Correspondence Jun. 11 2024

Found: Chief Medical Officer to the HSCS Convener concerning the Cass Review of gender identity healthcare for children

S6W-27781

Asked by:

Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many women workers in the early learning and childcare workforce it estimates will be captured by its commitment to pay at least £12 per hour to workers delivering the funded entitlement.

Answered by Don, Natalie - Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise

It is estimated that around 12,500 female practitioners and support workers who are working in private and third sector ‘day care of children’ settings that deliver funded ELC will benefit from Scottish Government investment to allow staff to be paid at least £12 per hour. This could result in a £2,000 increase in the gross salary annual salary of a full-time childcare worker.

S6W-27831

Asked by: Whitham, Elena (Scottish National Party - Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recently published data by the National Records of Scotland regarding Scotland's Census 2022, which show that over 60% of the school-age population had no religion, whether it will follow the advice of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and allow young people the right to opt out of religious observance in schools.

Answered by Gilruth, Jenny - Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills

As stated in the Scottish Government’s Initial Response to the Concluding Observations issued by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, published on 25 March this year, the Scottish Government is considering its next steps on religious observance in schools to ensure compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Under current legislation in Scotland, religious observance is not compulsory, and parents are legally entitled to withdraw their children from religious observance in local authority and grant-aided schools. This is supported by detailed guidance which states that ‘schools should include children and young people in any discussions about aspects of their school experience, ensuring their views are taken into account.’

This guidance is available at: Curriculum for Excellence: religious observance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Report Jun. 10 2024

Found: •Escorting, by SPS staf f, to other non-court appointments, such as funerals, Children’ s Hearings etc

Found: Children and the Scottish Criminal Justice System

Correspondence Jun. 10 2024

Found: This includes members of households who had arrived as children with their parents under previous resettlement