Action is urgently needed, and I sincerely hope that the comprehensive work of the committee ends the inertia of the Government and compels it to take that action.

In his statement, the First Minister said that around 3,000 of those infected by contaminated blood products were living here in Scotland. The main hospital that dealt with cases of hepatitis, HIV and AIDS in this country in the 1980s, Ruchill hospital, was situated in north Glasgow. Many people died as a result of treatments, such as factor VIII, that were supposed to help them but, sadly, actually killed them in what was probably the worst scandal in the history of our national health service.

Although the UK Government is leading on compensation for victims of the infected blood scandal, the impact of that tragedy is clear in Scotland, particularly following revelations that patients were being studied rather than being fully informed about what was going on.

Will the First Minister set out what the involvement of the Scottish Government in the delivery of compensation will look like? To what extent will the compensation authority be accountable to the Scottish Parliament? What support can the Scottish Government provide for victims groups, such as the Scottish Infected Blood Forum, that are running low on funds?

I was struck by the stark contrast between Arsenal’s trophy parade and celebrations after winning the premiership in England, where the club worked in conjunction with Islington Council in London, and what happened in Glasgow. Celtic and Rangers Football Club both contribute around £250 million to the Scottish economy every year. They are two of the biggest sporting brands in the world. Will the Government convene a meeting of key stakeholders to build capability for this showcase event for Glasgow and build it as an annual celebration that we can be proud of instead of ashamed of?

As we approach the 10th anniversary of the announcement of the Glasgow city region deal, it is good to see that the bridge is nearing completion. Will the minister confirm whether the bridge has been designed at least with the idea of integrating with Clyde Metro in future, so that it can take light rail infrastructure?

I am afraid that that is not the position that the GMB trade union has taken. I went to a meeting with young representatives of educational establishments in Glasgow along with the developing the young workforce co-ordinators, and they are under threat. I suggest that the minister engage with them as a matter of urgency to clarify the position. That would be gratefully received, I am sure.

Ultimately, it is staggering that those things are under threat, given the impact that they will have throughout young people’s lives. This is a matter of top priority. After all, the new First Minister said that his goal is to eliminate child poverty. Sadly, that rings rather hollow given that, when he was in charge of education, he was happy to give up on those young people in poverty, dismissing their potential to fit the Scottish Qualifications Authority’s bell curve.

Not only has the Government devastated primary and secondary education, but our colleges are in a dire state, too, with rolling strike action. Ministers have been, at best, dismissive or even missing in action. We need to understand the impact that that will have.

Labour will stand up for young people and ensure that they get a world-class education so that they get the best possible start in life. That is a sure investment in a more prosperous and fairer Scotland.

Will the member take an intervention?

Over the past few months, my inbox has been inundated with emails from constituents who are concerned about the future of education in Glasgow under this Government, anxious about their child’s future and angry about the cuts that will have such a deep impact for years to come. It is not just messages from parents that are flooding my inbox—and, I am sure, the inboxes of my colleagues. Teachers are worried that their jobs are becoming more precarious and that their workloads are about to increase when they simply cannot take on any more.

The cuts that have been handed down to local government by the Scottish Government over the past decade have undoubtedly put councils in an invidious position, but it is beyond comprehension that SNP and Green councillors in Glasgow are looking to make savings this financial year by cutting 450 teaching posts over the next three years, as well as by slashing the financial support for the developing the young workforce and MCR Pathways programmes.

I accept that it has been a difficult decision for councillors. Glasgow City Council has had the largest reduction in revenue funding of any Scottish local authority over the past decade—£270 per person. That 11.3 per cent real-terms cut has more than decimated the council’s budget. After all, 80 per cent of Glasgow City Council’s funding comes from central Government; only 20 per cent of its finances are made up of revenues from council tax and other charges. The situation has been desperate.

The council has done its best to protect education spending in recent years. In 2016, 64 per cent of the overall council funding was spent on education and social work in Glasgow; now, the figure is well over 72 per cent. Clearly, the council has done its best to protect education and social work, but now even those funds have had to be cut. We are well past the fat and well into the bone. Glasgow cannot take those cuts any more.

It is all the more galling that the Scottish Government’s budget went up by 2.3 per cent in real terms over the past decade while council budgets have gone down by 2.1 per cent, according to the Scottish Parliament information centre data. Ultimately, that is a choice, and it is one that will impact on the most disadvantaged and the poorest in our communities, hinder people’s life chances and deepen inequalities.

The MCR Pathways programme has had an incredible impact on young people across Glasgow, particularly those who require further support or are care experienced. I know that because I have family members who are mentors in the MCR Pathways programme. It is devastating that young people do not know whether their mentor will still be there for them when they return to school after the summer holidays. That situation has a devastating impact on young lives.

The developing the young workforce programme, which has been so successful in preparing young people for employment, is due to be axed, too. It is staggering.

The reality is that the cost of renewing a taxi to be compliant can be £60,000 to £100,000. The £10,000 grant is simply not sufficient, particularly when a lot of the affected taxi drivers are approaching retirement age or are in their 50s and cannot take out that huge amount of finance. Will the cabinet secretary review the financing arrangements that are available for people to scrap or retrofit their taxis?

I welcome the First Minister to his place. The safer consumption pilot is due to launch in Glasgow by early autumn. Across the chamber, there is widespread support for such facilities as just one of the many tools that are required to prevent drug deaths in our communities. Will the First Minister confirm that there will be clear referral pathways to residential rehab for those presenting at the overdose prevention facilities who request or need that support? That is just one of the many ways in which we can prevent people from falling into the trap of addiction and, of course, death.

That is essential, and I have seen it happen elsewhere in the world, such as in Copenhagen, where it works very effectively—within five minutes, a referral to residential rehab can happen from their overdose prevention facilities. Will the First Minister offer a similar guarantee?

NHS Scotland’s waiting times stipulate that children and young people should only be removed from the CAMHS waiting list once they have attended an initial appointment and, where appropriate, when treatment has commenced. However, some health boards are removing people from the CAMHS waiting list simply when an appointment date is received. What is the Government doing to ensure that health boards are removing people from the CAMHS waiting list only once they have started treatment?