We are continuing to analyse a number of options around signalisation and prohibition of movements in order to understand the wider impacts of this on the surrounding local and trunk road network. This is a complex task, which aims to balance the need to reduce conflict at this location along with minimising any reduction in operational performance of the A702 corridor. It is expected that this work will be concluded in summer 2021.

Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure Relief provides 100% relief for properties , used wholly or mainly for the qualifying purposes set out in Schedule 1 of the Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus Reliefs) (Scotland) Regulations 2020. It is for local authorities to determine eligibility of properties based on the legislation.

All non-domestic properties including car parks will benefit from a 1.6% universal rates relief in 2020-21, which will apply automatically to their non-domestic rates bills. As with any other rated property, car parks may be eligible for other reliefs such as the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) and the Empty Property Relief (EPR).

As at 01 July 2020, there were 390 separate entries for car parks or parking spaces on the Valuation Roll in the City of Edinburgh that were receiving 100% rates relief.

Of those 390 car parks, 270 were in receipt of SBBS, 80 are in receipt of EPR, 30 are in receipt of Charitable Rates Relief, and 10 are in receipt of other reliefs. The Scottish Government is unable to distinguish whether these are short or long-term car parks. Some car parks form the same entry in the roll as the building they serve, rather than being listed on the Valuation Roll separately and are not therefore included in figures here.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to promote road safety and take steps to both reduce and prevent accidents and safeguard children on the way to school. We have grant funded Sustrans to run its Safer Routes To Schools programme which builds safer infrastructure to and around schools to encourage more cycling to schools by both teachers and pupils. Deciding what funding is made available for school crossing patrol staff is a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council.

Under Regulation 4 of The Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus Reliefs) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, 100% relief is available in 2020-21 for properties that are:

• used as an airport, prescribed in schedule 2 of the regulations (Aberdeen International, Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Cumbernauld, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Glasgow Prestwick, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Oban, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree, Wick John O’Groats)
• situated at such an airport and wholly or mainly used to provide one or more handling services for scheduled passenger flights, or
• occupied by Loganair Limited.

Handling services are defined in regulation 4(7) of The Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus Reliefs) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 as any of the following activities—

(a)in relation to aircraft—

(i)de-icing,

(ii)re-fuelling,

(iii)moving aircraft,

(iv)waste servicing, and

(b)in relation to aircraft passengers—

(i)allocation of seating,

(ii)handling of baggage,

(iii)supervision of boarding.

The administration of non-domestic rates reliefs, and the interpretation of the relevant legislation, is a matter for local authorities.

Further to my answer to your question S5W-33159, on 23 November 2020, in designing the relief system we aimed to help as may business as possible. Like all governments we were constrained by affordability and consequently it was necessary for difficult decisions to be taken, and for lines to be drawn. These decisions prioritised specific uses in the retail, hospitality, leisure, and airport sectors as set out in The Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus Reliefs) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, over more generic uses of lands and heritages such as huts, sites, bare ground, and car parks.

All non-domestic properties including car parks will benefit from a 1.6% universal rates relief in 2020-21, which will apply automatically to their non-domestic rates bills. As with any other rated property, car parks may be eligible for other reliefs such as the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) and the Empty Property Relief (EPR).

The Scottish Government does not intend to further amend The Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus Reliefs) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 in 2020-21.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) allocates funding announced in the SG Scottish Budget to each institution on an annual basis. With the exception of any controlled subjects, it is then the responsibility of each institution to determine how best to utilise their funding allocation and determine their own curriculum offer and course provision in line with the economic needs of their region.

Ministers recognise that the withdrawal of funding from the business degree programme at West Lothian has caused concerns for students and have brought these to the attention of the SFC. Edinburgh Napier University has stated that it remains committed to delivering and growing its articulation routes and partnership working including with West Lothian College in line with previous Outcome Agreements with the Scottish Funding Council.

The Clinical Priorities Unit currently has six people seconded at B2 and B3 salary bands to deliver policy on chronic pain and other long-term conditions. A number of the secondments are from third sector organisations: Action for ME, Versus Arthritis, Children's Hospices Across Scotland, British Heart Foundation and, the Alliance.

Disclosing salaries and names of team members would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.

Policy responsibility sits with the Healthcare Quality and Improvement Division.

Issues raised in Spaces for People correspondence relating to Edinburgh schemes include: lack of consultation, monitoring of projects, the statutory powers used to implement measures, concerns around the potential for increased congestion, reduction in air quality, reduction in car parking spaces, dangers at junctions and the effect on businesses.

The Scottish Government’s Standards of Care for Dementia set out standards for the prescribing, use and review of psychoactive medications across all care settings. Such medication should be prescribed following appropriate individual clinical assessment and consultation with families and only after all other alternatives, including therapeutic interventions, have been explored. The Scottish Government funds two national dementia workforce programmes to support implementation of the standards.

In September, the Scottish Government produced a communication on psychoactive medication prescribing and review which was circulated by Care Inspectorate to care providers. This communication summarised and reinforced current guidance on the prescribing and review of psychoactive medication for people with dementia across all care settings.

Clinical staff will always make individual clinical decisions and will assessments on prescribing antipsychotic medication based on patient risk factors, benefits and existing conditions.

The Scottish Government’s Standards of Care for Dementia set out standards for the prescribing, use and review of psychoactive medications across all care settings. Such medication should be prescribed following appropriate individual clinical assessment and consultation with families and only after all other alternatives, including therapeutic interventions, have been explored.

The risk of blood disorders (leukopenia/neutropenia/agranulocytosis) which involve a reduction in the number of white blood cells involved in the immune response is a recognised adverse drug reaction for antipsychotic medicines. A reduction of these blood cells can lead to an impaired immune response and an increased risk of infection. The risk of blood disorders when using antipsychotic medicines applies to all patients taking these medicines regardless of their age.

A list of the recognised side effects for every antipsychotic medicine is provided in the product information which accompanies the medicine. This includes the product’s Summary of Product Characteristics for healthcare professionals and a Patient Information Leaflet. The product information for each antipsychotic medicine can be found on the electronic Medicines Compendium website at www.emc.medicines.org.uk .