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Following further engagement with the UK Government, we are now confident in the required standards of private testing providers and the flow of data to Public Health Scotland. The relevant regulations have been amended and from Monday, 6 September, travellers from amber and green list countries coming to Scotland will be able to use private sector providers.

Everyone aged 18 and over on (and including) 31 October 2021 has now been invited for their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes adults experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping.

In Spring 2021, following new advice from the JCVI, priority group 6 was expanded in Scotland to include people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping.

Homeless services across the country were consulted to inform the delivery model for this community to ensure they are offered the COVID-19 vaccination in a suitable way. Following on from this, an assertive outreach model has been adopted by Health Boards across Scotland, in partnership with frontline local authority and the third sector, to reach those experiencing homelessness. For example, vaccinations have been taken to people in temporary accommodation and at support service premises. These sessions have been organised in partnership and attended by known and trusted support workers to provide support and reassurance for people. This outreach approach continues to be taken by Health Boards to ensure that people experiencing homelessness come forward for their second dose vaccination.

Scottish Government officials continue to discuss progress on inclusive outreach approaches with all Health Boards on a regular basis and learning is shared between Health Boards. More information on the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme can be found in the Covid Vaccine Deployment Plan which was last updated in July 2021.

We are currently considering the appropriateness of such agreements, similar to those developed south of the Border, for Scotland. Initial discussions have been held with trade union colleagues and we are keen to explore constructively how they might be involved in any such future arrangement.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, as the procuring authority, have confirmed that Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd expressed an interest and submitted a bid for the contract to build the two new ferries.

Funded early learning and childcare (ELC) is delivered across the public, private, third and childminding sectors. Since August 2021, all local authority areas have put in place an expanded offer of up to 1140 hours of funded ELC for all eligible 2, 3 and 4 year olds.

Funded ELC is delivered in a ‘provider neutral’ way, which means that families can access high quality funded ELC with the provider of their choice – in the public, private, third sector or a childminder – if that provider meets the criteria set out in our National Standard, has a space available, and is in contract with their local authority to deliver the funded hours.

Sustainable and thriving public, private, third and childminding sectors are essential if we are to realise the full benefits of the ELC expansion. The landmark multi-year funding agreement reached by Scottish Government and COSLA in April 2018 to fully fund the expansion to 1140 hours includes funding for the payment of sustainable rates that reflect the cost of delivery and enable payment of the real Living Wage to childcare workers delivering the funded entitlement. In addition, the Scottish Government announced on 4 December 2020 that qualifying day nurseries will continue to benefit from 100% relief on non-domestic rates until at least June 2023.

The Scottish Government has also taken a range of actions to support providers in the private, third, and childminding sectors during the pandemic, including making available more than £22 million of dedicated support.

On 31 August the Scottish Government published the Financial Sustainability Health Check of the Childcare Sector in Scotland . The Health Check collected evidence on the sustainability of the childcare sector, in particular in light of the impacts of COVID-19. It set out a range of actions to improve sector sustainability, including:

• Developing a programme of targeted business, financial management, marketing and human resources support for all types of childcare services.
• Developing a five year workforce strategy to support recruitment and retention in the sector and introducing a Childcare Taster Programme as part of the National Transitions Training Fund in 2021-22.
• Strengthening the process for local authorities to set sustainable rates for providers in the private, third and childminding sectors to deliver funded ELC; and
• Reviewing the administrative requirements on providers, particularly for private, third and childminding sector services.

Each of these actions will help us to support the sector to recover from Covid and get onto a sustainable footing so that they can continue playing a vital role in delivering our ambitious vision for expanding high quality early learning and childcare.

Manufacturers are represented on the Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce, a joint initiative between industry and government to co-design a pathway to a fully zero-emission bus fleet. At the Taskforce meeting on the 15 July representatives from the manufacturing sector expressed enthusiasm to rise to the decarbonisation challenge, and confirmed that the supply of zero-emission buses in the coming months and years would not constrain progress. Details of the work of the taskforce and minutes from the meetings can be found on the CPT website - https://www.cpt-uk.org/news/bus-decarbonisation-taskforce/

(a) Four Transport Scotland officials participated in a series of live and virtual events during London International Shipping Week 2021.

(b) Three Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd officials attended events, although one of the officials was there in their capacity as an Executive Director of the Scottish Maritime Cluster.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

The Scottish Government works closely with stakeholders to amplify key campaign messages and ensure we are continuously aspiring to communicate effectively to the population of Scotland, delivering messaging in an inclusive way to reach all geographies and seldom heard communities, which includes those experiencing homelessness.

The Scottish Government also works very closely with Local Authorities, and provides regular updates on marketing activity and coronavirus-related information. The feedback we receive from Local Authorities helps shape our communications offering, and their distribution channels allow us to reach grassroots organisations and target communities with relevant messaging.

An appointment is no longer required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as all health boards now offer drop in vaccinations to those who have not had a first dose and to those for whom it has been more than 8 weeks since receiving their first dose.