Lewis Macdonald

Answer · Michael Matheson · 23 Mar 2021

The upgrading of the East Coast Main Line between Aberdeen and Dundee is currently at the option selection stage and will deliver £200m of enhancements by 2026, in line with the Ministerial commitment.
In addition decarbonisation of this route is at an early stage of development.

Answer · John Swinney · 18 Mar 2021

We introduced an enhanced asymptomatic testing programme for school and early learning and childcare staff and senior phase pupils in line with the first phase of a return to in-school learning on 22 February. Voluntary twice-weekly at-home testing, using Lateral Flow Devices, is being made available to all school staff in primary, secondary and special schools, and all senior phase pupils. We have also announced that we will extend the availability of testing to all S1-S3 secondary school pupil year groups following an expected fuller return after the Easter break, which will be subject to continued progress in suppressing the virus.
Regular staff and pupil asymptomatic testing is part of a robust package of COVID-19 mitigation measures already in place in schools, and must not be viewed in isolation from those measures. We view twice-weekly asymptomatic testing as an additional precaution which will help us to make a return to in-person learning as safe as possible for staff and pupils. The goal of this testing is to identify staff or young people who have the virus but do not have symptoms and require them to self-isolate, thus breaking potential chains of transmission early and minimising the risks of outbreaks in schools. Lateral flow tests provide quick results – usually within about half an hour. That makes them useful for regular testing programs of this kind. However, we are aware that lateral flow tests are less sensitive than laboratory PCR tests and for that reason we will continue to ask that everyone who tests positive using a Lateral Flow Device under the schools programme has a confirmatory PCR test.
We are working with key partners such as YoungScot to ensure we understand the views of young people and can take these into account to improve the testing offer over time.

Answer · Michael Russell · 18 Mar 2021

It is normal practice for the Scottish Government to publish updated flag flying guidance at the beginning of each year. The main changes to the guidance in 2021 were:Confirming specific flag flying dates;The removal of the birthday of HRH The Duke of York as an official flag flying day;Confirmation of the Government’s previously announced policy to fly the European Flag daily at St Andrew’s House and Victoria Quay, subject to other flag flying commitments; andAdvice about the possible effects the COVID-19 pandemic on scheduled flag flying days.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse · 23 Mar 2021

As was the case with the South and Central R100 contracts, the Scottish Government is providing BT with an updated intervention area (the list of addresses eligible for public sector subsidy) for the North which we have recently consulted upon.
We have committed to provide Openreach with the finalised speed and coverage template (or SCT) no later than 31 March 2021 to allow them to finalise their coverage footprint. We expect that this remodelling exercise will conclude in April/May 2021, after which it will be subject to rigorous review through our own governance and assurance structures, and those of Building Digital UK (BDUK).
We expect the full picture across the North lot contract area to be available by Summer 2021. Our online address checker will then be updated to reflect this.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse · 23 Mar 2021

The Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme main voucher – worth up to £5,000 – has been specifically designed to allow vouchers in a community to be combined to extend available funding, ensuring co-ordinated, comprehensive areas of superfast coverage where possible. Community Fibre Partnerships are a commercial offering from Openreach and, as a registered supplier, SBVS vouchers can be used by communities to help secure a Community Fibre Partnership solution.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse · 23 Mar 2021

Policy relating to cyber-security, like telecommunications more broadly, remains reserved to the UK Government. The removal of Huawei equipment from commercial mobile networks is the responsibility of mobile network operators and the Scottish Government is not sighted on their plans to meet the UK Government mandate.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse · 23 Mar 2021

When bidding for the R100 contracts, suppliers submitted bids that maximised coverage with the funding available. Through the remodelling exercise, we have again asked BT to maximise coverage but are separately exploring the possibility of securing further funding to flip premises. We anticipate that, following the remodelling exercise, we will see an even greater proportion of FTTP coverage in the North lot.