We have no record of invitations to any COBR meetings in 2019.

The Scottish Government can only comment on COBR meetings we are made aware of by the UK Government.

In 2020, as of 30 April, Scottish Government ministers have been invited to take part in 16 ministerial COBR meetings. The First Minister attended ten of these – from 2 March, and has attended every meeting held since 4 March. On other occasions, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and the Minister for Mental Health attended to represent the Scottish Government. I have also attended some of the meetings set out below.

COBR meetings we are aware of took place on

Friday 24 January

Wednesday 29 January

Wednesday 5 February

Tuesday 18 February

Wednesday 26 February

Monday 2 March

Wednesday 4 March

Monday 9 March

Wednesday 11 march

Thursday 12 March

Monday 16 March

Wednesday 18 March

Friday 20 March

Monday 23 March

Thursday 9 April

Thursday 16 April

The Scottish Government has always been explicit that we are passing on every penny of the UK Government’s consequential funding that has come for business support to Scotland. We have delivered a package of financial support to help as many businesses as possible, while also reflecting that Scotland’s economy is different to the rest of the UK. For example, we have a higher share of non-domestic properties with low rateable values in Scotland than England, as well as a higher proportion of hospitality properties.

We have taken the right decisions for the Scottish economy and have sought to balance the needs of the broader economy with those of the retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) sectors.

The Scottish Government has provided a 100% non-domestic rates relief for airport properties, as well those in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. We have also introduced a 1.6% rates relief, effectively freezing the poundage, which is available for all non-domestic properties across Scotland.

In addition, we have provided the Small Business Grant Scheme and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) Grant Scheme, which are both being administered by local authorities. The grant scheme in Scotland will now provide a 75% grant for each subsequent eligible properties. We estimate that around 5,500 properties in the broader economy will benefit from a £7,500 grant in Scotland, but would receive nothing in England. Meanwhile, around 3,500 RHL properties would receive £7,500 in Scotland compared with £10,000 in England. These figures demonstrate that, on balance, more properties will gain more in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has also delivered a £100 million fund to help micro and SME businesses and the newly self-employed not eligible for other schemes and with immediate cash flow issues so they may be of relevance. Information about the fund can be found at the following link, https://www.gov.scot/news/lifeline-support-for-business-confirmed/ .

We continue to engage with businesses on a regular basis to understand their needs, and we remain in dialogue with the UK Government to consider where further support is needed.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28357 on 12 May 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 .

a) To date the consequentials in respect of UK Government COVID-19 business support measures total £2,313 million and the estimated cost of the Scottish Government’s COVID-19 business support measures totals £2,341 million, which includes the doubling of the Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund from £45 million to £90 million, which was announced by the First Minister on 8 May 2020.

The balance is met from other Scottish Government funding, which is being generated by budget management processes reflecting revised cost estimates and reprioritisation elsewhere in the Scottish Budget. Details will be presented to Parliament at the next budget revision.

The following table sets out the estimated cost of each business support measure:

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28268 on 4 May 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.

For any infection, the percentage of the population required to achieve herd immunity is generally very high and often well above 90%. However, we do not yet know enough about the new Coronavirus infection to be able to estimate accurately what percentage would be necessary to achieve and to sustain herd immunity in the long term. Herd immunity is likely to occur as more people are infected with the disease or are vaccinated against it. As there is no current vaccine for covid-19, herd immunity is not part of our strategy for combatting the disease.

Health Protection Scotland (HPS) is taking forward Covid-19 surveillance through a range of measures with key partners to identify and monitor the spread of Covid-19 across the population.

These include:

Community testing through community pathways - This is new information on those people presenting with mild to moderate symptoms provides information about the population that we have not had before and widens our understanding Covid-19 within the community;

and

Antibody testing at a population level through participating health boards – This testing indicates if a person has, or has not, yet had the infection and looks at the antibodies people produce in response to infection, which help to fight the virus.

As Covid-19 is a new virus, we do not know enough to have a precise incubation period. The World Health Organisation states most estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from 1-14 days, most commonly around five days. These estimates will be updated as more data become available.

Further information can be found at NHS inform.

I recognise the challenges for the oil and gas sector and their key workers where ongoing activity on our critical national infrastructure is required to protect security of energy supply. This is why we are continuing to engage constructively with Oil & Gas UK and Step Change in Safety, and held meetings of the Oil and Gas Energy Transition Strategic Leadership Group on 2 April and 7 May, with the second meeting taking up a taskforce approach.

The Scottish Government has published guidance for employers and recognises the very acute challenges faced by businesses operating with the oil and gas sector during this time. However, we have also been clear that it is for employers to make decisions about what is essential work. The Scottish Government will not be providing individual businesses with specific advice as to whether they should remain open, or to determine how companies should interpret or if they are adhering to that guidance.

The Scottish Government’s established priority is to prevent the spread of the virus, protect our NHS and save lives. Workplaces that do not follow the Chief Medical Officer’s clear and consistent precautionary advice may be putting their employees, the wider public and our NHS at risk. It is essential that all businesses act responsibly to safeguard the nation’s health, well-being and economic future.

The Scottish Government published its Coronavirus (COVID-19): business and social distancing guidance on 21 April 2020. This was updated from original guidance published on 23 March.

The Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health Scotland and Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards Scotland in local authorities have established an Expert Group, working with Police Scotland to support a consistent approach to enforcement of the emergency regulations.