Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-22975

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to (a) schools, (b) colleges and (c) universities, what the current average caseload of additional support needs staff is, and how this compares to recommended standards or benchmarks.

The term additional support needs under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 (the 2004 Act) applies where for whatever reason children or young people are unable to benefit from school education without the provision of additional support. Therefore, the information requested in relation to colleges and universities is not applicable.

There are no national recommended standards or benchmarks for the caseload of school staff working with children and young people with additional support needs. School staffing decisions are the responsibility of individual local authorities. Therefore the information requested is not held by the Scottish Government.

All teachers are responsible for supporting pupils with additional support needs, not just those teachers whose role is specifically related to additional support for learning. The ratio of pupils to teachers has remained at its lowest since 2009.

Question reference: S6W-23412

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22743 by Jenny Gilruth on 17 November 2023, when it expects to (a) complete and (b) publish its mapping exercise of the existing provision of free school breakfasts.

Question reference: S6W-22984

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider reviewing the current relationships, sexual health and parenthood (RSHP) education resources to ensure that sufficient education on abortion is included.

It is up to schools and teachers to decide what resources to use when delivering relevant and engaging learning. A summary of resources that may be used to support delivery of RSHP education is available on Education Scotland's National Improvement Hub at https://education.gov.scot/resources/a-summary-of-rshp-resources/. One of these resources is the RSHP National learning and teaching resource which contains a learning activity at third/fourth level (Secondary 1 to Secondary 3) on abortion. This activity lets young people know that abortion or termination services are available and that sexual health services are confidential. The partnerships of health boards and local authorities who supported development of this resource conducted a review of all learning activities this year.

Officials have also been working with key stakeholders to review and revise the statutory teaching guidance on RSHP education. The public consultation on the revised guidance closed on 23 November 2023 with over 3,800 responses received. Officials are now analysing the contributions to the public consultation with a view to finalising and publishing the statutory guidance for the start of the next academic year.

Question reference: S6W-24021

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 December 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Lorna Slater on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of its plans for the future of the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan, in light of the upcoming reform of the post-school education and skills landscape.

The Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) published in 2020 provided an important springboard for net zero skills planning and we have made good progress since its publication.

The recent CESAP Pathfinder publication highlights that investment in net zero is progressing, with nearly £90 billion in green investments currently underway or planned in the next three years. This progress in building a strong skills base and creating green jobs is underpinned by the findings in the PwC Green Barometer. The Pathfinder also provides a strong evidential underpinning across apprenticeships, further education, and higher education that will inform next steps.

It is important that our education and skills landscape is flexible, adaptable, and easier to navigate for employers, learners, and training providers. The Scottish Government intends to fully align green skills policy and planning behind its wider net zero priorities and we will therefore integrate the next phase of our work on green skills into the Just Transition Plans, Green Industrial Strategy and Rural Delivery Plan, rather than through a separate CESAP update.

The CESAP Implementation Steering Group, now chaired by myself, will continue to play a critical role in informing our net zero transition, sending strong signals to the education and skills system on the need for urgent action to tackle net zero, and supporting the development of relevant strategies, including the Just Transition Plans, Green Industrial Strategy and Rural Delivery Plan.

Question reference: S6T-01709

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 18 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out and use of tasers within Police Scotland, in light of reports that they have been used 131 times, and discharged nine times, against children since 2018.

Question reference: S6T-01702

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Police Scotland is considering closing more than 40 police buildings.

Question reference: S6F-02675

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2023

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that Creative Scotland's National Lottery Extended Programme Fund has received applications equating to double the available budget, leaving some organisations and charities without funding.

Question reference: S6F-02673

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2023

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government can promote and assist organisations that tackle loneliness, isolation and self-harm over the festive period.

Question reference: S6F-02679

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2023

To ask the First Minister whether, and how, the Scottish Government plans to increase awareness of spiking ahead of Christmas and New Year.

Question reference: S6F-02672

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2023

To ask the First Minister how the Budget will support climate action.