Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

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Folk musician and composer Phil Cunningham is concerned people may be reluctant to return to concerts once lockdown measures are lifted.

He tells BBC Radio Scotland that he is "staying creative" at home but doesn't think he'll be playing live again this year, with the music industry likely to be at the back of the queue as society gradually reopens.

He says: "The worry is even when we are allowed to perform again will audiences want to sit next to each other?

"It's going to take a lot of faith and trust."

Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

Amendments to the Coronavirus Bill which will ensure companies based in tax-havens aren't given government bail-outs during the Covid-19 outbreak have been agreed.

MSPs will now debate the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Bill , externalfor the final time.

The final vote will take place at roughly 6.40pm.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

It is understandable that so many people in Scotland are suffering lockdown "fatigue", says Dr Catherine Lido, a senior lecturer in psychology at Glasgow University,

She explains that it is really difficult to reinforce a "black and white message" like stay at home over an extended period.

"Maybe the stay a home message was too simple. All or nothing messages can't hold in the long term," she tells BBC Radio Scotland.

"In general, we want to be part of a group and we want to be doing the right thing. But we are social animals, we need contact. Moving forward we need some common sense rules. It's not as simple as stay at home or flock on to the beach with everybody."

Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

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The newspaper sector is to benefit from business rates relief.

MSPs voted 41 to 38 to ensure premises which are used for newspaper production or related news platforms will benefit from a 1.6% reduction of the daily gross rates.

Those speaking in favour said this would help local newspapers in particular, who are struggling as a result of a drop in advertising.

Constitution Secretary Mike Russell spoke against the move, pointing to cash being provided through advertising from the government and warning the rates relief would benefit bigger organisations more.

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Falkirk Council has awarded £3.6m to a project designed to transform teaching in the local authority.

The investment will be used to buy "learning devices" for children, strengthen schools' digital infrastructure and connectivity and train up teachers.

Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn said: “Our current situation has highlighted the important role this project plays in enabling our young people to continue their learning, whether at home or in a school.

"This initial investment will allow us to quickly improve connectivity in our schools and, more importantly, provide equity of access to learning devices, which gives greater flexibility as and when schools begin to re-open.”

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

"There is fear and uncertainty at the moment and I worry that when furlough comes to an end the uncertainty will remain and that fear will turn to anger, with so many people losing their jobs."

That is the rather grim forecast of Labour Peer Lord Willie Haughey, who talks of a "tsunami of unemployment" to come.

He warns that the "world is not going to be the same for a long time", with hospitality, leisure and travel all hit hard.

"When the dust settles on this, we need to be bold and brave and more than anything we need to be fast," he tells BBC Radio Scotland. "Every city in Britain will be competing against each other.

"There needs to be planning behind the scenes so we are ready to kick start the economy whenever it is safe to do so."

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A further 363 deaths have been recorded across the UK in the past 24 hours, UK Culture Oliver Dowden has said.

That takes the number of those testing positive who have died so far, according to Department of Health figures, to 35,704, although it is widely accepted that the overall figure is much higher.

The culture secretary also says 177,216 tests were carried out in the past 24 hours.

That’s the biggest daily total to date and a huge increase on yesterday’s figure of just below 100,000.

This, however, does not correspond to the number of people actually tested as some individuals are tested more than once.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

The number of people dying with coronavirus in Scotland has fallen for the third consecutive week.

The 1,623 deaths recorded in care homes since the start of the pandemic is only just behind the 1,664 deaths that have occurred in hospitals.

Approximately half of all deaths have been in the 85 and over age group.

"The reduction is extremely welcome," says Sheila Bird, an honorary professor at the University of Edinburgh and former head of the Biostatistics Unit at Cambridge.

"I'd be fairly confident that come the end of May we would be registering fewer than 100 Covid-mentioned deaths in the under 85 category, but it will take a little bit longer in the older age group."

Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

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MSPs have voted to create a social care staff support fund.

It will provide financial support to staff whose hours have been restricted or income reduced as a result of coronavirus.

Concern had previously been expressed that some carers were having to choose between going into work while ill or losing income because they would be placed on statutory sick pay.

Labour MSP Monica Lennon, who proposed the fund, said: "We need to look after the carers who are looking after the most vulnerable."

Image source, AFP

We’re expecting the UK government's daily coronavirus press conference to get underway imminently.

For the first time, it will be led by UK Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, whose brief includes oversight of charities and sport.

Alongside him will be Stephen Powis, national medical director at NHS England.

You can follow live updates here.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Dundee surgeon Rod Mountain explains how he got together with a local textile producer to manufacture 5,000 sets of scrubs.

"We needed the scrubs in a matter of weeks because the supply chain had dried up," the Ear, Nose and Throat specialist from Ninewell's Hospital told BBC Radio Scotland.

"I first reached out to a friend in the textile department at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design and she said 'we can do it but we can't get the material'.

"Then she put me in touch with Jimmy Campbell at Halley and there was an instant response. He managed to get the factory fired up again.

"I've lived here for 20 years and didn't know we had a company in the city providing high quality water repellent cotton for Barbour jackets. The scrubs are being worn in the wards now."

Mr Campbell adds that his company were able to unfurlough seven staff as a result and are now supplying two NHS boards in England.

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The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has given the four NHS IVF Centres in Scotland approval to reopen.

This means that clinics can now work with NHS Scotland to ensure all services are able to resume in a safe and timely way.

IVF treatment was paused in all NHS and private facilities across the UK in March as a precautionary measure and all new treatments were banned due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chief Executive of the Fertility Network Gwenda Burns said: “This has been an extremely difficult and distressing time for patients and we welcome the news that clinics have approval to resume services by the HFEA.

"We are working closely with clinics and the Scottish government to ensure that treatment can start as soon as possible while providing a safe service to patients with all the necessary precautions in place.”

Press Association

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Alister Jack has defended travelling to answer questions in the House of Commons, amid claims he has ignored Scottish government coronavirus advice.

SNP MP Allan Dorans asked the Scottish Secretary to explain the justification for his round trip from his Dumfries and Galloway constituency to appear at the despatch box in Westminster.

He accused Mr Jack of "ignoring Scottish government guidelines to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives" when he could have worked safely from home.

Mr Jack replied: "Members of Parliament are key workers, but more importantly, as a cabinet minister and a Secretary of State, it is right that I should be here in the chamber so I can be properly scrutinised and answer these questions.

"I came down at the weekend, I travelled on a train very safely, I will return safely and I will be isolating myself when I do - but that is only because I go back to family."

MPs are able to contribute to proceedings via Zoom although the government is seeking to end this from June 2.

Douglas Fraser
Scotland business & economy editor

The average house transaction price in Scotland rose 1.5% in the year to March, according to Registers of Scotland. That took the average transaction to £151,900.

Prices rose at more than 10% in the Scottish Borders area, and fell by 3.5% in Aberdeen.

The monthly publication of figures is being suspended, because so few home sales are taking place during the lockdown.

The Scottish Building Society says the market could recover quickly if incentives are put in place, including a suspension of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax.

Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

MSPs are debating the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Bill, external for the final time. Concerns about evictions continue to be raised.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart says: "We are looking now at how we move forward after the emergency period because we want to ensure that we safeguard people in their homes and make them as secure as possible."

He says landlords are expected to be flexible if their tenants are facing financial hardship.

Green Andy Wightman argues that after the emergency period, there is nothing to stop landlords pursuing tenants for eviction due to arrears accrued because of coronavirus.

You can follow the debate and voting on the Stage 3 (amendments) to the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Bill with us here on this live page, you'll need:

• First Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 3, external
• First Groupings of Amendments for Stage 3, external

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

On Drivetime with John Beattie this afternoon...

• Coronavirus deaths have fallen for the third week in a row. Are we nearing the end of this outbreak? Does Scotland now have the strictest lockdown in Europe?
• On the hottest day of the year so far, we've been back to the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow, where police are moving sunbathers on.
• The boss of Marks and Spencer says shopping will never be the same again. So we're asking - how will it be?

Listen on this live page or on BBC Radio Scotland.

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The Scottish government’s Business Support Fund has been increased by £40m to provide additional support for key sectors of the Scottish economy.

Included in the extra money is £10m for tourism and hospitality.

Economy secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "These funds are supporting businesses the length and breadth of Scotland and continue our commitment to ensure every penny of the additional business money that has come to Scotland is passed on to support our economy."

Giancarlo Rinaldi
South Scotland reporter, BBC news website

Image source, The People of Moniaive

A comic book writer is helping a village mount a "fightback" against the economic impact of the coronavirus.

Alan Grant - who is known for his work on Judge Dredd and Batman - lives in Moniaive, in Dumfries and Galloway.

He has helped dozens of local residents to produce their own comic chronicling their struggles with Covid-19.

It is being sold to help generate funds for Revitalise Moniaive, which was set up to sustain businesses and boost the village's economy.

Read more here.