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In developing its advice on face coverings, the Scottish Government took account of equality issues and advice from national disability stakeholders.

People do not have to wear a face covering if they have a health condition or they are disabled. Additionally, if a face covering would be inappropriate because it would cause difficulty, pain, or severe distress or anxiety or because it cannot be worn in the proper manner safely and consistently, people do not have to use one. This is reflected both in the relevant regulations and Scottish Government guidance.

As at 29 June, we have been informed by Public Health Scotland that 4,061 people who have been advised to shield have sadly died. The Scottish Government does not hold information about the cause of death of those who have died. As at 29 June, there are 181,075 people who are being advised to shield.

Those who have been advised to shield are considered to be at the highest risk of severe illness if they become infected with coronavirus because of an underlying health condition. There is likely to be an increased different cause mortality rate amongst people with such underlying health conditions.

The Scottish Government has asked Public Health Scotland to evaluate the shielding programme. The evaluation will aim to explore the effectiveness of shielding – which would include analysis of data regarding deaths in the shielded cohort.

The Scottish Government has the following information in relation to faulty testing kits:

On 14 June, NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) were made aware that one of the batches of Kingfisher (non-Randox) swabs in circulation did not meet NHS safety standards (brittle stems at risk of snapping whilst being used) and should be recalled immediately.

These test kits, sent out through the UK Government’s ‘Social Care Portal’ for use in Scotland, did not meet the required safety standards and were recalled. The UK Government's Department of Health and Social Care and NSS communicated this to potentially affected care homes. As an additional precaution, all care homes in Scotland were advised that these kits should be disposed of.

DHSC logged all reports of faulty kits through the Social Care Portal and replacement kits were issued to all affected care homes within 48 hours of that notification. Scottish Government Officials worked closely with NSS to ensure faulty kits were identified and replaced in a timely manner.

We have received no reports of anyone being hurt as a result of this and we will continue to ensure robust quality control.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published advice on the risk of Legionella in buildings which have been closed or running with reduced occupancy during the COVID-19 crisis. This can be found on the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) website at

https://rehis.com/story/legionella-risks-during-coronavirus-outbreak .

The HSE advice on mitigating the risks of legionella is included within sectoral guidance being published by the Scottish Government to support safe working environments for when people return to work across the country as lockdown restrictions are eased. This guidance can be viewed at

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-returning-to-work/pages/employers/ .

The Global Health Security Index was published for the first time on 24 October 2019. This ranked the UK as a whole as second in the world in relation to preparedness for pandemics and other health security threats. We will consider all relevant lessons to inform future planning.

The renewables sector has a vital role to play in meeting our climate ambitions, as well as creating jobs and contributing to our recovery from Covid-19.

I and fellow Scottish Government ministers have been engaging with the energy industry on a regular basis throughout the pandemic, both via one-to-one meetings with an extensive range of representatives from organisations such as Scottish Renewables, Ofgem, National Grid ESO, SSE, Scottish Power, EDF, EDPR, ADE, Red Rock and with our agencies, Marine Scotland, Crown Estate Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

The work of the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council, which I co-chair, has continued to discuss progression of renewable energy in the context of both floating and bottom-fixed offshore wind. We have continued to progress work around tackling barriers to deployment represented by military and civilian radar matters. In addition, we have discussed renewable energy opportunities through forums such as the Strategic Leadership Groups that sit as sub groups of the Scottish Energy Advisory Board (SEAB), upon which I sit, with SEAB being co-chaired by the First Minister and Professor Sir Jim MacDonald of Strathclyde University.

The most recent, virtual meeting of SEAB took place on 16 July where discussion focused on delivery of a green recovery, and steps towards publication of the Climate Change Plan and subsequent update to Scotland’s Energy Strategy. At the meeting, as the Ministerial co-chair of three of the four SLGs, I set out the work of the four Strategic Leadership Groups underpinning SEAB, i.e. those on: Renewable Energy, Networks, Oil and Gas and Energy Transition and the newly established SLG for Consumers. In particular, the Renewable Energy Strategic Leadership group provides advice and recommendations on: the key challenges and opportunities facing the sector; the options for addressing them, and how the sector may go further to support the Scottish Government’s Energy Strategy priorities.

We will continue to engage with a wide range of renewable energy stakeholders in the months ahead.

Recruitment and retention is an on-going issue faced by care providers who take action locally where required. The Care Inspectorate and Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) publish annual reports on sector vacancies with the latest report published in January [1] . These provide overview data from around 8,000 services. From our regular engagement with the sector we know that there have been increasing recruitment challenges in adult social care and rural settings in particular.

Supporting overall capacity in the sector remains a key and ongoing priority for Scottish Government, as well as an urgent priority given COVID-19. Good existing partnerships with the sector and national and local partners have enabled us all to plan and act effectively during the pandemic to support capacity. For example, extensive work on the ground allowed active deployment of local health and social care staff to support care homes. Also a SSSC Recruitment Portal went live on 29 March, enabling care workers who had recently left the sector to come back. As of 2 July 2020, 965 individuals are available in the Portal, 175 of which are matched with employers and 38 are currently employed with 7 previously being employed. This means 45 people have been employed through the Portal to date.

Outwith COVID-19 we continue to progress commitments in Scottish Government and COSLA’s Integrated Health and Social Care Workforce Plan, the main driver for strengthening future capacity, through improved workforce data and planning and action to support staff recruitment and retention. A commitment to support recruitment in adult social care was met when we launched a national campaign ‘There’s more to care than caring’ on 27 January. We are currently considering a second phase of this campaign.

Scottish Government has invested around £50 million in SSSC over the last three years to deliver a skilled social care workforce. SSSC specifically supports recruitment and retention by promoting care as a positive career, developing career and qualification pathways, and creating materials for schools, colleges, employment services and employers; as well as promoting routes into careers through Foundation and Modern Apprenticeships and a network of Ambassadors for Careers in Care. We will continue to support and sponsor SSSC in its role and to work closely with the sector as we now plan ahead for the winter.

[1] https://data.sssc.uk.com/images/StaffVacancies/Staff_vacancies_in_care_services_2018.pdf

The Scottish Government expects Health Boards in Scotland to consider all of the recommendations made in the Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care reports. The 2019 report was the 5 th MBRRACE audit report, and the reports have highlighted key actions for Health Boards. The report assists Boards in identifying areas for further action, building on any work undertaken following publication of the 2018 Report.

Following the findings of the 2018 report regarding poorer maternal mortality rates for black and Asian women the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit in Oxford University, who lead on the MBRRACE-UK reports, commissioned further research to explore in depth the underlying reasons for this inequality. Scottish data is included in this research and we expect that this will give further insight into specific actions that can be taken to reduce this disparity.

Maternity care across Scotland is provided by multi-professional teams with quality and safety for all mothers and babies central to decision making. Clinical teams work in partnership with women to design individualised, person centred care, taking account of all relevant factors, including ethnicity, social complexity, and mental and physical health. The introduction of the continuity of midwifery and obstetric care under our Best Start programme will enable further improvements in person centred care for every pregnant woman, and particularly for those at risk of poorer outcomes.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30230 on 8 July 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 cannot comment on individual cases but in general terms NHS Scotland does not pay for or subsidise private health care arranged independently by a patient. This matter was discussed in the Chamber on 25 June 2020 in response to oral question S5O-04436, the full transcript can be found here: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12720&i=115044 .