Chamber and committees

As I noted in my answer to S5W-28294, Transport Scotland maintains a number of automatic traffic count sites across the motorway and trunk road network that are able to record vehicle speeds. The following table presents the answer to part (a) the total recorded number of vehicles that passed this group of sites from 9 March 2020 up to 07 May 2020. In addition, the table also reports the number of vehicles that were recorded as travelling over the speed limit and as a proportion of the total vehicles.

With regard to part (b) of the question, the Scottish Government does not hold this information. The collection and collation of speed data on other roads in Scotland is the responsibility of the respective 32 local authorities. Any specific requests for such data should therefore be directed to the relevant local authority.

I would further note that the additional data presented in this response continues to show that since the COVID-19 lockdown was announced on the 23 March, the proportion of vehicles recorded over the speed limit has risen, while the actual number of vehicles observed speeding has fallen by approximately 50% compared with a typical weekday or weekend prior to COVID-19 restrictions being introduced.

Table: Response to part (a) Vehicles over the Speed Limit on roads managed by Transport Scotland

Last week (4 May – 7 May) on average 0.9% of the school and early years population attended local authority hubs. Of these, 79% were children of key workers and 21% were vulnerable children.

A further 168,000 were given support to access a school meal (e.g. via vouchers, direct payments, home deliveries or attending a local authority setting).

We do not hold this information centrally. However, we estimate that there are 97,000 children with multi agency plans led by a professional in education, health or social work.

The purpose of the consultation is to seek views about a specific proposal, whether the Scottish Government should introduce mandatory measures to control the harvesting of live wrasse for the salmon farming industry.

The main feature is mandatory compliance with the existing voluntary control measures through a permit system and licence conditions that make non-compliance an offence. The proposal also sets out new measures to improve data gathering and reporting and inshore vessel monitoring, including tracking and remote electronic monitoring where required.

The consultation form allows respondents to express their support or otherwise for the proposal and provides a box in which to make any comment about the consultation itself. Some respondents have already used the comment box to provide additional views on a range of issues including those raised in your question.

We do of course welcome any comments about the new measures and have set out quite clearly in the consultation web page that respondents with additional comments should email separately to the inshore mailbox. Any views received in this way are incorporated into the consultation system and will be considered with the other respondents when the consultation closes.

National Records of Scotland (NRS) publish weekly deaths statistics. Since 8 April, these statistics include deaths where COVID-19 (included suspected cases) was mentioned on the death certificate. The statistics published on 22nd April showed the following:

The NRS weekly report shows mortality for week 16 in 2020 (13-19 April) being much higher than the equivalent week across the last 5 five years (NRS compare this using a 5 year rolling average).

The overall number of deaths in week 16 of 2020 (13–19 April) was 1,911, which is much higher than in previous years, a difference of 844. The average number of (all) deaths registered in the corresponding week over the previous five years was 1,067.

Of these 844 excess deaths: Three quarters (75%, 637) were deaths where COVID-19 was the underlying cause of death; 10% (83) came from an increase in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease deaths; 5% (38) came from an increase in cancer deaths and the remaining deaths were a combination of other causes.

The issue of excess mortality is being investigated further by Public Health Scotland to understand what is behind the excess deaths not coded as COVID-19.

The Scottish Government has introduced a six-month exemption from the single use carrier bag charge solely for bags used for the collection and delivery of groceries and takeaway food. This is to help limit the spread of Covid-19 and ensure customers receive deliveries as quickly as possible.

I have written to trade bodies to ask their members to make voluntary donations where income from carrier bag charges is reduced as a result of this measure.

The Scottish Government is in ongoing dialogue with COSLA and local authorities regarding plans for the reinstatement of waste and recycling services. It is absolutely right that the personal health and wellbeing of waste workers is safeguarded at all times. Councils have made a number of adjustments to the way services operate in order to safeguard the wellbeing of waste workers during this time.

The Scottish Government has developed guidance for essential workers, to complement UK wide waste industry guidance, on safe practice during the pandemic. This provides practical information on matters including physical distancing and the use of personal protective equipment.

An online survey to gather wider views on the review recommendations was undertaken between 29 October and 13 December 2019. The responses and an analysis of the responses have been published on the Scottish air quality website at http://www.scottishairquality.scot/lez/cafs-review-documents

A new air quality strategy is currently in preparation, taking into account the review recommendations and the survey responses. A draft version of this new strategy will be issued for public consultation later in 2020.

We currently estimate that around 308,000 adults are most likely to need emergency food provision. This figure will be constantly reviewed as new data and insights become available.

Of our £70 million Food Fund, up to £30 million is to support those clinically most vulnerable to coronavirus, known as the shielded group. A further £30 million has been allocated to local authorities to coordinate local efforts for those non-shielded and at risk and £10 million is being invested in national third sector infrastructure and community organisations to support food access.

We have put in place a national helpline to ensure those requiring additional support can access this and are raising awareness through correspondence to all households in Scotland – with information expected to be delivered from 24 April and complete by 1 May.

We are working closely with local authorities to understand demand levels and to ensure the total range of support available, including through third sector and community partners, is sufficient.

Transport Scotland maintains a number of automatic traffic count sites across the motorway and trunk road network that are able to record vehicle speeds. The following table presents the total recorded number of vehicles that passed this group of sites from 9 March 2020 up to 14 April 2020. In addition, the table also reports the number of vehicles that were recorded as travelling over the speed limit and as a proportion of the total vehicles.

It is noted from the data that since the COVID-19 lockdown was announced on the 23 March, the proportion of vehicles recorded over the speed limit has risen, while the actual number of vehicles observed speeding has fallen by approximately 50% compared with a typical weekday or weekend prior to COVID-19 restrictions being introduced. Noting that the speed at which vehicles are driven is influenced by a range of factors, including but not limited to, the weather conditions, whether it is day or night, the volume of traffic using the road including the number of heavy goods vehicles and whether the road is in a built-up area or not.