Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05400 on 24 January 2022. 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 Scottish Government does not hold this information.

We recognise the negative impact that long COVID can have on the health and wellbeing of those affected. We are taking action to ensure that people are supported in the most appropriate way possible. The Advisory Subgroup on Education and Children’s Issues takes account of long COVID in their deliberations.

ONS’ long COVID estimates by employment sector aren’t broken down by nation – all estimates by employment sector are at UK level only.

Transport Scotland has worked closely with operating partners and stakeholders throughout the pandemic to ensure that transport services have been maintained for those who rely upon them. For example, under the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) scheme, transport operators were able can apply for an exemption to allow essential workers to volunteer to leave self-isolation and return to work in certain limited circumstances in order to allow vital services to continue.

Although this scheme has now closed following changes to the general population self isolation policy, we continue to work closely with the sector on maintaining service and network resilience. This includes working with CalMac and ScotRail to introduce temporary timetables to protect lifeline services and minimise Covid related cancellations as a result of staff absences arising from the recent surge in cases caused by the Omicron variant.

As is normal practice, a number of projected scenarios using various estimated levels of ScotRail’s patronage and revenue were analysed in respect of different fares options.

Therefore, the range of £6.5m to £9.1m reflects the potential, estimated cost of a fares freeze across varying patronage and revenue scenarios. If a partial freeze was to be implemented there would be a proportionate reduction to those costs.

The cost of any fares freeze or below-RPI fares increase would also have a cumulative effect, recurring annually.

The Inquiry must, and will, be given the resources necessary to discharge its task. It will be fully funded by the Scottish Government. Costs are to be determined by how the Inquiry is run by the independent Chair. For that reason, as with other inquiries, we have not set a fixed budget for the Inquiry.

The Inquiries Act 2005 requires the Chair to avoid any unnecessary cost, whether to public funds or to witnesses or others.

The Scottish energy strategy, published in December 2017, confirmed the Scottish Government’s continued opposition to new nuclear stations under current technologies.

Our priority continues to be to support energy efficiency, develop Scotland’s huge renewable resource and to promote storage and flexibility. The opposition to new nuclear generation takes into account the continued operation of Torness, subject to safety cases being met.

We believe that nuclear power represents poor value for consumers. There remains considerable uncertainty around the economics of new nuclear generation, and the long-term storage of nuclear waste remains a difficult issue. The latest Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction delivered offshore wind at £39.65 per megawatt hour – substantially below the £92.50 awarded to Hinkley. Internal analysis tells us that in 2030 alone Hinkley could add almost £40/year to a consumer bill, whilst the equivalent offshore wind farm would reduce consumer bills by £8/year.

We are carrying out a consultation to inform the development of our aviation strategy, so at this stage no decisions have been made about what will be addressed. The consultation includes questions on how the Scottish Government can help to reduce the environmental impact of aviation. The responses to the consultation, alongside other relevant evidence and wider Scottish Government policy, will inform decisions on the final content of the strategy.

In response to the three questions regarding staffing number (a) Full-time equivalent (b) headcount (C) Seasonal workers at Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd I can confirm as follows.

The Scottish Government is committed to working closely with all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities to address the climate emergency. Scottish Ministers frequently meet with local authorities to discuss a wide variety of topics encompassing the climate emergency: such as Programme for Government; budgetary matters; a just transition; and biodiversity. It is therefore not possible to give an exact number on how many ministerial meetings since April 2019 contained discussions of local authorities climate emergency planning.

In addition, Climate Change Officials meet with COSLA on a regular basis to discuss a range of shared interests related to the climate emergency. Cabinet Secretary NETZET is due to meet representatives of Dundee City Council and Highland Council to discuss plans to respond to the climate emergency in the coming weeks.

The five commitments made in the 2019-20 Programme for Government were; 1) appoint a Chief Medical Officer Speciality Advisor for stroke care, 2) review and improve the current stroke care bundle to improve outcomes for patients, 3) collaborate across government on stroke prevention and raising awareness of the signs of stroke, 4) begin work to scope out and define what a progressive stroke unit looks like, and 5) ensure that a national planning framework is in place for a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service.

Updates are as follows;

Professor Martin Dennis (Chief Medical Officer Specialty Advisor for Stroke) and Dr Fiona Wright (Deputy Chief Medical Officer Speciality Advisor for Stroke) were appointed in 2020.

The Scottish Stroke Care Audit standards have, for several years, included the proportion of patients with a final diagnosis of stroke who were managed in accordance with all four standards comprising the care bundle. The standards within the bundle include the prompt delivery of: a) admission to a stroke unit; b) brain scanning; c) screening for swallow problems; and d) administering aspirin (unless contraindicated). The standards are regularly reviewed in line with current evidence and updated guidelines.

We have progressed with work to scope out and define a progressive stroke pathway. The resulting document is expected in early 2022. It will set out our vision for what stroke services across Scotland should deliver across the whole patient pathway, including prevention, recognition of stroke, timely access to acute and hyperacute care and the provision of stroke rehabilitation.

We remain committed to introducing a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service in Scotland. A pilot thrombectomy programme began in the North of Scotland at NHS Tayside on 9 November 2020 and the East of Scotland began their pilot service on the 6th September 2021. A Scotland wide service is expected to be operational by 2023.