Questions and answers

Question reference: S6F-02896

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2024

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to promote community deer management on publicly owned land.

Question reference: S6F-02887

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2024

To ask the First Minister what impact the Spring Statement will have on Scotland.

Question reference: S6F-02885

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2024

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-02884

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2024

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-25553

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 4 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider reviewing the definition of the statutory walking distance to school, which is currently defined by section 42(4) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 as being two miles for children aged under eight, and three miles for children aged eight or over, with a view to creating a two-mile limit for all age groups.

The statutory minimum walking distances set out in legislation are a long-standing feature of our education system and there are no plans to change them. The Scottish Government published guidance for local authorities regarding home to school transport in 2021. The provision of home to school transport is responsibility of local authorities and decisions about changes to eligibility for free school transport are for local authorities to make, subject to the applicable statutory requirements.

Question reference: S6W-25449

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 4 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what alternatives are being considered for children and young people who are experiencing mental health concerns, but are either waiting to be seen by child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) or are unable to get onto the CAMHS waiting list, and what funding is available for any such alternatives.

It is vital to the Scottish Government that children and young people receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time. Not all children and young people need specialist services like CAMHS, and many will find more suitable support in their local community. This is why we have provided local authorities with over £50 million since 2020 to fund community-based mental health and wellbeing supports and services for children, young people and their families.

The services are focused on prevention and early intervention, and include supports for positive mental health and wellbeing as well as emotional distress. Where appropriate, these services offer an alternative to CAMHS by providing support for emotional distress delivered in a community setting. Local authorities can also make support available to children and young people who are awaiting CAMHS treatment.

Community supports and services are available in every local authority area, with more than 300 now in place across Scotland. Local authorities report that over 58,000 children, young people and their family members used the supports and services in the first half of 2023 alone.

We will be providing local authorities with a further £15 million in 2024-25 to continue to deliver these supports and services. We have also ensured access to counselling services in all secondary schools, and continue to give local authorities £16 million per year to fund this.

Question reference: S6W-25455

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-03059 by Neil Gray on 7 February 2024, what other options for “broadening our revenue base” have been considered over and above the introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement.

Question reference: S6W-25435

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 4 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that Israeli military planes have used Glasgow Prestwick Airport during the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine, whether it received any prior notification that this would happen.

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that Israeli military planes have used Glasgow Prestwick Airport during the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine, whether it received any prior notification that this would happen. Glasgow Prestwick Airport operates on a commercial basis and at arm’s length from the Scottish Government.

Operational decisions regarding the day-to-day running of the airport, are a matter for the management of Glasgow Prestwick Airport. Scottish Government did not receive any prior notification.

Question reference: S6W-25315

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 4 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase school attendance, in light of recently reported figures showing that children in care have missed 1.3 million school days in the last four years.

I am clear that everyone involved with the education system must redouble efforts to ensure children and young people are fully engaged in their learning, in line with education authorities’ responsibilities to follow up and monitor and manage absence.

The Scottish Government has provided national guidance to local authorities and schools – Included, Engaged and Involved Part 1: Promoting and Managing School Attendance. The guidance focusses on engagement and motivation, including for those at risk of poor attendance. It also sets out follow up actions when a pupil is absent from school.

I have also asked Education Scotland to undertake work to better understand the current barriers and challenges experienced by schools, children and young people and their families which influence school attendance. Education Scotland published this report, “Improving Attendance: Understanding the Issues,” on 28 November 2023. In addition, Education Scotland will work with Directors of Education to take forward improvement on attendance as a priority.

The findings from the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research (BISSR), published in November 2023, provide evidence- on the extent to which pupils are disengaging from learning. Officials are considering these findings and Education Scotland’s work as part of the joint Scottish Government and COSLA action plan on relationships and behaviour, which will be published in the spring.

The Scottish Government is also working with Education Scotland, COSLA and the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES), to agree meaningful, measurable outcomes in response to the education asks within The Promise.

This aims to improve the experience, achievement, attendance, engagement in learning and attainment of those with care experience and their transition from education.

Question reference: S6W-25354

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 4 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the most recent round of the Learning Estate Investment Programme funding.

On 30 October 2023, the Scottish Government announced the following 10 successful Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) Phase 3 projects:

1. Hazlehead Academy (Aberdeen City)

2. Mull Campus (Argyll and Bute)

3. Lochies ASN School (Clackmannanshire)

4. Lenzie Academy (East Dunbartonshire)

5. Carrongrange ASN School extension (Falkirk)

6. Forres Academy (Moray)

7. Chryston High School extension (North Lanarkshire)

8. Kirkwall ASN Centre (Orkney)

9. Brae Campus (Shetland)

10. Riverside and Letham Primary School (West Lothian)

Every local authority which has submitted a bid through the LEIP has been awarded funding for a project in Phases 1, 2 or 3.

The £2bn LEIP is being delivered in partnership with local authorities and will benefit tens of thousands of pupils across Scotland.

The proportion of schools in “good” or “satisfactory” condition in Scotland has increased from 61% in April 2007 to almost 91% in April 2023, and LEIP investment will build on this progress.

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