or prosecution in court.

Ensuring police have the powers to enter and disperse large house parties is another tool in suppressing the virus. While we expect these powers to be used as a last resort, it will help to reduce the potential for future clusters and outbreaks. It is only because of the unprecedented crisis that we are facing, and to save lives, that emergency powers have been introduced. They are temporary powers and will be kept under review.

Our guidance on preparing for the start of new school term in August 2020 ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-preparing-start-new-school-term-august-2020-version-2/pages/2/ ) aims to support a safe return to school for all children, young people and staff taking full account of progress made in suppressing COVID-19 in Scotland, the scientific advice received and the advice of the Education Recovery Group and other key stakeholders.

It draws on related information on shielding status and guidance for those formerly shielding ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/covid-shielding/pages/changes-to-shielding-advice/) , which was developed using the latest clinical evidence that sets out best practice on risk assessment for COVID-19 as an easy to follow tool. It highlights that employers have a legal responsibility to conduct a workplace risk assessment (available from https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-individual-risk-assessment-for-the-workplace/ ) to put in place measures to reduce the risk of transmission for all staff and others who may be at risk. Health and Safety Executive guidance is available on how to do this, which also has information on the need to engage and reassure staff who may be returning to work from shielding.

After a workplace risk assessment has been undertaken and measures to reduce the risk of transmission have been put in place, staff and their managers should use the risk assessment tool to identify the individual’s vulnerability level.

All of the above continues to be kept under review on an ongoing basis.

The Scottish Government is very conscious that homeowners affected by cladding issues following the terrible events at Grenfell tower are facing difficulties through no fault of their own.

We have been working with industry and others to tackle buildings where Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) is present, as was the case at Grenfell tower.

As I made clear to Members at the Local Government and Communities Committee on 4 September, I am sympathetic to calls for potential funding support and will work with members of the Ministerial Working Group on Mortgages and Cladding to determine a clear picture of those people who are most affected by this issue.

I am also determined that other partners and organisations with an interest or responsibility play their part in supporting homeowners in this position. Decisions by Ministers on the establishment of any funds will be informed by the evidence provided by the Working Group and look to develop on the good example set by Taylor Wimpey, who have already committed to fully remediating two buildings in Glasgow.

The Scottish Government is very conscious that homeowners affected by cladding issues following the terrible events at Grenfell tower are facing difficulties through no fault of their own.

As I made clear to Members at the Local Government and Communities Committee on 4 September, I am sympathetic to calls for potential funding support and will work with members of the Ministerial Working Group on Mortgages & Cladding to determine a clear picture of those people most affected by this issue.

The UK Government funds announced to date do not extend to people in Scotland, and I can confirm some consequential funds, relating to the funding in England to support leaseholders, do accrue to Scotland . Decisions by Ministers on the establishment of any funds will be informed by the evidence provided by the Working Group and look to work with other partners and organisations to develop on the good example set by Taylor Wimpey, who have already committed to fully remediating two buildings in Glasgow.

The Scottish Government is very conscious that homeowners affected by cladding issues following the terrible events at Grenfell tower are facing difficulties through no fault of their own.

On 30 March 2020, Scottish Ministers agreed to set up a Technical Working Group to develop a Scottish Advice Note to determine the fire risk posed by external wall systems in existing multi-storey residential buildings. The Ministerial Working Group on Building and Fire Safety met on 11 June and it was agreed that a targeted consultation with key stakeholders including residents and tenants will be taken forward.

On the related issues of mortgages and cladding, as I indicated to the Local Government and Communities Committee on 4 September, I have asked that representatives of home owners provide evidence to the next scheduled meeting of the Ministerial Working Group on Mortgages and Cladding at the end of this month, so the group can consider the market and mortgage issues owners have faced as a result of these issues.

Housing officials have also met with a number of homeowners, and I have a personal meeting scheduled with the High Rise Scotland Action Group on 30 September. As I made clear at Committee, I am sympathetic to calls for potential funding support and will work with members of the Working Group to determine a clear picture of those people who are most affected by this issue.

We recognise the importance of children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing, even more so during the Covid-19 outbreak. That is why we want to make sure anyone who needs support can get access to support which is appropriate to their needs.

Our Programme for Government this year has mental health at its heart. In response to the mental health impacts of Covid-19 we will publish a Transition and Recovery Plan in Autumn 2020. The plan has been developed in partnership with mental health stakeholders and informed by emerging evidence, including a variety of sources that explore the impact on children, young people and families. It will lay out a set of actions to support population mental health, respond to distress and renew mental health services.

Throughout the pandemic, we have taken action to ensure young people can access the right support for their mental health. This includes: the development of ‘Aye Feel’ by Young Scot which provides information about mental health and wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic and sign posts to further resources and support; the expansion of the Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) programme to those over the age of 16 and; the development of new community mental health and wellbeing services for 5-25 year olds and their families and carers.

We have also developed the Scottish Government’s ParentClub website, including specific content to support parents to effectively communicate and manage any anxiety that their children may be experiencing due to COVID-19. The ParentClub website includes a wide range of relevant information for families including supporting children’s (and parents’ and carers’) mental health and relationships as well as guidance and tips for learning and play at home. We also provided funding to make available an online resource for parents called Solihull Online. This interactive course supports positive relationships between parents and children and has modules for all ages from ante-natal to 18.

Understanding the mental health effects of this pandemic is crucial to supporting people to remain well and to provide specialist help for those who need it, now and into the future. We established a Mental Health Research Advisory Group to follow research developments to understand the medium and long term impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on mental health and will help us to put evidence-based services and support in place to help meet the mental health needs of the population.

Additionally, we are working with partners and stakeholders to understand the impact of COVID-19 on children and young people. Including the “#LockdownLowdown”, an online survey developed by children and young people, to help identify what support and information they need from the Scottish Government and other organisations.

We will continue to engage with children and young people during this difficult time and adapt our policies to reflect what the research, and the young people themselves, are telling us that they need.

The Scottish Government had regular discussions with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) with regards to the awarding of results in 2020. I asked the SQA to develop an alternative approach to certification in the absence of the 2020 exam diet and SQA undertook that task in good faith. In light of the issues raised in my statement to Parliament on 11 August 2020, I directed the SQA to award results on the basis of estimates submitted by teachers and lecturers.