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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-22888

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) has carried out and (b) is undertaking any progress reports on the development of a national digital academy, and, if so, where they are published.

Question reference: S6W-22886

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22203 by Jenny Gilruth on 8 November 2023, whether it will provide the information requested regarding how much of the £140 million to support the roll-out of digital devices in the Capital Spending Review has been allocated to date; for what reason it did not provide this information in its answer, and, if it has not allocated any of the £140 million to date, whether it will confirm that.

Question reference: S6W-22776

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22060 by Jenny Gilruth on 6 November 2023, whether it has measured the impact and outcomes of the 2016 Digital Learning and Teaching Strategy prior to considering revising it; if so, how it measured this, and where the results of any measurements have been published, and, if no such measurements of outcomes have been undertaken, for what reason it decided not to do this, and whether it will set out its rationale for revising a strategy for which the impact has not been measured.

The 2016 Digital Learning and Teaching Strategy set out a series of national actions and local expectations to support local authorities in the development of their local digital learning and teaching offer. As set out in the strategy Education Scotland have ongoing engagement with local authorities, providing advice, support and professional learning and we know that many local authorities have made significant improvements in their use of technology in education in recent years.

Since publication of the 2016 strategy, both the technology and level of system maturity have moved on significantly, particularly following the pandemic. With a range of new and emerging technologies available, it is crucial that we continue to work with local authorities to ensure digital learning and teaching remains of a high standard now and in the future.

The refreshed digital strategy for education will build on existing practice and learning from the pandemic to support the ongoing evolution of the role of technology in Scotland’s education system.

Question reference: S6W-22891

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 27 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland’s universities will receive the full £5.8 million in regional innovation funding, as announced by the UK Government on 3 October 2023 as Scotland’s share of the UK-wide funding for the initiative, which universities in England are receiving directly via Research England.

The Scottish Government recognises the vital role that universities play in supporting innovation and contributing to economic and societal challenges, as we recently recognised in our National Innovation Strategy.

Following the UK Government’s announcement on a new UK Regional Innovation Fund (RIF), the Scottish Government has been engaging with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to understand implications for Scotland. The Scottish Government plans to provide an update shortly.

Question reference: S6W-22890

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 22 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what process its Innovation Funding Review will use to ensure that it is inclusive of the views of institutions and organisations currently in receipt of research and innovation funding.

In developing the actions within Scotland’s National Innovation Strategy, including our Innovation Funding Review, we engaged extensively with a diverse and extensive range of institutions, organisations and stakeholders from across the innovation ecosystem.

This included a public consultation, events, workshops and engagements with businesses from a range of different sectors and sizes across the country, industry leadership groups, all of our universities and colleges, our innovation centres, investors, entrepreneurs and the wider public sector including our enterprise and skills agencies.

As we further develop the Innovation Funding Review we will continue to utilise this evidence-led, open, inclusive and collaborative approach to ensure we meet the needs of our diverse innovation community.

Question reference: S6W-22724

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 21 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21483 by Graeme Dey on 3 October 2023, when it expects to conclude its consideration of options, and (a) in what form and (b) when it will publish its conclusions.

The Scottish Government is still awaiting some responses to the Lessons Learned report from partners in the National Collective Bargaining process and is currently considering next steps with respect to the report’s recommendations that are for Scottish Government to progress, particularly in relation to the independent Chair of the National Joint Negotiating Committee (NJNC).

Once all responses have been received from all partners in the National Collective Bargaining process, the Scottish Government will engage with the Education, Children and Young People Committee on those findings.

Question reference: S6W-22723

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 21 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21484 by Graeme Dey on 3 October 2023, whether it plans to exercise its convening power to assist employers and trade unions to work together to improve industrial relations in the college sector; if so, when it plans to do so, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

The Scottish Government has continued to use its convening power to meet both trade unions and employers to urge continued dialogue and collaboration over a range of workforce issues, including the ongoing pay negotiations. However, the Scottish Government has been absolutely clear that it has no locus to be involved directly in the national bargaining process. This position is in line with the findings of the Lessons Learned report and respects the national collective bargaining framework.

Question reference: S6W-22741

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many probationer teachers have not completed their probationary year in each year since 2016.

Question reference: S6W-22740

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many additional pupils have accessed free school breakfasts since the beginning of the current parliamentary session.

Question reference: S6W-22742

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on introducing free school breakfasts for all primary school pupils.

There is a currently a mixed delivery of breakfast provision across Scotland with a range of service providers including public, private and third sector. We have conducted provisional modelling of breakfast provision and have begun work with local authorities and key stakeholders to better understand and map provision in order to identify gaps in provision. This will help us develop a plan for breakfast provision, designed around the needs of children and families.