John Swinney
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Since the report from several years ago was published, the Government has presided over the passage of legislation to rationalise that area of activity. Work is under way to transfer the responsibility for the funding of further education student support from the Scottish Funding Council to the Student Awards Agency Scotland.”
“I appreciate the urgency of the general policy elements of the question, because a number of applications are now being considered by planning authorities. My view is that, given the concerns that have been expressed by planning authorities, the Government has to be responsive to the issue.”
“For as long as we do not have a proper strategy on prison capacity, rehabilitation and clearing the court backlog, early release will be a revolving door, with people going in, coming out and going back into our prisons. Our justice system is in crisis, so we need a strategy.”
“I associate myself unreservedly Mr Cole-Hamilton’s comments about the feelings in the Muslim community. On Monday, I visited the Broomhouse mosque along with Simita Kumar and the Annandale Street mosque in Edinburgh with Ben Macpherson.”
“The development of further guidance will be undertaken in a manner consistent with the ruling by Lady Ross. Malcolm Offord: I thank the First Minister for his answer, which was more comprehensive than I expected.”
“I am a huge supporter of apprenticeship programmes. With foundation apprenticeships and graduate apprenticeships, the Government has brought forward important reforms that create new and successful pathways for young people. I am determined to make sure that every young person has that desirable pathway for their future.”
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“Given the current chaos at Westminster while the Labour Party tears itself apart, I am concerned about the price that Scottish industries are having to pay. UK Labour’s taxes on Scotch whisky and Scottish energy are destroying jobs and hammering our economy. Does the First Minister agree that the Labour Party cannot be trusted to put Scottish economic interests first? Can he say more about how his Government is working to protect Scotland’s premier industries? The Presiding Officer: First Minister, please answer on devolved matters only. The First Minister: To be honest, Michelle Thomson hits the nail on the head.”
“The Scottish Government interacts closely and regularly with its Washington office on the important work to promote Scotland’s cultural, social and economic interests, including support for the whisky sector, which contributes £5.4 billion to our economy. As Michelle Thomson will know, I have been active in trying to secure the removal of the tariffs on Scotch whisky. We continue to await progress from the United Kingdom Government on prioritising Scotch whisky in negotiations and securing the tariff exemptions that the sector deserves. Our Washington office will remain central to ensuring that that and our wider economic interests stay high on the agenda. Michelle Thomson: I thank the First Minister for setting out the value of representing Scotland on the global stage.”
“It is an essential part of equipping young people, and in particular young boys, with all the information that they require to undertake responsible lives and for us all together to take the action that is necessary to ensure that violence against women and girls is consigned to the dustbin of history in our country. Scotch Whisky Industry (Tariffs) 4.”
“I pay tribute to the way in which he has pursued the issue—in the face, I might add, of parliamentary resistance, which, as we have heard, has been the case today as well. The relationships, sexual health and parenthood education programme aims to equip young people with knowledge and understanding of issues such as consent, appropriate relationships and boundaries, to help them make informed choices that promote and protect their own and others’ health and wellbeing. I thank Mr Greer for his contribution to enabling that to be the case. I believe that that programme should be in place across our education system.”
“The new guidance that we developed, which was published last week, starts with a chapter on the importance of consent. If we are to break the generational cycle of misogyny and men’s violence against women and girls, that guidance needs to be put into use in every school. Does the First Minister agree that every young person in Scotland, and especially every young man, should be taught about the importance of consent and respect in relationships before they leave school? The First Minister: Whatever the parliamentary mood on this question, I want to make it clear that I attach the greatest importance to this issue and to the representations that Mr Greer has made to me on it over the years.”
“The uncomfortable truth is that far too many men and boys do not see women and girls as equal or worthy of respect and dignity. Here in Scotland, many boys and young men leave school having been taught nothing about the importance of consent and respect in relationships. Over the past few years, I have worked with the—[Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear one another. I am very conscious that the galleries are full. People would like to be able to follow our proceedings. Ross Greer: I am surprised to hear the Conservatives interrupt on this of all topics. Over the past few years, I have worked with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills to update the statutory guidance on relationships education. Frankly, it is unbelievable that the current guidance, which dates only from 2014, has no section on consent.”
“With regard to the responsibilities that I hold, I have made it clear from this podium on a number of occasions—and I take actions in Government, along with my Cabinet colleagues, to this end— that we make strenuous efforts to tackle the issue of violence against women and girls in our society through a range of measures, including those forming part of the equally safe strategy, and to ensure that we set out the fundamental point that the issue at the heart of such violence is the behaviour of men, and that men’s behaviour must change. Ross Greer: I agree absolutely with the First Minister that the issue here is men’s behaviour and men’s violence. Tackling violence against women and girls means changing underlying attitudes.”
“I agree that the suffering of women and girls in the case of Jeffrey Epstein is of the highest level of concern. I am struck by the fact that all those concerns were bypassed by the Prime Minister in his appointment of Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States. It is jaw dropping that that decision was taken.”
“The reports will be considered by the safety and public confidence oversight group that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care announced recently— The Presiding Officer: Please be brief. The First Minister: —which was welcomed by the Labour Party in its motion yesterday. My advice to Mr Sarwar, in his absolute desperation, is to stop playing politics with this issue, to respect the independent inquiry, as this Government will do, and to allow the families to get to the truth of what has happened. That is what we are committed to, not the desperate acts of Anas Sarwar. Men’s Violence Against Women and Girls 3.”
“The independent inquiry heard from the independent expert, Andrew Poplett, that the water system management is now “extremely well- managed”, with “significant improvement” having been made. Mr Poplett noted that the facilities team is exceeding the standard guidance and is adopting a proactive and preventative approach that prioritises patient safety. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde recently commissioned and has now received two independent reports on the water and ventilation systems to provide further assurances. The findings of those independent reports were both positive, with a fully compliant ventilation assessment in December 2025, and a fully compliant water system assessment in January 2026.”
“The second thing that the Government has done is that, when we become aware of issues of concern, we act. We did that in relation to the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, where we acted and we intervened to stop it from opening, because we were aware of information. Mr Sarwar knows full well that the Government was not aware of the information that he puts to me. The last point that I want to make is that Mr Sarwar has made many comments about the Queen Elizabeth university hospital. I think that it is important that I put on record important points about the safety of the hospital, because it is used by thousands and thousands of people every day.”
“Just yesterday, the SNP tried to block information on current safety at the hospital. To add even more insult, a Scottish Government official attempted to bribe grieving families with cash and a trip to Disneyland rather than confront the truth. What does John Swinney say to those families who are having to go through that hell because of his Government’s decisions? The First Minister: I would say to the families that the Government has done two things of significance in this area. The first thing is that the Government has established an independent public inquiry, which we respect. We respect its independence and we will not tolerate political interference in the inquiry, which Mr Sarwar has tried to do. We will not play politics with the inquiry and we will not interfere with it; we will allow Lord Brodie to undertake his steps.”
“We have established an independent public inquiry, which we will leave to make its judgments about the issue so that the families who are involved can get the truth, which is what they deserve. Anas Sarwar: John Swinney forgets that the families are watching him and listening to his answers. Let us look at what the families are having to hear and endure: it is not just the pain of losing a loved one but that politics was put before patient safety and pressure was applied to open the hospital; that the hospital opened before it was safe and ready; that a report warned of the risk of infections, but it was ignored; that the Scottish Government received 14 alerts of infections, but it did not take the appropriate action; and that, even now, the hospital has not been validated.”
“The First Minister: A few weeks ago, Anas Sarwar came to the chamber and brandished a supposedly secret document about political pressure being applied to the opening of the hospital. The document was not in any way secret, because it had been submitted to the independent public inquiry by the Government. Now, Mr Sarwar comes to the chamber and his big reveal is the contents of a conference speech that I gave in front of thousands and thousands of people, which was broadcast on live television. [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear one another. The First Minister: I do not quite understand what sensational point Mr Sarwar is trying to put forward. The argument that he is putting forward smacks of desperation.”
“Despite his denials, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “Pressure was applied to open the hospital on time and on budget, and it is now clear that the hospital opened too early.” The Scottish Government’s meeting note states explicitly: “Political pressure was also being felt and no consideration was given to delay the opening of the hospital, despite the issues being faced with completion and operation.” Weeks before the hospital was opened, John Swinney told his party conference, in relation to the hospital, that, “with the SNP Government, ‘on time and on budget’ is the rule—not the exception.” That is clear political pressure. Families are hurting enough, so why is John Swinney insulting their intelligence and exacerbating their pain?”
“The issues that Mr Sarwar raises are part and parcel of the independent public inquiry that is being taken forward by Lord Brodie. As Mr Sarwar knows full well, the Government first became aware of the issues in relation to the water contamination system in 2018. That information is all in front of the inquiry and it is for Lord Brodie to consider those issues as part of the independent inquiry. The Government established that independent inquiry to undertake that process, and we shall leave Lord Brodie to do exactly that. Anas Sarwar: John Swinney is denying reality and continuing to mislead this Parliament. Let us look at the evidence.”
“At the same time, people are being sentenced for invariably longer periods in prison as a consequence of the success of the Government in taking forward— [Interruption.]”
“I told Sue that Keith would be proud of her, and she said: “Keith will be looking down and saying, ‘Oh my goodness, Sue—where did you get that strength from?’” Well, Mr Swinney, she gets her strength from her love of Keith and from the suffering that she has endured at the hands of the SNP justice system. Does John Swinney have any understanding of the pain and anguish that his Government is inflicting on good and decent people across Scotland? The First Minister: I have every sympathy for Mrs Rollinson and what she has endured. She and her husband should never have had to experience the awfulness of what they have experienced. I can express only my sympathy to her, but I can also set out what is happening in relation to criminal justice in Scotland today. Under this Government, recorded crime is down by 38 per cent since 2006-07.”
“Keith Rollinson’s tragic case highlights so much that is wrong with the SNP’s weak justice approach: laws that keeps some killers out of prison, guidelines that ensure that other serious criminals are not jailed and the early release of thousands of criminals. It is no wonder that Angela Constance has her back to me. There is so much more that I could say, and none of this is by accident; it is by design. Now, John Swinney is going to free some prisoners after serving just 30 per cent of their sentences. The SNP: stronger for criminals. The last word today goes to Sue Rollinson.”
“The committee is free to take its own decisions, but I encourage it to take the decision to put that into practice. As I said in my first answer, the individual who was convicted of the crime in relation to Mr Rollinson will have his parole determined at a future hearing of the Parole Board. I therefore cannot give a definitive answer on the question about the timescale, because I do not know what decision the Parole Board will take. Russell Findlay: In attempting to decipher all that, it sounds as though the killer may well still have his free bus pass, despite killing a bus driver.”
“Sue Rollinson is, rightly, furious that her husband’s killer will still be entitled to a free bus pass when he gets out. Can John Swinney guarantee that that killer will have his bus pass removed, and will he say exactly when that will happen? The First Minister: The draft code that will enable the decisions that Mr Findlay is talking about to be made was shared with the parliamentary committee that will scrutinise these issues on 28 January. The statutory instrument is due to be debated at the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee’s meeting next Tuesday, 17 February. The steps to take forward the programme for government commitment that I made to remove free bus travel from any person, of any age, who does not act responsibly will be put to the committee on 17 February.”
“An important principle of our judicial system is that the judiciary is able to operate independently of the Government, with the ability to exercise, as I set out, the full range of options, including imprisonment, that are open to it in such cases. Russell Findlay: My description of the SNP’s sentencing guidelines was 100 per cent accurate. Keith Rollinson’s killer previously attacked another bus driver, yet, after that, he was still allowed to keep his free bus pass. Our party has been campaigning for years to deny free travel for those who commit crimes and antisocial behaviour on the buses. John Swinney agreed to make that happen in May last year, but, nine months on, it has still not happened, because the SNP Government botched the legislation. Jim Fairlie is shaking his head, but he botched the legislation.”
“The First Minister: As Mr Findlay correctly says, the information and guidance on sentencing come from the independent Scottish Sentencing Council, which takes a considered view of all such questions and does so at arm’s length from ministers. The young person sentencing guidelines make it clear that all sentencing options, including imprisonment, remain open to the court. It is important that I put that point on the record, because it is just not the case that the sentencing guidelines make the provisions that Mr Findlay has talked about. The guidelines make it clear that the option of imprisonment remains open to the court. Decisions on sentences are taken by the independent judiciary.”
“It is sickening, and it is an affront to Sue Rollinson and her family. The killer was given a shockingly short sentence because of guidelines that were introduced by a Scottish National Party quango. Judges are told not to jail criminals aged up to 25 and to impose lighter sentences. Those guidelines traumatise victims by treating murderers and rapists as though they are children. That is all based on the nonsense belief that they are not mature enough to be responsible for their crimes. That is one of the many ways in which the SNP Government has spent years weakening Scotland’s justice system. For the sake of victims such as Keith Rollinson, will John Swinney do the right thing and finally scrap those disgraceful guidelines?”
“I know that Mr Findlay met the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs and Richard Lochhead, who is Mrs Rollinson’s local MSP, earlier this week. I understand the concern that has been expressed. What happened to Mr Rollinson was absolutely and completely unforgivable and unspeakable. The courts considered the issue and have taken the decisions that they have taken. A parole hearing on the case was held on 11 February, and a decision was postponed to a future oral hearing. The Parole Board for Scotland is responsible for considering the length of a sentence and how much time is spent where as part of that sentence. Russell Findlay: John Swinney cannot say it, so I will say it for him: a violent killer not spending a single night in prison and potentially being back home after two years is not justice.”
“Before I come on to the important point that Mr Findlay has raised, I record my sadness at the death of Jeane Freeman, who was one of my Cabinet colleagues when she was the health secretary. She served the Parliament and the country with distinction through many difficult and challenging moments during the Covid pandemic. She also contributed to enhancing Scotland through the design of our social security system. I express my sympathies and those of the Government to Jeane’s partner, Susan, and her friends and family on the loss of a magnificent woman, who was taken from us all too suddenly and all too early in her life. I express to Russell Findlay my understanding and appreciation of the depth of concern about the issue that he has raised on behalf of Sue Rollinson.”
“That court case is live and is being heard at the moment. What the Government is doing, as any responsible Government must, is ensuring that the policy position that is applied complies with all our legal obligations—all of them—including those under the Scotland Act 1998 and the European convention on human rights. The Presiding Officer: That concludes First Minister’s question time. Point of Order 12:47”
“I was deeply grateful to the disabled people who met the Cabinet on Tuesday. We had a substantial and thought-provoking conversation about the challenges and issues that disabled people face. One of the clear requests of disabled people was for them to have a voice on integration joint boards and to be able to exercise that through voting rights. That is what the Government is providing for. I am lost for words that the Labour Party is opposing us on all that. It is another lesson that people have to be very careful about voting for the Labour Party: whether it is about women against state pension inequality or disabled people, they can rely on the fact that the Labour Party will let them down. Scottish Prison Service Policy (Judicial Review)”
“The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care is actively engaged with NHS Grampian on the issues at Aberdeen royal infirmary. We work in partnership with the Scottish Ambulance Service, which is resourced to ensure that the needs of patients are met. On a majority of occasions, Scottish Ambulance Service emergency incidents are managed without any need to transfer patients to hospital, but, when a transfer is required, there is a need for that to be efficient and sustainable. These issues are at the heart of the engagement between the Government and NHS Grampian to improve the situation at the ARI. Integration Joint Boards (Voting Rights)”
“I reiterate my strong support for the WASPI women, and I congratulate Clare Adamson on, and thank her for, the absolutely tenacious way in which she has constantly pursued the issue. The repeated betrayal of WASPI women by the United Kingdom Labour Government is appalling. The fact that so many Labour politicians promised WASPI women before the election that they would have full application of the compensation schemes but have now deserted those WASPI women after the election tells us all that we need to know about the opportunism of voting Labour at any election. Aberdeen”
“There is work under way through Creative Scotland to find alternative routes, and I hope that that bears fruit. Ministers will keep Mr Sweeney informed of developments. Women Against State Pension Inequality (Compensation)”
“Creative Scotland has engaged with the Centre for Contemporary Arts over a long period of time to try to find a solution to the centre’s financial challenges. When the CCA became insolvent, Creative Scotland was not able to issue any further payments under the CCA’s multiyear funding award, which would not have been an appropriate use of public money. However, the Scottish Government, through Creative Scotland, will continue to engage on the issue and to work, as Creative Scotland is currently doing, to find a new operator for the building as soon as possible, recognising the cultural significance of the CCA to Glasgow. It is one of those cases in which the rules on public finance and the ability to deploy them when an organisation becomes insolvent put a real obstacle before an organisation’s ability to operate continuously.”
“The funding that goes to that organisation comes through the equally safe programme. Sharon Dowey raises a fair point, but I cannot give her a definitive answer as to the disparity in allocations. I will look into the comparative position for the organisation that she has put to me, and I will ask Ms Somerville to write to her to explain the rationale. I will be happy to discuss the issue further in the light of her reply. Centre for Contemporary Arts,”
“There has been a 77 per cent drop in the number of health and care visas that have been granted by the Home Office. That will have a direct effect on our health and care system. In the last survey that I saw, 26 per cent of social care workers had come from other countries. We face challenges in finding the volume of available labour that we require in our system. That is despite the fact that we have increased health and social care employment. The measures taken by the UK Labour Government are therefore directly damaging to the operation of our health and care system. I assure Clare Haughey of the Scottish Government’s determination to make sure that we reverse those policies. Rape Crisis Centres (Funding)”
“However, people can rely on this Scottish Government taking the wise and considered decisions to invest in our economy, as we have done through countless rail links around the country—the Levenmouth railway, the Airdrie to Bathgate railway and the Borders railway were all delivered by this Government, and we are determined to carry on with that record. National Health Service Staff (Immigration Rules)”
“The Government faces hard political and financial choices at times, and we take them—that is what responsible Government is all about. The hard reality in the aftermath of the financial crash, during which Anas Sarwar’s “old friend” Peter Mandelson was leaking information to Jeffrey Epstein, was that we faced hard choices about our capital budget and I, as the minister responsible for finance, had to make them. The decisions about charges at Glasgow airport have been taken by a private company.”
“To give them all total and complete information, when I went to Lusaka in Zambia, and when I went to Lilongwe in Malawi, I stayed in the British high commissioner’s residence to ensure that I was being careful and prudent with the public purse, as people expect me to be. While Conservative members are shouting and bawling at me about the whole issue, I remind them that one of their colleagues is using artificial intelligence and wasting hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money asking pointless parliamentary questions. That is Douglas Lumsden and they should all be ashamed of themselves. [Interruption]. The Presiding Officer: I am sure that members do not intend to behave in a way that delays proceedings and prevents other members from scrutinising the Government. Glasgow Airport (Drop-off Charges)”
“I was not responsible for the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the ambassador to the United States. It was the foolish and inept decision of the Prime Minister to appoint Anas Sarwar’s “old friend” as the ambassador to the United States. When I go on overseas trips, I have a choice about where I stay. [Interruption]. The Presiding Officer: I am really keen that we have the opportunity for optimal scrutiny, but that cannot occur if members are shouting. The First Minister: The first people to complain if I had chosen to spend public money on staying in a hotel, rather than in the British embassy, would have been the Conservative Party members in this Parliament.”
“I have asked my permanent secretary to explore whether there was any risk to the strength of decision making in the Scottish Government and I have also asked to know that in relation to the engagement that I had with the United Kingdom ambassador to the United States last year, when I was acting to protect the Scotch whisky industry. That is an absolutely atrocious set of circumstances and an appalling judgment by the Prime Minister, and it is dreadful that Scotland and the United Kingdom have been exposed to such weakness as a consequence of that poor decision making by the Prime Minister.”
“I am absolutely appalled by the revelations that have come out in recent days about Peter Mandelson’s involvement in sharing information at the height of the financial crisis with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted paedophile. He did that as a serving Government minister, which was, somehow, overlooked when he became Keir Starmer’s nominee to be the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States. At the time of the financial crash, I was taking decisions as finance secretary to ensure that investment in housing could be sustained when private investment had stopped. Those were direct financial decisions that affected the livelihoods of people in Scotland and I am appalled that we were being undermined at the same time.”
“I am aware that, as Rhoda Grant said in her question and as I have learned from colleagues, cross-party representation has been made to Highland Council on the issue. In the light of the representations that have been made to me, I will ask the relevant minister to write to the leader of Highland Council to request engagement with cross-party MSPs on that important issue.”
“Not only do they face cuts in council funding, but their multi- agency risk assessment conference funding and refuge funding are also at risk, and nor do they have in place Scottish Government funding for next year. A cross-party group of MSPs has requested an urgent meeting with Highland Council but has had no response. With domestic abuse on the rise, will the First Minister confirm Scottish Government funding for those groups, and will he intervene with Highland Council to protect those specialist services? The First Minister: I recognise the significance of the issue that Rhoda Grant raises. The Government is providing funding directly to Inverness Women’s Aid, to the tune of £219,000. The issues that Rhoda Grant raises with me are around programmes and services that are funded by Highland Council.”
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls and have allocated more than £30 million through the Scottish budget to that vital work in 2026-27. That includes around £1.25 million allocated to services in the Highlands through the delivering equally safe fund for the next financial year to enable recipients to continue their work to prevent violence and support survivors. As noted in our equally safe delivery plan, we are committed to developing a flexible and stable funding model that reflects the ambitions of the equally safe strategy. Rhoda Grant: The First Minister will be aware that women’s aid groups in the Highlands have moved from a service-level agreement to a procurement process with Highland Council, which has left them facing significant cuts.”
“I set out in my earlier answer details of our investment in the wellbeing of staff. We have also had an expansion of the number of staff who work in the NHS. There are more staff working in the NHS now than there were when this Government took office. There has been an increase of more than 27 per cent, with more nurses and midwives and more medical and dental consultants. Those commitments to expand the number of staff are important and help us to deliver results, including the sustained reduction in NHS waiting times and the increase in the number of procedures that are being undertaken. I express my gratitude to the staff of the NHS for all that they contribute to make that possible.”
“Both the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and the Royal College of Midwives point to safe staffing levels as being essential for patient safety. Despite writing that into law, the Scottish Government is continually failing to meet those levels, leaving NHS staff caught in a vicious cycle of stress-related illness. When will the Scottish Government deliver safe staffing levels as promised, to take the pressure off staff, give them the time to deliver the care that they want to give, and genuinely look after those who look after us? The First Minister: I recognise the importance of the issues that Mr Whittle raises, because upon those issues depends the effective delivery of services in the national health service. The steps that the Government takes to support staff are important.”
“That is why a dedicated work-related stress policy, developed in partnership with unions and employers, is due to be published shortly, and it is why we continue to invest each year in national wellbeing programmes to ensure that staff can access rapid and compassionate psychological and emotional help if needed. Brian Whittle: This week, research from the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland suggested that as many as 66 per cent of doctors in Scotland had experienced burnout or were living with its effects. That comes after the General Medical Council found last year that a third of doctors had considered leaving the profession and more than half of doctors in training were at risk of burnout.”
“I am deeply grateful for the continued efforts of all our national health service workers in the face of sustained demand. It is thanks to their hard work and the focus and investment from this Government that we are seeing downward trends across nearly all waiting list indicators. That is having a real impact on people’s lives, with more operations, long waits down for seven months in a row and the number of general practitioners going up. None of that would be possible without the commitment of our hard-working NHS staff, and we take their health and wellbeing very seriously.”
“The £90 million that was announced by the Deputy First Minister earlier this week will provide £40 million to support parents who are most at risk of poverty into training and employment; £5 million for specialist services to help disabled people to access sustainable work; and £39 million for the all-age approach, which supports people who are furthest from the labour market towards employment. The Government is also giving consideration, in the formulation of the child poverty delivery plan, which will be set out to the Parliament before we rise for the election, to further measures that will support individuals to access employment, as part of our work to tackle child poverty. Medical Workforce (Stress, Anxiety and Burnout) 5.”
“Rona Mackay: While the Scottish Government is helping people into work, Labour’s policies at Westminster are costing jobs. The rise in employer national insurance contributions is damaging employment opportunities across the country, while Westminster’s fiscal regime continues to cause hundreds of job losses in Scotland’s industries. In the face of that, can the First Minister say any more about the Scottish Government’s work to boost growth, create jobs and help people into work? The First Minister: By targeting investment and providing tailored support and a focus on skills, we are determined to create pathways into work for thousands of people.”
“Scotland’s unemployment rate is already lower than that of the United Kingdom, and most people go back into work within six months. However, we are keen to further reduce economic inactivity, because that is a key to growing our economy. Our draft 2026-27 budget puts £90 million into devolved employability services, so that more people can get the support that they need to move into work. We also know that childcare is a key to helping parents work. That is why, in August 2027, every primary school child in Scotland will have access to a breakfast club, which will support families, boost wellbeing and remove barriers to employment. To ensure that families know what help is available, we are launching a new marketing campaign, aimed at parents, that will make it easier for those who are at risk of poverty to find and access support.”