Chamber and committees

That is interesting. I remember that, in the beginning of the pandemic—probably going back to March 2020—there was a lot of social media content about what Italy was going through. Then, all of a sudden, it just disappeared and you could not get any information from that either.

Does anyone else want to respond to the question?

I welcome our second panel: Dr Nick Phin, who is organisational lead for strategic engagement and policy at Public Health Scotland; Stefan Webster, who is regulatory affairs manager at Ofcom; and Ed Humpherson, who is director general for regulation at the Office for Statistics Regulation. I thank you all for giving us your time.

As I explained to the previous panel of witnesses, today’s meeting is the committee’s first evidence session in our inquiry. There will be a further session on 23 June, before we hear from the Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport on 30 June.

Each member will have approximately 10 minutes to speak to the witnesses and ask questions. I invite the witnesses to introduce themselves briefly, starting with Stefan Webster.

While it is helpful to get examples, witnesses should avoid naming individuals, please.

Alex Rowley is next.

Thank you. I will begin our questions. I ask the panel to define misinformation and disinformation, and to give examples that spread during the pandemic. I will start with Tracey Brown, because she highlights that in her report.

Is the Scottish Government giving specialised support and aid to disabled Ukrainians, similar to that which is being given in Northern Ireland?

No—not at the moment.

The Scottish Government is ensuring that every child and young person has the same opportunity to succeed in education, regardless of their background. As we have heard, the Scottish Government is putting in place improvements to the Scottish attainment challenge to aid our recovery from the pandemic and to accelerate the closing of the attainment gap, which I would have thought would have been welcomed by everyone here today.

However, once again, the Labour Party, with its endless grievance politics, is using its time to stand in the way of progress to help the most disadvantaged children and young people across Scotland.

What I find interesting—and slightly confusing—about Labour’s motion is that the refreshed Scottish attainment challenge model has been warmly welcomed by COSLA. Even Labour’s Councillor Stephen McCabe, the COSLA spokesperson for children and young people, said

“We welcome the recognition that councils across Scotland will be pivotal in work to tackle the attainment gap, not only providing additional support within schools but enabling stronger links with the wide range of important services for children, young people and their families that sit beyond the school gates.”

It would be helpful if all members of Labour were on the same page.

In its refresh of the Scottish attainment challenge, the Scottish Government has taken the decision—which is backed by local authorities and COSLA leaders—to ensure that the redistributed funding allocations recognise that poverty exists in all parts and every corner of Scotland, and that no area that is deserving of help should be left behind. I welcome the fact that South Ayrshire will now be included.

I am sorry, but I do not have time—I have a bit to get through.

In my constituency of Ayr, there are deprived areas such as Wallacetown, which is one of the most disadvantaged areas in Scotland. The children and young people of Wallacetown have just as much right to thrive in their education as those anywhere else in Scotland.

Through the PEF, the Scottish Government has stepped in to provide South Ayrshire Council with more than £2 million, which is to be spent at the discretion of teachers and school leaders to help to close the attainment gap. In doing so, it is putting power into the hands of the people who are most experienced and well placed to make such decisions about the needs of their young people.

I am proud to say that, as a result of Scottish Government initiatives—and, most importantly, the hard work of the teachers and the young people—98.3 per cent of young people in South Ayrshire currently go on to positive destinations in employment, training or further study after leaving school.

I am not saying that there is not more work to be done. No one is denying that there is more work to be done. We must not rest on our laurels. However, I believe that the SNP Scottish Government’s policies to tackle child poverty and the attainment gap are progressive and world leading. The SNP has delivered the highest spending per pupil across the four nations of the UK. Scotland has more teachers than at any time since 2008 and the Government is committed to recruiting more. For example, the number of primary teachers is at its highest level since 1980. Investment in education is at a record high. In addition, the Scottish Government introduced the minimum school clothing grant at a level that relieved the pressure for around 145,000 families. That is to name just a few of its policies.

I welcome the fact that, under the changes, all 32 local authorities in Scotland will have access to available funds and be empowered to get on top of the attainment gap as quickly as possible and ensure that every young person is encouraged to be the best that they can be. We should all want that, and we should all get behind the Scottish attainment challenge.

When I saw the Business Bulletin this week, I was pleased to see that Scottish Labour was using its parliamentary time wisely to debate two very important issues that are close to all our hearts—health and education. However, when the motion for this debate came in, it was very disappointing, to say the least.

Are members content with page 10?

Members indicated agreement.

We have reached the end of the report. Thank you very much, everybody.

I confirm that the annual report is agreed to. As today is the last day of the reporting period, the draft report will be updated to include the relevant statistics from our meeting this morning, prior to its publication tomorrow.

The committee’s next formal meeting will be on 26 May, when we will have two evidence sessions as part of our inquiry into the communication of public health information on Covid-19.

Before I close the meeting, would any member like to reflect or comment on the past year?