Chamber and committees

I appreciate the seriousness of the issue that Mr Whitfield raises. The Scottish Government recognises the hazard of asbestos. We expect local authorities to provide a safe environment for all school users. As I have already mentioned, the Health and Safety Executive has a United Kingdom-wide responsibility for enforcement of the control of asbestos regulations. However, recognising the seriousness of the matter, we continue to engage with COSLA, the Health and Safety Executive, local authorities and other interested parties to explore setting up a working group, to see what further progress can be made.

With the support of pupil equity funding and strategic equity funding, the poverty-related gap in positive initial destinations for school leavers reduced by two thirds between 2009-10 and 2024. The poverty-related attainment gap at national 5, higher and advanced higher levels narrowed in this year’s results, and the poverty-related attainment gap in primary school literacy is at a record low.

It is clear that that funding is having a hugely positive impact, which is why the cabinet secretary has been very clear in saying that it will continue to be provided through 2026-27, to provide certainty to schools and local authorities.

We absolutely recognise the concerns about asbestos in schools and other public buildings. Since this Administration came to power, more than 1,150 school infrastructure projects have been completed, and significant investment by local authorities and the Scottish Government has helped to reduce the amount of asbestos in the school estate. However, as I mentioned in my original answer, local authorities hold the statutory responsibility for managing and controlling asbestos in their schools. For that reason, I encourage Marie McNair and the Clydebank Asbestos Group to raise the matter directly with the local council.

It is, of course, disappointing and concerning to hear the families’ concerns. As I have said, we have been engaging with the local authority on the matter and have provided funding to support the school estate in the area. Obviously, I am answering questions on behalf of the cabinet secretary today and I am more than happy to share the member’s concerns and the request for a meeting with her.

Although it is the statutory duty of local authorities to manage their school estate, Scottish Government officials have been engaging with Glasgow City Council on this matter.

It is also worth noting that, through the £2 billion learning estate investment programme, the Scottish Government continues to provide substantial support to the council for its school estate, including funding for a new Gaelic primary school and Linburn academy.

Over the past decade, through the Scottish attainment challenge, £1.75 billion has been invested in closing the poverty-related attainment gap in literacy and numeracy. We are seeing an impact, as the literacy attainment gap in primary, and the literacy and numeracy gaps at level 3 in secondary, are the narrowest that they have ever been.

We are determined to make further progress. As well as providing the attainment challenge funding, we continue to fund our read, write, count with the First Minister and reading schools programmes, as well as the school library improvement fund.

Local authorities hold the statutory responsibility for managing and controlling asbestos in their schools. However, the Scottish Government continues to closely engage with COSLA, local authorities and the Health and Safety Executive on the issue. Furthermore, the cabinet secretary met NASUWT representatives last year to discuss asbestos in schools.

It is important to note that health and safety is not a devolved matter, and that the HSE holds United Kingdom-wide responsibility for enforcing the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

The 2025-26 Scottish budget saw significant investment in our schools and local authorities to support our children and young people. It provided local authorities with £186.5 million to maintain teacher numbers, alongside continued funding of up to £200 million for the Scottish attainment challenge to close the poverty-related attainment gap.

Additional support for learning was strengthened with an additional investment of £29 million to improve outcomes for all children and young people with additional support needs, in line with the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004. That will build on existing spend on inclusion to ensure the broadest possible reach.

I hope that that assures the member that those on-going considerations and the work on the previous budget support our school and learning estate and, most importantly, our children and young people.

Mr Bibby picked out a couple of points. The Scottish Government continues to fund RoSPA’s provision of operational support to Water Safety Scotland so that it can lead a co-ordinated and preventative approach to water safety.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and the Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy and Sport have met Scottish Swimming to discuss the school swimming framework. It remains an ambition to double the sports budget before the end of this session of Parliament. Should that be delivered, the Scottish Government will support the implementation of the school swimming framework nationwide. We understand how important it is for children to have those opportunities, given what they mean for both safety and future life opportunities.

The Scottish Government believes that every child should be given the opportunity to learn to swim. Swimming is a life skill that can save lives. There is currently no requirement to report a child’s swimming ability, either locally or nationally, but Scottish Swimming estimates that 25 to 30 per cent of children leave primary school unable to swim.

School swimming reduces poverty-related barriers for children and has a significant role to play in addressing inequalities. We are continuing to work with key stakeholders to ensure that all children have the opportunity to become confident, safer and competent swimmers.