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This information is not held by the Scottish Government as it relates to an operational matter for the children’s hearings system.

The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) publish their annual statistics, which sets out a measure on time taken to progress referrals through the children’s hearings system. The information is available on the SCRA website: Official Statistics - SCRA

This information is not held centrally. Education Authorities should hold this information locally, given that the statutory responsibility for the delivery of Education rests with Local Authorities.

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

From 1 January to 19 October 2025 inclusive, there were 34 Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) application results where the processing time took longer than eight weeks.

Note 1: Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) applications from 1 April 2025 onwards, with the implementation of the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020, represents: Level 2 PVG scheme disclosure (Join), Level 2 PVG scheme disclosure (Existing), Confirmation of PVG scheme membership (Join) and Confirmation of PVG scheme membership (Existing). Prior to 1 April 2025, PVG applications represents: Scheme Record Disclosure, Short Scheme Record Disclosure, Existing Scheme Record Disclosure and Statements of Scheme Membership.

Note 2: This figure relates to PVG applications completed between 1 January and 19 October 2025 inclusive, with a processing time greater than 56 days.

Note 3: The processing time for a completed application incorporates all time between an application being received by Disclosure Scotland, through to completion with a disclosure issued to the applicant. Disclosure Scotland deducts any time which the application was suspended on our system, such as being suspended for customer contact. Weekend days are included in the number of processing days for applications, but national holidays and Scottish Government public and privilege holidays are excluded.

I welcome the Breast Screening Modernisation Board’s report, which was submitted to the Scottish Government earlier this year, and which we expect to publish by the end of November.

The report includes a number of important recommendations to strengthen the breast screening programme, the most important of which is to move to a single management model, so that breast screening retains local delivery, but with a single point of oversight and leadership. Screening Oversight and Assurance Scotland have been commissioned to take forward work on this recommendation as a priority.

This information is not held by the Scottish Government as it relates to an operational matter for the children’s hearings system.

The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) publish their annual statistics, which sets out a measure on time taken to progress referrals through the children’s hearings system. The information is available on the SCRA website: Official Statistics - SCRA.

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

In the past 12 months, Disclosure Scotland spent £300,321.94 in overtime payments.

Overtime allows us to be agile and responsive to changing demand, including handling application peaks, as we are a demand-led organisation.

Disclosure Scotland does not hold information on the reason for overtime; however, the use of overtime has been to respond to changing demand and higher than expected volumes in applications – for example, as a result of the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 introducing the legal requirement to be in the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme if carrying out a regulated role.

The Scottish Government does not hold information centrally on average current spend on play per child in Scotland and does not hold such data for England or Wales.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all children across Scotland can access high quality play opportunities in a range of settings that will aid their growth, development and wellbeing. In March 2025 we published Scotland’s Play Vision Statement and Action Plan 2025-2030 that builds on our 2013 play strategy and emphasises our commitment to play and our vision for the future of play in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is also making the following investments in programmes that support play opportunities for children across Scotland:

• £60 million to renew play parks during the course of this Parliamentary term;
• £500,000 in 2025/26 for the Outdoor Community Play Fund to increase play opportunities for children and families in disadvantaged communities;
• £1.8 million funding to Scottish Book Trust to deliver the Bookbug Programme in 2025-26;
• £645,000 funding to Smart Play Network for the delivery of PlayTalkRead programme in 2025-2026;
• £250,000 funding to Actify, Inspiring Scotland and partners to explore how the reach and impact of Active Play can be extended across Scotland;
• Through the CYPFEI & ALEC and CYPFAL third sector funds we fund organisations that promote play, such as Starcatchers (£157,500), Play Scotland (£210,000), Outside the Box (£34,125), Learning through Landscapes (£52,500) and the Yard (£94,500);
• In a joint initiative with the Scottish Football Association, £5.5 million to fund the ‘Extra Time Programme’ in 2025-2026, supporting local football clubs and trusts to provide before, after school and holiday clubs to targeted primary school children from low-income families.

The Scottish Government’s National Carers Strategy published in December 2022 sets out a cross-government approach to tackling issues that affect carers, including through health and social care policies. The Strategy sets out our intentions regarding carers’ healthcare at chapter 3. We considered whether it was feasible to provide flexible health appointments for carers, including replacement care for appointments as part of the implementation process of the Strategy.

Following comprehensive scoping work and engagement across Scottish Government, we are focusing on strengthening signposting and guidance to ensure carers can make the most of existing provisions, particularly where appointment slots are available within current practice frameworks. This approach will help us deliver practical improvements while continuing to explore longer-term opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

Unpaid carers have rights under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 to an adult carer support plan (or young carer statement) looking at their caring situation and needs for support. That needs to take account of the extent to which they are willing and able to provide care, which would be impacted by a need for medical treatment.

Such plans should include information about whether there are arrangements in place for the provision of care to the cared-for person in an emergency and arrangements for future care planning. Both of these aspects should provide an opportunity for agreeing how care will be provided should the carer need medical treatment. Carers also have rights to have their plan reviewed when there is a material change to their caring situation, such as the need for medical treatment or a hospital stay.

The 2016 Act also places a duty on local authorities and relevant health boards to jointly prepare a local carer strategy which must include their plans for helping carers put arrangements in place for the provision of care in emergencies. Local authorities must also establish an information and advice service for carers, which should offer information and advice about emergency and future care planning for carers in their area.

As required by the legislation, we will embark on a review of local place plans and lay the report before the Scottish Parliament.

The Act states the review is to be carried out as soon as practicable after the end of the seven-year period, which is seven years on from the Act receiving Royal Assent (after 26 July 2026).

We are in the early stages of considering the scope and delivery of the review, and will engage with community groups and local authorities.

The Scottish Government consulted in 2024 on proposals to phase out the use of cages for laying hens. It is still considering the responses to that consultation and will confirm next steps in due course.