Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Kenneth Gibson) NPA Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Air Quality (Scottish Transport Emissions Partnership)

Thank you, colleagues. That concludes general questions. I apologise to those whose supplementary questions were not called due to time constraints.The rest of this Official Report will be published progressively as soon as the text is available.

Stephen Flynn SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Air Quality (Scottish Transport Emissions Partnership)

I am sympathetic to the campaigners’ arguments—it is very hard not to be. I have asked my officials to engage with those campaigners and to feed back to me as quickly as possible whether any action could be taken that is within the Government’s scope.

Katie Hagmann SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Air Quality (Scottish Transport Emissions Partnership)

The cabinet secretary will be aware that the A77 trunk road runs through Girvan in my constituency, carrying significant heavy goods vehicle traffic to and from the port of Cairnryan. Local groups, including GoGirvan, which is a community regeneration group, seek support in or...

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport (Stephen Flynn) SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Air Quality (Scottish Transport Emissions Partnership)

We all recognise the importance of clean air, particularly those of us who walk around with weans. Unfortunately, the Scottish transport emissions partnership is no longer active, but I advise Katie Hagmann that action is currently driven by the cleaner air for Scotland strategy.

Katie Hagmann (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Air Quality (Scottish Transport Emissions Partnership)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work carried out by the Scottish transport emissions partnership in relation to local air quality management. (S7O-00067)

Màiri McAllan SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Pupil Support Assistants (Rural Primary Schools)

I can. It is worth noting for a moment where we are now. The latest figures show that, in Scotland, we have 16,908 pupil support assistants, which is the third highest number on record and an increase of nearly 1,645 since 2020. However, in our manifesto, the Government commit...

Colin Beattie (Midlothian North) (SNP) SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Pupil Support Assistants (Rural Primary Schools)

Pupil support assistants have an essential role to play in our classrooms. Can the cabinet secretary provide any update on the steps that the Scottish National Party Government is taking to support schools, including in Scotland’s rural areas, to deliver more pupil support staff?

Màiri McAllan SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Pupil Support Assistants (Rural Primary Schools)

I recognise the seriousness of the issue that Andrew Baxter raises. It bears repeating that local authorities are the employers of teachers and that, therefore, any assessment that is done regarding the reduction of hours or the withdrawal of pupil support staff in schools in ...

Andrew Baxter LD Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Pupil Support Assistants (Rural Primary Schools)

I thank the cabinet secretary for recognising the importance of our PSAs. However, every summer, pupils, parents, teachers and pupil support assistants are left wondering what their classrooms will look like after the holidays. One PSA recently told me that they were informed ...

The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic (Màiri McAllan) SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Pupil Support Assistants (Rural Primary Schools)

Pupil support assistants play an absolutely vital role in our classrooms and schools and in our young people’s education. They are essential and valued members of the school learning teams and communities. That is why we continue to provide £15 million each year to help local ...

Andrew Baxter (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (LD) LD Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Pupil Support Assistants (Rural Primary Schools)

I refer to my entry in the register of interests, which shows that I am a sitting councillor on Highland Council. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how any reduction in hours or withdrawal of pupil support assistant posts will impact rural primary s...

Màiri McAllan SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Teaching Contracts

On the substance of Meghan Gallacher’s question—setting aside any misquoting of cabinet secretaries—the fact is that, as I put to Colm Merrick, the Government has invested significantly in the retention of teachers and the growth of teacher numbers in Scotland. We understand t...

Meghan Gallacher (Central Scotland and Lothians West) (Con) Con Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Teaching Contracts

The former education secretary and now Deputy First Minister, Jenny Gilruth, said in January this year that teachers would need to relocate to where the jobs are. Mike Corbett from the NASUWT condemned those comments. Does the new cabinet secretary agree with the Deputy First ...

Màiri McAllan SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Teaching Contracts

I recognise, and the Government recognises, that the lack of available jobs after probation has, for some prospective teachers, been a significant concern. The commitment to a teacher job guarantee demonstrates that we have listened to that and are prepared and determined to w...

Colm Merrick (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Teaching Contracts

I hope that we can all welcome the Scottish Government’s plans to deliver the reforms that are necessary to provide a teacher job guarantee for a minimum of three years for newly qualified teachers. How does the cabinet secretary anticipate that that measure will support Scotl...

Màiri McAllan SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Teaching Contracts

As we do the careful work that is required to design and, thereafter, implement the conditions for a three-year teacher job guarantee, I will, of course, consider, among many other issues, the points that Katherine Sangster has put to me about the very practical question of ho...

Katherine Sangster Lab Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Teaching Contracts

Teaching unions have raised concerns that the way in which local authorities advertise temporary contracts is making work difficult to access for some teachers, by creating an inequality for those with caring responsibilities and those who are unable to check their phones beca...

The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic (Màiri McAllan) SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Teaching Contracts

Local authorities are responsible for teacher employment practices, as they are the employer of teachers. However, the Government is doing everything possible to maximise the number of teaching jobs that are available, including permanent posts. The 2026-27 budget continues to...

Katherine Sangster (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Lab Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Teaching Contracts

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress it has made towards reducing the number of teachers on short-term or temporary contracts. (S7O-00065)

Stephen Flynn SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Road Infrastructure Commitments (North East Scotland)

Of course I can, but I appreciate that members are conscious of time, so I do not want to list them all. I can draw Mr Middleton’s attention to what I drew Mr Kerr’s attention to, which is the Aberdeen western peripheral route. It was a huge investment in the north-east of Sco...

Jack Middleton (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Road Infrastructure Commitments (North East Scotland)

Can the cabinet secretary remind the chamber what improvements to road infrastructure the SNP Government has made in the north-east and outline what more it will deliver in the future? Interruption.

Stephen Flynn SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Road Infrastructure Commitments (North East Scotland)

Of course, in order to get to Ellon from the south, people right across Scotland have the opportunity to drive on the Aberdeen western peripheral route—a nearly £1 billion project that was delivered by the SNP Government of the time and which Mr Kerr seems to have forgotten ev...

Liam Kerr Con Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Road Infrastructure Commitments (North East Scotland)

I am grateful to hear that reassurance, because the minister will know the dangers of the A90 north of Ellon, particularly at the Toll of Birness and Cortes junctions, which the Scottish National Party Government has shamefully failed to address. In fact, in 2007, Alex Salmond...

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport (Stephen Flynn) SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Road Infrastructure Commitments (North East Scotland)

Yes.

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Road Infrastructure Commitments (North East Scotland)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will honour, in full, commitments made by previous ministers for transport to upgrade road infrastructure in the north-east of Scotland. (S7O-00064)

Gillian Martin SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Flood Protection (Grangemouth)

I agree with the substantive premise of Graham Simpson’s question. Flood defences are for the Scottish Government to provide, but given the size of the scheme, any contribution would be welcome. Obviously, the UK Government has been working with the Scottish Government on issu...

Graham Simpson (Central Scotland and Lothians West) (Reform) Reform Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Flood Protection (Grangemouth)

That scheme is so big that it is of UK significance, and it has always been my view that the UK Government should help to fund it. Has the cabinet secretary been in any direct discussions with the UK Government about sourcing funding for the scheme?

Gillian Martin SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Flood Protection (Grangemouth)

I thank Martin Day for that important supplementary question. We will continue to work with Falkirk Council, the United Kingdom Government, businesses and investors to secure a long-term sustainable future for the industrial cluster. My officials working on flood policy have b...

Martyn Day SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Flood Protection (Grangemouth)

Falkirk Council deserves credit for the years of work that it has put into managing flood risk. With climate change increasing the risk of flooding around Grangemouth and upstream, plans to protect 6,000 people, 2,760 homes, 1,200 businesses and 23km of roads from a major floo...

The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs (Gillian Martin) SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Flood Protection (Grangemouth)

The Scottish Government is in close contact with Falkirk Council on how to progress the Grangemouth flood protection scheme. In February, we provided £1.6 million to the council, which will be used to support the next stage of the scheme’s development. That is in addition to t...

Martyn Day (Falkirk East and Linlithgow) (SNP) SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Flood Protection (Grangemouth)

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made regarding funding for the Grangemouth flood protection scheme. (S7O-00063)

Stephen Flynn SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Winchburgh Train Station

It is important to place on record the important work that was undertaken by the former constituency member, Ms Hyslop, and by Mr Fairlie in his ministerial role. I look forward to working with the new constituency member to take forward the matter, and I am sure that we will ...

Pauline Stafford (Bathgate) (SNP) SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Winchburgh Train Station

I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests, as I am an elected member of West Lothian Council.I welcome the Scottish Government’s clear commitment to delivering a Winchburgh station, including reference to it in this year’s budget statement and in the Sc...

Stephen Flynn SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Winchburgh Train Station

I would love to be in a position to do that here today. It is important to recognise that it is for West Lothian Council and Winchburgh Developments to take forward construction of a new station, but we are willing to engage with them in that process. They have already been in...

Jenny Young Lab Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Winchburgh Train Station

Currently, it takes more than an hour to get the bus from Winchburgh to central Edinburgh. That is a journey of under 15 miles. The train to Waverley would take around 15 minutes.Last week, the cabinet secretary opened a debate on growing Scotland’s economy, which I know is a ...

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport (Stephen Flynn) SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Winchburgh Train Station

The member knows that the Government is committing to ensuring that there is a new train station at Winchburgh. We are continuing to work with West Lothian Council and Winchburgh Developments in that regard. I hope that I will be able to update the chamber in the not-too-dista...

Jenny Young (Central Scotland and Lothians West) (Lab) Lab Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Winchburgh Train Station

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when construction work on Winchburgh train station will begin. (S7O-00062)

Gillian Martin SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Air Pollution Monitoring (City Primary Schools)

Mark Ruskell is absolutely right, and 2026 is a key year in that regard. Proposals for a long-term air quality policy framework will succeed the cleaner air for Scotland 2 strategy when it expires at the end of this year. We are developing those proposals, including assessing ...

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Green Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Air Pollution Monitoring (City Primary Schools)

The science shows that even modest improvements in air quality result in significant improvements in health, particularly in disadvantaged communities. Will the Scottish Government be revising the current out-of-date air quality standards that we have in Scotland to reflect th...

Gillian Martin SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Air Pollution Monitoring (City Primary Schools)

I would welcome anything that the council decides to do in relation to where it puts its monitors and any pilot that it might want to go forward with. Improving air quality to protect the health of Scotland’s population, particularly children and young people, is a key priorit...

Heather Anderson SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Air Pollution Monitoring (City Primary Schools)

—in 30 of our primary schools, we do not know how safe our children are from damaging air pollution. Would the cabinet secretary welcome Dundee City Council piloting an air monitoring project at primary schools in our city?

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Air Pollution Monitoring (City Primary Schools)

Ask a question, please.

Heather Anderson SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Air Pollution Monitoring (City Primary Schools)

We know that there is a correlation between areas of high deprivation and poor air quality for children and adults, which exacerbates pre-existing health inequalities. We also know that children are among the most susceptible to harm from air pollution. In Dundee, we are lucky...

The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs (Gillian Martin) SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Air Pollution Monitoring (City Primary Schools)

The placement of air quality monitors is prioritised to cover potential air pollution hotspots. Additionally, over time, local authorities have progressively adapted their monitoring strategies to address specific local air quality issues. That approach ensures that any areas ...

Heather Anderson (Dundee City West) (SNP) SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Air Pollution Monitoring (City Primary Schools)

I refer to my entry in the register of members’ interests and declare that I am a serving councillor on Dundee City Council.To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls from the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh for a national pilot programme to monitor ...

Màiri McAllan SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Queen’s Park Glasshouses

I restate that I understand the connection that is felt to the Queen’s park glasshouses. Anecdotally, they provided an important day out for my own family in the south side of Glasgow, and we want to see them continue to do so. I have set out my willingness to have discussions...

Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Queen’s Park Glasshouses

The cabinet secretary outlined an array of funding options. Capital funding is certainly one aspect, but the challenge in the immediate term is ongoing revenue funding. That issue is a direct result of the Scottish Government’s disproportionate cuts to Glasgow City Council’s c...

The Presiding Officer (Kenneth Gibson) NPA Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Queen’s Park Glasshouses

Before I take a supplementary question from Paul Sweeney, I remind members that you should press your request-to-speak button only when you come to your question or wish to ask a supplementary question to someone else’s question. There are members who have pressed their button...

Màiri McAllan SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Queen’s Park Glasshouses

Holly Bruce will know that the Government understands the importance of those matters, which is demonstrated not least by the investment that we are committed to making in the People’s Palace in Glasgow. My colleague Tom Arthur will shortly update the Parliament on those plans...

Holly Bruce Green Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Queen’s Park Glasshouses

As the cabinet secretary knows, Glasgow faces a unique responsibility with its array of listed heritage buildings in council ownership, coupled with an acute lack of capital infrastructure funding. In Glasgow Southside, we are already navigating the devastating prolonged closu...

The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic (Màiri McAllan) SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Queen’s Park Glasshouses

The Government appreciates the historic and community value of the Queen’s park glasshouses. Responsibility for their operation rests with Glasgow City Council. However, I am happy to engage with the council and with partners. Such discussions can include help to facilitate ac...

Stephen Flynn SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Winchburgh Train Station

It is important to place on record the important work that was undertaken by the former constituency member, Ms Hyslop, and by Mr Fairlie in his ministerial role. I look forward to working with the new constituency member to take forward the matter, and I am sure that we will ...

Pauline Stafford (Bathgate) (SNP) SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Winchburgh Train Station

I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests, as I am an elected member of West Lothian Council.I welcome the Scottish Government’s clear commitment to delivering a Winchburgh station, including reference to it in this year’s budget statement and in the Sc...

Stephen Flynn SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Winchburgh Train Station

I would love to be in a position to do that here today. It is important to recognise that it is for West Lothian Council and Winchburgh Developments to take forward construction of a new station, but we are willing to engage with them in that process. They have already been in...

Jenny Young Lab Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Winchburgh Train Station

Currently, it takes more than an hour to get the bus from Winchburgh to central Edinburgh. That is a journey of under 15 miles. The train to Waverley would take around 15 minutes.Last week, the cabinet secretary opened a debate on growing Scotland’s economy, which I know is a ...

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport (Stephen Flynn) SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Winchburgh Train Station

The member knows that the Government is committing to ensuring that there is a new train station at Winchburgh. We are continuing to work with West Lothian Council and Winchburgh Developments in that regard. I hope that I will be able to update the chamber in the not-too-dista...

Jenny Young (Central Scotland and Lothians West) (Lab) Lab Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Winchburgh Train Station

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when construction work on Winchburgh train station will begin. (S7O-00062)

Gillian Martin SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Air Pollution Monitoring (City Primary Schools)

Mark Ruskell is absolutely right, and 2026 is a key year in that regard. Proposals for a long-term air quality policy framework will succeed the cleaner air for Scotland 2 strategy when it expires at the end of this year. We are developing those proposals, including assessing ...

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Green Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Air Pollution Monitoring (City Primary Schools)

The science shows that even modest improvements in air quality result in significant improvements in health, particularly in disadvantaged communities. Will the Scottish Government be revising the current out-of-date air quality standards that we have in Scotland to reflect th...

Gillian Martin SNP Chamber

16 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Air Pollution Monitoring (City Primary Schools)

I would welcome anything that the council decides to do in relation to where it puts its monitors and any pilot that it might want to go forward with. Improving air quality to protect the health of Scotland’s population, particularly children and young people, is a key priorit...