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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6F-02199

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 June 2023

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is regarding recent reports that suggest there is a mental health crisis emerging in the early years sector.

Question reference: S6T-01392

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will compensate businesses if it decides not to proceed with the Deposit Return Scheme.

Question reference: S6W-17719

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will introduce to improve the reading skills of secondary school students.

The 2022 Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels (ACEL) data tells us that 79% of P7 pupils achieved the expected Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) level for reading by the end of primary school, which represents an increase of around 4 percentage points on the previous year. 2022 also saw increases in overall pass rates for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher English since the last exam year in 2019.

Education Scotland continues to support teachers’ understanding of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment in the area of reading at national, regional and local levels. Their literacy networks, the National Literacy Network and the Literacy and English Curriculum Network, provide the forums to share effective literacy practice with local authorities and schools.

A National Response to Improving Literacy (NRIL) co-led by Education Scotland, Scottish Government and ADES, is underway to identify excellence as well as opportunities for improvement in literacy. The NRIL programme board consists of representatives from a range of stakeholder organisations including each of the six Regional Improvement Collaboratives and The Scottish Council of Deans of Education.

In addition, the Scottish Government also funds the Scottish Book Trust to deliver a range of programmes aimed at improving a young person’s literacy levels and encouraging a reading for pleasure culture in schools, at home and in the community.

Question reference: S6W-17930

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-16509

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 9 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered adopting a national approach to the teaching of a first additional language (L2) to ensure that pupils from certain areas are not left behind.

Question reference: S6W-16506

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered introducing a minimum level of competency in relation to a first additional language (L2) throughout Scotland.

Our approach to language learning is a national one, giving every child the entitlement to learn a first additional language from P1 until the end of the Broad General Education (BGE) in S3. Additionally, each child is entitled to learn a second additional language or languages from P5 onwards.

In line with the flexibility of the Curriculum for Excellence, local authorities and schools are responsible for delivering a curriculum suited to their learners and local circumstances. However, national guidelines from Education Scotland on language teaching provide an agreed approach, as well as practical resources, on areas such as classroom language and how to plan for progression.

The entitlement to a first additional language (L2) is supported by a full suite of experiences and outcomes from the First to Fourth curriculum level. These describe the expected and appropriate level of proficiency at each curriculum level, but do not place a ceiling on achievement. As with other curricular areas, there is an expectation that most learners will reach the Fourth level in the L2 by the end of the BGE, and this is underpinned and supported by a framework of progression from Education Scotland. This provides a strong platform for attainment in National Qualifications or to pursue accreditation and recognition through the Languages for Life and Work award.

Question reference: S6W-16404

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 5 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessment it has carried out of not providing free breakfasts to all primary school children.

Question reference: S6W-16397

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on training providers has been of the reported apprenticeship freeze in early 2023.

As we have previously set out, there was no freeze on apprenticeships. In line with standard practice, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) reviewed changing demand for Modern Apprenticeship starts in-year and between December 2022 and February 2023 reallocated starts to providers as appropriate within their budget. During this period, and as part of their contract management process, SDS remained in close contact with training providers. Providers with any questions were also advised to contact SDS.

Question reference: S6W-16400

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to implement the 14 recommendations from the report, Impact of Scotland’s Developing Young Workforce Strategy on Employer Engagement, and, if so, whether it will provide a timescale for the implementation.

In response to the recommendations from ‘Impact of Scotland’s Developing Young Workforce Strategy on Employer Engagement’ we are working with partners, including the employer led DYW network, to develop a delivery plan. The plan will build on the progress that we are making in supporting a record number of school leavers into an initial positive destination. We will provide further information during summer 2023.

Question reference: S6W-16505

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to increase the number of modern languages (a) teachers and (b) teaching assistants to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, in light of the reported decrease in numbers.

The Scottish Government has clear commitments to improve education, and those include more teachers in our schools.

During the pandemic we provided £240 million of additional investment to local authorities to support the recruitment of additional education staff to support education recovery. We recently set out measures to Parliament making it clear that we will provide £145.5 million in next year’s budget to protect increased teacher numbers and support staff. Where this is not being delivered by a local authority, we will withhold or recoup funding that has been given for this purpose.

Additionally, we value the contribution of languages assistants who come to our schools through a variety of programmes. This is why we have provided funding to partners such as British Council Scotland and the University of Strathclyde to manage and promote such programmes.