Colin Beattie
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“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: I can.”
Scottish Parliament16 June 2026Source ↗
“However, in our manifesto, the Government committed to considering ways that we can support the career pathways of pupil support staff by enhancing training, development and accreditation in order to improve recruitment and retention, which will ensure that those valued members of staff can make an impact on young people’s lives.”
Scottish Parliament16 June 2026Source ↗
“Indeed, a very young constituent recently tackled me on what was being done to make her and our communities safer. To her, I say that my bringing this debate to the Parliament is part of moving to a solution. Those are the main issues, but what can be done to deal with them?”
Scottish Parliament11 June 2026Source ↗
“Retailers also complain that nothing can be done—they call the police and no one responds, or the police visit but rarely catch the criminals involved. If those criminals are caught, that serious crime is treated as minor, and they are rarely sent to prison, even if they are frequent offenders.”
Scottish Parliament11 June 2026Source ↗
“The cost of shoplifting is directly felt in people’s pockets, as retailers recoup the costs. It is not a victimless crime. Young people using motorcycles or e-bikes have become both an annoyance and a hazard. The noise is intrusive and disturbing and the damage that is done to public areas is considerable.”
Scottish Parliament11 June 2026Source ↗
“Setting fire to plastic recycling bins is a great favourite, but fighting—mostly between themselves in public—is frequent and causes considerable anxiety among residents. Dalkeith town centre is almost a no-go zone at night; youths in dark clothing and balaclavas seem to feature at the centre of the problems.”
Scottish Parliament11 June 2026Source ↗