Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 01 October 2025 [Draft]
01 Oct 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Mobile Phones in Schools
No, I am not embarrassed. The Government has made good progress on that.
We need to equip headteachers with guidance and with the means to act in the best interests of their pupils in addressing concerns around mobile phones. The Government is supporting Scotland’s schools to take the necessary steps to tackle the negative effects that are associated with mobile phone use in order to enhance outcomes for all Scotland’s young people. Of course, as members have noted, there is growing evidence that suggests that overexposure to mobile phones can negatively impact concentration levels and result in isolation. The decision to implement a ban on mobile phones rests with headteachers. As I said, I have had discussions with headteachers in East Lothian. They know their pupils and staff best and are trusted to make decisions that are in the best interest of their pupils.
Those decisions are not made in isolation. Guidance on mobile phones was published in August 2024 to provide support to teachers’ efforts to ensure a consistent learning environment for pupils.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-19123, in the name of Pam Duncan-Glancy, on mobile phones in schools. 14:52
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Presiding Officer, “It helped me focus.” “Fights and bullying at breaks have got better—because no one has their phones in class to organise them.” “I spe...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (Jenny Gilruth)
SNP
I am interested in the member’s point about a postcode lottery. In Scotland, the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 makes it clear that statutory responsibility f...
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
I draw the cabinet secretary’s attention to section 2 of the 1980 act, which has regulating-making powers for the Government in a wide range of areas. One ha...
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
In the absence of the iPads that the SNP promised, where teachers want to use devices in lessons in schools where bans exist, teachers have the option to say...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You do not really have time, Ms Duncan-Glancy.
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
I apologise to Karen Adam, but I cannot take her intervention. With a national ban, the default changes from phones first to learning first. That is what we...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I advise members that, as ever when there are two debates during the afternoon, we are pretty tight for time. There is not a lot of additional time. 15:00
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (Jenny Gilruth)
SNP
The Government agrees with the premise behind the Scottish Labour Party’s motion that mobile phones should be banned in our schools. The motion from Labour i...
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
The point that I made when I set out why we are proposing the motion is that you are leaving it up to headteachers to take a big decision on what goes on in ...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I say to the member, very gently, that it is quite clear in the national guidance that our headteachers are already empowered to carry out mobile phone bans....
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I am happy to do so.
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
We are not proposing primary legislation. What I said was that the cabinet secretary is the person who said that legislation was required. If you chose to do...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Always speak through the chair.
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
As I have just intimated, whether or not it is primary legislation that is being proposed—I hear the member’s point in relation to regulations—I have to ask ...
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I thank the Labour Party for holding a debate on mobile phone use in schools. The Scottish Conservatives held a similar debate in January this year, and I am...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
Pam Duncan-Glancy quoted young people welcoming the change of policy on phones in classrooms, and she talked about having a sensible boundary during lessons....
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
I think that there is agreement that the use of mobile phones in the class can be incredibly distracting. There is growing evidence from across the education...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We move to the open debate. 15:18
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I believe that it is time to ban mobile phones in all Scottish classrooms. We need to shield children from harmful content, misinformation, bullying and othe...
Paul McLennan (East Lothian) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Pam Duncan-Glancy for bringing the motion for debate in the chamber. Many of us have had casework on the issue over the past few years. East Lothian ...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Some of the children whom I have spoken to in East Lothian and beyond say that they use their mobile devices in classrooms as a learning aid. Is the member e...
Paul McLennan
SNP
No, I am not embarrassed. The Government has made good progress on that. We need to equip headteachers with guidance and with the means to act in the best i...
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
Will the member take an intervention on that point?
Paul McLennan
SNP
I am sorry, but I only have four minutes, and I have already taken one intervention. The Government is now providing schools with comprehensive guidance on ...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of Pam Duncan-Glancy’s motion, which calls for mobile phones to be banned for learners in school classrooms. We...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
How about that? A Government that is not distracted by manufacturing grievance all day long—that would be quite an improvement on the Government that we have...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?