Chamber and committees

Since becoming aware that NHS England have been shielding splenectomy patients, the Interim Chief Medical Officer for Scotland and Interim Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Scotland engaged urgently with the UK Government, as the UK Chief Medical Officers have all agreed to seek consistency across the shielding list to support patients across the UK.

Following a meeting of the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Group UK Clinical Review Panel on 29 April, and subsequent discussions with the other nations, the Interim Chief Medical Officer for Scotland and Interim Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Scotland agreed to include splenectomy patients in the ‘highest risk’ groups that require shielding.

We will, as a matter of urgency, issue letters to those affected and update guidance for GPs and clinicians.

There is a lot to consider around the re-opening of schools and early learning settings ahead of the science indicating that we are able to do so. The recently established C-19 Education Recovery Group is looking into a range of issues, and ensuring that learners, including those with additional support needs are able to progress with their education and be prepared for the school year ahead is of course a part of this. The group, chaired by the Deputy First Minister, will be working with key stakeholders to ensure that we consider all sensible options.

On 20 April 2020 the Scottish Government also published comprehensive guidance to help support continuity for children and young people's learning for the term ahead. This is available from https://www.gov.scot/publications/supporting-pupils-parents-teachers-learning-during-term-4/

This guidance is for pupils, parents and teachers and was prepared by the Scottish Government and Education Scotland with input from CoSLA, SOLACE, ADES and professional associations. It gives an overview of the measures in place and steps being taken, at a national and local level, to support all children and young people in Scotland.

Local authorities, head teachers and teachers are experienced and skilled in leading transition arrangements. For Term 4, and looking ahead to the next session, schools, clusters and local authorities are considering new and innovative approaches to transition in relation to curriculum and wellbeing matters. This will include consideration of a wide range of factors, including the challenges faced by young people who have been particularly affected by COVID-19. This could be due to illness or bereavement, the impact of social isolation or experiencing poverty for the first time. The importance of relationships at a local level is paramount to successful work in this area.

The Scottish Government has published has published new guidance - Supporting Pupils, Parents and Teachers: Learning in Term 4 - to support the home learning of children and young people. This is available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/supporting-pupils-parents-teachers-learning-during-term-4/

To support local authorities and schools, Education Scotland is developing further bespoke Term 4 guidance to assist in planning for the many transitions that take place during Term 4. These materials will be available in early May.

We recognise that children and young people with autism may be finding things particularly challenging during this difficult time.

Local authorities have developed a range of creative ways to support children and young people with a wide range of needs during this challenging time. This includes creating opportunities for distance and online learning and the use of a range of learning resources which can be adapted to meet the learning needs of children and young people.

The Scottish Government has developed a range of information and guidance, including specific advice within Coronavirus (COVID-19): supporting pupils, parents and teachers - learning during term 4 and on Parent Club for parents and carers to help them to support children and young people with a range of needs, including autism when learning at home; comprehensive guidance to help support continuity for children and young people’s learning for the term ahead; updating the Autism Toolbox to include a section on coronavirus, which provides information and signposting on supporting autistic learners at home.

The Scottish Government plans to hold a full public consultation on Employment-Injury Assistance. The responses will inform detailed policy proposals, including whether there is a need for a Scottish equivalent to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council and, if so, how it should be constituted.

The timescales for each of the devolved benefits will be set out in regulations. It may not be appropriate to have the same timescales for all benefits as they cater for different groups and have different evidence requirements.

Child Winter Heating Assistance will be a £200 payment available to Scottish clients who qualify for the highest rate of the care component of the Child Disability Payment and Disability Living Allowance. It will be payable per client rather than per household.

We consulted on our proposals for Short Term Assistance as part of the consultation on Disability Assistance in Scotland which ran from March to May 2019. The report was published in October 2019: https://www.gov.scot/publications/consultation-disability-assistance-scotland-scottish-government-response/

It is critical that we maintain public trust and confidence by maintaining the essential services that support justice.

The courts have already ceased all jury trials, adjourned all but essential summary criminal trials, adjourned all civil hearings involving witnesses and Tribunals will only proceed with essential hearings by audio conference.

Yesterday (25 March 2020), the courts moved to the next phase of their contingency plans. I will set out these plans here and details are also available on the SCTS website ( https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/ ).

The Court of Session will continue to sit in Parliament House dealing with essential civil business. All other business will be continued as required. Urgent business includes: child abduction petitions, interim interdicts and other urgent matters on cause shown.

The High Court will continue to sit in Lawnmarket, Edinburgh and Saltmarket, Glasgow. The court will continue to deal with preliminary hearings and adjourn trials.

For Sheriff and JP Courts, all business, other than undertakings, will be consolidated within Sheriffdoms, into ten sheriff courts. Further details are available on the SCTS website.

Appearance from undertakings will continue to call in the court specified on the undertaking where possible.

The courts are also advising that anyone with urgent civil business should contact the appropriate court, listed on the SCTS website, to arrange for cases or applications to be dealt with.

Urgent business includes: new applications for child protection orders, interim interdicts, child referral appeals, urgent adoptions or urgent interim residence or contact applications and urgent applications in relation to Adults with Incapacity.

In another measure to reduce risk, all accused persons with symptoms of COVID-19 appearing from custody will have their case conducted via video link. The courts are working hard to extend this to all custodies – and are developing an approach that will allow agents to represent clients by telephone.

The Scottish Government remains fully committed to bringing forward new regulations covering dog, cat and rabbit breeders, pet sellers, animal sanctuaries and rehoming activities in this Parliamentary session.

Delivery of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill has however taken priority and this has impacted on the timetable for delivery. The work to deliver the new licensing regulations continues to progress and we will lay draft legislation before the Scottish Parliament for its approval as soon as possible, subject to parliamentary business.