Chamber and committees

Booster vaccinations in Scotland started as soon as possible once the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provided their advice on boosters, which stated that the booster dose should be offered no earlier than six months after completion of the primary vaccine course.

627,898 people have received a booster to 29 October, and we are working as quickly as we can, prioritising those most vulnerable.

Data on boosters by JCVI priority group is not yet published. We continue to work closely with Public Health Scotland to develop the vaccination data to provide robust statistics that enhance public understanding.

All under 18 year olds are exempt from our COVID-19 status certification scheme. We will, however, keep this under review as the vaccine is rolled out to younger age groups, which takes into account important factors such as disruption to education.

Our decisions are taken, and reviewed on the latest data and clinical evidence. Our review process includes consideration of the impact assessments, such as the Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment.

The scheme is a necessary and proportionate measure limited to activities that are higher risk and is an alternative to the potential closure of higher risk venues. We have made clear that certification will never be a requirement for access to public services including education.

The national pancreatic cancer audit is an NHS England initiative and Scotland participates in UK audits (Scottish Cancer Registry data is provided by Public Health Scotland). The Scottish HepatoPancreatoBiliary Network (SHPBN) has reported HepatoPancreatoBiliary (HPB) cancer audits annually since 2010. The 2013-2019 audits are based on quality performance indicators, including some specific to pancreatic cancer. The annual audit reports are available on the SHPBN website. The 2020 audit report is currently in progress.

Through the National Cancer Plan we have placed an emphasis on the less survivable cancers, including pancreatic, and improving their outcomes. We have provided funding and are working with the SHPBN to redesign pancreatic and liver pathways.

Since 2019, data relating to the National Referral Mechanism has been released by the Home Office Single Competent Authority. Information is published quarterly and in an end of year summary.

Data relating to 2018 was released by the National Crime Agency and can be found at:

https://nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/who-we-are/publications/282-national-referral-mechanism-statistics-end-of-year-summary-2018/file .

Data relating to 2019, 2020 and 2021 can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-referral-mechanism-statistics 

We have identified a low representation of UK nationals in referrals from Scotland to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) when compared to the rest of the UK in our annual trafficking and exploitation progress reports, although there was an increase in 2020.

The NRM toolkit for First Responders launched earlier this year aims to improve the formal identification of victims in Scotland and is clear that anyone can be a victim of human trafficking and exploitation, including UK nationals. We are establishing a working group to consider the quality and availability of training and awareness raising resources, which will also consider whether additional resources are needed on the issues relating to UK nationals.

Section 36 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015 requires Scottish Ministers to review the Strategy within three years of its publication and following that review, publish a report on the review. The Scottish Government published a review of the Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy in May 2020 in line with this requirement.

The decision to deliver the full electrification of the single track option between East Kilbride and Busby does not impact on the redevelopment of (i) East Kilbride and (ii) Hairmyres railway station. The project will deliver enhanced station facilities at East Kilbride and the construction of the new Hairmyres station with the enhanced facilities will be transformational in providing an active travel hub for passengers along this vital route.

This project will deliver for local communities with much needed accessibility improvements at key stations along the length of the route and the full electrification of the corridor will deliver a step change in capacity by using greener trains. Should passenger demand levels increase post Covid-19, this demand can be met by using increased train capacity rather than providing additional services.

The Scottish Government routinely publishes official labour market statistics for disabled people in Scotland and uses these to analyse how labour market barriers and outcomes for disabled people are changing over time and how they have been impacted by COVID-19.

Latest data are published at:

Labour market monthly briefing: October 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

We know, for example, the disability employment gap in Scotland - the difference between the employment rates of disabled and non-disabled people - narrowed over the latest year to July 2020 – June 2021, to 32.0 percentage points.

Analysis is also published as part of the annual progress report of a Fairer Scotland for Disabled People: employment action plan - our plan to at least halve the disability employment gap in Scotland by 2038.

Latest report available here: Fairer Scotland for disabled people - employment action plan: progress report - year 2 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

We are committed to working with Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) to ensure that the refresh of ‘ A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People: Employment action plan’ is informed by the lived experience of disabled people.

The short life working group overseeing the development of the refreshed action plan is co-chaired by the Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA). GDA and other DPOs will engage directly with their members and disabled people for input and views with regards to the refreshed action plan to ensure their views are heard and seen.

More broadly, we are committed to working together with DPOs to ensure disabled people’s input is represented in Scottish Government’s strategic and policy development in relation to achieving a fairer Scotland for disabled people. For example, the direct involvement of disabled people’s organisations and their members has played a key role in shaping the next phase of No One Left Behind, our strategy for placing people at the centre of the design and delivery of employability services.

Working alongside Disabled Peoples Organisations, the STUC, and representatives from the third, public and private sectors, the Scottish Government is currently developing a refresh of ‘A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People: Employment Action Plan’.

The refreshed action plan will set out how we will build on the progress we have made in tackling inequalities as we recover from the pandemic. We expect the plan to be published in Spring 2022.