Parliamentary questions

Meghan Gallacher

343 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

27 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children will not have received free school meals as a result of the reported two-year delay, from September 2022 to September 2024, in providing free school meals for all primary school children.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Free school meals are universally available during term-time to all children in primaries 1 to 5 at publicly-funded schools and to all children at publicly-funded special schools. After primary 5, children and young people remain eligible to receive free sch…

27 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of not providing the planned minimum national allowance for foster and kinship care, on those who would be entitled to such an allowance.

Answer · Natalie Don: The rate of payment for the Scottish Recommended Allowance is still subject to negotiations with COSLA and, therefore, we have not undertaken an impact assessment. Foster and kinship carers are, however, already entitled to an allowance at a rate set by the l…

27 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce a minimum national allowance for foster and kinship care, and for what reason it has not yet done so.

Answer · Natalie Don: The Scottish Government is committed to working constructively with COSLA to set a Scottish Recommended Allowance for foster and kinship allowances. Officials are meeting on a regular basis and these conversations have been constructive, yet challenging, give…

27 Mar 2023 · Written Question

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.

Answer · Graeme Dey: 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 tha…

27 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report, Impact of Scotland’s Developing Young Workforce Strategy on Employer Engagement, and what its position is on the fourteen recommendations made.

27 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report, Impact of Scotland’s Developing Young Workforce Strategy on Education, and what its position is on the five recommendations made.

Answer · Graeme Dey: In response to the recommendations from ‘Impact of Scotland’s Developing Young Workforce Strategy on Education’ 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 m…

27 Mar 2023 · Written Question

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

Answer · Graeme Dey: 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 …

27 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase the number of modern apprenticeship places to at least 27,000, in light of reported calls from businesses for such an increase.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-16358 on 25 April 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committee…

15 Mar 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it produces guidance for local government on how allegations of sexual misconduct against councillors should be handled.

13 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering introducing legislation to require professional dog walkers to hold a licence.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government plans to consult on extending the animal licensing framework introduced in 2021 to a number of animal care services, including commercial dog walking. We expect to launch a public consultation on our proposals in early summer this year.

13 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 in relation to introducing guidelines that require owners to control their pets in public spaces.

Answer · Elena Whitham: The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 provided powers for local authorities to respond to incidents of dog owners allowing their dogs to be out of control in public places by imposing Dog Control Notices (DCNs). The Scottish Government updated operational …

13 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how data is recorded when, following sentencing, a decision is made that an individual is not allowed to own a dog.

Answer · Keith Brown: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days

13 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work has been undertaken to ensure the implementation of Dog Control Notices throughout all local authorities in Scotland.

Answer · Elena Whitham: The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 (“the 2010 Act”) introduced the Dog Control Notice (DCN) regime. This regime is operated by independent local authorities under the terms of the 2010 Act. Local authorities are required to appoint at least one officer …

31 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10940 by Clare Haughey on 22 September 2022, whether it has any plans to provide support for parents who cannot access online platforms, such as Parent Club, to access information and advice regarding parent and child rights in relation to the schoo…

Answer · Clare Haughey: Parents and carers are encouraged to talk to their ELC setting about their child’s needs, and ELC practitioners will be able to discuss options for children who may benefit from an additional year of funded ELC. Local authorities are responsible for school en…

31 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, from the implementation date of the proposed change that will enable parents to access automatic deferral funding for early learning and childcare for four-year-olds, what data it expects to receive from local authorities regarding the number of four-year-olds for whom parents have acce…

Answer · Clare Haughey: There will be an Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) census in September 2023 which, as in previous years, will collect information on the number of deferrals but not on the age of the children. The new individual level child census, due to take place for the …

31 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10939 by Clare Haughey on 22 September 2022, whether additional sectors and professionals, including health visitors, GPs, and allied health professionals, be supported to understand the proposed change that will enable parents to access automatic d…

Answer · Clare Haughey: Parents and carers are encouraged to talk to their ELC setting about their child’s needs, and this may involve wider discussions with health professionals. We have written to local authorities to encourage them to review local processes and communications to …

31 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-10939, S6W-10940 and S6W-10941 by Clare Haughey on 22 September 2022, whether it has any plans to promote, including through the launch of a national campaign, the proposed change that will enable parents to access automatic deferral funding for e…

Answer · Clare Haughey: Local authorities are responsible for school enrolments in their area, including providing information for parents and carers who may wish to defer their child’s primary school start. We have written to local authorities to encourage them to update the commun…

31 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding decisions require to be taken prior to the implementation date of the proposed change that will enable parents to access automatic deferral funding for early learning and childcare for four-year-olds.

Answer · Clare Haughey: Funding decisions relating to Early Learning and Childcare (ELC), which includes implementation of the legislative commitment on deferrals, will be taken through the usual Scottish Government Budget process for 2023-24. The ELC Finance Working Group, a joint…

6 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a timeline regarding the proposed change that will enable parents to access automatic deferral funding for early learning and childcare for four-year-olds.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The expansion of funded early learning and childcare (ELC) for deferrals is a legislative commitment. From 1 August 2023, if a parent or carer of a child that is still 4 years old on the date they are eligible to start school defers their entry to school for …

6 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider providing parents with an information pack when their child turns three years old, regarding parent and child rights in relation to the school starting age.

Answer · Clare Haughey: Local authorities provide information to parents and carers about how they can register their child for early learning and childcare (ELC) and primary school. Parents and carers are encouraged to talk to their local authority to discuss their individual child…

6 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how (a) local authorities and (b) partnership providers will be supported to understand the proposed change that will enable parents to access automatic deferral funding for early learning and childcare for four-year-olds.

Answer · Clare Haughey: Information about the change is available in the Joint Implementation Plan . Letters have been sent to local authorities and sector representative bodies to remind them of the upcoming change and encourage them to review local processes and communications. …

28 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update, regarding the funded rate for the private, voluntary and independent (PVI) early years sector, on the Ipsos Scotland report on the provision of 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare.

Answer · Clare Haughey: To inform the setting of sustainable rates for August 2022, COSLA and local authorities commissioned Ipsos Mori to carry out an independent cost collection exercise. This exercise will ensure that all local authorities have access to robust data on the costs …

15 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address the reported increase in incidences of violence in schools.

13 Jun 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its nursery recruitment targets.

20 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to define and promote best practice in Invasive Non-native Species (INNS) biosecurity, eradication and long-term control.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government and its agencies collaborate closely with their counterparts in Wales and England on the control of INNS. Scottish Government officials have played an active role with their counterparts in drafting the 2022-2030 Great Britain Invasive…

17 May 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its housing strategy will support local authorities with developing dementia-friendly homes.

9 May 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what meetings the Scottish Government has had with the private and voluntary nursery sector regarding the delivery of its early learning and childcare strategy.

3 May 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its policy on ending custodial sentences for 16- and 17-year-olds will be implemented.

27 Apr 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the transition to secondary school and flexi-schooling models for pupils with additional support needs.

25 Apr 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will investigate the reported increasing number of children being referred to the gender specialist clinic in Glasgow, in light of reports of a similar inquiry planned by the UK Government.