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The new Higher Applications of Mathematics course is designed to get more young people studying mathematics and developing the skills they need for modern citizenry, such as statistical literacy, financial literacy and being able to use technology to solve problems and inform decision making.

The course has been in development for more than two years and the specification and specimen assessment materials were made available at the start of the current session for first teaching in 2021-22. An additional specimen paper and sample coursework will be made available in June 2021.

There is considerable interest in, and appetite for the new Higher, and there is no intention to delay the introduction of the course.

There are no plans to provide guidance on this specific point. The existing schools guidance available at: Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on schools reopening - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) provides a range of information on preparing for and implementing the return to in-school learning. Schools and local authorities are best placed to make decisions on appropriate arrangements for individual learners during the return to school and beyond.

The Scottish Government's draft new air quality strategy includes a proposal to ban the sale of house coal. A consultation on the draft strategy closed on 22 January 2021. The strategy will now be finalised, taking into account consultation responses, and published later in the year.

Guidelines on physical education and dance have been prepared by Education Scotland to assist with decision-making and the safe implementation of timetabled physical education. The guidelines are continually updated to reflect any changes in the scientific advice. Currently, physical education and dance can only take place outdoors, which reflects the hierarchy of risk:

• outdoors being safer than indoors;

• activities undertaken at a quiet volume or that have lower respiratory exertion being safer than aerosol-generating activities;

On 9 February 2021, Education Scotland ran a webinar attended by 227 teachers to share online pedagogy and how to create a supportive learning environment. Through online learning, teachers have set physical activity challenges, both indoors and outdoors, so that learners can choose depending on their home setting. These practices were shared at the webinar and welcomed by the attendees. The webinar Teams space is now ‘live’ for teachers to continue to collaborate, share practice, and seek solutions in these challenging times. A recorded version of the webinar will be shared on DigiLearn in due course and similar events will be considered for the future.

A refreshed version of the Scottish Government’s guidance on arrangements for the phased re-opening of schools was published on 8 March 2021. This guidance reiterates the Scottish Government’s message that schools should consider the increased use of outdoor spaces. This is because the outdoors can provide extra space for distancing between consistent groups of learners, help to decrease the risk of transmission and improve the physical and mental health and wellbeing of young people. This refreshed Scottish Government guidance also complements recent Education Scotland school reopening guidance which states that learning outdoors can help learners to continue to connect with one another and the school environment, support readiness for the full-time return to in-school learning and provide experiences which enhance learning.

In order to support more outdoor learning, the Scottish Government has funded the development of the Teaching Learning Outdoors and Supporting Learning Outdoors professional development courses. These courses are available free of charge to all teachers and support staff across Scotland.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority is not prescribing particular software for the delivery of the course. Learners are expected to be able to use spreadsheets to explore mathematical models and manipulate data. R studio, freeware that is commonly used in industry and Higher Education, is expected to be used for undertaking statistical analysis and there is considerable support available to upskill teachers in the use of this software.

As the member will be aware, employment law is reserved to Westminster. We therefore do not have the powers to provide parents with the employment protections they need, particularly during the health crisis.

Employees who have caring responsibilities for someone suffering the effects of Covid-19 can be furloughed using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), however it remains at the discretion of the employer to access this scheme.

Our fair work principles, published during the pandemic, call on employers to support workers to follow the public health guidance and apply Fair Work principles, and a flexible approach to dealing with the impacts of COVID-19 on workers and workplaces, to protect the health and wellbeing of their workforce and prevent financial hardship.

Financial support may be available through the UK social security system - for example through Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance, which are reserved to the UK Government.

We have urged the UK Government to make improvements to those systems and to reflect more broadly on the lessons learned during the outbreak. Employees who are unable to work, or someone they have caring responsibilities for are unable to work due to long-term symptoms of COVID-19, are able to claim £95.85 per week Statutory Sick Pay, paid by their employer for up to 28 weeks.

The Scottish Government Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on reducing the risks in schools - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) is clear that school staff who have underlying health conditions are able to work within schools. Where there are any concerns about the impact of COVID-19, these should be discussed with their employer and individualised risk assessment undertaken.

Advice for those on the shielding list, which is available from Coronavirus (COVID-19): shielding advice and support - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) , is that they should not go to work during lockdown, unless they can work from home. This includes school staff. This advice continues to apply when they have had a coronavirus vaccine.

The Standards in Scotland's Schools Etc. Act 2000 places duties on education authorities to make special arrangements for children or young people who are unable to attend school due to ill health to receive education elsewhere than at an educational establishment.

This applies to all children and young people who are unable to attend school due to ill health, regardless of their medical condition. Where a child or young person is absent from school due to the effects of long-COVID, schools should take this into account when deciding upon the most appropriate form of educational support whilst they remain absent.

In June 2015, the Scottish Government published revised guidance to education authorities to support them in implementation of their duties under this legislation. This guidance is available on the Scottish Government’s website through the following link: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/06/6846/0 .

The non-domestic rates system does not include a supplement or penalty for empty properties. The independent Barclay Review of non-domestic rates proposed a supplement on long-term empty properties but the Scottish Government did not ultimately accept this recommendation which was superseded by the commitment made during the Scottish Budget 2019-20 negotiations to devolve empty property relief to councils in time for the next revaluation. The devolution of empty property relief is now scheduled for 2023.

Vacant and empty properties may be eligible for empty property relief, which delivers 50% relief for 3 months (for non-industrial premises) or 100% relief for 6 months (for industrial premises), and 10% thereafter.

In addition, the Scottish Budget 2021-2 expands on Fresh Start relief in order to incentivise the re-occupation of long-term empty properties, a move which is in direct response to the economic challenge of COVID-19. From 1 April 2021 this relief will provide 100% relief for up to 12 months to premises that have been previously unoccupied for over 6 months and that have a rateable value of up to £95,000 (increased from £65,000).