Mobile phones in schools consultation shows broad support for restrictions during the school day

A six-week consultation, which closed on 2 March, has seen high engagement, with almost 14,000 responses from parents/carers, pupils and school staff.

Results show overwhelming support for the introduction of restrictions in secondary schools citywide. 97% of responses from staff who work in secondary schools were in favour of school mobile phone restrictions. 57% would opt for the whole school day, while 40% would opt for part restrictions with mobile phones accessible to pupils at lunch and breaktimes.

Similarly, parents of current secondary school aged learners were supportive of mobile phone restrictions during the school day, with 94% in favour. 54% would choose restrictions for the entire school day, and 40% agreed that a part restriction including just class time would be best.

Out of all parents/carers who took part in the consultation, 73% said they would be supportive of restrictions for the whole school day, with 22% preferring access to mobile phones at lunch and breaktimes.

The response from current secondary school aged pupils presented a more mixed picture with just over half (53%) stating a preference for part restrictions with mobile phones allowed at lunch and breaktimes but not in class, and just 3% in favour of restrictions for the whole school day. 43% said that they should be trusted to follow the school rules, and 32% said they didn’t think that there should be any restrictions at all.

Pilots are underway at two Edinburgh secondary schools, Portobello and Queensferry High Schools, using lockable magnetic pouches, restricting access to mobile phones during the school day.

The consultation, coupled with feedback from the two pilot schools, will provide information that will allow elected members to consider the details of restrictions and the extent to which lockable pouches could be used to support mobile phone restrictions.

Almost a third (31%) of parents/carers who currently have children at an Edinburgh secondary school were in favour or a lockable pouch system, with 29% preferring phones to be secured but stored in a cabinet.

Among staff who work in secondary schools, there was an equal split when asked about implementation of restrictions, with 36% preferring a secure lockable pouch system and 38% opting for phones to be stored away but accessible.

In September 2025, Councillors agreed to restrict the use of mobile phones in schools, with the preferred option the use of lockable pouches to support restrictions on mobile phone use across all secondary schools, and lockable cabinets in primary schools.

The consultation forms part of citywide engagement work on implementing mobile phone restrictions in primary and secondary schools. An interim Integrated Impact Assessment has already taken place and will be finalised using consultation feedback.

Special consideration is being given for pupils with health needs or caring responsibilities who may need access to their mobile phone during the school day. Focus groups, including with young people is ongoing.

A report analysing these findings will be presented at Education, Children and Families Committee in June 2026.

Councillor James Dalgleish, Education, Children and Families Convenor said: “I want to thank all those who have taken the time to engage with this valuable consultation. I am really pleased that such a high number of parents/carers, learners and school staff have shared their views on how potential mobile phone restrictions could work in practice.

“We are being bold in our ambition when it comes to making our classrooms phone-free, and we want to be one of the first local authorities to introduce widespread restrictions. It is important that we do this in the right way and a big part of this is making sure that we have heard and take on board feedback from our communities.

“This consultation forms part of our engagement and it is positive that the figures broadly show that we are on the right track.

“There is more work to be done to make sure that we have heard the views and concerns of our secondary school aged young people who are digital natives and understandably used to having their phone during the school day.

“We want to get this right so that any potential restrictions are seen as a positive step for all.”

Council leaders urged to agree package to avoid industrial action in schools

Joint letter from Education Secretary and teaching union

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth and General Secretary of EIS Andrea Bradley have written a joint letter to all council leaders, urging them to take the decisions needed to avoid industrial action.

The letter states:

“We are writing to you ahead of tomorrow’s Cosla Leaders meeting to urge you to take the decisions needed to avoid industrial action and to join us in implementing a reduction in class contact time (RCCT). Both Scottish Ministers and the EIS have now signed up to the plans to implement the 90- minute RCCT across Scotland that you will be considering tomorrow. It has taken a lot of intensive work to get to this point.

“It is clear that an agreement can now be reached that would see RCCT implemented by August 2027 in Primary and Special Schools, and by August 2029 in Secondary. This phased approach is intended to give councils the time and capacity required to manage recruitment and local planning effectively, and the Scottish Government and teacher unions will work with you to assist in that task.”

Reduction in class contact time: Letter to council leaders – gov.scot

Robberies: Man to appear in Court

A 42-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with thefts and robberies in Edinburgh.

The incidents happened between Sunday, 2 March, and Tuesday, 10 March, 2026, in the Niddrie, Leith and Portobello areas of the city.

A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal, and he is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today – Friday, 13 March, 2026.

Detective Constable Fiona Murray said: “We are aware of the concern these incidents caused to local communities and I would like to thank members of the public for their assistance.”

“Preposterous excuses” given for latest Scottish Government non-compliance

Scottish Information Commissioner, David Hamilton, has received a reply to his letter of 2 February 2026 in which he sought assurances from the Scottish Government’s Permanent Secretary that Ministers had complied with his Decision 193/2024.

That Decision required Scottish Ministers to release all legal advice given to the Scottish Government in relation to the Commissioner’s earlier decision on whether they held Hamilton Inquiry evidence.

The Commissioner was advised by the Scottish Government that it had complied, however the Scottish Government refused the Commissioner access to the withheld information he needed to see in order to check this by relying on a little-used provision in FOI law. Therefore, at the time, the Commissioner had to take Ministers at their word that compliance had been achieved.

During a related court case in January 2026, the Commissioner became alert to the prospect that some of that legal advice had not been released and sought reassurance. 

A response has finally been received which the Commissioner considers demonstrates that the Scottish Government has failed to comply with his 2024 Decision.

He is now consulting with lawyers on certifying this non-compliance to the Court of Session, allowing the court to inquire into a second case of contempt of court.

David Hamilton, Scottish Information Commissioner.

The Commissioner said: ““Perhaps worse than the fact that Scottish Ministers have once again failed to comply with one of my Decisions, is that they appear to have tried to conceal this breach of trust with unjustified delays and a wall of silence. The excuses I have now been given, both in writing and in person, are preposterous and unacceptable. 

“I have now met with the Permanent Secretary and have expressed my dismay. I can no longer trust the Government to handle this information unsupervised and will explore more intrusive options to ensure compliance.

“The Government’s FOI handling of the Hamilton Inquiry cases stands in stark contrast to the way nearly every other case of theirs is handled.

Following my meeting with the Permanent Secretary, I now need to assess whether I can resource a further intervention to examine the unusual case handling practices in these cases.”

The letter of 10 March 2026 from the Permanent Secretary to the Commissioner is published here.

Bringing Hope, Building Futures: New package of support for parents

Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2026-2031 published

New support for parents to increase their incomes and reduce the burden of everyday costs, on top of existing work, will help to keep approximately 100,000 children out of poverty in 2026-27.

More than £111 million is being committed to updated plans to eradicate child poverty through Bringing Hope, Building Futures. 

It builds on existing Scottish Government action which has already reduced relative child poverty rates in Scotland to the lowest levels in almost a decade – with rates nine percentage points lower than the UK in 2023-24. 

Action includes: 

  • Investing £61.5 million in the Tackling Child Poverty Fund to strengthen and introduce measures, including to expand childcare support for low-income parents, help employers offer progression opportunities, grow the Family Nurse Partnership to help up to 500 more young parents during pregnancy and into parenthood, and to expand Bookbug 
  • A £20 million Whole Family Support Third Sector Delivery Fund for charities to help families in their communities  
  • £30 million to boost incomes through work, create more training opportunities for parents by investing in the college sector, and to reduce transport costs for low-income parents travelling to work 
  • £9 million to mitigate the UK Government’s freeze on Local Housing Allowance rates, which caps the amount of housing support a household can receive, to support up to 18,000 families

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Eradicating child poverty is the Scottish Government’s driving mission – no child should live in poverty in a country as rich as Scotland.

“This plan builds on a great deal of progress and sets out a broad range of actions to help parents – by reducing the cost of living, helping increase incomes received through work and social security, and helping their children to thrive.  

“I am proud that Scotland is the only part of the UK to have statutory targets to drive down child poverty, which were unanimously agreed by parliament. 

“Our plan focusses on concrete action this year while providing the foundations on which any incoming administration can build and reflect its own policy priorities, working with industry, local authorities and charities, to give children in Scotland a future free from the scourge of poverty.” 

tackling-child-poverty-delivery-plan-2026-2031Download

‘Deep concern’ over bullying and harrassment at Holyrood

The findings of a Dignity at Work survey conducted by the Scottish Parliament have been published.

All staff who work for MSPs, or for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB), were invited to take part in the survey under the SPCB’s ‘Inclusive Parliament’ review.

The review takes account of forthcoming changes in employment law arising from the Employment Act 2025.  

The Act will bring in stronger whistleblowing protections and a duty for all employers – including MSPs in that capacity – to take proactive, preventative steps to stop harassment, including third-party harassment.

The survey asked all staff for their views and experience of working at Holyrood and in constituency offices, including whether they had confidence in the Parliament’s current procedures for reporting inappropriate behaviour.

The findings from the survey and its accompanying report have been communicated jointly by the Parliament’s Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone MSP and Clerk / Chief Executive of the Parliament David McGill.

Writing to all MSPs and staff they said many staff work in positive, supportive environments, but they were both “deeply concerned” by new findings on bullying, harassment and sexual harassment.

The review also identified areas where the Parliament’s systems and culture must improve.

The full text of the joint message is published below along with the SPCB’s report:

Dear colleagues

Inclusive Parliament Review: Dignity at Work survey findings and report

Reason for the Review

In June 2025 we commissioned a review of our Dignity at Work policies and systems. This was to help ensure the SPCB and MSPs, as employers, were prepared for the forthcoming changes in employment law arising from the Employment Act 2025. These changes bring in stronger whistleblowing protections and a duty to take proactive, preventative steps to stop harassment, including third-party harassment.

This means not only responding when concerns are raised but creating the right conditions so that harassment is less likely to happen in the first place, helping everyone feel safe, respected and supported.

As part of the review, we asked all staff who work for MSPs and the SPCB to take part in our Dignity at Work survey. While SPCB staff are surveyed regularly, this is the first report since 2018 that has included feedback from a survey of MSP staff.

We also consulted with staff, trade unions, staff forums, external equalities groups and MSPs and undertook a benchmarking exercise looking at the approach taken in other parliaments, including the Senedd Cymru which has just completed a similar exercise.

In addition, our Independent Support and Advocacy Service invited people to give feedback on their experiences. The results from the survey and associated work have been published [here] today.

Main Findings

Many teams across Parliament demonstrate positive and supportive working cultures, and the vast majority of Members, managers and staff uphold the standards of dignity, courtesy and respect that the public rightly expect.

However, the review also identifies areas where our systems and culture must improve. Fragmented reporting routes, barriers to speaking up and low confidence in existing processes undermine our commitment to a safe and respectful workplace.

We are deeply concerned by the findings on bullying, harassment and sexual harassment. These incidents during this session only came to light through this review, making it clear that some colleagues did not previously feel safe or confident to share their experiences.

Our foremost concern is for those affected. Coming forward is never easy, and we are grateful to everyone who took part in this review. Anyone who raises concerns must be supported and assured that their concerns will be handled with independence, expertise and empathy. There can, and must, be zero tolerance of inappropriate behaviour.

It is important to stress that most Members, managers and staff will not recognise themselves in these findings. The clear majority conduct themselves in a way that reflects the standards of this Parliament and the expectations of the public. Nevertheless, the issues identified show that our systems and culture are not yet providing the safety, trust and consistency that everyone should be able to rely on. That must change.

To build an environment where people feel safe to speak up, and confident that concerns will be handled fairly and consistently, we must learn from these findings and ensure the necessary reforms are taken forward swiftly, transparently and with care.

Next Steps

The SPCB considered the report earlier today and gave its full support to the recommendations. It wished to place on record its thanks to the staff and external expert providers who took forward the review.

We will update you on the implementation of these recommendations over the weeks ahead. While some of the actions can, and will, be implemented swiftly, others will necessarily take a little more time. However, we will make the most of the momentum that this comprehensive report has provided.

Once again, we would like to thank all those who took part in this review.

Yours sincerely,

David McGill
Clerk/Chief Executive
Chair, Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP
Presiding Officer

Inclusive Parliament ReviewDownload

Have you seen Kerry?

Police are becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of missing person Kerry Stubbs. If you have seen her please call 101 quoting incident number 1906 of 8th March 2026.

She was last seen in the Gorgie Road area. She is described as white female, 43 years old, average build, long faded dyed red hair.

Last seen wearing her hair tied up in a pony tail, dark coloured baseball cap, light blue jacket, black t-shirt with a love heart on it and black trousers, with a cream/stone shoulder bag and a red/maroon backpack.

#SWCPT

Edinburgh cultural guide builds slow-travel project with Business Gateway support

An Edinburgh-based tour operator is turning a personal storytelling project into a sustainable tourism activity thanks to tailored guidance from Business Gateway.

Un Italiano ad Edimburgo (An Italian in Edinburgh), founded by Andrea Moretti, offers private walking tours of Edinburgh, bespoke car tours across Scotland and personalised itineraries, all delivered entirely in Italian. Andrea combines the knowledge of a local guide with the flexibility of a personal tour leader, ensuring visitors experience Scotland authentically and at their own pace.

Having moved to Scotland from Italy six years ago, Andrea’s passion for Scotland led him to author The Slowness of the Thistle: A Journey into the Soul of Scotland, a book encouraging travellers to explore the country with curiosity and attention to detail. Sharing his travels across Scotland on his Facebook page, Andrea gradually built a community of followers. Step by step, he realised visitors were not only looking for a guide, but for help interpreting the country, which led him to formalise the project as a business.

The business champions slow, responsible tourism through small, private tours that offer visitors an authentic and meaningful connection to Scotland’s people, landscapes and culture.

Since starting last year, Andrea has expanded his offering to include multi-day experiences and collaborations with local producers, giving Italian travellers a truly immersive Scottish journey. Tours are designed to be accessible for everyone, including families with children, travellers with pets, or those with mobility or sensory needs. Every experience is tailor-made, combining history, curiosity and local stories.

Business Gateway has helped Andrea structure and formalise the project as a recognised tourism activity. Adviser Lee Briggs provided one-to-one guidance through the early stages, from business planning and registration to defining clear offers for individual travellers, families and travel agencies.

Andrea also received expert support on marketing strategy, digital presence, SEO, social media planning and client communication, alongside workshops and webinars to strengthen his business knowledge.

Thanks to this support, Andrea launched an official website for Un Italiano ad Edimburgo, building a strong online presence to support its social platforms. The business also became officially listed on VisitScotland.com and Forever Edinburgh as a registered tour operator, marking a significant achievement for a small independent business.

Andrea Moretti said: “At the beginning, the project An Italian in Edinburgh was just a way to share my experiences with friends – a diary of photos, stories and tips born out of passion. Step by step, post by post, the community grew, and so did my role: from enthusiast to guide for many Italian travellers.

“As a new Scot, I’ve been amazed at the level of support available. Business Gateway helped me structure the idea, refine my offer and gain the confidence to make the project sustainable without losing its original purpose: helping visitors understand Scotland rather than simply see it.

“Lee’s guidance and support in accessing funding have made a real difference, giving me the foundation and tools to grow and show visitors a side of Scotland they might never see otherwise.”

Lee Briggs, Business Gateway adviser, said: “Andrea’s passion for Scotland is infectious. Our guidance helped him take a personal idea and turn it into a real, sustainable business, with a clear identity and strong online presence.

“Supporting him as he brought Un Italiano ad Edimburgo to life has been a pleasure, and I look forward to seeing how he continues to grow his tours and expand his experiences in the years ahead.”


To find out more about how Business Gateway can help your business, visit:

https://bgateway.com.

Guide Dog puppy raiser Julia receives Community Hero Award

Congratulations to puppy raiser Julia Yarker, who was recently presented with a Community Hero Award by Ian Murray MP. 👏

Julia was chosen for this award for her outstanding contribution to Guide Dogs, helping to change the lives of people with a vision impairment over the last 23 years. 🦮

Guide Dogs’ Puppy Development Advisor, Lynsey Anderson Fell, said: “Julia has been an integral part of our Edinburgh puppy raising scheme for more than two decades and is now on her 22nd puppy, Kristal.

“She has lots of experience but is always willing to try new methods, as training has changed over that time. Julia also supports other puppy raisers to learn and develop, alongside the voluntary work she does in the local community.”

Speaking after receiving the award, Julia added: “I started puppy raising for Guide Dogs in 2003. Life then was quite different with no online training, but monthly classes and meetings with a supervisor.

“Through volunteering with Guide Dogs, I found a group of great people all puppy raising and I’ve made many friends over the years. I have had lots of wonderful pups and lots of great memories of some great characters!”

Thank you to Ian Murray MP for recognising this life-changing contribution, and of course, to Julia herself for 23 fantastic years of giving people with sight loss freedom and independence. 💛

Become a puppy raiser with Guide Dogs Scotland here:

www.guidedogs.org.uk/puppyraising

Annual Fettes fundraiser to help local youth club members

22nd March run hopes to raise £10k for FetLor, Scotland’s oldest youth club

An annual charity fun run organised by Fettes College will this year raise money for Scotland’s oldest youth club, enabling local school children to embark on the invaluable experience of a Duke of Edinburgh award.

FetLor Youth Club regularly welcome over 350 young people throughout the week to engage in entirely free sport and creative activity in a safe and warm environment.

The club was established in 1924 by former pupils from Fettes College and Loretto School and continues to maintain strong relationships with both schools. 

One of its primary aims is to provide opportunities that would ordinarily be out of reach for its members and this year Fettes has chosen to dedicate all the money raised from its fun run to FetLor.

The event, taking place on Sunday 22 March, will see hundreds of people running a 5K, 10K or half marathon distance both within Fettes’ grounds, around the city and further afield with Fettes alumni also undertaking their own runs from wherever they are in the world.

An inclusive event, participants are able to join in by cycling, rowing, walking or running on treadmills too.

FetLor will use any moneys raised to fund their Duke of Edinburgh award which currently has 18 participants enrolled on it – a life changing experience for many that develops new skills and helps participants achieve their potential.

Dr Richie Adams, Chief Executive, FetLor Youth Club said: “We’ve had the privilege of offering many young people the chance to take part in Duke of Edinburgh and have seen first-hand just how transformational it has been.

“With expanded horizons comes new aspirations and participating in the award helps our members see new opportunities and discover a higher potential.”

Helen Harrison, Head of Fettes College, said: “The annual charity run at Fettes College is always a joyous spectacle and provides a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and Give Back.

“I am continually inspired by the team at FetLor Youth Club and their support of young people across Edinburgh. We are very proud to fundraise for them and their young members.”

The school hopes to raise around £10,000 with donations welcome on JustGiving: https://www.justgiving.com/page/fettesforfetlor

In addition to a warm and welcoming space at its youth club, FetLor also provide volunteering opportunities with SQA awarded points as well as wide-ranging educational assistance.

The youth club is open to young people of all ages and all activities are free. For more information, visit: https://www.fetlor.org.uk/