Chamber and committees

Scottish Forestry has been working with a range of stakeholders to develop operational guidance on soil cultivation for woodland creation in Scotland.

A final draft of this guidance is being considered by Scottish Forestry’s Customer Representatives Group at their next meeting on 17 March 2021, with the intention of it being finalised and published soon after.

The 2019 draft introduced restrictions on the use of cultivation techniques with a higher level of soil disturbance. Some members of the CRG had concerns over these restrictions and the potential impacts. In response Scottish Forestry sought assistance from Forest Research to help determine whether restrictions were appropriate. This work, coupled with Covid 19 has delayed the publication.

The Scottish Government follows the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) Guidance in the planning of vaccine delivery. This evidence based guidance advises that the single greatest risk of mortality from COVID-19 is increasing age, and that the risk increases exponentially with age.

JCVI priority list represents 99% of the preventable mortality from COVID-19 and throughout the delivery of the vaccination programme we will be guided by the clinical expertise of the JCVI, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and our own senior clinical advisers. Those eligible for vaccination as frontline health and social care workers are people who provide care closely and regularly to those who are clinically very vulnerable to COVID-19.

NHS Health Boards are responsible for the local delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine. As such, Health Boards are responsible for making decisions regarding local delivery in line with JCVI guidance. We would expect that vaccinations only be given to those working in businesses and practices that are allowed to operate under current restrictions.

Close contact services, which includes Complementary and Alternative Medicines Services (CAMS) - and therefore acupuncture - may only operate in level 4 areas, at this time, if they fall into a limited number of exemptions - these exemptions are for sports massage for professional sportspeople, osteopathy, and chiropractic services and "other services and procedures" that are "ancillary to medical, health, or social care services". As acupuncture is not included in these exemptions as an essential healthcare service at this time, acupuncturists will not be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as a priority group unless they come under one of the other cohorts through age, or for health reasons.

We expect Health Boards to work within the nationally agreed prioritisation schedule to manage the distribution of vaccine supplies, which remain limited at this time. Some acupuncturists may have been offered a vaccine if they meet the criteria in one of the JCVI priority groups.

The Scottish Government recognises the social and cultural heritage associated with falconry. Blue (or mountain) hares are now a protected species following the passage of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act in June 2020. The protection came into force on 1 March 2021. This means that the species can no longer be taken for sporting or recreational purposes.

Birds of prey can still be used take mountain hares for other purposes where carried out under a licence granted by NatureScot, as specified in section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Any changes to the specified purposes for allowing licensed taking of mountain hares under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 would require primary legislation.

B&Bs paying Non-Domestic Rates are already eligible to apply for financial support from the Strategic Framework Business Fund. An equivalent support scheme for B&Bs paying council tax opens for applications on 15 March. This is after work to ensure the support captures the widest possible range of eligible businesses. The scheme has also been expanded to include guest-houses and self-catering who pay council tax. Payments to B&Bs expecting support from the fund announced in December will be prioritised. Councils have been working at pace to develop this expanded support and payments will start as soon as possible.

The JCVI list now includes staff directly involved in the direct care of children and young people with the most complex additional healthcare needs who are clinically vulnerable to severe effects of COVID. They may be at higher risk of exposure due to their close contact with those providing health and social care support, particularly those with severe neuro-disabilities. They will be eligible under category 2 of the JCVI list. This includes staff working in special schools and units, and in some cases in mainstream schools. Staff supporting these children will undertake roles which will align to the multi-agency educational and care plans for these children who are the most clinically vulnerable.

Currently there is no sectoral prioritisation of any workers other than frontline health and social care workers. Individual classroom learning assistants will be called forward for vaccination according to their position on the prioritisation list, if they are eligible.

For example, many teaching assistants may be eligible as individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality. Supplies permitting, we aim to have offered a first dose to all those on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation prioritisation list by mid-April, and the entire adult population shortly after.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35275 on‎ 3 March 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

Anyone affected by the initial systems error of the Mobile and Home Based Close Contact Services Fund and the Newly Self Employed Hardship Fund has already been invited to re-apply for these funds.

Applicants who are concerned they have made a mistake in their original application, or believe they have been unsuccessful because of a mistake, will be contacted shortly to re-apply.

We have strengthened the guidance for applicants to highlight common mistakes, and will continue to do all we can to help those that are eligible to access these funds, which are not available elsewhere in the UK.

The Scottish Government’s second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) is underway and includes consideration of options to extend Borders Rail from Tweedbank to Carlisle and also towards Berwick-upon-Tweed. Phase 2 of STPR2 will conclude in autumn 2021 and, should an extension of the Borders Railway to Carlisle be recommended, the Scottish Government will work with Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal partners to progress to the next stages of business case development which would include consideration of potential alignments. Funding of £10m has been committed through the Borderlands Growth Deal for further work, including £5 million from the Scottish Government.

A wide range of interests, including self-caterers, bed and breakfast owners and rural interests are represented on the working group considering guidance for short-term lets. The bed and breakfast owners are represented by the Scottish Bed and Breakfast Association. A full list of members can be found on the working group webpage: https://www.gov.scot/groups/short-term-lets-stakeholder-working-group/

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W–34988 on 12 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 .