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I met with STUC on 11th, 18th and 24th March to consider how we can support workers and encourage fair work practices in response to COVID-19. We share the concerns of the STUC that the most economically vulnerable in our society must be protected through this time, including supporting workers to self-isolate and take other measures when they need to. I have been meeting with STUC bi-weekly and will continue to do so.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28062 on 31 March 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-28062 on 31 March 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-28062 on 31 March 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 has issued an approval to enable women having an early medical abortion to take both abortion pills at home. The intention is that this approval will remain in place during the Covid-19 outbreak. This will ensure patients can have their consultation by telephone or video call so they can follow public health advice to stay at home. Following the consultation, if the patient wishes to proceed, and where this is clinically appropriate for them, the medication will be delivered to their home. Patients will be given clear instructions on how and when to take the medication and will be given contact details they can call at any time if they have any concerns or queries.

Some patients will still need to be seen in person where there are clinical reasons for this, but this change should help minimise the number of patients attending clinics during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The Chief Medical Officer has written to NHS Boards to encourage them to implement this as soon as possible for those patients for whom it is appropriate. She has also asked them to ensure as part of their contingency planning that all women who choose to have an abortion can continue to access abortion services within the legal time limits.

Whilst there is a legal requirement for two registered medical practitioners to sign off each abortion, the CMO’s letter also provides further information to help NHS Boards continue to ensure the legal requirements are met and allow terminations to proceed without delays. NHS Boards have been asked to consider whether doctors can review a patient’s notes remotely and sign forms electronically. The Scottish Government understands that NHS Boards are willing to help one another with providing opinions on abortion and signing off if any individual Board needs support.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28062 on 31 March 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 have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

NHS staff on duty within prisons will provide a clinical response to an overdose in custody, including the administration of naloxone during the day. Night shift staff and managers have been trained in the safe administration of intra-muscular naloxone in emergency ‘first on the scene’ situations when no NHS staff are on duty. These staff have access to intra-muscular Naloxone via their local night shift protocols.

In 2017 a total of 272 Operational night shift staff were in receipt of full up-to-date training in the administration of naloxone. This training included the Private Prisons HMP Addiewell and HMP Kilmarnock. Of these 207 were public sector operational night shift staff. This represents 79% of the total night shift complement for public sector prisons. It should be noted that some night shift staff may be employed on part time contracts, so the total number of individual staff may exceed the complemented figure.

Our intention is to publish the Women’s Health Plan by the end of this year.

As head of the systems for the prosecution of crime and investigation of deaths in Scotland, I have set clear priorities, along with the Chief Constable for the Police Service of Scotland, for the investigation and prosecution of crime as measures to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak come into force.

The commitment of both the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Police Scotland is to keep the public safe from harm and to continue to deal effectively with those who break the law.

Very significant measures have been taken to support the public health guidance. These include new arrangements for court business which are aimed at significantly reducing social contact.

On 17 March 2020 the Lord President announced that no new jury trials would commence in the High Court or the sheriff court until further notice. Preliminary hearings will continue with the accused, if in custody, attending by video conference.

The Crown, with the Courts, is making arrangements to adjourn most summary trials, although a small number of summary trials will take place, generally involving an accused who is in custody.

The Police will continue to deal effectively with criminality, and to report cases to the Procurator Fiscal in the usual way. On 20 March 2020, I issued revised, rigorous guidelines, focused on public safety, for the Police to apply in the liberation of an arrested person pending further investigation or action.

Prosecutors will continue to make decisions about cases in accordance with the Scottish Prosecution Code; and they will continue to progress cases so far as possible within the constraints imposed by the current situation.

Adjustments have also been made to the system for the investigation of deaths with a view to reducing pressure on the medical profession and on the emergency services. An instruction has been issued that medical practitioners will no longer be required to report to the Crown deaths which are the result of COVID-19 or are presumed to be a result of COVID-19, unless there is some other substantive reason for reporting that death. And the Service is taking steps to minimise the need for medical practitioners or other NHS staff to attend a Fatal Accident Inquiry to give evidence.

This situation is evolving and work is also being done across the criminal justice system and Scottish Government to enable the effective administration of justice to continue.

Staff within the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service are following the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland guidance. This means many staff are working from home and only those staff whose role requires attendance at an office are being asked to travel to work.

It is appreciated that uncertainty about court proceedings can have a serious impact on those affected by crime and further information for witnesses, victims and those accused of crime has been published on the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal website.

The most recent information provided by Rape Crisis Scotland on waiting lists across rape crisis centres is from October 2019 and as follows: