The Scottish Government published an update on the Strategic Framework which includes information about visiting relatives in care homes. More information can be found here: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Strategic Framework update - February 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The Scottish Government is working with a wide range of stakeholders, including organisations supporting and representing autistic people and people with learning disabilities, to ensure that a wide range of resources are available to help support autistic people and people with other additional support needs when attending for their vaccine.

The Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer wrote to Chief Executives, NHS Boards Chief Officers, Health And Social Care Partnerships on 25 February offering expertise of local learning disability nurses in providing reasonable adjustments for the COVID-19 Immunisation programme.

The Strategic Framework Update set out a plan for easing of restrictions based on data rather than dates. The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 require that driving lessons (unless all occupants are members of the same household) cease in an area under protection level 4 area (with the exception of lessons carried out by bodies with delegated authority from the DVSA). Driving lessons can resume when an area moves out of protection level 4.

The Strategic Framework Update set out a plan for easing of restrictions based on data rather than dates. The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 require that driving lessons (unless all occupants are members of the same household) and driving tests cease in an area under protection level 4 area (with the exception of tests carried out by bodies with delegated authority from the DVSA). Tests can resume when an area moves out of protection level 4. The detail of the reopening of test centres is be a matter for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

At this stage it is not possible to give a definitive date for all cases. The decision to offer support services in-person or remotely will be made on clinical grounds, based on assessed need alongside Covid-19 infection control considerations.

We recognise the financial pressures that COVID-19 is placing on the English language tuition industry. Limits on the amount of funding made available to the Scottish Government to provide financial support to businesses means that we are simply unable to establish funds for every sector impacted. We have, however, allocated £120 million in discretionary business support funding to Local Authorities enabling them to direct funding towards those businesses unable to access other sources of financial support. I would encourage English language schools and tutors to seek support through this route.

A recent cross-sectional snapshot of the residential rehabilitation national landscape in Scotland identified 418 beds available for the treatment of both drug and alcohol addiction, across 20 providers including NHS, private and third sector. At the time of the survey a number of the rehabilitation providers reported running at a reduced total capacity as a result of the pandemic. A combined total of 268 beds were occupied. This indicates around 64% of their total maximum capacity pre COVID-19.

The full survey is published at Residential rehabilitation: status report on current levels of capacity - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35218 on‎ 1 March 2021. 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

We do not have this data readily available. Individuals with cystic fibrosis are at higher risk of serious disease and mortality from COVID-19, meaning they are in the priority groups for vaccination set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

Physiotherapists are one of the Allied Health Professions (AHPs) and are represented by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists - they must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) before being allowed to practice in Scotland. The Society is also a member of the Allied Health Profession Federation Scotland (AHPFS).

Physiotherapists are statutorily regulated healthcare professionals, and have legally been able to operate throughout the pandemic.

On 22 July 2020 we wrote to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP) via the AHPFS advising them that where they had not already done so, privately practising Physiotherapists were able to resume elective procedures, providing that they followed the relevant guidance as set out by Health Protection Scotland, the HCPC and the Scottish Government.

On 18 December we again wrote to the CSP via the AHPFS confirming that The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 as amended set out that where ‘other services or procedures’, including those provided by privately practising Allied Health Professionals, are ancillary to medical, health or social care services they may continue in Level 4 areas. At that time we advised that face to face services provided by privately practising Allied Health Professionals in Level 4 areas focus on essential or urgent treatment of clinically diagnosed conditions, where no provision of treatment would have a significant adverse impact on the wellbeing of the patient, in keeping with the spirit of the Strategic Framework and Regulations.

Massage therapists are not subject to statutory professional regulation, and are defined as ‘close contact services’ in the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 as amended. These regulations include provision related to premises which provide a close contact service and mobile close contact services. They set out that premises based close contact services, including massage therapies, are permitted in levels 0-3, and mobile close contact services, including massage therapies are permitted in levels 0-1.