Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33087 on 25 November 2020. 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 .

Decisions on whether to prescribe vitamin D for people in care homes will be made on an individual basis taking account of residents’ needs and any contraindications with other medication that care home residents are taking. Where individuals are likely to benefit, it is recommended vitamin D should be prescribed.

We note the position being currently taken in New Zealand and the recent studies from France, Japan and Sweden in relation to vitamin D and care homes. In June, the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), published the outcome of their reviews on vitamin D and COVID-19. Both found that the evidence at that time did not support the contention that vitamin D supplementation could improve COVID-19 outcomes.

SACN concluded that evidence at that time did not support vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infection in the general UK population. Its review reiterated the importance of vitamin D for bone and muscle health. SACN’s statement is at: https://app.box.com/s/g0ldpth1upfd7fw763ew3aqa3c0pyvky .

NICE conducted a rapid evidence summary on vitamin D in the context of COVID-19 which concluded that there was no evidence at that time to support taking vitamin D supplements to specifically prevent or treat COVID-19. NICE also reiterated that people should continue to follow advice on daily vitamin D supplementation to maintain bone and muscle health. The summary of NICE’s review is at: https://www.nice.org.uk/advice/es28/chapter/Key-messages

We are aware that evidence around vitamin D is constantly evolving and we will continue to look to SACN for advice as that evidence develops.

In addition, the Scottish Government will work with stakeholders including NHS Boards, professional bodies and care home providers along with the UK Government and devolved administrations to consider and review emerging evidence for care home residents and guidance will be developed as appropriate.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33087 on 25 November 2020. 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 .

Indoor fitness classes for over 18s are permitted if the area is in levels 0, 1 and 2 of our strategic framework. Outdoor exercise classes are permitted in levels 0, 1, 2,3 and 4 of the framework. You can find out more information on COVID protection level for each local area and get information on what you can and cannot do at each level here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-protection-levels/

Decisions on what sectors and activities to re-open on our route out of lockdown are guided by the principles set out in our Framework for Decision Making. Proposals are technically assessed using the best available evidence and analysis of their potential benefits and harms to health, the economy, and broader society to minimise overall harm and ensure transmission of the virus continues to be suppressed. This assessment process includes oversight of the assessed health risks in different settings by the Chief Medical Officer and input from the other Chief Clinicians as appropriate.

The Scottish Government recognises that this is an extremely difficult time for businesses across Scotland. From the outset we have been explicit that we are utilising every penny of the UK Government’s business support consequential funding to support businesses in Scotland, and we have delivered a package of financial support to help as many businesses as possible. In designing non-domestic rates reliefs as part of this package of financial support, we had to balance helping as many businesses as possible against affordability. All non-domestic properties will benefit from a 1.6% universal relief in 2020-21 and 100% relief is available for properties in the Retail, Hospitality, Leisure and Airport sectors.

Under the Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus Reliefs) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 the relief is available to properties used as airports specified in schedule 2, to properties situated at an airport used wholly or mainly to provide one or more handling services, and to those properties occupied by Loganair Ltd. The administration of non-domestic rates reliefs is a matter for local authorities.

We recognise the scale of the global challenge affecting the aviation sector, including the wider supply chain who are also impacted by the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on route networks.

We are therefore working with airports on route recovery, to help rebuild connectivity for business and tourism and win back routes. The re-establishment of previously operated routes, and the return of the passengers who use these, will help support the wider supply chain who serve the aviation industry.

All non-domestic properties will benefit from a 1.6% universal relief in 2020-21.

A breakdown of the relief by Scottish airport is available at the following link: http://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202000039712/ .

Under the Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus Reliefs) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 the relief is available to properties used as airports specified in schedule 2, to properties situated at an airport used wholly or mainly to provide one or more handling services, and to those properties occupied by Loganair Ltd. The administration of non-domestic rates reliefs is a matter for local authorities.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested. All information on prescribed and dispensed items are published, and categorised by British National Formulary chapter, in both monthly open data files and as part of the annual Dispenser Payments and Prescription Cost Analysis which was released on 29 September 2020. Public Health Scotland published data does not provide details on reason for prescribing a specific medicine.

Creative testing for public health campaigns may involve directly testing proposed hashtags or assessing the response of the public to the key campaign messages and using this to identify an appropriate hashtag.

Any hashtag will be assessed against the following criteria

1. Is the hashtag memorable and appropriate?

2. Is the hashtag available and not being used elsewhere?

We appreciate how difficult it has been for people who have had procedures or treatments postponed due to the pandemic. Putting the NHS on an emergency footing has meant the focus has initially been on urgent and essential care including for acute and persistent pain.

We expect patients to be seen within the most appropriate timescale for their condition following a clinical assessment and remain committed to ensuring that the full range of pain services will be available as quickly as it safe to do so. To support this on 24 September we published the COVID-19 Recovery Framework for NHS Pain Management Services, which was developed in conjunction with a wide range of stakeholders across the clinical community, third sector and patient groups.

In addition to this the Programme for Government 2020-21 commits to developing and improving the current Scottish Model for Chronic Pain, and to publish a new Framework for Chronic Pain Service Delivery in 2021. This work will also take forward a number of the recommendations of the Scottish Access Collaborative report on chronic pain which aims to sustainably improve waiting times for services. Together it is intended that this work will lead to less variation in the quality and availability of services for people with chronic pain, support the sharing of best practice and ultimately contribute to more prompt access to specialist support and services to improve people’s health and wellbeing.