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The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information specifically, but information on the amount spent and affordability of childcare by age of child was collected as part of the Parent Survey: published by the Scottish Government on 20 December 2022.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41186 on 7 November 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/questions-and-answers.

The Scottish Government recognises the valuable support provided to young people through high quality youth work. This work contributes to the Scottish Government’s priority of eradicating child poverty and tackling inequality.

An independent review of Community Learning and Development (CLD) was commissioned in December 2023. As part of the independent review, a detailed literature review was published on the value and impact of CLD, including youth work. This includes external research carried out on the economic value of youth.

The literature review also outlines how youth work provides employability support, opportunities to develop skills and improves young people’s mental health and wellbeing. The literature review can be found here: .

The Scottish Government welcomed the Learning: For All. For Life. report published in July 2024, which made 20 recommendations varying in complexity and scope. The report can be accessed at: .

The Scottish Government and COSLA accepted recommendation 1.1 to set up a joint CLD Strategic Leadership Group. The Group are considering the remaining recommendations of the report, including those relating to outcomes and measurement.

The were published on 28 October 2025.

At 31 December 2024, there were 133 children and young people who had been approved for adoption across 23 local authority services and were waiting to be matched with approved adopters.

Of the children waiting to be matched in 2024, 36 (27%) had been waiting for over one year, down from 47 (36%) the previous year.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41190 on 7 November 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

The information requested is not held by the Scottish Government. Building management responsibilities are a matter for the owners and managers to ensure the safety of their premises. Statutory requirements for the fitness of premises to be used for the provision of early learning and childcare are set out in Section 10 of The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011. These requirements are enforced by the Care Inspectorate, which assesses compliance during inspections and registration processes.

I have asked Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

From October 2024 to October 2025, Disclosure Scotland received 74 complaints regarding applications delays.

The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. This is a matter for local authorities. The member may wish to contact local authorities directly for this information.

The Scottish Government recognises the valuable support provided to young people through high quality youth work. This work contributes to the Scottish Government’s priority to eradicate child poverty and tackle inequality.

Each education authority is responsible for securing Community Learning and Development (CLD) in their area under the CLD (Scotland) Regulations 2013.

The 2013 Regulations require local authorities to plan and arrange the provision of CLD. In line with the Verity House Agreement, local authorities have the autonomy to deliver services that meet the needs of young people in their areas.

An independent review of CLD was commissioned in December 2023. The Scottish Government welcomed the Learning: For All. For Life. report published in July 2024, which made 20 recommendations varying in complexity and scope. The report can be accessed at: .

Publication of the report places our focus firmly on removing barriers caused by inequality and poverty, and presents opportunities for meaningful collaboration between Scottish Government, CoSLA and organisations across the sector.

The report clearly articulated the lifechanging role that CLD, including youth work, can play in supporting individuals impacted by health issues, inequality, poverty or opportunity barriers, to reach their full potential. This was also highlighted in the detailed literature review published alongside the review report which can be found here: .

The Scottish Government and COSLA accepted recommendation 1.1 to set up a joint CLD Strategic Leadership Group (SLG). The Group are considering the remaining recommendations of the report, including those relating to youth work.

The SLG have agreed immediate priorities for 2025-26 which includes establishing a Strategic Delivery Group to progress actions linked to the identified priorities of the SLG.