Chamber and committees

I have made it absolutely clear that our schools should be safe and consistent learning environments for all, and that violent and abusive behaviours towards pupils or staff is unacceptable.

I have recently concluded a series of relationships and behaviour summit events, which engaged widely. Participants in these events included teachers, support staff, teaching unions, local authorities, parents, children’s organisations, academics, community justice and violence reduction organisations, and a spectrum of third sector organisations. Details of the summits, including organisations represented, can be found here Health and wellbeing in schools - Schools - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Our research into Behaviour in Scottish Schools report published on the 28 November 2023. The findings from this research, and the outcomes from the discussions at the summit events, will be used to inform the development of a national action plan. This national action plan will be developed in collaboration with the Scottish Advisory Group on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools, which I chair jointly with COSLA’s Children and Young Person spokesperson, and membership includes representatives from unions, education, and parents and carers. We will publish the plan as soon as possible in the new year.

We look forward to continuing our engagement as we develop out action plan to help make a difference on this issue.

No teacher, member of staff or pupil should have to suffer abuse in schools. The Scottish Government is absolutely clear that our schools should be safe and consistent learning environments for all, and that violent and abusive behaviour towards pupils or staff is unacceptable.

Last month concluded a series of summits I held with a wide range of stakeholders on behaviour in schools. The Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research was also published, which set out that while the majority of pupils are well behaved there has been an increase in some forms of serious disruptive behaviours, including violence.

In my statement to Parliament on 29 November, I confirmed a multi-year plan is in development to address issues identified in the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research. This plan will be developed in collaboration with the Scottish Advisory Group on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools, and we expect it to be published early next year.

We will publish a national gender-based violence framework for schools in the coming weeks. We are working closely with our key stakeholders on the Gender Based Violence in Schools Working Group to ensure that the Framework supports schools in tackling gender-based violence and sexual harassment, and ensures that all children and young people in schools are protected, cared for, and their rights and needs are respected.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23512 on 19 December 2023. 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/written-questions-and-answers

In my statement to Parliament on 29 November, I confirmed that we will develop a multi-year plan to tackle instances of challenging behaviour, working with local authorities, trade unions and others.

We are committed to working with trade union partners on developing this national action plan. I hosted a productive roundtable meeting with trade unions on 6 December 2023, with a focus on behaviour. The national action plan will be developed in collaboration with the Scottish Advisory Group on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools (SAGRABIS), which includes representatives from all the main teaching unions. My aim is to publish the plan as soon as possible in the new year.

Following a competitive invitation to tender process, a contract for the Education Workforce Modelling and Research work was awarded to WPI Economics on 13 October 2023.

World Expos are overseen and regulated by the Intergovernmental Organisation - Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). BIE membership is reserved so any bid to host a World Expo would need to be progressed by the UK Government and any participation by Scotland in that process would have to be at their invitation.

We are not aware of any bid being considered by the UK for the World Expo in 2035 and would refer the member to the UK Government for any further information on this.

The following NHS Scotland Health Boards are preparing adaptation plans:

• Forth Valley
• Greater Glasgow & Clyde
• Lothian
• Orkney
• Golden Jubilee University National Hospital
• The State Hospital Board for Scotland

All other Health Boards have prepared an adaptation plan.

In line with its commitment to meet three times a year, the Housing to 2040 Strategic Board has met two further times (29 June and 25 October) since it first met on 22 March 2023.

We have surveyed NHS Boards on their local policies regarding reimbursement of electricity costs for home dialysis. We are working with health boards to understand how best to achieve national consistency so that patients undergoing home dialysis are protected from the impact of high electricity prices, wherever they live.