First Minister's Questions: September 14 2023
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00:00 - Hello, and welcome to the Scotsman's Politics Show
00:05 with our roundup of First Minister's Questions.
00:08 My name's Darren Miller, I'm Head of News at the Scotsman,
00:11 and I'm joined by our Deputy Political Editor,
00:14 Connor Matchett.
00:15 Connor, as always, an interesting FMQs,
00:18 but actually some of the action involving Fergus Ewing
00:20 happened in the minutes before it started.
00:23 - Yeah, so Fergus Ewing obviously is under threat,
00:27 if you like, of becoming one of the first SMPs
00:31 to lose the whip.
00:32 In recent years, certainly his longstanding opposition
00:36 to much of the SMP Green Deal and the legislation
00:40 that's arisen from it has reached a tipping point.
00:43 And we understand that there's likely to be a meeting
00:46 of the group next week to discuss his future.
00:49 That is likely, as the Scotsman first reported
00:52 back before the start of recess,
00:55 it's likely to see him receive a suspension of some sort
00:58 to be confirmed exactly what that is.
01:00 That specific disciplinary measure follows his decision
01:05 as a rebel, rebel, to vote against Norma Slayton
01:10 and her confidence motion by the Parliament
01:13 over the deposit return scheme earlier this year.
01:16 And when a SMP MSP, or any MSP for that matter,
01:20 votes against the government minister in that way,
01:23 it's usually grounds for them to be suspended
01:26 from the party and from the party whip for a period.
01:28 So I'll have more information about that next week.
01:31 Obviously he's in the news this week as well,
01:33 'cause he voted last night against the government
01:36 on a motion to pause the implementation
01:39 and the deadline of the short-term let licensing scheme,
01:42 which was a monumental mess for the government
01:45 with five SMP MSPs voting against the government,
01:49 of which only one did so deliberately.
01:52 - And Connor, we were used to claims
01:55 of breaching the ministerial code
01:56 being levelled at Nicola Sturgeon
01:59 before she obviously stepped down from the role,
02:01 but that same accusation being levelled
02:03 at Humza Yousaf today.
02:05 - Yeah, so this goes back,
02:07 long-time readers of the Scotsman will remember
02:09 that we've covered at length the question marks
02:13 over certain statistics relating
02:16 to Scotland's renewable energy potential
02:19 and current production.
02:22 And it was demonstrated that a longstanding statistic
02:25 used by the Scottish government for many, many years
02:29 was found to be incorrect.
02:31 Oh my, I can't remember exactly when.
02:33 It was a good year and a bit ago at this rate.
02:36 And this has continued into Humza Yousaf's premiership.
02:40 He said just before recess,
02:42 something along the lines of that being the most,
02:46 Scotland having the majority of renewables capacity
02:50 in the UK, that's fundamentally not true.
02:54 FOI disclosures show that it took him three weeks
02:57 to correct the record during which officials tried
03:00 to come up with some sort of wheeze
03:02 to get him off the hook for having said something incorrect.
03:05 In fact, if you look at the FOI details,
03:08 they knew within an hour and a half of FMQ's finishing
03:11 that the figure he claimed was correct
03:14 in the chamber was in fact wrong.
03:16 Took him three weeks to correct the record.
03:18 The Lib Dems have written to the first minister
03:19 asking him to refer himself to the ministerial advisor
03:23 on the ministerial code.
03:25 I don't think that's gonna happen.
03:26 I think we'll probably see this brushed
03:28 under the carpet very quickly.
03:29 - If you wanna know a bit more about that story,
03:32 read the Scotsman website.
03:34 Connor, that wasn't actually the meat
03:37 that started off FMQ's.
03:38 We had questions on both police figures
03:41 or more appropriately police cuts,
03:43 but also the state of the health system.
03:44 Can you talk us through it?
03:46 - Yeah, so Douglas Ross kicked us off
03:47 with mentioning a lot of the statistics
03:50 that were in the Scotsman's front page news story today
03:52 about the difficulties that the police is facing
03:55 with the funding pressures.
03:57 He focused specifically on body-worn cameras
04:00 and the fact that the rollout of those
04:02 will not be guaranteed to be finished
04:04 by the end of next year.
04:05 Anas Sarwar, on the other hand, Scottish Labour leader,
04:08 focused, as he often does at FMQ's at the minute,
04:10 on the health service.
04:12 And he pointed out increasing numbers of people
04:14 using the private sector.
04:16 It wasn't a vintage First Minister's questions.
04:19 Humza Yousaf, in response to Douglas Ross,
04:21 started shouting "fact" at the end of every sentence,
04:24 and Douglas Ross responded in kind.
04:27 Humza Yousaf also continually referred to the pandemic
04:30 and the fact that Scottish Labour seemed to ignore it
04:32 entirely in their questions about the health service.
04:35 And to be honest, I'm pretty sure I've witnessed
04:37 that FMQ's about six times in the last six months,
04:40 so we'll likely see it again in short order.
04:42 - Connor, and I wonder whether our raiders
04:44 on our body-worn cameras was central
04:46 to Douglas's questioning.
04:48 I'm wondering whether they're more concerned
04:49 about 800 staff by next April,
04:52 including potentially 600 officers
04:55 actually being taken off the beat,
04:57 concerning times and mid-wider budget cuts.
05:01 Lastly, Ferguson Marine, you and Rachel Omery
05:06 wrote about that this week,
05:07 but it was up at questions again.
05:09 - Yeah, Graeme Simpson, the Scottish Conservative
05:11 and spokesperson for transport brought it up at FMQ's,
05:15 asked the First Minister a very direct and straight question,
05:18 which is, would he allow the Auditor General
05:21 to undertake a forensic analysis of the finances
05:24 of how about 130 million pounds of public money was spent
05:27 when the yard was in private ownership,
05:30 owned by Jim McColl, the tycoon,
05:32 pro-independence tycoon who rescued the yard.
05:34 Humza Yousaf, this was an ask,
05:37 which should be said by, of the Public Audit Committee,
05:40 who's continuing to look at Ferguson's,
05:44 and Humza Yousaf completely dodged the question,
05:46 and in a post FMQ's briefing,
05:49 I've just come out of, so just a couple of minutes.
05:52 - Connor, there was a bit of question dodging today.
05:54 Let's see what they come up with
05:56 over coming days and weeks.
05:59 Thanks very much for joining us live from Holyrood.
06:01 You can read all the latest of our politics coverage
06:04 at thescotsman.com,
06:05 just look for the politics tab on the navigation bar.
06:08 Thanks very much.
06:10 - Thank you.
06:10 The next item of business is First Minister's Questions,
06:14 and at question number one, I call Douglas Rox.
06:17 - Thank you, Presiding Officer,
06:18 and can I remind the chamber that my wife
06:20 is a serving police officer with Police Scotland.
06:24 Body-worn cameras are vital for police officer safety
06:27 and to increase public trust.
06:30 The SNP have left Police Scotland
06:32 as the last force in the United Kingdom
06:34 to roll out body-worn cameras.
06:36 But yesterday, Police Scotland said they couldn't guarantee
06:39 that body-worn cameras will be rolled out next year.
06:43 Humza Yousaf didn't deliver them
06:45 when he was Justice Secretary.
06:47 As First Minister, will he let police officers down again?
06:50 (audience applauding)
06:51 - First Minister.
06:52 - Well, can I say first and foremost, of course,
06:55 that we have increased the budget for Police Scotland.
06:57 I'm pleased that after last week,
06:59 Douglas Rox seems to have accepted the point
07:01 that the Scottish Government has increased the budget
07:03 for Police Scotland by 6%.
07:05 Police Scotland by 6.3%, by an additional 80 million pounds.
07:10 Let me quote directly from Deputy Chief Officer David Page
07:15 on what he actually said around body-worn cameras.
07:18 He said, and I quote, "Our current plans are
07:21 "that we will continue to roll out
07:23 "our national body-worn videos,
07:26 "as outlined in previous plans."
07:28 When I was Justice Secretary, of course,
07:29 I ensured that we had the capital budget
07:32 to ensure that that could begin.
07:34 I'm very pleased to say that the Scottish Government,
07:36 the facts remain that the Scottish Government
07:38 has not only increased the budget for Police Scotland,
07:40 but much like Chief Officer David Page said yesterday,
07:43 the plans are to roll out our national body-worn
07:46 video cameras for our police officers,
07:49 who of course are the ones who should be credited
07:51 for the fact that we have seen
07:53 the lowest crime rates in Scotland,
07:55 one of the lowest crime rates in Scotland,
07:57 for almost 50 years.
07:59 - Douglas Rox.
08:00 - The evidence is very clear that next year,
08:03 the plans will not be fully rolled out.
08:05 Humza Yousaf said in his programme for government last week
08:08 that they were a priority,
08:10 but Police Scotland now say they can't guarantee it
08:13 because there is a 300 million pound black hole
08:17 in the capital budget.
08:18 The First Minister likes to quote from Police Scotland,
08:22 so let me quote a submission that they put
08:24 to this Parliament's Justice Committee
08:26 for yesterday's session.
08:28 "Our current capital allocation
08:30 "is among the lowest in UK policing.
08:36 "This is significantly short of the funding required
08:39 "to improve conditions and equipment
08:42 "for the wellbeing of officers and staff."
08:45 So if this really is a priority for Humza Yousaf,
08:48 will he now treat it like one?
08:50 - First Minister,
08:51 let's deal with the facts, Presiding Officer.
08:56 The fact is the UK government has cut our capital budget
09:00 by over 6.5%.
09:03 But here's some more facts for Douglas Ross.
09:05 The Scottish Government has increased Police Scotland's
09:08 budget by 80 million pounds this year, fact.
09:13 Fact of the matter is we have more police officers
09:16 per head in Scotland than England, fact.
09:19 Of course, when we look at recorded crime levels,
09:22 they are at one of their lowest in Scotland
09:25 in almost 50 years, fact.
09:29 Recorded crime has fallen by 42%
09:32 since the SNP came into power, that is a fact.
09:37 So when it comes to looking at whether or not
09:39 Scotland is safer under the SNP,
09:42 there is simply no denying that Scotland is undoubtedly safer
09:46 under this SNP government, that is a fact.
09:49 (audience applauding)
09:50 - Douglas Ross.
09:51 - Presiding Officer, budgets are so stretched
09:57 that the police say that officer redundancies
09:59 are now on the table.
10:01 And let's look at facts that the First Minister
10:04 wants to reiterate.
10:05 300 million pound black hole
10:07 in Police Scotland's capital budget, fact.
10:10 Officer numbers in Scotland at their lowest levels
10:14 in 14 years, fact, First Minister.
10:17 They started to slip when he was Justice Secretary
10:20 and now they're in free fall as he's First Minister.
10:23 And without further funding,
10:25 Police Scotland warned yesterday
10:27 that 2,000 police officers could be let go
10:31 in the next five years.
10:32 600, 600 could be off our streets by April next year.
10:37 So why is the government even considering these cuts,
10:42 which will stretch policing in Scotland to breaking point?
10:46 - First Minister.
10:47 - First of all, can I just remind Douglas Ross once again
10:52 that this year Police Scotland has seen
10:54 a significant increase to their budget.
10:57 And we are doing that of course in the face
11:00 of a UK government that has cut our capital budget.
11:04 And let's look at how we are spending that money.
11:06 Not only are we ensuring that we have more police officers
11:09 on the beat per head than England.
11:11 If we look at fair pay, we have just concluded
11:15 a deal with our police officers for a generous
11:18 and a fair pay increase to them.
11:20 That means in Scotland that the minimum
11:22 and the maximum salary is now higher for police officers
11:26 in all ranks in Scotland compared to their counterparts
11:30 in England and Wales.
11:31 And look, when it comes to the budget,
11:32 of course we will negotiate, we will engage
11:34 with all political parties right across the chamber
11:37 in relation to the budget.
11:38 But what Douglas Ross cannot do is demand more money
11:42 is spent and at the same time demand that we cut taxes.
11:46 That is simply not a credible position, Presiding Officer.
11:49 - Douglas Ross.
11:51 - The First Minister is getting angry again.
11:55 Either a civil servant hasn't put this stat
11:57 in his briefing pack or he is not reading it.
11:59 Police officer numbers in Scotland under the SNP
12:02 are now at the lowest level in 14 years.
12:06 That is a fact, First Minister, and that is what we are facing
12:09 on the streets of Scotland right now.
12:11 Police Scotland will be the last force in the UK
12:13 to roll out body-worn cameras.
12:15 Officers no longer have the resources
12:17 to investigate every crime.
12:18 Their workplaces are not fit for purpose,
12:21 and now the number of officers could be cut by 2,000.
12:25 The thin blue line is barely visible at this rate.
12:28 So does the First Minister accept this,
12:31 that with falling officer numbers,
12:33 communities in Scotland will feel less safe?
12:36 - First Minister.
12:37 - I don't accept that in the slightest.
12:40 Around 1,280 new recruits have joined Police Scotland
12:44 in the last 18 months.
12:47 Over 350 more police officers than when we took office in 2007.
12:53 When it comes to real-terms increases in Police Scotland's budget,
12:56 that's a fair enough call for any political party to make.
13:00 Of course we'll give that consideration
13:02 when it comes to the budget.
13:03 But has Douglas Ross ever asked himself
13:05 why a real-terms increase was difficult this year?
13:08 Of course it was difficult, because inflation is sky high.
13:12 Inflation is sky high because of his party's
13:15 complete economic mismanagement of the public finances.
13:20 So when it comes to real-terms increases,
13:23 of course we will give that consideration.
13:26 But it was Douglas Ross a year ago that stood here,
13:29 that demanded the Scottish Government
13:31 copy Liz Truss's disastrous mini-budget.
13:35 If we had done that, we wouldn't have money to spend
13:38 on our police service, or indeed any of our public services.
13:41 Thank goodness that Douglas Ross is nowhere near
13:44 the public finances of Scotland.
13:46 [Applause]
13:48 Question number two, Anna Sarwar.
13:51 Last year, the then Health Secretary promised
13:54 no one would be waiting more than 18 months
13:57 for an NHS procedure by September 2023.
14:00 But the most recent figures show
14:02 there are still 17,200 people on an NHS waiting list
14:06 who've already waited over 18 months for hospital procedures.
14:10 Yet another broken promise
14:11 from a Health Secretary that has failed upwards.
14:14 The result? People turning to private care.
14:17 Figures out this week show 40% of all knee and hip replacements
14:23 being carried out in Scotland are being self-funded by patients.
14:27 40%.
14:29 Why does Humza Yousaf think it's acceptable
14:32 that almost 5,000 patients last year
14:34 were forced to cover the costs of their hip or knee replacements
14:37 because of his failures?
14:39 First Minister.
14:41 First of all, Anna Sarwar of course has every right to ask
14:44 around the waiting times that our NHS are experiencing.
14:47 But what I would say to Anna Sarwar is every time he asks the question,
14:51 he fails to mention of course the biggest shock our NHS has ever faced
14:53 in its 75-year existence.
14:55 And health services right across the UK, including in Scotland,
14:58 are of course ensuring that we recover.
15:02 When it comes to the longest waits,
15:04 again, just to inject some facts into this exchange,
15:09 when we look at the two-year waits,
15:11 the number waiting over two years for a new outpatient appointment
15:14 is down 59% in Scotland.
15:18 When we look at the 18-month wait, it's reduced by 40.6%.
15:25 We look at those waiting over a year,
15:27 34% of specialities had fewer than 10 patients waiting over 52 weeks.
15:33 So there is progress, there is recovery,
15:36 and of course that recovery is going to take time.
15:40 And what of course helps with that recovery
15:42 is making sure that we have NHS staffing at near record levels,
15:47 as they are under this government.
15:49 But also making sure that we don't lose a single day of the NHS
15:54 to industrial action.
15:55 I'm pleased that this Scottish Government has ensured
15:57 that our NHS staff remain the best paid in the entire UK.
16:00 Anna Sarwar.
16:01 Presiding Officer, surely the First Minister knew about Covid
16:03 when he made the promise last year
16:05 that we eradicate it by this time this year.
16:08 The First Minister may not like it,
16:10 but this is happening on his watch.
16:12 In the last financial year alone,
16:14 there were 43,000 patients treated privately in Scotland,
16:18 an 8% increase in one year.
16:21 4,739 hip and knee replacements paid for privately.
16:25 7,805 cataract surgeries paid for privately.
16:30 1,980 colonoscopies,
16:32 2,055 endoscopies,
16:35 995 hernia repairs,
16:37 and most shockingly of all,
16:39 1,745 rounds of chemotherapy
16:43 paid for privately by patients.
16:46 Healthcare free at the point of need,
16:48 a founding principle of our NHS.
16:51 How can the SNP have let it get so bad
16:54 that patients are having to find the cash
16:57 to pay for life-saving cancer treatment?
17:00 First Minister.
17:02 Of course, Presiding Officer,
17:03 we don't want people to have to fund care
17:05 out of their own pockets.
17:07 We know, of course, the impact
17:09 that the pandemic has had on our health service
17:12 and, indeed, on those waiting lists.
17:14 But I go back to the point to Anas Sarwar
17:16 that this is something that is being seen
17:18 right across health systems across the globe,
17:20 let alone across the UK.
17:22 So when we look at those happening here in Scotland
17:25 as well as across the UK,
17:27 when I look at the figures
17:28 from the Private Health Information Network
17:29 over the first quarter of 2023,
17:32 of course it shows worrying trends
17:34 in relation to those
17:35 who are accessing private healthcare,
17:36 but it does also show that Scotland
17:38 has a lower rate of take-up of private healthcare
17:42 compared to England and Wales.
17:43 The rate of people who are self-funding
17:45 for private in-patient daycare
17:48 is 16% higher in England,
17:50 and in Wales it's 51% higher
17:53 where the Labour Party are in charge.
17:56 Of course that will be cold comfort
17:57 for people that have to dig deep
18:00 into their own pockets to pay for healthcare,
18:04 but what I would say is
18:05 it's not unique here to Scotland.
18:06 So what we'll do is continue to see that recovery,
18:09 continue to reduce waiting lists,
18:11 and what we'll continue to do
18:13 is make sure that our NHS staff
18:16 are the best paid in the UK
18:18 so they continue to provide
18:19 the excellent service that they do
18:21 to patients up and down Scotland.
18:22 Anas Sarwar.
18:23 The number of people going private each year
18:26 is going up,
18:27 and those answers from the First Minister
18:29 are going to be no comfort
18:30 to the 43,000 patients
18:32 who are being forced to pay privately.
18:34 One person I spoke to in Cambuslang
18:35 just a few weeks ago,
18:37 £15,000 for a hip replacement
18:39 because he had to wait three years.
18:41 Completely and utterly unacceptable.
18:43 In the middle of a cost of living crisis,
18:45 where people are struggling to pay the bills,
18:47 they shouldn't also have to worry
18:48 about the cost of getting sick.
18:50 But on the SNP's watch,
18:52 43,000 Scots are being forced to find
18:55 £15,000 for a hip or knee replacement,
18:57 £3,000 for cataract surgery,
19:00 £3,000 for a colonoscopy,
19:02 £4,000 for a hernia repair,
19:04 and even cancer patients are being forced
19:06 to find thousands of pounds
19:08 for their chemotherapy.
19:09 Patients in pain and heartbroken families
19:12 are being forced to scrape together the cash.
19:14 Some are even being forced to remortgage their homes
19:17 to pay for the care they should be getting
19:18 on the NHS.
19:20 First Minister, why are more and more Scots
19:22 being forced to pay the price
19:24 for SNP incompetence and failure?
19:27 First Minister.
19:27 What we're seeing, of course,
19:31 is the impacts of that global pandemic,
19:33 which has impacted every single health service,
19:35 including, of course,
19:36 the health service here in Scotland.
19:38 But if you want evidence—
19:39 if Anas Sarwar, forgive me,
19:40 wants evidence of the recovery,
19:43 we are seeing more and more activity
19:46 within the NHS.
19:47 When I look at the activity
19:48 in relation to inpatient daycare,
19:50 the activity for quarter two
19:52 was at its highest since the start of the pandemic.
19:54 That's not the first, not the second,
19:56 but actually the sixth quarterly increase in a row,
20:00 with 58,813 patients seen in Q2.
20:04 So we're seeing more and more patients,
20:06 inpatients in this case,
20:07 and daycare patients being seen.
20:09 I'm pleased that Anas Sarwar mentioned
20:11 the cost of living crisis,
20:12 because we are taking action
20:14 to tackle that cost of living crisis.
20:16 Because of the action we are taking, of course,
20:18 it's estimated that 90,000 fewer children
20:21 will be in absolute or relative poverty.
20:23 In stark contrast to the position of Anas Sarwar,
20:26 of a summer of U-turns,
20:28 where he has aligned himself
20:29 with cruel Tory policy after cruel Tory policy.
20:33 Now, we are unashamedly anti-poverty,
20:37 unashamedly pro-growth.
20:39 The only thing Anas Sarwar is,
20:42 is unashamedly pro-starmer, Presiding Officer.
20:44 Question number three, Ross Greer.
20:48 Thank you.
20:50 To ask the First Minister what action
20:51 the Scottish Government is taking
20:53 in response to the first
20:54 UN global stocktake report on the Paris climate agreement.
20:57 First Minister.
20:58 Well, there's simply no denying
20:59 that the conclusions of the global stocktake report,
21:02 they're deeply concerning,
21:03 and that all countries, including, of course, Scotland,
21:05 must seek to do more.
21:07 The report found that nothing less
21:08 than radical decarbonisation
21:11 and systemic transformation will do.
21:12 Scotland will, of course, play her part.
21:15 Internationally, we will continue to urge
21:17 greater ambition, greater action,
21:19 towards a just transition to net zero,
21:22 through our core chairmanship of the Under2 Coalition.
21:25 I will highlight this as a matter of urgency
21:27 while at New York Climate Week,
21:29 and we look forward, of course, to COP28,
21:32 to make clear decisions on fossil fuels,
21:34 renewable energy, and climate finance
21:37 must be progressed with urgency.
21:39 At home, Scotland has made progress
21:41 on our net zero journey,
21:42 though we know more has to be done.
21:44 We'll continue to work with communities,
21:46 businesses, and international partners
21:48 towards a net zero future.
21:50 Ross Greer.
21:51 Thank you.
21:52 As the First Minister said,
21:53 Scotland has a deserved international reputation
21:55 as a leader on climate action,
21:57 but our domestic record needs to match up
21:59 to that reputation.
22:00 With Scottish green policies,
22:02 like removing peak-time railfares
22:03 from a few weeks from now,
22:05 we're taking action to reduce emissions.
22:07 The First Minister said he's about to join
22:09 other world leaders at Climate Week
22:10 and then at COP.
22:11 So what new actions is he bringing to the table
22:14 to demonstrate Scotland's commitment
22:15 to tackle this global emergency?
22:17 First Minister.
22:18 Well, Ross Greer is absolutely right.
22:20 It's incumbent upon Governments
22:21 right across the world
22:23 to ensure that they are bringing urgency,
22:26 pace, and indeed initiative
22:28 to tackling the climate emergency.
22:30 Scotland has already had a big impact
22:32 on the global stage,
22:33 particularly through our pioneering commitment
22:35 to loss and damages,
22:36 and I'm determined to keep building upon that.
22:38 But in terms of new initiatives,
22:39 that's where my programme for Government
22:41 committed to serious climate action.
22:44 Cheaper public transport through free bus travel,
22:46 trialling the scrapping of peak railfares
22:49 and ScotRail, as Ross Greer has mentioned,
22:51 investing almost £5 billion
22:52 in the net zero energy economy,
22:55 a new climate change adaptation programme,
22:56 a heat and buildings bill
22:59 and the natural environment bill.
23:00 Much more on top of that
23:02 that we'll continue to build upon
23:04 as we develop our new climate plan.
23:06 And it's why I'm looking forward
23:07 to hosting all party leaders
23:09 so that we can get some sort of consensus,
23:11 I hope, on the urgency that's required
23:13 to tackle the climate emergency.
23:15 Sarah Boyack.
23:18 Given that the Scottish Government
23:20 has consistently failed
23:21 to live up to our climate target,
23:22 which is bad news for the 38% of households
23:25 living in fuel poverty
23:27 whose energy bills have increased,
23:29 what does he say
23:30 to the millions of people across the world
23:32 and here in Edinburgh
23:33 who will be campaigning
23:34 on the streets this weekend
23:35 to demand a just transition
23:37 given his government
23:38 has flip-flopped on oil and gas
23:40 and failed to deliver?
23:42 Let's hear the Member.
23:44 I think a degree...
23:47 I'm just referring to the Net Zero Committee
23:49 this week and failed to deliver
23:51 retrofitting of people's homes
23:53 who are living in fuel poverty.
23:54 First Minister.
23:56 Can I say to Sarah Boyack
24:00 that she would have more credibility
24:03 on this issue
24:04 if her party didn't U-turn
24:06 on its support on low emission zones
24:07 or indeed it didn't dump
24:08 its £28 billion green prosperity fund.
24:11 And that is the very, very point here,
24:14 Presiding Officer,
24:15 that time and time again
24:17 this Scottish Government
24:18 doesn't just talk the talk,
24:20 we're prepared to walk the walk.
24:22 We will bring forward
24:23 serious action
24:25 to tackle the climate emergency
24:27 but what would really help,
24:28 Presiding Officer,
24:29 is that those parties
24:30 that demand we meet our targets
24:32 don't then oppose
24:33 every single measure
24:35 we bring to this chamber.
24:36 So if Sarah Boyack
24:37 if Sarah Boyack is serious
24:39 and the Labour Party are serious
24:40 about tackling the climate emergency,
24:42 join with us,
24:43 support us,
24:44 bring forward ideas
24:46 that will help us collectively
24:47 to tackle the climate emergency.
24:50 Don't simply just dump
24:51 the policies that you had
24:53 and don't simply just oppose
24:54 those policies that we bring forward
24:56 and support us
24:57 because collective action is needed
24:59 to tackle the climate emergency.
25:00 Finlay Carson.
25:02 Thank you, Presiding Officer.
25:05 Could the First Minister
25:06 update the chamber
25:07 on when we should expect
25:08 to see the published update
25:09 to the climate change plan?
25:10 First Minister.
25:12 At the end of this year, Presiding Officer.
25:14 Thank you.
25:15 And we move to question four
25:17 and I call Jackie Dunbar.
25:18 Thank you, Presiding Officer.
25:20 To ask the First Minister
25:21 in light of reports
25:22 that no bids were received
25:24 for offshore wind projects
25:26 in the UK Government's
25:27 latest contract for difference round,
25:29 what action the Scottish Government
25:31 is taking to encourage investment
25:33 in offshore wind
25:34 and hydrogen power in Scotland?
25:37 First Minister.
25:37 Jackie Dunbar
25:40 absolutely exposes
25:41 the UK Government's
25:42 complete failure to capture
25:44 one of the greatest opportunities
25:45 for Scotland's net zero economy.
25:47 Their inexplicable stance
25:49 is both anti-climate
25:51 but it's also anti-growth.
25:52 Industry has sent the UK Government
25:54 a clear signal
25:55 that the strike price must increase
25:57 and we back those calls 100 per cent.
26:00 To ensure we seize this opportunity,
26:02 the Scottish Government supports
26:04 the strategic investment model
26:05 with public and private sector partners,
26:07 specifically aimed at enabling
26:09 a move from project-led
26:12 to sector-level investment.
26:13 Launching later this year
26:15 will be the next tranche
26:16 of hydrogen funding.
26:17 The Green Hydrogen Fund,
26:19 this flagship fund,
26:20 will focus on supporting
26:21 renewable hydrogen production
26:23 from Scotland's abundant
26:24 renewable energy resources,
26:26 seeking to give us
26:26 first mover advantage.
26:28 But I do hope on the back
26:30 of industry calls
26:30 that the UK Government
26:31 will listen to the industry
26:34 and of course hopefully
26:35 we'll have a successful future round.
26:37 Jackie Dunbar.
26:39 I thank the First Minister
26:40 for his answer.
26:41 A new report from
26:43 Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University,
26:45 published just this week,
26:46 further reinforced that
26:48 we cannot afford to get this wrong
26:50 and we must see investment
26:52 in renewable technologies gather pace.
26:55 The SNP Scottish Government
26:56 has shown its ambition
26:57 by committing £500 million
26:59 to a just transition fund,
27:01 but this has to be matched
27:03 by Westminster.
27:04 Can the First Minister
27:05 provide his response
27:06 to this new report
27:08 and any update on discussions
27:09 with the UK Government
27:11 to match the Scottish Government's
27:12 just transition fund?
27:13 First Minister.
27:15 I do welcome the report
27:16 from Robert Gordon University
27:18 and Jackie Dunbar is absolutely right.
27:20 UK Government,
27:20 successive UK Governments
27:22 have taken billions
27:24 and billions and billions
27:25 from our North East
27:26 and are not prepared
27:27 to put a fraction back in.
27:29 The very least the UK Government
27:31 should do, the very least
27:32 they should do,
27:33 is match our £500 million
27:36 just transition fund,
27:38 Presiding Officer.
27:38 And what I would also say
27:40 to the UK Government
27:41 is that the latest round
27:43 is an abject failure
27:45 to capitalise on the huge,
27:47 the vast potential,
27:48 renewable potential
27:50 that Scotland has.
27:51 So what I would say
27:52 to the UK Government
27:52 is not just that
27:54 does this harm our economy,
27:56 but it's seriously
27:57 harming our planet.
27:58 Over a summer
27:58 where we have seen
28:00 the visual impacts,
28:01 the disastrous visual impacts
28:03 of the climate emergency,
28:04 this is a time
28:04 for climate leadership.
28:06 What we're getting
28:06 from the UK Government
28:07 is of course
28:08 complete political abdication.
28:10 Douglas Lumsden.
28:12 Thank you, Presiding Officer.
28:15 The fact that there are
28:16 no bids received
28:16 should be a wake-up call
28:17 to this Government.
28:18 [Audience shouts]
28:21 Offshore wind should be part
28:24 of an energy mix.
28:25 Instead, they are putting
28:26 all their eggs into one basket,
28:28 a basket that is
28:29 considerably more expensive
28:31 than the Scottish Government
28:32 has predicted.
28:34 So will the First Minister
28:35 look again at having
28:36 a more balanced energy mix
28:37 that includes nuclear energy?
28:39 [Audience shouts]
28:40 First Minister.
28:41 The Member rightly looks
28:45 embarrassed,
28:46 as he should be, Presiding Officer.
28:48 [Applause]
28:50 The Scottish Government
28:52 is somehow responsible
28:53 for the failure of the contract
28:54 for disparate auction
28:55 that the UK Government
28:57 controls, Presiding Officer.
28:58 It is seriously desperate
29:00 from the Member.
29:01 If he doesn't want to listen
29:02 to me, Presiding Officer,
29:03 he should listen
29:04 to the likes of Keith Anderson,
29:06 who said—
29:06 and I will quote directly—
29:08 "This is a multi-billion pound
29:10 lost opportunity
29:12 to deliver low-cost energy
29:13 for consumers and a wake-up call
29:16 for the UK Government."
29:17 Let us listen to Dan McGrail,
29:19 the CEO of Renewable UK,
29:24 who says that these results—
29:25 the contract for different
29:27 auction round—
29:28 "should set alarm bells
29:29 ringing in the Government,
29:31 as the UK's energy security
29:34 and net zero goals
29:35 can only be met
29:36 if we have offshore wind
29:38 as the backbone
29:39 of our future energy system."
29:41 I agree with Dan McGrail.
29:42 I agree with Keith Anderson.
29:44 If the Conservatives
29:45 had any influence in this regard,
29:47 they would make sure
29:48 that the UK Government
29:48 listens to the industry,
29:50 as opposed to listening to those
29:52 who back fossil fuels alone.
29:53 Beatrice Wishart.
29:55 Thank you, Presiding Officer.
30:00 Offshore wind
30:02 is a sustainable source of energy
30:03 and a key part of Scottish Government
30:05 plans to reach net zero targets,
30:07 but the Scottish Government's
30:08 first round of leasing
30:09 sold our natural environment
30:11 short with a cap price
30:12 per square kilometre.
30:13 Will the Scottish Government
30:14 ensure that any future
30:16 leasing rounds are not undersold
30:18 in order to get the maximum
30:19 amount possible
30:20 to reinvest in public services?
30:22 ScotWind is the first
30:25 evolved leasing round
30:26 for offshore wind development.
30:28 Scottish Water is the first
30:29 leasing round in Scotland
30:30 in a decade,
30:32 and will make a significant
30:34 contribution to our public finances.
30:38 Not only will it contribute
30:39 £750 million in revenues
30:41 to the public purse,
30:42 but it will create billions of pounds
30:44 in terms of opportunity
30:46 to the supply chain.
30:47 The Cabinet Secretary for Environment,
30:49 Climate Change and Land Reform
30:49 will be more than happy
30:50 to speak to the Member
30:51 on what more we can do
30:53 to improve future leasing rounds.
30:56 The point is that the Scottish Government
30:59 believes in the vast potential
31:01 of our renewables industry
31:03 and our renewables potential
31:05 in the face of a UK Government
31:06 that has turned its back
31:08 on Scotland's renewable potential.
31:10 I hope that members
31:11 like Beatrice Wishart
31:12 and other members
31:13 across political parties
31:15 will join with the SNP-led
31:16 Scottish Government
31:17 to put pressure on the UK Government
31:19 to do more to unlock
31:20 the huge potential
31:21 that Scotland has for renewables.
31:23 To ask the First Minister
31:28 what the Scottish Government's response
31:29 is to statistics
31:30 reportedly showing that
31:31 the number of complaints
31:32 against Social Security Scotland
31:34 has increased by 350 per cent
31:36 in one year.
31:37 Social Security Scotland
31:39 has introduced 13 Scottish Government benefits,
31:41 seven of which are available
31:43 only in Scotland,
31:44 thanks to a total investment
31:45 of £12 billion
31:47 supporting people who need assistance.
31:49 In 2022-23,
31:50 it received almost 370,000 applications,
31:55 hundreds of thousands of phone calls
31:57 and web chats too.
31:58 Social security is a fundamental human right,
32:01 which is why we have established
32:03 a radically different benefits system
32:05 built on dignity, fairness and respect.
32:09 Our system vigorously promotes
32:10 benefit take-up
32:12 to ensure that as many people as possible
32:14 get what they are entitled to,
32:16 while mitigating the austerity impact
32:18 of UK Government policies
32:20 within our fixed budgets.
32:22 In 2022-23,
32:23 there were a total of 1,790 complaints,
32:26 so complaint numbers remain low.
32:28 In fact, in relation to total applications,
32:30 the figure is less than 0.5 per cent.
32:32 I am sure that the First Minister must agree
32:35 that the situation is not acceptable.
32:37 Members of the Scottish Parliament
32:39 will be aware of increasing costs
32:41 and complaints
32:42 experienced by our constituents.
32:44 Scottish National Party Ministers
32:45 have said all is well,
32:46 but we are seeing increased processing times,
32:48 delays in benefit roll-out
32:50 and the possibility of the full devolution
32:53 of all benefits not happening until 2026.
32:55 I ask the First Minister
32:57 when he expects all benefits
33:00 to be devolved to Social Security Scotland.
33:02 I am more than happy for the Cabinet Secretary
33:04 to write in detail to Miles Briggs
33:06 not just on the question that he asked specifically,
33:08 but on the significant improvements
33:11 that we are making
33:12 in relation to application processing times.
33:15 Social Security Scotland is a success story.
33:18 It is because of Social Security Scotland
33:20 and the actions that we have taken
33:22 in relation to social security
33:24 and progressive taxation
33:26 that it is estimated that 90,000 children
33:29 will be lifted out of absolute
33:30 and relative poverty this year.
33:32 It is the reason why poverty levels in Scotland
33:34 are still too high,
33:36 but we have seen higher rises in poverty
33:40 across the UK,
33:40 where the situation in Scotland has stabilised.
33:43 We want to make sure that poverty reduces.
33:46 The final thing I would say to Miles Briggs—
33:49 and we will furnish him with further detail—
33:51 is that when it comes to the satisfaction levels
33:53 of those who interact with Social Security Scotland,
33:57 81 per cent of respondents agreed
34:01 that it was easy to contact Social Security Scotland,
34:03 and 94 per cent of respondents agreed
34:06 that Social Security staff treated them with kindness.
34:09 That, I suspect, is the stark difference to the DWP.
34:11 Can the First Minister confirm that user survey results
34:19 demonstrate that Scotland's social security system
34:22 is adhering to the founding principles
34:24 of dignity, fairness and respect
34:27 so that people are benefiting from the powers
34:30 over social security being in the hands of this Parliament?
34:33 Collette Stevenson is absolutely right.
34:37 The survey shows just that.
34:40 In fact, when I look at satisfaction levels,
34:43 almost nine out of 10—89 per cent—of respondents
34:46 said that Social Security staff were able to help them,
34:50 and 89 per cent of respondents said
34:51 that Social Security staff were knowledgeable about benefits.
34:54 As I have already said,
34:56 through the actions that this Government has taken
34:58 and through the hard work of the excellent team
35:00 at Social Security Scotland,
35:01 we have seen significant results
35:03 when it comes to tackling poverty,
35:05 and child poverty in particular.
35:07 That would not have been possible
35:08 if it were not for the hard work of the excellent staff
35:10 at Social Security Scotland
35:11 and, of course, the ethos that we have had
35:13 from the very beginning around dignity,
35:15 around fairness and around respect.
35:17 To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government
35:22 is doing to tackle repeat offending,
35:24 in the light of a recent report
35:26 that found that people who experience frequent
35:28 and serious repeat violence
35:30 often do not bring this to the attention of the authorities.
35:33 The Scottish Government commissioned the report
35:36 that the member refers to
35:38 precisely because we knew that victims of repeat violence
35:42 do not report their experiences.
35:43 It is, of course, important for us to understand
35:45 the reasons and rationale behind why
35:48 and how we can help them to access that support.
35:50 While there are fewer crimes and fewer victims
35:52 than there were over a decade ago,
35:54 the impact on victims,
35:55 particularly of sexual and violent crimes,
35:58 can be absolutely devastating.
36:00 That is why we are investing in law enforcement,
36:02 crime prevention and reducing offending and reoffending
36:06 through a range of activities,
36:07 including our violence prevention framework.
36:09 We are also putting victims of crime
36:11 at the heart of our justice system
36:12 through our Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill,
36:15 and we have invested £93 million
36:18 over the past five years to support victims.
36:20 I welcome the report by the Scottish Government,
36:24 which seeks to better understand
36:27 repeat violent victimisation.
36:29 However, it found that,
36:30 "Of those men experiencing repeat physical violence in Scotland
36:34 that live in deprived areas,
36:36 have experienced homelessness
36:37 or are living in supported accommodation
36:39 and in recovery from addiction",
36:41 whereas intimate partner abuse
36:43 was the highest among women aged 16 to 24
36:46 who also live in deprived areas.
36:48 However, the report talks about local communities
36:51 led by peer mentors and those with lived experience
36:55 who are uniquely positioned to support people
36:57 experiencing repeat violence.
36:59 Is there a slightly different perspective on crime?
37:02 With that in mind,
37:06 what can be done to support the grass-roots organisations,
37:09 which the research found is quite limited by insecure funding?
37:13 I think that Pauline McNeill made some very important points.
37:18 The points that she made are exactly why
37:20 we will continue to support programmes
37:22 such as Medics Against Violence
37:24 and the delivery of the excellent navigator programme.
37:29 It is why we have invested and continue to invest
37:31 in the violence reduction unit,
37:34 which has been hailed as a great exemplar globally.
37:37 In terms of supporting grass-roots organisations,
37:40 I could not agree more with Pauline McNeill.
37:42 I think that the investment in those third sector partners
37:45 is absolutely crucial.
37:46 That is why more than 20 organisations
37:49 have received awards from our victim-centred approach fund,
37:52 including Victim Support Scotland,
37:54 which was awarded more than £18 million
37:56 to support families bereaved by crime service.
37:59 We will continue to invest in those grass-roots interventions.
38:03 What I would say to Pauline McNeill
38:04 is that the Cabinet Secretary for Justice
38:06 would be more than happy to continue the conversation with her.
38:08 We have received that report,
38:09 and it is really important that we act on
38:12 what that excellent report is telling us.
38:15 We move to general and constituency supplementary questions.
38:18 Does the First Minister share my dismay
38:24 that Motherwell concert hall and theatre was closed
38:28 with immediate effect until further notice
38:30 due to the discovery of rack concrete
38:32 in the roof of the building?
38:33 Of course, safety is absolutely paramount.
38:37 Motherwell civic theatre and concert hall is a beloved venue,
38:41 both by professional and amateur performers,
38:45 not least the cast of the acclaimed Christmas panto.
38:48 Will the Scottish Government engage with the local authority
38:53 on the challenges facing the future
38:56 of this important local cultural venue?
38:59 We will continue to engage with local authorities,
39:03 as we have done throughout the course of the last few months.
39:07 I am more than happy for the Cabinet Secretary to speak directly to Clare Adamson.
39:13 Clare Adamson is right that these are difficult issues.
39:15 It is really important that local authorities and others
39:19 continue to align themselves with the Institute of Structural Engineers' guidance.
39:23 That is what partners are seeking to do,
39:26 and it empowers them to take the appropriate mitigations.
39:29 That can include, at times, unfortunately,
39:31 having to close down buildings where they feel that is necessary.
39:35 I am more than happy to ensure that the Cabinet Secretary writes to Clare Adamson,
39:38 and I am sure that she will be happy to engage with Clare Adamson, too,
39:42 on this very important issue.
39:44 Childcare has formed the cornerstone of the First Minister's programme for government.
39:49 It is also central for child development and for allowing parents and carers to get back to work.
39:54 Yesterday, out of the blue, Curry primary school families lost their before-and-after-school clubs.
40:00 Parents have contacted me, desperate for help,
40:03 with one unsure how they can balance childcare and their job as a teacher in Dalkeith.
40:08 First Minister, will you meet me to discuss solutions to this very pressing local issue?
40:12 I would be more than happy for Sue Webber to furnish the Government with the full details.
40:18 Obviously, she has given a synopsis of the situation.
40:22 Of course, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills would be more than happy to meet Sue
40:25 Webber. Sue Webber is right. Childcare was a cornerstone not just of my programme for government,
40:30 but has been a cornerstone of this Government since 2007. We now have a very generous childcare
40:38 offer, which I am keen to build on. That is why the staff who do a phenomenal job in providing
40:44 that childcare are available to pay £12 an hour in the PVI sector. If Sue Webber can
40:52 furnish the Government with full details, I will ensure that the Cabinet Secretary engages with her.
40:56 This week, disabled people in Glasgow have written to all MSPs in the region,
41:04 including the First Minister, to say that
41:06 "despite our large numbers, disabled people have never been a priority for the Scottish Government.
41:11 The Glasgow Centre for Population Health has described the situation as a human catastrophe
41:15 and the CEO of the Glasgow Disability Alliance has said that the result is that disabled people
41:20 are dying of poverty, nobody knows and nobody cares."
41:23 I ask the First Minister whether he knows that it is this bad for disabled people in the city
41:28 he represents, and whether he cares enough to commit to taking action to address it,
41:32 including to end non-residential care charges.
41:35 I understand, of course, because I met the Glasgow Disability Alliance just a matter of
41:43 weeks ago. I heard from the members of the board of the Glasgow Disability Alliance in Tresor Bourke,
41:49 who very powerfully over the years has articulated the concerns for disabled people living in
41:55 Scotland. That is why my programme for government committed to reopen the independent living fund,
42:00 which was an ask from disabled people's organisations. That is why we will continue
42:05 to work with them to see what more we can do, including the ending of non-residential care
42:10 charges, which we are still committed to do by the end of this parliamentary session.
42:14 However, I say to Pam Duncan-Glancy that that will come at a significant cost. It is important
42:19 that, when Labour engages with us, it does not turn its back on progressive taxation,
42:23 as Anas Sarwar seems to have done, and that it does not turn its back on any ability for us to
42:27 raise any revenue. All those initiatives, which are well intentioned and can make a difference,
42:34 will cost money. It is so important that we engage in a credible discussion
42:38 about how we raise that revenue.
42:40 The Linda Norgrove Foundation in my constituency has been desperately trying to get 20 female
42:49 medical students out of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and into medical schools in Scotland. However,
42:54 they are being stymied by UK visa issues. I know that the foundation was extremely appreciative
43:00 of the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care's help when it met her last month.
43:03 Is there anything further that the Scottish Government can do to help those inspirational
43:06 women?
43:07 I hope that all of us as a Parliament can unite to back this particular cause. I pay tribute to
43:14 the excellent work that the Linda Norgrove Foundation does. It is incumbent on all of
43:18 us to put pressure on the UK Government and the Home Office to help, given that we all know how
43:24 difficult the plight is for women in Afghanistan. I know that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and
43:29 Social Care has engaged with the foundation, and my understanding is that she has also engaged
43:33 and written to the UK Government and the Home Office on this particular matter. I will see
43:38 if there is anything more that we can possibly do on this issue, but I hope that we can collectively
43:43 join as a Parliament to say to the UK Government that its response and its foot-dragging on this
43:48 particular issue is simply not good enough and is letting down women and girls in Afghanistan.
43:54 The cost of building the Glen Sannox and Glenroser is an ongoing scandal. We do not know when they
44:07 will be finished, we do not know what the final bill will be, and we do not know what has happened
44:11 to all the money. The Auditor General says that he needs extra powers to find out what has happened
44:20 to £128 million of money that was spent by FMEL. Will the First Minister grant those powers?
44:27 There have been a number of inquiries to which the Scottish Government and those at Ferguson's
44:35 have co-operated fully. Hundreds of documents have been published and put into the public domain
44:40 about what is happening at Ferguson's. I will not hesitate in apologising to our island communities
44:46 for the fact that they are still waiting for the completion of both 801 and 802.
44:52 What I will not do is apologise for the fact that the Scottish Government did step in
44:56 and made sure that we secured and saved hundreds of jobs in Inverclyde.
44:59 Police Scotland's recently released report highlights that this year's funding allocation
45:09 represents a real reduction. As a result, the number of police officers has been reduced to
45:15 16,600 in Scotland. At the same time, the number of calls being made to Police Scotland is
45:21 reportedly only increasing. What action is the Scottish Government taking to ensure that Police
45:28 Scotland is suitably funded to deal with this demand? We are funding Police Scotland suitably
45:36 because it has received an increase of 6.3 per cent, which is an £80 million increase to its
45:42 budget. Not only has it had an increase to its budget, but recorded crime is at one of its
45:48 lowest levels in almost 50 years. Police officers pay the best-paid police officers in the UK,
45:57 so we are making sure that Police Scotland is appropriately funded. If Floyd Sir Troddry
46:02 thinks that there should be an increase to the budget, what he and his party cannot do
46:06 is turn their back on progressive taxation or any way in which we can raise revenue
46:12 to ensure that our public services are appropriately funded.
46:16 First Minister, the Aquafil factory in Kilburnie, which carries out interlacing and twisting for
46:24 the carpet yarn industry, has been unexpectedly earmarked for closure as early as next month,
46:29 with the loss of up to 40 jobs. That will be a devastating blow to the workers and wider
46:34 community. Aquafil blames Covid and Brexit for the challenging conditions in the UK
46:39 and a doubling of energy costs. I will meet the company on site tomorrow. What steps can
46:44 the Scottish Government take to assist the company, the workforce and lessen the impact
46:48 of any proposed redundancies? Neil Gray will be happy to meet the member around Aquafil,
46:54 and we will see what can be done where necessary to prevent job losses or,
46:59 where that unfortunately becomes a material reality, whether we can help
47:02 those into alternative employment. It is interesting that Kenny Gibson says that three
47:08 factors have contributed—Covid, Brexit and high energy costs. Of course, Covid is affecting
47:15 business right across the globe, but the other two factors are very unique to the UK Government.
47:22 It is very unique to the UK and self-inflicted damage that Brexit has done.
47:27 Let us hear the First Minister.
47:28 The utter mismanagement of the UK public finances is why we are seeing high energy and high
47:33 inflation costs, which are damaging businesses right across Scotland.
47:37 During First Minister's questions on 22 June, I raised a point of order that the First Minister
47:47 had misled the chamber. On 29 August, the First Minister wrote to me telling me what he had
47:53 intended to say, but what he has stated to me in writing is not true. A freedom of information
48:01 request reveals that weeks of civil service time and effort were spent trying to engineer
48:06 a face-saving response, rather than the First Minister simply admitting that he had misled us
48:11 all. Does the First Minister share people's concerns that the Scottish civil service appears
48:16 to be increasingly politicised, which could destroy public trust? What will he do to prevent
48:24 such partisan protection from Ministers who intentionally mislead in the future?
48:29 It is incredible that I have a Member who is telling me what I was actually meaning to say
48:39 and meaning to think. It is incredible that we have Liam Kerr talking about disrespecting
48:45 Parliament. I am meant to take a lecture from the Conservatives about disrespecting Parliament—
48:51 First Minister, let us treat one another with courtesy and respect.
48:55 Well, do not worry, I will get to Liam about courtesy and respect,
48:58 because I am meant to take a lecture about disrespecting Parliament from the Conservatives
49:04 who illegally shut down the Parliament. I am meant to take lectures about truth and honesty
49:13 from the party that gave us Boris Johnson. The very difference between me and Liam Kerr,
49:22 between the SNP and the Conservatives, is that the SNP wants to empower our just transition,
49:27 wants to empower our offshore renewable sector. I am afraid that the Tories just
49:34 want to hold us back.
49:41 This morning, new data shows that the vast majority of Scots view immigration as a positive
49:50 benefit that enriches Scotland culturally and economically. Can the First Minister
49:56 update the Chamber on his interactions with the UK Government on labour shortages in key sectors
50:03 as a result of the UK's archaic immigration policies?
50:07 The First Minister
50:08 articulates very well the positive benefits of migration. In fact, virtually every single study
50:17 under the sun shows that migrants who have come to the UK have contributed more than they have
50:23 taken. I have to say that the absolute hostile environment that has been created by successive
50:30 UK Governments is woeful. The UK has become a pathetically insular country.
50:37 Not only is it morally wrong, but it undoubtedly cuts our nose despite our face in terms of the
50:46 economic potential that migrants could bring to Scotland and, indeed, to the rest of the UK. I
50:53 would urge political parties—I, frankly, have lost hope with the Conservative UK Government when it
50:59 comes to migration—to use any influence that the First Minister has when it comes to Keir
51:04 Starmer and the UK Labour Party, which seem to be engaged in a race to the bottom when it comes to
51:08 the issue of migration. That is not going to help the UK and certainly is not going to help Scotland
51:12 at all. It has been a persistent issue over many years, with the short running of trains.
51:22 Serving the Fife to Edinburgh service was well used by my constituents. I raised this
51:26 issue previously with ScotRail and with the previous Minister for Transport, and I was
51:29 assured that it would be resolved. However, it continues. Today, for example, the 08/11 service
51:34 from Inverkeithing, which is a very busy service, had just two carriages, leaving passengers stranded
51:39 on the platform having to wait 20 minutes for their next service, meaning that they would be late
51:44 arriving at their place of work. It is very welcome that we are seeing a reduction in peak
51:49 time fares, but that is no use to people if they cannot get on the train in the first place.
51:54 When will that be brought to an end?
51:56 We have invested significantly in the rolling stock in Scotland in the time that we have been
52:03 in office. I know that the previous Minister for Transport held a meeting with Fife MSPs
52:07 on the issues that Murdo Fraser mentioned earlier in the year in springtime. I am more than happy
52:13 for the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity to write to
52:15 Murdo Fraser and, where appropriate, meet Fife MSPs so that we can ensure that the people of
52:19 Fife get the service that they absolutely need and require.
52:24 Thank you. That concludes First Minister's questions.
52:27 Thank you.
52:29 you
52:29 you
52:30 you
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