Seòmar agus comataidhean

There is no one definitive way to protect women who are over 65 from the effects of HPV infection. However, evidence shows that measures such as stopping smoking and undertaking good sexual health practices can help reduce the risks associated with it. Education and information is therefore a vital tool – not just to protect women from HPV, but to improve overall health outcomes.

The Scottish Government is developing a Women’s Health Plan. An early action from the plan was to develop a women’s health campaign, which launched on 1 February 2021, and includes information about sexual health and contraception for women of all ages, including specific links to sexual health advice and support for older women. In addition to this general campaign, we will continue to work closely with third sector organisations such as Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, to ensure that messaging around HPV and cervical cancer targets a range of demographics, including women over the age of 65.

It should also be noted that most people who become infected with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) clear the virus from their body without any intervention. However, we also recognise that persistent HPV can result in some cancers – for women, the most common of these is cervical cancer.

That’s why we also continue to work to protect women from the effects of HPV through our cervical screening programme with women aged between 25 and 64 invited for regular screening. We know that those aged 65 and over who regularly participate in and are discharged from the programme are unlikely to develop cervical cancer.

Finally, as part of our long term efforts to prevent HPV-related cancers, in Scotland, the HPV vaccine is offered to every S1 pupil because the evidence now shows that it helps protect both boys and girls from HPV-related cancers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35832 on‎ 12 March 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35832 on‎ 12 March 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35832 on 12 March 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

In relation to the request for a breakdown of expenditure, the sum £54,378 was spent in its entirety for obtaining individual legal advice for civil servants in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Service Management Code published by the Cabinet Office.

Four members of staff received the individual legal advice. The breakdown of the expenditure by grade is SCS - Permanent Secretary; SCS – Director x2; SCS – Deputy Director.

The name of the legal firm that provided the legal advice cannot be revealed in order to maintain the right to confidentiality of communications between legal advisers and clients.

Vaccinations are taking place differently across Scotland to reflect the needs of local communities. NHS Scotland Heath Boards are responsible for the local delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine. As such, Health Boards are responsible for making decisions regarding local delivery in line with the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guidance. This includes how to deliver vaccines to their those with known allergies.

Information for those with known allergies is available in the green book .

The Coronavirus Vaccination Helpline can be called on: 0800 0308013 (available 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week) for advice relating to receiving vaccinations in individual health boards.

Further general information about the coronavirus vaccine and its delivery is also available at NHS Inform .

The Scottish Government follows the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) Guidance in the planning of vaccine delivery. This evidence based guidance advises that the single greatest risk of mortality from COVID-19 is increasing age, and that the risk increases exponentially with age. Additionally the committee considers frontline health and social care workers who provide direct care to vulnerable people a high priority for vaccination.

The JCVI priority lists represents 99% of the preventable mortality from COVID-19 in Scotland and throughout the delivery of the vaccination programme we will be guided by the clinical expertise of the JCVI, the MHRA, and our own senior clinical advisers.

Partners of people who are shielding will not be offered a vaccine as one of the phase 1 priority groups unless the partner is identified or identifies themselves as an unpaid carer, or is aged 50 or over.

The Scottish Government has been clear that it is right that responsible developers continue to take action to support owners affected by this issue through no fault of their own. I will consider all options available, including those allowed in legislation to resolve the situation for building owners and tenants.

I have contacted several developers and commend Taylor Wimpey for their commitment in Glasgow. The public commitment of remediation funds by Persimmon Homes last month is welcomed. I am determined that the steps we take will support, not discourage, such responsible action and I will set out a sustainable path forward on this issue later this month.

Recent consultations on guidance produced by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Scottish Government have shown that agreement is now developing on both the nature and extent of buildings affected most at risk. This clarity will allow us to cost and take action to target support accordingly, focusing on the greatest need and securing best value for the taxpayer within the plan I set out later this month.

Enforcement of the Coronavirus Regulations, including the travel restrictions, is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland.

Police Scotland fully recognise the impact the restrictions have on people’s lives. Their approach throughout the pandemic has not changed. Officers will continue to support people to follow the Regulations and encourage them to take personal responsibility for their actions using a 4Es approach of Engage, Explain, Encourage and Enforce.

Police Scotland have advised that they have increased patrols in Scotland’s communities and on our roads network to provide greater potential for officers to explain the regulations and to encourage people to do the right thing. Where officers encounter wilful breaches, they will act decisively to enforce the law.

Police Scotland have also advised that they will continue to deal with clear breaches in international travel regulations in line with the 4Es approach and appropriate operating procedures have been put in place to ensure any such breaches can be effectively enforced.

It is important that people can access COVID-19 data by equality characteristics, and the Scottish Government aims to make data open and accessible wherever possible.

The Scottish Government receives daily figures for all deaths within 28 days of a first positive COVID-19 test from Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and weekly figures for deaths registered where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate from National Records of Scotland (NRS). NRS also publish a more comprehensive report on deaths from COVID-19 every month with additional analysis including breakdowns by age, sex, deprivation, and pre-existing medical conditions. While this does not include analysis on how many of the people who died from COVID-19 were disabled, the Scottish Government has been advised by NRS that this is currently being undertaken and is planned to be published in the next few weeks.

The figures and analysis presented by the Scottish Government and partner organisations continue to evolve over time to ensure the most relevant information is included and the needs of stakeholders are met.