Chamber and committees

I apologise to everyone for being so excited earlier that I burst into a sneeze. I might do so again, because this question has actually already been asked, and so I will try to introduce a wee bit extra to it. What assessment has the Scottish Government made of the impact on the college sector of financial flexibilities for 2023-24? Are there any specific elements to that?

It is helpful for us to know that. Thank you.

Why is that? Without getting too deep into the reasons, is there a specific issue with that order?

Minister, our predecessor committee welcomed the Scottish Government’s work in meeting almost all its historic commitments by the end of the parliamentary session. The longest standing commitment is now the Scotland Act 1998 (Specification of Functions and Transfer of Property etc.) Order 2019. Following your last appearance at the committee, and in your opening statement today, you confirmed that discussions between the Scottish and UK Governments about that order are on-going. Can you provide an update on what the Government is doing to ensure that it meets its commitment?

Fair enough.

There has been an increase in the frequency of LCMs and supplementary LCMs coming to the committee. There is often a fairly tight turnaround, which affects time for consideration. The committee notes that the timings for LCMs are influenced by a number of factors, including some that lie outwith the power of the Scottish Government. What could the Scottish Government do to allow greater parliamentary scrutiny of LCMs? For example, could we push for supplementary LCMs to be lodged sooner after amendments are lodged so that we have more time to scrutinise them?

Hence, what the vision says about supporting

“all learners into the next phase of their lives, socially, culturally and economically”.

That sounds quite inspiring.

How well understood and trusted is the current suite of qualifications that is taken in Scotland’s schools? Do people understand and trust it, in depth?

Any other example.