Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37086 on 6 May 2025. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37086 on 6 May 2025. 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 Scottish Government has been working with CoSLA to look at options for removing non residential care charging. Given pressures being faced across the system, this has focussed on financial analysis but has also included modelling on potential increases in the number of people accessing social care should charges be removed.

Our national guidance on mobile phones in Scotland’s schools sets out the considerations schools and education authorities should give to respectful and responsible use of mobile phone policies. While the guidance is clear that headteachers can ban mobile phones if they think this is the appropriate approach for their school environment, the guidance takes a broader approach to identifying the features that should comprise a respectful and responsible use of mobile technology policy. This includes digital etiquette (standards of conduct when using mobile phones); digital rights and responsibilities (what individuals can and cannot do); and safe and secure use of mobile technology (precautions that can be taken to ensure digital safety).

Supporting children and young people to use mobile phones respectfully and responsibly is a key element of preparing them to be responsible citizens, successful learners, confident individuals and effective contributors. The Scottish Government wants children and young people to be protected, safe and supported in the online world and for them to be able to enjoy the internet, show resilience and take advantage of the opportunities it has to offer. We are committed to making sure child internet safety is properly recognised in Scottish education and wider child protection policies.

Education Scotland published Experiences and Outcomes for the Technologies area of the Curriculum including internet safety and cyber resilience. There are clear links between internet safety and Personal and Social Education/health and wellbeing and these statements will help teachers to know what to teach. Children and young people will learn about the safe and responsible use of different technologies, including the internet and social media, as part of their broad general education under Curriculum for Excellence.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of developing a circular economy for electric vehicle batteries and supported Zero Waste Scotland in commissioning research which indicated that by 2030 there could be up to 16,000 tonnes of vehicle batteries in Scotland potentially available for reuse, remanufacturing or recycling.

However, current UK and European Union legislation dictates that the battery manufacturer remains responsible for the collection, recycling and disposal of the battery.

Scottish Enterprise are currently progressing enquiries from businesses in the electric vehicle and battery preprocessing sector which may be suitable to invest and locate in Scotland. Scottish Enterprise are work closely with each company in order to maximise Scotland’s ability to take advantage of emerging market opportunities in this sector.

The University of Dundee is an invaluable component of the economic, social and cultural success of the city and region. The Scottish Government continues to work with external partners and internal analysts to better understand the economic impact the University has, locally and nationally. Universities are autonomous institutions, and whilst Ministers cannot compel a commitment to no compulsory redundancies, the university is expected to work with staff to make every effort to protect jobs. We will continue, alongside the Scottish Funding Council, to work closely with the sector on its sustainability into the future. A Strategic Advisory Taskforce has been established, bringing together expertise to support the development of a sustainable future for the University, the region, and the wider economy. The first meeting of that Taskforce was held on 24 April. Membership includes a range of stakeholders including skills and enterprise agencies as well as representatives of the business community.

The scope of the digital dermatology pathway is for new referrals from primary care into secondary care dermatology services. The Scottish Government’s NHS Operational Improvement plan has set out that no one is waiting longer than a year new outpatient appointments and committed an additional £100 million in 2025-26 to target long waits for procedures that include diagnostic tests, resulting in an extra 150,000 appointments. The Scottish Government has been working closely with NHS health boards to target this investment and coordinate effective delivery to identify and address their own waiting lists.

Gender equality is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s vision for a fairer Scotland. We want women of all ages to be empowered to exercise equal rights and opportunities, and to have equitable access to economic resources and decision making.

The Scottish Government’s A Fairer Scotland for Older People: framework for action contains a dedicated strand focused on activity we are undertaking to ensure people are financially secure and supported as they age. In addition, we provide funding of £2.2 million, through the Equality and Human Rights Fund, to older people’s organisations and age equality projects. This funding is delivering a range of initiatives that tackles poverty among older people.

Our Pension Age Winter Heating Payment supports older people in receipt of relevant benefits to help with the costs of heating. Next winter, we will expand Pension Age Winter Heating Payment to pensioner households in Scotland not in receipt of a relevant benefit, providing £100 of support towards their heating bills. This universal payment will provide much needed support not available anywhere else in the UK.

We aim to enable better access to a range of services for older people as and when they need them. We want to ensure people are financially secure and supported as they age. This is why, in 2025-26 the Scottish Government has allocated over £15.4 million for the provision of free income maximisation support, welfare and debt advice.

Between Apr 24-Sep 24, investment from the Equalities and Human Rights Fund resulted in a total of 16,087 individuals helped directly with the provision of support, information and advice, with the Age Scotland Helpline providing £1,184,367 of income maximisation advice, with a further 1,039 organisations have also been supported via capacity building and information sharing.

We engage regularly with the Older People’s Strategic Action Forum on actions we take to support the needs of older people in Scotland.

The Scottish Government provided a Policy Design Specification in October 2023 for formal impact assessment by the DWP, which set out how the Scottish Government would like the split policy to be delivered. I also recently met with Sir Stephen Timms MP, on 30 April, to discuss the UK Governments UC review, highlighting the work being carried out on split payments policy and the need for the UC review to include a gendered analysis. The Scottish Government remains committed to working with the DWP towards delivery of split payments for Universal Credit.