Chamber and committees

As advised in my previous answer, health boards lead on the local delivery of the vaccination programme and they manage the process for housebound people locally. We therefore do not hold information on average, longest, or shortest waiting times for housebound people and this information would have to be requested from the relevant health board.

NHS Lothian has, as part of their response to the reports, sent diagnostic appointments for those children identified in the review as being of clinical concern and requiring recall. In addition, the Board is working with the British Academy of Audiology to review the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) recordings of all children seen by the service for ABR testing during the last five years. An agreed escalation process is in place to highlight any cases of concern on a weekly basis and those of significant concern within 24 hours.

The Board is also undertaking work to review children known to the service who have risk factors for hearing loss and, based on the outcome of each review, recall children where appropriate in line with national guidance.

NHS Lothian will continue to report to the Scottish Government on a monthly basis.

The Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Strategy sets out our intention to reform Energy Performance Certificates to ensure they are a suitable basis for future Energy Efficiency Regulations. In Summer 2021 we consulted on the first step of our proposed EPC reforms which focused on removing the cost element and instead using energy consumption as the headline metric. We are currently analysing feedback from this consultation and will consult on wider proposals for Energy Efficiency Regulations in Summer 2022. We are also considering what other changes are needed to EPCs to provide a robust basis for Energy Efficiency Regulations, and whether any changes are required to the 2008 regulations that established EPCs.

The Scottish Government extended Free Personal Care to under 65s from the 1 April 2019. We fully recognise the difficulties facing the social care sector during the current pandemic. That is why we recently announced £300 million in additional funding to help alleviate system pressures in the social care sector. This includes £62 million to maximise the capacity of care at home services.

The Scottish Government wants to improve support and provisions for people with Down’s Syndrome, but also takes a wider view that this should include all people with learning disabilities, and their families.

We already have a national strategy in place to improve opportunities, outcomes and support for people with Down’s Syndrome, and their families, through the Keys to Life Learning Disability strategy and the Towards Transformation Learning Disability and Autism Plan. Both strategies send a clear message that the human rights of people with a learning disability are respected and protected and that they are empowered to live their lives, the same as everyone else.

The Scottish Budget 2022-2023 includes dedicated funding of £7 million for a range of targeted work to support these strategies and improve the lives of autistic people and/or people with learning disabilities.

Additionally, we have committed to introducing a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill as part of the Programme for Government. This Bill will ensure that the rights of people with Down’s Syndrome, and others, are respected and protected.

To help make sure that the new legislation is championed when it is implemented, we will create a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodiversity Commissioner through the new law.

The mygov.scot portal for reporting allegations of benefit fraud to Social Security Scotland was launched on 24 August 2020.

A total of 429 reports have been submitted to Social Security Scotland through this portal. Of these, 173 were received in financial year 2020-21, and 256 so far in 2021-22 (up to and including 30 November).

Health boards have a list of people currently registered as housebound with their GPs, and are in the process of contacting them all to receive their flu and Covid-19 booster in line with eligibility.

Procedures are in place for when the nature of an individual’s condition means they cannot travel, so that a home vaccination appointment can be organised. People should contact the number on their appointment letter.

Health boards are also able to offer assistance to those with mobility issues in travelling to and from their vaccination appointment.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04311 on 3 December 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found athttps://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Current guidance reflects the best scientific and clinical advice, as well as the current state of the pandemic and the anticipated trajectory of infections. The restrictions which limit non-essential visitors in schools and early learning and childcare settings, include attendance by parents for nativity plays and similar events. However, we know that many schools and settings plan to use other creative means to present these activities, such as streaming them online or holding them outdoors.