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From 2010-11 until April 2015 the ScotRail Franchise was operated by First ScotRail and Transport Scotland do not hold this information.

Information in the detail requested has been supplied to Transport Scotland by ScotRail from Period 1 - April 2016.

The Scottish Government has secured a range of services and improvements for disabled and other passengers through the Abellio ScotRail franchise. For example, £3m of funding dedicated to make small access improvements at stations throughout the network supported by ScotRail’s Minor works fund. ScotRail is also leading the rail industry by reducing the period of notice for assistance bookings from 24 hours to 3 hours by 31 December 2017, with a commitment to reduce to 1 hour within the franchise period. This will greatly enhance the flexibility and choice for disabled passengers who require help to use ScotRail services.

At present, 75% of the existing ScotRail train fleet meets rail vehicle accessibility standards. Investment in the refurbishment of rolling stock along with the introduction of new trains over coming years will ensure that 100% of the ScotRail fleet will meet the vehicle standards by 1 January 2020 as required under the Equality Act 2010.

These commitments are complemented by other investments specifically designed to improve access to rail services. For example, through partnership with the Department for Transport, the Scottish government has prioritised £60m of Access for All funding to make 25 Scottish stations step free and fully accessible.

The Scottish Government has not been made aware of these reports. The cadet experience syllabus is not being rolled out in Scottish schools.

The Franchise Agreement (Schedule 1.4) mandates ScotRail to use “all reasonable endeavours” to maintain a minimum staffing level for every train service of two members of staff.

It is for ScotRail to determine, in consultation with staff whether and how many additional resources are required to ensure that all passenger services run with at least one additional staff member on-board.

Transport Scotland continues to work with ScotRail to ensure compliance with the contractual obligations. We understand that ScotRail has recruited 20 additional Ticket examiners since December 2016.

The Scottish Government has not received any information on whether any sexual assault of cadets in the Ministry of Defence’s care have happened in Scotland to Scottish children.

The Cadet Experience is not being rolled out in Scottish schools. Instead community based Cadet Linked Detachments are working with a number of schools to deliver learning which supports Curriculum for Excellence, rather than following the UK Government model of Cadet Units ‘hosted’ in schools.

The Scottish Government has not been made aware of any reported sexual assaults of cadets while in the MoD’s care.

Scottish Government officials are working with Education Scotland on developing the detail of the PSE review and the associated timescales. This includes consideration of the Scottish Parliament's Education and Skills Committee report on personal and social education and I expect to publish the detail of the proposed review during the summer.

The Scottish Government has no information on Scottish schools reporting bullying to the MoD in the CCF or Linked Detachment Groups. Matters relating to defence are reserved to the UK Parliament. We would expect any instance of bullying in a Scottish school to be addressed appropriately and handled according to the school’s and local authority’s policy and procedures relating to bullying. All Cadet staff in Scotland are required to be members of the PVG scheme run by Disclosure Scotland. The Army Cadets, Sea Cadets and Air Training Corps all have safeguarding and/or child protection policies which are available to view online.

Where a local authority and schools are working with community based Cadet Linked Detachments to deliver learning which supports Curriculum for Excellence, we would expect the authority and schools to make parents, staff and children and young people aware of that activity, just as they provide other information about the curriculum in the school and other school related activities.

Education Scotland published benchmark guidance earlier in 2017 which provides clarity on the national standards expected in each curriculum area and at each Curriculum for Excellence level in Scotland. The guidance affirms that teaching of STEM subjects in Scottish schools is designed to help develop the skills and attitudes young people will require to be scientifically-literate citizens as well as to participate successfully in the labour market. For example, pupils are required to demonstrate an understanding of the moral and ethical implications of scientific developments. Schools are encouraged to make use of external partnerships with employers and others to ensure STEM learning in schools is stimulating, inspiring and relevant. It is up to teachers and local authorities to use their professional judgement to decide which external partnerships to build and how to use them to support their young people gain the skills, capability and confidence they need.