Chamber and committees

All of the test and learn projects in this phase of the Scottish Educational Exchange Test and Learn pilot were led by Scottish higher education institutions.

(a) 23 applications were submitted

(b) 2 projects applied for additional funding for cross sector projects

(c) 3 projects applied for the full £25,000 (in addition to those who applied for extra cross sector funding. The total amount applied for was £345,093.10

The Scottish Government's International Education Strategy was published on 7 February 2024.

Scotland's International Education Strategy - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The Scottish Government brought forward the Colleges of Further Education and Regional Strategic Bodies (Membership of Boards) (Scotland) Order 2023, which places a requirement for assigned college boards, regional college boards and both the Lanarkshire Board and the Glasgow Colleges’ Regional Board to have two Trade Union nominees, one from the lecturing staff unions and one from the support staff unions.

The Order came into effect on 31 January 2024 and trade unions are currently working through their election processes to nominate individuals to boards.

The National Recognition and Procedures Agreement (NRPA) is an agreement between Further Education Colleges and trade unions.

While issues around NRPAs are for colleges and trade unions to negotiate and resolve, the Scottish Government, through its Fair Work Agenda, is clear that workers must have effective voice and therefore, expects that they have access to trade union representation.

It is the responsibility of individual colleges to assess teaching costs. In support, however, the Tripartite Alignment Group of Scottish Government, Scottish Funding Council and Colleges Scotland has been considering the development of a costing methodology for Scotland’s colleges, building on work initiated by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). Given the vast range of provision delivered at and from Scottish colleges, it is highly complex to develop a methodology which is relevant and scalable. However, several colleges are currently piloting a benchmarking exercise. Colleges Scotland expects to report back to the Tripartite Alignment Group on the results of this pilot in the spring. Further information on the Tripartite Alignment Group can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/groups/colleges-tripartitealignmentgroup/

Throughout February 2024 the Scottish Government is undertaking consultation events with members of the Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Working Group on the draft Student Mental Health Action Plan. Following this, and the completion of attendant Impact Assessments, the Scottish Government will publish the Student Mental Health Action Plan .

The draft Plan sets out our expectations for institutions on supporting student mental health and wellbeing and how the Scottish Government will work with them and the wider public sector to give effect to those. It recognises the critical importance of early intervention and prevention and ensuring effective access to a diverse range of community-based clinical and non-clinical services. It outlines the significant levels of Scottish Government investment in mental health and wellbeing support which students can access. It makes clear the importance of providing timely clinical acute care for those who require it and how we will work with NHS Boards and institutions in this area.

Creative Scotland provides funding to the Four Nations International Fund which fosters greater collaboration between cultural practitioners and/or organisations in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales together with international partners based in Europe and beyond.

The fund has a combined budget of £320,000 with co-investment from Arts Council England, Arts Council Northern Ireland, and Arts Council Wales / Wales Arts International.

Further information on the Four Nations International Fund can be found on. Four Nations International Fund | Creative Scotland

The Good Governance Steering Group has had oversight of the implementation of the addition of trade union nominees to college boards.

The Good Governance Steering Group is monitoring the progress of trade union nominations and the Scottish Government expects the Group to continue to keep abreast of good governance in the college sector and to inform the Scottish Government of governance issues.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The health and wellbeing of those who live and work in our prisons is a key priority for the Scottish Prison Service and we continue to work with numerous organisations to offer those in their care a suite of support to address both their addiction and recovery journey.

1. The total number of Drug Recoveries from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2023 are appended in the following table. This data includes both in prison and preventative finds.

I shall lead a debate in Parliament on the recommendations of the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment on 28 February 2024.