Amending Regulations were made to the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 today. These Regulations implement the changes to non-essential retail that the First Minister announced on 22 December.

The regulations prohibit homeware retailers, garden centres and plant nurseries from opening in Level 4. The Regulations prohibit home showroom premises, such as kitchen, bathroom, furniture or glazing showrooms. Some retail services are also prohibited in Level 4 areas, these services are tanning salons, or premises which operate a self-tanning machine or spray-tan booths and travel agencies.

The Regulations also prohibit travel to the Republic of Ireland as a result of the national lockdown announced on 22 December 2020.

The Regulations have been published at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/471/made .

The Scottish Government’s Dementia and COVID-19: National Action Plan to Continue to Support Recovery for People with Dementia and their Carers is published on 22 December 2020.

The plan builds on, continues and expands on the national action we have been taking since March to support people with dementia and their careers.

Amending Regulations were made to the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 on 20 December 2020. These Regulations implement the changes that the First Minister announced on 19 December 2020.

The Regulations make adjustments to the provisions on festive gatherings and levels to which local authorities are allocated. These Regulations limit the exemptions which allow festive gatherings to apply to 25 December 2020, and removes the ability to form a festive gathering in other parts of the UK and Common Travel Area.

This action has been taken urgently given a new strain of coronavirus is circulating widely in some parts of the UK and is already circulating at a lower level in Scotland. Firm and decisive action has been taken now to prevent the new strain from taking hold in Scotland and to avoid our NHS being potentially overwhelmed in the coming weeks.

The Regulations have been published at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/452/contents/made .

I am pleased to confirm that the projects to benefit from the second phase of the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) will be announced today.

Through Phase 2 of the LEIP, 25 new schools and campuses will be constructed or refurbished to provide modern, state of the art learning facilities for approximately 21,000 children and young people across Scotland.

The Scottish Government contribution, alongside local authority contributions to Phase 2 of the Programme, will help enable almost £800 million of investment across 18 local authorities.

The full list of LEIP Phase 2 projects are as follows:

1. Angus Council - Monifieth High School

2. City of Edinburgh Council - Liberton High School

3. City of Edinburgh Council - Wester Hailes Education Centre

4. Dumfries and Galloway Council - Dumfries High School

5. Dundee City Council - New Campus to replace Craigie and Braeview High   Schools

6. East Ayrshire Council - Doon Valley Community Campus

7. East Ayrshire Council - St Sophia’s Primary School

8. Fife Council - Inverkeithing High School

9. Glasgow City Council - Gaelic Primary School

10. Glasgow City Council - New City Centre Primary School

11. Highland Council - Broadford Primary School

12. Highland Council - Nairn Academy

13. Midlothian Council - Penicuik High School

14. Midlothian Council - Mayfield Primary School Campus

15. Moray Council - Findrassie Primary School

16. North Ayrshire Council - Montgomerie Park Primary School

17. Perth and Kinross Council - Perth High School

18. Perth and Kinross Council - North Perth Primary School

19. Renfrewshire Council - Paisley Grammar Community Campus

20. Scottish Borders Council - Galashiels Academy

21. Scottish Borders Council - Peebles High School

22. South Lanarkshire Council - Newton Farm Primary School extension

23. Stirling Council - Callander Primary School

24. West Dunbartonshire Council - Faifley Campus

25. West Lothian Council - East Calder Primary School

Amending Regulations have today been made to the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020. These Regulations implement the changes to the level allocations that the First Minister announced on Tuesday, 15 December. The Regulations also allow in-home socialising to take place on some additional Scottish islands and adjust the restrictions in Level 0 and Level 1 in respect of marriage and civil partnership receptions and funeral wakes.

These Regulations also make an amendment to the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Protection from Eviction) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 to reflect the true policy intention of those Regulations.

The Regulations have been published at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/439/made .

Today I am announcing up to £29 million in further funding to support bus operators to maintain bus services between 18 January and 31 March 2021. This is in addition to the £162.3 million in funding that the Scottish Government has been providing since June to support bus services. This funding will cover the expected loss of fare revenue due to carrying capacity constraints as a result of physical distancing and reduced demand.

Bus travel typically accounts for almost three quarters of public transport journeys, so this funding is vital in keeping public transport running for those who need it while capacity is reduced due to physical distancing.

Answer The transformational early learning and childcare (ELC) expansion was due to be delivered in August 2020. The expansion will improve educational and developmental outcomes for children, enhance family wellbeing and enable greater employment and training opportunities for parents and carers.

An Audit Scotland report, published in March 2020, confirmed the programme was on track to deliver. When the COVID-19 pandemic impact became clear, the Scottish Government in partnership with local government, took the decision to pause the statutory duty for Local Authorities to deliver the expansion from August this year.

Since the duty was revoked a significant proportion of the programme has continued to be delivered. In November 2020, 14 authorities were offering 1140 hours to all children, and all authorities are offering 1140 hours to some or most children. This high level of delivery has been achieved only through extensive effort and commitment from all local authorities, and their delivery partners.

The ELC Joint Delivery Board commissioned an assessment of readiness to deliver the 1140 hours expansion, taking account of capital, workforce, capacity and other risks. This was supplemented by an independent health check of the expansion programme.

Having carefully reviewed all the evidence the ELC Joint Delivery Board recommended that the statutory duty to deliver 1140 hours of funded ELC should be reinstated with effect from August 2021. This recommendation has been agreed by Scottish Ministers and COSLA Leaders.

I will bring forward the associated legislation before the end of this Parliament.

Amending Regulations have today been made to the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, these Regulations implement the changes to the level allocations that the First Minister announced on 8 December.

The Regulations also allow in-home socialising to take place on Scottish islands in a Level 1 area, provided that the island is not connected to the mainland by a road bridge. The Regulations also adjust the travel restrictions with regard to the Republic of Ireland and Jersey as a result of the recent data in these locations.

The Regulations have been published at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/427/made .

Amending Regulations have today been made to the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, these Regulations provide for the rules and restrictions which will be in place for the short period from 23 to 27 December inclusive. Guidance about keeping safe in the festive period was previously published at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-festive-period/ .

The Regulations also allow holiday accommodation to be used in Level 4 areas if required when attending a marriage ceremony, civil partnership registration or for the purpose of facilitating shared parenting arrangements. It also allows holiday accommodation in level 4 to be used for the purposes of enabling a person to attend a holiday gathering within the local authority area where the accommodation is located.

The Regulations have been published at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/415/made .

The Scottish Government recognises and values the important of apprenticeships and the key role they will play in our economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Apprenticeships are a way for employers to invest in their workforce and support high quality jobs, enabling employers to gain skilled workers the economy requires both now and in the future.

That is why we are pleased to introduce an Apprenticeship Employment Grant until March 2021 allowing employers to make the best decision for their business on whether to recruit a new entrant or a redundant apprentice with some experience.

The payment of £5,000 for 16-24-year olds and for those aged up to 29 who are disabled, care leavers and Minority Ethnic would bring parity with the recently enhanced Adopt an Apprentice of £5,000.

Once launched, the Skills Development Scotland website will provide more information on the Apprenticeship Employment Grant.