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From YouTube: Topical Questions - 29 September 2020
Description
Topical Questions
B
C
C
Students
can
also
access
local
authority
services
who
provide
support
for
self-isolating
individuals
who
are
otherwise
unable
to
access
food
or
other
essentials,
and
this
can
be
arranged
through
the
national
assistance
helpline
of
zero
eight
hundred
treble
eleven
four
thousand.
The
national
assistance
helpline
is
a
service
for
those
who
cannot
leave
their
home
and
cannot
get
the
help
they
need
any
other
way.
C
Thank
you
to
the
member
for
those
questions
and
they're
very
pertinent,
relevant
questions.
At
the
moment
for
many
students
in
scotland,
our
advice
to
all
students
in
scotland
is
pleased
to
remain
living
in
your
current
student
household
in
your
current
university
accommodation,
because
that's
the
best
way
to
prevent
spread
of
the
virus
in
scotland,
just
as
we're
giving
advice
across
the
whole
the
nation
to
all
sectors
of
society.
However,
we
do
recognize.
C
We
know
that
andrews
and
glasgow
university,
for
instance,
have
introduced
a
lot
more
flexibility
and
ensuring
they're,
not
penalizing
students
who
want
to
resign
their
releases
even
within
their
28
days
notice,
and
we've
asked
and
I've
written
to
all
scotland's
principles
asking
for
all
universities
to
be
very,
very
sympathetic
to
all
students.
At
this
time.
B
Much
presiding
officer,
we
know
that
we
have
a
number
of
students
who
don't
reside
in
halls:
they
reside
in
the
private
accommodation
sector
and
also,
obviously
in
hmos.
In
that
respect.
Now
I
just
wonder
if
you've
had
any
discussions
with
a
private
student
providers
regarding
guidance
for
their
duty
of
care
to
their
residents
and
also
in
regards
to
if
they
wish
to
leave
home,
have
had
any
correspondence
or
to
tell
the
scottish
government's
guidelines,
because
in
my
constituency
I
have
a
huge
amount
of
private
student
accommodation
in
the
kelvin
constituency.
C
Yeah,
that's
a
good
point
for
purpose-built
private
student
accommodation.
The
covered
regulations
that
we
passed
allow
students
to
give
28
days
notice
for
resigner.
Lease
applies
to
those
situations
as
well,
and
we've
had
regular
conversations
with
the
operators
of
those
buildings,
and
they
are
also
obliged
to
have
a
duty
of
care
towards
the
residents
and
to
ensure
they're
able
to
access
necessary
supplies.
If
they're
self-isolating.
A
D
C
We've
had
regular
conversations
in
nus
scotland
throughout
the
pandemic,
and
indeed
I
spoke
to
them
again
today
as
well.
In
terms
of
the
guidance
for
students
returning
home.
We
were
in
conversations
with
the
nus
scotland
who
helped
input
to
that
guidance
as
well.
If
israel,
if
he's
referring
to
the
guidance
in
terms
of
socializing
over
the
weekend,
we
offered
our
support
to
university
scotland,
because
that
was
advice.
E
Thank
you.
Yesterday,
the
first
minister
was
at
pains
to
explain
that
the
advice
on
household
mixing
for
students
wasn't
really
different
from
the
advice
for
everybody
else,
and
given
that
that's
the
case,
then
why
did
the
minister
remove
from
the
guidance
prior
to
universities,
returning
that
where
work
could
be
done
from
home?
C
Over
the
summer,
of
course,
we
worked
with
scotland's
further
higher
education
sector
on
guidance
for
the
safe
return
of
our
colleges
and
universities,
and
we
consulted
closely
with
all
the
stakeholders,
the
trade
unions,
student
bodies
and
the
universities,
of
course,
and
the
colleges
in
the
case
of
further
education,
and
it's
always
been
the
case.
Even
the
draft
guidance
that
has
been
circulated
for
comments
and
and
consultation
always
had
the
proposal
for
blended
learning.
That
is,
whereby
students
will
be
learning
in
many
cases
online,
but
there
are
cases
where
face-to-face
teaching
is
very
important.
G
Thank
you.
In
the
last
few
days,
a
number
of
students
have
raised
disturbing
examples
of
universities,
informing
them
that
if
they
were
to
terminate
the
lease
for
their
university
accommodation,
their
place
on
their
course
would
be
terminated
as
well.
I
don't
believe
that
this
is
legally
enforceable
or
morally
right
and
could
ask
the
minister
to
take
this
opportunity
to
state
categorically
that
no
student
should
lose
their
place
at
university,
because
they've
decided
to
terminate
their
accommodation
lease
and
return
home.
Minister
richard
looking.
A
H
C
The
scottish
government
issued
guidance
at
the
weekends
on
students
traveling
home,
to
put
the
recent
restrictions
into
the
context
of
a
student
household
it's
only
a
week
or
so,
since
we
had
the
new
restrictions
on
meeting
other
households
indoors
and
social
gatherings.
It
was
very
important,
particularly
what's
happening
just
now
in
some
of
our
universities,
where
students
are
self-isolating
or
perhaps
anxious
and
want
to
go
home
that
these
restrictions
were
put
into
the
context.
C
As
I
said
before
of
student
households,
there
are
no
actual
laws
that
apply
to
students
that
don't
apply
to
the
rest
of
society.
At
the
moment
we
must
not
stigmatise
or
target
students
what's
happening
at
the
moment,
is
not
their
fault
or
anyone's
fault,
we're
in
the
middle
of
a
global
pandemic,
and
if
students
wish
to
go
home
they're
perfectly
able
to
do
that
within
the
law
as
outlined
in
certain
circumstances,
in
the
guidance
published
at
the
weekend.
But
strong
advice
to
the
student
population
in
scotland
is,
if
you
are
able
to.
C
The
safe
to
return
to
further
higher
education
guidance
was
published
on
the
1st
of
september,
outlined,
of
course,
how
the
guidelines
should
be
applied
to
student
accommodation
and
the
services
that
should
be
made
available
to
students
and
how
outbreaks
should
be
managed
as
well.
In
those
circumstances,
I
do
very
much
recognize
it's
a
challenge
for
scotland's
universities
as
it
is
for
our
students
at
the
current
time,
and
I
do
thank
our
university
staff
and
all
staff
who
are
helping
to
care
and
look
after
the
well-being
of
our
students
at
this
time.
J
J
Can
the
minister
put
to
end
some
of
those
concerns
and
confirm
that,
first
of
all,
food
parcels
and
priority
deliveries
will
be
available
for
all
students
in
lockdown
who
need
them
that
any
who
choose
to
leave
their
accommodation
return
home
permanently,
can
do
so
and
will
be
given
rent
refunds
and
given
that
students
aren't
clear
if
they
can
go
home
for
october
holidays?
Yet
can
the
minister
give
some
reassurances
that
they
will
be
allowed
home
for
christmas.
C
Can
I
just
say
to
jb
green?
Of
course
he
highlights
important
issues,
but
we
worked
with
the
student
bodies
on
the
guidance
that
was
published
at
the
weekend
and
I
spoke
to
them
again
just
before
this
question
and
they
told
me
that
they
very
much
welcome
the
guidance
and
it
has
been
welcomed
across
scotland's
campuses.
So
I
urge
all
students
who
are
feeling
they're
unable
to
continue
in
their
current
student
accommodation,
particularly
for
self-isolating,
and
I
hope
most
people
are
able
to
stay
in
their
current
student
household
industry
accommodation.
C
But
if
not
to
access
the
guidance
which
explains
the
circumstances
that
are
there
that
enables
them
to
return
home
and
there's
different
circumstances.
You
can
move
your
permanent
household
back
to
your
home
household,
which
of
course
means
you
can't
move
back
and
forth
because
we
all
subject
whole
scotland
to
the
same
guidelines
over
households,
meeting
indoor
and
the
social
gatherings
as
well.
But
the
guidance
is
there
and
it's
clear
and
the
students
have
told
me.
C
C
So
the
guidance
that
we
are
following
is,
of
course,
from
scotland's
public
health
officials
and
in
terms
of
asymptomatic
testing.
Of
course,
that
is
something
we
keep
under
review.
As
I'm
sure
the
health
secretary
and
the
first
minister
reiterated
time
and
time
again,
but
there's
never
been
anything
vetoed
in
terms
of
the
advice
we've
received
from
our
own
advisors.
M
Welcome
the
recent
report
published
by
the
justice
committee
on
reopening
scotland's
courts
and
tribunal
systems
in
common
with
the
report.
The
scottish
government
recognises
the
scale
of
the
challenge
with
regards
to
the
backlog
of
court
cases,
something
which
frankly,
administrations
right
across
the
uk
and
indeed
beyond,
are
facing.
For
example,
I
know
in
england,
wales
that
the
outstanding
workloads
in
the
magistrate
course
are
now
up
to
520
000
or
where
we're
at
that
level
in
august.
M
So,
as
I
emphasize
to
the
committee,
the
estimate
of
a
decade
to
deal
with
the
backlog
in
scotland
was
based
on
a
do
nothing
scenario
which
is
clearly
not
the
approach
that
we're
taking
here
in
scotland,
we've
provided
the
scottish
coach
and
tribunal
service
with
additional
funding
of
5.5
million.
That's
to
set
up
the
groundbreaking
jury
centers
for
high
court
trials,
which
start
this
week,
which
we're
optimistic,
we'll
see
up
to
16
jury
rooms
available
for
high
court
trials
before
the
end
of
november,
and
that
is
at
pre-covered
capacity.
M
We're
also
working
with
scts
to
enable
jury,
center
models
to
be
rolled
out
for
sheriff
and
jury
trials
and
I'll,
hopefully
see
more
about
that
later.
This
week
the
scottish
coaching
tribunal
chief
executive,
eric
mcqueen,
has
also
confirmed
to
me.
The
positive
progress
is
being
made
in
recovering
volumes
of
summary
business
within
the
sheriff
course
in
september,
the
number
of
summary
trials
that
progress
with
evidence
led
we're
at
80
of
pre-covered
levels.
M
L
I
thank
the
cabinet
search
for
the
answer,
but,
president
of
so
what
we
have
to
remember
here
is
that
for
every
criminal
trial
delayed
there
is
a
victim
waiting
for
justice,
and
the
reality
is
that
most
of
this
backlog
in
scotland
was
built
up
before
coronavirus
hit.
The
latest
figures
show
over
80
of
the
22
000
trials,
scheduled
at
the
end
of
june,
were
carried
over
from
march.
To
quote
directly
from
the
committee
report.
Kovat19
and
lockdown
has
not
created
the
problem
of
backlogging
cases.
Rather,
it
has
deepened
an
already
existing
problem,
so
cabinet
secretary.
L
M
Have
a
secretary
to
liam
care
and
all
seriousness
when
it
comes
to
the
issue
of
courts
and
victims,
he
is
not,
I
think,
in
the
best
books
of
the
victims,
organizations
for
the
approach
that
he
has
taken
as
a
party,
so
I
wouldn't
suggest
that
the
government
hasn't
done
anything
to
address
the
backlog.
I've
given
him
details
of
where
we've
done.
M
That
and
again
I
just
referenced
the
fact
that
in
england
there
was
a
pre-covered
backlog
of
407
000
cases
in
the
magistrates
course
so
backlogs
and
court
cases
because
of
the
right,
and
he
asked
the
reasons
why,
because
of
things
like
the
rise
in
sexual
offense
cases
coming
through
the
courts,
of
course,
are
not
simply
unique
to
scotland.
He
is
right.
Of
course
we
should
look
to
address
that.
M
One
thing
the
pandemic
has
taught
us
is
that
we
can
look
at
innovative
approaches
like
the
external
jury
rooms,
like
investing
in
virtual
technology
for
technology
for
virtual
courtrooms.
We
will
look
to
do
that,
so
we
will
take
forward
some
of
the
work
that
was
being
done.
Pre-Covered,
for
example,
lady
dorian's
group,
on
looking
at
how
to
manage
sexual
offences.
Cases
through
our
courts
that
work
delayed
because
of
kovid
but
hopefully
will
continue
to
progress.
M
We'll
continue
to
do
that
work,
but
I
hope
he
understands
with
the
unprecedented
challenge
of
kovid
and
of
the
last
six
months.
The
first
priority
has
been
to
ensure
that
backlog
does
not
get
any
bigger
and
through
the
action
I
outlined
in
my
first
answer
to
his
question.
I
hope
I've
been
able
to
demonstrate
that
now
that
we,
if
we
get
into
a
position
to
contain
that
backlog,
my
hope
is
that
we
can
make
progress
in
diminishing
it
further
over
the
years.
L
Namecare
I
hear
the
cabinet
secretary
says,
but
I
just
don't
think
that
victims
or
the
wider
public
will
be
reassured
that
this
is
under
control.
I
mean
the
cabinet
secretary
talks
of
some
possible
actions,
but
I'd
like
to
turn
specifically
to
sentence
discounts
where
a
criminal
gets
a
shorter
sentence
in
return
for
an
early
guilty
plea
as
victims
support
scotland
made
clear.
Further
discounts
would
cause
more
confusion
and
upset
for
victims.
I
agree.
L
M
This
again
shows
the
the
challenge
that
we
are
facing.
So,
on
the
one
hand,
liamcare
stands
up
and
says:
the
government
must
do
something
and
then
of
course
the
other
hand
says
well,
they
must
not
do
x,
y
and
z,
so
he
doesn't
present
a
solution
and
that's
fair
enough,
because
opposition
is
really
easy.
Actually,
the
tough
job
is
being
in
government
and
making
really
difficult
decisions.
So
look
I
appreciate
his
position
but
he's
not
offered
a
single
solution.
M
What
I
would
suggest
to
him
is
he
goes
back
over
and
reads
the
justice
committee
report,
which
he
would
have
been
a
part
of-
and
I
do
mention
that
my
evidence
in
that
report,
which
is
included,
says
that
we're
looking
at
a
number
of
areas.
One
is
possibly
sentencing
powers
and
I
think
that's
something
his
party
has
urged
us
to
look
at
as
well,
so
looking
at
adjusting
of
sentencing
powers
and
also,
as
I
say,
investing
in
virtual
technology.
M
But
let's
get
to
the
crux
of
the
issue,
which
is
we
have
to
ensure
the
backlog
doesn't
increase
any
further
and
I've
just
given
you
a
fairly
detailed
answer
of
how
we're
doing
that
across
high
court
sheriff
and
jury
and
summary
course.
So
that
is
our
immediate
priority
and
then,
of
course,
we'll
continue
to
look
at
how
we
can
further
invest
in
other
solutions
and
and
to
answer
his
direct
question.
A
N
O
Thank
you,
presiding
officer.
A
range
of
financial
support
has
been
open
to
child
minders,
including
the
uk
government,
self-employed
scheme
income
support
scheme,
the
scottish
government's
newly
self-employed
hardship
fund
child
monitors,
delivering
funded
early
learning
and
child
care
have
benefited
from
the
commitment
to
continue
payments
during
the
closures
period.
However,
we
are
aware
that
not
all
child
minders
have
been
able
to
access
support
through
these
routes.
So
that's
why
in
june
2020,
we
agreed
with
the
scottish
child
minding
association
to
jointly
fund
the
child
minding
workforce
support
fund.
N
I
thank
the
minister
for
that
answer.
The
decision
to
exclude
child
minders
from
the
transitional
support
fund
was
described
by
the
scma
as
poor
and
divisive
justifications
from
the
scottish
government
about
fewer
operating
costs.
Don't
add
up.
Child
minders
are
going
to
considerable
expense
and
effort
to
ensure
their
premises
are
safe.
The
survey
last
week
found
that
child
minders
have
experienced
direct
increases
to
operating
costs
alongside
working
more
unpaid
hours.
Will
the
scottish
government
reverse
its
decision
to
exclude
child
minders
from
the
transitional
support
fund.
O
So,
firstly,
let
me
say
on
on
record,
I'm
deeply
grateful
to
everyone
in
the
child
care
sector,
including
child
minders,
who
have
supported
key
workers
and
their
families
and
and
vulnerable
children
during
the
health
crisis,
and
I
recognize
that
a
lockdown
has
hit
income
in
many
areas.
The
transitional
support
fund
was
intended
to
support
private
and
voluntary
not-for-profit
day
care
of
children
settings
to
meet
the
extra
costs
which
were
incurred
to
comply
with
the
public
health
guidance
in
response
to
covert
19
for
these
services.
O
The
guidance
has
significant
financial
implications,
including
potential
physical
adaptations
and
additional
staffing
for
those
settings.
In
contrast,
file
minders
are
subject
to
separate
guidance
under
which
the
vast
majority
of
child
minders
shouldn't
have
to
considerably
change
their
operating
models,
and
they
can
run
very
close
to
business
as
usual
in
terms
of
delivery.
O
So
the
development
of
the
transitional
support
fund
was
informed
by
evidence
and
analysis.
We
put
out
a
survey.
The
scma
also
put
out
a
survey
in
which,
in
the
majority
of
child
minders,
responding
to
indicated
that
they
expected
no
change
or
a
decrease
in
their
cost
of
delivery.
As
a
result
of
the
public
health
guidance,
in
contrast,
though,
79
of
the
daycare
of
children,
respondents
reported
that
they
expected
an
increase
in
their
cost
compared
to
business
with
usual.
N
The
scma
is
clear
that
the
crowd-minding
workforce
has
declined
as
local
authority
provision
has
expanded.
Now
46
percent
say
they
don't
believe
they
will
remain
financially
viable
for
more
than
six
months
without
an
increase
in
support
or
business.
The
number
of
child
minders
is
already
reduced
and
with
fears
that
more
could
follow.
Does
the
minister
agree
that
this
could
have
disastrous
consequences
for
parental
choice
and
flexibility?.
O
So
there
are
certainly
a
number
of
challenges
ahead
for
the
entire
sector.
I
mean
one
of
the
things
the
scme
survey
showed
us
that
there
is
a
significant
reduction
in
demand
for
child
minding
services,
as
it
is
for
other
forms
of
child
care,
and
when,
when
asked,
they
said
that
about
81
of
the
reduced
demand
was
caused
by
parents,
working
from
home,
74
of
the
reduced
demand
was
caused
by
parents
being
unfurl
or
made
redundant.
O
We
are
absolutely
committed
to
delivering
expanded
child
care
1140
hours
we
have
already,
by
and
at
the
moment
number
of
local
authorities,
which
are
currently
delivering
11
councils,
which
are
currently
delivering
1140
hours
by
the
end
of
october.
There'll
be
another
four
local
authorities
delivering
11
40
hours,
and
we
are
determined
to
deliver
that
and
we're
determined
that
parents
could
have
the
flexibility
to
choose
the
type
of
child
care
that
suits
their
family
needs
best.
O
So
we
want
child
minders
to
be
part
of
that
offer
to
ensure
that
we
continue
progress
in
the
recovery
and
and
all
of
the
challenges
that
child
mentors
face
are
recognized.
We
are
continuing
to
work
very
closely
with
them
collaboratively
to
strengthen
their
future
position,
we'll
keep
an
eye
on
the
future
impacts
of
the
pandemic
in
terms
of
in
child
minding
sustainability,
as
we
progress
through
these
stages
of
the
pandemic
and
we're
also
looking
to
frame
with
the
sme.