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Digital technology plays a key role in successful delivery of any blended learning model. We know that this will cause issues for some of our most disadvantaged children and young people who do not have access to an appropriate device; do not have access to the internet; or both.

The Scottish Government has committed to investing £25m to support digital inclusion amongst disadvantaged children and young people. We are in close discussion with local authorities through SOLACE, ADES and Cosla about how to deliver best value and impact on that investment to ensure as many children and young people as possible are lifted out of digital exclusion and are able to connect with their schools, their teachers and their learning.

Learning at home or school should be teacher led and schools and teachers should work with learners, parents and families to take account of and adapt to circumstances such as lack of internet access when setting home learning tasks. To support teachers to deliver learning, no matter the home circumstances during school closures, Education Scotland is continuing to develop ‘Scotland Learns’ a resource bank of straightforward, open-ended learning activities which are challenging, and that develop children’s and young people’s independence in learning. These learning activities were designed to support learning at home during lockdown and can also be used to support a model of blended learning if required.

We understand that many learners who do not have access to broadband are suffering from socioeconomic disadvantage. That is why we are continuing with our commitment to invest £182 million from the Attainment Scotland Fund in 2020/21. For the first time, Pupil Equity Funding allocations have been confirmed for two years, to provide more certainty for head teachers and aid learning during the pandemic. We have also ensured that local authorities and schools have the flexibility they need to redirect Attainment Scotland Funding to help mitigate the impacts of school closures on our most disadvantaged families; and to make adjustments to existing plans to be delivered as schools return. For example, local authorities have used the funding to provide tablets to support digital learning at home, to provide transport to enable learners to attend hubs and supporting home-school link workers to maintain regular contact with children. In addition, the Scottish Government has committed to investing a further £25m in the provision of laptops, tablets and connectivity to support digital inclusion for our most disadvantaged children and young people.

The Scottish Government does not routinely collect data on children living in households without broadband. The Scottish Household Survey 2018 noted that home internet access had reached an all time high of 87%.

The Scottish Government has committed to investing £25m to support digital inclusion amongst disadvantaged children and young people. We are in close discussion with local authorities through SOLACE, ADES and Cosla about how to deliver best value and impact on that investment to ensure as many children and young people as possible are lifted out of digital exclusion and are able to connect with their schools, their teachers and their learning.

Following publication of the updated Route Map on 18 June, which outlines the order in which we will carefully and gradually lift lockdown restrictions, I can confirm that all street-access retail throughout Scotland is permitted to re-open from 29 June.

Retail units are permitted to open providing they have entrance / exit(s) for customers to use connecting them directly to outside space. For non-essential retail, if the customer entrance / exit(s) connects to an indoor space, such as an indoor shopping mall they are asked not to re-open until Phase 3. This represents a change from the first iteration of the route map and previous guidance where a size threshold for Phase 2 was indicated.

The Scottish Government is aware of reported difficulties faced by domestic abuse victims who wish to exit a joint tenancy under the Private Housing (Tenancies)(Scotland) Act 2016. We are engaging with the working group looking at preventing homelessness for women and children experiencing domestic abuse, which is co-chaired by Scottish Women’s Aid, to explore this issue further and what measures might be necessary to support those in these circumstances.

Private sector tenants who are victims of domestic abuse should seek advice and support from appropriate advice agencies on their options for exiting a joint tenancy. There are provisions in the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) Scotland Act 1981 and the Civil Partnership Act 2004 on applying to the court for exclusion orders and for transfers of tenancies. The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre has published guidance on exclusion orders: https://www.scottishwomensrightscentre.org.uk/news/covid-19coronavirus-info/exclusion-orders-what-are-they-and-how-can-they-help-if-im-experiencing-abuse-at-home/

The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre also provides free and confidential legal advice with a Freephone number 08088 010 789, or the Scottish Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline on 0800 027 1234.

In these unprecedented times, the safety and well-being of women and children who are at risk of experiencing violence during the coronavirus (COVID-19) is paramount. We have therefore, provided additional funding of £1.35 million to Scottish Women’s Aid, as part of the Scottish Government’s Communities Fund of £350 million.

The Scottish Government has developed a monitoring and evaluation framework to guide our examination of the impacts and outcomes of the new Private Residential Tenancy. This will compliment work to consider specific issues for joint tenants who experience domestic abuse as set out in PQ answer S5W-29931 on 26 June 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

Passenger rights in relation to aviation are covered by European Regulations which, in the UK, are overseen by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The following link to the CAA web site provides full information on passenger rights:

https://www.caa.co.uk/Passengers/Resolving-travel-problems/Delays-cancellations/Your-rights/Your-rights-when-you-fly/

Although the regulation of consumer protection is the responsibility of the UK Government, under the Scotland Act 2016 the Scottish Government has taken on responsibility for consumer advice and advocacy. The Scottish Government funds a consumer service that provides clear, practical advice on all consumer issues.

People in this situation may therefore wish to contact Advice Direct Scotland. They are available at https://www.consumeradvice.scot/ and also on 0808 164 6000. They are able to give specific consumer advice to anyone affected by the current situation caused by Covid-19.

The Competition and Markets Authority has issued guidance to businesses and consumers about refunds. It provides information based on current consumer protection legislation and can be found on their web site at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-to-investigate-concerns-about-cancellation-policies-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-consumer-contracts-cancellation-and-refunds

Activities permitted under the various phases of the route map for exiting Covid 19 are kept constantly under review. This will be in line with maintaining physical distancing and suppressing the spread of the coronavirus. In addition, due to the impact of coronavirus, all driving tests in the UK have ceased until further notice, with the exception of emergency tests for critical workers. The timing of the resumption of driving tests is reserved to the UK Government, but any resumption of tests would have to be in line with the Scottish route map out of lockdown.

The Scottish Government fully recognises the value to our visitor economy of the holiday and caravan park sector and continues to engage with it through the relevant industry associations, including the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA).

On 10 June, the Scottish Government announced its proposals for a provisional timeframe of the week of 15 July for the opening of the tourism and hospitality sector, including caravan park owners, in line with Phase 3 of the Route-map. This reopening is conditional on the scientific and public health evidence supporting the move at the time. The BH&HPA have played a part in its development, as well as developing their own, sector specific guidance that will align to the wider guidance.

To aid the sector and its customers, the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning and the Chief Planner jointly wrote to local authorities allowing for and encouraging temporary relaxations in planning measures and to apply discretion in granting licenses, including the closed periods for holiday parks.

The Scottish Government has continued to engage with the dairy sector in Scotland including the NFUS, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board and Dairy UK, throughout the Covid 19 period. Whilst we recognise that the sector has been impacted, it is clear from these discussions and market data that Scotland continues to be less affected than other parts of the UK. The Scottish Government has provided a financial contribution to the joint AHDB and Dairy UK marketing campaign to increase milk consumption throughout the UK, and we continue to engage with the industry and monitor the market data to determine if any further support will be required for the sector.