Meeting of the Parliament 25 March 2026 [Draft]
I very much recognise Mr Cole-Hamilton’s point, which is reflective of a growing ask from Parliament for more national direction. We saw that only yesterday with stage 3 of Mr Johnson’s Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill. On that topic, the Government had published updated non-statutory national guidance, but there was an ask from Parliament and stakeholders for us to be much clearer on providing direction, and we legislated for that yesterday.
Pam Gosal was absolutely right to point to the fact that children’s brains are still developing. That was a common theme throughout the debate. Members spoke about the public health implications, which Mr Cole-Hamilton also touched on. We discussed that matter at the Cabinet table only yesterday, as the First Minister mentioned at First Minister’s question time.
As adults, we need to be mindful, too, of our use of technology and how it is affecting us all. Sharon Dowey touched on that. In previous debates relating to mobile phones, I have mentioned how we interact in this place and how we listen to each other, or not. This morning, I was at a fabulous visit in Wester Hailes with Sistema Scotland and the little noise programme, and the chief executive pointed out to me the importance of creating such screen-free spaces for mums and dads to come along with their babies, where wee ones can play and listen to one other, without having phones there.
Pam Gosal mentioned the number of schools that are now moving to implement bans, supported by the Government’s approach to setting out our views on mobile phone technology in schools. It is fair to say that, as I alluded to, the policy landscape has shifted since 2024, when I updated the national guidance to make our expectations on mobile phones clear. Now, not only on mobile phones but on restraint, as I mentioned, and in relation to Liz Smith’s Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill, there are growing asks from Parliament. The next Government will have to consider legislative change in our schools, which is one of the reasons why I have committed to the wider John Wilson review of our approach to school education.
Miles Briggs alluded to the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, which is a piece of legislation that I have cited on many occasions.