Gordon Lindhurst

Answer · Kevin Stewart · 15 Mar 2021

Fire safety remains our priority and changes to the requirement for fire and carbon monoxide detectors in all homes mean that everyone will benefit from the same level of protection, whether they own their home or rent.
These changes were due to come into force on 1 February 2021, however, taking cognisance of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have delayed the implementation for one year. The regulations improve protection from fire in people’s homes and, as with many issues in the face of this pandemic, we must consider the overall balance of harms. The one year delay strikes the right balance between the risk to people and their homes and the difficulties some people may experience with compliance.

Answer · John Swinney · 18 Mar 2021

To date, we have committed over £375 million to support local authorities and schools to prepare for the phased return to face to face learning. This investment supports costs of necessary safety mitigations in schools such as infrastructure adjustments. It also includes funding for additional teachers, support staff, digital devices and connectivity solutions to support in-school and at home learning as necessary. We have also published a suite of guidance on the return of pupils to schools specifically to support schools and local authorities on reducing risks in schools and to support in-school and remote learning for secondary learners in the run up to Easter.

Answer · Ben Macpherson · 22 Mar 2021

The First Minister announced on 16 March that the impact of the current lockdown and the positive effect of the vaccine roll out give us more confidence about mapping a path out of lockdown, with a firmer indicative timeline for lifting restrictions.
This means that garden centres and plant nurseries can open in line with stringent physical distancing and other hygiene measures from 5 April 2021.
We hope to move back to a levels system from the last week in April with a phased but significant re-opening of the economy, including non-essential retail. However we will continue to monitor the impact of these changes.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon · 15 Mar 2021

The updated information at NHS Inform has details about contacting either the helpline or local board if an eligible individual finds their appointment is unsuitable: Rearrange or opt-out of your vaccination appointment | The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine (nhsinform.scot) . This can also be used by individuals who are unable to travel due to a mobility issue, complex medical need or other reason, or just need to rearrange their vaccination appointment or find one at a more convenient location. They can also phone the COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013.

Answer · Kate Forbes · 22 Mar 2021

The Newly Self Employed Hardship Fund was designed to help alleviate financial hardship for those who are newly self-employed and not eligible for the UK Government’s Self-employment Income Support Scheme. The fund closes to applications on 23 March 2021 and we have no plans to change the eligibility criteria. Based on the uptake in 2020, we expect more than 5,000 newly self-employed individuals to benefit from the fund.

Answer · Kate Forbes · 22 Mar 2021

We recognise the significant financial hardship that many of those who are newly self-employed have experienced over the past year as a result of being excluded from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) which is why we have introduced two separate rounds of the Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund. These have paid out combined grants of £6,000 in total to support the many self-employed people in Scotland who were excluded from the UK Government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) by virtue of being newly self-employed.
Limits on the amount of funding made available to the Scottish Government to provide financial support to businesses means that we are unable to contemplate further direct financial support for businesses or the self-employed without additional funding from the UK Government.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon · 15 Mar 2021

To save lives it is essential that vaccination be given to the first priority groups as set by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), and these include frontline patient-facing health and social care workers. This includes staff who have frequent face-to-face clinical contact with patients and who are directly involved in patient care in either secondary or primary care/community settings, including any associated support staff of independent contractors. It should include those working in public, private, third sector and non-standard healthcare settings such as hospices, and community-based mental health or addiction services. Temporary staff, including those working in the COVID-19 vaccination programme, students, trainees and volunteers who are working with patients must also be included. It should also include staff working at COVID-19 test sites for symptomatic people.
Agency staff who work in the NHS are included in the JCVI priority list, cohort 2. For agency and bank staff, the priority is for staff who are active in taking shifts. Staff who have not worked through agency contract in the NHS in the past 6 months would not fall into this priority group.