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While it will be the responsibility of the homeowner to meet the new fire and carbon monoxide alarm standard, we have provided over £1m funding to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to support them to install alarms for people at high risk of fire. In addition, local authorities have broad discretionary powers to provide advice and assistance to home owners with work needed to look after their homes, as they are best placed to determine what assistance should be provided in their area. We are continuing to review support people need to make the appropriate changes, including a marketing campaign later in the year to ensure strong awareness of the changes, and we will continue to keep parliament updated.

I refer the member to the recent press release dated 22 May 2021 which is available on the Scottish Government website and can be found at www.gov.scot/news/scotlands-response-to-the-covid-19-crisis-in-india/ .

As Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, I retain responsibility for the Life Sciences sector. Mr Hepburn, Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training, has responsibility for other elements of science policy, including universities and research, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) across the education system, and public science engagement.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00023 on 24 May 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Population estimates of JCVI priority groups were published in the COVID-19 Vaccine deployment plan on 14 January drawing on the latest available data at that point. The variance in the population demographic across Health Board areas for the age groups is not accounted for. The uptake data published by Public Health Scotland against these denominators means it may appear that Lothian are behind, however this is not the case.

NHS Lothian have vaccinated in line with JCVI priority groups according to their available supply. As published data shows, as at 3rd May, 416,325 people (55.1% of the population) in Lothian have received their first dose of vaccine with over 174,822 (23.1% of the population) of those having received their second dose – this is good progress.

Lothian are currently vaccinating priority groups 6 (underlying health conditions and unpaid carers) and 7 (60-64 years). Due to the sizes of these cohorts, vaccination of these groups is ongoing. Lothian are also currently inviting group 10 for vaccination appointments (people aged 40 years or over).

I refer the member to the response to question S5W-35928.

Currently indoor sport and leisure facilities are closed. The indicative date of Monday 26 April for the reopening of indoor sport and leisure facilities have been given the indicative date to reopen. The indicative dates are dependent on continued progress in suppressing the virus and rolling out of vaccines.

We are currently working towards the reopening of Saunas and steam rooms and examining those conditions to do so with the sport and leisure sector, UK Spa Association, Health Protection Scotland and clinicians to ensure that these can be opened in a safe way to protect public health across the various levels framework.

The Scottish Government has been clear that any decisions made with regard to lifting lockdown restrictions will be informed by the best available data, and this will be published where it is available. The Strategic Framework update announced to parliament by the First Minister on 23 February outlines a cautious approach to easing lockdown restrictions given the number of uncertainties which remain about the new variant of the virus (B.1.1.7 or ‘UK variant’) and the efficacy of the vaccination programmes on transmission of the virus and wider health outcomes. On 16 March, the First Minister announced the next milestones of our exit from lockdown. This includes an indicative timetable for the easing of measures, and from the 26 April will include a national move to Level 3 measures. However, we will continue to monitor case numbers and we are ready to adjust these plans should any evidence of a rise in cases occur. When we move down from Level 4 we want to try to do that as one country, because that will allow us to lift travel restrictions. However, we will consider the data and take final decisions nearer the time.

If people receive an invitation letter from NHS Scotland by post, an information leaflet about the COVID-19 vaccine is included. The information leaflet contains details about:

• What vaccine will be given and the disease that will be prevented.
• Benefits/risks of vaccination versus risks of the disease.
• Any new information that has become available since consent to previous doses of this vaccine were given if applicable.
• Any possible vaccine reactions and how to treat these.
• Follow-up/information as to any further doses required.
• How any personal data will be stored and kept.

People are advised to contact the clinicians who manage their clinical conditions, to check that there are no reasons for them not to receive the vaccine. There is time built in to each appointment for information to be shared and questions to be asked and answered, so that the person invited for the vaccine has an opportunity to discuss any further issues or concerns with the trained vaccinator. The vaccine is only given once the person is fully satisfied that they have all the information they need before proceeding.

After vaccination, all patients are given a leaflet to take away called ‘What to expect after the COVID-19 vaccine’. This contains information on common side effects and what to do if they are mild or more severe.

The information requested is not held centrally.