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The Strategic Framework will provide the pathway to reopening of tourism which will be gradual and cautious. We will provide as much clarity and detail as is possible for planning purposes and intend to publish a strategic framework review next week. We will continue to work with all sectors within tourism, including self-catering, to support them up to and beyond reopening. We are committed to restoring the strength of Scotland’s tourism and hospitality sector, without undermining the great strides we have made in suppressing the virus.

The First Minister announced on 2 March that from 15 March regulated school age childcare services can reopen for all primary children alongside P4-7 as part of the phase 2 return. These plans are conditional on continued progress on suppressing the virus.

On 9 March, the First Minister announced that organised outdoor non-contact group sport and physical activity for 12-17 year olds will be permitted to resume from 12 March, subject to a maximum of 15 participants and to sport specific guidance agreed with sportscotland. While we don’t yet have a date for the resumption of contact sport for 12-17 year olds, the First Minister noted that we will seek to build on these changes as quickly as possible in the weeks ahead.

On the 16 March, the First Minister is expected to provide a more detailed timetable for the period after 26 April.

The Scottish Government follows the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) Guidance in the planning of vaccine delivery. This evidence based guidance advises that the single greatest risk of mortality from COVID-19 is increasing age, and that the risk increases exponentially with age. Additionally the committee considers frontline health and social care workers who provide direct care to vulnerable people a high priority for vaccination.

The JCVI priority lists represents 99% of the preventable mortality from COVID-19 and throughout the delivery of the vaccination programme we will be guided by the clinical expertise of the JCVI, the MHRA, and our own senior clinical advisers.

The Scottish Government is working with the sector to explore what measures can be put in place to support the physical and mental wellbeing of international students who are subject to managed isolation arrangements.

In relation to their financial wellbeing, international and EU students can now apply for financial hardship support from the £22m HE Coronavirus Discretionary Fund and £3m FE Coronavirus Discretionary Fund, which were allocated to the universities and colleges in February. Institutions' assessments and awards are based on the individual circumstances involved, however the eligible scenarios can include costs associated with travel to / from Scotland if a) their travel is essential and in line with current travel restrictions/ exemptions; and b) they are in financial hardship and can demonstrate this through the institution's hardship assessment process.

The Scottish Government follows the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) Guidance in the planning of vaccine delivery. This evidence based guidance advises that the single greatest risk of mortality from COVID-19 is increasing age, and that the risk increases exponentially with age. Additionally the committee considers frontline health and social care workers who provide direct care to vulnerable people a high priority for vaccination.

The JCVI priority lists represents 99% of the preventable mortality from COVID-19 and throughout the delivery of the vaccination programme we will be guided by the clinical expertise of the JCVI, the MHRA, and our own senior clinical advisers.

Under current lockdown restrictions, the Strategic Framework allows for community centres to open where they are required to facilitate the provision of essential services such as the co-ordination of food parcels or medical supplies.

It is anticipated that , when the data allows, there will be a return to the full, locally differentiated, levels approach that recognises the different levels of prevalence in different areas. Whether community centres can fully reopen will be dependent on the particular level of the local authority and community centre operators must decide whether services are able to operate safely within the guidelines for relevant activities. Decisions on whether to open and what services can be provided, as well as how to meet any compliance requirements is the responsibility of the management of a centre taken at a local level.

The Scottish Government published an update on the Strategic Framework which includes information about visiting relatives in care homes. More information can be found here: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Strategic Framework update - February 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The challenges around completion of coursework and assessment for practical subjects are recognised, which is why a limited return of senior phase learners and students to progress practical work that cannot be undertaken remotely and which is critical to qualification completion was prioritised.

Under the revised Strategic Framework, universities and colleges can continue to bring back a small number of students where face-to-face teaching is critical. The vast majority of learning will continue to be online, with the number of students on campus to be kept as low as possible and no more than 5% at any one time for in-person teaching. Any further return to face-to-face teaching in colleges and universities will be kept under regular review, with decisions informed by the data on virus prevalence.

The First Minister has confirmed that a phased return to secondary school will begin from 15 March. Colleges will be able to prioritise the return of further senior phase school pupils studying at college who require in-person provision now in order to complete their course.

The Scottish Government remains committed to supporting pupils and students to complete their learner journeys and is working closely with all relevant partners to provide solutions to challenges in delivering practical learning as a matter of priority.

Some wastage is unavoidable for a variety of reasons based on the characteristics of the vaccine, logistical issues with cold chain supply, storage failure and/or specific clinical situations such as a breakout of COVID-19 in a care home.

To date, our latest management information indicates a wastage rate of around only 1.8% - well below our planning assumption of 5%, which is a precautionary approach for worst case scenarios and in line with global best practice.

Any wastage is reviewed to ensure any preventable loss is avoided in the future.

We will continue to monitor wastage rates and regularly report back.