Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]

Meeting date: Thursday, December 7, 2023

Official Report 996KB pdf

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First Minister’s Question Time

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Programme for International Student Assessment (Results)

I begin by putting on record my party’s condolences to the family and friends of the late Alistair Darling. The former Chancellor of the Exchequer played an essential role in steering the country through the financial crash and the better together campaign. He was a true titan of Scottish and United Kingdom politics, and the warm responses from across the political spectrum are testament to the high regard in which he was held. Our thoughts are with his wife, Margaret; his children, Calum and Anna; and his many friends across politics, particularly in Scottish Labour, at this difficult time. [Applause.]

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s programme for international student assessment—PISA—publication is one of the most respected international studies of education systems. This week, it reported that Scotland’s results have declined to record lows. The 2023 study shows the worst-ever performance in maths, science and reading. What does Humza Yousaf have to say to the generation of young Scots who have been failed by the Scottish National Party?

As this is the first opportunity for me to do so in the chamber, I, too, pay tribute to Lord Darling. Alistair Darling was a dedicated public servant and a giant of Scottish and UK politics.

In my last interaction with Alistair Darling, just a couple of months ago, we ran into each other at Edinburgh airport. He took the opportunity to seek me out and congratulate me on the role that I am in. He said that, if I ever wanted a brief and even discreet conversation or advice, he was always on the other end of a telephone. I think that, for someone who is in a different political party, that shows the mark and the integrity of the individual. He will be hugely missed from our public life.

I know that my thoughts and the thoughts of the entire chamber are with his wife, Margaret; his children; his family; and our Labour colleagues. Indeed, anybody who had any association with Alistair Darling undoubtedly will be missing him. I hope that all those who grieve his loss can take some comfort from the many tributes that have poured in over the past week.

On the substance of Douglas Ross’s question, let me put on record—and be absolutely explicit about it—that I do not dismiss or take lightly the PISA results that have been released this week. We are reflecting on a poor set of results, and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills will make a statement next week on the issues of literacy and numeracy and on what our response is to improve those outcomes.

There is no doubt, as the OECD makes clear in the publication, that Covid has had an impact. The OECD described it as its Covid edition, and that is why 30 out of the 40 countries saw their results go down in maths. That is why, across all three categories—reading, maths and science—every nation in the UK, including Scotland, saw reductions in its scores.

The results will be carefully considered. They are a poor set of results. However, some of the commentary on Scottish education from this one set of results is, I think, unfair. Let us look at the holistic picture, not just one data set. We see that investment in education per pupil is higher in Scotland than it is in England and Wales. As a result of that investment, 94.3 per cent of 16 to 19-year-olds in Scotland are in employment, education or training. That is a record number. The suggestion that Douglas Ross is making on the basis of one set of results, that the education system is failing, is simply not true. Frankly, that is an insult to the brilliant job that our teachers do.

It is an insult for the First Minister to say that he is reflecting on this poor set of results when the PISA figures have been going down throughout the SNP’s time in office. Scores in maths and science have fallen, year on year, since the SNP took over, and reading scores are at a record low.

I believe that there is no surprise in this chamber or anywhere else at hearing the First Minister reach for Covid as the excuse. It was a global pandemic, and we know that the education systems of countries in east Asia, where the pandemic began, are outperforming Scotland’s education system. Professor Lindsay Paterson of the University of Edinburgh said:

“Covid isn’t solely responsible for this crisis—although ministers and education chiefs are determined to scapegoat it.”

Let us be very clear: the Scottish education system was once among the best in the world, but, after 16 years of the SNP being in power, Scotland now ranks below Latvia for science, behind Estonia in reading and behind Lithuania in maths. Will Humza Yousaf finally admit that the SNP’s record on schools is a national disgrace?

I do not accept that. Douglas Ross deliberately did not listen to my previous response. I accept that the PISA results were not good enough, even considering the impact of the pandemic. I am not using the impact of the pandemic as an excuse. Despite the results, the OECD described the results as its “Covid edition”. That came from the OECD, not from the Scottish Government.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills will stand here next week and give details of what we are doing to improve literacy and numeracy. However, the suggestion that our entire education system is completely failing is simply untrue. Let us look at the holistic picture. Douglas Ross and the Conservatives do not want to listen, because it is an inconvenient truth for them.

Last year’s achievement of curriculum for excellence levels results showed the biggest single-year reduction in the attainment gap in primary schools in numeracy and literacy. This summer, we had the highest-ever number of national 5 passes in an exam year since the qualification was introduced, in 2014. The Conservatives really do not want to listen to this, because it goes against their narrative about Scottish education. Higher and advanced higher pass rates were above those seen pre-pandemic, in 2019. We now have a record number of young people aged 19 and under who have secured a university place this year, and there are more from areas of higher deprivation. As I have said, 94.3 per cent of 16 to 19-year-olds are participating in employment, education or training. That data and those facts tell us about an education system and its record under the SNP that support our young people.

I will need shorter answers and shorter questions.

The First Minister keeps going back to Covid. Let us see what the director of the PISA study said. He said that the OECD made it clear that attainment was declining long before Covid, and PISA studies throughout the year show that here, in Scotland. Humza Yousaf needs to accept the extent of his Government’s failure and examine why that has happened.

“Many factors will have contributed to this decline but it cannot be a coincidence that it has taken place during the disastrous implementation of Curriculum for Excellence and its aftermath.”

Those are not my words; they are the words of Dr Keir Bloomer, who was one of the architects of curriculum for excellence.

The SNP’s flawed plans have cost Scotland its international reputation for excellence in education. They have made schools less about learning. The SNP’s curriculum does not value knowledge. The SNP tried to save it with mountains of bureaucracy and only made it worse. Is it not time to accept that, after the worst ever school results, the SNP’s curriculum needs to be scrapped?

I remind Douglas Ross that some of the challenges that we saw predate curriculum for excellence. As I said, we are taking the PISA results extremely seriously. That is why the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills has committed to giving a ministerial statement in the chamber next week to give details of the action that we will take on numeracy and literacy.

I remind Douglas Ross that Liz Smith, who is on his front bench, said when she was the Tory education spokesperson:

“I start the Scottish Conservatives’ contribution to the debate with an unequivocal declaration of support for the curriculum for excellence.”—[Official Report, 19 March 2008; c 7066.]

She said more recently, in 2018:

“Throughout all the interviews and consultations we undertook, there was general agreement that the principles which underpin Curriculum for Excellence—and which were agreed unanimously by Scotland’s political parties—are sound.”

Again recently, in March 2020, the then Tory education spokesman, Jamie Greene, said:

“The Conservatives will support the Scottish Government—especially in the current climate—in delivering curriculum for excellence and improving outcomes for Scotland’s young people.”—[Official Report, 17 March 2020; c 43.]

The Conservatives have supported curriculum for excellence because of the statistics that I have read, which show that curriculum for excellence is working for young people.

I say to Douglas Ross that we will continue to invest in education. It is an investment that, per pupil, is higher than in England and Wales. We will make sure that we have an education system that supports good outcomes for our young people, as opposed to knee-jerk reactions from the Conservatives and a cut to our public services by the United Kingdom Conservative Government.

I require briefer responses as well as briefer questions.

I cannot believe that the First Minister is standing here defending Scottish education in a week when the results have shown standards to be at their worst ever level. He has quoted what the Scottish Conservatives have said in the past about curriculum for excellence, but what he has not quoted are the problems with its implementation, which are on the SNP’s watch. That is why Dr Keir Bloomer has said that the problem is

“the disastrous implementation of Curriculum for Excellence”

that is at the hand of the SNP.

John Jerrim, who is a professor of education at University College London, said this week:

“I think that parents probably should be worried. Clearly things have not been going well in Scotland.”

Since the most recent PISA results, the SNP has launched reports, independent reviews, national discussions, reform boards and consultations on education, and the one thing that it has not done is fix its mess. The SNP Government’s own international council of educational advisers has said that

“the time for commissioning reviews is now over. There is a strong consensus about the need for action”.

A generation of Scots has already been failed, and another generation is being let down by the lack of leadership from Humza Yousaf and the SNP. Scottish schools have plummeted down international league tables on the SNP’s watch. What urgent action is Humza Yousaf going to take now, or are parents right to be worried about the future of Scotland’s schools?

The people of Scotland can take comfort in the fact that we have an exceptionally good reputation and record in Scottish education, which has seen 94.3 per cent of 16 to 19-year-olds in education, employment or training. That is a record high.

As not just a First Minister but somebody whose child is in the local secondary school, I completely understand parents’ concerns about the recent PISA results. I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, dismissing those results or taking them lightly. That is why the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills will stand up next week and give detail on what we are doing to improve literacy and numeracy.

Throughout my responses, I have accepted that we need to improve our PISA score. As for our record on education, we are the party that abolished tuition fees. That is in stark contrast to England, where students have to pay up to £9,000 a year. More young people in Scotland from areas of deprivation are going to university than ever before. The Conservatives want to heckle down those young people from deprived areas, but let me tell Douglas Ross more about our record. We have record numbers of young people going to positive destinations. We have seen the biggest single-year fall in the poverty-related attainment gap in primary in both numeracy and literacy, and we have done all that while having a Tory UK Government that has taken a hatchet to our public services and inflicted more than 13 years of austerity on us.

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Alistair Darling was a giant of the Labour movement. He was a force for good and a man whom I was proud to consider a friend and mentor. Our thoughts are with his wonderful wife, Maggie, his two children and all those who knew and loved him. Alistair was dedicated to public service and to improving the lives of less fortunate people. His own life was spent in the service of the people of Scotland and the UK. The Labour family and our country are sorely mourning his passing.

This week’s PISA results demonstrate 16 years of Scottish National Party Government failure. They show standards declining in maths, science and reading, and our international position falling. That has serious consequences for Scottish children. Our education system was once the envy of the world. Now, because of this Government, we lag behind.

In 2012, Scotland had the highest-attaining students from poorer backgrounds of all four parts of the United Kingdom. In 2022, the most deprived students in Scotland were the lowest attaining in the UK. How has the SNP allowed that to happen?

I say to Anas Sarwar, as I already said in all my responses to Douglas Ross, that we take the PISA results very seriously, which is why the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills will make a ministerial statement on what practical action we will take to improve numeracy and literacy.

Let us look at the point about literacy that Anas Sarwar made. As it was in 2018, Scotland’s score in reading in 2022 was higher than the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average. Anas Sarwar is right, as was Douglas Ross, that we have to ensure that we are not on a trajectory of decline but on an improving trajectory.

Let us look at literacy in more detail. We saw that 9.6 per cent of students in Scotland performed at PISA level 5 or better in reading; they are defined by the OECD as “top performers”. That is above the OECD average of 7.2 per cent. Scotland’s performance in reading among boys was also higher than the OECD average and higher than the performance of 26 other countries, including Norway, France and Wales.

In 2023, Scottish Qualifications Authority pass rates in higher and advanced higher English were above those for 2019, and the achievement of curriculum for excellence levels—ACEL—data for 2021-22 showed a record increase in the proportion of primary school pupils achieving the expected levels of literacy.

Anas Sarwar, Douglas Ross or any other member of the Parliament has every right to question the challenging, difficult and poor PISA results, but let us not suddenly dismiss the entirety of Scottish education based on one set of data. That would be unfair on the excellent job that our hard-working teachers do and the hard work that our pupils do, day in and day out.

We need briefer responses.

Our pupils and teachers are doing a great job; they are just being failed by the pathetic SNP Government. That is the problem.

If we look at the bar charts in the PISA study, we can see the trajectory of decline. I mentioned statistics for 2012 and 2022. Those were from an analysis of the PISA results by a professor of education at the University of Edinburgh, Lindsay Paterson. Somehow, Humza Yousaf thinks that he knows better than a professor of education.

Professor Paterson went on to say that, when it comes to maths and reading, the

“gaps are growing. So despite the Scottish policy attention on narrowing inequality, the actual gap is getting worse.”

Across Scotland, our children and teachers are working flat out, but they are being failed by the SNP Government. Vital support for pupils is absent, and the situation is getting worse. To close the attainment gap and improve the PISA rankings, we must give every student and every pupil the support that they need. Has the number of teachers for children with additional support needs increased or decreased?

I do not have that figure to hand. However, when I look at the investment that we have made in teachers, even in the face of more than a decade of UK austerity, I see that we in Scotland have the most teachers per pupil in the UK. We have 7,573 teachers per 100,000 pupils in Scotland, which is more than the 5,684 in Labour-run Wales and the 5,723 in Conservative-run England.

We not only have that high number of teachers per 100,000 pupils, but our teachers are the best-paid teachers anywhere in the UK. This is a Government that absolutely values our teaching profession and has chosen to invest in our teachers.

When I compare our scores with those of the Welsh Government, it shows that the issues affect every single Government across the UK and around the world. That is why the pandemic it was called a global pandemic. We are investing in our teachers and in our education system, all against the backdrop of 13 years of austerity.

I asked a really simple question about additional support needs. The number of children who are identified as having additional support needs has risen from just over 36,500 in 2007 to more than 240,000 now. However, in the same period, the number of ASN teachers has fallen by more than 200, which is leaving many children without the level of support that they need.

The SNP Government’s record on education is a litany of broken promises: closing the attainment gap—promise broken; guaranteeing class sizes of 18 and under—promise broken; free school meals for all primary school pupils—promise broken; and a digital device for every pupil—promise broken.

Year after year, the SNP makes promises to Scotland’s children, but, year after year, it fails to deliver. After 16 years, there is no one else to blame. Will the First Minister apologise to the people of Scotland for destroying our once world-leading education system?

That is exactly the type of hyperbole that I warned members about. We have one set of data that is—I accept the Opposition’s point—concerning, but Anas Sarwar asked whether I will apologise. No—I will not apologise for ACEL results that show the biggest single-year fall in the attainment gap in primary schools in both numeracy and literacy. No—I will not apologise for the fact that we have more young people from areas of deprivation going to university. No—I will not apologise for the fact that a record number of young people aged 19 have secured a university place this year. No—I will not apologise for the fact that 94.3 per cent of 16 to 19-year-olds have participated in employment, education or training over the past year.

Yes, there are challenges, and yes, the PISA results are serious. We will reflect on that, consider the results and come forward next week with more detail on the action that we will take. However, because of this Scottish National Party Government’s actions, we have more young people going on to positive destinations than we did before, and that is not something that I am going to apologise for.

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Cabinet (Meetings)

On behalf of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, I express our profound regret at the loss of Alistair Darling, a giant of Edinburgh politics, who was feared and respected by politicians of all parties. I pass on our condolences to his family and to the Labour Party.

I also wish all those who are celebrating it a happy Hanukkah, and I remind the chamber that my wife is a serving primary school teacher.

To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet. (S6F-02622)

It is great to see Alex Cole-Hamilton in the Holyrood chamber. [Laughter.]

The Cabinet will meet later today.

Scotland’s place in this week’s international education rankings is the worst on record, and the Scottish National Party is squandering the proud global advantage that Scotland once held in education. That means that the high-wage, high-skilled jobs of the future will go elsewhere if we get left behind.

Education is half of what councils do, but this Government is pushing them towards the brink of bankruptcy. We have just heard that the SNP has broken every promise that it has made on class sizes, laptops, the attainment gap—you name it—and there are young people who will leave school this year who have only ever lived under the SNP.

Here is a maths problem for the First Minister that will reveal the full extent of the trajectory of decline that he describes. In the education rankings the year before the SNP came to power, Scotland was awarded 506 points. This year, it was awarded 407. Which is better?

To be lectured on education by the political party that broke its promise to abolish tuition fees is quite something. If Alex Cole-Hamilton wants some maths, that might be the reason why he has a rump of MSPs sitting behind him. People in Scotland have not forgotten the broken promises of the Liberal Democrats on education. Their disastrous decision to line up with, to get into bed with and to stand side by side with the Conservatives is what ushered in more than 13 years of austerity.

Despite those 13 years of austerity, we have more young people going on to positive destinations and more young people, including more young people from areas of higher deprivation, going to university. We have made progress in the face of 13 and a half years of austerity—no thanks to the Conservatives, and certainly no thanks to the Liberal Democrats.

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Crohn’s Disease and Colitis (Awareness Campaign)

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that its recent Crohn’s and colitis awareness campaign is reaching deprived and marginalised communities, in light of Crohn’s and colitis awareness week this week. (S6F-02609)

The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to supporting people throughout Scotland who live with Crohn’s and colitis to receive the healthcare that they need. At the end of March, we ran an awareness campaign to complement Crohn’s and Colitis UK’s early diagnosis campaign, but we understand the importance of ensuring that people from deprived and marginalised communities can access the support and care that they need.

Our campaign placed posters in community buildings and pharmacies across Scotland in order to reach as many people as possible who might not have access to Government communication channels such as NHS Inform.

We also shared with Crohn’s and Colitis UK what we had learned about reaching marginalised and seldom-heard groups from our Covid-19 vaccination programme in order to help it to reach those groups with its own campaign.

Delays to diagnosis affect people’s ability to continue in education and work, limit their treatment options and increase their risk of being hospitalised or needing emergency surgery. Recognising the symptoms of lower gastrointestinal conditions, which are stigmatised and widely misunderstood, is crucial. What action will the Scottish Government take to improve awareness of the symptoms of Crohn’s and colitis and to reduce stigma, so that people feel confident in seeking advice and treatment when they have symptoms?

I thank Clare Adamson for getting to the nub of the issues that those who suffer from Crohn’s and colitis often report. Early diagnosis of Crohn’s and colitis is vital, and raising awareness and reducing stigma are vital in helping people to feel confident about seeking advice and treatment.

In addition to the awareness campaign that we ran earlier this year, of which I gave detail in my response to Clare Adamson’s first question, we have worked with Crohn’s and Colitis UK and clinicians to update the Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis pages of NHS Inform. We have provided funding to improve care for patients across Scotland with inflammatory bowel disease, in partnership with people who have lived experience and with our colleagues in the third sector. We will continue to support Crohn’s and Colitis UK to raise awareness of those conditions, and we are very grateful to the charity for its continued work in that area.

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Obesity (Impacts on Economy and National Health Service)

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to address the impacts of obesity and excess weight on the Scottish economy and NHS. (S6F-02619)

Preventing obesity and supporting individuals to have a healthy weight remain public health priorities. This financial year, we have provided core funding of more than £8 million to health boards to deliver adult, children’s and young people’s weight management services. That is in addition to providing annual funding to health boards for obesity reduction and for risk management for type 2 diabetes through effective prevention and weight management interventions. Our diet and healthy weight delivery plan focuses on prevention and includes our commitment to legislate to restrict the promotion of less healthy food and drink. Engagement is currently under way and we will consult on the details of the proposed regulations in early 2024.

Good health is essential to productive work and to our economy. As part of that, we are currently reviewing our health and work strategy.

Scotland has long had a reputation as one of the most obese and unhealthy nations in Europe. Numerous studies, including one by Henry Dimbleby that was released this week, have shown that obesity, excess weight and the related conditions have profound costs for both our economy and our health service. Billions of pounds are lost in productivity and money spent treating the preventable conditions that are associated with excess weight.

At the same time, we are seeing sports facilities across Scotland, from local swimming pools and ice rinks to athletics facilities and hockey pitches, falling victim to closures and cost cutting. Moreover, access to school sport and activity continues to decline. Does the First Minister agree that, because of failures to invest in community sports facilities and to increase access to those facilities, our economy and national health service face paying a high price? Will he commit to doing more to protect those vital assets?

That is a very important question indeed and I recognise that it is an issue that Brian Whittle has raised repeatedly during his time as a member of the Scottish Parliament. He is right about the various issues affecting obesity. Those include physical activity, but we should say that social determinants, such as poverty, also play a key role. I will ensure that the health secretary writes to Brian Whittle with details of the actions that we are taking.

I make the final point that we had an autumn statement from the United Kingdom Government last week in which it chose to prioritise tax cuts for the likes of politicians and the wealthy, as opposed to giving money to public services. If Brian Whittle can have any influence whatsoever on his UK Government colleagues, I would suggest that they should put money towards our public services, as opposed to giving tax cuts to the wealthy.

Midwives are telling me that obesity and the closely linked diabetes trends are creating a more complex workload and demanding greater expertise to ensure that mothers are provided with the best possible care. Does the First Minister agree that any action that the Scottish Government is taking to address the impact of obesity on the national health service must include the experience and expertise of front-line workers such as midwives, who will be able to contribute to the development of strategy and its subsequent delivery?

Yes. I agree with that whole-heartedly. Carol Mochan makes some incredibly important points and I do not disagree with any of them. That is why I mentioned in my initial response that we have provided core funding of £8.25 million to health boards in 2023-24 to deliver weight management services for adults, children and young people in line with our national standards and the type 2 diabetes prevention framework.

We want to continue that investment in the national health service. The finance secretary will stand up later this month to give details of our budget. I will not give away the detail of that, but the member will be aware that, for next year, we have received less than £11 million in consequentials from the UK Government, because it has chosen to prioritise tax cuts for the likes of Douglas Ross and others. I say to Carol Mochan that we will have to make very difficult choices in our budget, but I give her an absolute guarantee that funding the NHS will be our top priority.

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Freedom of Information (Reform)

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will outline any plans it has for freedom of information reform in the current parliamentary session. (S6F-02615)

We do have plans. The Scottish Government announced plans last week to consult on extending freedom of information laws to private and third sector social care providers once the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill has been completed. That highly significant extension of freedom of information rights, which would bring hundreds more organisations within the scope of the legislation, follows our consultation on access to information rights in Scotland earlier this year. Working with the Scottish Information Commissioner, we will also update the statutory guidance that ministers have issued on best practice for Scottish public authorities.

Scotland has rigorous FOI legislation. It is more robust than the legislation that exists in the rest of Great Britain and it ensures accountability and transparency around decision-making processes. So far this year alone, around 4,500 FOI requests have been answered by this Government.

This morning, I lodged my final proposal for a member’s bill to reform the freedom of information legislation and extend its coverage to private companies and others who deliver public services, and not just those in the care sector. The Scottish Information Commissioner, previous Scottish Information Commissioners and this Parliament’s Public Audit Committee have all called for such legislative reform. Will the First Minister look at the issue again? Does he agree that public information rights should follow the public pound?

I absolutely agree with the premise of Katy Clark’s points. I note that she has published the detail of her bill today. I will take a look at that and, of course, we will look at it with an open mind.

On our performance on FOI, we absolutely accepted the former commissioner’s recommendations and the update on our FOI performance. We welcome the former commissioner’s view that the Scottish Government is on track and is close to concluding a period of heightened focus on FOI performance. The average response rate of 97 per cent comes despite the number of requests increasing by 60 per cent since 2019, to almost 5,000 a year. That significantly exceeds the performance of the UK Government, which responded to only 83 per cent of requests within 20 days. We have a good record on the response rate to FOIs. We will, of course, look closely at Katy Clark’s bill.

The First Minister mentioned the increase in the number of requests. Can he tell us the actual number of requests at the introduction of the legislation, the number now and any comparable costs? Does he think that any abuse of the system is going on?

I am not able to provide figures since the introduction of the legislation, but I can confirm that, in the first full year for which we have figures, which is 2018, we handled 3,300 requests, and in 2022 we responded to over 4,600 requests. There is no doubt that that places a significant demand on resources, but we are fully committed to complying with our obligations under the act. I reference again the point that our average response rate of 97 per cent comes despite the number of requests increasing. That represents a considerable, significant improvement and it is in stark contrast to the UK Government’s record of responding to 83 per cent of requests within 20 days.

We move to constituency and general supplementaries.

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Immigration (United Kingdom Government Policies)

This week, the Home Secretary unveiled a raft of right-wing policies aimed at driving down immigration statistics. Under the plans, people on health and care visas will no longer be able to bring their families to the United Kingdom, and the salary threshold for skilled workers will be hiked to £38,700. Shockingly, Labour has made no objection to the Tory proposals. It has failed to commit to reversing them, despite the impact that they would have on the Scottish economy and the national health service and social care sectors. Does the First Minister agree that, unlike Labour and the Tories, the Scottish Government will never shy away from welcoming immigrants and valuing their contributions to Scotland?

I agree strongly with Clare Haughey. This is a really dark day for the UK—a country that once welcomed many immigrants, including my grandfather. In fact, it begged them to come here to work in factories and to drive buses due to the labour shortages that were seen at that time. Bit by bit, successive UK Governments—both Labour and Conservative—have dismantled our immigration and asylum processes since then.

On immigration, the latest announcements mean that the UK Government is asking migrants to come here to look after our family members, but in doing so to abandon their own family members back home. On asylum, the UK Government has virtually eliminated any practical legal route for people who are fleeing war and persecution. Its policies in that respect are not only morally repugnant but economically illiterate.

We, the Scottish Government, value migration and its importance to our social fabric and our economy. Let me say unequivocally that the Scottish Government—and the Scottish National Party—will always say that we are proud of the benefits that migrants bring to this country and that they have chosen Scotland to be their home.

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Lorn and Islands Hospital (Haematology Services)

The First Minister might be aware of today’s reports that Lorn and Islands hospital in Oban is set to lose its only visiting consultant haematologist. That will mean that its patients, who in the main are elderly, will be forced to travel hundreds of miles to Glasgow. The charity Blood Cancer UK has said that the loss of that service could put patients at risk. What action will the First Minister take to urge NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to reverse its short-sighted decision?

We will look into the detail of that. I understand from the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care that officials are already engaging with the health board. We have a number of policies in place that help not only to attract important health workers to our remote, rural and island communities but to retain them there. I will ensure that the health secretary writes to Donald Cameron with details of the actions that we are able to take.

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Police Scotland (Voluntary Redundancy Scheme)

This week, in a bid to save money, Police Scotland announced a voluntary redundancy scheme for civilian staff. It came after the force warned that 3,000 jobs would be at risk unless it received an additional £128 million in funding and that officer numbers could drop by almost 1,500. That means that Police Scotland is saying that it might have to move to a reduced attendance model nationwide. Unison has objected to the scheme because it had warned that similar action a decade ago forced police officers to fill the roles that had been vacated by civilian staff. That is not the way in which we should want to run our police service. How does the First Minister intend to address the concerns that Unison and Police Scotland have raised over the budget cuts? It is concerning that they could lead to a reduced policing service being provided to the public.

I might have misheard Pauline McNeill, but I thought that she used the phrase “budget cuts” in relation to the police. If she did, that would be wholly incorrect. We are investing £1.45 billion in policing in 2023-24. We have also increased the resource budget by 6.3 per cent, which is an additional £80 million. Despite the United Kingdom Government’s cut to our capital budget, we have more than doubled the Scottish Police Authority’s capital budget since 2017-18.

It is important to say that the voluntary redundancy scheme applies to police staff and not to police officers. It will be targeted to release 189 posts to balance the policing workforce. My understanding is that the restrictions on police staff recruitment were introduced from August 2023, with the exception of C3 staff—that is, those in contact, command and control, custody and other business-critical roles.

I say to Pauline McNeill that those are, of course, operational matters for the chief constable. For us in the Scottish Government, it is important to ensure that Police Scotland is funded. That is why we have more police officers than when this Government took office, and why—crucially, for the public—Scotland is a safer place, with recorded crime at one of its lowest levels in almost 50 years.

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Ardrossan Harbour (Redevelopment)

In June last year, Ardrossan harbour task force was advised that, after years of negotiation with Peel Ports, redevelopment would go out to tender on agreed designs this past summer. Now, however, improvements that were apparently not previously deemed essential have been included, which has added to interminable delays in the commencement of works.

The First Minister restated his commitment to the Ardrossan to Brodick ferry route while visiting Arran on 23 August. Can he therefore advise when it is now anticipated that work will begin and conclude on the redevelopment of Ardrossan harbour?

I thank Kenny Gibson, who has raised that issue on a number of occasions, most recently when I visited Arran with him.

First, I give an assurance that the Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring that the Arran ferry service is fit for the future, and that we will continue to engage closely with the community as that work very much progresses.

The business case and cost review for the Ardrossan harbour project are currently being progressed. The Minister for Transport wrote to the Ardrossan task force recently to advise that that work is being expanded in order to help determine the scope more definitively, with reporting expected by February next year.

I fully appreciate that that will be disappointing news. However, it is essential that the scope of the work is clearly defined in order to provide greater certainty on the project costs and the financial package that is required for each of the funding partners to deliver an improved service for the Arran community. I know that the transport minister will be happy to meet Kenny Gibson to give him further details.

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Forth Valley Royal Hospital

The 30-bed ward at Forth Valley royal hospital, which is part of the new national treatment centre that is aimed at increasing capacity for operations, has been delayed after national health service troubleshooters found problems with the construction project that could compromise patient safety.

The review of NHS Scotland assure found ventilation, fire safety and flooding concerns with the project. Have no lessons been learned following problems at other facilities? What action is the Scottish Government taking to rectify the situation?

Alexander Stewart has the right to raise those issues of concern for the local community, but the entire purpose of setting up NHS Scotland assure was to ensure that we identified those issues and the health board was then able to take remedial action.

I understand that the Forth Valley NHS Board is now taking that action. I am pleased that NHS Scotland assure was able to identify those issues at that stage, and NHS Forth Valley is working with the contractor in order to make the improvements that are required.

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Rape Crisis (Funding)

Rape crisis centres are trusted emergency services and should be funded as such. However, more than 800 survivors of rape and sexual assault are stuck on waiting lists. If that is not shocking enough, 28 rape crisis workers face redundancy in the new year unless the Scottish Government extends emergency waiting-list funding beyond March 2024.

Survivors cannot wait, so will the First Minister agree to take immediate action to save those jobs, reduce waiting times and commit to long-term sustainable funding for rape crisis centres across Scotland?

I thank Monica Lennon for raising such an important issue. I hope that she will take it as read that this Government, and I in particular, value the excellent work that Rape Crisis Scotland does and has done over many years. The front-line services that it provides are absolutely crucial, which is why we are investing record levels of funding to support them. That includes more than £5 million for the rape crisis network through our annual £19 million delivering equally safe fund.

I am aware of, and acknowledge, the concerns about the 100 days money ending in March 2024 and the potential impact that that will have on services. We are currently considering our budget for the next financial year, during a particularly challenging financial time in the context of a really damaging United Kingdom Government autumn statement. However, I give Monica Lennon and those at Rape Crisis Scotland an assurance—a reassurance, I hope—that we are considering the issues for Rape Crisis Scotland in relation to the budget.

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Coul Links (Planning Consent)

Yesterday, Highland Council granted planning consent for a golf course on Coul Links—an internationally recognised Ramsar site and a site of special scientific interest—despite an objection from NatureScot and a recommendation from planning officials of refusal on the basis of conflict with policies 3, 4 and 10 of national planning framework 4. Will the First Minister confirm that that decision will be called in to ministers, and will he reaffirm the Scottish Government’s commitment to respecting all international treaty obligations, including the Ramsar convention?

Such planning decisions are made locally, and I will not comment on whether ministers will call in a live application or on what a decision might be. However, the issues that Ariane Burgess raises in relation to the environmental impact of any planning application are incredibly important. Considering the impact that any planning application could have on our nature and natural environment is of the utmost importance. I expect local authorities to take account of those matters and ensure that they meet their statutory obligations. However, Ariane Burgess will forgive me for not being able to comment any further on a live application.

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Child Poverty

The First Minister will have seen the UNICEF report that places the United Kingdom at the bottom of the international league table on child poverty. The Tory two-child cap is one of the biggest drivers of child poverty. What measures must the UK Government take to change that woeful record and lift children out of poverty?

The findings of that UNICEF report make for sobering reading, given that they mark the UK as being among the worst of the world’s richest countries in relation to reducing child poverty. That is a shocking indictment of consecutive Westminster Governments that have presided over a decade of austerity.

A Scottish Government analysis estimated that reversing key UK Government welfare changes that have taken place since 2015 could lift out of poverty an estimated 70,000 people in Scotland this year, including 30,000 children.

I expect the Conservative Party to be cruel and inhumane when it comes to welfare policy, but the fact that Labour is signed up to continued austerity and has ruled out scrapping the two-child cap and the rape clause simply beggars belief. It shows exactly why Scotland needs independence, as set out yesterday in the latest paper in our “Building a New Scotland” series, so that we can have the full levers, make urgent changes to a broken welfare system and build a social security system that is based on fairness, dignity and respect.

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Union Connectivity Review

Will the First Minister join me in recognising the fantastic work that has been done between the Scottish Government and the United Kingdom Government, and in welcoming the announcement that, as a result of the union connectivity review, the UK Government is providing £8 million to kick-start the development of options to improve the A75—in effect, giving the green light for bypasses at Crocketford and Springholm, for which I have campaigned for decades? That is in addition to the commitment of funding to deliver targeted improvements, given the Scottish Government’s identification of preferred options. Will the First Minister ensure that progress is made at pace on those projects?

My understanding is that the UK Government has committed funding to the review. What would really help is if the UK Government did not cut our capital budget by 10 per cent over five years. That would allow us to invest in our capital projects. If Finlay Carson had even a little bit of influence with his UK Government Tory colleagues—which, I think, he has not—it would be most useful for him to make the case that the UK Government should stop taking a hatchet to our public services and our capital budget.

That concludes First Minister’s question time.