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In response to the emergence of the new Covid-19 variant BA.2.86, we have taken the precautionary measure of bringing forward the vaccination of those at highest risk – notably residents in care homes for older adults, those aged 75 and over and those aged 12 and over with a weakened immune system.

Although there is currently insufficient data to assess the potential severity, transmissibility or immune escape of BA.2.86, it is felt that this ‘no regrets’ approach is wisest until we understand more about this variant.

Officials and Public Health Scotland are working closely with Health Boards to operationalise this change to the programme, which happened after some Boards had already scheduled their lower risk groups from 18 September, in line with the original plan. We have instructed them to honour these appointments.

This means that although many of those at highest risk will be called forward sooner than the original plan, this will not apply to everyone. We are however endeavouring to bring forward as many of these appointments as we can, while honouring appointments that had already been scheduled before the change.

To this end, some Boards began vaccinating in care homes the week of 4 September, six weeks earlier than originally planned.

A letter to all MSPs on the re-phasing will be issued shortly.

The Scottish Government is working closely with Public Health Scotland (PHS), territorial Health Boards and other key partners to promote uptake of immunisation against vaccine-preventable disease in young people, including our student population.

PHS has targeted new students through a range of communications, highlighting the importance of ensuring that their vaccinations, particularly MMR and MenACWY, are up to date prior to arrival at college or university. These complement specific resources for new entrants arriving in Scotland, including new international students. Information about vaccines for new students can be found at Vaccines for students | NHS inform

( https://www.nhsinform.scot/campaigns/vaccines-for-students/ ).

Uptake of vaccinations among young people in Scotland remains high and is delivering lifesaving benefits.

PHS publishes information on COVID-19 hospitalisations on their interactive dashboard ( COVID-19 & Respiratory Surveillance (shinyapps.io) ) which is updated weekly on a Thursday at 9.30am. Data can be downloaded from here and filtered to the desired timeframe. Since 1 January 2023 to 10 September 2023, there were a total of 8,076 acute COVID-19 hospital admissions in Scotland (as reported on the dashboard on Thursday 14 September). Note that data for the most recent week is provisional and may be subject to change.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

There is a total of 84 body worn cameras available across the SPS estate.

Contingent liabilities are considered and approved in line with the guidance contained within the Scottish Public Finance Manual and in the Written Agreement between the Scottish Government and the Finance and Public Administration Committee. The Budget treatment applied is consistent with HMT’s Consolidated Budgeting Guidance:

• Amounts for contingent liabilities are not included in the budget, nor recognised as actual liabilities on the Scottish Government’s balance sheet, but are instead disclosed in notes to their accounts.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving pharmaceutical care in Scotland and the development of digitally enabled infrastructure in primary care to underpin this. The ePharmacy Programme continues to oversee and develop technology used in community pharmacies to support the provision of NHS pharmaceutical care services.

The Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Pathways (DPDP) programme is on track to replace the current paper prescription in Scotland with a digital approach by the end of this parliamentary term. The early focus is in-hours fixed General Practice prescribing and Community Pharmacy dispensing across Scotland, with initial user engagement complete and planning underway for the design on an initial prototype approach.

The Acute Medication Service (AMS) Digital Programme is also underway which aims to significantly reduce the volume of barcoded paper prescriptions that need to be sent by community pharmacies into NSS for scanning.

The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

The National Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Specification (published in February 2020) and the National Neurodevelopmental Specification for Children and Young People: Principles and Standards of Care (published in September 2021), set out the levels of service that children, young people and families can expect across Scotland.

This includes nationally agreed referral criteria, a first engagement appointment for all those that meet the criteria, and personalised and meaningful signposting for all those that do not require treatment .

The National Specification for the delivery of Psychological Therapies and Interventions is also due to be published this month and will set out what patients can expect following a referral, and detail the whole system approach including early intervention options that services should offer.

Scottish Government grant making is allocated across portfolios to various parts of the third sector to improve a wide range of outcomes. Some Scottish Government funding will also be issued through independent grant makers or intermediary organisations. Each grant funding programme will have its own specific application criteria related to desired policy outcomes.

Through our Fair Work First policy we are seeking to further promote and enable employers’ commitment to fair work by applying Fair Work principles to public sector grants, other funding and contracts where it’s relevant and proportionate to do so. We published updated Fair Work First guidance on 24th of March 2023 to support the adoption of this new conditionality. The Scottish Government model grant offer letter template has been amended to incorporate this new conditionality, as has relevant guidance, including grant policy guidance, and the Scottish Public Finance Manual.

The Scottish Government's contingent liabilities are considered and approved in line with the guidance contained within the Scottish Public Finance Manual and the Written Agreement between the Scottish Government and the Finance and Public Administration Committee.

There is no separate requirement for the prior permission of HM Treasury for novel or particularly large contingent liabilities for activities either within the Fiscal Framework or elsewhere.

The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) accredit all initial teacher education programmes. This involves ensuring all programmes meet the GTCS Standard for Provisional Registration (SfPR). The SfPR sets out that student teachers are required to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of theory and practical skills required in curricular areas such as literacy.