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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-29437

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Gaelic-medium education schools regarding SQA reform.

The Gaelic medium education (GME) sector has distinct development needs in qualifications, teacher support and continuity in secondary education. At all stages, officials in the Gaelic and Scots team have aimed to keep the GME sector aware of developments and encouraged their response to consultations. Most recently, I met with CLAS (Professional Association for Gaelic Secondary School Teachers) on Thursday 12 September.

The replacement of the SQA and changes to our qualifications and assessment approaches have been informed by extensive stakeholder engagement including stakeholders from Gaelic communities. This engagement took place during the Muir Review, the National Discussion on Scottish Education, the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment and consultations on the Scottish Languages and Education (Scotland) Bills.

Question reference: S6W-29439

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what involvement it had in the SQA's approach to the exams appeals process in 2024.

Operational delivery of National Qualifications is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) as the awarding body for Scotland. As a Non-Departmental Public Body, SQA operates at arm’s length to ministers and is responsible for its own operational decisions, including appeals processes.

The approach to National Qualification appeals in 2024 is the same as last year and is the same approach that, discounting the pandemic years, has been in place since 2014 in Scotland. It is comparable with other appeals services in the rest of the UK and internationally – but with free and direct access for learners.

SQA’s decision to revert to an enhanced version of the established appeals approach in 2023 was informed by an extensive evaluation of the 2022 approach, and engagement with the National Qualifications Group, of which Scottish Government was part, as well as a wide range of stakeholders - including teachers, parents and young people. Decisions in 2024 were, similarly, informed by evaluation of the 2023 awarding arrangements.

Drawing on the views of stakeholders, the SQA (and Qualifications Scotland once formed) will continue to evaluate the awarding processes to inform decisions going forward.

Question reference: S6W-29440

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the SQA's consultation with young people in relation to the exam results appeals process for (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.

Question reference: S6W-29193

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on any deeming of wages of college staff who take action short of a strike.

I welcome the recent pay deal agreed between college employers and EIS-FELA, which brings an end to strike action across the college sector.

I am aware that local agreements are in place, as part of the pay offer, to repay any deductions of pay to staff once outstanding results have been processed.

I welcome this move and hope this now brings this long running period of industrial action to a close.

Question reference: S6W-29287

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its pledge of £300 million to tackle NHS waiting lists over the next three years, of which £30 million has been allocated to date, and whether any reduction to this sum of money is planned.

Significant activity is already underway following the £30 million investment to target backlogs, announced in the spring. This will see around 12,000 new outpatient appointments, around 12,000 inpatient procedures and over 40,000 diagnostic procedures delivered.

The Scottish Government remains committed to reducing waiting times year-on-year across the NHS as set out in the Policy Prospectus. We will continue to work with all NHS boards to maximise current resources and productivity.

Future funding for commitments will be considered as part of the 2025-26 budget process that will allocate resources to the Government’s priorities of the day.

Question reference: S6O-03691

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding how its procurement powers can encourage the availability of healthy, local food.

Question reference: S6W-29438

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-28954

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 29 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline how it is encouraging schools to designate young carers school leads.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring schools are a safe supportive space for all young carers. The answer to question S6W-28953 on 29 August 2024 provides greater detail on how we are supporting and raising awareness of young carers in education.

In addition, to encourage schools to consider having young carer leads or champions, we have funded Carers Trust Scotland to launch the “Young Carers School Challenge”. This programme supports and encourages all schools who sign up to:

Have a young carer champion
Have all school staff undertake Young Carer Awareness training
Have a young carers charter or policy
Correctly record all young carers on the school system (SEEMiS)
And to forge partnership links with their local carer organisation

This challenge is currently in the pilot phase with 5 Local Authorities (covering both primary and secondary schools) trialling in these areas:

Dumfries and Galloway
South Ayrshire
Falkirk and Clackmannanshire
East Renfrewshire
Argyll and Bute

More local authorities have committed to sign up once the pilot period has ended.

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.

Question reference: S6W-28953

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 29 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline how it is encouraging schools to identify young carers to (a) ensure that they receive the support that they need to successfully transition to university or college and (b) increase their awareness of targeted support and resources that might be available at university or college.

As set out in our National Carers Strategy, the Scottish Government recognises the importance of young carers being identified in schools so that they can be supported in achieving their educational and wider goals.

This is why we fund an Education Officer post at Carers Trust Scotland to work with Education Scotland, the General Teaching Council for Scotland, and the Scottish Qualification Authority on improving young carer awareness, identification, and support in education. This has led to an accredited e-training module to help education staff understand, identify, and support young carers.

This e-training module has recently been refreshed to add information about supporting young carers in their transition into further or higher education or employment. Additionally, we have funded Young Scot to work with young carers to create a page on their platform which hosts information and resources for young carers about what support is available to them at key transitions, such as moving from Primary to Secondary School; and from Secondary School onto further education or work. Skills Development Scotland are also highlighting to career advisers the additional support young carers may need at this pivotal time.

Question reference: S6W-28812

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 19 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to making the Scottish Child Payment available to students in receipt of the Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary.

Scottish Child Payment is delivered under Section 79 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, which enables Scottish Ministers to top-up a qualifying reserved benefit, such as Universal Credit. Students in receipt of the Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary may therefore be eligible for Scottish Child Payment if they are in receipt of such a qualifying benefit.

Student nurses and midwives in Scotland continue to receive a high level of support including, where they are eligible, our non-means tested, non-repayable annual bursary of £10,000, plus associated allowances.

The Scottish Government has committed to carrying out a review of the Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary.