Mairi McAllan

It is both a legal obligation and absolutely evident to anyone who's living in England just now – with their scorched, scorched parks and their agriculture suffering – how vital that is.

National security concerns have to be thrashed out, understood fulsomely, but we were never informed as to the case that led to it being rejected, and we need to see that.

I’ve already been clear that I don’t, for example, support a nationwide rollout of the pouches that we have seen because they are expensive.

The consultation begins today and it is based on the Government’s intention to legislate, to pass laws, to take a national position of ending personal mobile phones in the learning environment.

I think I’m not alone in feeling that I should far rather have that money invested into education than in managing highly addictive tech.

I don’t want there to be too many exceptions so as not to undermine the underlying principle.

So long as the Scottish Government isn't making these decisions, all we can do is set the principles by which we expect them to be made.

What we had was the former prime minister visiting China in a breakthrough visit, seeking to improve trade relations and other relations with the Chinese, but then at the same time being unwilling to entertain the prospect of investment in…

Of course national security has to be taken firmly into account, but what the Scottish Government is saying is you should have engaged us on those points, and we ask you to reconsider them to make sure that it was the right judgment.

It's about everybody feeling like they belong and having the opportunity...

The offer has to be there, doesn't it?

I hope we'll see a significant uptake, but no one will be forced to take it.

There's no greater investment to be made than in a series of measures to support children to achieve everything they can in life.

I think that’s a nonsense. We have just been returned to government with an absolutely whopping endorsement of our manifesto.

I mean, is that really – yes, it will be a backpack – but on a day when nearly 150,000 young people are awaiting exam results to shape their future, whether it's a backpack or a bag on their shoulder, really isn't the most important thing…

I was really proud to stand in that election alongside John Swinney on a positive future for our country, on always standing up for Scotland.

It was a historic election result for the SNP, the largest ever gap, if I remember correctly, between us and those who came into second place.

I think that’s a nonsense.

The Scottish Government’s position is that the Wallace letter should be in Scotland.

I appreciate and respect the efforts of Scotland’s hard-working teachers while focused on driving further progress in our schools.

That’s why I announced plans for phone free classrooms and it’s why I will deliver a new deal for our education workforce, ensuring teaching remains an attractive and rewarding career.

The staff and young people with whom I spoke separately highlighted benefits including fewer distractions during classes, reduced conflict between pupils and between staff and pupils, and more interaction between peers.

There will be occasions where exemptions are required, such as where young people use their phones to monitor medical conditions or for young carers who need to maintain contact with home.

We recognise a spectrum of harm associated with the significant intensification that we’ve seen in children and young people’s use of online platforms and smartphones.