Meeting of the Parliament 17 February 2026 [Draft]
I will restrict my comments to my amendment 21. I also declare an interest as a member of the Humanist Society Scotland.
Amendment 21 would place a duty on Scottish ministers to issue statutory guidance that sets out the “meaning of religious observance” for the purposes of the bill. It would also require the statutory guidance to be published within 12 months of the commencement of the new guidance provision. The amendment reflects calls for clarity on the meaning of religious observance after stage 2, when religious observance and religious and moral education were separated in the bill and the parental right to withdraw was limited to apply only to religious observance.
Amendment 21 also responds to the concerns that were raised about instances of non-inclusive religious observance in non-denominational settings, most notably by Humanist Society Scotland in its “Preaching is not Teaching” report. Ministers preparing the guidance would therefore be required to consider the
“importance of inclusiveness in the content and delivery of religious observance”.
That would support schools in ensuring that all pupils can participate in a way that respects their personal beliefs, while promoting a time-for-reflection approach.
Recognising the distinct context of religious observance in denominational schools, the amendment specifically includes representatives of denominational schools, alongside “operators of schools” and those who represent the interests of parents, pupils and teachers, as mandatory consultees. That would help to ensure that the guidance is workable and appropriate across all school types.
The requirement for ministers to publish the guidance within 12 months of the section’s commencement reflects the importance of the guidance in providing clarity for schools, pupils and parents on how the changes in the bill should be implemented. I encourage members to support amendment 21.