In line with grant conditions, local authorities have reported to the Scottish Government on how they used their funding allocations and how they continue to support families through the implementation of the Good Practice Principles for the Management of School Meal Debt published by COSLA.

The local authority reports have been analysed and a report on the School Meal Debt Fund will be published in due course.

I refer the Member to the answer to question S6W-41594 on 10 November 2025.

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-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

The decision to create, update and/or replace any SIGN guideline is made independently by the Evidence Directorate Work Programme Committee in Healthcare Improvement Scotland. Proposed guidelines under consideration can be found on the SIGN website: Our guidelines (sign.ac.uk).

The Health and Social Care Standards, published in 2017, set out the expectation that care should be provided by health and social care professionals based on the most relevant evidence, guidance and best practice, as is appropriate to their profession and patient group

The School Estate Statistics reflect information reported to the Scottish Government by local authorities.

In the case of Beath and Queen Anne High Schools, both were rebuilt in the early 2000s under Public Private Partnership (PPP) contracts and remain within their contract periods.

In situations where schools were built under PPP which included school maintenance contracts, local authorities report that the buildings are monitored and maintained by a third party. It is the Scottish Government’s expectation that condition surveys are carried out as part of this monitoring and maintenance programme.

It is local authorities’ responsibility to ensure schools built under PPP contract continue to be maintained to a sufficiently high standard, given the maintenance contract that will be in place.

It is the statutory responsibility of authorities to manage their school estate, and we expect them to undertake suitability surveys at least every 5 years, in line with the suitability reporting core facts guidance which the Scottish Government co-produced with local authorities.

Schools built within the past five years may not yet have had a condition survey and the condition rating is based on the state of the school at the time of completion of the building works.

In situations where schools were built under PPP (Public-Private Partnerships), PFI (Private finance initiative) or similar arrangements which included school maintenance contracts, local authorities report that the buildings are monitored and maintained by a third party.

It is local authorities’ responsibility to ensure schools built under such arrangements continue to be maintained to a sufficiently high standard, given the maintenance contract that will be in place.

It is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage their school estate, and we expect them to undertake condition surveys at least every 5 years, in line with the condition reporting core facts guidance which the Scottish Government co-produced with local authorities.

In situations where schools were built under PPP (Public-Private Partnerships), PFI (Private finance initiative) or similar arrangements which included school maintenance contracts, local authorities report that the buildings are monitored and maintained by a third party.

It is local authorities’ responsibility to ensure schools built under such arrangements continue to be maintained to a sufficiently high standard, given the maintenance contract that will be in place.

The Scottish Government acknowledges the vital role that organisations across the third sector play in improving outcomes for children, young people and families. Through the Children, Young People, Families, Early Intervention and Adult Learning and Empowering Communities (CYPFEI & ALEC) third sector fund we are providing around £14.4 million of annual core funding across 114 organisations supporting children, young people and families.

The Scottish Government continues to face the most challenging financial situation since devolution. However, we remain deeply committed to our third sector and we continue to focus on building a more inclusive Scotland for all. The continuation of funding for the CYPFEI & ALEC third sector fund will be subject to the process of approval for the Scottish Budget for 2026-27 and the agreement to the 2026-27 Budget by the Parliament.

The importance of play, learning, active time and socialising in outdoor environments has been reflected in the Learning Estate Strategy which was co-produced by the Scottish Government and COSLA. For example, it includes a guiding principle which makes clear that outdoor learning and the use of outdoor learning environments should be maximised.

To encourage and embed this approach, the latest phase of the £2bn Learning Estate Investment Programme has a requirement for enhanced outdoor environments, including sheltered spaces.

Furthermore, the consultation on the updating of the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967, which is scheduled to begin by the end of this year, will include outdoor environments as part of its scope.