Scottish Government publishes data each year on the rates paid by local authorities to funded providers in the private and third sector, and to childminders, to deliver funded early learning and childcare (ELC). Data for 2023-24 showed that rates increased by on average 4.1% between 2022-23 and 2023-24.

While the average rate has increased, there remains variation in the rates paid across Scotland. That is why work is being undertaken to reform the process for setting sustainable rates. This will see the delivery of the actions set out in the joint COSLA and Scottish Government Sustainable Rates Review, which was published in December 2023 and was informed by evidence from both childcare providers and local authorities.

The review recommends a wide-ranging set of actions to improve the existing sustainable rates process, including updating the Sustainable Rates Guidance with a view to greater standardisation; and working with local government and funded providers to undertake a new cost collection exercise to ensure that our long-term investment to support the setting of sustainable rates is informed by a robust and reliable evidence base.To ensure that providers can input directly into this programme of work a series of Provider Reference Groups have been held this Autumn.

Following the Review, refreshed Scottish Government and COSLA guidance was published for 2024-25 setting out a clear expectation that there should be minimum increase of 7.6%. Data for 2024-25 will be published in early 2025. These rates do not take into account the costs to local authorities of commissioning, administering and overseeing the delivery of funded ELC.

From 2024-25 onwards, funding for ELC has been distributed to local authorities by Scottish Government through the General Revenue Grant. This now includes the previously ringfenced funding for Early Learning and Childcare following the removal of the ringfence as part of the Scottish Government’s commitment under the Verity House Agreement to increase funding flexibilities to local authorities. It is then for locally elected representatives to decide how to deliver services, including ELC, to their local communities, whilst fulfilling their statutory obligations and a jointly agreed set of delivery priorities.

As local authorities have a statutory responsibility to commission services that meet the needs of their population, they may choose to run services that would not be commercially viable for other providers, such as in rural and island communities.

As part of the Scottish Government's response to the Education, Children and Young People Committee's Inquiry on Additional Support for Learning, I committed to engage with our partners to consider this issue further.

My officials engage with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists as well as our wider partners on a regular basis and I will provide an update to the Committee on the outcome of these considerations in due course.

The Royal College will be invited to attend the Scottish Advisory Group on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools to ensure they can contribute to the delivery of our Relationships and Behaviour in Schools National Action Plan.

Local authorities are under a statutory duty to comply with the standards set out in the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020 when designing menus. How they do this is a matter for local decision making taking into account local needs and priorities. The Scottish Government provides advice via ‘Better Eating, Better Learning’ guidance and encourages local authorities to involve pupils, parents and carers in menu development in order to take account of local preferences and feedback as they design new menus and encourage uptake.

All local authority and grant aided schools in Scotland are under a statutory duty to comply with the standards set out in the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020. The standards in the Regulations are based in scientific evidence and dietary advice designed to provide children and young people with an appropriate amount of energy and nutrients to support their healthy growth and development. The standards specify the maximum amount of saturated fat that can be contained in school meals and other food provided across the school day. Education Scotland Health and Nutrition Inspectors evaluate evidence of compliance by local authorities with the standards in the Regulations. This includes assessing saturated fat content of menus and other foods across the school day.

The Smart, Digital, Integrated Ticketing and Payments Delivery Strategy 2024 was published in August and is available on the Transport Scotland website.

The strategy outlines how the Scottish Government will progress smart and integrated ticketing, including improvements to our national concessionary schemes, such as smart vouchers for ferry concessionary travel and a new Traveline Scotland journey planning service, which launched in September. It also outlines the steps and dependencies required to deliver a national integrated ticketing system.

A new national integrated ticketing system for Scotland is part of the wider work to advance the future of public transport in Scotland, and is being progressed to the timeline as laid out in the strategy roadmap. Delivery of the strategy is supported by the work undertaken by the National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board (NSTAB) which was established in 2023 to advise Scottish Ministers on the strategic direction of smart ticketing in Scotland, including a technological standard. Timescales for delivery are set out in the NSTAB workplan published on the Transport Scotland website.

The Scottish Government are currently funding a dedicated resource in NHS Education for Scotland to scope the current skills landscape and identify where earn as you learn programmes could be expanded and where further development work is required with aim of widening the pathways into health and care careers.

The Scottish Government are currently funding a dedicated resource in NHS Education for Scotland to scope the current skills landscape and identify where earn as you learn programmes could be expanded and where further development work is required with aim of widening the pathways into health and care careers, including in rural and island areas.

We already work collaboratively with professional bodies and higher education institutions (HEI) on the delivery of education programs that can meet the needs of the NHS workforce. Work is underway through the AHP Education and Workforce Policy Review to support the development of alternative delivery models of education such as part time and distance learning.

All local authorities are under a statutory duty to ensure their menus comply with the standards set out in The Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020. What food and drink they choose to include on their menus, including fresh produce, is a matter for each local authority taking into account local needs and preferences.

The National Care Service is an ongoing programme of work with funding allocated as set out in last year’s Budget.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) provides funding to College Employers Scotland (CES) to support a fair and sustainable implementation of National Pay Bargaining through a shared partnership agenda and work plan with the trade unions.

In terms of objectives of CES, these are outlined in their business case to SFC for funding as follows:

1.Put in place a clear and visible strategy for the employers;

2.Engage positively and proactively with our key stakeholders;

3.Create a clear identity, brand and voice for the Employers’ Association which differentiates it from Colleges Scotland, and be effective in our communications, both internally within the sector and externally, promoting its value and achievements;

4.Ensure the employment services team can deliver the workload expected of them to service the Employers’ Association and National Joint Negotiating Committee (NJNC).