Seòmar agus comataidhean

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days

We understand that Glasgow City Council, together with Glasgow Life and the SEC, are working closely to develop a bid to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. While no funding has been provided or committed by Scottish Ministers, we will consider the business case for support for any bid once received.

While it is for local authorities across the UK to make their bids to the BBC to host Eurovision, Scottish Government officials have been in regular contact with UK Government counterparts regarding the selection of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest host city. We understand that Glasgow City Council, together with Glasgow Life and the SEC, are working closely to develop a bid to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.

Each Health Department in the UK and across Devolved Nations is made aware of all JCVI advice though their designated observers. The Scottish Government’s Senior Medical Officer (SMO) is a member, and attends JCVI and Sub-Committee meetings and receives all Committee papers and recommendations. Through the SMO and policy officials, Ministers are kept abreast of all JCVI recommendations. As Cabinet Secretary I have had regular discussions with my senior clinicians in relation to our response to Monkeypox, as well as raising it with Health Ministers across the UK.

It has been recommended that the spacing of cavity barriers (which stop the spread of fire through wall cavities behind the cladding) on the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and Department of Clinical Neurosciences be reduced from 20 metre intervals to 10 metre intervals. NHS Lothian has been assured that the overall level of fire safety remains high and has not been significantly reduced by the spacing of the cavity barriers. Risk assessments have also been carried out to identify and mitigate any fire risks to patients, staff and visitors.

Discussions with IHSL, the consortium that built and owns the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, about altering the cavity barriers are ongoing. IHSL has been asked to produce detailed proposals for work on the cavity barriers. Those proposals will be reviewed by the health board and its advisers, so as to ensure they meet technical specifications and minimise disruption to the hospital and department.

The Scottish Government has no plans to publish the six-month progress reports for the nine projects funded through the Chief Scientist Office long-term effects of COVID-19 research call.

Interim progress reports are not published as their purpose is to enable monitoring of the progress of the projects, as a check that the researchers have gained all the necessary research regulatory and governance approvals, to monitor grant spend, and to determine whether adjustments to projects are required to deal with unforeseen challenges that may have arisen. Interim reports are not a vehicle to publish research results as the projects have not completed and any results are likely to be incomplete. Publication could therefore potentially lead to misleading conclusions being drawn. It is important that conclusions are drawn from research studies once all the data are fully analysed and also preferably published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature following independent scrutiny.

The Scottish Government is actively working with local authorities, Education Scotland and other partners to understand and support the needs of Ukrainian children and ensure they can access appropriate education. This work is being co-ordinated through a joint Scottish Government and COSLA working group. In addition, Councillor Buchanan and I have recently written to all local authorities on this issue to ensure a joined-up approach and consistency of understanding.

Local authorities are responsible for the delivery of education and are best placed to consider the educational needs of children arriving into Scotland from Ukraine. These needs are potentially complex and dependent on the age and stage of the child, including any additional support needs such as learning English as an additional language (EAL). I have asked Education Scotland to contact all local authorities to discuss current plans, and to understand where ongoing support can best be provided.

The Scottish Government is pressing the UK Government for more clarity on the method and timing of education tariff payments to local authorities for those arriving from Ukraine. This tariff, which is to be available for 2022-23, pro rata to the time the child or young person is receiving education, can help meet specific needs that arise in relation to accessing education, including having English as an Additional Language. This is in addition to the funding the Scottish Government provides to local authorities for additional support for learning as part of their block grant.

The Scottish Government has issued guidance to Health Boards setting out our expectation that Ukrainian refugees in Scotland will have access to all primary health care services along with vaccinations including those for COVID-19.

While pharmacy closures can occur, this on the whole represents a small proportion of the network and is often limited to a small proportion of the required model hours. The Scottish Government continue to work with all Health Boards and community pharmacies representatives who are responsible for the provision of local pharmaceutical care services to ensure that any challenges faced by community pharmacies in providing the safe and effective dispensing of treatments are discussed with the local Health Board to minimise impact and risk to patients. Health boards can take a range of actions in response to any breach of terms by a pharmacy contractor.

The Scottish Government has issued guidance to Health Boards setting out our expectation that Health Boards will ensure Ukrainian refugees have access to local dental treatment and GP practices.