Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government does not publish local authority level data for the items requested.

Scottish Government does, however, publish related data on language learning and teaching at a national level. The table below provides a summary of data from the biennial 1+2 languages survey, summarising provision of language teaching for the first additional language (known as “L2”) and the second additional language (known as “L3”) in 2019, 2021 and 2023.

In August 2024, I published refreshed guidance to schools on the use of mobile phones, as part of the joint action plan to respond to the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research.

This guidance was developed in collaboration with the Scottish Advisory Group on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools (SAGRABIS). All members of SAGRABIS were involved in discussions about the content of the guidance and agreed to its publication. Members of SAGRABIS include School Leaders Scotland (SLS), the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), NASUWT, Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA), the Association of Head Teachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS), and UNISON. Other members of SAGRABIS include COSLA, the Association of Directors of Education (ADES), the Scottish Council of Deans of Education (SCDE), the Association of Scottish Principal Educational Psychologists (ASPEP), parents’ representatives and respectme.

AI has a huge potential to help deliver better and more efficient public services and work is on-going across the Scottish Government to make best use of the opportunities AI presents.

At the heart of good AI is good data. As part of the Open Government Action Plan work is already underway to share the data required to deliver more joined up and efficient public services. Modelling on public transport, climate change and government expenditure is already delivering results. Our Data Maturity Programme and Communities of Practice are ensuring that public sector organisations have the capabilities to make best use of data, along with our technical solutions for data cataloguing and secure data sharing.

Along side work on good data management, we are also making use of the CivTech challenge process to deliver innovative and ground breaking technical solutions to real world public service challenges. The current challenge round, CivTech 10, focuses on AI, reflecting its importance across multiple sectors, including government.

Current challenges include work to improve situational awareness for emergency responders, and how we can better support and encourage public participation in decision-making. These challenges also help us meet our commitment to ensuring that a large part of our technical spend goes to small, innovative businesses, making the most of Scotland’s natural desire to innovate and improve.

Out Intelligent Automation team is also making use of AI in a number of cross Scotland projects, all designed to identify areas where a Once for Scotland approach to system design can reduce the admin burden across the public sector. Reducing costs and increasing efficiency are key drivers behind our increasing use of AI. Machine Learning has been integrated into invoice processing procedures, application processing for child and disability payments and in document redaction.

We continue to engage with the UK Government around the development and introduction of regulation around the use of AI. We are very keen to see regulation which protects our citizens and their data, but which at the same time creates an environment where innovation can flourish. We want Scotland to continue to be regarded as an attractive place for businesses to invest, and where our workforce can benefit from the increased opportunities new technology can offer.

Scottish Government works closely with the AI industry to ensure its policies are pro-innovation and meet the needs of businesses. Industry was a key partner in developing Scotland's 2021 Strategy, and our recently launched governance group includes senior business leaders from the AI start-up and business community.

As AI regulation is reserved to UK Government we continue to engage with its officials to advocate that their approach to AI regulation considers the interests of the citizens and businesses of Scotland.

Techscaler, our national support programme for start-ups has been actively engaged with the AI industry since its inception in 2022. Over the past two years, Techscaler has provided essential resources to numerous AI-focused start-ups helping them thrive. Techscaler holds no formal engagement with the AI Industry on regulation but recognises the importance of AI for new and upcoming start-ups, and therefore is incorporating AI into their programme and education courses in 2025.

As part of the independent review into AI, which I commissioned and which was published last year, engagement took place with the AI industry on investment. Officials regularly engage with investors on AI, however this is not specific to discussing the impact of regulation. However, we have been continuously engaging with the UK Government to advocate that their approach to the regulation of AI considers the interests of the citizens and businesses of Scotland.

Soon, Scottish Enterprise will publish analysis which assesses the economic opportunities for AI in Scotland including Scotland’s AI strengths as well as how Scotland’s AI ecosystem compares to other countries. Scottish Government also regularly measures and assesses business activity and the use of AI amongst businesses through the Scottish Government BICS survey.

To ensure that Scotland competes globally in AI innovation, The Scottish Government is working with our enterprise agencies to promote investment and growth for Scotland’s AI ecosystem. Our agencies and partners are working to support AI companies at all stages of growth and to facilitate collaboration between AI companies, academic institutions and other partners for knowledge exchange and innovation. We are working closely with the Data Lab and the National Robotarium, to maximise the impact of our programmes and help the AI sector to flourish. We also support economic opportunities for AI through the Scottish AI Alliance, which is the delivery body for our AI strategy.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the development of digital skills across the public sector, with the Scottish Digital Academy serving as the centre of excellence for digital capability. While there have been no specific funding allocations solely for AI skills training, the Academy is actively building on existing capability and provision, including through the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Profession and strategic partnerships with organisations such as The Data Lab and the Scottish AI Alliance.

Rather than duplicating effort, the Scottish Government takes a collaborative approach, sharing resources where appropriate with the UK Government Digital Service and engaging through the national Digital Capability Advisory Group to identify and address digital skills gaps across the public sector. This ensures a more strategic, joined-up response to emerging technologies like AI, while leveraging existing investment and expertise.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. This would need to be requested from the NHS Boards directly. It is for NHS Boards to ensure best use of available resources to support service delivery whilst prioritising patient safety and care.

The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry was established in 2020, to investigate planning, design, construction and maintenance of both the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital/ Royal Hospital for Children (QEUH/RHC) and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People/Department of Clinical Neurosciences (RHCYP/DCN). To that end, the Inquiry recently concluded 12 weeks of hearings into the QEUH/RHC’s built environment and the potential causal links to hospital acquired infections.

The evidence which was presented and heard at the recent hearing has been published by the Inquiry and is available on the Inquiry’s website (https://www.hospitalsinquiry.scot/).

In Counsel to the Inquiry’s closing statement, concerns were raised regarding the recommended guidelines for ventilation at the QEUH/RHC.

Lord Brodie has made it clear that the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry is on-going and therefore no conclusions should be taken from submissions to the Inquiry at this stage. Further oral hearings into the QEUH/RHC are scheduled for later this year.

Like all hospital sites, there is a comprehensive system of clinical oversight and patient safety monitoring at the QEUH/RHC. There has been no information reported through our robust governance arrangements which questions the safety of the hospital.

In addition, there have been no healthcare associated infection incidents reported to Scottish Government in the last 12 months relating to concerns on ventilation control.

To provide additional assurance, I have written to Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) to undertake a formal review of the action plan arising from their Infection Prevention and Control inspection in 2022; to check the progress made against the recommendations and requirements.

Unlike the NHS App in England, which is currently just for the NHS, our planned service is for both health and social care. The development is also linked into wider digital developments for Scottish public services overall, particularly in relation to a common approach to how the people of Scotland receive official communication digitally. Officials have, however, engaged extensively with NHS England to explore both whether we could use the NHS App and to take learning from the approach to the development of the NHS App.

The information requested on how many consultants specialising in endometriosis there are, broken down by NHS board is not centrally held.