Chamber and committees

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) has initiated a port redevelopment project at Gourock. As part of this project, CMAL will incorporate a new linkspan and adjacent berth in the design options at Gourock to accommodate a wide range of vessels, including the MV Glen Sannox. That would enable the port of Gourock to act as an alternative mainland port for Clyde services, if necessary. Options for the redevelopment of Gourock port are being considered and assessed through the business case process. The project is expected to take up to 5 years, and progression is subject to business case approval, the availability of funding, and obtaining all the necessary planning approvals and Harbour Orders.

Ardrossan

There have been no modifications to the Arran linkspan at Ardrossan in recent years other than works of a general reactive and annual maintenance nature. The existing Arran linkspan at Ardrossan will be replaced as part of the Ardrossan Harbour redevelopment works. The specification for the new Arran linkspan at Ardrossan has been specifically developed around the design and operational characteristics of the MV Glen Sannox vessel and the other in-specification vessels e.g. the MV Caledonian Isles and the MV Hebrides.

However, there has been an extensive programme of maintenance and refurbishment works to the Irish Berth linkspan at Ardrossan over the last 12 months. These works included replacement of motors and gears to ensure the linkspan is fully operational and is in a robust condition. As discussed at the Ardrossan Taskforce, that upgrading work will accommodate the anticipated increased level of services of the Irish Berth at Ardrossan during the period of construction work to refurbish and reshape the Arran Berth.

Brodick

A new linkspan was installed at Brodick and brought into service in 2018 as part of the Brodick Ferry Terminal Redevelopment project. This new linkspan (and berth) is larger than the previous linkspan and was designed to allow for a range of vessels to berth at Brodick, including the MV Glen Sannox.

Gourock

There have been no modifications made to the Gourock linkspan over the past five years. However, the linkspan has had a number of repairs undertaken, including: structural deck repairs; lifting cylinder seal replacements; lifting cylinder replacement; and numerous minor repairs. All of these repairs were undertaken to keep or return the linkspan in use and further work is programmed to enable the linkspan to provide continuity of service as a port of refuge, while a longer term masterplan for redevelopment of the site is delivered.

The MV Glen Sannox was designed to be able to operate at up to 15 linkspan ports throughout the Clyde and Hebrides ferry service (CHFS) network.

However, the MV Glen Sannox’s primary route has been identified as Ardrossan-Brodick which is the choice of the operator, CalMac Ferries Ltd. It can be deployed to other routes within the CHFS network, but only those that have linkspans and are capable of accommodating a vessel of 102 metres in length.

Hull 802, the MV Glen Sannox’s sister vessel will operate on the triangular route between Uig, Tarbert and Lochmaddy.

Universities which are only part-funded from the public purse, and which will lose some or all income from other sources as a result of the impact of Coronavirus, can consider furloughing staff and claiming a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) grant from HMRC. However, the decision on whether to apply to the CJRS is for individual institutions, as autonomous bodies, to take themselves. I understand that, under the current guidance, the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) has decided it will not be applying to the CJRS for any of its staff.

I further understand that UWS has established an Emergency Hardship Fund, to which UWS students on zero-hours UWS contracts may apply.

Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the Scottish Government’s decisions have been guided by the advice of the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE). SAGE provides COBRA and the four UK Governments with advice and recommendations based on scientific evidence. Their scientific advice and the views of the Chief Medical Officer and other partners informed Ministers’ decision to close schools, with the exception of certain critical provision, from 20 March. This decision was based, firstly, on the scientific advice that closing schools would help to suppress the spread of Coronavirus and, secondly, that it was increasingly difficult to sustain education provision that was compliant with the UK Government advice on social distancing.

The Scottish Government’s decisions have been guided by the advice of the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE). SAGE provides COBRA and the four UK Governments with advice and recommendations based on scientific evidence. The publication of SAGE advice is not a matter for the Scottish Government.

The SAGE advice has informed consideration by the Chief Medical Officers of the four nations and the public health advice Health Protection Scotland has issued in the form of guidance for specific sectors. In essence, the policy of social distancing underpins all of the Government’s actions to date and the First Minister published Coronavirus (COVID-19): Framework for Decision Making on 23 April which outlines the approach and principles that will guide the Scottish Government as it makes decisions about transitioning out of the current lockdown arrangements. As that document sets out, the Chief Medical Officer of Scotland’s Advisory Group will provide scientific advice specific to Scotland in considering future options, augmenting the advice received from SAGE.

Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the Scottish Government’s decisions have been guided by the advice of the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE). SAGE provides COBRA and the four UK Governments with advice and recommendations based on scientific evidence. Their scientific advice and the views of the Chief Medical Officer and other partners informed Ministers’ decision to close schools, with the exception of certain critical provision, from 20 March. This decision was based, firstly, on the scientific advice that closing schools would help to suppress the spread of Coronavirus and, secondly, that it was increasingly difficult to sustain education provision that was compliant with the UK Government advice on social distancing.

Our prisons are facing an unprecedented operational and public health challenge. The wellbeing and safety of the wider community as well as all those who live and work in our prisons, is a priority for both this government and the Scottish Prison Service. In line with the existing guidance, prison healthcare centre staff should inform their local health protection team if they suspect that someone has COVID-19 in the prison. Health protection teams can then arrange testing if necessary. The tests that we have available are effective at identifying people who have COVID-19, but only when they are symptomatic. In addition some health boards are also using their discretion to conduct sample testing for those in custody where there has been a confirmed COVID-19 case.

In response to Coronavirus (COVID-19), the key worker definition was developed to support the delivery of critical childcare and learning provision. It aims to ensure that children of key workers can still get learning and childcare if their parents or carers absolutely must work away from home, or cannot carry out their critical functions whilst working from home and caring for their children. The Scottish Government has stated within its guidance that we cannot designate whole workforces or entire groups of staff key workers. The number of key workers in each local authority area is not held centrally. The data that has been provided by local authorities indicates that around 1% of the relevant school and early year’s population have been attending local authority hubs since schools were asked to close.

Malcolm Wright, Chief Executive NHS Scotland and Director General (DG) Health & Social Care is the line manager for the Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr Gregor Smith, who was the Deputy CMO has been appointed to the role on an interim basis to provide continuity during the current COVID-19 pandemic. This decision was made by DG Health & Social Care in consultation with the Permanent Secretary, and given consideration by the Civil Service Commission and the First Minister. A decision on when to run the recruitment process to appoint a permanent CMO will be made by DG Health & Social Care in due course. It is not possible to set a timescale for that at present as key individuals, including DG Health & Social Care, who would normally be involved in the selection process are unable to devote time to it given the critical nature of their own work. The process will be undertaken in line with the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and will be chaired by a Civil Service Commissioner.