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Indeed it is, which is why a record amount is being spent on ASN across the country. In the most recent financial year—

I am engaged with Ms Somerville and her portfolio on our work in that regard. I have to say, though, that this is a cross-Government mission and—

We are working together on a cross-portfolio basis, and we are working to establish, through this budget, the targets that are needed to drive that progress.

I engaged with the member on that before Christmas. I do not have the detail in front of me on the current number of pupils; that would be a matter for the individual institutions. I will ask officials whether we can share that data with Mr Briggs.

More broadly, we have engaged with the UK Government throughout the process, and we agree with it on a point of principle around the policy. However, as Mr Briggs knows, and as I think I reflected in my correspondence to him, the private sector in Scotland is very different from that which exists in other parts of the UK. It is hugely important that the way in which the legislation is enacted in Scotland meets the needs of the Scottish system. I met representatives of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools over the summer last year to hear about those needs, and it is hugely important that they are reflected.

As I think was documented in the press over the Christmas recess, we asked for a number of changes to the way in which the policy would be enacted in Scotland. Some of our concerns and issues were listened to, particularly on how we measure the number of SEND pupils—those with special educational needs and disabilities. There is a measurement that is used in England, but those pupils are not classed in that way in Scotland, of course. It is important that the policy intent of the legislation is met in Scotland.

Mr Briggs asked specifically about the City of Edinburgh Council. I recognise that a higher proportion of pupils attend private schools in Edinburgh and there are therefore potentially more challenges in the city in that respect. Following our analysis and our engagement with the City of Edinburgh Council, I am advised that there is capacity within the system to absorb the additional pupils who may come into the system. We have carried out that forecasting across local authorities. I recognise Mr Briggs’s constituency interests because of the implications for the City of Edinburgh Council in particular, but we have had close engagement at official level to ensure that the city council has the right support in that regard. We will continue to work with the UK Government on how the policy is enacted on the ground in Scotland.

Neil, do you want to say more about our engagement with SCIS and about the numbers and whether we can share the data with Mr Briggs?

I believe that it is our commitment to work to close that gap, so yes.

Well, I look forward to it. I am more than happy to engage with him and the local authority directly on the issue.

For context, it is worth while reflecting that the LEIP has transformed the quality of Scotland’s school estate. I am sure that members have all heard the statistics but, when our party came into office, about 62 per cent of schools were in good or satisfactory condition and today the figure is 91.7 per cent. That additionality from the Scottish Government has transformed the quality of Scotland’s school estate. However, I do not want to detract from the local challenges that Mr Greer cites, and I am more than happy to engage with him and the local authority, which, of course, owns those schools.

The LEIP funding is a partnership approach between the Scottish Government and local authorities, and it relies on local authorities telling us where they want the investment to go. I am more than happy to engage with Mr Greer and the local authority on that, but the decision making on where the additionality should go is a matter for the local authority. I very much look forward to our visit in the coming weeks and to engaging with the local authority on that point.

I have not seen it.

I continue to work with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government. I have set out some of the financial challenges here. We exist in a Parliament of minorities, so if any political party, including your own, convener, wishes to come forward with budget proposals—

Forgive me, Mr Greer, but that would have to be from outwith my budget. There is no additionality in my budget to provide what you have asked for. I have not had sight of the correspondence that you cited, so I will speak to officials to find out where that might be. I am more than happy to engage with the local authority. This is a very specific issue in regard to one local authority. You will understand that I cannot today announce additional funding that, bluntly, I do not have in the draft budget, but I will listen to the ask.

I recognise the challenges that local authorities have faced on capital, and particularly what happened to our capital allocation last year, which had a detrimental impact on the progress of a number of projects across the country, including the one that Mr Greer has cited. I am more than happy to engage with him and that local authority on how we can support it. I will get sight of that correspondence following this meeting and see what more we might be able to do in that space.

From my budget line, I do not think that there is additionality for LEIP. I think that there is a committed budget line for LEIP of £17 million for a number of projects.

There is significant funding in the budget, but I am happy to engage with Mr Greer on the specifics of the local issue that he has raised.