Seòmar agus comataidhean

Scottish Government officials met with representatives of small drinks producers on 2 July 2021. We will consider their views alongside the findings of the Gateway Review into Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme.

The Gateway Review team for the recent Gateway Review into Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme interviewed representatives of the following:

• Circularity Scotland Ltd
• Food and Drink Federation Scotland
• Lidl
• Scottish Environment Protection Agency
• Scottish Environmental Services Association and Suez
• Scottish Government
• Scottish Grocers’ Federation and G101 Stores
• Scottish Retail Consortium
• Scottish Wholesale Association
• Tesco
• Zero Waste Scotland

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00315 on
17 June 2021. 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 question S6W-00316 answered on
‎17 June 2021 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

To understand the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines in preventing the development of long COVID, an individual first has to have had COVID-19 in the first place.

Therefore, the question really is effectiveness of vaccines in preventing the COVID-19 virus and subsequent long COVID. A study published by Public Health England on 22 May 2021, Vaccines highly effective against B.1.617.2 variant after 2 doses , demonstrates the high effectiveness levels of two doses of both AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines against the Delta variant.

Two doses offer good protection against the Delta variant at levels of 88% and 60% for Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines respectively after two weeks. This is compared to 93% and 66% against the Kent variant. One dose of either vaccine offers protection of 33% against Delta variant after three weeks, compared to 50% against the Kent variant.

This follows data published on 23 April 2021 by the University of Oxford and the Office for National Statistics which showed that one dose of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca cut coronavirus cases by nearly two-thirds and were 74% effective against symptomatic infection.

Clinical trials have found that vaccination against COVID-19 further reduces the likelihood contracting long COVID even if an individual develops COVID-19. A paper published by the Tony Blair Institute on 18 June 2021, The Hidden Pandemic: Long Covid , states ‘vaccination also provides additional protection against long COVID: even if a vaccinated individual goes on to contract Covid-19, that person’s chances of developing Long Covid are reduced by a further 30 per cent in the most at-risk age group.’

Additionally, the vaccines have shown to also relieve symptoms of long COVID in people that already developed COVID-19. Yale School of Medicine stated on 12 April 2021, Why Vaccines May Be Helping Some With Long COVID , ‘as many as 30 to 40 per cent of those who get the vaccine have reported improvements to their symptoms.’

However, analysis by Professor Karl Friston, of University College London, suggests that changes in people’s behaviour after being vaccinated have reduced the vaccines’ ability to prevent infection . People who have “let their guards down” by dramatically reducing social distancing and other safety measures have put themselves at much higher risk of contracting COVID -19 and potentially developing long COVID, believes Professor Friston, who publishes a weekly Covid-modelling report and sits on the influential independent Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ( SAGE ).

In line with our Programme for Government commitment, the Fuel Poverty Strategy will be published by the end of this year. We will consult with a wide range of relevant stakeholders. The timescale for this consultation will be confirmed in due course.

The recruitment of members for the new Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel will be underway imminently. The Panel will comprise a Chair and five Members, at least one of whom must have lived experience of fuel poverty. Assuming there are sufficient applicants who meet the criteria and can be recommended for appointment, we expect the Panel to be in place by early November.

We have provided funding to Energy Action Scotland for a number of years to undertake a programme of work that supports Scottish Government fuel poverty policy development and delivery, as well as increasing stakeholder awareness of fuel poverty issues in Scotland . In 2020-21 this amounted to £130,000.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we also made funding available to a number of organisations to assist households struggling with their energy costs. The Fuel Bank Foundation was provided with £877,000 in total, which it used primarily to provide same-day top ups to households with prepayment meters who were at risk of self-disconnecting. Later their services were extended to include households reliant upon unregulated fuels such as heating oil. Advice Direct Scotland delivered the Home Heating Support Fund on our behalf, making available £1,050,000 to households referred by specialist energy and debt advice services, who were at serious risk of self rationing their energy use, regardless of fuel type or meter type. A further £2,100,000 was provided to the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations to deliver the Social Housing Fuel Support Fund, which supported member RSLs to deliver schemes designed to support tenants experiencing fuel insecurity.

Further funding is planned for 2021-22, as part of the Social Renewal Advisory Board Response Fund, which will build on the projects undertaken over the last year. Details are expected to be confirmed soon.

The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government or by Public Health Scotland.

Information relating to the number of suspected cancer referrals made by NHS dentists would be held by individual Health Boards.

The information requested regarding the number of NHS staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 at a hospital level is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Public Health Scotland publishes Health Care Worker Data by NHS Board, this information can be accessed here:

Dashboard - COVID-19 Statistical Report - 14 July 2021 - COVID-19 statistical report - Publications - Public Health Scotland.