- Asked by: Jenny Young, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of disabled 16- to 24-year-olds in each year since 2010-11 were classified as not being in employment, education or training (NEET).
Answer
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Population Survey (APS) is the main source for Labour Market Indicators for detailed characteristics. The ONS state there are concerns with the quality of the APS estimates for smaller groups of the population. Therefore, it is not possible to produce robust estimates of the number of people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment or training who also report having a disability from this source.
Scotland’s Census 2022 results show that, excluding full-time students, there were around 23,600 people aged 16 to 24 in Scotland who were unemployed or economically inactive and had a disability or health problem that limited their day-to-day activities a lot or a little. This was 28% of all disabled 16 to 24 year olds.
The Annual Participation Measure is published by Skills Development Scotland. This publication began in 2016 and covers those aged 16 to 19 years old. The proportion of disabled people aged 16 to 19 who were not participating in education, employment or training is included in Table 1.4a: https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/appbneac/2025-annual-participation-measure-supplementary-tables.xlsx.
- Asked by: Jenny Young, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what proportion of 16- to 24-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) also report as having a work-limiting health condition.
Answer
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Population Survey (APS) is the main source for Labour Market Indicators for more detailed characteristics. The ONS state there are concerns with the quality of the APS estimates for smaller groups of the population. Therefore, it is not possible to produce robust estimates of the number of people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment or training who also report having a work-limiting health condition from this source.
Scotland’s Census 2022 results show that, excluding full-time students, there were around 23,600 people aged 16 to 24 in Scotland who were unemployed or economically inactive and had a disability or health problem that limited their day-to-day activities a lot or a little.
The Annual Participation Measure published by Skills Development Scotland provides estimates for 16 to 19 year olds not participating in education, employment or training by disability status. In 2025, the SDS Annual Participation Measure estimates that 8,910 people aged 16 to 19 years old in Scotland were not participating in education, employment, or training (3.9% of 16 to 19 year olds). Of those who were not participating in education, employment or training, 11.1% (985 people) were identified as being disabled.
- Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to expand routine water quality monitoring beyond designated bathing waters to ensure that recreational waters used for surfing, paddleboarding and kayaking receive equivalent public health protections, and whether it will consider extending monitoring to emerging pollutants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), microplastics and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.
Answer
Water bodies may be monitored for different purposes, such as public health or assessing the status of the water environment.
Areas where large number of bathers are expected to use the water are designated as Bathing Waters for the protection of public health. Designated Bathing Waters are monitored during the bathing water season for bacteria that indicate the potential presence of pathogens that may be harmful to human health.
SEPA also undertakes wider, routine monitoring for the protection of Scotland’s water environment for a range of parameters, including some chemicals. The EU recently made changes to its list of Priority Substances, including the addition of 25 new substances and the Scottish Government is currently reviewing these changes and considering any action which Scotland might take.
- Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 5 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on identifying the two island communities that will pilot remote diagnostic technologies as set out in the National Islands Plan 2, what the consultation and decision-making around selection is, and when this pilot will start.
Answer
The Scottish Government commissioned NHS Scotland Innovation Hubs to develop diagnostic pilot proposals aligned with the National Islands Plan commitment.
The North of Scotland Innovation Hub – in partnership with NHS Shetland, NHS Orkney and the Scottish Ambulance Service – proposed Project SOUND, which seeks to evaluate the use of point-of-care diagnostics in emergency response vehicles, assessing their impact on urgent clinical decision-making and reducing hospital admissions through treatment closer to home.
This was assessed by the Scottish Government through internal governance processes and with relevant clinical input to assess viability. The project has been approved and will launch in August 2026.
Information on progress against this commitment will be included in the National Islands Plan Annual Report to the Scottish Parliament.
- Asked by: Jenny Young, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many 18- to 24-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) are not in receipt of out-of-work benefits, including what reasons they give for their NEET status.
Answer
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Population Survey (APS) is the main source for Labour Market Indicators more detailed characteristics. The ONS state there are concerns with the quality of the APS estimates for smaller groups of the population. Therefore, it is not possible to produce robust estimates of the number of people aged 18 to 24 who are not in education, employment or training and not receiving out-of-work benefits from this source.
The Annual Participation Measure published by Skills Development Scotland provides estimates for 16 to 19 year olds not participating in education, employment or training by age and reason for not participating. In 2025, the SDS Annual Participation Measure estimates that 6,758 people aged 18 to 19 in Scotland were not participating in education, employment, or training. The status for those not participating in education, employment or training are included in Table 1.1b: https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/appbneac/2025-annual-participation-measure-supplementary-tables.xlsx.
- Asked by: Jenny Young, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what proportion of (i) 16- to 17-,
(ii) 18- to 20-, (iii) 21- to 23- and (iv) 24-year-olds are classified as not
being in employment, education or training (NEET).
Answer
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Population Survey (APS) is the main source for Labour Market Indicators for detailed characteristics. The ONS state there are concerns with the quality of the APS estimates for smaller groups of the population. Therefore, it is not possible to produce robust estimates of the number of people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment or training by age group from this source.
The Annual Participation Measure published by Skills Development Scotland provides estimates for 16 to 19 year olds not participating in education, employment or training by age.
In 2025, the SDS Annual Participation Measure estimates that:
- 2,152 people aged 16 to 17 in Scotland were not participating in education, employment, or training (1.8% of 16 to 17 year olds)
- 6,758 people aged 18 to 19 in Scotland were not participating in education, employment, or training (6.1% of 18 to 19 year olds)
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 5 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support local authorities in improving Scottish timber transportation infrastructure.
Answer
Scottish Forestry operates a Strategic Timber Transport Scheme to support timber transport infrastructure improvements. Most recently, on 10 July, it announced that £900,000 has been allocated to 9 local authority projects this year. These projects are co-funded by the local authorities which include Highland Council, Scottish Borders Council, Argyll and Bute Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council and the Ayrshire Roads Alliance. Another £945,000 this year is supporting the shipping of timber from Argyll to Ayrshire thereby removing approximately 75,000 tonnes from roads in those areas.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many specialist advisers are directly employed to provide advice and support through Cooperative Development Scotland.
Answer
These are operational matters for Scottish Enterprise. I am advised by Scottish Enterprise that it employs two specialists advisors within the Cooperative Development Scotland team; one for employee ownership and one for co-operative models.
- Asked by: Duncan Dunlop, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 5 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop national training programmes to support educators to identify and respond to children's needs, and what funding and resources it will provide to ensure that staff across nurseries, schools and colleges receive such training.
Answer
Scotland’s education system is designed to be inclusive for all children and young people, with or without additional support needs(ASNs).
In Early Years provision, the recent National Occupational Standards review is informing the redevelopment of qualifications and associated learning resources to ensure those entering and working within the profession develop the knowledge, skills and values needed to support children's learning, development and wellbeing, including identifying and responding to diverse ASNs.
The Scottish Government also worked with the Scottish Social Services Council to develop an online professional learning portal specifically for childcare professionals.
In schools, every teacher is trained to assist those with ASNs to meet professional registration standards as part of Initial Teacher Education. In addition, teachers and school staff have access to Education Scotland’s Inclusion Wellbeing and Equalities Professional Learning Framework.
We are investing a further £29 million this year to support ASN staff. This is in addition to the record local authority spend on ASN of nearly £1.1 billion in 2024-25.
The National ASN Data Improvement Programme is focusing on improving the consistency of how additional support needs are identified and recorded across Scotland. As part of this work, the Scottish Government is working with local authorities and national partners to develop and deliver professional learning and guidance to support staff in identifying and responding to additional support needs.
Colleges work closely with schools and other relevant agencies to ensure children accessing further education benefit from an inclusive learning environment that supports the needs of a diverse range of learners. Operational decisions, such as staff training requirements to enable colleges to fulfil legal and wider duties, is the responsibility of individual colleges.
The Scottish Government will continue to work with partners to build on these professional learning opportunities during this parliamentary session.
- Asked by: Duncan Dunlop, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 5 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government's plan to set out "evidence informed approaches for educators to identify and support children with additional needs, including for autistic children with a Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) profile", whether it will adopt a similar approach.
Answer
In Scotland, the existing additional support for learning framework is well established and considered the right approach for our children.
Under the Education (Additional Support for Learning)(Scotland) Act 2004 education authorities have duties to identify, provide for and review the additional needs of their pupils including those with a Pathological Demand Avoidance profile.
Support should be evidence led and we have worked closely with partners to develop resources for teachers such as the Autism Toolbox. The toolbox provides a range of information and guidance to support the education of autistic learners. We have also created resources to support universities teaching their students about autism and how best to support autistic children and young people in schools. We will continue to work with education partners and the wider autistic community to consider and develop new areas of work to improve the support on offer to autistic children and young people.
An expert review into Additional Support for Learning carried out in 2026 by Professional Education Advisor Janie McManus included a recommendation for a new National Staged Intervention model. This will help set clearer expectations for early intervention and stronger pathways to support across education, health and social care services. I will set out the Scottish Government’s route map for delivering this work in due course.
