Chamber and committees

As I set out in my statement to Parliament on 2 June, we will launch our consultation on a legislative approach to restrictions on mobile phones in schools within the first 100 days of this government. Further development of the legislative approach will be informed by the outcomes of this consultation, including the views of local authorities who have implemented restrictions.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring access to breakfast clubs for all primary school age children in Scotland by August 2027. Around 50% of primary schools in Scotland already have breakfast provision in place. To support further expansion, the Scottish Government is investing £15 million in 2026-27. From 2027-28, £44 million will be invested annually to support implementation of the national breakfast clubs offer.

The policy intention is that a breakfast club offer will be available nationally across all primary and special schools from the academic year 2027-28 beginning in August 2027. As part of the additional £15 million investment in 2026-27, to support a phased delivery of that offer, many children will have access to a breakfast club before that date.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01290 on 14 July 2026. 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/questions-and-answers .

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01276 on 14 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Scottish 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 is committed to delivering a universal breakfast club offer for primary school age children by August 2027.

Engagement with COSLA, Local Government and other key stakeholders is underway as part of ongoing work to support delivery, which includes assessment of workforce planning. This is being informed by existing delivery models, how these could be expanded and enhanced and how provision can be established where none currently exists. Engagement and analysis of existing data will inform workforce planning to support implementation of a national offer.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a universal breakfast club offer for primary school age children by August 2027.

To support this offer, we are investing £15 million this financial year to enable the phased expansion of breakfast clubs across Scotland and a recurring investment of £44 million from next financial year to fund national provision.

Decisions have not been finalised on funding distribution. Work is ongoing with COSLA, Local Government and wider partners to agree a fair and proportionate distribution model for funding across financial years 2026-27 and 2027-28.

In line with Getting It Right For Every Child and The Promise, the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that any child or young person who cannot live at home must be able to stay in a safe, stable and caring environment.

Last year the Scottish Government ran a national recruitment campaign to increase the number of foster carers and we are providing an additional £22.2 million investment to support foster carers and kinship carers. To help ensure more places are available for local authorities in Scotland, new legislation was brought forward in March 2026 to regulate cross-border placements in residential care. Earlier this year the National Social Work Agency was launched, to strengthen and support the social work profession.

Chief Social Work Officers have overall responsibility for ensuring quality and oversight of decisions, ensuring effective governance arrangements for the management of the complex balance of need and risk to children and social workers, in accordance with professional standards. The National Social Work Agency regularly meets with Chief Social Work Officers to understand what appropriate care arrangements are available for children and that professional supports are available for the social workers that surround them.

I met with Chief Social Work Officers, Social Work Scotland and COSLA representatives on 16 June to discuss the challenges around child placements. There was broad agreement that solutions do not lie solely with one organisation and require coordinated action across national and local government. I will co-chair a cross-sectoral roundtable alongside Councillor Buchanan, COSLA Spokesperson for Children and Young People in early August, to consider what short, medium and long term actions are required to address these challenges.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01276 on 14 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Scottish 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 is committed to delivering a universal breakfast club offer for primary school age children by August 2027.

Many primary schools across Scotland already deliver breakfast offers using a range of delivery models. Work is underway with delivery stakeholders to assess existing models, explore how these can be expanded and enhanced, and identify how best to establish provision where none currently exists. This work is informing national delivery plans including recognising the importance of elements of local flexibility for individual schools.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01290 on 14 July 2026. 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/questions-and-answers .