Seòmar agus comataidhean

Fair Start Scotland (FSS), Scotland’s devolved employment support service, helps those who are further removed from the labour market to find and stay in work. The service was launched in April 2018 with an ambition of supporting 38,000 people by 31 March 2021. Statistics published on 26 August 2020 show that by the end of June 2020, 24,300 people had started on the service, 64% of the overall ambition. Of those who started on the service, 65% had a long term health condition and 47% reported having a disability. The statistics also show the significant early impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown on engagement with FSS services, as both referrals and starts decreased (by 39% and 25% respectively) compared to the same period (April-June) in 2019.

Referrals to FSS since its launch have mainly come from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). During the period March to June this year, DWP suspended referrals to refocus their workforce on processing the unprecedented volume of Universal Credit claims made during lockdown (DWP statistics show 3.2 million claims were made between 16 March and 23 June 2020). All FSS referrals during this period were generated by FSS Providers via digital platforms and social media. Providers have also been mindful of the particular needs of their more vulnerable participants during lockdown, when many were shielding or had significant concerns about engaging with services due to their health conditions, disabilities or personal circumstances. The ‘pause’ on DWP referrals, along with lockdown restrictions on face to face interactions, have therefore had an impact on FSS service delivery.

In response to the pandemic, the Scottish Government have introduced flexibilities in service delivery along with financial measures to sustain Providers and safeguard support for participants. Providers continue to engage and support participants regularly by telephone and online. In line with our ‘test and learn’ approach, we are working with Providers to continuously improve FSS service delivery, to support the most vulnerable and respond quickly and effectively to any further COVID-19 and economic impacts. As part of our COVID-19 economic recovery package, I announced on 16 July 2020 that the service has been extended for a further two years until 31 March 2023, allowing more people to participate and ensuring support is in place for those who need it most.

Despite the service performing well so far, ongoing economic and labour market uncertainty along with the threat of further local lockdowns are likely to have a profound and long lasting impact on FSS performance. It is therefore likely that we will not meet our ambition to support 38,000 people by 31 March 2021. However, we will continue to work with FSS Providers and partners to promote and improve the service to ensure that those who are eligible and would benefit from Fair Start Scotland support, are able to do so.

Following careful consideration of all the options open to us, and taking into account the undoubted additional benefits that anonymous contract tracing technology can offer Scotland’s tried and trusted Test & Protect service, I can confirm that a contact tracing app to support NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect system is now in development.

The app will focus solely on proximity tracing using Bluetooth technology to anonymously alert users if they have been in close contact with another user who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). The software is voluntary and will not ask users for any personal information at any time.

The Scottish contact tracing app will be developed by NearForm using the same software as the Republic of Ireland contact tracing app, which has already been adapted for use in Northern Ireland and Gibraltar and will work with those apps to support movement across the common travel area.

This will complement existing person to person contact tracing which will remain the main component of NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect system.

The Covid-19 pandemic presents unprecedented challenges for our education system. Our overriding priorities are ensuring the health and wellbeing of children, young people and staff and maintaining a continuity of learning wherever possible whilst schools are closed, as well as planning and preparing for a recovery phase.

We remain committed to the Review of Curriculum for Excellence and are progressing this by providing the OECD with a comprehensive written evidence pack which we are co-developing with partners. However, it is critical that we do not make any additional demands on the system at this time. Therefore, following discussions with national partners and the OECD, we have agreed to postpone engagement with policy stakeholders until September and engagement with practitioners and learners until October 2020. This approach would see publication of the final report in June 2021.

This is the current position but our approach will be kept under review, responding appropriately to changing developments.

The Scottish Government published its A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People: Employment Action Plan Annual Progress Report on 30 March 2020. The report is available on the Scottish Government website in a range of accessible formats including Easy Read, BSL and audio file.

This report highlights some of the key successes in working to close the disability employment gap, including through support for business and enterprise, the publication of the Scottish Government’s Recruitment and Retention Plan for Disabled People, alignment of work and health agendas, and the establishment of our Public Social Partnership - created to develop and test solutions to the barriers employers may face in recruiting and retaining disabled staff.

The report also outlines the priority actions we propose to undertake in the coming year to continue to work towards achieving our ambition to at least halve the disability employment gap. This includes announcing that, in conjunction with the Department for Work and Pensions, we will establish an Access to Work stakeholder group to ensure that disabled people have a formal mechanism through which to shape and improve this vital support. We have acknowledged however that some activity may need to be reprioritised in light of the emerging COVID-19 response.

The impact of Covid-19 on cancer patients has been a priority in all of our planning, and we must ensure that all appropriate measures are undertaken in the present situation to protect those living with cancer.

We have been clear that vital cancer services will remain in line with clinical priority. However, we recognise that for some cancer patients treatment and management plans may have to change over the coming weeks and months due to the new risks associated with Covid-19. This must be clearly communicated with each patient and should never comprise patient care and outcomes.

An information leaflet for cancer patients was disseminated through the NHS on 20 March 2020 and an updated version is currently being produced for dissemination this week which reflects new public advice around COVID19.

Yesterday (25 March 2020 ) I wrote to NHS Chief Executives to share the nationally agreed clinical guidance for the management of cancer treatments during Covid-19.

This guidance has been agreed through the National Covid-19 Cancer Treatment Response group. This guidance will remain under review as the situation changes over the coming weeks and this group will meet again tomorrow (27 March 2020).

The Scottish Parliament Corporate Body currently utilises a contract which provides services for the secure removal of data, reuse, recycling and disposal of computers that are no longer suitable for corporate use.

The emphasis for this contract is re-use of equipment, which the contractor reported was 33% over a two-year period.  Where equipment cannot be re-used or components and parts recovered, items are separated into base materials for recycling in the UK.

The company currently providing these services is a Supported Business which means that at least 30% of their workforce is employed from disabled and disadvantaged backgrounds. Last year this figure stood at 48% which positively impacted local society.