The first item of business is general question time. Question 1 has not been lodged.
Violence Against Women and Girls (Prevention and Eradication)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking, through the education system, to support the local delivery of measures to prevent and eradicate violence against women and girls, in light of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities’ recent white paper, “Strengthening Local Delivery to Prevent and Eradicate Violence Against Women and Girls”. (S7O-00089)
Eradicating violence against women and girls fundamentally requires men to change their behaviour. However, our education system can play an important part in that. Our equally safe delivery plan sets out a number of actions that we are taking in education, including supporting the equally safe at school programme, which is a whole-school approach developed by Rape Crisis Scotland and Zero Tolerance; publishing schools guidance with the gender-based violence in schools working group; and funding the digital discourse initiative.
Beyond equally safe, I believe that actions such as the Government’s confirmation that we will introduce legislation to end the use of mobile phones in the learning environment can make a difference by separating young people from what is often misogynistic content online.
In February, the Scottish Government introduced new relationships, sexual health and parenthood guidance, which for the first time includes the importance of teaching consent. What will the cabinet secretary do to ensure that every school is rolling out the guidance to reflect the issues that young people, particularly young girls, are sharing about their experiences in school?
I thank Ms Moodie for raising the issue of relationships, sexual health and parenthood education, which is an integral part of the health and wellbeing area of the school curriculum in Scotland. The RSHP education focuses on equipping children and young people with the knowledge, skills and values to make informed and positive choices about forming relationships. One vitally important part of that is consent, which Ms Moodie is absolutely right to mention. As education secretary, I will continue to work with school leaders and local authorities across Scotland to ensure that it is being fulsomely taught.
Question 3 has not been lodged.
A9 Dualling Programme
To ask the Scottish Government what its current estimates are of the cost and timescale required to complete the remaining sections of the A9 dualling programme that are still to be upgraded. (S7O-00091)
The Scottish Government remains committed to dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2035. The programme is estimated to cost £3.97 billion at April 2025 prices. When adjusted for inflation, that is broadly similar to the £3.7 billion at April 2023 prices that was reported in December 2023 and below the original estimate of £3 billion at 2008 prices. The 2026 delivery plan will see the proportion of dual carriageway between Perth and Inverness increase to 50 per cent by the end of 2030, 67 per cent by the end of 2032, 91 per cent by the end of 2034, and 100 per cent by the end of 2035.
The latest tenders are clearly welcome, as they give some clarity about the completion of the A9, albeit some 28 years after it was originally promised. However, the costs require some examination. On a per kilometre basis, the latest sections will come in at around £20 million per kilometre, compared with £6.4 million per kilometre, adjusted for inflation, for the Kincraig to Dalraddy section. Looking internationally, I note that the Faroese Government has built tunnels—new roads under the sea—for £10 million per kilometre. Does the minister agree that it is vitally important that we have cost-effective delivery of infrastructure for economic growth? What lessons is the Scottish Government seeking to learn from international best practice, such as the Faroese example?
The Scottish Government is always open to learning from best practice internationally. Daniel Johnson is absolutely right to highlight the importance of cost effectiveness, but that has to be balanced with ensuring that the project can be delivered in a way that is cognisant of market capacity and ensures a minimum amount of disruption for road users. That balance is reflected in the process that the Scottish Government has undertaken.
There is some concern that the contracts will not deliver significant community and supply chain benefits. Can the minister set out what work has been done in that regard and say what lessons have been learned from the likes of the lower Thames crossing, which provides good examples of the delivery of such benefits?
As I hope that Willie Rennie recognises, the framework under which procurement is governed in this country was very much ahead of its time when it was brought in and has stood the test of time with regard to issues beyond the delivery of the infrastructure—which is of course the central focus and concern—such as ensuring that significant investment of public money delivers community benefit and other lasting benefits.
The procurement framework for the work on the A9 was launched by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport earlier this month, and it sets out the broad provisions as we move towards the completion of the A9 over the next nine years.
Rosyth Ferry Service
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what the next steps are towards delivering a direct ferry service between Rosyth and mainland Europe. (S7O-00092)
Although the Scottish Government is supportive of direct ferry services to Europe, decisions on the introduction of an international ferry service and the timing of that introduction are considerations for the commercial ferry operator and relevant port authorities. The Scottish Government has received an application for funding through the waterborne freight grant scheme, which is currently being assessed.
The Scottish Government also amended the minimum requirements for the location of a border control post through the Official Controls (Location of Border Control Posts) (Scotland) Regulations 2026. That amendment provides flexibility for border control post requirements within green freeport zones.
In order for Forth Ports and DFDS to progress that route, they require clarity on the waterborne freight grant scheme and the Government’s £3 million manifesto commitment towards the reopening of the ferry link. Funding from the United Kingdom Government has been strictly ring fenced. Will the minister confirm timescales for each funding stream, and will the Scottish Government constructively work with Forth Ports to ensure that funding is not unduly restricted?
I want to assure the member that we greatly value the interest shown from business in the Government’s commitment to support the funding of ferry services from Scotland to Europe. That is particularly timely as we approach the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum, which has led to significant economic harm for Scotland and the wider UK. It is my hope that, by strengthening our connectivity with European neighbours, we will be able to renew our relationships again.
As for the question posed, I confirm to the member that work is continuing to assess the various options that are available to deliver that funding. We will work constructively with all interested parties regarding the introduction of an international ferry service.
Question 6 has not been lodged.
A83 Rest and Be Thankful
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timeline for the delivery of a medium-term solution to the A83 Rest and Be Thankful. (S7O-00094)
The Scottish Government is delivering a range of measures in the short, medium and long term to reduce the risk of impact of landslides on the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful.
Following the publication of draft orders, Transport Scotland continues to progress the proposed medium-term solution through the statutory authorisation process. Construction of the medium-term solution can only commence if approved under the relevant statutory authorisation process. Thereafter, a timetable for construction can be determined.
As the minister might be aware, I organised a series of round-table meetings in September with local businesses, the community and national businesses, and concerns were raised about the use of the old military road for the duration of the construction period of the long-term solution. I believe that that would be hugely detrimental to the economy and communities of Argyll and Bute. Given his portfolio, the minister will appreciate those concerns, so I hope that he will support me in asking the cabinet secretary to meet the Rest and Be Thankful campaign group to discuss its proposals and understand the reasoning behind its preference for the medium-term option.
I recognise the amount of work that Jenni Minto has undertaken to represent the interests of her constituents on the issue of the Rest and Be Thankful, and I thank her for raising awareness of those specific concerns.
I am aware that the cabinet secretary has received correspondence from the campaign group that outlines its views on a permanent solution to the landslip challenges at the Rest and Be Thankful. I reassure the member and Parliament that the Government will carefully consider that correspondence and is committed to building on the positive engagement that has been undertaken to date with the campaign group through the A83 task force.
I listened carefully to the minister’s response. Although I join in welcoming the temporary lifting of traffic lights, they are due to return in September, causing more disruption for businesses and residents. As the minister has acknowledged, the Rest and Be Thankful campaign group has suggested an alternative solution that would be quicker and cheaper. Will the Scottish Government prioritise that alternative route for investment, and can the minister outline what funding is in place for the Rest and Be Thankful over the lifetime of this Parliament?
I assure Ms Baillie of the Government’s commitment to that work, but, as she fully appreciates, budgets are ultimately determined through a parliamentary process. However, as with our commitments on the A9 dualling, we recognise the significant disruption that is caused when there are landslips on the A83, and I hope that Parliament will back us through the budgetary process to ensure that that capital investment can be delivered. We are committed to continued engagement.
On the specific points regarding alternative approaches, I will ask the cabinet secretary to update the member in writing.
Rural Connectivity and Transport (Scottish Borders)
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to enhance rural connectivity and transport in the Scottish Borders. (S7O-00095)
The Scottish Government recognises the importance of connectivity to the Scottish Borders. We continue to invest both in digital connectivity and in local and regional transport, in partnership with councils and transport authorities. That includes support through relevant grants for bus services and active travel. Rail connectivity was transformed with the opening of the Borders railway, and we continue to support Scottish Borders Council in its work to consider the benefits and challenges of extending the Borders railway, which is funded by up to £5 million each from the Scottish and United Kingdom Governments through the Borderlands deal.
I thank the minister for that answer—today’s question time is turning into the Tom Arthur show. I whole-heartedly embrace his comments on the transformative power of the Borders railway and I am pleased to hear the Scottish Government's ongoing commitment to that.
Alongside that, bus services remain critical for many, but, with the cheapest online single fare costing £6.80 to go just from Peebles to Edinburgh, for example, does the minister recognise the pressing need for a price cap in rural areas such as the Borders, as those costs are currently unaffordable for many?
I thank Mr Kerr for his further question and I recognise the points that he raises about the importance of connectivity, particularly around bus travel, and the need for affordable rural bus fares across the country. That is important, which is why it is reflected in our commitment to extend across the whole of Scotland the £2 fare cap pilot that is currently in operation in the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership and Shetland Transport Partnership areas.
I thank Mr Kerr for his initial question and the minister for his response. I am particularly pleased to hear about the transformation of rail in the Scottish Borders.
Will the Scottish Government consider the wider implications of rural connectivity across the south of Scotland, giving particular attention to rail, including in my constituency? Although trains to Ayr and Kilmarnock are good and frequent, the services south of Ayr—through Maybole and Girvan, and south of Kilmarnock, through Auchinleck and New Cumnock—are particularly limited.
The Government is committed to ensuring that all parts of Scotland are fully supported with regard to their connectivity, recognising the vital importance of effective, sustainable connectivity to economic growth and development. I am deeply committed to that through my ongoing engagement with South of Scotland Enterprise.
With regard to the specific points that have been raised in the question, ScotRail reviews its services regularly to ensure that they meet passenger demand and, wherever possible, adjusts its services accordingly. We are committed to improving services for passengers in Scotland, which is reflected in our sustained investment. I recognise the specific points that Ms Hagmann raises and I will ask officials to pass them on to the cabinet secretary.
Islamic Cemeteries and Burial Grounds
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the adequacy of provision for Islamic cemeteries and burial grounds in Scotland, including the support or guidance that it provides to local authorities in meeting the needs of Muslim communities. (S7O-00096)
The Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring that burial provision reflects the diverse religious and cultural needs of all communities. Under the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016, local authorities are responsible for ensuring burial provision, including through joint arrangements with other local authorities, where appropriate.
The Burial (Management) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 enable burial authorities to designate parts of burial grounds for particular faith or belief groups. Decisions on the provision and designation of burial grounds rest with individual burial authorities, reflecting local needs, and burial authorities are encouraged to engage with all faith communities to understand demand.
Local authorities, which manage the majority of burial grounds in Scotland, must also comply with the Equality Act 2010, including the public sector equality duty, which requires them to have regard to religious needs when delivering services, including bereavement services.
With a welcome and growing Islamic population in Glasgow and in neighbouring authorities, two concerns have been put to me. First, we are running out of spaces—that has certainly been the case in Hallhill Road in my constituency for many years. Secondly, the legislation that the minister refers to makes provision for a two-tiered system of charging. Many people in Islamic communities who settled in Glasgow in the 1960s and 1970s but then moved out into a neighbouring authority are being charged exorbitant amounts. Is the minister willing to consider a cross-Government approach with local authorities, because the piece-by-piece approach of the 32 local authorities currently is not working?
The requirement of the 2016 act is that every local authority must provide burial space, but the 2016 act does not address burial space for any specific faith. Each local authority has to consider its obligations under the 2016 act, alongside equality legislation, and has to consider the potential indirect discrimination in relation to the provision of burial space for its residents. The burial fees are set by each burial authority—the Scottish Government has no role in setting or regulating those prices.
The issue that Mr Linden describes has arisen because people in his area are being charged extra to bury folk in Glasgow. Many local authorities charge a lower fee for residents, partly to recognise their indirect contributions to the provision and upkeep of burial grounds through the council tax system. Mr Linden has identified a challenging area for his constituents. I have asked officials to engage with the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers on the issue to get a better understanding of the provision of burial space by local authorities for different faiths.
I thank David Linden for his questions. In Edinburgh and Lothians East, there are only 80 spaces left at the Ratho dedicated burial sites for members of the Islamic faith, which is a real and urgent concern. Members of the Muslim community have also raised the issue of funeral support payment rises.
Another issue that has been raised is that there has been a change to how long people can be buried for. In the Islamic faith, people need to be buried in perpetuity, not for a set length of time. What assessment has the Government made of whether Muslim communities, mosques, funeral committees, councillors and MSPs were adequately informed before the commencement of sections 14 to 16—[Interruption.] This is the bit that I cannot remember, and I do not know how to get back to it in my notes. I am sorry, everyone.
Minister, perhaps you could take that on.
I suspect that Kate Nevens was going to ask me about a specific section of the 2016 act, and I will refer her query to officials. We can pick that up offline to ensure that she gets a good answer to her question, which she is right to raise.
I, too, have heard concerns from constituents about the length of burial and the changes that have come in, so I am more than happy to pick up those issues and work offline on them.
Muslim communities have raised concerns with me about the lack of burial plots across the Lothians. The number of available plots is low, and there is an urgent need for more permanent provision in the area. Does the cabinet secretary have plans to meet the Muslim community to discuss the provision for Islamic cemeteries and burial grounds in Scotland, and to review the support or guidance that the Government provides to local authorities on meeting the needs of Muslim communities?
As I said in my earlier answer, I have asked officials to engage with SOLACE on that issue to get a better understanding of local authorities’ provision of burial space for different faiths. The onus is on local authorities to work with their communities and it is perfectly possible under the legislation for part of a burial ground to be designated for a specific faith. Local authorities whose areas include communities that have specific burial requirements should absolutely work with those communities to ensure that their needs are met.
The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to, and recognises the importance of, ensuring that burial provision reflects the diverse religious and cultural needs of all communities. We would be more than happy to update members on the ongoing work on that and any outcome from the engagement between my officials and SOLACE.
Children with Autism (After-school Care and Holiday Clubs)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve access to after-school care and holiday clubs for children with autism. (S7O-00097)
Children with additional support needs, including autism, must not face barriers in accessing childcare and holiday clubs. Inclusion is at the heart of our approach. That is why we are testing inclusive and specialist models with partners such as the Yard in Dundee, which is a support centre and adventure play space for children with disabilities and additional needs. Learning from those projects is informing our work to expand childcare to ensure that future provision is more accessible, inclusive and responsive to the needs of children and their families.
My constituent Nathan is five years old and has autism. Although he is able to attend school, there is no after-school care, and limited holiday care, to accommodate his needs. That means that Nathan misses out on activities and his parents struggle to balance work with childcare.
Many families in Strathkelvin and Bearsden and throughout Scotland find themselves in exactly the same position. Will the minister work with local authorities to ensure that children such as Nathan do not continue to be excluded?
I say to Adam Harley, and to Nathan and his family, that Nathan ought not to be missing out on those important learning opportunities and childcare.
In my original answer, I referred to the early-adopter communities that we have been working with. That work is entirely about testing how childcare and early learning can be rolled out for children with specific needs, whether that relates to neurodiversity or a range of other needs that children might present with. We are doing that work now and taking the learning from it. I will work with Mr Harley and others as we embed it in the expansion of childcare that the Government is undertaking.
I thank Mr Harley for raising this important matter. Parents in Uddingston and Bellshill have told me that, although support might be available during the school day, suitable after-school and holiday provision for autistic children remains extremely limited. What action is the Scottish Government taking to ensure that families across Lanarkshire can access affordable specialist support through the year, including during school holidays?
There are two parts to my answer. We are already funding some of that specialist provision throughout Scotland. I mentioned the Yard in Dundee in my initial answer. I also mention Support, Help and Integration in Perthshire, which is a fantastic service that provides play and support for children with varying needs. I have visited Hailesland early years centre, where I saw a beautiful sensory room to which children could go to have their needs met.
The second part of my answer is that provision has to improve. That is exactly why the work that we are funding now will inform the expansion of childcare in the coming years.
As the cabinet secretary says, there are clearly some excellent examples of after-school and holiday clubs for children with autism, but it is also clear that the provision of the support is patchy and depends on where people live. Indeed, all MSPs are contacted by constituents who require additional support for children with autism.
Councils clearly have a key role to play, and the cabinet secretary has referred to that. There needs to be a specialised service that caters for the support that children with autism require for sensory needs and social development. Realistically, given the budgets and the funding that is available to the cabinet secretary—and, indeed, to councils, which we all know are under significant budgetary pressure—to what extent will it be possible to roll out such services to all schools and all children across Scotland?
To pick up on the last part of Katy Clark’s question, which was about to what extent this is possible, it has to be possible, because we have to get it right for every child. That is what the Government, working with MSPs, will seek to do.
Katy Clark is right to mention that local authorities have obligations. Every child in Scotland should receive good-quality care that meets their needs and respects their rights. The Government expects local authorities and childcare providers to take steps to ensure that the services that they offer are accessible to all, and that all children, whether or not they have disabilities or additional support needs, have access to school-age childcare. There are also provisions under equality law that provide for that.
As my earlier answers have indicated, we understand that there is work to be done. We are funding pilots in our early-adopter communities just now, and those will inform the work that we take forward.
I thank the member for raising this question and I thank the cabinet secretary. I am heartened to hear of the pilots that have been referenced, including at the Yard and its adventure play centre. Will the Scottish Government, when it is considering improved access for children with autism to after-school care and holiday clubs, give weight at every step to the opportunities that outdoor and nature-based learning bring?
Personally, I am a massive advocate for children and young people—and, indeed, all of us—spending time in the outdoors and in nature. It is very renewing for us all.
I have said a bit about our early-adopter communities. I would also point to the £4.5 million access to childcare fund that we have been providing since 2020. That supports families on low incomes with the cost of childcare specifically, and that allows us to better understand how to expand childcare. The projects that are funded through the fund are about flexible delivery, specialist services for children and whole-family support, but within that there is also a focus on increasing access to outdoor provision for families who are most likely to be living in poverty.
I give Katie Hagmann an assurance that, as education secretary, I will be a proponent of outdoor education.
The cabinet secretary knows that this is going to be difficult because, given that four in 10 pupils have an additional support need, schools are already struggling to cope with the massive demand that teachers face. There is a lack of back-up support from educational psychologists, speech and language therapists and the entire range of specialists that are needed to provide support. Are we drawing on lessons from schools to ensure that the rollout of after-school care and early years provision is taking that situation into account? So far, I do not have an awful lot of confidence that it is going to work, because we are not getting the approach right in schools.
Mr Rennie should take confidence from the rollout of the 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare that the Government has already overseen successful delivery of.
In his point about the propensity for additional support needs in our classrooms, Mr Rennie mentioned the statistic of four in 10. It is important to remember that a variety of needs are covered in those statistics, from lifelong medical conditions to transient but difficult things that a child might go through in their life, through to, for example, having English language needs. There is a broad range of children’s needs in that.
This morning, I had a fantastic visit to St Sophia’s primary school in Galston. One thing that I explored with the teachers there was the question of managing the variety of needs in the classroom and in early learning settings. I assure Mr Rennie that that issue will be at the forefront of my mind as we take forward this work.
We are finishing general questions slightly early today, and one reason for that is that three of the 10 members who had questions did not actually lodge them. I hope that members will pay more attention to timescales so that they lodge their general questions, not only so that they can ask questions but so that other colleagues can come in with supplementaries.
Before we move to First Minister’s question time, I invite members to join me in welcoming to the gallery His Excellency Hamish Cooper, High Commissioner of New Zealand. [Applause.]
We will wait for around 20 seconds and then I will allow Mr Offord to ask his first question of the day.