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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-31353

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to reduce the amount of saturated fat in primary school meals, and how compliance with these measures is assessed.

All local authority and grant aided schools in Scotland are under a statutory duty to comply with the standards set out in the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020. The standards in the Regulations are based in scientific evidence and dietary advice designed to provide children and young people with an appropriate amount of energy and nutrients to support their healthy growth and development. The standards specify the maximum amount of saturated fat that can be contained in school meals and other food provided across the school day. Education Scotland Health and Nutrition Inspectors evaluate evidence of compliance by local authorities with the standards in the Regulations. This includes assessing saturated fat content of menus and other foods across the school day.

Question reference: S6W-31349

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of primary school meals is prepared from fresh ingredients.

Question reference: S6W-31346

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to ensure that all primary school meals meet the nutritional standards set out in the nutritional requirements for food and drink in schools regulations.

Compliance with the standards set out in the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020 is monitored by Education Scotland Health and Nutrition Inspectors as part of their school inspection programme, helping to ensure that children and young people are provided with balanced and nutritious food, drink and meals to support their healthy growth and development.

Question reference: S6W-31351

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that feedback from pupils and parents regarding the quality of primary school meals is taken into account when developing or improving meal provision.

Local authorities are under a statutory duty to comply with the standards set out in the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020 when designing menus. How they do this is a matter for local decision making taking into account local needs and priorities. The Scottish Government provides advice via ‘Better Eating, Better Learning’ guidance and encourages local authorities to involve pupils, parents and carers in menu development in order to take account of local preferences and feedback as they design new menus and encourage uptake.

Question reference: S6W-31352

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of primary school pupils have been classified as overweight in each year since 2012.

In 2023, almost seven in ten children were within a healthy weight range (69%) based on their BMI, this was within the range of 64% - 72% recorded since 1998.

The Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) sets out data on children’s weight. The table of children aged 5-11 with valid interviewer administered height and weight measurements from that report is set out below by year::

BMI, Children aged 5-11, 2012 to 2023
Base: Children aged 5-11 with valid interviewer administered height and weight measurements					2012 - 2023
BMI status (National BMI percentiles)	2012	2013	2014	2015		2016	2017	2018	2019	2020*	2021	2022	2023
	%	%	%	%		%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
Not at risk of overweight or obesity	73	72	71	73		72	76	73	75		68	71	69
At risk of overweight (excluding obesity)	13	12	12	13		13	12	12	12		11	12	12
At risk of obesity	14	16	17	14		14	13	15	13		21	17	18
Base	629	636	651	507		581	576	672	695		386	386	677

Data for 2020 have not been included, as data collection was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic*.

For definitions of BMI status, please use the following link.

Question reference: S6W-31214

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 26 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25762 by Natalie Don on 13 March 2024, whether it will provide an update on what the average length of time has been between a disclosure check application being received by Disclosure Scotland and the provision of disclosure information in each year since 2016.

I have asked Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

Table: The average number of days to process disclosure applications, by application type, calendar year 2016 to October 2024

Application Type	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024 YTD
Basic disclosure	4.0	3.9	2.9	5.5	7.2	6.0	3.4	5.9	4.0
Standard and Enhanced disclosure	5.6	5.3	4.8	7.7	8.1	7.2	5.1	7.4	8.3
PVG scheme record	5.1	4.7	4.5	9.2	9.0	7.1	6.3	8.4	7.2
PVG Scheme Record Update	2.7	2.1	2.3	6.9	8.5	6.9	6.4	8.5	7.2
PVG Scheme Membership Statement	5.3	4.9	4.8	9.4	5.9	3.9	2.2	2.9	3.6
PVG Scheme Membership Statement (Countersigned)	4.2	3.4	3.8	7.8	6.8	4.6	3.8	4.2	4.3
All application types	4.0	3.8	3.2	6.9	7.9	6.5	4.9	7.3	5.9

Question reference: S6W-31350

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 22 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the percentage of food wasted from school meal services since 2012.

The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Reducing food waste in schools is important and we therefore continue to develop tools to prevent it. This includes the work undertaken by Zero Waste Scotland to provide a Food Waste Monitoring Tool Kit for schools (https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/resources/food-waste-monitoring-toolkit-schools) and the Education Scotland Food for Thought Programme (Food for Thought support resources | Resources | National Improvement Hub (education.gov.scot)) – which is a whole school teaching resource for primary and secondary schools.

Question reference: S6O-04045

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what support is provided to MSPs when representing the Parliament at external engagements.

Question reference: S6W-31345

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure that the supply chain for primary school meals is (a) sustainable, (b) environmentally friendly and (c) aligned with the national climate goals.

Under the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, a public body with an annual procurement spend of at least £5 million must report each year on how, when its procurements involve the provision of food, it is improving the health, wellbeing and education of communities in the body’s area, and promoting the highest standards of animal welfare.

The Scottish Government continues to support the delivery of the Food for Life Programme in local authorities across Scotland which has a primary focus on school meals. Food for Life accreditation ensures that at least 75% of school food is fresh and unprocessed, as well as greatly increasing the amount of fresh fruit (including berries) and vegetables; fish; and wholegrains on the menu. There are currently 16 councils who hold Food for Life accreditation, with ongoing work to ensure retention, expansion and development of the programme.

Question reference: S6W-31182

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 21 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many children and young people have had their children’s hearings delayed due to administrative issues in the past year.