Current status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 9 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on the development of the unique learner number system.
To date, the only costs associated with developing a unique learner number relate to staff resource to consider options to ensure best use of public funds. As work progresses, a range of options will be fully assessed and evaluated to ensure any future spending represents good value for public funds.
Whilst we recognise the potential long-term benefits of a unique learner number (ULN), it is a wide-ranging issue requiring careful consideration and we continue to explore how this could be delivered for Scotland. This is complex work which is inherently cross-cutting in nature, and potentially involves sharing the personal, sensitive data of millions of individuals, primarily children and young people. It is right that this work is done properly and thoroughly.