Meghan Gallacher

19 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has provided to schools regarding pupils changing their names and pronouns.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Scottish Government guidance on pupils changing their names and pronouns is contained within the Supporting Transgender Pupils In Schools Guidance. This is available from Supporting transgender young people in schools: guidance for Scottish schools - gov.sco…

19 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to make it a requirement for boarding and residential accommodation at schools to include single-sex sleeping arrangements.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: This is a matter for the managers of residential schools. The Equality Act 2010 already contains provisions which enable the provision of single-sex sleeping arrangements.  

19 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to make it a requirement for schools to provide single-sex toilets for pupils aged eight and over.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967 set out the requirements upon schools to provide toilet facilities for all pupils in schools.

19 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to request that every school records the name and biological sex of every pupil in its admissions register.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Schools (Scotland) General Regulations 1975 set out the requirements upon schools and education authorities in relation to registration of admissions.

11 Dec 2023 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to appeal the decision of the Court of Session that the UK Government acted lawfully when enacting a section 35 order in relation to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.

20 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support children with long COVID.

14 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making towards achieving a circular economy, including through the development of the wind turbine decommissioning sector.

13 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many hours teachers that are employed on temporary contracts have worked during the last full school term in (a) North Lanarkshire, (b) South Lanarkshire and (c) Falkirk.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government does not hold this information as the recruitment and employment of teachers are matters for individual councils.

8 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether discussions are underway to make BSL a mandatory part of teacher training.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The content of initial teacher education (ITE) programmes are the responsibility of university providers. All ITE programmes are accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) based on the Standard for Provisional Registration. The Professiona…

8 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) strategy and (b) funding is in place to (i) recruit BSL teachers and (ii) train practising teachers in BSL.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Under The Requirements for Teachers (Scotland) Regulations 2005, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that teachers employed to teach pupils who are deaf or deafblind hold an appropriate qualification. Local Authorities are supported in implementing…

8 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support will be made available to encourage the learning of BSL as a second language for (a) people who are hard of hearing, (b) deafened people and (c) people at risk of a second sensory loss.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting children and adults who have deafness, sight loss and dual sensory loss to access the support and social care they need through its See Hear Strategy, published in 2014. The Scottish Government provides Sect…

8 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to SMEs to help and encourage them to employ BSL users.

Answer · Neil Gray: In November 2023 the Scottish Government launched the British Sign Language National Plan which contains 45 actions focused on addressing the barriers faced by BSL users in their daily lives. The Scottish Government has since 2020 provided around £1,000,000 …

8 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work will be conducted with the General Teaching Council for Scotland to facilitate pathways for BSL users to obtain qualified teacher status.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government and the General Teaching Council for Scotland are supportive of pathways that will allow BSL users to obtain qualified teacher status. We have held discussions with the University of Edinburgh about the programme they are currently dev…

8 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available for BSL lessons for entire classes in schools in which there is a deaf pupil or pupils.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the experiences and outcomes for young people with additional support needs, which we have outlined in our Programme for Government 2023-24. The legislative framework is clear about the responsibilities for t…

8 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what extra support is given to teachers and school staff who work with a deaf pupil.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004, local authorities have duties to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils, including those who are deaf or deafblind. Local authorities are supported in implementing thei…

8 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis has been undertaken to support the presumption of mainstream education for deaf pupils.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Guidance on the presumption to provide education in a mainstream setting , published in 2019, was informed by a wide range of information and evidence taking into account all children and young people with additional support needs, including those pupil…

8 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether training will be provided to (a) NHS and (b) school staff to become fluent in BSL, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: (a) The NHSScotland Staff Governance Standard includes the requirement for Health Boards to demonstrate that staff are appropriately trained and developed. There is an expectation that employers will ensure that resources are appropriately allocated to meet l…

8 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who will sit on the BSL National Plan Implementation Advisory Group.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We will establish an Implementation Advisory Group for the BSL National Plan 2023-2029, utilising the experience of the group to strengthen delivery. The group will consist of organisations representing the deaf and deafblind community. We are currently estab…

8 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the BSL National Plan Implementation Advisory Group will be formed, and how often it will meet.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The BSL National Plan Implementation Advisory Group will be formed early in the new year. Following that, it will be for the group to collective agree as to the frequency of meetings.

8 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total number is of BSL teachers currently working in primary schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: This information is not held centrally. The 2022 pupil census records 3740 pupils in Scotland in receipt of additional support as a result of hearing impairments and a further 69 recorded as deafblind. The level of support from a qualified Teacher of the D…

8 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make BSL a core subject in primary schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Modern Languages is one of the eight core curricular areas within Curriculum for Excellence, and British Sign Language (BSL) is one of the languages that can be provided within a school’s language offer to their pupils. While it is the responsibility of local…

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is considering to better support parents and families facing foetal alcohol spectrum disorder during pregnancy and early years.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that Scotland’s babies have the best possible start in life. Before birth, midwives, maternity and other professionals can apply the values and principles of ‘Getting it right for every child’ to support parent…

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to tackle the reportedly significant lack of (a) resources, (b) specialist schools and (c) support for children and young people with additional support needs, and to ensure that any inequalities do not widen.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: All children and young people should receive the support they need to reach their full potential. In the most recently published figures, spending on additional support for learning by authorities reached a record high of £830m. We have invested an additional…

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider a collaborative approach with its counterparts across the UK to increase knowledge and awareness of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Answer · Maree Todd: Scottish Government officials have made contact with Northern Ireland and have met with counterparts in England and Wales regarding fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) policy. We will continue to share learning and consider how these discussions will infor…

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the adequacy of support and services available for people with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is committed to preventing the harm caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy and to supporting those impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). We recognise there is more that needs to be done to support people with FAS…

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost has been for the repair work on Bute House, in light of reports that the building closed down for five months between April and September 2023.

Answer · George Adam: The Scottish Government are working with their appointed contract administrators to obtain completion certification on works connected with the recent essential repairs at Bute House. Once certification is in place all costs associated with the fabric of the…

31 Oct 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the support and services available for children and young people with additional support needs in mainstream education across Central Scotland.

23 Oct 2023 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reported concerns that parents are having to give up their jobs due to childcare costs.

20 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider the merits of the Private Members' Bill, the Animal Welfare (Responsibility for Dog Attacks) Bill, which is currently being considered by the UK Parliament, with a view to introducing similar legislation in Scotland.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Policy responsibility for this issue is a devolved matter, and the potential introduction of any new legislation would be given careful consideration by Scottish Ministers. The Scottish Government understands that the Animal Welfare (Responsibility for Dog A…

20 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update following the public consultation on extending the animal licensing framework, particularly regarding the consideration of licensing commercial dog walkers.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The consultation on extending the scope of the 2021 animal licensing regulations closed on 26 September. We are considering all the responses received and will publish a consultation summary report in due course. This report will provide a breakdown of respon…