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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: S6O-04884

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it will deliver on its commitments in The Promise, in light of the publication, Education Outcomes for Looked After Children 2023/24, showing a decline in most key educational outcomes.

Question reference: S6W-39461

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware that the Victoria Quay nursery may be at risk of closure, and when this was communicated to parents.

A full tender exercise was conducted and during the final stages of consideration, the only bidder, North Edinburgh Childcare Enterprise Ltd (NECEL) informed us on 9 May 2025 of their decision to withdraw from the tender process following their review of the economic case – this was done so after consultation with their Board and is a decision independent of the Scottish Government. There were no other bidders, therefore the procurement exercise was unsuccessful.

Scottish Government officials communicated the position on the closure of the nursery on 13 June 2025. This was at the same time as NECEL also informed their staff and issued their own communication to impacted families.

Question reference: S6W-39460

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it consulted with parents prior to the decision to close the Victoria Quay nursery.

Question reference: S6W-39459

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it decided to initiate a retendering process for the Victoria Quay nursery.

The nursery at Victoria Quay is a commercial entity and operates under a concession contract and is not subsidised by the Scottish Government. Procurement of the nursery contract has taken place routinely since the nursery was first established. The previous contract ran from 2020–2025. During the most recent extension period a full procurement exercise was progressed in line with procurement rules.

Question reference: S6W-39464

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Public and Commercial Services Union regarding the closure of the Victoria Quay nursery.

Scottish Government officials informed the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), Prospect and FDA unions on the morning of 12 June 2025 that a provider to operate the VQ nursery had not been secured and outlined the support being made available to the current nursery operator, North Edinburgh Childcare Enterprise Ltd, and parents. A further briefing on the nursery was made available to Trade Unions on the afternoon of 12 June 2025 which was attended by PCS. Subsequently, officials have been in regular communication with PCS representatives, including on the support available to Scottish Government staff.

Question reference: S6W-39463

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that its employees do not need to leave their jobs as a result of the closure of the Victoria Quay nursery.

A transition period is supporting continued provision at the Victoria Quay (VQ) nursery until 10 October 2025. This period will support parents to source alternative childcare provision.

The current operator of the VQ nursery, North Edinburgh Childcare Enterprise Ltd, has offered all parents, including those on the waiting list, places at their sister nursery. Where families are currently accessing their child’s funded ELC hours at the VQ nursery, the City of Edinburgh Council’s Early Years team can support parents to find alternative funded provision.

Scottish Government staff will continue to be supported during any period of disruption as they source alternative childcare provision, including access to the existing Special Leave policy and flexible working patterns which can accommodate individual circumstances.

Question reference: S6W-39462

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent any staff at the Victoria Quay nursery from being made redundant.

Question reference: S6W-39267

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how support staff were consulted in the development of the guidance, Fostering a positive, inclusive and safe school environment, published in June 2025.

The fostering a positive, inclusive and safe school environment guidance was developed with a range of key stakeholders, including headteachers and teaching unions.

Support staff views were captured through the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research, which informed the development of the guidance. The guidance responds to a direct ask from school staff, including support staff, for clarity and support in responding to behaviour and reflects a range of evidence from teaching unions on this issue.

In addition, UNISON is represented on the Scottish Advisory Group on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools, which oversaw the development of the guidance. The Advisory Group also contains representation from a range of perspectives including EIS, NASUWT, Education and Parents organisations.

Question reference: S6W-38012

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 26 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work to further the case for Scottish independence, what engagement it has had with foreign investors regarding access to the UK market in an independent Scotland, and whether it has received representations from any foreign investors expressing concerns on this matter.

Scottish Government Officials and Ministers engage with a wide range of stakeholders to inform policy. This engagement has informed the production of the Building a new Scotland series (BANS). We are not aware of any representations from foreign investors expressing concerns about access to the UK Market in an independent Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with like-minded investors to increase investment in Scotland. EY's latest Annual Attractiveness Survey showed that Scotland has maintained its position as the top performing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) region or nation of the UK outside of London for the past 10 years and is ranked sixth among the top ten FDI locations in Europe.

With the full powers of independence, it would be possible to further strengthen our approach to attracting investment. The full range of fiscal and regulatory powers and incentive mechanisms could be aligned to match our policy ambitions and values.

Question reference: S6W-37998

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is for mitigating any potential delays on (a) the M74, (b) the A1 and (c) other key transport corridors in an independent Scotland in the event that customs infrastructure is introduced.

The Scottish Government set out proposals in the paper A Stronger Economy with Independence for the two main trunk routes between Scotland and England in a scenario in which an independent Scotland was in the EU and the rest of the UK was not. It should be noted that the Common Travel Area means there would be no new passport or immigration checks at any of an independent Scotland’s land, sea or air border points with the UK and Ireland for those travelling within it.

The UK Government is currently negotiating an SPS Agreement with the EU. Precise border arrangements between the EU and the UK will not be known until the conclusion of those negotiations. The Scottish Government supports an ambitious agreement to minimise checks and delays. We also continue to press the UK Government to drop its red line on UK membership of the Customs Union and Single Market to mitigate some of the damage of Brexit and smooth trade between the UK and EU.