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

There has been a total of 168 confirmed drone incidents within the SPS estate from 1 January 2021 - 31 March 2025.

The following table provides a breakdown of the number of confirmed drone incidents by year:

We recognise the need for ongoing action to address skills needs and we continue to provide additional targeted support across a range of sectors for example, we will invest an additional £3.5 million in our colleges to create an Offshore Wind Skills Programme and College Care Skill Programme, supporting a pipeline of skilled workers.

The Scottish Government also significantly invests in apprenticeships, which play a crucial role in giving young people pathways into rewarding careers. They provide employers with a vital route in which to invest in their future workforce, helping develop the skills we need for our economy and essential public services.

We also recognise the need to take action to ensure our post school learning and education system is fit for the future through our extensive programme of reform. This programme is about driving agility and efficiency through the system, making it simpler for learners to engage with, and making the best use of the substantial investment that we make for the benefit of Scotland’s people and economy.

Information on the number of violent incidents involving pupils is not held centrally.

Some information is available on physical assaults have either resulted in, or contributed to, the exclusion of a pupil. The latest data available is for school year 2022-23.

Table 1 shows those exclusions from school in 2022-23 which included the reasons of physical assault. It should be noted that each exclusion can include more than one reason.

Table 1: Reasons for exclusion from school, 2022-23

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

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6O-04558 on 23 April 2025. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Official Report: search what was said in Parliament | Scottish Parliament Website

The relevant legislation in this context is the Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulations 2016, which outlines the areas where the retention of salmon is prohibited, meaning catch and release is mandatory when fishing for salmon in these areas.

There were no prosecutions, where it was the main offence, under the Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulations 2016 between 2013-14 and 2022-23.

Please note: The latest available information on proceedings and convictions is for the financial year 2022-23.

The Scottish Government has not conducted analysis to determine the impact of career advice services on the reported increase in the number of early school leavers.

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

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6O-04553 on 23 April 2025. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Official Report: search what was said in Parliament | Scottish Parliament Website

The Scottish Government recognises the growth in the number of pupils with an additional support need since the pandemic.

Local authorities have the statutory responsibility for delivering education and for ensuring that those pupils identified with an additional support need are fully supported to learn, in the environment that best suits their needs. Most children and young people’s needs are met through a universal level of support and 95% of children and young people with ASN were educated in mainstream classes in 2024. This includes adapting learning and teaching approaches to support children in the classroom. There remains a broad consensus from children and young people, parents and carers, the teaching profession and others that the Scottish approach to inclusive education continues to be the right one.

We continue to seek ways to improve the experience of inclusion for all of our young people and the 2025-26 budget sets out an additional £29 million for additional support needs.

The mental health and wellbeing of children and young people is a top priority for the Scottish Government. We continue to provide £16 million per year to enable local authorities to provide access to school counselling services for pupils aged 10 and over.

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.

Responsibility for any decisions on whether to publish the results of their investigation conducted in relation to the sharing of annotated materials is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

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