- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to undertaking a comprehensive review of the equality and human rights position of adopted people across their whole life course, and, if so, whether it will ensure that adult adoptees and adoptee-led organisations are directly involved in determining the scope of that review.
Answer
The Equality Act 2010, including the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), applies in relation to the protected characteristics set out in that Act. Adoption status is not a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 and the Scottish Government does not undertake Equality Act 2010 or Public Sector Equality Duty assessments solely on the basis of a person's status as an adoptee.
The Scottish Government continues to consider issues affecting adopted children, young people and adults through its wider adoption policy work and is currently focused on delivering existing commitments in this area, including work to improve adoption support.
We will continue to listen to the views and experiences of adoptees, adoptive families and others with lived experience, and consider whether any further action is required as this work progresses.
During the passage of the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026, the Scottish Government committed to reviewing the adoption support sections of the 2011 Adoption and Looked After Children Guidance and consider whether new statutory guidance on adoption support services should be issued, using existing powers in the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007.
This work will provide an opportunity to examine the range of support issues raised by adopted children, young people and adult adoptees as well as families and practitioners. We will work closely with adoptees, adoptive families and with practitioners throughout this process to ensure that any future changes are evidence-based, deliverable and responsive to needs.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether the position of adult adoptees, including any lifelong legal consequences of adoption, was considered as part of any equality framework during its work on the Independent Care Review and the implementation of The Promise.
Answer
The Independent Care Review was clear that adoption has an important role in providing permanent, loving and nurturing homes.
In May 2022 the Scottish Government published it’s Keeping the Promise Implementation Plan - Equality Position Statement. The statement sets out the equality evidence which has informed the development of the Implementation Plan across the range of protected characteristics as specified in the Equality Act 2010.
The Equality Act 2010, including the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), applies in relation to the protected characteristics set out in that Act. Adoption status is not a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 and the Scottish Government does not undertake Equality Act 2010 or Public Sector Equality Duty assessments solely on the basis of a person's status as an adoptee.
In November 2024, the Scottish Government published an Adoption Vision Statement which recognises that whilst adoption can bring significant benefits, adoption journeys involve early life trauma, grief and loss. The statement recognises the lifelong impacts of adoption for children and young people, adult adoptees, birth and adoptive families and carers, and sets out strategic priorities for improving support.
The experiences and support needs of adult adoptees have informed wider adoption policy development, including engagement which informed the Adoption Vision Statement and supporting work on adoption in Scotland.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government since its formal apology in July 2026 regarding adoption practices, including in relation to lifelong consequences, records, health, support, human rights and equality.
Answer
Since the UK Government's formal apology in July 2026, Scottish Government officials have continued to engage with UK Government counterparts on issues relating to historic forced adoption practices. Discussions have included the support package announced by the UK Government following its apology, alongside wider issues affecting those impacted by historic forced adoption.
The Scottish Government formally apologised to those affected by historic forced adoption practices in Scotland in March 2023. We continue to provide support for those affected, including access to counselling, peer support and services to assist individuals seeking information about their adoption records and family history.
The Scottish Government will continue to engage with UK Government colleagues, stakeholders and people with lived experience on issues relating to historic forced adoption practices and the ongoing support needs of those affected.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has never undertaken a comprehensive assessment of adoptees as a distinct group across their whole life course under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Answer
The Equality Act 2010, including the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), applies in relation to the protected characteristics set out in that Act. In Scotland, additional specific duties are set out in the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012. Adoption status is not a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. The Scottish Government therefore does not undertake Equality Act 2010 or Public Sector Equality Duty assessments solely on the basis of a person's status as an adoptee.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 2 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on how many police officers are deployed on street patrols at any given time and whether it considers the current number to be appropriate for the volume and types of crimes committed across all areas of Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The deployment of police officers is a matter for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 2 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to increasing the number of holding cells available in local police stations to address concerns regarding capacity pressures within existing facilities.
Answer
The management of the police estate - including the operation, capacity and availability of custody and holding cell facilities - is an operational matter for Police Scotland under the direction of the Chief Constable.
Police Scotland is undertaking work to assess custody demand and capacity requirements across its estate, to ensure facilities continue to support the effective and safe delivery of policing services. This is part of a strategic transformation initiative which aligns with the Estate Strategy Vision for an estate that is effective, sustainable, accessible and inclusive, as well as the wider 2030 Vision.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 2 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what further plans it has to support programmes that can identify and treat PTSD, depression and suicidal ideation among currently serving police officers.
Answer
Workforce management is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority.
The Scottish Government recognises the unique pressures and mental health risks associated with policing and welcomes the work being undertaken by Police Scotland to support the wellbeing of its workforce. Police Scotland continues to strengthen prevention, early intervention and access to treatment through a range of measures.
Since 2024, Police Scotland have invested around £2m per year in an occupational health contract to support the health and wellbeing of its workforce.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Alyn Smith on 2 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will develop a future engagement strategy for secondary schools as part of its efforts to address skills shortages.
Answer
The Scottish Government has an engagement strategy for secondary schools, providing a range of information and support to pupils to help them understand and make choices about their future career pathways.
Careers education is included in the school curriculum alongside a significantly expanded vocational and technical qualifications offer that provides young people with access to a broad range of industry-relevant learning opportunities. Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) facilitates engagement between schools, employers and pupils to support young people to experience the world of work, for example through skills and employability sessions, careers and other networking events, workplace visits, and work tasters. Schools and local authorities also organise work placements for pupils. Pupils have access to digital resources and professional careers advisers, and third sector and other providers deliver additional support for individuals such as mentoring, skills training and / or qualifications.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how much money it expects to raise from the Building Safety Levy during the 15 years for which it is in place.
Answer
The Scottish Government anticipates the Scottish Building Safety Levy will raise £450 million over 15 years.
Consistent with the approach adopted for other devolved taxes, the Scottish Fiscal Commission will produce an independent forecast of revenue generated by the Scottish Building Safety Levy.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Alyn Smith on 2 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will develop a reskilling strategy to help underemployed graduates make full use of their skills and qualifications and ensure that young people receive balanced guidance on the range of education and training options available to them, including whether university study is suited to their ambitions and interests.
Answer
On 1 September, the Programme for Government 2026-31 was published, focused on eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, tackling the climate emergency, delivering high quality and sustainable public services. This set out our commitment to ‘produce a single national skills plan for Scotland by Spring 2027, aligning skills investment with economic need and opportunities, supporting the green and digital transitions, boosting productivity and creating clearer pathways into well paid and sustainable jobs.’
We want to enable people at all stages of their lives to have the opportunity and means to develop the skills, knowledge and attributes to realise their potential and to make a meaningful contribution to society and the economy. The plan will provide a strategic framework to align skills provision with economic need, strengthen employer engagement, support people throughout their working lives, towards ensuring Scotland has the required skills base for our future economy.
