Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-25783 on 11 March 2024. 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 .

The Consolidated Accounts are published annually and include a Performance Report which includes a Performance Overview and Performance Analysis, with high level financial information split by portfolio. The Consolidated Accounts for the years noted can be found at the following links:

The Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (www.gov.scot)

The Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 (www.gov.scot)

I receive regular performance delivery updates on the three Policy Prospectus missions of equality, opportunity and community. I also engage regularly with Cabinet Secretaries to support strong collaboration across portfolios and budgets and enable effective delivery of Mandate Letter commitments. These arrangements are routinely reviewed and improved where appropriate.

The statutory review of the National Performance Framework National Outcomes is underway and reporting on progress towards the National Outcomes will continue to be delivered via the NPF website nationalperformance.gov.scot

Although it is the statutory duty of local authorities to manage their school estate, the Scottish Government will convene a working group - including representatives from COSLA, community organisations and sports organisations - to explore how community access to facilities, such as the school estate, can be enhanced. The first meeting of this group will take place in March.

The announcement on 24 January of a £600m package for councils in England only resulted in £500m of new funding when the detail of the UK Budget was published on 6 March.

This package generated £48m, of the total £293m, barnett consequentials accruing to the Scottish Government as a result of the UK Budget.

The process of the implementation of job evaluation of college support staff has yet to complete.

The Scottish Government encourages both the employers and the trade unions to continue to engage in the process, to agree a suitable way forward and ensure the timely conclusion of the project.

In line with the Scottish Government home education guidance , choosing to home educate in itself should not be seen as a child protection concern, and local authorities should not treat it as such. The guidance encourages an annual meeting between home educating families and the local authority to discuss the ongoing education provision for the child, and recommends that the child should be given the opportunity to attend that meeting to express their views, but this is not compulsory.

If, from whatever source, an authority becomes aware of concerns about the home education of any child, outwith the normal contact time, they will need to gather the necessary information in order to form a view on whether those concerns are justified or whether the parents are providing an efficient education suitable to the age, ability and aptitude of the child.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of children and young people who are home educating in Scotland.

Clinical outcomes are reported monthly and any clinical mental health incidents reported to NHS 24, through any feedback channel, will receive a full investigation and clinical review.

The commitment to develop a new digital strategy for education was made in the 2023 Programme for Government and is expected to complete by Autumn 2024.

The National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Young Persons provides free travel on local registered bus services and long distance bus services throughout Scotland. Dedicated school transport services do not fall within the definition of eligible services set out in the legislation as they are generally not registered as local bus services or available to members of the public. Local authorities receive funding via the local government block grant to enable them to meet their statutory obligations, including the provision of home to school transport.