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The funding made available to support the Hotel Support Programme is £14m. Enterprise Agencies, VisitScotland and SDS are also drawing in their wider support products and services to assist companies on the Programme. The number of Expressions of Interest received by local authority area is set out in the following table:

The Scottish Government has committed to identifying a preferred corridor by Spring 2021. A full timetable can only be established once a preferred corridor is known and the nature of the infrastructure works can be more clearly defined.

Transport Scotland is in the process of analysing around 650 responses received from the public consultation. It is expected the consultation findings, including responses to occurring themes where relevant, will be published on the Transport Scotland website in early 2021.

In the meantime, Transport Scotland has published information on the emerging themes from the consultation on its website at https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a83-access-to-argyll-and-bute/project-details/ .

Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33622 on 10 December 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 .

Safety of staff in schools is paramount. Teachers are entitled to feel safe at work and we expect schools and local authorities to make sure appropriate arrangements are in place for them.

Our latest guidance on reducing coronavirus (COVID-19) risks in schools, published on 30 October, says schools and local authorities should follow the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists advice to try to keep the risk of exposure as low as is practically possible to pregnant women, particularly in the third trimester. Normal pregnancy risk assessments should also be undertaken, and appropriate attention paid to mental health and wellbeing.

As I previously indicated to the Finance and Constitution Committee, on an exceptional basis, I will provide the Committee with a high level analysis of the allocation of Barnett consequentials since the Autumn Budget Revision in early December. This will be an interim update, subject to final allocations being formally confirmed in the Spring Budget Revision.

As part of our precautionary approach, our COVID-19 guidance on reducing the risks in schools advises that parents/carers should wear face coverings during school drop off/pick up. This was a recommendation from the COVID-19 Advisory Sub-Group on Education and Children's Issues.

The guidance makes clear that it is a legal requirement that local authorities ensure that risk assessments are conducted, regularly reviewed and updated, and that all aspects of school life should be taken into consideration.

The COVID-19 Restrictions Fund which supported businesses impacted by the temporary restrictions between 9 October and 2 November is now closed. Businesses, including charities and social enterprises, that meet the eligibility criteria can apply to the Strategic Framework Business Fund which offers grants to businesses required to close or significantly modify their operations by law.

Decisions on what sectors and activities to re-open on our route out of lockdown are guided by the principles set out in our Framework for Decision Making. Proposals are technically assessed using the best available evidence and analysis of their potential benefits and harms to health, the economy, and broader society to minimise overall harm and ensure transmission of the virus continues to be suppressed. This assessment process includes oversight of the assessed health risks in different settings by the Chief Medical Officer and input from the other Chief Clinicians as appropriate.

We recognise the positive physical and mental impacts that exercise brings and that is why gyms are permitted to open in Tiers 0-3. However, Level 4 areas require tougher restrictions to lower virus prevalence and therefore, we currently have no plans to allow gyms to open in Tier 4.

We recognise the positive physical and mental impacts that exercise brings and that is why gyms are permitted to open in Tiers 0-3.

We continue to work with partners to gather the latest scientific research. Decisions on what sectors and activities to re-open on our route out of lockdown are guided by the principles set out in our Framework for Decision Making. Proposals are technically assessed using the best available evidence and analysis of their potential benefits and harms to health, the economy, and broader society to minimise overall harm and ensure transmission of the virus continues to be suppressed. This assessment process includes oversight of the assessed health risks in different settings by the Chief Medical Officer and input from the other Chief Clinicians as appropriate.