Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government have previously been made aware of this issue and earlier this year investigated the it further. Our investigation established that this was a historical, localised issue in the Aberdeenshire area where they had not been applying the guidance fully. Two years ago they revised their internal processes to ensure assessments were carried out on applications made by organisations seeking a Blue Badge in compliance with Scottish Governments Blue Badge guidance.

We are currently undertaking a review of the guidance we provide to Local Authorities to improve the process for organisations applying for a Blue Badge and to make it clear and consistent across the country. We are also seeking to ensure that the online application form is more robust and provides organisations and Local Authorities with all the necessary information to elicit a more efficient process.

When disruptions occur CalMac Ferries Ltd will conduct a network wide review to minimise the impact on communities. This includes redeployment of vessels from elsewhere on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) network, identification of an alternative ferry route when an island (or group of islands), has more than one port, and provision of additional sailings on these alternative routes.

In this instance, it included additional sailings on the Uig – Lochmaddy route allowing onward travel to Lochboisdale, with the MV Clansman redeployed to operate this service. Services on all affected routes resumed normal timetabled sailings from 10 September 2021.

CalMac Customer Operations teams moved impacted traffic from affected sailings, contacting customers advising them of suggested alternative sailing; or if the customer preferred, offer a full refund.

The Scottish Government has established a Covid Ventilation Short Life Working Group (SLWG) of expert advisors to consider what actions can be taken in the short, medium and long-term. It first met on 3 September 2021, with advice on initial recommendations due to be submitted to Ministers on 10 September 2021.

The SLWG is expected to be in place for 6-12 months. It will consider a more detailed timeframe for its programme of work at the next meeting later in September. The group will support our understanding of what measures building managers can take to improve ventilation in areas where it is found to be lacking.

The Forestry Grant Scheme already supports planting native broadleaved riparian woodland in a range of situations. Since 2016 the Forestry Grant Scheme has supported the planting of over 500 native broadleaved riparian woodlands.

Furthermore, all tree planting and restocking proposals must comply with the UK Forestry Standard, which promotes an integrated catchment management approach and places particular emphasis on riparian woodland and its role in protecting and restoring the freshwater environment.

Scottish Forestry will continue to develop and improve The Forestry Grant Scheme throughout the Stability and Simplicity rural funding transition period and as part of this there will be opportunities to review how it supports tree planting in different circumstances.

Forest and land Scotland (FLS) has no role in the Forestry Grant Scheme. FLS is a separate Agency charged with managing Scotland’s National Forest Estate.

Guidance on replanting on deep peat following clearfell is contained within the Scottish Government’s Practice Guide, Deciding Future Management Options for Afforested Deep Peatland (2015). It sets out the circumstances where a presumption to restore the peatland habitat applies and the assessment method that should be used to decide future options where a presumption to restore does not apply.

In 2018, the Scottish Government (via ClimateXChange – Scotland’s Centre of Expertise on Climate Change), commissioned the following report: Afforestation and restocking on peaty soils – new evidence assessment. The study broadly confirmed the findings of previous research on which the Practice Guide is based.

At this point in time there are no plans to review existing guidance however, we will continue to invest in research in this area, and will take account of new evidence, as it emerges, to help inform the future development and implementation of forestry policies and regulations.

People who have been fully vaccinated in the EU or the US will be able to travel to Scotland from amber list countries without quarantining from Monday (2 August).

"Fully vaccinated" means that it has been at least 14 days since receiving the final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

To count as fully vaccinated, travellers must also have been vaccinated in one of these countries:

• the UK, including as part of a UK vaccine rollout overseas - with an NHS approved vaccine.
• an EU member state - with a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
• Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City - with a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the Swiss vaccination programme.
• the USA - with a vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

they must also:

• declare that you have been fully vaccinated on the passenger locator form
• take a COVID-19 test before travelling to Scotland – if they are travelling from Spain, it is recommended that they choose a PCR test before departure
• book and pay £68 for a COVID-19 PCR test – they should take this test within 2 days of arriving in Scotland and must book the testing kit using the CTM Booking Portal

The accepted documentation referenced is the EU Digital Covid Certificate and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s white card – known as a CDC card. We have updated our international travel guidance on the Scottish Government website to reflect this change. The most up to date information is available here : Coronavirus (COVID-19): international travel and managed isolation (quarantine) - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

(a) the UKG are the principal contract owners of the Managed Quarantine Service contract. Any use of the term “principle” in this context would have been in error, for which we apologise. (b) The use of the term “officiate of the contract” is used to describe the Scottish Government’s role in relation to the use of the Managed Quarantine Service contract in Scotland. The Scottish Government, although not contract owners or signatories to the contract, act in the capacity of a beneficiary of services in relation to the Managed Quarantine Service contract and in addition, instruct the service delivery in Scotland through direct relationship management with the suppliers of services to the Managed Quarantine Service contract.

I would firstly like to thank the fantastic, flexible and supportive response from anaesthetists across the UK in supporting the pandemic surge requirements, particularly in Intensive Care, and as we now move to remobilise the NHS.

From the recruitment that has taken place so far in 2021, there were 67 posts advertised in Core Anaesthetics and 66 in ST3 Anaesthetics. All advertised posts have been filled. There were 5 appointable candidates who were not allocated a Core training post and 15 appointable candidates who were not allocated an ST3 post. This was a result of competitive entry and is similar both to previous years and the ratios seen in several other specialties. It does not automatically mean that these doctors are unemployed. This is because applicants ordinarily apply for multiple training posts and where an applicant is unsuccessful with one application, they may still be able to secure a post in another medical specialty or UK Nation. Unsuccessful applicants are also able to take up employment in alternative medical posts which are crucial to NHS Scotland, such as locum training posts (time which can count towards training), and are not prevented from reapplying for specialty training posts in subsequent recruitment rounds.

Where trainees are experiencing issues regarding their progression, NHS Education for Scotland are working with them and their educational supervisors on an individual basis to address these.

We are unaware of any alleged technical failures with Medical Royal College examinations and would encourage any trainee who feels that they have been disadvantaged to raise this matter formally with the College in question. We are also unaware of any alleged communications disruptions which have impacted on the specialty trainee recruitment process. Trainee recruitment this year has so far been an unprecedented success, with 94% of specialty training posts having been filled and one recruitment round still remaining.

The Contingency Plus Fund offered additional funding to Travel Agents, Breweries and Indoor Football Centres in recognition of the specific challenges that businesses operating in these sectors experienced as a result of COVID-19 restrictions and regulations. This fund closed on 31 March 2021 and as at 25 June 2021, £3,670,000 had been paid to 223 Travel Agent businesses who met the eligibility criteria for the scheme. Travel agents may also have been eligible for other funding such as the Strategic Framework Business Fund and associated hospitality retail and leisure top ups and Restart Grants.

For all covid business support funds, the level of funding paid out was determined by the level of eligible applicants, which may have been lower or higher than the original estimated budget. Where underspends have occurred in relation to specific funds these have been recycled into other business support schemes.