Chamber and committees

In calculating the impact of our Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) on local authorities, the economic model in the final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) uses compositional data on the tonnage (‘dirty’ weights) that Local Authorities actually manage, both recycled and in the residual waste stream, rather than the number of containers placed on the market. This aligns with the (weight-related) costs local authorities actually incur.

Hence the benefit to local authorities set out in table 3 of the amended final BRIA does not change in the sensitivity analysis presented in Annex F. The amended final BRIA can be reviewed here: A Deposit Return Scheme for Scotland: Final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) (www.gov.scot) .

The cost to the regulator is estimated based on the number of businesses to be regulated; it is therefore unaffected by any increase in the number of containers.

The cost increases within the model are not proportional increases. There may be additional collections but there is also additional capacity within the system.

Specific information on the tonnage of malting barley produced in Scotland that is used in the production of whisky is not held. Information on the production and disposal of cereals including barley is published at Scottish cereal harvest: estimates - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . It is estimated that between 50% to 60% of the barley produced in Scotland will be used for alcohol production.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07632 on 19 April 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
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The Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland (PHS) have worked with Health Boards to support their planning and safe delivery of immunisation services throughout the pandemic.

The routine childhood immunisation programmes have continued in Scotland throughout the COVID-19 pandemic for children of all ages.

Uptake for vaccines given to children has remained consistently high in Scotland. Statistics on childhood immunisations published quarterly by PHS show that around 96% of children had received each routine immunisation by the time they were 12 months of age in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Uptake of the first dose of MMR by the age of 24 months also increased, rising from 94% in 2019 to 94.4% in 2021.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, HPV and Teenage booster programmes were delayed due to school closures. Pupils who were not offered their vaccines or who missed the immunisation sessions at school, are being offered these vaccines during planned catch-up sessions arranged by their Health Boards.

The Seasonal Flu Vaccination Programme ran from 6 September 2021 to 31 March 2022. On 15 December 2021, flu delivery was paused to support further acceleration of the COVID-19 booster programme. Prior to the end of the year, Health Boards had already offered flu vaccinations in primary and secondary schools, and to children under 5 with at risk conditions.

The most recent PHS publications can be found online: Publications - Public Health Scotland

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07632 on 19 April 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

We published our Test and Protect Transition Plan on 15 March 2022. This states that from mid-April in place of a population wide approach, we will use asymptomatic testing for COVID-19 on a targeted basis. This includes testing to support patient care and protect higher risk settings.

Regular asymptomatic testing will continue for parts of the health and care workforce primarily in settings which are still considered high risk and/or where those using services are deemed to be at a higher risk of hospitalisation from COVID-19.

In social care, the priority will continue to be testing in long stay settings and services for elderly people such as residential care homes, care at home and adult day care. There will also be a continuing priority to support testing for hospital based staff to reduce the risk of infection spread in our hospitals.

LFD tests will continue to be made available for eligible unpaid carers, personal assistants and anyone visiting a care home or hospital, this will be kept under regular clinical review.

For any purpose for which COVID-19 testing (PCR or LFD) continues to be advised we will ensure that these tests remain available free of charge.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07156 on 28 March 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07634 on 21 April 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers