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The testing and safety regimes that oil and gas workers have faced before arriving into Scotland do not negate the public health measures they are required to complete in Scotland.

There is no exemption anywhere in the UK for oil and gas workers arriving from red list countries. There is an exemption for oil and gas workers arriving from amber list countries to undertake work on critical infrastructure in Scotland. They are still required to take a pre-departure test before travel, complete a passenger locator form before travelling to Scotland, book and take a testing package for days 2 and 8, self-isolate at home for 10 days when not at or travelling to and from a place where they are required to undertake the activities this exemption applies to and show a letter to Border Force from their employer outlining the work they will be doing.

Since the outset of the pandemic, the Scottish Government has taken an evidence-based approach to our measures on overseas travel, informed by the latest data and evidence provided on a UK-wide basis by the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC), as well as Scotland-specific data from Scotland’s Test and Protect system, and clinical advice from Scotland's Chief Medical Officer.

The following table shows the number of cases submitted for annual invasive cervical cancer audits in the years from 2014 until 2018, which are the years where full data is available. For the year 2019 five health boards have provided data and 129 cases were reported; in 2020, one health board submitted 16 cases. The audit schedule for the 2019 period was affected by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on services as staff were redeployed to Covid duties. A catch-up schedule has been put in place to audit 2019 cases at the same time as 2020 cases and these will be reviewed this year. It is important to note that the cases are assembled annually and reviewed by a multidisciplinary team within each Health Board.

An adverse event involving a very small number of women in a single NHS Board area was identified by the Board in the course of conducting its annual audit into invasive cervical cancers in December 2020. NHS National Services Division became aware of the incident in one NHS Board on 26 February 2021. They subsequently established an Adverse Event Management Team (AEMT), which met for the first time on 9 March 2021 to assess the implications for the wider screening programme and determine further action. Immediate control measures were put in place to prevent any new exclusions from being applied incorrectly. Scottish Government officials were also informed of the incident on 9 March and attended the AEMT meeting.

Couples can attend together for all NHS IVF appointments, subject to local risk assessments and physical distancing requirements, which provide the best protection for patients and staff and ensure that services continue to be provided as the Covid-19 pandemic continues.

The British & Irish Lions rugby match was a flagship event approved by the Scottish Government through an events gateway process. Flagship events are internationally significant events which maintain Scotland’s longer-term profile as a host of major events, with an eye to recovery from the pandemic, and with appropriate Covid-19 mitigations in place. There are a very small number given the quite high bar of international significance.

Scottish Rugby submitted a comprehensive spectator proposal that was considered by Scottish Government Clinicians and the Chief Medical Officer before it was approved to enter the gateway process by the First Minister. The proposal for 25% capacity at Murrayfield was based on a fixed seating plan with seats sold in singles which required an exception for a reduction in physical distancing. Clinicians were satisfied with the comprehensive and robust plans that Scottish Rugby and the British Lions had in place and with the public health measures to help keep people safe. The proposal was considered at local level by City of Edinburgh Council at Event Planning & Operations Group Meetings which was also attended by others including Police Scotland and NHS Lothian.

It was made clear that fans should take a lateral flow test before attending to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Flagship events provide an opportunity to monitor and learn from events operating with reduced physical distancing and a comprehensive range of mitigations like maximising points of entry and staggered arrival times to ensure that fans could attend safely for this outdoor event. The Scottish Government and event organisers will use this knowledge to support the wider restart of events across Scotland.

The Scottish Government does not hold the precise information to answer this question. The Scottish Government is investigating whether any related useful analysis can be released based on the data held. I will write to the member with an update on this matter when one is available, with a copy of any analysis which can be provided placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib number 62572).

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. Information on the number of NHS dental consultations can be found on Public Health Scotland at: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/dental-statistics-fees-and-treatments/dental-statistics-fees-and-treatments-statistics-as-at-march-2020/ .

Invasive cervical cancer audits have been carried out annually by Health Boards for at least the last 20 years, although a new national methodology to standardise the information collected was introduced in 2014. These audits review the screening histories of people who develop invasive cervical cancer.

Validated information on referrals to NHS dentals hospitals is not held centrally.

However the member may find it useful to know that information relating to outpatient activity including total number of attendances by NHS Board and location of treatment can be found in the Acute Hospital Activity publication using the link below.

https://publichealthscotland.scot/media/4991/table-1-outpatient-activity-consultant-led.xlsx.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) is not required to score its research publications on whether they criticise the Scottish Government. The process for publishing research reports is managed impartially and objectively, in line with scientific principles and recognised best practice.

A Communications Framework, jointly agreed by SG, PHS and COSLA, is in place that provides a high-level framework of good practice in relation to a broad range of communications activity, including communications relating to the publication of research publications. The framework does not impact on the independence of research publications. The framework stresses the operational autonomy of PHS and the key importance of mutual respect for our different roles and responsibilities.

PHS reports are routinely published on their website and can be found at the following web address: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/ .