Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government is clear that we will not reintroduce tuition fees. Access to higher education must be based on the ability to learn, not the ability to pay. State funded tuition is a collective investment in our society and economy.

Within the clear and steadfast policy on free tuition, we are working closely with the University sector to understand and adapt to external factors, such UK immigration policies, while strengthening the sector’s national and global impact and reputation.

The safety of young people and staff in school is of paramount importance.

The Scottish Government’s approach to relationships and behaviour in schools is focussed on prevention and de-escalation of concerns. There are a number of strategies schools can and do use to respond to disruptive behaviour. We are clear that the safety of a young person, their peers and staff should always be a priority for attention. To support schools, in June 2025 we published guidance on risk assessments for violent, aggressive and dangerous behaviour. This supports schools to manage situations where there is considered to be a foreseeable risk of harm occurring or a pattern of behaviour that causes, or is likely to cause harm to self or others. Evidence-based risk assessments support the understanding of the behaviour and inform planning of appropriate control measures and mitigations.

The Scottish Government does not centrally hold information on the number of times classrooms have been evacuated due to behaviour since 1999. Local authorities may hold this information.

Decision-making on Scotland’s vaccination programme is guided by the independent, expert advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The shingles vaccination programme was introduced in Scotland in 2013 for those aged 70 years old. Individuals aged 71 to 79 years of age have also been offered the vaccine in a phased roll out of the programme since 2013.

The JCVI recently recommended expanding the age cohorts for the shingles vaccination programme to offer protection earlier. These changes took effect on 1 September 2023 in a phased implementation over a 10-year period starting with those turning 65 and 70 years of age. Individuals aged 68 and 69 in the third year of the expanded roll-out will be invited for vaccination after turning 70, as per the previous schedule.

The Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme (SVIP) is a partnership between Public Health Scotland (PHS), Health Boards, and the Scottish Government. Its aim is to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of vaccination and immunisation services across Scotland.

Overall responsibility for SVIP is held by PHS who are responsible for operational oversight and programme support, including governance, service improvement, and communications for all vaccination programmes. The requested information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government and falls within the remit of PHS to provide a response.

The Scottish Government is guided by the expert clinical advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) who base its recommendations on rigorous appraisal of the best available scientific evidence and continually monitor vaccination programmes to ensure they remain clinically effective and cost-efficient.

In June 2025, the JCVI considered emerging evidence on whether shingles vaccination may reduce dementia risk and if this should influence JCVI advice for vaccinating individuals over 80.

Members agreed that this potential benefit was not currently quantifiable. The ongoing rollout of Shingrix vaccination in the UK could provide an opportunity to collect additional data and improve understanding of the potential link, and the UK Health Security Agency is actively exploring this.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the registration of additional support needs professionals. Information on the registration of teachers is managed by the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

The following Public Bodies and Scottish Government Directorates have adopted the Cloud Platform Service to date:

Public Bodies

• Accountant in Bankruptcy
• Environmental Standards Scotland
• Revenue Scotland
• Scottish Commission on Social Security
• Scottish Government
• Scottish Hospitals Inquiry
• Student Awards Agency Scotland
• Food Standards Scotland
• Scottish Public Pensions Agency

Scottish Government Directorates

• Agriculture and Rural Economy
• Children and Families Directorate
• Digital Directorate
• Directorate for Communications and Ministerial Support
• HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland
• Marine Directorate

Scotland hosts world-class research and innovation, with each of our unique universities conducting cutting edge, collaborative research across a broad range of disciplines. A suite of innovation activity occurs within Scottish research organisations and businesses. This generates a wide range of economic, societal and environmental impacts, and means we are highly successful in leveraging competitive funds from other sources. Recent analysis was undertaken by Elsevier on Scotland’s research and innovation performance.

The Scottish Government remains committed to research, which sits at the heart of a number of our key policies and strategies, such as NSET, the National Innovation Strategy and the International Education Strategy. We continue to support high-quality research and innovation across Scotland, increasing the investment in HE capital (which includes funding for research) to over £368m – an increase of 3.2% (or over £11m) for AY 25-26. We also continue to fund a portfolio of knowledge exchange and innovation investments, including the Innovation Centres, Interface and Alliances for Research Challenges (ARCs), and funding supporting international research collaboration.

Decisions around the Scottish Government’s Budget are being considered over the coming months. The Scottish Government will continue to work collaboratively with Universities Scotland on developing a framework for the sustainability of universities, including research activity.

The allocation of just £28m of the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Fund is a hammer blow for our fishing sector. Scotland accounts for over 60% of the UK’s fishing capacity and seafood exports, with Scottish vessels landing over 75% of UK quota species. Scotland’s allocation should be at least 46%, reflecting our share of the UK’s EU fisheries funding.

We understand from the UK Government that the funding will not be provided until the financial year 2026-27, and that it will be spread over 12 years. The Scottish Government will make funding decisions for 2026-27 and future years in the upcoming Scottish Budget and Spending Review. When that process concludes we will be able to provide more detail on future years of marine funding in Scotland. However, this unfair allocation severely restricts our ability to support our industry which faces mounting pressures, and the very small allocation will do little to address these. I am strongly urging the UK Government to reconsider this decision.

Meanwhile, our Marine Fund Scotland (MFS) has been supporting new entrants into Scotland's Fishing industry and innovation withing the sector since 2021. Since the MFS's launch, a total of over £40 million in grant funding has been awarded to the fishing sector, supporting 45 new entrants into the sector and enabling £85 million investment. The Scottish Government remains committed to working with industry, coastal communities and stakeholders to ensure a sustainable and thriving future for Scotland's Fisheries. I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41725 on 13 November 2025 which sets out the Scottish Governments full response to the 2024 Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics.

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.

As outlined in the Programme for Government this year, we are considering how best we can empower regional partnerships, so that local authorities can work together more with enterprise agencies, businesses, and the third sector at regional scale to drive growth.