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The Scottish Government ensures accountability and transparency in the governance of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) through the SPS Framework Document which was updated and published last year (2024). This includes the Chief Executive’s direct accountability to Scottish Ministers, financial and performance monitoring, ministerial oversight, and the role of the Portfolio Accountable Officer in overseeing the operational and financial performance of SPS.

The HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS) plays a key role in holding SPS to account by reporting on prison conditions and the treatment of prisoners, with recommendations for improvement that must be considered and implemented by the SPS where required.

We have noted the recommendations in the SAWC report and are giving them careful consideration.

The Scottish Government is committed to offering flexible training pathways for learners and employers. That is why in 2025/26, Scottish Government investment will support 25,500 new Modern Apprenticeships, 5,000 new Foundation Apprenticeships and over 1,200 Graduate Apprenticeships. We will also continue to support around 38,500 apprentices already in training.

We are also taking responsibility for skills planning at the national level, while strengthening regional approaches. The SG led skills planning approach will help develop a better understanding of skills needs at the national level, and how we can better address them, particularly where solutions lie within the education and skills system.

As we take forward our programme pf post-school education reform, we will learn from the Flexible Workforce Development Fund to develop a skills system that is simple, straightforward, agile and responsive to Scotland's learners and employers.

The UK Government announced they will reform the Apprenticeship Levy into the Skills and Growth Levy. This remains a reserved tax. The changes, as we understand them, will impact on what funding can be spent on in England. We do not expect this to have an impact on Scotland. Officials will continue to engage with the UK Government to understand any impacts that changes to the Levy may have for Scotland.

Employers are key to the delivery of our ambitions for a skilled workforce to meet the demands of an ever-changing economy and society. The Scottish Government is committed to working with them and listening to them as we take forward our programme of post-school education reform.

I host an employer roundtable several times a year to engage on the Scottish Government’s programme of post-school education reform. The most recent roundtable took place in February 2025. The roundtable includes a range of employers from across Scotland, including small to large businesses.

In addition, a national employer network to engage employers on post-school education reform is being set up. This will include members of the DYW Employer Network, with which Ministers will also continue to engage. This new network will serve as a platform for sharing updates, seeking input on policy reforms, acting as a sounding board and facilitating workshops and discussions. The first meeting of the Reform Employer Network will focus on the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill which was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 6 February 2025 and will take place in May 2025.

The Growth and Skills levy remains a reserved tax for the UK Government. The changes, as we understand them, will impact on what funding can be spent in England. We do not expect this to have an impact on Scotland. Officials will continue to engage with the UK Government to understand any impacts that changes to the Levy may have for businesses in Scotland.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of developing a circular economy for electric vehicle batteries and supported Zero Waste Scotland in commissioning research which indicated that by 2030 there could be up to 16,000 tonnes of vehicle batteries in Scotland potentially available for reuse, remanufacturing or recycling.

However, current UK and European Union legislation dictates that the battery manufacturer remains responsible for the collection, recycling and disposal of the battery.

Scottish Enterprise are currently progressing enquiries from businesses in the electric vehicle and battery preprocessing sector which may be suitable to invest and locate in Scotland. Scottish Enterprise are work closely with each company in order to maximise Scotland’s ability to take advantage of emerging market opportunities in this sector.

Our programme of reform of post-school education will see us develop a streamlined funding system more focussed on the needs of employers and the economy through improved national skills planning and reformed apprenticeships.

As we take this work forward, we will learn from the experience of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund to develop a skills system that is simple, straightforward, agile, and responsive to the needs of Scotland’s learners and employers.

Employers have a key role to play in workforce development. We will continue to encourage employers to build strong partnerships and work with their local colleges and universities to ensure training offers align to labour market needs.

Operational responsibility for the qualifications, such as the marking of assignments and associated quality assurance processes, is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

The Scottish Government has received reassurance that the annotated materials shared were associated with the assignment component of the qualifications and that learners’ assignments had already been submitted to SQA. It is important to provide this reassurance to learners and also important to stress that the materials shared did not relate to the National 5 History exam in any way.

SQA has advised that it is taking actions forward to enhance and strengthen their quality assurance measures for markers for National 5 History and ensure that the integrity and standards of their qualifications are being maintained.

The UK Government undertakes scoping assessments prior to negotiations, and impact assessments on completion of an FTA, which detail the likely economic, social and environmental impacts of a new FTA. Those consider opportunities for increased trade in environmental goods and impacts on trade with third countries.

In our engagement with the UK Government on all trade negotiations, the Scottish Government has consistently requested more detailed assessments of the economic impacts on Scotland. We believe that before embarking on the negotiation of such agreements, the UK Government should be fully aware of their likely impacts across all parts of the UK. Net zero and environmental commitments should be a core part of scoping and impact assessments.

The Scottish Government has invited members of the School Library and Education Policy Group (SLEPG) to meet in June 2025.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.