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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.

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

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.

Scottish Water currently estimates its capital investment expenditure to be some £590m in 2020-21. This will be kept under review as Scottish Water develops its understanding of the impact of new ways of safe working following COVID-19, and based on any further restrictions that may occur.

The OECD is conducting an independent peer review of the Strategic Review of Charges (SRC) 2021-27. The peers are a group of international experts in the regulatory field and members of the OECD’s Network of Economic Regulators (NER). A report of their findings and recommendations will be produced following the publication of the Final Determination and conclusion of the SRC process.

As an independent body, the OECD’s approach to this type of work is to request a contribution to their annual budget, consistent with the extent of work being carried out and only to cover its costs. The Commission engaged the OECD through its internal authorisation process on the basis of the OECD’s international reputation for independent economic analysis and previous experience of the value of the peer review exercise. Along with the review of the Strategic Review process, the OECD has provided assistance to the Commission on applying behavioural insights to the process and input on worldwide approaches to asset renewal. The total value of the contribution made to the OECD in connection with this work over the course of 4 years is £1,003,143 Euros.

I refer the member to SPICe (Bib Number - 61854).

Contractors working on Scottish Water’s capital programme were unable to work from 23 March 2020 until the end of May in line with lockdown guidance. Since the end of May Scottish Water’s capital programme has been remobilised and most projects are now back underway. Payments to contractors have been made in line with the entitlement set out within Scottish Water’s contracts. It uses the construction industry standard Engineering and Construct Contract (NEC) suite of contracts. This includes appropriate mechanisms to pay for allowable costs incurred during the period of lockdown - for example the retention of site security, accommodation, etc… It should be noted that a significant element of Scottish Water’s supply chain staff were put onto the UK Government’s Job Retention Scheme which mitigated staff and labour costs being a cost to Scottish Water during lockdown. Scottish Water’s contract mechanisms allow for appropriate payments to be made for remobilisation and to cover the additional costs of new safe ways of working adopted in line with COVID-19 guidance.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31954 on 30 October 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