Chamber and committees

In relation to school education, the Scottish Government provides grant funding to the Development Education Centres to deliver the Global Citizenship in Scotland programme. This provides professional learning for educators to build the skills and confidence they need to deliver Learning for Sustainability and Global Citizenship Education. In 2026-27, this funding totals £330,000. We also provide grant funding to Keep Scotland Beautiful to deliver the Climate Action Schools programme, which includes delivery of Eco-Schools Scotland. Global Citizenship is one of the optional topics learners can choose as part of their Eco-Schools work. In 2026-27, this funding totals £425,000.

In addition, the government’s curriculum agency, Education Scotland, continues to promote the work of Global Citizenship Education organisations through its educator networks, professional learning opportunities and via the Education Scotland website.

Scottish Ministers are supportive of the principles of the European Declaration on Global Education to 2050, in particular its emphasis on climate justice, equity and equality, sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and human rights.

The Declaration aligns with the Scottish Government’s commitment to Learning for Sustainability (LfS) in schools, which includes Global Citizenship Education. LfS is embedded in key national education policies and frameworks and is reflected in our National Improvement Framework. LfS is an entitlement within the Scottish 3-18 curriculum, and both sustainability and social justice are reflected in the General Teaching Council for Scotland Professional Standards for Teachers.

In addition, the Scottish Government’s Anti-Racist Curriculum Principles, Breaking the Mould, include significant connections with global citizenship. In particular, that children and young people will be critical thinking global citizens that challenge discrimination and prejudice through an understanding and awareness of the behaviours, practices and processes that create injustice in the world.

Global citizenship education plays a vital role in equipping individuals and communities in Scotland with the knowledge, skills and values needed to understand global challenges, foster solidarity, and promote sustainable development.

In terms of recent meetings with relevant organisations, on 17 June I met with the British Council Scotland, who promote global citizenship through schools partnerships, teacher development and cultural exchange programme, to discuss the Erasmus+ programme, transnational education and language learning in schools.

Global citizenship education plays a vital role in equipping individuals and communities in Scotland with the knowledge, skills and values needed to understand global challenges, foster solidarity, and promote sustainable development.

In terms of recent meetings with relevant organisations, on 17 June I met with the British Council Scotland, who promote global citizenship through schools partnerships, teacher development and cultural exchange programme, to discuss the Erasmus+ programme, transnational education and language learning in schools.

The Scottish Government promotes Global Citizenship Education through its funding to the Development Education Centres (further detail provided in the answer to PQ S7W-00984 on 25 June 2026) and through the implementation of our Learning for Sustainability Action Plan. In addition, the national curriculum agency, Education Scotland, is currently reviewing and strengthening Scotland’s curriculum. The updated curriculum will emphasise themes such as diversity, democratic values and will support young people to understand their local and global roles.

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.

The Scottish Government has identified a need to amend the law in relation to standing for election and holding office as a councillor ahead of next May’s local government elections. While the law was changed on 1 August 2025 to permit foreign nationals with limited leave to remain to stand as councillors, we have identified a gap in the provisions which mean this did not apply to Commonwealth citizens with limited leave to remain. This is contrary to the aim of the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill, which was passed unanimously on 17 December 2024. I therefore plan to introduce a short Bill in September to give Parliament the opportunity to remedy this issue in time for next year’s local authority elections.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken any specific recent assessment of the adequacy of GP training on postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS).

Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland, previously NHS Education for Scotland) supports GP education and training. Its learning platform ‘Turas’ includes training resources on autonomic nervous system dysfunction, including the recognition of symptoms and approaches to management. These resources are accessible to a multidisciplinary audience, including GPs.

PSD Scotland also develops Practice Based Small Group Learning modules for primary care. Topics are identified through an annual survey of practitioners, with the most frequently requested subjects taken forward for development.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of the number of specialist clinicians in Scotland whose expertise includes postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS).

Autonomic symptoms are often experienced as part of a range of other conditions and may be managed across different clinical specialties. Information on clinicians with expertise in PoTS is not held centrally. NHS Boards may be able to provide further information on local service provision.

We recognise the importance of improving awareness and understanding of postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) among healthcare professionals. We have worked with Public Services Delivery Scotland (previously NHS Education for Scotland) to develop educational resources that support earlier recognition of autonomic disorders and promote consistent, evidence-informed care across primary and secondary settings.

Expertise in managing dysautonomia conditions, including PoTS, exists within local and regional clinical services across NHS Scotland. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published clinical guidance on the management of blackouts and syncope, which assists clinicians across the UK in best practice assessment and diagnosis of PoTS.

NHS Inform also provides accessible public information on PoTS, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis and approaches to management. This supports improved awareness among patients and families and helps enable self-management alongside clinical care: Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) | NHS inform

Responsibility for service delivery rests with NHS boards, which configure services based on local circumstances and the needs of their populations, including through remote consultations and cross-Board referral pathways where these provide the most effective route to specialist input.

Responsibility for service delivery rests with NHS boards which configure services based on local circumstances and the needs of their populations.

While awaiting specialist assessment, patients may receive ongoing support within secondary care, including investigation and management of symptoms where clinically indicated.

The Scottish Government expects all NHS Boards to provide high-quality, safe and effective person-centred care and support for everyone, including people with postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS).

Alongside the increased waiting-times investment of £17.6bn to territorial health boards for 2026/27, we have provided £4.5 million in recurring funding to strengthen services for long COVID and ME/CFS, conditions often linked with PoTS.