Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government places great importance on public libraries and believes everyone should have access to these services. Libraries don’t just provide access to reading material. They play a crucial role in providing access to IT, improving attainment, supporting children in the early years, helping engage older people, and empowering our communities.

The Scottish Government is aware of the challenges facing Scotland’s Public Libraries and the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on them, and recognises the way in which many library services have adapted quickly during the pandemic to support their local communities. Officials are working closely with the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), to understand current challenges and facilitate the sector’s recovery.

As of Friday, 4 June, 377 libraries were open, with 104 yet to reopen and these numbers are regularly changing. Officials understand from an update provided by SLIC on 4 June 2021,that 14 more libraries have signalled their intention to reopen soon. In some local authority areas, mobile libraries are operating where libraries are closed.

The Scottish Government has worked with the sector and local authority representatives to produce safer workplace guidance for public libraries to allow these services to be restored safely. The guidance has been updated on a regular basis responding to ongoing feedback from stakeholders and reflecting the latest scientific advice, to facilitate safer reopening. There may be a range of reasons that libraries have not yet reopened, including alternative usage during the pandemic (for example as testing centres) or ability to allow physical distancing within smaller buildings.

Public libraries are devolved to local authorities, who are best placed to decide what services can be offered. Scotland’s councils have been allocated an additional‎ £1.5 billion in direct support through the local government finance settlement and councils have also been granted additional financial flexibilities to address the financial pressures caused by COVID-19.

Furthermore, the 2021-22 Local Government Settlement of almost £11.7 billion provides a cash increase in local government day to day spending for local revenue services of £375.6 million or 3.5 per cent.

Given the risk that the 02 variant may spread quicker around Scotland, having people fully vaccinated is important in reducing risks of morbidity and mortality.

In line with the latest JCVI advice, where vaccine supply allows we will bring forward the second dose of vaccine from 12 to 8 weeks. This will be prioritised in areas which are affected by the 02 variant.

Constituents that have received an appointment that is unsuitable are able to rebook via the portal detailed in their blue letter. Alternatively they can call the covid-19 helpline on 0800 030 8013. Vaccination centre availability and opening hours are co-ordinated by the individual NHS trusts.

The Scottish Government continues to work with partners on Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce to disrupt the production and distribution of illicit drugs, including fake Valium. The availability of illicit pills, particularly fake Valium pills, is of significant concern, bringing misery to individuals, families and communities.

There is evidence that the majority of these tablets are being produced in Scotland by criminal gangs that have access to pill press machines. We will continue to push the UK Government to take action to regulate the sale of pill presses.

Police Scotland and partners, including Royal Mail, continue to work together to stop the carriage of illegal drugs in the postal system including screening of suspicious items, canine detection and encouraging staff to report any suspicious items.

It is clear that we cannot arrest our way out of the drugs crisis and, while enforcement activity will continue, we are investing £250 million over the next session of the parliament to better support those who have found themselves caught up in the illicit drugs trade.

The Scottish Government has worked with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations to take a four nations approach to procuring vaccine for the 2020/21 Seasonal Flu Vaccination Programme.

The Scottish Government procured sufficient vaccine to vaccinate all eligible cohorts in each Health Board area across Scotland. This was in line with uptake planning assumptions covering 2.4m people across all eligible groups.

We delivered the vaccination programme through a phased approach, based on the best clinical advice, vaccinating those aged above 65 and those considered ‘at risk’ during October and November 2020, with vaccinations being available to vulnerable groups beyond that point.

I would refer the member to my answer to S5W-35819 on‎ 17 March 2021 which is also relevant. Teachers employed in Scottish schools are required to be registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) by law. They are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the GTCS Professional Standards which include having knowledge and understanding of the ways in which natural, social, cultural, political and economic systems function and of how they are interconnected to professional practice. Teachers must also take account of the Code of Professionalism and Conduct which sets out key principles and values for all teachers to uphold standards of personal and professional conduct, honesty and integrity.

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

The Scottish Government has been very clear from day one that the pace and rollout of our national vaccine programme is key to tackling the pandemic and we are determined to reach as much of the population, and in order of vulnerability based on clinical advice, as fast as the vaccine supply allows us. The health of every person living in Scotland is important which is why the Scottish Government is making proactive policy decisions to make this programme as inclusive and accessible as possible, given the current constrains of supply and social distancing.

The Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland are actively engaging with third sector and faith organisations to reach a wide range of people across the community.

In addition, the Scottish Government has undertaken a wide range of campaigns in print, online and across media, and in various locations, to try to reach everyone in Scotland and inform them of the vaccination campaign.

A full update of the work to ensure an inclusive vaccination programme will be included in a future update to all MSPs.

By undertaking these steps we are trying to encourage a high uptake of the vaccine and ensure vulnerable people attend their appointment.

If an individual thinks they have been missed from the appointment list, they can call the vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013, or use this link on NHS inform: at NHS inform: Missing appointments | The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine (nhsinform.scot)

The Stroke and Heart Disease Improvement Plans (2014) recognises the importance of specialist rehabilitation and the need for the delivery of services to support people living with stroke and heart disease and their families.

We expect NHS Boards to appropriately plan and deliver high quality, safe effective and person centred services including stroke rehabilitation services and to regularly review these to maintain the high levels of quality and safety that people in Scotland expect and deserve.

We continue to work in partnership with NHS boards, the voluntary sector and a range of providers across health and social care to help ensure people who have experienced a stroke receive access to the care and support they need to help them return to independent living.

The National Advisory Committee on Stroke (NACS) has established a Rehabilitation sub-group to focus on improving the delivery of stroke rehabilitation, both in hospital and the community and advise on how rehabilitation can best be delivered as part of a progressive stroke service.

The Scottish Stroke Care Standards are regularly reviewed in line with current evidence and updated guidelines. We monitor the implementation of these standards through the Scottish Stroke Care Audit to ensure that stroke patients in Scotland are receiving high quality care. Relevant guidelines relating to stroke care are also being taken into account in the development of a definition of a Progressive Scottish Stroke Unit.

As with all published guidelines, the strength of the evidence considered as part of the RCP guidelines is detailed in that document. There should be no difference in the robustness of the evidence relating to Scotland, though some discussion of commissioning of services, and of the particular structure of health systems may be based on NHS England structures and therefore may not be entirely relevant to a devolved health system.

It is important to note that clinical guidelines are recommendations to aid healthcare and other professionals in caring for people with specific conditions and are based on the best available evidence. NHS Board areas are encouraged to make best use of all relevant available guidelines.

The Scottish Government expects NHS Boards to provide the best possible care for those who have experienced a stroke, including the provision of thrombolysis where considered clinically appropriate.

The Scottish Government continues to support the Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme as key to informing and driving improvement across stroke care, including thrombolysis. The SSCA enables us to see where local areas are achieving the Scottish Stroke Care Standards, including the standard for thrombolysis and where further improvements are required. Health Boards are expected to identify aspects of their stroke services which do not meet the Scottish Standards and to work with their stroke Managed Clinical Networks to improve their standards of care locally.

Further information can be found at: https://www.strokeaudit.scot.nhs.uk/index.html

The Scottish Stroke Care Audit (SSCA) has not set specific targets for the rate of people treated with thrombolysis. There is a need to balance the benefits of any treatment with its risks and a target rate may not reflect that nuance.

We place a great deal of importance on ensuring that stroke patients receive the care that they need in order to achieve their recovery potential. To ensure that this is the case, we fund the Scottish Stroke Care Audit (SSCA) as part of the Stroke Improvement Programme to regularly monitor the quality of care provided by the hospitals in all Health Boards by measuring performance against the Scottish Stroke Care Standards. These standards are regularly reviewed in line with current evidence, including UK wide guidelines such as NICE.

Health Boards and stroke services are supported by the Stroke Improvement Programme to improve performance against the Scottish Stroke Standards, and as a result, continuously improve their delivery of stroke care.