Mairi McAllan

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.

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

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.

I think one of the problems with the current situation, and why we need to move to change the law, is because some schools have adopted it, others haven’t and that variability across the country will be letting some pupils down.

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.