Wednesday 17 January 2018 SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

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1 Wednesday 17 January 2018 SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT Education, Communities and Justice Ash Denham (Edinburgh Eastern) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that young people in the Edinburgh Eastern constituency, particularly in more deprived areas, will be able to participate in the Year of Young People (S5O-01685) Maree Todd: Groups representing children and young people from all socio-economic backgrounds have been engaged from the outset of planning the Year. Young Scot, Children in Scotland and the Scottish Youth Parliament have recruited over 500 young people to be Year of Young People Ambassadors and a smaller group of co-design champions called Communic18. This partnership worked with a range of key organisations to ensure young people from all areas of Scotland and from protected groups or vulnerable or excluded young people are involved in the Year. The Ambassadors role is to promote events and activities and create opportunities for young people within their local communities. Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the widest possible subject choice is available to secondary school pupils. (S5O-01686) John Swinney: It is the responsibility of local authorities to ensure that their schools deliver a suitably broad curriculum that addresses the needs and aspirations of all their learners. The Scottish Government is working with our national and local partners to encourage secondary schools to work collaboratively with each other, and other partners, to ensure a wide range of options are available. In every secondary school inspection, Education Scotland is looking at the learning pathways on offer and encouraging schools to provide a range of options to meet the needs of all their young people. Gordon Lindhurst (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported shortage of teachers in STEM subjects. (S5O-01687) Shirley-Anne Somerville: We have taken a series of actions to address STEM teacher recruitment. Our 'Teaching Makes People' recruitment campaign targets STEM undergraduates and career changers to consider teaching as a career. We have increased student intake targets for the STEM subjects and, from August this year, we are offering bursaries of 20,000 for up to 100 career changers to train to teach in certain STEM subjects. We are also supporting innovative new routes into teaching which are focussed on the STEM subjects and we are creating a further new route into teaching, specifically designed to attract high quality graduates in priority areas and subjects. Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Scottish Conservatives and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Universities Scotland and what was discussed. (S5O-01688) Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government last met with Universities Scotland on 19 December 2017, when officials met with them to discuss the impact of Brexit on the Scottish Higher Education Sector, including EU students.

2 Ivan McKee (Glasgow Provan) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the work of organisations that mentor care-experienced young people, such as MCR Pathways in Glasgow. (S5O-01689) Maree Todd: In , the Scottish Government provided 250k to MCR Pathways from the 750m Attainment Scotland Fund in partnership with Glasgow City Council. We also provide 750k per annum to Intandem, Scotland s national mentoring programme for looked after children. Intandem, which is delivered by Inspiring Scotland, provides mentors for young people aged between 8-14 years who are looked after by their local authority but living at home. Through our portfolio of 13 partner charities, Intandem matches young people from all across Scotland with trained local volunteers to build positive, trusting, supportive and secure relationships. Tom Mason (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve attainment levels across Aberdeen. (S5O-01690) John Swinney: Improving the education and life chances of our children and young people is the defining mission of this Government and there is a collective responsibility to ensure continuous improvement in every school in Scotland. The latest exam results demonstrate real strength in our education system, with more than 150,000 Higher passes and nearly 60,000 skills-based awards and achievements. These show that many young people are leaving school with a greater range of qualifications, skills-based awards and achievements under Curriculum for Excellence. We have committed 750m during the course of this Parliament through the Attainment Scotland Fund to provide targeted support for children, schools and communities to improve attainment and close the poverty related attainment gap. Seven schools in Aberdeen are participating in the Attainment Challenge Schools Programme and have been allocated 598k in Further to this, schools in Aberdeen are benefiting from 2.7m of Pupil Equity Funding this financial year. Bill Kidd (Glasgow Anniesland) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government how it is improving rights for children with additional support needs. (S5O-01691) John Swinney: We are committed to ensuring that all children and young people in Scotland are given every chance to fulfil their full potential. From 10 January 2018, children with additional support needs who are aged between 12 and 15 have been empowered by the extension of their rights under the Additional Support for Learning Act. This landmark extension of rights will enable children to have their voice heard and be fully involved in decisions about their education. These rights are balanced by safeguards and supported by a newly created children's service which will help children to access advice and support at every stage of the process. Emma Harper (South Scotland) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage children from school into higher education. (S5O-01692) Shirley-Anne Somerville: Every young person should have the advice and support to help them make the best choice in what they will do after leaving school, whether that be university, college, work-based learning or employment.

3 Recent UCAS statistics show a record number of Scottish applicants (34,830) have been accepted through UCAS to study at a Scottish university this year (an increase of 3%). We are committed to access to higher education based on ability to learn, not ability to pay, and to ensuring that all of our young people have an equal chance of going to university. That is why we maintain free tuition and why we established the Commission on Widening Access and subsequently accepted all 34 of its recommendations in full. Kate Forbes (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what the impact is on teacher numbers of immigration policy. (S5O-01693) John Swinney: The Scottish Government is taking a range of actions to ensure that we have the right number of teachers, with the right skills, in the right places. This has halted a period of steady decline in teacher recruitment, resulting in almost 800 more teachers than there were two years ago. Scotland benefits significantly from the contribution made by people from across the world who choose to visit, live, work and study here. Individuals from outwith Scotland make up an important part of our teaching workforce. The UK Government s restrictive approach to immigration does not address the distinctive demographic, economic and social needs of Scotland. We need a migration system which meets the needs of Scotland and the evidence is clear that the current system is not fit for purpose. Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the proportion of people who have been homeless who also had a history of sexual abuse as a child. (S5W-13602) Angela Constance: The Scottish Government collects information from local authorities on homelessness applications through the HL1 quarterly return. This return provides individual-level information on applicants and their circumstances prior to making a homelessness application, such as their reason for making an application. It does not provide details of an applicant s history of sexual abuse, and we would not consider it appropriate to collect such sensitive information in a return of this type. We recognise that experiencing sexual abuse as a child can have a devastating long term impact on the lives of victims, and increase an individual s vulnerability to circumstances such as homelessness. We are working with local authorities, health services and others to ensure that we address the more complex issues that can result in homelessness. We also recognise the need for services to be better aligned to both prevent homelessness and to provide trauma informed recovery and support services where necessary. Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to the Civil Service People Survey 2017, which reportedly found that, of Education Scotland's staff, just (a) 7% agree that change was "managed well" by the organisation in 2017 and (b) 18% had confidence in the leadership team. (S5W-13659) John Swinney: These results are deeply disappointing. I believe, however that the appointment of the new Chief Inspector of Education and Chief Executive of Education Scotland, Gayle Gorman, last month will come to be seen as the critical step in improving the situation. She is an experienced teacher, inspector, and, most recently, Education and Children's Services Director of Aberdeen City Council.

4 She is urgently reviewing the steps that need to be taken to ensure that the key concerns raised in the survey are addressed. A draft improvement plan, taking account of the concerns raised, is under development and has been shared with staff to seek their views. It is expected that the final plan, taking full account of staff views, will be implemented early in the new year. Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to tackle the reported increase in the number of term-time holidays taken by pupils, in light of the reported concerns that it is damaging their education. (S5W-13680) John Swinney: The Scottish Government aims to promote good attendance at school. Our focus is to encourage parents and pupils to recognise the value of learning. Absence, whatever the cause, disrupts learning. It is for schools and education authorities to judge what sanctions, if any, they may wish to apply to unauthorised absence due to holidays. Local Authorities can issue attendance orders under section 38 of the Education (Scotland) Act Further sanctions can be imposed by the Sheriff should a parent not adhere to an attendance order. The Scottish Government guidance, Included Engaged and Involved Part 1: Attendance in Scottish Schools, is clear that term time holidays are unauthorised absences and schools are responsible for recording this. The Scottish Government will be reviewing and refreshing this guidance document in the coming months. Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W by John Swinney on 24 August 2017, whether the work to agree an approach to help drive improvement progress in reducing the attainment gap concluded in December 2017 and, if (a) not, (i) for what reason and (ii) by what date it will conclude and (b) so, what approaches it (A) selected and (B) rejected, broken down by reason, including whether each method would enable direct comparisons with previous years. (S5W-13723) John Swinney: The Scottish Government published its basket of key measures and milestones towards closing the attainment gap for each of those measures as part of the National Improvement Framework and Improvement Plan in December The Scottish Government worked with key stakeholders to explore and agree these specific measures and milestones which will bring clarity about the outcomes being achieved across the system and help drive improvement across all stages of the learner journey and the breadth of issues that can impact on attainment. As set out in the NIF and Improvement Plan, responses to the consultation generally supported the proposed approach and agreed that a single measure could not describe the attainment gap appropriately. There was also broad support for the use of stretch aims to set milestones for improvement. In response to the views expressed an additional three measures have been included in the basket of key measures: two additional health and well-being measures, covering the social, emotional and behavioural development of children and young people, and one on the achievement of one or more SCQF level 4 qualification upon leaving school. This is the first time we have had a consistent, national approach to measuring the attainment gap and agreed milestones towards closing it. Some of the key measures are based on existing data which is directly comparable with previous years. Other key measures are new. Moving forward, we will be able to make direct comparisons against previous years across all of the key measures. Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how its Equally Safe strategy is funded; how much of this is allocated toward promoting an understanding of the procedures and practices in place to tackle sexual harassment, and how this work is carried out. (S5W-13735) Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is investing significant levels of funding to tackle all forms of violence against women and girls. This includes 11.8 million from the Equality Budget in

5 , and 20 million over from Justice budgets. In November, we published a delivery plan for Equally Safe, which included funding of 1 million for a range of initiatives. Specific commitments include running a major national campaign on sexual harassment and sexism, to raise awareness and encourage behaviour change; encouraging employers to put in place robust processes to deal with instances of sexual harassment; and developing a pilot Equally Safe employer accreditation programme in order to lever better employment practice in tackling gender based violence experienced by the workforce. Officials are currently scoping out this work. Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T by John Swinney on 31 October 2017 (Official Report, c. 3), what steps it is taking to encourage employers to review their procedures for dealing with sexual harassment, including what guidance it provides or is planning to produce. (S5W-13736) Angela Constance: In November, we published a delivery plan for Equally Safe, our strategy to prevent and eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls. Specific commitments include running a major national campaign on sexual harassment and sexism, to raise awareness and encourage behaviour change; encouraging employers to put in place robust processes to deal with instances of sexual harassment; and developing a pilot Equally Safe employer accreditation programme in order to lever better employment practice in tackling gender based violence experienced by the workforce. Officials are currently scoping out this work. Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what (a) funding and (b) support it is making available for local authorities to pilot and develop citizens' basic income schemes. (S5W-13772) Angela Constance: As outlined within the letter sent from myself to the Social Security Committee on 20 November 2017 a fund of 250,000 will shortly be made available for the four pilot authorities to bid into. This funding is to support feasibility work during the period April 2018 to March In addition to the fund, government analysts will assist the pilot authorities by using tax and benefit models held within the government to help them assess the cost and feasibility of their plans. Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had or plans with the UK Government regarding citizens' basic income schemes. (S5W-13788) Angela Constance: On 21 December 2017 I wrote to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions regarding the Scottish Government's intent to facilitate exploration of a Citizens Basic Income. Within the letter the Cabinet Secretary requested that the Secretary of State progressed this within the UK Government, in order to ensure support for the pilots from both DWP and HMRC. No response has yet been received. Health and Social Care Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that (a) public and (b) third sector services working with people who are homeless have trained staff and resources available to identify and support survivors of child sexual abuse. (S5W-13603) Angela Constance: We recognise that sexual abuse can have a devastating, long-term impact on the lives of victims and increase an individual s vulnerability to circumstances such as homelessness. The Scottish Government has commissioned NHS Education Scotland to lead the development of a comprehensive National Trauma Skills and Knowledge Framework for anyone working with people

6 who are affected by complex trauma, such as child sexual abuse. The framework will equip practitioners working in the statutory and voluntary sectors with the knowledge and skills to be able to identify those affected, or those at risk of abuse, and be able to respond in a way which will enhance the safety of children and adults in Scotland. Organisational Development and Operations Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what the total financial gain was for clients who contacted Citizens Advice Scotland during the autumn 2017 social security benefit uptake campaign. (S5W-13689) Jeane Freeman: The benefit uptake activity carried out in autumn 2017 is currently being evaluated. Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) calls and (b) enquiries from internet users were received by Citizens Advice Scotland during the autumn 2017 social security benefit uptake campaign, and how many referrals to bureaux were made. (S5W-13690) Jeane Freeman: The benefit uptake activity carried out in autumn 2017 is currently being evaluated. The following questions received holding answers: S5W S5W S5W S5W S5W-13553