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Evidence shows that vaccination is the most effective way to keep you, your friends, family, and community safe and we encourage everyone to consider getting the vaccine. Billions of vaccinations have now been administered globally and we are confident about the safety of these vaccines and that in the vast majority of cases a successful route to safe vaccination is found.

If vaccination is not straightforward for some individuals, support is available to help them achieve the benefits of protection from the Covid-19 vaccines. Local vaccination centres can help answer questions about the vaccine and can advise what arrangements may be put in place to enable safe vaccination.

In the rare cases where that support is provided and does not lead to vaccination then this will result in the person being identified as either able to safely receive the vaccine but decides not to do so and in this circumstance they will not be eligible for a medical exemption certificate; or they will be identified as clinically unable to safely receive the vaccine and in which case they will receive a secure paper exemption certificate in the post. All vaccine status certificates, including medical exemptions certificates, are time limited.

I am sorry that this has process has not operated as it should have in your constituent’s case and I have written to you separately on that matter.

Further information on COVID-19 Status Certificates and about medical exemptions from them is available on NHS Inform .

The Scottish Government will consider in detail the decisions and outcomes from the COP26 Summit, as well as the comprehensive Scottish Government programme that is running alongside. Our forthcoming draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan will take a whole-system view of the energy sector and highlight our commitment to ensuring that the transition to net zero is inclusive, creates good green jobs, is fair for all, and that no one is left behind. It will provide an early opportunity for Scotland to build on the agreements and priorities that emerge from COP.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04012 on 11 November 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

The detrimental effects on physical and mental health and wellbeing are well known and documented. Reducing that harm, and ensuring that people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time, is the key ethos behind the improvement programme. Data on the number of, and reason for delay, is collected monthly by Public Health Scotland and will be used, along with other data to measure progress and improvement.

Due to the importance of the autumn/winter vaccines, some health boards are utilising Community Nursing Teams.

This will particularly be for those patients who are on their current caseloads and are housebound. Community Nurses are also supporting vaccinations in care homes, not only to those on caseload but to help support delivery to this priority group. Community Nurses are also undertaking additional shifts in vaccination clinic settings.

The PricewaterhouseCoopers contract was awarded to provide recommendations for the National Care Service design authority programme management structure which will support the proposals for community health and social care outlined in the National Care Service consultation.

The contract was awarded on 2 September 2021 in accordance with the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Management Consultancy Framework 2 (RM6008) terms with the Contract Award Notice.

The additional funding of £62 million to expand care at home capacity has been approved for distribution to local authorities by the Settlement and Distribution Group meeting on 18th October and will be passed in full to IJBs . The distribution methodology for the funding is GAE for All Adult Social Work for 2021-22 and thereafter.

The distributions for 2021-22 will be made as redeterminations of the General Revenue Grant in March 2022. A letter with the full breakdown of allocation by Local Authority will be issued shortly.

The position of Chair of Creative Scotland has attracted remuneration since the organisation was established on 1 July 2010 though no incumbent to date has chosen to accept that offer.

From 1 October 2019 members of Creative Scotland other than the Chair have been entitled to receive a daily fee of £218 per day up to a maximum of £2,616.

The introduction of remuneration for the board members of the other national culture and heritage public bodies has been deferred while the priority has been those bodies’ response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Remuneration will be considered, taking into account those bodies’ charitable status and also Scottish Ministers’ powers to remunerate according to each body’s statute.

"Appropriate" means in accordance with public sector pay policy as it applies to board members of public bodies. The public sector pay policy document is revised on an annual basis.

Table 1 highlights data from UCAS showing both the number of applications and number of accepted applicants to pre-registration nursing programmes from 2007 to 2020. Figures for 2021 have not yet been published yet.

Table 1

Applications and acceptances to nursing at Scottish providers by year

Source: UCAS