Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government recognises the impact which the Covid-19 pandemic had on children and young people in Scotland, particularly the closing of schools and learning lost as a result. This is in common with children and young people across the world.

School staff and pupils should be commended for the way in which they adapted to online learning during the pandemic. We are determined to do everything we can to support children, young people and that every child and young person in Scotland will have the opportunity to fulfil their potential as they progress through the education system and on to positive destinations.

We have worked with partners to support learners recovery, including a National e-Learning Offer, the procurement of more than 70,000 digital devices and 14,000 connectivity packages as well as significant investment in education recovery including Pupil Equity Funding and funding for education authorities to recruit additional staff.

The SPCB, as the employer of its staff, is committed to reviewing its policy arrangements to ensure that it supports staff who experience baby loss, including pregnancy-related leave. Officials have been looking at developing the SPCB’s current approach, in line with the guidance within the Pledge, to support those colleagues who may experience loss through their pregnancy.   The SPCB is currently able to offer support in the form of paid special leave, through the Positive about Mental Health and Wellbeing policy, the Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health.  Any arrangements that are adopted for Scottish Parliament staff will also form part of the minimum terms and conditions for MSPs’ staff.  Finally, we’re currently working with an external provider to review the Parliament’s Diversity and Inclusion progress and priorities, and this will include our approach to partnerships and accreditations. 

The Scottish Government is aware that drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) services in Edinburgh were temporarily suspended in 2022 and has worked with the local authority and other partners over recent months to understand the issues behind this and offer support where appropriate. DTTO services were reinstated in late February on a limited basis and we will continue to support efforts to ensure that those in need can access drug treatment across Scotland.

As recently announced in our Drug Deaths Taskforce Response, the Scottish Government is currently carrying out a review of DTTOs and other relevant orders to assess how they have been used, their outcomes, and whether they are the most effective mechanism to support recovery and reduce recidivism rates.

The Scottish Government publishes relevant correspondence to dental organisations regarding the multiplier payment on www.scottishdental.org . Notes from recent meetings with dental organisations are shared here as well. However, correspondence received by Scottish Government from stakeholders is generally private, and we do not share it as a matter of routine.

Information on the extension of the multiplier payment was also shared in Parliament during the debate ‘Addressing the Crisis in NHS Dentistry’ on 8 February 2023. A copy of the debate can be viewed at: Meeting of the Parliament: 08/02/2023 | Scottish Parliament Website .

As noted in the answer to question S6W-16405 on 18 April 2023, the Scottish Government carried out a number of Impact Assessments during the pandemic to help inform key decisions and to understand their impact on those at risk and on vulnerable groups, including learners. These impact assessments went wider than the specific concerns raised in this question and considered issues including children’s rights and wellbeing, equalities, as well as, the impact on island communities. These Impact Assessments have been published on the Scottish Government website and links have been provided in the answer to question S6W-16405. 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 .

Keeping children safe from abuse and exploitation is a key priority for the Scottish Government. We are committed to ensuring that robust child protection measures are in place across Scotland.

That is why we are taking forward a range of work with our partners, including Stop It Now! Scotland and the NSPCC, to both prevent abuse and intervene early to ensure that risk and harm to children and young people is recognised and acted on quickly and effectively. For example, in February of this year, we delivered a public awareness campaign across a range of radio, TV and digital channels to inform parents about the risks of online harm and how to protect their children online.

Cross-directorate Government-supported work-streams collectively take action to prevent and protect children in Scotland from child sexual abuse and provide appropriate support to victims and survivors of such abuse. This includes funding to support a range of activity and programmes with a particular focus on early intervention and prevention and the revision of the National Child Protection Guidance that defines and clarifies roles and responsibilities for everyone working with children and young people, setting out the foundation for protective action to keep children safe from harm.

The most recent statistics show the number of children on the Child Protection Register in Scotland has decreased and is the lowest rate of any nation in the UK. The number of looked after children is also at its lowest level since 2006.

The breadth of work happening across Government and our commitment to a continuing focus on prevention and early intervention is such that we do not think that a national strategy to tackle child sexual abuse is required at this time. The Scottish Government will keep under review whether a dedicated strategy is needed in this sensitive and important area.

As part of our rights-based approach to social security, we are committed to minimising as far as possible any burden on clients. Where we have been able, we are already working with the UK Government to automate some of our payments for that very purpose.

Most eligible people already receive Child Winter Heating Assistance and Carer’s Allowance Supplement automatically based on qualifying benefits. Also, throughout February and March almost 400,000 low-income households will have automatically received the £50 Winter Heating Payment, providing support towards their energy bills for this winter.

Alongside DWP, we have developed a successful case transfer process which ensures people continue to receive the right payments at the right time – automatically transferring their awards from UK Government benefits onto the appropriate Scottish payment without them having to re-submit the information they provided in their original application.

In line with our commitment to maximise the take-up of Scottish benefits, we will continue to explore further opportunities for automation – including further appropriate and proportionate data-sharing across the range of systems that support Scotland’s population.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-16518 on 27 April 2023. This answer set out action being taken to enhance capacity and facilitate increased activity within colposcopy services.

We recognise that uncertainty while waiting can have an impact on health and wellbeing. That is why we are undertaking a new programme of work, ‘Waiting Well’, which aims to support an active waiting well period by providing access to good information, signposting to local services and community assets, and to professional support and services as required.

In addition, we have launched a Women’s Health Platform on NHS Inform to help women find the information they need on a range of issues relating to their health. The platform hosts information and advice on mental health as well as a series of self-help guides. These offer practical help and support with mental health symptoms and sign post to further support from NHS24 mental health services, Breathing Space and NHS psychology services as required.

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

The First Minister was briefed on the Ministerial Code; Civil Service Code; Code of Conduct for Special Advisers; guidance on Collective Decision Making; procedures for making a formal complaint about a minister’s or former minister’s behaviour; Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Scheme guidance; Safeguarding and Securing Scottish Government Business guidance; the Scottish Government’s IT Code of Conduct, Records Management Plan and Policy and Security Data Handling Standard.

In addition the First Minister was briefed on the private office function; Ministerial Pay, Pensions, declarations of interests; guidance on travel, expenses and gifts; and an overview of the Scottish Government and its governance structures.

The First Minister was provided with a diary note to discuss forthcoming engagements; background information on Bute House arrangements; Counterterrorism Incident guidance; and the civil service liaison arrangements with the outgoing First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

The First Minister was also briefed on portfolio priorities and on the Bute House Agreement.

Free school meals are universally available during term-time to all children in primaries 1 to 5 at publicly-funded schools and to all children at publicly-funded special schools.

After primary 5, children and young people remain eligible to receive free school meals if their families meet the eligibility criteria set out within legislation until they leave school. This is the most generous provision of free school meals across the UK. However, it is for children, young people and their families to choose to take up this provision.

We remain committed to expanding universal free school meals to all primary school pupils over the course of this parliament, and our next step towards this will be the expansion of free school meals for all Primary 6 and 7 pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment.