Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Oil and Gas Energy Transition Strategic Leadership Group last met on 2nd April. I chaired an extraordinary meeting of this Group, convened virtually, and which heard directly from the sector and supply chain on the immediate impact and response to COVID-19, and the predicted medium to longer term challenges caused by a sharp drop in oil and gas prices due to a global oversupply and falling global demand as a consequence of COVID-19 related lockdowns in major economies across the Globe. This Group comprises key stakeholders including senior representation from the Oil and Gas Authority, Oil and Gas UK, the STUC and offshore trade unions, offshore operators and the wider supply chain.

A further meeting of the Strategic Leadership Group is scheduled for 7 May, where SLG members will seek to take a task force approach, to reflect the severity of challenges faced by the sector. It is expected that subsequent meetings of the SLG will be held on a monthly basis to ensure regular opportunities for senior-level engagement on measures to support the sector at this most challenging time.

The Scottish Government is in regular dialogue with key stakeholders to understand the impact of reported increases in people exercising their access rights during the Covid-19 pandemic and to develop an agreed position. Officials have engaged and consulted with the National Farmers’ Union Scotland, Scottish Land and Estates, the Ramblers Association and Scotways, as well as with Scottish Natural Heritage.

As a result, on 9 April 2020 I released a statement - endorsed by all of the stakeholders mentioned above - setting out what ‘responsible access’ means in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The statement makes it clear that while access rights will continue to apply, exercising those rights responsibly means respecting the needs of other people, and emphasises that people will need to adapt their behaviour in the national effort to contain the disease’s spread. It stresses that farmers must be allowed to go about their business without interference or fear of unnecessary exposure to Covid-19. It also notes that land managers should respect access rights, which are particularly important at this difficult time, and if necessary should use helpful signs to indicate where access may be problematic and suggest reasonable alternative routes.

The full statement, setting out what exercising rights of responsible access under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 means during the coronavirus emergency is available on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/ministerial-statement-on-access-rights-during-covid-19/ .

This statement has been supplemented by further, more detailed guidance and signage, produced by Scottish Natural Heritage, which is available on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code website:

https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/access-outdoors-during-current-coronavirus-outbreak-guidance-public-and-land-managers .

The current timetable for the Strategic Review of Charges process is detailed in our recent consultation “Investing in and paying for your water services from 2021: final consultation”. This states that the Water Industry Commission for Scotland expects to publish its draft determination of charges in May 2020 and following consideration of this document I expect to publish the final Objectives and Principles of Charging in June 2020. However, this is subject to review and may be adjusted to allow more consideration of the impacts of the current pandemic.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28268 on 4 May 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28268 on 4 May 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to S5W-27963 on 15 April 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 .

The Scottish Government is committed to its National Infrastructure Mission which will increase investment by £1.5 billion per annum by end 2025/26. The economic case for this increase is only strengthened by current circumstances. Infrastructure Investment will be instrumental in supporting the economy and offering stimulus for resilience and recovery of the Scottish Economy in response to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Of course the full impact of Covid 19 will take time to emerge. We will consider how best to restart those elements of infrastructure investment which have been affected when restrictions are able to ease, including possible options to accelerate spending.

Within the constraints of available capital grant and borrowing powers, the forthcoming Infrastructure Investment Plan and Capital Spending Review will support Scottish industry to remain resilient through the initial stages of the crisis and provide the most positive impact in the medium and long term.

Live COVID-19 testing started on 10 February 2020.

The number of people tested and results that were positive or negative are reported daily as part of the COVID-19 data and trend charts for Scotland from 2 March 2020. The figures for the number of people tested are reported as a cumulative number rather than as a daily number of tests.

The link to the daily data update is:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/trends-in-number-of-people-in-hospital-with-confirmed-or-suspected-covid-19/.

The information comes from different administrative systems and so there may be variations in the quality of the data; it is subject to revision if new information becomes available.

The Scottish Government recognises that fraudulent activities such as scams can have significant, and long term effects on consumers, especially those whose circumstances mean they are more vulnerable. Tackling this criminal behaviour cannot be achieved through enforcement practices alone. That is why we remain committed to introducing a more coordinated, longer term strategic approach to scams prevention, which emphasises the importance of education and awareness raising alongside direct intervention.

At the heart of this is collaboration. That is why we have created a Scams Partnership Working Group, which brings together a diverse range of key stakeholders with relevant knowledge and expertise. The group has met four times since October 2019 – these discussions have informed our evidence base, and enabled us to gather good practice examples from across different organisations that will help shape next steps in the strategy’s development. Due to the current pandemic we have had to postpone further meetings, but continue to keep all partners informed and up to date on key response activities.

Our immediate priority at this time is to ensure that consumers – especially the most vulnerable – have access to the right information and support to identify, avoid and mitigate impacts of Covid-19 related scams activities. We know there are individuals who are looking to take advantage of the current situation to profit through illicit activities – Police Scotland has recently reported a 10% increase in fraud levels.

We are working across enforcement, resilience, cyber and consumer advice organisations to monitor the situation and proactively respond. This includes providing emergency funding to some third sector organisations – such as Citizens Advice Scotland and Advice Direct Scotland – in order to enable them to continue to provide quality, tailored advice. We are also continuing to fund partners – including Crimestoppers Scotland, Neighbourhood Watch Scotland, Trading Standards Scotland and Police Scotland – to deliver key initiatives ranging from national doorstep campaigns to nuisance calls prevention and improved cyber protection capabilities.

Covid-19 has created new challenges in terms of protecting people living in Scotland against fraudulent activities such as scams. We will share learnings from this experience in order to strengthen Scotland’s collective approach to scams prevention; and will fulfil our commitment to deliver a Scams Prevention Strategy at the earliest opportunity when it is safe and practical to do so.

Our priority is to protect the health of individuals and to minimise the loss of life caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. As such, the Scottish Government has recommended that non-essential construction work on major trunk road projects should temporarily cease. This includes construction work on A9 Dualling Luncarty to Pass of Birnam, A77 Maybole Bypass, A9 Berriedale Braes and A92/A96 Haudagain Improvements.

This remains under continuous review and we are currently undertaking an exercise exploring ways in which our major trunk road projects could potentially restart in the event construction sector guidance is relaxed.

Where it is possible to do so, our consultants continue to advance design work on our major trunk road projects in design, including the A9 and A96 Dualling programmes, whilst complying with the Government’s physical distancing guidance.

In addition to this, work is also underway to identify potential capital road projects that could be progressed in 2020-21 as part of any wider economic recovery plan.

In terms of rail infrastructure the safety of transport users, staff and construction workers comes first and, quite rightly, this has meant projects and non-safety critical renewals have been suspended across the UK rail industry, and beyond.

We are focused on supporting the economy at this challenging time, that is why we have provided significant funding to partners across the transport sector.

Development work continues to ensure we can quickly mobilise the right projects and renewals once we reach post Covid-19 recovery phase. However, timescales are under continuous review to reflect the requirements of Covid-19.