Chamber and committees

Christine Grahame makes a compelling argument. The Government has been working with our local authority partners to ensure that young people are able to get the best start to their early years education and that there is a natural progression into the school. That is at the heart of the reforms on early learning and childcare.

In primary 1 in many schools, and in primary 2 in some schools, there will still be a play-based curriculum, which has been the foundation of the early years experience for three and four-year-olds and for some two-year-olds. The structural point that Christine Grahame makes about the school is also a structural point about the curriculum and the approach that we take to giving young people the best start in life.

We will reflect on the substantive points that Christine Grahame has made and consider how we can make sure that we have that provision available in all communities in Scotland. That is what the Government is funding through the local authority settlement that we put in place.

There are very strict elements of legislation in place regarding rural school closures. When there is any question of such a closure, that legislation has to be followed assiduously as part of the statutory process. If Mr Kerr wishes to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills with detail of the points that he is raising about the situation at Blackness primary school, the Government will consider that.

I remind Mr Kerr that local authorities are independent bodies; the Government does not control local authorities. It is for local authorities to come to their own decisions, but they must operate within the statutory provision that the Parliament has determined on the question.

I certainly want to make sure that we take decisions as efficiently and swiftly as we possibly can, but I also have to make sure that the Government has adequate space and opportunity to consider all the issues that are involved. I am sure that Beatrice Wishart will understand the significance of that point. Beyond indicating that the issue is under consideration, there is little more that I can say, given that it relates to a live planning application. However, I understand the importance of her point and the importance of early decision making, where practical.

I simply read that quote into the Official Report because the Conservatives have changed their position from what they said in 2018.

My Government will do what it always does. It will follow the rule of law, take careful account of decisions and of the context in which we take them and act wisely to protect the rights of all within Scotland, because the first duty of the Government is to protect the rights of everyone in Scottish society.

The Government will engage with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, which does fantastic work in raising awareness on all of those questions. We support a range of prescribing routes for COPD, and the national centre for sustainable delivery is working with COPD patients to develop new treatment pathways.

We are taking forward a variety of policy measures, including some wider societal policies, such as low-emission zones, which aim to assist in improving air quality and which will be of benefit to individuals with COPD. Our respiratory care action plan sets out how we are working to improve prevention, diagnosis, care, treatment and support.

The Government will, of course, be happy to engage further with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and with patients to determine what further steps we can take.

That is what the people of Scotland have, because, in a variety of different areas, this Government is delivering for the people of Scotland.

Families in Scotland benefit from having 1,140 hours of early learning and childcare for all three and four-year-olds and for eligible two-year-olds. We have rising investment in our housing sector and we are tackling the housing emergency, building on the fact that we have built more affordable housing per head of population than has been built in other parts of the United Kingdom. We have low unemployment in Scotland today, and progress has been made on reducing waiting lists and waiting times in the national health service. Crucially, on the issue that absolutely matters to me, in Scotland we are seeing a fall in the level of child poverty when it is rising in the rest of the United Kingdom. However, I fear that the progress that we are making in Scotland will be damaged by the welfare reforms of the United Kingdom’s Labour Government.

—of austerity. I cannot believe that the Labour Party is comfortable with the fact that its United Kingdom Government is going to deliver welfare reforms that will increase poverty levels in the United Kingdom. I invite Parliament to think about that point for just one moment. A Labour Government has come into office and poverty is going to rise. That demonstrates that there is no point in the Labour Party, because Labour delivers poverty and austerity to the people of Scotland when the SNP Government is reducing child poverty in this country. I will take that to the country and be proud of our record.

The Scottish Government accepts the judgment of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled that “woman” in the Equality Act 2010 is defined by biological sex, and the Government accepts that ruling. I also accept that the court emphasised that that decision does not reduce trans people’s protections from discrimination, whether or not they have a gender recognition certificate. The Equality Act 2010 expressly prohibits discrimination against and harassment of trans people, and it is not necessary to have a GRC in order to be protected. I believe that the vast majority of people in Scotland want to live in a country that is respectful, compassionate and caring, and I am committed to protecting the rights of all. That will guide all my actions as First Minister.

I agree with Mr Cole-Hamilton about the economic challenges that we face as a consequence of the decisions of the Trump Administration and the volatility that has flowed from that. That is why I gathered together a range of stakeholders during the Easter recess to ensure that the Government is well sighted on the issues that individual sectors are facing as a consequence of the unwelcome changes in international trading arrangements, which generate a great deal of volatility.

In relation to the points on education, we will work with our local authority partners to increase teacher numbers. That was one of the central commitments made in the budget that we negotiated with our local authority colleagues. The Government has delivered its side of the bargain in relation to financial support to local authorities, and I look to local authorities to recruit.

There is co-operation through the strategic board for teacher education, which explores the issues around recruitment and addresses some of the challenges. The bursary scheme came as a consequence of practical endeavour by the Government to address those issues.

I assure Mr Cole-Hamilton that there is no lack of energy in Government to ensure that our schools are well supported with the recruitment of teachers to meet the needs of children and young people in Scotland.

The Scottish Government recognises the vital role that rural schools and early years provision play in sustaining local communities. Responsibility for decisions about local provisions rests with local authorities. Any closure, temporary or permanent, should be considered in consultation with local communities.

We are reviewing guidance on mothballing to provide greater clarity on whether it is an appropriate action to take. That will ensure that local decisions are based on effective engagement with the community, better reflect the needs of rural families and help to maintain access to early learning in such communities.