Chamber and committees

Whilst universities are autonomous institutions with responsibility for their own decisions regarding pay and working conditions, the Scottish Government expects staff and trade unions to be consulted meaningfully and constructively to seek resolution to any disputes – in line with Fair Work principles. Implementation of Fair Work First must be the guiding criteria to promote fairer work practices for staff within the university sector.

Universities in receipt of government funding through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) are currently expected to meet two mandatory Fair Work First criteria (payment of at least the real Living Wage; and provision of appropriate channels for effective workers’ voice, such as trade union recognition), while being encouraged to meet all other non-mandatory Fair Work First criteria. From April 2027, colleges and universities will be expected to adopt all Fair Work First criteria and the SFC will look to include these as a condition of grant. Further details are set out in my answer to S6W-42976 on 13 January 2026: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/questions-and-answers/question?ref=S6W-42976.

I also expect universities to take appropriate steps to support and promote staff wellbeing, and comply with relevant legal requirements, including the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974. The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcing health and safety requirements at UK workplaces, including universities.

The university sector continues to face financial challenges due to a number of factors, including the impact of migration policies introduced by the UK Government, and an increase to employer national insurance contributions.

While universities are autonomous institutions, the Scottish Government expects staff and trade unions to be consulted meaningfully and constructively on the potential impact of any cost-saving measures – in line with Fair Work principles.

Ministers cannot compel universities to commit to no compulsory redundancies, however my clear expectation is that they are only considered as a last resort, after all other cost-saving measures have been fully explored.

In the unfortunate event that redundancies occur, PACE is the Scottish Government’s response and can provide free and impartial advice, and is available to all individuals affected by redundancy, no matter the size of the business nor how many employees are involved.

The recent budget invests over £2.4 billion in post-school education and skills and includes a significant real terms increase in our investment in Scotland’s college and university sectors, which both deliver Higher Education. This provides opportunity to people of all ages to fulfil their potential, while also ensuring that priority workforce needs are met.

The Framework for Sustainability and Success of Scotland’s Universities will explore options for securing a successful and sustainable future for Scotland’s world-leading university sector.

This collaborative project between Scottish Government and Universities Scotland will build upon the strength of the sector and ensure our universities are well positioned to respond to current and future challenges, including demographic shifts, international competition, technological advancements, and the changing needs of students and the economy.

The Framework for Sustainability and Success of Scotland’s Universities was launched on 18 December 2025 and will complete in the Autumn of 2026.

A Steering Group will oversee this work, supported by Project Delivery Groups, with outcomes to be published and reported to Scottish Ministers and Universities Scotland.

The First Minister’s proposal for a bank holiday to follow Scotland’s opening game at the men’s FIFA World Cup will create an opportunity for the country to come together and share this landmark occasion.

We would encourage employers, including The City of Edinburgh Council and other local authorities, to be as flexible as possible to ensure their staff have the opportunity to celebrate the team's success.

The First Minister’s proposal for a bank holiday to follow Scotland’s opening game at the men’s FIFA World Cup will create an opportunity for the country to come together and share this landmark occasion.

As employers of school staff, including teachers, we would encourage local authorities to be as flexible as possible to ensure staff and pupils have the opportunity to celebrate the team's success.

The First Minister’s proposal for a bank holiday to follow Scotland’s opening game at the men’s FIFA World Cup will create an opportunity for the country to come together and share this landmark occasion.

We would encourage employers, including NHS Boards, to be as flexible as possible to ensure their staff have the opportunity to celebrate the team's success.

The Scottish Government has worked closely with local authority partners to develop estimates for the cost of delivering universal free school meals in primary schools. It is estimated that the expansion would require recurring annual revenue funding of £79.7 million, one off revenue funding of £12.2 million, and capital funding of at least £135 million.

The Scottish Government is currently considering responses to the public consultation on the draft SSI to add the characteristic of sex to the Hate Crime and Public Order Act which we undertook last year and we intend to lay the final SSI in Parliament in the coming period.

The most recent phase of free school meal expansion to pupils in receipt of Scottish Child Payment in Primary 6 and 7 began from February 2025. This means 84% of pupils in primary schools in Scotland are now eligible to receive a free meal.

It is estimated that an additional 67,910 pupils would be eligible for free school meals if universal provision was extended to primary 6 and 7 pupils.