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Efforts continue to get Scotland moving and back to work on Monday Scottish government warns employers over snow days pay docking
(about 1 hour later)
Efforts are continuing to get Scotland moving again after last week's weather disruption. Scottish ministers are considering action against employers for docking the wages of staff who could not make it to work because of the bad weather.
As roads become passable and communities work to clear their areas, the railways are getting gradually back to usual service. The public was advised not to travel during the worst of the snow last week.
ScotRail said on Sunday morning on a "near normal service" was running across the country. Scottish Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said he had been contacted by people who were facing disciplinary action or potential docking of wages.
On the west coast main line, there are still no trains between Carlisle and Scotland, with replacement buses. He told the BBC that was not acceptable and he would look at the legal position.
The Scottish government urged people to heed travel warnings while preparing to start a normal working week on Monday. His comments came as efforts continue to get Scotland moving again after the weather disruption.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney praised the "super-human" efforts of those working in public services and community volunteers who have worked hard to restore normality to the country. The main trunk roads are operational, as are the airports, and the railways are getting gradually back to usual service.
He told BBC Scotland: "We would encourage people as the country gets back into the normal working week on Monday and as our schools come back as we expect most of them to do, to just pay heed to the travel advice. ScotRail said on Sunday morning a "near-normal service" was running across the country.
"That is the key thing that's happened this week. People around the country have followed the travel advice that has been issued and generally we have managed to address a very difficult situation with enormous patience and cooperation from members of the public. On the west coast main line, there were still no trains between Carlisle and Scotland, with replacement buses running.
"I would just encourage people to follow the travel advice and all the information available from their individual local authorities, and if we get back into the rhythm of the week in that way it will be to the benefit of all." On Wednesday into Thursday, Scotland ground to a halt with a red weather warning in place and people told not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
A Met Office yellow "be aware" warning for snow and ice is in force until Monday. This covers most of central, south and east Scotland, as well as Caithness and the Northern Isles. Speaking on the BBC's Sunday Politics Scotland programme, Mr Yousaf said: "I'd be extremely, extremely disappointed if employers chose to dock wages for somebody because they couldn't travel during the red weather warning."
Temperatures are unlikely to rise until well into next week. He said he had received emails from a number of people who were "facing disciplinary or potential docking of wages".
He added: "Now that's just simply not an acceptable situation, when the government and the police and other agencies joined together to give very crisp, very clear advice."
Asked what action Mr Yousaf might take against employers, he responded: "I don't know the legal position, but it will clearly be part of the debrief that we have after we pass through the yellow weather warning, which is late Monday night."
The minister said the process would involve "talking to employers and having that dialogue with them, and internally looking at what powers we have is clearly part of the discussion we're going to have".
Meanwhile, a Met Office yellow "be aware" warning for snow and ice remains in force until Monday. This covers most of central, south and east Scotland, as well as Caithness and the Northern Isles.
ScotRail said on Sunday morning: "A massive thank you to everyone at the ScotRail Alliance that worked tirelessly day and night to get Scotland's railway back up and running."ScotRail said on Sunday morning: "A massive thank you to everyone at the ScotRail Alliance that worked tirelessly day and night to get Scotland's railway back up and running."
Virgin Trains still has no services running between Carlisle and Scotland on the west coast main line and said it did not expect services to resume on Sunday. It is offering a limited replacement bus service.Virgin Trains still has no services running between Carlisle and Scotland on the west coast main line and said it did not expect services to resume on Sunday. It is offering a limited replacement bus service.
On the east coast route, Virgin said it hoped to run a "near-normal Sunday timetable" said but passengers were urged to only travel if necessary as trains would be busy. On the east coast route, Virgin said it hoped to run a "near-normal Sunday timetable" but passengers were urged to travel only if necessary as trains would be busy.
Airports and trunk roads were operating "business as usual".
On Saturday, communities answered a call from the Scottish government to work together to clear local areas.On Saturday, communities answered a call from the Scottish government to work together to clear local areas.
"Armies" of parent volunteers are also being mobilised to try to get schools ready for Monday morning."Armies" of parent volunteers are also being mobilised to try to get schools ready for Monday morning.
Many schools contacted parents via social media asking for help to clear paths and playgrounds to make them safe for pupils to return.Many schools contacted parents via social media asking for help to clear paths and playgrounds to make them safe for pupils to return.
Hundreds of thousands of children have not been in the classroom since Tuesday due to extreme weather.Hundreds of thousands of children have not been in the classroom since Tuesday due to extreme weather.
Parents and teachers have already been working to clean up snow from school grounds to allow them to reopen on Monday.Parents and teachers have already been working to clean up snow from school grounds to allow them to reopen on Monday.
At Kinnaird Primary School in Larbert more than 100 volunteers answered a call for help on Saturday to clear paths and entrances with similar events across Scotland organised for Sunday.At Kinnaird Primary School in Larbert more than 100 volunteers answered a call for help on Saturday to clear paths and entrances with similar events across Scotland organised for Sunday.
Other schools posted appeals for volunteers to gather at specific times to get grounds cleared.Other schools posted appeals for volunteers to gather at specific times to get grounds cleared.
Most councils who were forced to close schools last week are aiming to reopen facilities after the weekend, weather depending.Most councils who were forced to close schools last week are aiming to reopen facilities after the weekend, weather depending.
A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "While weather conditions are improving we would encourage parents to check weather forecasts and travel advice, and keep in close contact with local authorities to monitor whether schools and services are open on Monday."
The Scottish government has also opened the Bellwin Scheme, set up to help councils who face large costs from damage due to the severe weather.The Scottish government has also opened the Bellwin Scheme, set up to help councils who face large costs from damage due to the severe weather.
Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said: "Although we expect to have seen the worst of the severe weather, we're aware there remains a flooding risk in some areas as the snow melts."