Commenting on the new payment earlier this year, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “The ongoing cost of living crisis and higher energy bills mean that people are struggling to heat their homes more than ever.

Source: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/money/heating-payment-helps-scots-winter-30769115

MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville has called for those making the decision to reconsider and think again on how funding will be distributed.

Source: https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/23511322.cairneyhill-primary-will-miss-developer-payments/?ref=rss

NASUWT members are also involved in the dispute and its general secretary, Patrick Roach, had condemned the latest offer from Scottish Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville as “only a paltry improvement” on the previous proposal.

Source: https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/23376813.school-strikes-end-scots-teaching-union-accepts-pay-deal/?ref=rss

Scottish Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said 37 schools were affected and that ministers had known since last year.

Source: https://jerseyeveningpost.com/morenews/uknews/2023/09/05/schools-in-scotland-containing-raac-concrete-named/

Scottish Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Strikes in our schools are in no one’s interest – including for pupils, parents and carers who have already had to deal with significant disruption over the past three years.

Source: https://jerseyeveningpost.com/morenews/uknews/2023/01/25/scottish-teachers-at-halfway-point-in-rolling-programme-of-strikes/