Chamber and committees

The responsibility for these matters rests with local authorities in their role as employers of teachers. You may wish to contact the relevant local authority. You may also wish to contact the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), the independent regulator of teachers in Scotland.

The responsibility for these matters rests with local authorities in their role as employers of teachers. You may wish to contact the relevant local authority. You may also wish to contact the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), the independent regulator of teachers in Scotland.

Weapons should never be in our schools and violence towards pupils or staff is unacceptable.

The Scottish Government’s national guidance on preventing and managing exclusion provides clear advice for schools on the response to incidents involving weapons. Police Scotland are responsible for responding to crime in Scotland, wherever committed.

The Scottish Government is committed to honouring the historic deal made with the BMA to invest £531 million over three years in primary care. The funding will help boost staff numbers and capacity, support day-to-day operations and make it easier for people to access GP services. GP practices have already received their first increased monthly payments.

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.

In line with Scottish Government consultation guidelines, the consultation will run for a minimum of 12 weeks. The Scottish Government will publish an analysis of responses thereafter.

The fund has been refocused to target low and middle-income households with a total income of £50,000 or less, as they are less likely to able to meet the upfront cost of installation. Eligibility criteria is reviewed on an annual basis.

While responsibility for managing and maintaining the school estate sits with local authorities, Scottish Government officials continue to engage closely with The Highland Council and remains clear about the importance of ensuring facilities meet relevant standards and provide a safe environment for pupils and staff.

The Council met with parents of Rosebank Primary School pupils on 15 June to discuss the issues raised, including concerns about toilet provision. A further meeting is scheduled for 29 June, where the Council will provide an update on current arrangements and outline its assessment of the improvements it intends to deliver as part of a planned improvement programme for the school.

In the interim, the Council is also exploring the installation of temporary toilet units to help address current pressures. The Scottish Government expects the Council to continue to assess provision carefully and to ensure that both interim and longer-term arrangements meet relevant standards and guidance, with the welfare of pupils and staff remaining the priority.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of community ownership in Scotland, which is why, in 2026-27, we have provided over £7 million of funding to support the Scottish Land Fund. This has allowed those communities to then generate a further £60 million in additional funding, from various sources, as a result of owning assets.

The Scottish Government has set out clear objectives for the Just Transition Fund – to support the North East and Moray in transitioning to a net zero economy and mitigate the economic and social challenges associated with reducing dependence on carbon-intensive industries. These objectives are reflected in the criteria for the Fund this year which are; jobs, skills and economic opportunities; communities and place; people and equity; environment, biodiversity and adaptation.

Whilst the UK Government is yet to share any detailed impact assessment with Scottish Ministers, we are continuing to work closely with the UK Government to assess the costs and benefits of the deal, including the implications of recently announced implementation measures and pilot programmes.

When the impact assessments are made available, we will consider the implications the price changes for medicines will have on the NHS in Scotland.