- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 5 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many children and young people have been reported to the Scottish Children's Reporter in each year since 1999.
Answer
The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) publishes annual statistics on referrals. Data on referrals going back to 2003-2004 is available on the SCRA website here: Online Statistical Dashboard - SCRA.
If this is not sufficient for your purposes, and you require data going back further, requests for this information can be directed to SCRA.
- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 5 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what specific actions within its strategic childcare plan for the period 2022-26 are intended to improve (a) qualifications and (b) workforce retention in early learning and childcare.
Answer
“Best Start: Strategic early learning and school age childcare plan for Scotland 2022-26" sets out our vision for early learning and school age childcare, our strategic priorities and the principles which guide our approach to working with partners and families.
With regard to reviewing and enhancing qualifications, we have worked with the Scottish Qualifications Authority to support the development and piloting of next generation Higher National qualifications for the childcare profession, which we anticipate will be rolled out fully for the next academic year.
The Scottish Government is also working with the Scottish Social Services Council on the current review of National Occupational Standards and will support the forthcoming review of Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQ). This work ensures qualifications are fit-for-purpose in providing the childcare profession with the knowledge, skills and experience required to deliver high quality services for children and families.
The response to question S6W-37815 on 4 June 2025 outlines additional actions that the Scottish Government is taking to support the ELC profession.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 5 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address any regional inequalities in the early learning and childcare workforce in (a) general and (b) relation to (i) recruitment and (ii) retention in (A) rural and (B) deprived areas.
Answer
We recognise how vital early learning and childcare is in all parts of Scotland, both in relation to giving children the best start in life and supporting families to work.
We are working with local government and our partners in the sector to develop long-term workforce plans that address workforce issues and ensure sustainable delivery of the 1140 funded entitlement.
At a national level, several work programmes are underway to support childcare provision in rural areas and areas of disadvantage including:
- funding the national childminder recruitment and retention programme;
- making grants available to local authorities via the Addressing Depopulation Action Plan Fund, two of which will contain a focus on addressing childcare issues in areas affected by acute population decline;
- continuing our investment of £16 million over two years into our early adopter communities;
- providing funding to local authorities to enable payment of the real Living Wage to childcare workers in private and voluntary services providing funded ELC; and
- continuing to provide funding to local authorities to enable additional teachers or degree-qualified childcare professionals to work in ELC settings in the most disadvantaged areas.
- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 5 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what targeted measures it is taking to reduce staff turnover in early years settings in (a) general and (b) areas with persistent recruitment difficulties.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37815 on 4 June 2025
We recognise that, as with many areas of the economy, recruitment remains a challenge for the childcare profession. We also recognise the particular and distinct challenges, barriers and opportunities rural and island communities face, and will continue to work with all relevant partners to identify, develop and enable place-based solutions to address these challenges.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 5 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the sufficiency of current (a) pay, (b) career progression and (c) conditions in retaining experienced early learning and childcare staff.
Answer
The Scottish Social Services Council published their ‘Have Your Say’ Workforce Wellbeing Survey 2025 report on 22 April 2025. The survey aims to capture the experiences of people working in the social work, social care and children and young people workforce, to inform the development of national policies and strategies on how best to support the workforce, and to inform national workforce planning. We are considering the findings of the report carefully with partners.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 5 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what immediate action it will take to ensure that all public bodies comply fully and without qualification with the Supreme Court’s ruling that the term “woman” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex and not gender identity.
Answer
The Scottish Government has issued a note to public bodies regarding the UK Supreme Court ruling on the meaning of sex in the Equality Act 2010.
It informs stakeholders of the work we are doing within government and encourages them to engage with the EHRC's consultation on proposed changes to its Code of Practice.
The Scottish Government has already begun work on implementation. We have established a Short Life Working Group to ensure support and consistency across Government. This work will position us towards a state of readiness to take all necessary steps when the EHRC’s Code of Practice and updated guidance are published.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 5 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many GP practices are not currently participating in the national digital dermatology pathway.
Answer
As of May 2025, all Territorial Boards had begun implementation of the national digital dermatology pathway with 64% of GP practices across Scotland having access to the system. Boards are currently finalising optimisation plans to ensure images are included in new dermatology referrals and to embed image-led photo-triage within their dermatology service.
- Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 12 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the reported reduction in Scottish Attainment Challenge funding for Dundee City Council.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 12 June 2025
- Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 12 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recently published report from the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration, which provides pay recommendations for doctors and dentists for the financial year 2025-26.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 12 June 2025
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 12 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government when GP vaccination services will be fully restored to GPs in NHS Highland, in light of reported concerns that the proposed hybrid model is less safe and more expensive.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 12 June 2025