- Asked by: Michelle Campbell, MSP for Renfrewshire North and Cardonald, Scottish National Party
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Alyn Smith on 22 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each local authority area have received free university tuition each year since it was introduced.
Answer
Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) administers the payment of free university tuition fees for eligible Scottish-domiciled students. The following tables cover the number of people in each local authority area to have benefitted from this from the 2007-08 academic year.
Number of University Students receiving Tuition Fees by Local Authority, 2007-08 to 2016-17
| | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 |
Aberdeen City | 3,825 | 3,925 | 4,300 | 4,475 | 4,215 | 4,065 | 3,970 | 3,850 | 3,795 | 4,095 |
Aberdeenshire | 4,315 | 4,335 | 4,325 | 4,275 | 4,000 | 3,840 | 3,855 | 3,740 | 3,735 | 3,815 |
Angus | 1,770 | 1,740 | 1,760 | 1,735 | 1,645 | 1,610 | 1,680 | 1,705 | 1,755 | 1,780 |
Argyll and Bute | 1,230 | 1,280 | 1,305 | 1,310 | 1,225 | 1,325 | 1,325 | 1,390 | 1,355 | 1,420 |
City of Edinburgh | 8,335 | 8,585 | 9,255 | 9,510 | 9,070 | 8,760 | 8,880 | 8,770 | 8,750 | 8,675 |
Clackmannanshire | 645 | 675 | 755 | 745 | 745 | 730 | 720 | 750 | 745 | 685 |
Dumfries and Galloway | 1,850 | 1,815 | 1,815 | 1,810 | 1,875 | 1,890 | 1,980 | 2,025 | 2,075 | 2,055 |
Dundee City | 2,515 | 2,650 | 2,840 | 2,895 | 2,730 | 2,665 | 2,800 | 2,685 | 2,775 | 2,855 |
East Ayrshire | 1,500 | 1,480 | 1,510 | 1,530 | 1,520 | 1,525 | 1,585 | 1,620 | 1,670 | 1,645 |
East Dunbartonshire | 2,555 | 2,620 | 2,745 | 2,745 | 2,675 | 2,705 | 2,810 | 2,855 | 2,830 | 2,920 |
East Lothian | 1,425 | 1,500 | 1,560 | 1,550 | 1,515 | 1,530 | 1,590 | 1,635 | 1,650 | 1,630 |
East Renfrewshire | 2,460 | 2,505 | 2,600 | 2,705 | 2,660 | 2,760 | 2,800 | 2,860 | 2,890 | 2,935 |
Falkirk | 1,645 | 1,705 | 1,740 | 1,800 | 1,825 | 1,785 | 1,870 | 1,910 | 1,980 | 2,065 |
Fife | 4,560 | 4,575 | 4,680 | 4,720 | 4,550 | 4,540 | 4,790 | 4,980 | 4,945 | 4,965 |
Glasgow City | 7,875 | 8,465 | 9,200 | 9,625 | 9,435 | 9,415 | 9,925 | 10,145 | 10,365 | 10,505 |
Highland | 2,850 | 2,810 | 2,830 | 2,870 | 2,855 | 3,800 | 3,950 | 4,055 | 4,155 | 4,155 |
Inverclyde | 1,180 | 1,205 | 1,230 | 1,200 | 1,130 | 1,160 | 1,180 | 1,205 | 1,190 | 1,170 |
Midlothian | 950 | 995 | 1,070 | 1,125 | 1,090 | 1,065 | 1,090 | 1,080 | 1,080 | 1,120 |
Moray | 1,070 | 1,035 | 1,035 | 1,050 | 1,020 | 1,565 | 1,660 | 1,675 | 1,725 | 1,745 |
Na h-Eileanan Siar | 385 | 380 | 365 | 400 | 355 | 510 | 505 | 520 | 490 | 470 |
North Ayrshire | 1,665 | 1,680 | 1,765 | 1,740 | 1,740 | 1,755 | 1,855 | 1,850 | 1,875 | 1,865 |
North Lanarkshire | 3,725 | 4,195 | 4,315 | 4,350 | 4,275 | 4,405 | 4,700 | 4,840 | 5,010 | 5,115 |
Orkney Islands | 285 | 300 | 320 | 325 | 290 | 370 | 355 | 360 | 345 | 330 |
Perth and Kinross | 2,115 | 2,160 | 2,170 | 2,170 | 2,200 | 2,905 | 3,015 | 3,200 | 3,255 | 3,280 |
Renfrewshire | 2,725 | 2,785 | 2,925 | 2,995 | 2,970 | 2,925 | 3,025 | 3,170 | 3,185 | 3,245 |
Scottish Borders | 1,525 | 1,470 | 1,550 | 1,550 | 1,600 | 1,640 | 1,685 | 1,715 | 1,765 | 1,725 |
Shetland Islands | 335 | 335 | 315 | 335 | 325 | 385 | 385 | 370 | 340 | 360 |
South Ayrshire | 1,780 | 1,765 | 1,860 | 1,920 | 1,950 | 1,915 | 1,960 | 2,005 | 1,965 | 1,935 |
South Lanarkshire | 4,265 | 4,975 | 5,025 | 5,065 | 4,930 | 5,005 | 5,105 | 5,190 | 5,255 | 5,290 |
Stirling | 1,595 | 1,630 | 1,685 | 1,800 | 1,785 | 1,825 | 1,920 | 1,960 | 2,020 | 2,115 |
West Dunbartonshire | 1,145 | 1,150 | 1,205 | 1,205 | 1,145 | 1,145 | 1,210 | 1,245 | 1,300 | 1,280 |
West Lothian | 2,090 | 2,150 | 2,250 | 2,265 | 2,250 | 2,350 | 2,440 | 2,585 | 2,685 | 2,740 |
Source: SAAS
Note: Analysis is based on those students where the provided home address is a valid Scottish postcode. Home address is that provided by the student and may not necessarily reflect where their permanent residence is - for example, they may declare their term-time address as being the home address.
Note: Student numbers are rounded to the nearest 5
Number of University Students receiving Tuition Fees by Local Authority, 2017-18 to 2025-26
| | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
Aberdeen City | 4,425 | 4,600 | 4,625 | 4,760 | 4,815 | 4,600 | 4,420 | 4,630 | 4,900 |
Aberdeenshire | 4,000 | 4,240 | 4,270 | 4,440 | 4,470 | 4,420 | 4,385 | 4,625 | 4,825 |
Angus | 1,835 | 1,830 | 1,795 | 1,845 | 1,855 | 1,765 | 1,720 | 1,720 | 1,755 |
Argyll and Bute | 1,440 | 1,375 | 1,330 | 1,320 | 1,275 | 1,215 | 1,175 | 1,190 | 1,205 |
City of Edinburgh | 8,785 | 9,065 | 9,080 | 9,620 | 9,815 | 9,595 | 9,575 | 9,940 | 10,520 |
Clackmannanshire | 700 | 710 | 765 | 780 | 750 | 760 | 780 | 760 | 815 |
Dumfries and Galloway | 1,935 | 1,885 | 1,880 | 1,910 | 1,915 | 1,790 | 1,750 | 1,750 | 1,795 |
Dundee City | 2,940 | 2,920 | 2,955 | 3,095 | 3,010 | 2,950 | 2,890 | 2,930 | 3,090 |
East Ayrshire | 1,675 | 1,620 | 1,595 | 1,635 | 1,670 | 1,600 | 1,595 | 1,730 | 1,785 |
East Dunbartonshire | 2,895 | 2,910 | 2,865 | 2,945 | 2,965 | 2,845 | 2,850 | 2,885 | 3,015 |
East Lothian | 1,635 | 1,630 | 1,645 | 1,725 | 1,795 | 1,745 | 1,790 | 1,925 | 1,980 |
East Renfrewshire | 2,900 | 2,890 | 2,920 | 2,920 | 3,000 | 3,015 | 3,035 | 3,235 | 3,395 |
Falkirk | 2,115 | 2,170 | 2,235 | 2,325 | 2,405 | 2,390 | 2,375 | 2,530 | 2,590 |
Fife | 4,990 | 4,960 | 4,945 | 5,005 | 5,110 | 5,115 | 5,220 | 5,390 | 5,650 |
Glasgow City | 10,925 | 11,235 | 11,215 | 12,070 | 12,260 | 11,700 | 11,580 | 12,110 | 12,540 |
Highland | 4,215 | 4,080 | 3,890 | 4,025 | 3,820 | 3,585 | 3,580 | 3,625 | 3,675 |
Inverclyde | 1,175 | 1,205 | 1,230 | 1,330 | 1,315 | 1,310 | 1,250 | 1,255 | 1,310 |
Midlothian | 1,120 | 1,165 | 1,235 | 1,280 | 1,275 | 1,300 | 1,305 | 1,400 | 1,500 |
Moray | 1,730 | 1,715 | 1,625 | 1,615 | 1,500 | 1,330 | 1,310 | 1,310 | 1,400 |
Na h-Eileanan Siar | 435 | 400 | 415 | 415 | 370 | 370 | 345 | 345 | 360 |
North Ayrshire | 1,830 | 1,880 | 1,815 | 1,960 | 1,970 | 1,905 | 1,815 | 1,955 | 1,975 |
North Lanarkshire | 5,210 | 5,355 | 5,400 | 5,720 | 5,840 | 5,715 | 5,730 | 6,025 | 6,120 |
Orkney Islands | 340 | 335 | 320 | 325 | 300 | 280 | 265 | 295 | 300 |
Perth and Kinross | 3,325 | 3,295 | 3,270 | 3,390 | 3,235 | 3,095 | 3,050 | 3,075 | 3,210 |
Renfrewshire | 3,415 | 3,470 | 3,440 | 3,580 | 3,680 | 3,455 | 3,395 | 3,475 | 3,535 |
Scottish Borders | 1,745 | 1,760 | 1,730 | 1,760 | 1,775 | 1,685 | 1,650 | 1,655 | 1,670 |
Shetland Islands | 370 | 340 | 355 | 405 | 380 | 390 | 385 | 400 | 395 |
South Ayrshire | 1,955 | 1,825 | 1,800 | 1,880 | 1,880 | 1,820 | 1,835 | 1,855 | 1,855 |
South Lanarkshire | 5,475 | 5,690 | 5,780 | 6,075 | 6,100 | 5,930 | 6,015 | 6,245 | 6,460 |
Stirling | 2,100 | 2,085 | 2,090 | 2,215 | 2,250 | 2,175 | 2,145 | 2,175 | 2,225 |
West Dunbartonshire | 1,340 | 1,320 | 1,290 | 1,340 | 1,380 | 1,325 | 1,270 | 1,350 | 1,400 |
West Lothian | 2,790 | 2,810 | 2,845 | 2,995 | 3,095 | 3,080 | 3,030 | 3,240 | 3,420 |
Source: SAAS
Note: Analysis is based on those students where the provided home address is a valid Scottish postcode. Home address is that provided by the student and may not necessarily reflect where their permanent residence is - for example, they may declare their term-time address as being the home address.
Note: Student numbers are rounded to the nearest 5
- Asked by: Michelle Campbell, MSP for Renfrewshire North and Cardonald, Scottish National Party
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 18 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what the uptake has been of free school meals in each year for (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils since 2007, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
Statistics on uptake of free school meals is published on the Scottish Government website at https://www.gov.scot/collections/school-education-statistics/#schoolmealuptakestatistics.
For 2007-2022, refer to tables 11 and 17 of the School Healthy Living Survey supplementary statistics 2022 for the primary and secondary breakdown respectively. For 2023-24, refer to school meal uptake supplementary statistics 2023-24, tables 3 and 5 for the equivalent breakdowns.
Statistics for 2024-25 will be published on 22 September 2026.
- Asked by: Michelle Campbell, MSP for Renfrewshire North and Cardonald, Scottish National Party
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 18 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of school leavers in each local authority area have gone on to a positive destination in each year since 2007.
Answer
This information is publicly available and can be obtained from table L2.1 in the Summary Statistics for Attainment and Initial Leaver Destinations publication. Please see the following link.
Supporting documents - Summary Statistics for Attainment and Initial Leaver Destinations, No. 8: 2026 edition - gov.scot
- Asked by: Michelle Campbell, MSP for Renfrewshire North and Cardonald, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Simita Kumar on 27 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland will support and actively engage with communities across Scotland.
Answer
The Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland (AROS) is independent of the Scottish Government. However, AROS has made clear that it is committed to working collaboratively with communities across Scotland through a trauma-informed, inclusive, participatory and non-extractive engagement approach. It will support communities by building confidence, skills and knowledge, enabling greater participation in anti-racism action and accountability.
This approach is grounded in co-production and seeks to strengthen existing community infrastructure and networks rather than create parallel structures:
- AROS has established partnerships and Memoranda of Understanding with Regional Equality Councils (RECs), is developing regional hubs across Scotland, and has undertaken community engagement to build relationships with grassroots community organisations.
- AROS is developing an engagement framework to ensure communities have meaningful opportunities to inform and shape its work through transparent communication and regular feedback mechanisms.
- AROS will take an intersectional approach, working with organisations representing disabled people, LGBTQ+ communities, faith groups and others experiencing intersecting inequalities.
- An Experts by Experience Panel, nominated through REC partners, will ensure lived experience informs AROS's priorities, research, scrutiny and reporting.
- Asked by: Michelle Campbell, MSP for Renfrewshire North and Cardonald, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support communities by improving public transport connections, to enable more inclusive travel and encourage patronage of bus services.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2026
- Asked by: Michelle Campbell, MSP for Renfrewshire North and Cardonald, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 24 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many families in each local authority have received support through the Scottish Child Payment each year since it was introduced, and what the current level of uptake is.
Answer
Social Security Scotland routinely publishes statistics on the number of parents or carers actively in receipt of Scottish Child Payment. These statistics also include the number and value of payments by local authority and financial year since launch and are available at: Scottish Child Payment statistics to 31 March 2026.
The latest published statistics show that, as of 31 March 2026, 189,620 parents or carers in Scotland were receiving Scottish Child Payment.
The most recent Scottish Government take-up analysis, published on 14 October 2025, estimated that Scottish Child Payment had a take-up rate of 94% among those eligible in Scotland in the financial year 2024-2025. The publication also includes estimated take-up rates for each local authority area and is available at: Take-up rates of Scottish benefits: October 2025.
- Asked by: Michelle Campbell, MSP for Renfrewshire North and Cardonald, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Flynn on 24 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) young people have now received a free bus pass through the Young Persons’ (under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme and (b) journeys have been made through the scheme, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
a) As from 1 August 2026 there are 842,653 cardholders under the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme.
Cardholder Notes:
- This data is provided by the National Entitlement Card Programme Office (NECPO). Cardholder numbers are monitored on a monthly basis and may change regularly as individuals join or leave the scheme.
- The data refers to the number of people with a valid card but does not include those whose products either start in the future or have expired.
- NECPO work with stakeholders and partners to carry out regular data cleansing of the customer database which may impact cardholder numbers when records are updated.
b) The following table shows the number of journeys, broken down by local authority, made through the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme since its launch in January 2022 up to 31 July 2026.
Local Authority | Total Journeys to 31-07-26 |
Aberdeen City | 18,282,458 |
Aberdeenshire | 9,119,538 |
Angus Council | 4,508,794 |
Argyll & Bute | 2,530,080 |
City of Edinburgh | 65,926,253 |
Clackmannanshire | 1,625,339 |
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | 470,317 |
Dumfries and Galloway | 4,292,052 |
Dundee City | 14,067,594 |
East Ayrshire | 7,687,318 |
East Dunbartonshire | 4,353,470 |
East Lothian | 9,099,489 |
East Renfrewshire | 4,269,986 |
Falkirk | 4,926,865 |
Fife | 25,633,202 |
Glasgow City | 44,092,163 |
Highland | 6,858,745 |
Inverclyde | 4,692,192 |
Midlothian | 8,391,007 |
Moray | 2,678,626 |
North Ayrshire | 8,630,110 |
North Lanarkshire | 13,354,704 |
Orkney Islands | 462,415 |
Perth & Kinross | 7,300,827 |
Renfrewshire | 10,789,067 |
Scottish Borders | 4,247,320 |
Shetland Islands | 839,419 |
South Ayrshire | 4,556,917 |
South Lanarkshire | 12,422,053 |
Stirling | 4,105,110 |
West Dunbartonshire | 5,574,398 |
West Lothian | 7,718,924 |
Total to 31st July 2026 | 323,506,752 |
Journey Notes:
- These figures represent smart journeys recorded against a valid product that have been received and processed for payment by Transport Scotland.
- Journeys are based on the local authority in which the card was issued, therefore some journeys will have been undertaken out with the local authority area.
- This data is subject to change due to late data being received.
- Asked by: Michelle Campbell, MSP for Renfrewshire North and Cardonald, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 19 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, for each local authority, (a) how many businesses received non-domestic rates relief and (b) the total value of relief awarded, in (i) 2024-25 and (ii) 2025-26.
Answer
The requested information can be found in Table 4 of both the Non-domestic rates relief statistics 2024 and the Non-domestic rates relief statistics 2025.
The figures in these publication are based on Billing System Snapshots, an annual property-level data return provided to the Scottish Government by councils. Values of reliefs are estimates based on the reliefs in place on the snapshot date. The values of reliefs reported are the total values of reliefs, funded by both the Scottish Government and by councils.
Outturn values of reliefs, including a breakdown by council area, are published in Non-domestic rates income statistics.
- Asked by: Michelle Campbell, MSP for Renfrewshire North and Cardonald, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2026
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 24 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to future phases of the Learning Estate Investment Programme to support local authorities in delivering modern and sustainable school buildings.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 24 June 2026
- Asked by: Michelle Campbell, MSP for Renfrewshire North and Cardonald, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
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Current Status:
Initiated by the Scottish Government.
Answered by Maree Todd on 11 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, following the First Minister’s visit to the SAMH Nook mental wellbeing hub on 3 June 2026, how support will initially be provided for this initiative.
Answer
On 11 June 2026, the First Minister will announce £400,000 to support Craig Ferguson’s impressive Tartan Trek across America to raise money for Scottish Action on Mental Health (SAMH) ahead of the World Cup. This money will help SAMH to deliver The Nook.
The Scottish Government is delighted to support the Tartan Trek campaign to help SAMH continue its important work around mental health and wellbeing.
We are committed to expanding access to mental health support across Scotland, including through the development of community-based mental health hubs like the Nook. This initial investment will support SAMH as it expands its network across Scotland.
We congratulate Craig Ferguson on his Tartan Trek and thank him for his work to raise awareness about the importance of talking about mental health issues and on encouraging people to access support for mental health.
