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Scottish Government officials are in regular dialogue with the Confederation of Passenger Transport and the larger bus operators in Scotland on how best to engage with passengers and inform them of the requirements for physical distancing and wearing a face covering on their journey.

This work includes bus operators sharing information in order to monitor the effectiveness on the bus network of the measures put in place.

On 21 May this year, the First Minister published a Route Map setting out the steps to transition safely out of lockdown. The Transport Transition Plan, published on 26 May, aligns to the route map and is regularly updated. Guidance for public transport users and operators is published within the Plan.

The guidance includes a requirement for bus operators to carry out a risk assessment and undertake mitigation measures as appropriate if they are considering moving from 2 metres to 1 metre physical distancing. These mitigation measures may include seat blocking.

In addition, the Scottish Government has been in ongoing dialogue with the bus industry on how best to provide a safe transport system to ensure Scotland can keep on moving, whilst continuing to suppress the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

We have set ambitious targets for reducing waste and increasing recycling, including to reduce total waste arising in Scotland to less than 85% of 2011 levels, and to increase recycling to 70% of waste from all sources by 2025.

The most recent statistics are from 2018 and are available from: https://www.sepa.org.uk/environment/waste/waste-data/waste-data-reporting/waste-data-for-scotland/

The Scottish Government has several major initiatives in train to increase recycling and reduce waste arising. For example, the Food Waste Reduction Action Plan, published in April 2019, sets out a number of actions that will reduce food waste in Scotland; and the introduction of our Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will significantly increase the quantity and quality of materials collected for recycling.

It is too early to determine the full impact that the COVID-19 crisis has had on waste and recycling and how this will affect progress towards longer term targets.

While it is too early to determine the full impact of COVID-19 on the levels of waste being recycled and sent to landfill, we are extremely grateful to those who have worked hard in difficult circumstances to keep essential waste service going in communities across Scotland.

The Scottish Government and the newly appointed Chair are committed to looking at how the workforce can best be represented to the board. We are clear that this should be an effective and collective voice of the workforce and not a specific grouping within same. This requirement is being explored in order to consider how this will be best achieved at Ferguson Marine. The matter is an agenda item and will be discussed at the next board meeting on 30 July. We are happy to consider the views of the workforce and unions in considering and implementing an appropriate arrangement for the organisation.

The Scottish Government notes Aviva’s recent decision to move some of its operations to a new location at Eurocentral from June 2021 and the potential impact that this may have at a local level.

Through Scottish Enterprise we are in regular contact with Aviva and have been advised that the company made this announcement early in order to engage with its staff and trade unions in order that the most appropriate flexible working arrangements are developed including options to work from home or from the new office facility. Scottish Enterprise has offered engagement to provide advice on fair work practices and flexible working arrangements in order that employees are fully supported.

Scottish Enterprise works in close partnership with East Dunbartonshire Council and will continue to support its economic growth activity such as its Economic Recovery Plan and City Deal project.

We intend to publish regional data as soon as it becomes available. This will apply from 28th May when Test and Protect was rolled-out.

Scottish Government guidance and advice is based on the evidence and informed by both SAGE and our own CMO Advisory Group, who advise on the science with regard to infectiousness.

All Covid-19 testing carried out in Scotland at the moment is PCR testing. The PCR test detects the presence of causative virus (SARS- Cov-2 in the case of Covid-19) in a sample.

PCR positivity at day 7 or beyond does not mean the same thing as being infectious (ie, producing live virus).

Evidence to date suggests that the current advise to isolate for seven days in the case of mild infection, or seven days after major symptoms have ended for more severe cases, remains sound and will be appropriate for the vast majority of cases.

NHS Inform advises that people should wait until they feel well enough before returning to work, and should adhere to the other principles set down in guidance in relation to physical distancing, respiratory and hand hygiene etc, after that point.

Advice and guidance remains subject to the outcome of future research into infectiousness between 7 and 14 days after infection, and will be assessed on an ongoing basis by SAGE and the CMO Advisory Group. Policy will be amended if needed, particularly for those people coming into contact with vulnerable people, or people in other higher-risk situations.

The testing of healthcare workers continues to be our priority, and all symptomatic NHS workers or symptomatic household members are eligible for testing.

On 23 June I announced that we are now routinely testing health care workers where the evidence tells us that it is appropriate to do so. All health care workers connected to a nosocomial outbreak will be tested regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. We will also test, on a weekly basis, staff working in specialist cancer units, in long-term care of the elderly, and in long-stay mental health wards. Boards are being asked to start this additional testing by 8 July.

The nosocomial expert group did not consider wholesale routine testing of asymptomatic health care workers to be an effective and proportionate method of tackling nosocomial risk.

Staff who test positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate at home for 7 days from onset of symptoms (or from date of testing if they are asymptomatic), and can only return to work after 7 days if they feel well enough to do so, and if they have not had a fever for at least 48 hours. Staff do not need to be retested prior to returning the workplace.

During the period from February 2020 to May 2020, user logins to Glow via RM Unify were split:

Staff (Teaching and non-Teaching staff)

• local authority schools 97-98%
• independent schools 0.3-0.5%

Pupils

• local authority schools 99.8 – 99.9%.
• independent schools 0.1 – 0.2%

Notes

1. The figures above are based on users logging into Glow via RM Unify but they do not include users accessing Glow through desktop or mobile apps which may be used on devices such as tablet/iPads distributed by local authorities.

2. Glow does not include a category of private school, instead it uses “independent schools”. This includes schools which are privately funded and special schools.

3. The percentage usage for staff do not add up to 100% as there are also some staff accounts in ITE universities, colleges and national bodies involved in education such as Education Scotland.