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There is no direct legal power or duty for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland to set a minimum income requirement for Scottish Water. Water Industry Commission for Scotland has a duty to promote the interests of current customers and have due regard to the interests of future customers. If Scottish Water were not to raise the full amount of charges allowed for under the draft determination, future customers would face higher charges, less resilient services and pay a disproportionate contribution to the costs of transitioning to net-zero emissions. Water Industry Commission for Scotland considers that setting an expectation for the required revenue by the end of the regulatory control period in this manner will guide Scottish Water and safeguard[s] the interests of future customers.

As Scottish Water’s economic regulator, Water Industry Commission for Scotland sets expectations and/or targets for Scottish Water as part of its determination of charges. This is a key element of the regulatory framework and the relationship between Scottish Water and its economic regulator.

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 have used scientific evidence on transmission coupled with the social and economic benefits which Ministers have used to make decisions. There are a number of relevant factors that would have been considered:

• Duration of contact.
• Ability to maintain distancing.
• Challenge of cleaning surfaces, spaces between and around users.
• Aerosol transmission risk since such activities could give rise to heavier breathing, panting, shouting etc which would all increase the chance of transmission particularly as masks cannot be worn.

The Scottish Government is currently preparing to publish this information in due course.

I refer the member to my answer to question S5O-04711, provided in the Chamber on 4 November 2020. The answer can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12916 .

I refer the member to my answer to question S5O-04711, provided in the Chamber on 4 November 2020. The answer can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12916 .

The purpose was to raise our concerns about the financial state of the company (about which we needed further information) and the risk to securing the NNG contract because of that. We made it clear that the majority shareholder had responsibilities and we had concerns that there was a risk to our ability to provide more funding or assurance in a state aid compliant way because of the financial situation, and that together we had had to look at all options to see how NNG could be delivered.

The published Coronavirus (COVID-19): local protection levels guidance indicates that for level 3, visitor attractions, such as museums , can remain open with protective measures. This is the same status as that for public buildings for level 3.

The protective measures include ensuring physical distancing and hygiene measures are in place. Face coverings indoors are compulsory for all visitors and staff. All museums should follow the measures set out in the museums, galleries and heritage attractions guidance to ensure the safety of staff and the visiting public.

In accordance with the Scottish Ministerial code paragraph 2.38, Ministers may acknowledge publicly that they have received legal advice on a particular topic, but must not divulge either who provided the advice or its contents.

In order to save BiFab from closure in 2017, and to support delivery of SSE’s Beatrice Offshore Wind project, the Scottish Government invested £37.4 million through a combination of equity and loan facilities and converted this to a 32.4% equity stake in BiFab. A loan facility of £15 million has also been provided to support working capital.

The Scottish Government does not approach the EU directly for State aid advice. The Government has a State aid team supported by legal advice, which ensures all public interventions are compliant within State aid rules.

Furthermore, Section 57(2) of the Scotland Act 1998 provides that Scottish Ministers have no power to act in a manner which is incompatible with EU law. It is therefore not open to Ministers to act in such a way.

I am concerned that the cost of locating, retrieving and providing the information would exceed the upper cost limits associated with such requests. This would also consume valuable Scottish Government time and resource, at a time when we rightly focused on working with partners to find a solution. Therefore it would be helpful if you could be more specific by contacting my office on cabsecefwc@gov.scot