Scottish Government

Tuesday 24 November 2020

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Economy

Richard Lyle (Uddingston and Bellshill) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans for No One Left Behind, and its ambitions to reform employability services in Scotland. (S5W-33475) Jamie Hepburn: No One Left Behind: Next Steps for the Integration and Alignment of Employability Support in Scotland (published March 2018) and No One Left Behind: Review of Employability Services (published December 2018) sets out our intention to reform Scotland’s employability system to be more adaptable and responsive the needs of people and capable of adapting to rapidly changing labour markets. The partnership working agreement for employability signed by Scottish Ministers and COSLA Community Wellbeing Spokesperson in December 2018, signalled our mutual commitment to a collaborative approach. Prior to COVID-19, significant progress had been made with the successful transition of Activity Agreements and Scottish Employer Recruitment Incentive into the No One Left Behind partnership model.

We remain committed to ensuring no one is left behind in Scotland’s labour market and recognise that employability support will be crucial as we shape our collective economic and wellbeing response to the current public health crisis. Our recovery will be an opportunity to do things differently and to rebuild our economy with wellbeing and fair work at its heart.

Today, we have published the No One Left Behind Delivery Plan. This reflects the shared commitment of both Scottish and Local Government to work with the third sector and other partners to deliver a Scottish approach to employability that focuses on the needs of the individual first and foremost, tackles inequalities and grows Scotland's economy. It outlines planning for the next stage of delivery we will collectively work towards from April 2022 and sets out key actions to support the ongoing strengthening of local, regional and national partnerships to realise our collective ambition for more effective and joined-up support across Scotland for individuals of all ages, supporting them to increase confidence, skills and experience and enabling them to progress towards or enter employment.

The publication is available on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781800042964

We will continue to develop strong, inclusive and agile local employability partnerships which are responsive and deliver a lasting impact for people who may experience inequalities and remain further from Scotland’s labour market.

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government whether travel in campervans between local authority areas, which does not use camp sites, is permitted under the most recent COVID-19 guidance. (S5W-33137) Fergus Ewing: Our Strategic Framework states clearly that if a local authority area has been placed in level 3 or 4, there should be no non-essential travel in or out of the area. This applies to use of campervans for overnight stays, as the purpose of travel would be leisure which is deemed non-essential.

Travel between devolved nations is restricted unless for essential purposes.

Leisure travel and overnight stays are permitted within areas designated as level 0,1 or 2, so campervan users residing in these levels may travel between them freely, including staying overnight. Covid guidance and restrictions must be respected at all times. Transit through areas designated as level 3 or 4 is also permitted, provided you do not stop.

Users residing in level 3 may only use a campervan for leisure purposes, including overnight, within their own local authority area (other than when being used for essential travel purposes). Use of campervans (other than when being used for essential travel purposes) is discouraged in level 4 areas, in line with restrictions on tourism.

If users elect not to use a formal campsite they should be aware that the Scottish Outdoor Access Code does not cover vehicular camping, and should follow normal good practice for ‘freedom camping’, including seeking the landowner’s permission, and respecting local communities.

The Scottish Government has now introduced short term regulations that will make breaching travel restrictions a punishable offence. We would ask therefore that those undertaking such trips ensure that they plan their trip in advance and keep up to date with the information to ensure any travel for leisure purposes is compliant with the Strategic Framework.

Oliver Mundell (Dumfriesshire) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what support it is making available to larger self-catering units that are unable to trade viably as a result of ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. (S5W-33186) Fergus Ewing: Self-catering businesses were eligible for either £10,000 and £25,000 grants for businesses in retail, hospitality and leisure. This extended to 75% for subsequent properties. We provided an additional £1.5 m for self- catering businesses who didn’t meet the 140 day eligibility criteria. We recognise that the single-household rule presents difficulties for large property owners, however with limited financial resources, our priority must be to assist those who have not received support. We’re considering further support in line with recommendations from the Tourism Taskforce and continue to request from the UK Government the transfer of financial powers to enable us to respond fully to business needs.

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many people currently in receipt of Universal Credit have been diagnosed with dyslexia, and what specific support is offered to people with the condition to help them return to employment. (S5W-33239) Jamie Hepburn: As Universal Credit remains a reserved benefit, The Scottish Government does not produce or hold this management information and your request should be directed towards the UK Government.

People who have been diagnosed with dyslexia and require support to return to work may be eligible for Fair Start Scotland.

Fair Start Scotland is the first fully devolved national employment support service and supports those further removed from the labour market. The service provides flexible support to individuals, taking into account personal circumstances and removing barriers to accessing work. The most recent statistics published show that large numbers of people with health and learning related barriers have already been supported, with over 24,000 people participating in the service and over 7,000 people moving into work.

The Scottish Government publishes quarterly statistics on Fair Start Scotland. The most recent publication can be found at the link below. https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-devolved-employment-services- statistical-summary-7/

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Skills Development Scotland’s five-year MA Equality Action Plan, which was published in December 2015, in relation to people with dyslexia. (S5W-33240) Jamie Hepburn: Each year, Skills Development Scotland publishes an annual progress report for the Apprenticeship Equality Action Plan detailing the actions it has taken to ensure that individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, including individuals with dyslexia, can access work-based learning opportunities such as Apprenticeships and achieve equitable outcomes.

This year’s report was published on 9 November 2020 and highlights the work undertaken in 2019-2020, to help individuals access Scotland’s Apprenticeship Family of offerings and to support employers develop inclusive approaches to recruitment. It also summarises Skills Development Scotland’s planned activity for 2020-21 and can be viewed at: https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/47244/equality-action- plan-2020.pdf.

Education, Communities and Justice

George Adam (Paisley) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on arrangements for the Christmas period. (S5W-33524) John Swinney: Following discussions at Four Nations level, the Scottish Government has agreed a cautious and limited relaxation of the rules on household meetings over the Christmas period. We know that isolation and loneliness can hit people especially hard over the Christmas period and that for some, contact with friends and family is crucial during this time.

A maximum of three households will be able form an exclusive ‘bubble’ between 23 and 27 December – and households will be able to travel between local authority areas and between the four nations during this period to meet with their bubble. We will, however, be asking people to think very carefully about whether they really need to travel and visit indoors over the festive period. We urge everyone to consider if they can use alternative approaches such as the use of technology or meeting outside. We will set out further detail to Parliament in the coming days.

Alexander Burnett (Aberdeenshire West) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether guidance for parent and baby groups will be changed to increase the maximum number of adults to 10 for groups where the children are aged 24 or 36 months old. (S5W-32674) Maree Todd: The organised activities for children guidance was changed on 12 November to increase the maximum number of adults to 10 for groups that take place indoors, where the children are aged under 5, at protection levels 2 and 3. At baseline (level 0) and level 1, up to 15 adults can attend. Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what COVID-19 guidance it has published regarding the delivery of in-person private music tuition for woodwind and brass instruments outside school hours, and what plans it has to update this. (S5W-33116) Maree Todd: In light of the publication of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Scotland's Strategic Framework on 23 October 2020, the Coronavirus (COVID-19): organised activities for children guidance for organised activities and services for children was updated on 12 November 2020. The guidance is not an instruction for all services and activities to open up at this time, since this will be based on the requirements that need to be met, relevant to each individual delivery setting. Private providers should read this guidance in conjunction with guidance for small businesses: Coronavirus (COVID-19): small and micro businesses guidance

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government how many school children who are registered as having additional support needs have required support for dyslexia in each month since January 2020. (S5W-33136) John Swinney: Information on the additional support needs of school children is not held on a month by month basis but is collected annually in September as part of the pupil census. The statistics from the 2019 census are published on the Scottish Government website here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/pupil-census-supplementary-statistics/

These statistics show that 23,211 school pupils were reported as having dyslexia as a reason for support in September 2019.

The equivalent statistics from the September 2020 census will be published in March 2021

Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-32259 and SW5- 32008 by Fiona Hyslop on 20 October 2020 and Maree Todd on 6 October 2020 respectively, whether private tuition of school pupils can be delivered in private homes at each level of its COVID-19 Strategic Framework. (S5W-33146) Maree Todd: In light of the publication of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Scotland's Strategic Framework on 23 October 2020, the Coronavirus (COVID-19): organised activities for children guidance for organised activities and services for children, including babies and toddlers, was updated on 12 November 2020. The guidance is not an instruction for all services and activities to open up at this time, since this will be based on the requirements that need to be met, relevant to each individual delivery setting. Private providers should read this guidance in conjunction with guidance for small businesses: Coronavirus (COVID-19): small and micro businesses guidance .

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government for what reason schools data is not kept in the records of COVID-19 transmission settings. (S5W-33177) John Swinney: The test and protect content management system only records events/venues that the case tells the person conducting the interview they have been to. Attending a particular event/venue does not mean that an individual case acquired their infection in that setting. This is because the test and protect system is designed to identify contacts rather than to identify the source of transmission.

The data held currently contains information on those who under events/venues report “attending childcare, school, educational establishment” and other venues/settings. However, this does not mean that is where they acquired their infection.

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment made by the Deputy First Minister to the Parliament on 12 August 2020, and in a letter to EIS, how many teachers, nursery and educational support staff have been tested for COVID-19; where these tests took place, and what percentage of the tests were positive. (S5W-33194) John Swinney: We do not hold this information. For people who test positive we have information on their self reported occupation. This is published weekly here: https://beta.isdscotland.org/find-publications-and- data/population-health/covid-19/covid-19-statistical-report/ (see page 15).

For those coming back negative we do not know the occupation as this information is not collected at time of test. For individuals going through the employer referral portal for asymptomatic testing, we cannot easily identify education based referrals compared to referrals from other key workers who are using this portal as employer is collected as free text.

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress to roll out 1,140 hours of funded childcare nationally; how many hours of funded childcare is currently available in each local authority area, and what the current timetable is by which it is working towards ensuring and finalising full roll out across all parts of Scotland. (S5W-33201) Maree Todd: The Improvement Service published a detailed report on delivery progress as of August on 11 November which showed that 93,438 children were accessing funded ELC as of the end of August 2020. Of these, 80% children were accessing more than the statutory entitlement of 600 hours, and 61% children were accessing 1140 hours funded ELC. Local authorities are continuing to offer expanded hours where they can, and to progress expansion plans ahead of setting a new statutory date.

The Scottish Government is working closely with councils to build on the data collected, to understand the impact of COVID on programmes, and to inform the Joint Delivery Board’s assessment of the appropriate date to reinstate the 1140 hours statutory duty. This assessment will be completed and a new implementation date communicated to Parliament and the public by the end of December 2020. The Scottish Government will bring forward legislation in this parliamentary session to reinstate the 1140 duty.

As at November 2020:

• 14 councils are offering 1140 hours to all families

Angus, Argyll & Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries & Galloway, Dundee, East Renfrewshire, Eilean Siar, Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Lanarkshire, Scottish Borders, Shetland, South Ayrshire, Stirling.

• 18 Councils are offering at least 600 hours of funded ELC to all families, and 1140 to some or most families

Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, East Dumbarton, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow, Highland, Moray, North Ayrshire, Orkney, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian.

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress made on the new IT system for Disclosure Scotland. (S5W-33202) Maree Todd: At the end of September 2019, Disclosure Scotland replaced an obsolete IT system with its new processing system, Protecting and Safeguarding Scotland (PASS). This has been used since then to process all disclosure checks. PASS is continually being developed to improve our service. The newly introduced PVG Online service (which is currently being tested with a small number of stakeholders) is a major step forward, consistent with the digital plan for Disclosure Scotland. PVG Online provides a digital application platform for PVG members, new and existing, for the first time and demonstrates progress towards a digital first application service for all of our products.

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on subject choice in the senior phase of the 2020-21 academic year. (S5W-33203) John Swinney: It is a matter for individual schools and local authorities to plan a Senior Phase that takes account of local circumstances and meets the needs and aspirations of learners, ensuring that young people can choose preferred subjects; however, timetabling, staffing and resourcing issues may mean that this is not always possible.

Where a subject cannot be offered by the school, national guidelines encourage flexibility, enabling schools to work collaboratively with other local schools or colleges or through on-line, digital approaches.

We expect this to continue but recognise that COVID-19 has presented many challenges and schools are rightly prioritising the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of learners during the recovery phase.

The Scottish Government’s Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance on preparing for the start of the new school term in August 2020, encourages schools to plan their curriculum with colleges, including looking at issues of timetabling, transport, and the use of digital resources.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority has published a report on the outcomes of the consultation that they carried out on proposed modifications to National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher course assessments in session 2021-21. The modifications took account of loss of learning and teaching time and public health advice as it applies to different subject areas. SQA has published information on the modifications for each subject and will consider any further modifications to take account of the evolving public health advice.

The Scottish Government is working with Education Scotland, Colleges and Local Authorities to monitor the impact of COVID 19 on the breadth of the Senior Phase curriculum offer and on collaboration between schools and with colleges, and will consider if further guidance is required in this area

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, in coming to a decision on the 2020-21 SQA exam diet, what consideration it gave to young adults with learning difficulties who will be sitting Higher exams. (S5W-33225) John Swinney: As is the case every year, those candidates with learning difficulties can access a broad range of assessment arrangements. This is based on the support they receive through teaching and learning. If this cannot be achieved because of government guidelines on COVID-19 then SQA can consider alternative arrangements. To ensure fairness for all candidates, the SQA has developed some guidance on this issue and other considerations such as conditions of assessment, which is available on their website at: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/74922.html . This guidance will be kept under constant review and updated as required.

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how decisions taken regarding the 2020-21 SQA exam diet take account of advice from relevant organisations, such as Dyslexia Scotland, to comply with relevant equality legislation and public bodies duties. (S5W-33226) John Swinney: SQA engages with a number of external stakeholder groups that work in this area. The SQA Equality and Inclusion Key Partner Group includes representation from Dyslexia Scotland, CALL Scotland, Additional Support for Learning Officer group, and LEAD Scotland. This group next meets on 26 November 2020.

SQA provides support and adaptation every year for learners with Additional Support Needs, including in the 2020-21 session. SQA will continue to monitor the need for further support as the year progresses. In relation to awarding in 2021 SQA will carry out an Equality Impact Assessment and Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment as appropriate for any areas of work where there is significant change from normal approaches. SQA will also develop guidance for centres and learners to support them, as appropriate.

Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, when considering the granting of a child contact or residence order, to what extent a court takes into consideration an applicant’s previous civil or criminal convictions for, or history of, domestic abuse against the child’s other parent, and, before granting such an order, what safeguards it would require to be put in place. (S5W-33310) Ash Denham: Section 11(7A) to (7E) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 makes provision in this area. These subsections provide that the court must have regard to the need to protect the child at the centre of the case from abuse when considering cases such as contact and residence. Abuse is defined as including domestic abuse and also violence, harassment, threatening conduct and any other conduct giving rise, or likely to give rise to physical or mental injury, fear, alarm or distress.

The Children (Scotland) Act 2020 which gained Royal Assent on 1 October 2020 introduces a new special measure into the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004. This gives the court the power to prohibit a party from personally conducting the remainder of their contact or residence case where a party has been convicted or accused of a specific criminal offence against a witness in the case. The list of criminal offences that would trigger this prohibition include where a person has a conviction for a domestic abuse offence. This section will take time to commence as we will need to establish a register of solicitors who would be willing to act for parties who have been prohibited from conducting their case.

Health and Social Care

Annie Wells (Glasgow) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what scientific evidence it has used to determine whether socially-distanced and COVID-19-secure group exercise classes are more likely to transmit the virus than individual exercise in large gyms. (S5W-33099) Joe FitzPatrick: Under the current restrictions, indoor exercise classes can proceed in Levels 0, 1 and 2. Outdoor exercise classes can take place in all Levels with up to a maximum of 30 participants with physical distancing. You can find out more information on COVID protection level for each local area and get information on what you can and cannot do at each level here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-protection-levels/ .

Decisions on what sectors and activities to re-open on our route out of lockdown are guided by the principles set out in our Framework for Decision Making. Proposals are technically assessed using the best available evidence and analysis of their potential benefits and harms to health, the economy, and broader society to minimise overall harm and ensure transmission of the virus continues to be suppressed. This assessment process includes oversight of the assessed health risks in different settings by the Chief Medical Officer and input from the other Chief Clinicians as appropriate.

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many people have contracted COVID-19 while in hospital in each month since March 2020, also broken down by how many have subsequently died. Holding answer issued: 24 November 2020 (S5W-33128) Jeane Freeman: A holding answer was provided. Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on the NHS Louisa Jordan facility. Holding answer issued: 24 November 2020 (S5W-33129) Jeane Freeman: A holding answer was provided.

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what its decommissioning plans are for the NHS Louisa Jordan facility. Holding answer issued: 24 November 2020 (S5W-33130) Jeane Freeman: A holding answer was provided.

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what the usage figure for the NHS Louisa Jordan facility has been each month. Holding answer issued: 24 November 2020 (S5W-33131) Jeane Freeman: A holding answer was provided.

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances might the NHS Louisa Jordan facility be used for COVID-19 patients. Holding answer issued: 24 November 2020 (S5W-33132) Jeane Freeman: A holding answer was provided.

Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether fitness classes can be permitted under the COVID-19 restrictions, and what scientific evidence it has used to determine this. (S5W-33133) Joe FitzPatrick: Indoor fitness classes for over 18s are permitted if the area is in levels 0, 1 and 2 of our strategic framework. Outdoor exercise classes are permitted in levels 0, 1, 2,3 and 4 of the framework. You can find out more information on COVID protection level for each local area and get information on what you can and cannot do at each level here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-protection-levels/

Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how it is assessing what impact service changes such as virtual GP consultations are having on cancer diagnoses. Holding answer issued: 24 November 2020 (S5W-33134) Jeane Freeman: A holding answer was provided.

Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether its National Cancer Treatment Response Group will provide an update on the estimated number of people affected by any backlog in cancer services. Holding answer issued: 24 November 2020 (S5W-33135) Jeane Freeman: A holding answer was provided.

Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that existing health inequalities in cancer outcomes do not widen a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Holding answer issued: 24 November 2020 (S5W-33138) Jeane Freeman: A holding answer was provided.

Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how it will encourage people to take up invitations for cancer screening, in light of screening programmes having resumed. (S5W-33139) Joe FitzPatrick: A communications strategy to support the resumption of the screening programmes has been developed with Public Health Scotland, and information has been made available on NHS Inform in a wide range of languages and formats about the restart of each of the adult national screening programmes. This includes information about the additional measures that have been put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19. A leaflet is also being sent with each appointment prompt or reminder explaining the changes that screening participants can expect when attending a screening appointment during the pandemic.

Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support the World Health Organization’s launch of the Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer. Holding answer issued: 24 November 2020 (S5W-33140) Jeane Freeman: A holding answer was provided.

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on what appears to be a contradiction between the level 3 COVID-19 guidance under the heading "meeting others indoors (socialising)", which states that “children under the age of 12…do not count towards the total number of people counted in a gathering” and under the heading "hospitality", which states that “children under the age of 12 from these households do not count towards the total number of people meeting outdoors only.” Holding answer issued: 24 November 2020 (S5W-33141) Jeane Freeman: A holding answer was provided.

Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many hospital patient deaths from COVID-19 have been recorded in each month since March 2020, also broken down by how many of these people had at least one other underlying health condition. Holding answer issued: 24 November 2020 (S5W-33145) Jeane Freeman: A holding answer was provided.

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that grandparents and families are aware of the COVID-19 guidance regarding informal childcare. (S5W-33152) Maree Todd: Throughout the pandemic, the Scottish Government has kept families informed via the Parent Club website, which contains information and FAQs on key subjects, including informal childcare. This has been publicised using social media and via partners. A recent targeted social media post regarding informal childcare was viewed by over 245,000 people.

Wider Parent Club activity has included a campaign around the new levels approach, directing families to the information on Parentclub.scot. This has been supported by work with partners such as local authorities, health boards, and charities. We reached out to SG Partners via email on three separate occasions to update them on SG informal childcare guidance . This included sharing information and materials, and directing families to Parent Club for more information.

Information is also regularly shared with a range of partners who work with families –such as Parentline Scotland and One Parent Families Scotland who provide families with information, including via helplines.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that many foodbanks do not provide baby milk formula because of UNICEF guidelines, and whether it will issue separate guidance to foodbanks regarding how they can help mothers who are unable to feed their babies naturally and cannot afford to buy milk formula. (S5W-33176) Joe FitzPatrick: Scottish Government advice has always been that where infant formula milk is needed, the preferred approach is a referral to a health worker who will be able to provide families with young infants longer term support which guarantees consistency, quality and access to wider services. This includes Best Start Foods which provides pregnant women and families with children under the age of three, on certain benefits, with a minimum of £4.25 a week to buy specific healthy foods. The Best Start Foods payment is doubled to £8.50 per week for the first year of the child’s life to help support nutrition for the breastfeeding mothers or the cost of providing first infant formula.

We will continue to encourage NHS Boards to work closely with their local partners to ensure that all parents of young infants who require additional support, are supported appropriately.

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken an assessment of the impact of undiagnosed dyslexia in workplaces. (S5W-33238) Jamie Hepburn: At present, a national assessment of the impact of undiagnosed dyslexia has not been undertaken. However, we continue to work with Dyslexia Scotland on different aspects of Disability Employment Policy, including involvement in the Scottish Access to Work Stakeholder Forum.

Dyslexia Scotland receive funding through The Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention & Adult Learning and Empowering Communities (CYPFEI & ALEC) fund, as well as further funding of £200,000 p.a from the Support and Wellbeing Unit in Scottish Government to provide information, advice and support to people with dyslexia and those who support them.

Scottish Exchequer

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how much it has received in Barnett consequentials since 23 March 2020, also broken down by how much has been allocated to each portfolio area. (S5W-33171) Kate Forbes: At the UK Main Estimates published on 4 May, the Scottish Government received an additional £3,063m in Barnett consequentials in response to the COVID pandemic. The remainder of the guaranteed £8.2 billion of additional funding for 2020-21 will be allocated to the Scottish Government in the UK Supplementary Estimate early next year. It should be noted that Barnett consequentials are added to the total Scottish budget from where they are managed and thereafter it is not possible to make a direct link between sources of funding and individual budget allocations. Details of the net additional portfolio allocations to date (of which, £5,963 million were funded from Covid consequentials) were published in the Summer and Autumn Budget Revisions and are summarised in the following table:-

Summer Budget Autumn Budget Portfolio Revision Revision £m £m Health and Sport 620.0 1,843.0 Communities and Local 2,614.6 35.7 Government Finance 5.0 20.5 Education and Skills 85.8 146.7 Justice 6.5 Transport, Infrastructure and 234.3 159.9 Connectivity Environment, Climate Change and -10.8 Land Reform Rural Economy and Tourism 15.5 14.5 Economy, Fair Work and Culture 145.8 188.7 Social Security and Older People 38.2 Constitution, Europe and External -0.7 Affairs Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal 7.8 Service TOTAL 3,759.2 2,411.8 of which: Covid consequentials 3,581.0 2,382.0

Full details of all budget transfers are set out in the Summer Budget Revision and Autumn Budget Revision supporting documents available at:- https://www.gov.scot/publications/2020-21-summer-budget-revision/ https://www.gov.scot/publications/2020-21-autumn-budget-revision/

Further allocations will be set out in the Spring Budget Revision to be published in early February.

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £8.2 billion that the UK Government has committed to provide to it has been received, also broken down by how much has been allocated to each portfolio area. (S5W-33172) Kate Forbes: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33171 on 24 November 2020 All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx