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Children from families with someone who is on the shielding list can return to schools when they start to re-open. The Chief Medical Officer has not advised that those children should stay off school.

A range of previously published evidence has made clear that schools are not high risk environments when the appropriate mitigations and safety measures are implemented. There is to date no evidence that in-school transmission is a significant driver of increasing infection levels. The Scottish Government has issued guidance to education authorities and schools on reducing the risks in schools and further supplementary guidance on the arrangements for re-opening of schools in January 2021 which set out further mitigation measures. This includes that all school staff and senior pupils who are going into school will be able to get twice-weekly at home tests from 22 February. This guidance will continue to the considered and updated as necessary in the coming weeks.

Information for parents and carers on the reopening of schools can also be found on the Parent Club website: FAQs on Scottish schools reopening | Parent Club

We continue to work closely in partnership with sportscotland and wider partners to ensure that physical activity is a key part of Scotland’s wellbeing and recovery plans from the pandemic.

Scotland’s Strategic Framework Oct 2020) sets out how we are working to suppress the virus, rooted in the approach and principles set out in the Framework for Decision Making (April 2020). The First Minister informed Parliament on‎ 15 December that we were conducting a focused review of the Strategic Framework and would report back to Parliament on the outcome. Since then, the emergence of new virus variants, the surge in infections caused by a new strain, the urgent action taken in December and January, the approval of vaccinations and publication of the vaccination programme have changed the context for this work, and also underlined its necessity. Given where we are now, it has become necessary to refresh the framework to ensure it continues to be fit for purpose and to map out our approach for the period ahead.

Organised sport and exercise for under-12s can continue in line with workplace and socialising guidance, and sport-specific guidance agreed between the Scottish Governing Body of Sport and sportscotland. Sports providers must ensure they operate in line with the relevant guidance.

Returning Officers are responsible for delivering elections, including the operation of polling stations and assessing safety. Decisions on use of locations are being made on a case-by-case basis, informed by each Council’s Health and Safety assessments, public health advice and using risk assessment tools and guidance for electoral professionals produced by the Electoral Management Board for Scotland (EMB) and the Electoral Commission.

As set out in our Clinical and Scientific review of the Testing Strategy, the consensus clinical view of the prioritisation of capacity, over and above that required to meet symptomatic demand, clinical care requirements and existing commitments, is that the focus in any extension of routine regular asymptomatic testing should be on protecting those most vulnerable to severe harm. Further details of the review can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-review-of-testing-strategy-october-2020/

In line with clinical priorities we have broadened NHS staff testing to include patient facing NHS staff in hospitals and expanded care home testing to visiting professionals and visitors, care at home staff, personal assistants, staff working in sheltered accommodation and housing with multiple occupancies and day services.

As the First Minister outlined to Parliament on 2 February, the next phase of our testing expansion will include widening the regular testing of healthcare workers to cover primary care workers in patient-facing roles such as general practitioners, dentists, optometrists and pharmacists. We also intend to expand the availability of regular testing in other health settings such as addiction and mental health services.

Decisions on making testing available to new groups are based on careful consideration of the benefits, limitations and operational implications of broadening access to testing for those who do not have symptoms. We will continue to keep the position on testing under review, in light of relevant health protection advice.

Testing is only one measure of protection against COVID-19, and must be seen alongside a strong emphasis on robust infection prevention and control measures, including the use of PPE, the extended use of face masks, physical distancing and good hygiene.

The Scottish Government has provided local authorities with‎ £80 million of additional investment in education staff, sufficient for the recruitment of around 1,400 additional teachers, and 200 support staff this year.

In addition, a package of £45 million of new funding was announced on 13 January to support the delivery of remote learning. This funding is sufficient to employ an additional 2,000 teachers during this financial year, and a further £25 million has been made available to local authorities to support this to the end of the school year.

The funding is not ring-fenced for a specific group of teachers, and may be used by local authorities to recruit additional newly qualified teachers, recently qualified teachers and other qualified teachers.

This money is additional to the £160m that we have already committed for education recovery since the start of the pandemic.

The Coronavirus regulations set out which business premises are required to restrict access or to close at level 4.

Car valeting businesses are not currently restricted by the regulations . All businesses which continue to operate in level 4 must adhere to the published guidance and regulations to reduce the risk of transmission and keep their workforce and the public safe.

Since 2004 the Scottish Government has made available funding to local authorities to support awareness raising around the potential health impacts of vehicle idling, and the associated law. 12 local authorities are currently making use of this funding, employing a mix of advertising media and direct contact with the public.

For example, the East Central Scotland Vehicle Emissions Partnership (comprising West Lothian, East Lothian, Midlothian, Falkirk and Stirling Councils) operates the Switch Off and Breathe campaign to help raise awareness. Further information can be found at https://switchoffandbreathe.org/ .

Regrettably, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed that these payments made to employees are regarded as earnings and will be liable for tax, national insurance contributions and student loan repayments, where appropriate. The Scottish Government cannot give tax guidance as this matter is reserved for HMRC. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport is writing to UK Government to ask that this payment be exempt from tax and benefits calculations.

Work is underway in delivering the Framework for Supporting People through Recovery and Rehabilitation. The National Advisory Board for Rehabilitation was established in December last year (2020) and is supporting with this implementation work.

The Scottish Government is meeting regularly with key stakeholders to ensure they are properly involved in the implementation of the Framework. This has included engagement with the British Healthcare Trades Association and we continue to work with them, and others, as we deliver the key priorities in the Framework.