Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

Johnson’s New Deal for Britain

This government is committed not just to defeating coronavirus but to using this crisis to tackle this country’s great unresolved challenges of the last three decades.

To build the homes, to fix the NHS, to tackle the skills crisis, to mend the gap in opportunity and productivity and connectivity between the regions of the UK, to unite and level up.

The government will build back better, build back greener, build back faster.

We will invest in and accelerate infrastructure across the UK; promote a clean, green recovery; reform our planning system; and strengthen the Union and local government.

All of these changes will make life better for the people of this great country and unleash Britain’s potential.

The Chancellor will unveil more of this plan next week, and we will use the forthcoming Spending Review and Autumn Budget to set the direction for the rest of this parliament.

Investing in and accelerating infrastructure

The government is committed to building a Britain with world class infrastructure. Spring Budget 2020 set out that the public sector will invest £640bn over five years in our future prosperity.

We are redoubling our efforts to get on with this now, in support of economic recovery and jobs right across the country by bringing forward £5bn of capital investment projects, supporting jobs and the economic recovery, including:

  • £1.5bn this year for hospital maintenance, eradicating mental health dormitories, enabling hospital building, and improving A&E capacity. This will improve patient care, make sure NHS hospitals can deliver world-leading services and reduce the risk of coronavirus infections.
  • £100m this year for 29 projects to improve our road network to get Britain moving, from bridge repairs in Sandwell to boosting the quality of the A15 in the Humber region. Plus £10m for development work to unblock the Manchester rail bottleneck, which will begin this year.
  • Over £1bn to fund the first 50 projects of a new, ten-year school rebuilding programme, starting from 2020-21. These projects will be confirmed in the autumn, and construction on the first sites will begin from September 2021.
  • £560m and £200m for repairs and upgrades to schools and FE colleges respectively this year.
  • £142mn for digital upgrades and maintenance to around 100 courts this year, £83m for maintenance of prisons and youth offender facilities, and £60m for temporary prison places, creating thousands of new jobs.
  • £900m for a range of ‘shovel ready’ local growth projects in England over the course of this year and next. This will enable local areas to invest in priority infrastructure projects to drive local growth and jobs. This could include the development and regeneration of key local sites, investment to improve transport and digital connectivity, and innovation and technology centres to build on local comparative advantage
  • £96m to accelerate investment in town centres and high streets through the Towns Fund this year. This will provide all 101 towns selected for town deals with £500k-£1m to spend on projects such as improvements to parks, high streets, and transport.

We will establish a new Infrastructure Delivery Taskforce, named ‘Project Speed’.

  • Led by the Chancellor, Project Speed will bring forward proposals to deliver government’s public investment projects more strategically and efficiently. This will ensure we are building the right things better and faster than before.
  • The taskforce will aim to cut down the time it takes to develop, design and deliver vital infrastructure projects. For example, it will look at how it can address outdated practices and identify blocks to progress.
  • Projects will include the 40 new hospitals the government has committed to build and the school rebuilding programme announced yesterday.

In the Autumn, the government will also publish a National Infrastructure Strategy which will set a clear direction on core economic infrastructure, including energy networks, road and rail, flood defences and waste.

The Government also intends to bring forward funding to accelerate infrastructure projects in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – working with the devolved administrations to identify where we can get spades in the ground, build our communities, and create jobs faster for citizens across the United Kingdom.

We will also carry out a review to look at how best to improve road, rail, air and sea links between our four nations to create a more connected kingdom.

Through the Barnett formula, the UK Government has already given the Scottish Government £5.4bn, the Welsh Government £2.4bn, and the Northern Ireland Executive £1.7bn in capital funding for devolved areas this financial year. We would encourage them to accelerate infrastructure projects in the same way that the UK Government is doing.

Promoting a clean, green recovery

The UK was the first major economy to commit to net zero emissions by 2050 in law. We already have a proven track record of cutting emissions while growing the economy, with over 460,000 UK jobs in low-carbon businesses and their supply chains.

We will continue to build on this even further and deliver a stronger, cleaner, more sustainable economy after this pandemic.

The Government will continue to set out further measures as part of its green agenda in the run up to COP26 in November 2021.

Transport:

  • We are making additional funding available this year to attract investment in ‘gigafactories’, which mass produce batteries and other electric vehicle components, enabling the UK to lead on the next generation of automotive technologies.
  • £10m of funding will be made available immediately for the first wave of innovative R&D projects to scale-up manufacturing of the latest technology in batteries, motors, electronics and fuel cells.
  • Additional funding will also allow us to progress initial site planning and preparation for manufacturing plants and industry clusters, with sites under consideration across the UK.
  • This funding forms part of our commitment to spend up to £1bn to attract investment in electric vehicle supply chains and R&D to the UK.
  • And this comes on top of the over £1bn we provided at Budget to support the rollout of ultra-low emission vehicles in the UK via support for a super-fast charging network for electric vehicles, and extension of the Plug-In Grant schemes.
  • The UK will also aim to produce the world’s first zero emission long haul passenger aircraft.

Rebuilding our natural infrastructure:

  • Re-foresting Britain by planting 75,000 acres of trees every year by 2025.
  • £40m Green Recovery Challenge Fund to help halt biodiversity loss and tackle climate change through local conservation projects, connecting more people to the outdoors by delivering up to 5,000 jobs.

Innovation:

  • Up to £100m of new funding for research and develop a brand new clean technology, Direct Air Capture (DAC), which captures CO2 emissions directly from the air around us. If successful, DAC technology could be deployed across the country to remove carbon from the air, helping sectors where it’s tough to decarbonise such as aviation.
  • To help bring forward this technology, the government is exploring options around carbon pricing and incentives, where the government may pay a price per tonne of CO2 captured.

Reforming our planning system

We will make it easier to build better homes where people want to live.

New regulations will give greater freedom for buildings and land in our town centres to change use without planning permission and create new homes from the regeneration of vacant and redundant buildings.

Under the new rules, existing commercial properties, including newly vacant shops, can be converted into residential housing more easily, in a move to kick start the construction industry and speed up rebuilding.

The changes include:

  • More types of commercial premises having total flexibility to be repurposed through reform of the Use Classes Order. A building used for retail, for instance, would be able to be permanently used as a café or office without requiring a planning application and local authority approval. Pubs, libraries, village shops and other types of uses essential to the lifeblood of communities will not be covered by these flexibilities
  • A wider range of commercial buildings will be allowed to change to residential use without the need for a planning application
  • Builders will no longer need a normal planning application to demolish and rebuild vacant and redundant residential and commercial buildings if they are rebuilt as homes
  • Property owners will be able to build additional space above their properties via a fast track approval process, subject to neighbour consultation.
  • These changes, which are planned to come into effect by September, will both support the high street revival by allowing empty commercial properties to be quickly repurposed and reduce the pressure to build on green fields land by making brownfield development easier.

The Prime Minister also announced that work will begin to look at how land owned by the government can be managed more effectively.

Ahead of the Spending Review, a new, ambitious cross-government strategy look at how public sector land can be managed and released so it can be put to better use.

This would include home building, improving the environment, contributing to net zero goals and injecting growth opportunities into communities across the country.

These announcements come alongside a package of measures to support home building across England, including:

  • A £12bn affordable homes programme that will support up to 180,000 new affordable homes for ownership and rent over the next 8 years, confirmed today.
  • Included in the affordable homes programme will be a 1,500 unit pilot of ‘First Homes’: houses that will be sold to first time buyers at a 30% discount which will remain in perpetuity, keeping them affordable for generations of families to own.
  • Funds from the £400m Brownfield Land Fund have today been allocated to the West Midland, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region, Sheffield City Region, North of Tyne and Tees Valley to support around 24,000 homes.
  • The Home Building Fund to help smaller developers access finance for new housing developments will receive additional £450m boost. This is expected to support delivery of around 7,200 new homes.

The government will launch a Policy Paper in July setting out our plan for comprehensive reform of England’s seven-decade old planning system, to introduce a new approach that works better for our modern economy and society.

Strengthening the Union

  • We will take steps to guarantee and enhance our internal market and find new ways to invest in Scotland, Wales, England and NI and focus on “levelling up” our whole country.
  • As above, the Government also intends to bring forward funding to accelerate infrastructure projects in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – working with the devolved administrations to identify where we can get spades in the ground, build our communities, and create jobs faster for citizens across the United Kingdom.
  • The Spending review will create a multi-year, UK-wide Shared Prosperity Fund which will support which will support local economic recovery by driving economic growth and tackling deprivation.
  • We will carry out a review to look at how best to improve road, rail, air and sea links between all parts of the UK to create a more connected kingdom.

Paramedic’s joy of being reunited with daughter following COVID separation

These pictures show the incredible moment a Scottish Ambulance Service paramedic was reunited with his daughter after he chose to live separately to protect his family during the Coronavirus.

Jamie Brannan, 41, of Newburgh, Fife, said he made the decision on March 27 to keep his wife, Louise, and daughter, Jessica, aged six, safe during the peak of COVID-19.

With restrictions eased in Scotland over the last month, Jamie, based at Perth Ambulance Station, decided it was time to come home and was reunited with his daughter on June 10.

Jamie explained: “When we began attending more and more suspected Covid cases, I decided the best thing to do was separate myself from my family. 

“Being reunited with my family was the most amazing feeling. My wife and I have been together for 15 years now, 14 of which we have lived together. So being separated for so long was such a shock to us both.

“But I have to say, and I don’t think my wife will mind me saying, the biggest reward of all was getting that first hug from my daughter. Being able to hold her again was amazing and emotional. It felt as though we had Been separated for years. Moving out was such a difficult decision but it was also the correct one. 

“I’d also like to say I’ve heard many stories from across the service of staff making sacrifices. All with the aim of protecting their loved ones and continuing the amazing work they do every day within the service.”

Two years ago, Louise became very sick with sepsis, which resulted in her slipping into septic shock. Jamie found her unconscious, and after she was rushed to hospital, he was told she would likely die.

While she bravely recovered, she remains immunosuppressed, meaning she has a weakened immune system.

Jamie added: “Thankfully she was strong enough to fight the infection and woke up from an induced coma after 24 hours. However, she remains immunosuppressed so, when we began attending more and more suspected Covid cases, I decided the best thing to do was separate myself from my family.” 

Jamie said he was in a fortunate position where he had a flat to move into, and added: “The flat is in the same village so I was able to have mostly daily visits when I wasn’t on shift.

“Keeping my distance of course and avoiding all contact. I never entered the house and sometimes, if it was raining, I would have to stand outside and talk from the other side of the window. 

“This was by far the hardest aspect of it all – being separated from my family. I remember going to visit for the first time and my daughter ran over to hug me and I had to stop her.

“I can honestly say I’ll never forget the look on her face – one of confusion and sadness. Luckily she grew to understand why I was doing what I was doing and it wasn’t forever.” ​

Care for Carers

Care for Carers package needed to support mental health of 3 million NHS and care staff

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP, Labour’s Shadow Mental Health Minister has called for a shake-up of mental health support to ensure that, for the first time ever, 3.1 million NHS and care workers get the same fast-tracked help and advice.

Labour has designed a new four-stage Care for Carers package to cover all NHS and social care staff in England, including contracted workers such as porters, cleaners and support staff who are doing vital and often distressing work during the coronavirus pandemic and are more likely to be low paid and on insecure contracts.

The package, staffed by paid professionals, includes:

1.   A new national hotline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week

2.   Follow-up support, including specialist assessments and referrals

3.   Intervention and treatment, including specialised PTSD support

4.   Follow-up and sign-posted to external services, such as alcohol and addiction services

Current support available is inadequate because it does not cover private sector staff doing NHS and social care work, and there are long waiting lists and significant regional variations. In some areas, nurses can wait for a year for an appointment. The current Covid-19 support hotline offers emotional support and signposting, but does not lead on to psychological therapies.

Labour is also calling for the Government to appoint a new independent national wellbeing guardian to coordinate and oversee the support, and to hold the Government and NHS employers to account.

The watchdog would work with unions, NHS Trusts, local authorities and care providers to ensure all staff know how to access the scheme and give them the confidence that their wellbeing was being championed and protected.

The pandemic has exacerbated an already grim picture for staff mental health. Almost five million working days were lost to poor mental health in 2019; stress is estimated to account for over 30% of NHS staff absence at a cost of up to £400 million a year; the BMA says 41% of doctors suffer with depression, anxiety, stress and other mental health conditions relating to their work; and more than half of carers say they are emotionally exhausted, according to the IPPR.

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan said: “Even before the pandemic hit, the case for investing in this kind of support was clear. Coronavirus has exacerbated the existing crisis in mental health.

“Many NHS and social care staff have been scared of going to work, and they have lost patients and colleagues. It has been heartbreaking to witness the toll this virus has taken on staff mental health.

“Current support is not good enough, and without a tailored, fast-tracked service for staff who have faced death and despair every day for over three months, our frontline heroes will continue to be failed.

“We need to care for our carers. It is time for the Government to give back to those who have sacrificed so much to keep our loved ones safe. Unless our staff are protected, they cannot continue their vital work of keeping us all safe.”

Unite, the UK and Ireland’s largest union, has welcomed Labour’s demands to provide fast-tracked mental health services for three million NHS and care workers.

The union said Labour’s plans would provide ‘much needed support’ for the mental wellbeing of health and care staff who have faced increased pressures and distress during the pandemic.

Unite national officer Jacalyn Williams said: “These plans would create much needed support for the mental health of NHS and care staff who have faced the brunt of the worst impacts of the pandemic day after day.

“Having lost patients and colleagues, and with the threat of the virus to themselves and their loved ones ever present, it is no surprise that the mental health of staff in the health and social care sector has suffered.

“After years of service cuts, staff shortages and increased workloads, there was already a mental health crisis amongst health and social care workers, but the pandemic has made the situation a lot worse.

“Unite welcomes Labour’s proposals and calls on the government to implement them as soon as possible.”

Commenting on Labour’s plans for a mental health package for NHS and care staff, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Health and care staff have been working under huge pressures over the past few months, while most of us have been safe at home.

“Fears about falling ill, passing the virus on to loved ones or those they care for, and working without adequate safety kit have only added to the stress.

“Even before the pandemic hit, overworked staff were suffering with their mental health. The Covid crisis will only have heightened these problems.

“Health and care workers who’ve been up against it since March, need time off to recharge their batteries and support to help them cope with what they’ve been through.

“A one-size-fits-all approach of occupational health assistance won’t work. Support must be much more tailored to suit individual needs than is currently the case.

“The government needs to get much better at looking after all of those who do so much to look after all of us.”

New bus app for wheelchair users praised by disability charity

Disability Equality Scotland has praised national bus operator First Bus for fast-tracking technology which will enable wheelchair users in Edinburgh to track accessible spaces on their local bus services in ‘real-time’.

The mobile app update, available now, enables customers across the city to view available wheelchair spaces across its fleet. This important innovation makes bus travel easier by tracking wheelchair capacity through an icon that moves across a virtual map.

The update forms part of a fast-tracked investment in the app which has seen First become the first UK bus operator to not only allow bus passengers to live track the location of their next bus, but also show its capacity in ‘real time’.

Emma Scott, Operations Manager at Disability Equality Scotland explained why this is such a welcome improvement for wheelchair users in the area: “We welcome the fast-tracking of the app which will give wheelchair users more confidence to use public transport during these uncertain times.

“By giving wheelchair users this information in an inclusive and accessible way, it allows them to make decisions about whether to wait or find an alternative route.” 

Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director of First Bus in Scotland   said “We are really proud to have been able to fast-track our recent app updates to ensure safe, informed travel during these difficult times.

“Our buses provide an essential service for our customers and we are doing all we can to support them. The app update is aligned with our longstanding pledge to improve the bus experience for our disabled passengers.”

To find out more about what First Bus is doing to support customers during Covid-19, visit https://www.firstgroup.com/help-and-support/coronavirus-information

If  customers are exempt from Government face covering guidelines, First Bus have journey assistance cards available to download from https://www.firstgroup.com/help-and-support/extra-help-travel.

Filmhouse needs you!

With a September opening in its sights, the Filmhouse has launched a fundraising campaign to support its return. It is asking people to donate £40, the cost of an annual membership, to raise the £60,000 needed to secure its future.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/filmhouse

Filmhouse has undertaken a survey of its members and regular attenders to understand the many complex issues and concerns that they would have in returning, but which has also unlocked a huge outpouring of support for it.

Juliet Tweedie, Head of Development for Filmhouse said: “We have all been so touched by the outpouring of love and support for Filmhouse since we closed our doors in March.

“The last three months have been very challenging. We have been very lucky to be able to access support from Creative Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Government and the UK Government through the furlough scheme.

“Even with this support to help with the immediate financial strain, we anticipate that as well as a reduction in admissions when we do re-open, due to constraints on capacity in the building and changing habits of customers, we will have to invest hard cash into making the building safe and navigable for our customers and staff.

“We need your help to secure our future, so that we can continue our work as Scotland’s leading independent cinema and a hugely active charity in the city. We are a vital part of our community, and we don’t want to give up any of it.

“We recognise that this is a time of uncertainty, and other charities may be approaching you for help. We are so grateful for any donations, however large or small, and thank you for thinking of us.”

Filmhouse isn’t just a cinema. It is a charity and a community hub for film lovers across Edinburgh and the Lothians. As Scotland’s largest independent cinema, it screens over 850 wonderful films, seasons and special programmes to 200,000 people every year.

Its film education programme is attended by over 10,000 school children each year, and it seeks to inspire young film lovers through its Young Programmers initiative. Its Senior Selections programme brings together older audiences at risk of isolation.

And its Café Bar is a much-loved community space, where its famous nachos and chickpea curry have been keeping the city well-fed for over 20 years! It supports cultural programmes and partners throughout the city, and is proud to have over 5,000 members.

Independent cinemas across the UK are facing a huge challenge to reopen. Despite recent government announcements around the reopening of cinemas and the projected Phase 3 return in Scotland, the recent survey by the Independent Cinema Office found that the challenges of social distancing measures and the need for significantly reduced audience sizes means that reopening may not be viable for many.

The Filmhouse has set up a Go Fund Me page:

 https://www.gofundme.com/f/filmhouse 

which can be accessed directly or through its website or social media channels.

Alternatively, you can send a cheque to Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9BZ.

Help shape the new vision for Edinburgh’s parks and Greenspaces

The city council is leading on a project to develop a new vision for the Capital’s green spaces which will ensure their ongoing enhancement, protection and care – and they want your views.

The Thriving Green Spaces project will shape an ambitious new vision for Edinburgh’s natural environment and produce a 30-year strategy and action plan to deliver that vision. 

The next stage for the project team is to ask residents and visitors how they use our parks and green spaces and, importantly, what their aspirations are for them. Launched yesterday, the team have three short, interactive surveys for anyone who lives or works in Edinburgh. 

How do you use and what do you think of Edinburgh’s green and blue spaces?

Active commuting in Edinburgh

Using quiet routes after dark 

These surveys have been developed with the help of a number of masters students from the Landscape and Wellbeing programme at the University of Edinburgh, one of the partners working with the Council on this project. 

The project has been made possible by a £899,500 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and the Natural Trust (NT), who have joined together to provide funding to local authorities to enable them to develop bold and innovative financial and management solutions for their green spaces against a backdrop of financial uncertainty. 

Alongside the Council, bid partners are: Greenspace Scotland, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust, University of Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Green Spaces Forum (the umbrella group for Edinburgh’s friends of parks groups). 

City of Edinburgh Council Parks Leader and Project Champion, Amy McNeese Mechan, said: “Edinburgh is already a wonderfully green city – the UK’s greenest, in fact – and we want to ensure it remains that way for generations to come.

“Thanks to this much-sought-after funding we’ve been able to get to work on our approach to this challenge. I’m excited that we are ready to launch this stage of the project and open dialogue with the public, together with our partners, to explore what it means to be a thriving green city.

“The data gathered in these surveys will be key information which we will use to inform the new 30-year strategy for the Capital’s parks and greenspaces. It will determine how we change and adapt the ways in which we manage our outdoor spaces, to make sure that they continue to play an active role in delivering benefits in areas such as health and wellbeing, active travel, biodiversity, recreation and social cohesion.

“I would encourage everyone to learn more about the project through the website and share your views in our surveys.” 

Dave Gorman, Director of Social Responsibility and Sustainability at University of Edinburgh, said: “The Covid19 emergency has demonstrated in the most tangible way possible the vital importance of nature and green space for everyone’s health and wellbeing.

“We are delighted to support this ground-breaking project as it moves into its public dialogue phase. I’m particularly pleased to see that our students and staff are supporting the work and urge people to take the chance to give their views.” 

Simon Bell and Catharine Ward Thompson, of the OPENspace Research Centre at University of Edinburgh, said: “We are very pleased that we can contribute, especially to the three surveys being launched today which are also part of research being carried out by masters students on our Landscape and Wellbeing programme.

“We want to help ensure that the health and well-being of the citizens of Edinburgh and those who work and visit here can be promoted through the provision of the best green and blue spaces the city can offer in the long term.” 

John Kerr of Edinburgh Green Spaces Forum said: “There is an army of volunteers across the city who work alongside the Council to support our parks, green spaces and cemeteries.

“They are passionate about our green spaces, and now, as more people begin to realise how important these green spaces are to the health and wellbeing of all our residents and visitors, they look forward to this project creating a sustainable long term environment for managing and supporting our green spaces into the future.”

Blueprint for economic recovery

Scotland sets out ‘bold and practical’ proposals

A UK-wide £80 billion stimulus package should be created to regenerate the economy and reduce inequalities following the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a new Scottish Government report proposes.

The package could finance a temporary reduction in VAT and move the tourism and hospitality industries onto a reduced VAT rate of five per cent.

A two pence cut in employers’ National Insurance Contributions to reduce the cost of hiring staff is also recommended in the report, entitled COVID-19: UK Fiscal Path – A New Approach.

Other action it proposes the UK Government should take to kick-start the economy includes:

  • introduce a jobs guarantee scheme for young people and extend sector-specific employment and business support schemes
  • create a National Debt Plan to help business and household budgets recover from the effects of the pandemic
  • adopt new fiscal rules which prioritise economic stimulus over deficit reduction in times of crisis
  • accelerate major investment in low‑carbon initiatives, energy efficiency and digital infrastructure
  • extend Scotland’s financial powers to allow it to shape its own response to the pandemic

The report was launched yesterday by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes.

Ms Forbes said: “We are emerging from the biggest economic shock of our lifetimes. It has hit the most vulnerable in our society disproportionately and presents challenges that the Scottish Government does not currently have the powers to meet. 

“The UK Government’s fiscal policies are still key in determining our budget, so today we set out the principles we believe it should follow to ensure we emerge with a fairer, greener economy that values wellbeing alongside growth.  

“This report recommends bold, practical steps which would provide an immediate boost to our economy, protect existing jobs and deliver new ones. It tackles public debt, employment and proposes measures to further support business. Crucially, it avoids any return to austerity. Economic stimulus must be prioritised over deficit reduction until the recovery has fully taken hold.

“Germany has already adopted a similar-size stimulus package, representing four per cent of GDP, and the UK Government needs to be similarly positive, proactive and ambitious.

“Action is needed now. If the UK Government is not prepared to respond then Scotland must have the additional financial powers required to secure a sustainable economic recovery.

“Without those powers we will be at a severe disadvantage to other nations. It would be like trying to chart our way to recovery with one hand tied behind our back.”

COVID-19: UK Fiscal Path – A New Approach is published online. 

180 children protected from online abuse

One hundred offenders have been arrested in the past six months and 180 children have been protected as a result of Police Scotland investigations into online child abuse.

Officers from Police Scotland’s Internet Investigations Unit have prepared over 350 National Online Child Abuse Prevention (NOCAP) packages since January.

NOCAP packages provide intelligence and evidence which underpins investigations carried out by both Police Scotland’s National Child Abuse Investigations Unit and local policing divisions to identify and apprehend online child abusers.

Assistant Chief Constable Duncan Sloan, Major Crime and Public Protection lead for Police Scotland, said: “Online child sexual abuse is a national threat with advancements in technology, online functions and platforms giving predators ever evolving opportunity to target children. “Behind every downloaded image, every attempt to groom or to extort, is a child being victimised by a faceless predator.

“As today’s figures show, predators are not anonymous. Every action leaves a trace, and we will work with our partners, nationally and internationally, to track you down.“You will be caught and you risk losing everything.

“Tackling online child abuse is a priority. We draw on specialist resources from across our organisation to gather intelligence, to carry out digital forensic examinations and to support our investigations.

“And we will continue to improve our response: investing resources, using the latest technologies and taking action to identify and apprehend those who pose a threat to our children.”

Police Scotland works with a wide range of partners, nationally and internationally, and from all sectors including law enforcement agencies, internet service providers and third sector organisations, to identify perpetrators, to tackle the threat and to build safer online communities.

A safe return to campus

Guidance maps out full reopening of Scottish campuses.

New guidance has been published to help Scotland’s colleges and universities prepare for a safe and phased return to campus.

The guidance has been developed in partnership with colleges, universities, the Scottish Funding Council, trades unions and student bodies.

Institutions are planning for a phased return with a blended model of remote and limited on-campus learning in Phase 3 of the Scottish Government’s route map.

Essential preparations can already take place, while on-campus university research and home moves for student accommodation can resume from 29 June, 2020.

Further and Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead said: “Scotland’s colleges and universities are working hard to ensure the safest possible environment for staff and students returning to campus.

“This guidance will support institutions to do that by setting out clear expectations and practical approaches to public health and health and safety, including physical distancing.

“Throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, Scotland’s colleges and universities have been at the forefront of supporting the country, most visibly in supporting the NHS and social care sectors.

“That has included thousands of students joining the health and social care workforce, the contribution of staff, equipment and resources to COVID-19 testing capacity, and the refocusing of existing research capacity to address the pandemic across medical, engineering and other disciplines – as well as community efforts to support the most vulnerable members of society.

“The flexibility colleges and universities have shown so far has demonstrated that they are well-equipped to provide a safe environment for staff and students while supporting their students in their studies and ensuring the highest quality of learning and teaching.”

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-colleges/

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-universities/

Air Bridges: Scotland considers it’s own response to quarantine

Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the media briefing in St Andrew’s House on Monday 29 June:

Good afternoon everyone and thank you for joining us. Before I move on to today’s update on Covid, I want to say just a few words about Friday’s knife attack in the city of Glasgow.

During the briefing on Friday, I commented on what an exceptional job our police service was doing in enforcing proportionately and sensitively the lockdown restrictions.

But Friday afternoon reminded us of another side of the police’s duties – it reminded us that in order to protect all of us, the public, our police officers so often run towards danger, despite the risk to themselves.

Now we are considering what further lessons need to be learned from what happened on Friday – Aileen Campbell, the Communities Secretary, is discussing the safety and wellbeing of asylum seekers in a phone call with the UK Government later today.

But for the moment, I simply want to take this opportunity to thank all of the police officers involved in dealing with Friday’s attack – they showed outstanding courage, dedication and professionalism. And through that undoubtedly avoided a very serious situation indeed becoming even worse.

I also want to praise our medical services, including of course the Scottish Ambulance Service, for providing such effective care so quickly to those affected by the attack.

And my thoughts are very much with Constable David Whyte (above), and with everyone harmed in Friday’s incident. I hope all six people injured make a full and speedy recovery – my best wishes go to them and to their loved ones.

Now, let me start the Covid part of the briefing by providing my usual update on the most recent statistics.

I can report today, that an additional 5 positive cases were confirmed yesterday – which takes the total now in Scotland to 18,241 confirmed cases.

A total of 740 patients are currently in hospital with the virus – either confirmed or suspected. That is 38 fewer than yesterday overall, and there has been no change since yesterday in the number of confirmed cases in hospital.

A total of 10 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected Covid and that is 3 fewer than yesterday.

Since 5 March, a total of 4,051 patients who had tested positive for the virus and required hospital treatment have now been able to leave hospital.

And in the past 24 hours, I’m pleased to report that no deaths were registered of a patient confirmed through a test as having Covid-19 – the total number of deaths in Scotland, under that measurement, therefore remains at 2,482.

This is the fourth day in a row when no deaths of patients confirmed through a test have been recorded in Scotland.

Now of course two of these days have been weekends, and we know that registration can be artificially low at weekends and we may see more deaths registered later this week.

But there is no doubt that these recent figures demonstrate beyond any doubt how much progress Scotland has made in tackling Covid. That is down to the efforts and sacrifices of everyone across the country and I want again to say a heartfelt thank you to all of you for that.

Our challenge now, and it is a big challenge, and it will again depend on the efforts of all of us – is to continue that progress, while at the same time reopening more of our economy, restarting more of our public services, and seeing more of our family and friends.

And of course – the tally of total deaths that I have reported is a constant reminder, and should continue to be a constant reminder, of the human toll of this virus and why our efforts to contain, control and hopefully eliminate it are so important.

Everyone who has died due to this illness was a unique and irreplaceable individual, whose loss right now is a source of grief to many. I want again today to send my deepest condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one as a result of COVID-19.

And again let me express my thanks to our health and our care workers and indeed to all our key workers – the progress we have made to date is in no small part due to your dedication. The entire country is grateful to you for everything you have done, and indeed, everything you continue to do.

I have two key points I want to briefly update on today. The first relates to public finances and the economy – and I am joined today by Kate Forbes, the Finance Secretary.

Today – and I will return to this briefly at the end of my remarks – we are seeing the reopening of significant parts of our economy. And later this afternoon, I will be discussing how we continue that restart safely and sustainably, at one of the Scottish Government’s regular meetings with the Scottish Trades Union Congress.

In addition, the Scottish Government has published a paper today, which puts forward some hopefully constructive proposals for how the UK as a whole can and needs to stimulate economic growth in a way that is both fair and sustainable.

The paper proposes an £80 billion stimulus programme – roughly comparable in ambition to the one Germany has recently adopted – and it has a particular focus on investment in low carbon and digital infrastructure. Our proposals would also provide an employment guarantee for young people.

We are also suggesting a temporary cut in VAT to boost consumption – with especially low rates for our hospitality and tourism sectors because they have been particularly hard hit and are likely to be hit for even longer than some other parts of our economy.

And alongside those UK-wide proposals, we propose that Scotland should gain greater financial powers – for example over borrowing – so that we can shape our own response to the economic implications of the pandemic.

The economic crisis caused by COVID-19 is undoubtedly the most serious of our lifetimes. The Scottish Government’s proposals are therefore ambitious, but also practical, and sustainable – and we believe they would benefit not just Scotland but the whole of the UK.

Central to them is the strong belief that the austerity mistake of the post financial crash period must not be repeated and that debt must be managed over a longer time period. We hope that these proposals will be considered seriously – and we will of course happily discuss the details of them with the UK Government. 

The second issue I want to talk about is the issue of air bridges.

The UK Government made its announcement on what are called air bridges – which allow travel to and from certain countries without quarantine restrictions – unfortunately without any prior consultation at all with the Scottish Government.

As a result, we are still considering our response and our own proposals. The Justice Secretary, Humza Yousaf, was part of a four-way phone discussion with Michael Gove and the other devolved administrations earlier today. 

This is an issue on which we have tried very hard to work closely with the UK Government and other devolved administrations. And we can and do of course see the benefits of adopting a consistent approach across all parts of the UK.

However, we also know that quarantine measures – albeit perhaps on a more targeted basis in future – may become more important in Scotland, rather than less, as our infection rates fall, since then the relative impact of new cases from outside Scotland potentially become greater.

And of course the prospect of cases coming in from elsewhere poses a risk, not just to health but also to our economy.

We therefore want to take a bit of time to consider the public health impact of the UK Government’s proposals as well as the data and evidence underpinning them, which hopefully we will see before too long, and we will make a further announcement once we have had the opportunity to do so.

The final point I want to make relates once again to our key public health measures.

As I said earlier on, today sees a significant resumption of activity in key public services and in our economy. Optometry services for example are now resuming and, from today, women who had a cervical cancer screening scheduled before that service was paused can contact their GP to arrange a new appointment.

In terms of the economy many factories, warehouses and laboratories can now reopen, the construction sector can move to the next phase of its reopening plan, house moves can also resume.

And of course, most non-essential retail premises are able to reopen from today with appropriate physical distancing measures in place.

We’re also recommending that everyone should wear a face covering in a shop, unless for example you have a medical condition which makes that difficult.

But I would strongly urge everyone else to wear a face covering. It is a way in which you can protect other people, you’re less likely to transmit the virus to them if you are waiting one, and everyone else who is wearing a face covering is, in turn, helping to protect you.

I know that wearing face coverings takes some getting used to but please get into the habit of it now because it does add to the protections we want to confer on each other, and it is one measure that helps us to reduce the risk of the transmission of COVID-19.

This gradual reopening of our economy and our public services is of course very welcome and it has been very hard-earned by everybody across the country.

And of course the figures I’ve just reported demonstrate once again just how much progress we have made in recent weeks, but please don’t think because of this that life should be completely back to normal, or that the risk of COVID has somehow disappeared. It has not disappeared, the virus has not gone away.

There are still, as I reported today, hundreds of people in Scotland in hospital as a result of the virus, there are still new people becoming infected every day.

And, although those numbers are low, this is a virus that we know is still highly infectious and very dangerous, and it will start to spread rapidly again if we give it the opportunity to do so.

So please, even as we all go out and about more and do more things, do not give it that opportunity to spread. Our public health campaign, FACTS, summarises the key points that all of us need to remember and to abide by.

Firstly, face coverings should be worn in enclosed spaces such as shops, they are already mandatory on public transport.

Second, avoid crowded places – crowded places are a danger, even if they are outdoors.

Third, clean your hands and hard surfaces that you touch regularly.

Fourth, two-metre distancing remains the advice.

And lastly, self-isolate and immediately book a test if you have any of the symptoms of COVID-19.

If all of us remember these five basic measures, then all of us can help to stay safe ourselves, help to protect others and, ultimately help to save lives.

So please continue to do all of that and to stick with these rules. If you do we can and we will sustain the progress we’ve all made.

My thanks again to everyone who is doing that.

I hope it is becoming clearer with every day that passes what a difference it is all making and why it is important to continue with that discipline.

Thank you very much indeed for listening. I’m going to hand now to the Finance Secretary to say a few words before we move on to questions.