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I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, SPS introduced a number of significant restrictions on prison regimes to protect the health and well-being of all those who live and work in our prisons. These restrictions have impacted on the number of Purposeful Activity (PA) hours that each establishment has been able to deliver.

The table below details the average number of PA hours that individuals in custody engaged in each public sector establishment, between March 2020 and January 2021. Data for February 2021 has not yet been verified.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The following tables detail the (a) average occupancy (b) Design Capacity and (c) the occupancy rate of each prison over the preceding 12 months.

The occupancy rate and the Design Capacity rate are the average for each calendar month. The current single cell occupancy rate across the estate is 71%.

MARCH 2020

The National Wellbeing and Engagement Survey launched on 2 March 2021 and is in 2 parts. Part A is open for four weeks and closes on 30 March. Part B launches on 6 April for a further 3 weeks and then closes on 27 April.

Results are expected to be available on a national level by the end of June, followed by further detail by the end of July.

We understand that results will not be directly comparable to the 2015 survey, but will allow for some comparison across themes and with other forces. The survey is being delivered in partnership with Durham Business School who lead on Collaborative Research in Policing. In the past seven years their research has grown and now involves thirty eight forces across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the BTP and MDP. This is recognised as the most relevant comparator available.

As part of our regular dialogue with BT, we explore opportunities to accelerate work, wherever and whenever possible. However, delivery ahead of contractual milestones is ultimately a matter for BT to determine.

16 new subsea cables will connect to 15 Scottish islands including Colonsay, Iona and Lismore in Argyll and Bute, Eigg in the Highlands, Eday, Flotta, Hoy, Rousay, Sanday, Shapinsay and Stronsay in Orkney, and Fair Isle, Unst, Whalsey and Yell in Shetland. There will also be a cable laid between Sanday and Fair Isle. A news release on the deployment of these cables can be found on the Scottish Government website at .

As outlined in response to question S5W-36109 on 23 March 2021 from Lewis Macdonald, we have committed to provide Openreach with the finalised speed and coverage template (or SCT) no later than 31 March 2021 to allow them to finalise their coverage footprint. We expect that this remodelling exercise will conclude in April/May 2021, after which it will be subject to rigorous review through our own governance and assurance structures, and those of Building Digital UK (BDUK).

We expect the full picture across the North lot contract area to be available by Summer 2021. The roll-out of R100 build in the North lot – and the associated survey work – will be completed in phases, and build plans will be reflected in our online checker at scotlandsuperfast.com.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at

The Scottish Budget that was agreed on 8 March 2021 includes a commitment to extending free bus travel to those living in Scotland under age 22. We will carry out an Island Communities Impact Assessment on the new free bus scheme before it comes into operation.

We are considering ferry fares policy options through our ongoing review of concessionary travel arrangements across all modes for under 26 year olds and through the Islands Connectivity Plan.

Following the announcement of Forth Valley as the first innovation hub in 16 September 2020, the Scotland 5G Centre (S5GC) has confirmed that its second innovation hub will be located in Dundee. This new hub is a partnership between S5GC, Abertay University, Dundee City Council and the Scottish Futures Trust. Its aim is to accelerate innovation and investment across the games, virtual reality and interactive entertainment sectors and support the co-development of solutions for sectors such as healthcare and manufacturing.

Discussions are progressing with potential host institutions around Scotland and we will continue to announce more locations as they are finalised.

The number of devices allocated to each local authority through the Connecting Scotland Programme Phase One is provided in Table 1 and Phase Two in Table 2. The Scottish Government agreed the approach to allocation with COSLA.

The number of devices awarded by local authorities for distribution to customers in their respective areas are also contained in the tables. Decisions on awards are made by assessment panels in each area, comprising an SCVO account manager and local authority representatives. Once all 32 assessment panels have made decisions in each round, any remaining devices are redistributed between under and oversubscribed areas.

Table 1 - Phase 1

The Minister for Public Health and I met with island ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ on‎ 26 February to discuss the potential for, and implications of, pre-travel testing for our islands.

We have to consider testing options alongside the many other layers of protection we now have against this virus. In addition to vaccination, there is currently a ban on all non-essential travel. Under current 'Stay at Home' guidance, all travel to our islands must be avoided, except for essential reasons.

As we return to the levels approach, there will continue to be restrictions on travel for those living in high prevalence areas.

However, testing will continue to play a critical role in suppressing COVID-19, and its value in spotting cases early to break chains of transmission and prevent new outbreaks will only increase as the number of cases drops overall.

Following the successful trials of Community Testing in December, we wrote to all NHS Boards and local authorities inviting them to submit proposals for meeting the needs of their community through our community testing programme.

We are working with NHS Shetland, NHS Orkney, and their respective local authorities to develop their proposals that address the testing requirements of island communities.

These proposals are yet to be confirmed but could include additional testing of staff travelling to the islands to work with vulnerable people in health and social care, or regular asymptomatic testing of some island workplaces to reduce the risks associated with visiting staff.

The most recent recruitment figures were published on the Scottish Government website ( ) on 15 March. This sets out the number of Whole Time Equivalent posts recruited to as 1 January 2021.

Prior to the pandemic, we collected and reported these figures on a quarterly basis. In recognition of the impact that the pandemic response has had on services, we have moved to a 6 monthly collection and will keep this under review.

The next collection is due to take place during July 2021.