Official Report 739KB pdf
Good morning. The first item of business is general question time.
Free School Meals (Primary School Children)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to rolling out universal entitlement to free school meals for all primary school children within the current parliamentary session. (S6O-04137)
The Scottish Government remains committed to the universal provision of free school meals in primary schools. The current financial position means that we are prioritising targeted support for those pupils who are most in need. In 2025-26, we are providing £37 million of resource to support the expansion of free school meals to pupils in primaries 6 and 7 who are in receipt of the Scottish child payment. Agreement to the budget from parties on all sides of the chamber will ensure that that work continues.
Universal free school meals have been a policy aspiration for the Parliament for many years, supported by members on all sides of the chamber and by the Scottish Trades Union Congress and Action for Children. Child poverty is not unavoidable—it is, as we know, a political choice—and free school meals are essential to reduce pressure on often fragile household budgets and to drive down the number of children who are going hungry at school.
However, the school day does not get any cheaper after primary school. Will the Scottish Government therefore agree to complete its promised delivery of universal free school meals to all primary school children by the end of the current session of Parliament, and then commence the roll-out into high school by increasing eligibility to secondary school children who are in receipt of the Scottish child payment?
The Government stands by the commitment to delivering free school meals to all primary school pupils. Having taught hungry children as a teacher, I know how transformative the policy has been for families across Scotland, with those who take up the offer saving roughly £400 per child per year.
Right now, we are delivering universal free school meals during term time for all 273,054 children in primary 1 to primary 5 and children in special schools, as well as eligible pupils in primary 6 to secondary 6. Outwith term time, we remain the only part of the United Kingdom to provide families with extra support through our holiday hunger programme, with £21.75 million being provided to support free school meals to eligible families during the school holidays in the current academic year. The next step of the universal roll-out is a targeted approach supporting those children most in need who are in receipt of the Scottish child payment in primaries 6 and 7.
What more is the Scottish Government doing to improve uptake of free school meals among children in receipt of the Scottish child payment, and what additional measures has the Government included in the budget for 2025-26 to provide support with the costs of the school day for families?
I mentioned in response to the previous member the extension of the roll-out of free school meals to those who are eligible in primaries 6 and 7 in receipt of the Scottish child payment. The budget also prioritises further support for families—for example, we have committed to lifting the two-child cap and uprating the school clothing grant, as well as allocating £18.7 million to continue to deliver the education maintenance allowance programme, which provides vital financial support to young people from low-income households to enable them to remain and progress in their learning.
Offshore Wind Hub (Impact on North-east Renewables Sector)
To ask the Scottish Government what impact its recently announced hub for offshore wind will have on the renewables sector in north-east Scotland. (S6O-04138)
The offshore wind hub in north-east Scotland will provide an additional route for industry to engage meaningfully with the Scottish Government. It will build on what we already have in place with our consenting teams, as we fully unlock sector opportunities and jointly deliver on Scotland’s offshore wind potential.
That complements our announcement of our capital funding in offshore wind being almost tripled to £150 million next year. It is part of our strategic investment of up to £500 million over five years, which is expected to unlock £1.5 billion in private investment and support thousands of new jobs.
Scotland’s offshore energy industry has been a success story for more than 50 years, and repurposing the North Sea as a global multi-agency basin will ensure that the sector can power the country for decades to come. Recently, Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce highlighted the benefits of locating Scottish Government agencies in the north-east in order to accelerate planning and consenting processes for offshore wind and to remove grid bottlenecks. With that in mind, can the cabinet secretary provide further detail on how the proposed Scottish Government hub will work with stakeholders to realise Scotland’s energy potential?
The offshore wind hub in Aberdeen will provide an opportunity for the Scottish Government and other parties across Scotland to work with the offshore wind industry. The development of the hub is in its initial stages, and my officials will engage further with industry, as well as with other stakeholders, to understand what they would find helpful to support the offshore wind sector, which, as Audrey Nicoll has described, plays a critical role in Scotland’s journey to net zero and a just transition.
I welcome any pounds spent in the north-east, because the Scottish National Party Government has treated the north-east like a cash cow for far too long—[Interruption.]
Let us hear Mr Lumsden.
What funding will be made to the Net Zero Technology Centre after the city region deal funding from the United Kingdom Government and the Scottish Government comes to an end in 2026? I am sure that the cabinet secretary would agree that that organisation is vital for growing the renewables sector in the north-east.
As we have done in the past, we are committed to funding the Net Zero Technology Centre, because it does absolutely excellent work.
As for the use of the words “cash cow”, I would just reflect on the fact that most of the funds from offshore oil and gas have, for the past 50 years, gone down to the Westminster Treasury, and that Scotland, and indeed Aberdeen and the north-east, have seen very little in return.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers has highlighted that more than 200,000 jobs have already been lost across the offshore oil and gas industry in the past decade. I am sure that the cabinet secretary will agree that we need offshore workers in the north-east for our green energy transition—we need their experience, knowledge and skills. Does she agree that we cannot expect those workers to pay the cost of the transition? If so, can she tell those workers how the new hub will remove the cost to them of retraining and skills passporting to the green transition?
Mercedes Villalba might have understood the purpose of the hub slightly incorrectly, because it is not going to be a training hub as such. We have been working on industry-led skills passports, which are starting to come to fruition. I suggest that Mercedes Villalba catch up with Offshore Energies UK and Renewable Energy UK, which are leading on that vital work.
Electrical Safety (Christmas Period)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking, including in discussion with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, to promote electrical safety over the Christmas period. (S6O-04139)
The Scottish Government works closely with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, which has an annual fire safety campaign. This year, the focus is on devices powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which householders will be urged to buy, charge and dispose of safely to prevent accidental fires at home.
In addition, the SFRS will issue public safety advice over the festive period, with a particular focus on kitchen safety, as more fires start in the kitchen than in any other room in the house. Raising awareness of the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries is particularly important, as products containing them are becoming increasingly popular.
Research from the Child Accident Prevention Trust shows that almost three quarters of parents wrongly believe that any product aimed at children under five has to be fully tested and certified safe by an independent body before it can be sold online. As the minister has highlighted, online marketplaces are littered with substandard fake goods. During this festive period, will the minister join me in emphasising the need to stay vigilant, particularly if people are buying online, to stick to trusted traders and to make use of freely available resources produced by organisations such as the Child Accident Prevention Trust and Electrical Safety First?
I thank Clare Adamson for highlighting that important issue. I would emphasise the crucial role that everyone has to play in their own safety and in the safety of their families, and I strongly urge people to buy products only from reputable retailers whom they know and trust. It is vital that any electrical items are used, charged and stored carefully and safely.
I urge everyone to be aware of the risks. If anyone sees smoke or flames coming from a battery or device, they should, if in doubt, never tackle it themselves. They should get out, stay out and call 999. I also recommend that people make use of the range of fire safety information that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service hosts on its website.
Transport Infrastructure (Inverclyde)
To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed transport infrastructure in Inverclyde with Transport Scotland. (S6O-04140)
Transport Scotland is Scotland’s national transport agency and is part of the Scottish Government. My Transport Scotland officials are in regular contact with their colleagues in planning and regional economic development departments regarding a wide range of topics, including transport infrastructure in Inverclyde.
Recent discussions have included the preparation of Inverclyde Council’s local development plan and the delivery of city region deal projects. In the case of the local development plan, transport infrastructure is a critical enabler, in the planning process, of long-term sustainable growth.
I thank Amey for its investment in the trunk road network in my constituency over the past two years, particularly the resurfacing between Greenock and Port Glasgow on the A8 and the A78.
However, Amey has let itself down on one aspect: the relining of roundabouts in Greenock and Port Glasgow. There are serious safety concerns about three particular roundabouts because of the lack of relining. I ask the cabinet secretary to engage with Transport Scotland to ensure that that work is undertaken as quickly as possible.
The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the A8 through Inverclyde, and we will continue to invest in keeping it well maintained and safe. Our operating company, Amey, has committed to renewing the road markings at the roundabouts at the earliest opportunity, following representations from Stuart McMillan as the constituency MSP. In the meantime, weekly safety inspections will continue, and any safety-critical defects will be addressed quickly.
I remind all members that they should attend from the beginning of a question session in which they have a question.
Dumbarton Castle
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Dumbarton castle is an important cultural asset. (S6O-04141)
The Scottish Government recognises Dumbarton castle’s historical significance and its protection as a scheduled monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.
We are proud that Historic Environment Scotland, our lead public body that investigates, cares for and promotes Scotland’s historic environment, continues to look after the many important cultural assets in our care, including Dumbarton castle. That is why we have allocated more than £74 million in the 2025-26 budget for Historic Environment Scotland’s invaluable on-going work.
Dumbarton castle does not receive even a tenth of the money that goes to Edinburgh castle or Stirling castle. Scaffolding has been up for years, the castle is sometimes closed for no apparent reason, and its collection is scattered to other castles across Scotland.
The castle’s importance in Scottish history is not in any doubt: it has been home to kings and queens, including James IV of Scotland and Mary Queen of Scots, and it has the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Scotland. However, there is not a single mention of Dumbarton castle in the Historic Environment Scotland annual report for 2023-24.
What will the cabinet secretary do to ensure that Dumbarton castle is restored to its former glory? I wonder whether I could invite him to come on a visit.
Jackie Baillie is correct to highlight the importance of Dumbarton castle. For those who are interested, I commend “Vanished Kingdoms”, an excellent book by Norman Davies, who dedicates a whole chapter to the kingdom of the rock Alt Clut. I am happy to take up the invitation to visit.
Given the importance of Historic Environment Scotland’s invaluable work in relation to Dumbarton castle and hundreds of sites around the country, I hope that Jackie Baillie will vote for the budget early next year.
Draft Budget (Support for Economic Growth)
To ask the Scottish Government how its draft budget 2025-26 will support the growth of the Scottish economy. (S6O-04142)
The budget puts money firmly behind the programme for government’s priorities for economic growth. It is a budget for the whole of Scotland and lays the foundations for the long-term prosperity of our people, places and businesses.
That is why the budget prioritises supporting our economy to be more productive and competitive, and creating the economic conditions that increase employment and earnings, lift people out of poverty and raise living standards. We are making major capital investments and leveraging in private investment in housing, transport, energy and digital connectivity to deliver a green and growing economy.
Increased investment in growing our green economy is a welcome and vital part of the draft budget, particularly in the light of diminishing capital funding from the United Kingdom Government over recent years. What steps is the Scottish Government taking to generate private sector investment in Scotland’s next net zero economy?
Scotland is already one of the most attractive places in the UK for inward investment. The budget builds on that even further through leveraging in private investment to drive economic growth. That includes £321 million for our enterprise agencies to support Scottish businesses; a further £200 million for the Scottish National Investment Bank to invest in projects such as Ardersier port, which attracted £300 million in private investment; and, of course, £150 million of investment in the offshore wind sector to deliver the supply chain and port infrastructure required to maximise the economic benefits that the growth of the industry will bring to Scotland.
Mandatory Food Waste Reporting (Larger Businesses)
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024, what progress it has made towards implementing mandatory food waste reporting by larger businesses. (S6O-04143)
Following the unanimous support for the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024, yesterday, we published the final circular economy and waste route map, which sets out 11 priority actions to drive progress in more sustainable resource use and reducing waste. Actions include developing with stakeholders effective options to implement mandatory reporting on food waste and surplus by businesses from 2025-26. To do that, we will establish an expert advisory group to help to develop proposals. Further consultation and engagement will be undertaken as part of the development of secondary legislation, which will be informed by best practice from existing voluntary reporting.
I think that the minister is saying, “Nothing yet”.
Significant amounts of good food are wasted in Scotland, despite a cost of living crisis in which people are struggling to feed their children, as well as the significant carbon impact of waste food. Many businesses in hospitality, retail and food production already follow best practice and report their waste and surplus via the Waste and Resources Action Programme, which allows them to save money through identification of wasteful processes, as well as helping them on their journey to net zero.
Delaying until next year the creation of a new advisory group that will take two years to come up with ideas for something that industry is already doing does not reflect the urgency that is required. Is the Scottish Government doing what it so often does on climate matters—setting out bold intentions but failing to follow up with effective and timely action?
I do not accept that we are doing nothing. Ms Slater characterises the action that we are taking in a rather negative way. Given that she worked so closely on the issue before I became responsible for it, she knows that we need to work with businesses to make sure that we do this in the right way.
She mentioned that about 27 per cent of food waste is created by businesses. The WRAP data indicates that hospitality outlets could save up to £10,000 per year per outlet by reducing food waste. We must capitalise on that, but we must work with the industry to ensure that what we put in place is efficient and accepted by the industry, which has so much to gain from such policies.
On food waste and the responsibility of large businesses, although BOGOF—buy one, get one free—offers have largely been consigned to the bin, “buy one, get one half price” offers have not. Does the cabinet secretary agree that much of that food is not eaten and is thrown away? Would it not be better if businesses and supermarkets simply brought down the prices of single items, particularly for those who live alone, such as pensioners?
Christine Grahame makes a very good point. The latter part of her question indicates that some of the packaged produce on our supermarket shelves is not suitable for those who live alone, and we face a lot of food waste as a result. I hope that supermarkets hear Christine Grahame’s points loud and clear. I am happy to speak to her about what more we can do in the Scottish Government to get the message out and to work with retailers to ensure that supermarkets provide for a range of customers and eliminate food waste at source.
Christmas must be coming, because I find myself agreeing with Lorna Slater. If food waste were a country, it would be the third-biggest emitter of carbon after China and the United States of America. What is the Scottish Government doing to promote the changes that we can all make to ensure that we reduce our food waste and tackle climate change?
It is best to refer Brian Whittle to my initial answer to Lorna Slater. Yesterday, we published the circular economy and waste route map, which sets out the 11 priority actions to drive progress.
We are absolutely committed to reducing food waste to the absolute minimum or eliminating it, and to having a closed loop on the amount of waste that we have more generally in Scotland. I hope that, through the further consultation and engagement that we will undertake in developing the secondary legislation, Brian Whittle will work with me to make sure that businesses in his area are fully involved.
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First Minister’s Question Time