Chamber and committees

Scotland will take part in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) at two grade levels - P5 and S2 - and we have confirmed our participation with the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement, which administers the study. Procurement of a provider to deliver the assessments in Scotland is currently underway. The field trial is planned for 2026, with the main study to follow in 2027.

I have asked Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

Membership of the PVG Scheme is available for an individual coaching or training children in sports. It is the responsibility of the recruiting organisation to make use of the PVG disclosure checks. Membership of the PVG Scheme will become a legal requirement on 1 April 2025. Currently, though, many organisations (including sports governing bodies) treat the Scheme as though it is a legal requirement. This de facto requirement is primarily because, if an organisation was to employ a barred individual to do regulated work, they would be guilty of an offence under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007.

In cases where a self-employed individual (and that includes paid, and unpaid or voluntary work) teaches or trains children scheme membership is available to that person. The individual can use their scheme membership to satisfy parents or carers of children in receipt of teaching or coaching that they are not unsuitable for that type of regulated work.

Particularly since the 2017 Health and Sport Committee report on Child Abuse in Sport, Disclosure Scotland has worked closely with all sports governing bodies (“SGBs”), including sportscotland and the Scottish Youth Football Association, to ensure that PVG disclosure checks are undertaken on sports coaches eligible for scheme membership. This includes providing guidance to SGBs on specific duties and requirements under the Scheme, and carrying out compliance audits. It is our assessment that most, if not all, SGBs require PVG membership as part of any role that involves working with children or protected adults.

The Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 will make PVG scheme membership a legal requirement for all individuals carrying out a regulated role in Scotland, which includes sports coaches and agents. It will be an offence for an organisation to employ an individual into a regulated role if that individual is not a member of the PVG Scheme.

Although it is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage and maintain their school estate, Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust continue to engage with local authorities about Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).

In September, the Scottish Government published a report regarding RAAC across the public sector in Scotland, and it contains a dedicated section on schools and early learning and childcare.

We are disappointed that the UK Government failed to engage with us on this change and are concerned about the additional pressure this decision places on third sector organisations across Scotland. It is not right that these organisations should be disadvantaged by the UK Government’s policy change.

The Scottish Government greatly values the essential role of Scotland’s third sector in working across communities to tackle tough social issues at source. We recognise that the third sector needs stability and the opportunity for longer term planning and development. We are committed to developing a Fairer Funding approach for the third sector, despite the financial restraints we face.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving attendance in Scottish schools. Last year, we requested that Education Scotland undertake a 'deep dive' to support greater understanding of the issue and the reasons for it.

Within the resulting report 'Improving Attendance: Understanding the Issues', five recommendations were identified including 'Education Scotland, working with stakeholders and partners, should bespoke support for areas where improving levels of attendance remains a challenge'. The research article from the University of Manchester, ‘All Present and Correct’ is based on only one local authority in the North West of England. Key findings of the article align to the Education Scotland report which was based on a more comprehensive evidence base.

Education Scotland is working closely with local authorities and with schools. This includes the establishment of an Improving Attendance National Network aimed at senior officers within local authorities. Regular engagement with various levels of the system including the ADES Performance and Improvement Network is in place, informing support required and ongoing challenges as well as any successes.

Education Scotland is working intensively with six local authorities to support identified establishments to use Quality Improvement approaches to improve attendance. This programme is running until March 2025 and provides regular opportunities for collaboration. A second cohort will begin early next year.

A steering group of senior school leaders is in place, informing planning for headteacher events starting in February 2025. In addition, all local authorities are invited to an event on 6 February 2025, focussed on strategic approaches to improving attendance. A second package of support, focussed on implantation strategies and effective practice, is currently being developed and will be published in March 2025.

Education authorities have duties under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004 to identify, provide for and review the additional needs of their pupils. This includes any support required following a period of absence. Education authorities are also responsible for determining the most appropriate provision for children and young people with additional support needs, taking account of their legislative responsibilities and the individual circumstances and wishes of children, young people and their families.

Education authorities are supported in implementing their duties under the 2004 Act through the statutory code of practice on additional support for learning.

The Scottish Government does not collect information on how many children and young people have been placed in informal kinship care arrangements in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority. We do, however, hold figures for the number of children who are looked after in kinship care and these are included in the Children’s Social Work Statistics for Scotland.

The UK Government Apprenticeship Levy is a reserved tax on employers which was implemented by the UK Government. Scotland receives a proportionate share of tax revenues via the block grant as per the Fiscal Framework agreement with UK Treasury.

On 14 November 2016, the UK Government announced the Scottish Government’s settlement from the UK Apprenticeship Levy based on a population share of projected revenue for the first three years only.

Since 2020-21 the Scottish Government has not received a direct allocation of apprenticeship levy revenue. Scotland receives a share of funding calculated through the Barnett Formula as part of the block grant and has no direct control or responsibility for the operation of the apprenticeship levy, this means the Scottish Government has no direct control over levy funds or their distribution.

Prior to 2020-21, the notional funding for the levy was spent on a range of apprenticeships, workforce development and pre-employment support, meaning businesses had access to a range of both direct and indirect support. We do not hold information on the number of businesses who accessed funding from the Apprenticeship Levy.

To support delivery of the HIV Transmission Elimination Delivery Plan the Scottish Government has allocated funding of £93,588 over three years to NHS Education for Scotland to develop education and training materials which will raise awareness, knowledge and understanding of HIV and reduce stigma amongst non-HIV specialist healthcare staff.

To expand and enhance this work, we are currently assessing bids for a workforce education project for health and social care staff to raise awareness of HIV, improve support and reduce stigma across these key settings. We expect to be able to announce the outcome of this process soon.

Scottish Government officials will work with project leads to ensure that the resources developed are appropriately tailored and targeted to key professional groups, including mental health practitioners.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.

We are committed to ensuring that everyone living with fibromyalgia in Scotland is able to access clinically appropriate, safe, effective and person-centred healthcare, treatment and support.

In November 2023, we published an update to our Pain Management Service Delivery Framework Implementation Plan. As part of the framework, the National Pain Education Group developed a Chronic Pain Learning Toolkit for all health and social care staff across Scotland.

It is Scotland’s first national chronic pain training resource and will look to enhance understanding and care for people living with chronic pain, including fibromyalgia, across all levels health and social care staff. The toolkit went live November 2024.