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We regularly engage with people who are at highest risk from COVID-19 through surveys, in-depth interviews and testing communications. Earlier this year we spoke directly to people at highest risk who have returned to the workplace as restrictions eased, to understand their challenges and what guidance and support may be needed when restrictions ease. Most recently, we launched a survey about the move to level 0 and beyond which asks how people are feeling about those changes. The results will be published late summer.

Three Disabled People’s Organisations (Inclusion Scotland, Disability Equality Scotland and Glasgow Disability Alliance) were consulted on the easing of restrictions.

Throughout the pandemic we have been engaging with both carers and carer organisations to ensure unpaid carers have the advice they need to help protect themselves and their loved ones during the COVID-19 outbreak.

As the member will be aware, capital investment is funded from the Scottish Government’s capital budget and its limited borrowing powers.

The annual Medium Term Financial Strategy which was last published alongside the Scottish Budget on 28 January, details the Scottish Government’s borrowing policies, including the source of capital borrowing. The National Loans Fund is the preferred source of capital borrowing because it remains the most cost effective approach to maximising the limitations of the fiscal framework restrictions.

If the Scottish Government had the same borrowing powers as local authorities, alternative sources of borrowing, including bonds, would become a more attractive option.

The Scottish Government remains committed both to a public inquiry to be set up this year to consider matters in relation to Scotland’s handling of the pandemic, and to placing bereaved families at the heart of our work to establish an inquiry including in the development of Terms of Reference.

During the first 100 Days of the new administration, the Government has held discussions with the UK Government on its plans for a public inquiry, as well as with stakeholders including representatives of bereaved families. To ensure that lessons are learned, we will now proceed to establish a Scottish public inquiry. The inquiry will be established by the end of this year.

As the beginning of a process of engagement with stakeholders and others with an interest, and to inform development of the Terms of Reference, the Scottish Government has today published a set of draft aims and principles for an independent COVID-19 public inquiry in Scotland under the Inquiries Act 2005: www.gov.scot/publications/covid-19-inquiry-establishment. This document will form the basis of a process which will allow us to listen to the views of those affected by COVID-19, including the bereaved families, on what they wish for a public inquiry to focus on, and marks an important step in the progress of its establishment. Discussions are underway with the Lord President to identify and appoint a chair for the Scottish Covid inquiry, in line with our previous commitment that we would wish it to be led by a judge.

In considering the Terms of Reference for the inquiry, and to ensure that all the areas that need to be considered are covered in a way that gives confidence to bereaved families and others, the Scottish Government will continue discussions with the UK Government on the planned UK inquiry.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Tayside have concluded agreements to buyout the PFI car park contracts for the Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, respectively. As a result, these car parks have now come under the direct control of the NHS and the Scottish Government’s policy of free hospital car parking for patients, staff and visitors will continue to apply.

Negotiations for NHS Lothian to buyout the PFI car park contract for the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh are at an advanced stage with an agreement expected to be reached in the coming months. Car parking charges there remain suspended as a result of an arrangement reached with the PFI operator in March 2020 and the Scottish Government does not expect them to be reintroduced.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Tayside have concluded agreements to buyout the PFI car park contracts for the Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, respectively. As a result, these car parks have now come under the direct control of the NHS and the Scottish Government’s policy of free hospital car parking for patients, staff and visitors will continue to apply.

Negotiations for NHS Lothian to buyout the PFI car park contract for the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh are at an advanced stage with an agreement expected to be reached in the coming months. Car parking charges there remain suspended as a result of an arrangement reached with the PFI operator in March 2020 and the Scottish Government does not expect them to be reintroduced.

8 new-build vessels have been delivered to CalMac since 2007: the MVs Loch Shira, Argyle, Finlaggan, Hallaig, Loch Seaforth, Lochinvar, Catriona and Carvoria. Had vessels 801 and 802 been delivered to the shipyard's original schedule, then there would have been 10.

The Scottish Government's Infrastructure Investment Plan set out plans for the next 5 years for the procurement of a new major vessel for Islay, up to 7 vessels under phase 1 of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme and further major vessels for Craignure-Oban and Mallaig-Lochboisdale.

A National Mission with Local Impact: Infrastructure Investment Plan for Scotland 2021-22 to 2025-26 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) is responsible for the procurement of ferries on behalf of Ministers.

Neither Ministers nor officials have had any meetings in the last year, either with CMAL or with third parties, to discuss the procurement of new ferry vessels specifically from foreign shipyards although the wider requirements of the open procurement for the Islay vessel has been discussed.

Transport Scotland officials have however had a number of discussions with CMAL regarding the business case for the acquisition of tonnage currently under construction in an overseas shipyard.

Our ambition is that as many children as possible attending eligible childcare settings can access the milk and healthy snack offer via the Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme, embedding the habit of regular consumption of high-quality dairy produce and fruit and vegetables from an early age.

The new Scheme draws on a considerable period of inquiry and development, beginning with the Welfare Foods Consultation of 2018. Under the previous UK Nursery Milk Scheme claims were made in arrears, however the Scottish Scheme moves to an upfront payment system that covers the cost of milk and healthy snack, which was the preference of the majority of respondents to the consultation, and an approach aimed at reducing administrative burden on settings.

The Scottish Government has sought to ensure that the approach we have set out will allow for milk or a specified alternative to be sourced sustainably and at a fair rate, based on local government procurement data and historic claims to the previous UK scheme. Upfront funding via local authorities is available to eligible childcare settings who can choose how to best procure milk, milk alternatives, fruit and vegetables in accordance with local circumstances.

The Scottish Government will use Year 1 to gather and review evidence, including via an implementation group consisting of key partners, to ensure the Scheme is meeting policy objectives. In the light of this work and other evidence we will consider whether action is required as we look ahead to Year 2 and beyond.

The Scottish Government utilised a variety of data sources to derive Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme Local Serving Rates (LSR) using a formula agreed with COSLA Leaders in line with standard practice for allocation of funds by the Scottish Government to local government. The basis of our analysis suggests the LSR is sufficient to allow settings to purchase milk and healthy snacks in Year 1 of the Scheme sustainably and at a fair price.

While the new Scheme permits local authorities to determine payments, the local authorities have through COSLA agreed to pay settings at the Local Serving Rates for Year 1 and these LSR are now set out in the Regulations governing the Scheme. The Scottish Government recognises that this is a transitional year. We will gather the evidence from Year 1, including via an implementation group consisting of key partners, to ensure that LSR are sufficient for Year 2 and beyond. This may still be subject to timescales to be agreed with COSLA however, using learning from Year 1, we will continue to work with local government and key stakeholders to ensure that more children will have access to milk and healthy snacks as a consequence of this policy.

When developing the LSR, we included data from Scotland Excel (Scotland’s local authority procurement body) on the local variations in milk supply contracts currently in place across all 32 local authorities and assessed claims to the UK Nursery Milk Scheme, which provided historical data on the value of claims from different types of childcare setting and providers. The data collected on milk costs, combined with data on the size of the eligible population and number of children registered in childcare settings, enabled the Scottish Government to calculate the anticipated maximum quantum required for the Scheme.

In addition to making use of the best available data, an uplift was applied to the funding quantum to take account of uncertainties relating to the change in operation of the scheme, e.g. potential price increases, additional costs that might be incurred by the inclusion of non-dairy alternatives to milk, and potential changes in population.

The following table provides a breakdown of the number of properties across all 32 Scottish local authorities that are eligible for vouchers through the Reaching 100% (R100) Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) as at 22 July 2021 ( these figures are subject to change, depending on ongoing R100 contract and commercial build ).

We cannot provide a breakdown between residential and SME properties. However, the breakdown does show percentages for both the main voucher ( MVS – worth up to £5,000 ) and the interim voucher ( IVS – worth up to £400 ).