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The Scottish Government recognises the valuable support provided to young people through high quality youth work. This work contributes to the Scottish Government’s priority of eradicating child poverty and tackling inequality.

The Scottish Government regularly engages with Youth Scotland and YouthLink Scotland in connection with the grant funding provided to each organisation from the Community Learning and Development (CLD) budget.

Funding is focused on supporting the workforce to deliver high quality youth work, which, in turn, contributes to Scotland’s economic growth by providing disadvantaged young learners with the confidence and skills needed to overcome barriers to progression and enter the workforce.

As part of the independent review of CLD, the Scottish Government published a detailed literature review on the value and impact of Community Learning and Development, including youth work. This includes external research carried out on the economic value of youth work. The literature review was prepared in consultation with a range of CLD stakeholders, including from the youth work sector, and can be accessed at: www.gov.scot/publications/community-learning-development-scotland-internationally-literature-review/.

In addition, HM Inspectors of Education review and report on the quality of CLD provision across Scotland and evaluate the progress that local authorities and their CLD partners are making to improve the quality of provision and services in their areas.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35311 on 13 March 2025. 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.

We recognise the very challenging conditions for Scottish retail businesses. NIC decisions are reserved to the UK Government and it is regrettable that the Chancellor’s changes places additional pressures on Scottish retailers. We have called on the UK Government to reverse this decision, as debated in Parliament on 18 February. SG continues supporting businesses and workers through the Fair Work Framework, skills programmes and business support. The latest Scottish Budget maintains a competitive non-domestic rates regime, ensuring over 95% of properties in Scotland are liable for a lower property tax rate than elsewhere in the UK. A £3 million fund has also been introduced to tackle retail crime, reinforcing our commitment to supporting businesses, protecting jobs and strengthening Scotland’s retail industry.

The Scottish Government recognises the valuable support provided to young people through high quality youth work. This work contributes to the Scottish Government’s priority of eradicating child poverty and tackling inequality.

In Programme for Government, published in September 2024, Scottish Government committed to invest in community-based youth work focused on reaching young people outside the classroom and supporting access to education, training, and employment.

Each education authority is responsible for securing Community Learning and Development (CLD) in their area under the Community Learning and Development (Scotland) Regulations 2013.

In addition to the block grant given to local authorities, and in a challenging fiscal context, the Scottish Government has continued to fund Youth Scotland and YouthLink Scotland in 2024-25 in support of high quality youth work as part of CLD. Overall funding remains broadly consistent with previous years and reflects the priority that the Government attaches to support community-based youth work.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35311 on 13 March 2025. 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 Scottish Government recognises the valuable support provided to young people through high quality youth work. This work contributes to the Scottish Government’s priority to eradicate child poverty and tackle inequality.

The Scottish Government recognise the crucial role councils and their employees play in communities across Scotland. That is why the Scottish Government has made available over £14 billion to local authorities in 2024-25, a real terms increase of 4.3 percent, with a record £15 billion for 2025-26 set out in the Scottish Budget, a further real terms increase of 5.5 percent.

In line with the Verity House Agreement, local authorities have the autonomy to deliver services to meet the needs of young people in their areas.

In addition to block grant funding for local authorities, the Scottish Government funds a range of youth work initiatives, projects and programmes which aim to support diverse youth work models, promote partnership working and enhance the quality of youth work, supporting the best possible outcomes for young people.

Furthermore, HM Inspectors of Education review and report on the quality of CLD provision across Scotland and evaluate the progress local authorities and their CLD partners are making to improve the quality of provision and services in their areas.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35311 on 13 March 2025. 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.

In my statement to Parliament on 8 January 2025, I reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing to fund the placement of sentenced and remanded children in 2025-26, subject to Parliamentary approval of the Budget Bill.

Approval is now being sought through the Scottish Government’s financial accountability and assurance processes. I will update Parliament when this is complete.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35328 on 13 March 2025. 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 Scottish Government recognises the valuable support provided to young people through high quality youth work. The Scottish Government regularly engages with Youth Scotland and YouthLink Scotland in connection with the grant funding provided to each organisation from the Community Learning and Development budget. Funding is focused on supporting the workforce to deliver high quality youth work and its role in eradicating child poverty and tackling inequality, particularly at the grassroots level.

In addition, the Minister for Higher and Further Education commissioned an independent review of the Community Learning and Development (CLD) landscape in December 2023. As part of this review, evidence gathering and consultation was undertaken with key stakeholders, learners, potential learners, practitioners and partners across the CLD sector.

The Scottish Government welcomed the Learning: For All. For Life. report published in July 2024, which made 20 recommendations varying in complexity and scope. The report can be accessed at: www.gov.scot/publications/learning-life-report-independent-review-community-learning-development-cld/documents/.

The Scottish Government and CoSLA accepted recommendation 1.1 to set up a joint CLD Strategic Leadership Group. The Group will consider the remaining 19 recommendations of the report, including those relating to youth work.