Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government condemns all forms of racially and religiously motivated violence. We recognise that incidents of this nature can cause fear well beyond those directly affected, and are committed to working alongside communities and partners to provide reassurance.

Following the reported incidents on 19 June, the First Minister met with faith leaders at Broomhouse and Annandale mosques on 22 June to hear directly from those affected and to understand how best to support communities.

Our work on ensuring inclusive, safe and cohesive societies is continually informed by faith communities and other stakeholders, including through established groups such as the Hate Crime Strategic Partnership and the Faith and Belief Representatives Group, and the wide range of partners we work with.

The closure of the Victoria Quay nursery followed the withdrawal of the sole service provider during the contract renewal procurement exercise. The provider indicated that continued operation was not viable, reflecting reduced demand. The decision to close the nursery was not taken by the Scottish Government.

We recognise that the closure of the nursery was difficult for the families affected. To support the transition to closure, the Scottish Government put in place a short-term contract extension to enable parents to secure alternative childcare; and all parents using the VQ nursery, and those on the waiting list, were offered alternative provision by the original provider at a site 2.5 miles away.

No specific assessment of the closure has been undertaken. However, a range of support is available to parents, including flexible working arrangements, flexi-time to support work–life balance, special leave for unexpected emergencies, and carers’ leave for parents of disabled children.

Parents and guardians also have access to our Employee Assistance Service that can provide information and support in relation to childcare or parenting.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with the parent group and, as previously committed, will keep future provision under review based on demand.

The Inclusive Parliament Review has various workstreams including a Facilities Review and a review of our Dignity at Work arrangements. The Clerk/Chief Executive commissioned the Dignity at Work Review in light of strengthened statutory duties from the Worker Protection (Amendment of the Equality Act 2010) 2023 and forthcoming requirements within the Employment Rights Act 2025. Information about the Inclusive Parliament Review is available on the Intranet.

As part of the Dignity at Work Review, all SPCB staff and Members’ staff were invited to take part in an internal survey. We also consulted with staff, trade unions, staff forums, external equalities groups and MSPs, and undertook a benchmarking exercise looking at the approach taken in other parliaments. In addition, our Independent Support and Advocacy Service invited people to give feedback on their experiences. The results from the internal survey and associated work were published on 12 March 2026 and its recommendations were endorsed by the Presiding Officer and leaders of all the political parties in Parliament on 13 March 2026.

We have made progress on a number of recommendations including:

• Updated zero-tolerance statement of all forms of unacceptable behaviour, including bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment.
• An Employers’ Pledge will be introduced in June to set shared expectations of dignity, courtesy and respect across all employers in Parliament. All Members and contractors will be invited by the Clerk/Chief Executive to become signatories, and it has already been highlighted in new Members’ induction sessions.
• A refreshed “Safe to Speak up” campaign has been designed and implemented to support and encourage individuals to come forward and report any unacceptable behaviour they have experienced or witnessed. Further activity is planned over the coming months.
• Introduction of a risk assessment framework to support SPCB as an employer to identify and mitigate risks of bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment, including third-party harassment, in June.
• Development of a toolkit for Members as employers to allow them to carry out risk assessments, which will be introduced by September.
• Review and update of key behavioural policies, including the development of a Prevention of Bullying and Harassment policy, which will be published by November.

In March 2026 we commissioned a Facilities Review survey to help us consider the provision, designation, and accessibility of toilets, changing rooms, and showering facilities across the Holyrood estate. Findings will be published in June. They will be used to help us identify any improvements and ensure we create a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment for all, while also meeting our legal obligations (in terms of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, relevant building regulations and the Equality Act 2010, taking account of guidance published from the statutory regulator, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).)

The delivery of the agreed actions will be planned over the session and will be prioritised based on available resources and staff time. Further updates on progress made towards the recommendations will be published on the Intranet over the same period.

It will be the defining mission of this Scottish Government to support families with the cost of living and eradicate child poverty.

Our third Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, ‘Bringing Hope, Building Futures’ was published on 12 March and sets out a robust and enduring framework that will enable further progress against Scotland’s 2030 child poverty targets.

The Plan commits concrete action to drive continued progress. This includes investing £40 million in 2026-27 to deliver new support with transport and skills for families, increasing our Scottish Child Payment to £40 for families with a child under 1 during 2027-28, and investing to deliver a national breakfast club offer for primary school aged children with provision in all primary and special schools by August 2027.

Building on the actions we have taken to date, measures within the delivery plan are estimated to keep 100,000 children out of relative poverty this year.

We have committed to go even further to help people keep more money in their pockets and tackle child poverty. This includes introducing legal price caps on a range of essential food in big supermarkets, expanding support for childcare to all children from nine-months to the end of primary school, and introducing a £2 nationwide cap on bus fares to lower people’s travel costs.