Chamber and committees

During Nicola Sturgeon’s term in office as the first female First Minister of Scotland—which I think is a moment of enormous significance for the country to have experienced—she led a Government that introduced the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, which makes psychological domestic abuse and controlling behaviour a crime. I am proud that this Government took that action to bring that legislation to the Parliament.

We also took action to provide access to free period products in public spaces. Nicola Sturgeon introduced—[Interruption.]

I do not know why Conservative members are laughing about all that. [Interruption.]

Russell Findlay has just scraped the bottom of the barrel with the type of toxic personality politics that has become the character of the Conservative Party in Scotland. There was not a single suggestion in that question or a single example of how Scotland could be improved. The Conservatives inflicted 14 years of austerity on this country and busted the public finances with the stupid and reckless budget that Liz Truss presided over, which Russell Findlay wanted me to emulate, but he could not make a single suggestion about how to improve Scotland for the better.

The more the people of Scotland look at the Scottish Conservatives, the more they will see a party that is toxic in everything that it says, that is interested only in running down this institution and that is a direct threat to Scottish self-government. I will be proud to lead a Government that addresses the real concerns of the people of Scotland and provides hope for the future for the people of Scotland as we trample past the Conservative Party in the years to come.

I do believe that, and that system is what the Government is determined to ensure is in place.

We work closely with employers to ensure that our skills approach—particularly regarding the reforms to apprenticeships that we have undertaken in recent years to create foundation and graduate apprenticeships and to expand the range of possibilities that are in place for young people in the education system, coupled with the very close work between the business community and colleges around the country—will ensure that we have the skills that are necessary for the 21st century.

There were a number of points made there. Mr Sarwar knows my position on the nuclear deterrent—I do not believe that nuclear weapons should form part of the defence approach that we take forward.

Mr Sarwar asked me a number of substantive questions about skills. The Government invests heavily in a number of elements to enhance manufacturing capability in Scotland. The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, which is on the outskirts of Glasgow airport, makes an important contribution to creating opportunities for investment in advanced manufacturing.

On dialogue with the defence industry, the Deputy First Minister yesterday met the delivery board on the national strategy for economic transformation. Sir Simon Lister of BAE Systems is a member of that board, which is discussing the very issues that Mr Sarwar has put to me regarding the importance of enhancing the skills offering for the defence sector. The Government is engaging in those discussions. Part of our duty is to ensure that the country is secure and safe.

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs is also bringing to Cabinet proposals that will expand the extent of our involvement in resilience—in particular, in cyberresilience, in which the country faces enormous threats. The Cabinet will regularly engage in updating our approach to ensure that we are safe in every respect.

I appreciate that there are strongly held views on the issue, and I want to provide some reassurance to the Parliament today. The Government will introduce a heat in buildings bill when we are satisfied that the interventions in it will be able to decrease fuel poverty at the same time as they decarbonise houses. That is the commitment that the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy gave to Parliament on Tuesday, and I reiterate it today.

One thing that has changed—Mr Harvie is absolutely right on this—is that, since the original discussions about the proposed heat in buildings bill, the cost of energy has increased very significantly indeed. As a consequence of that, we have increased levels of fuel poverty. We need to take action that will decarbonise homes at the same time as it will reduce fuel poverty, and that commitment will be at the heart of the Government’s agenda, as part of our sustained efforts to fulfil our commitments on climate action.

Lastly, Mr Harvie asked me about investors. I want to make it clear to investors that the Scottish Government is absolutely committed to our agenda on climate action and will support and bring forward measures to enable that agenda.

I favour the suggestion that people who are in close proximity to wind turbines should get economic and community benefits, and that has been built into the schemes that the Government has taken forward. If there are specific points that Katy Clark is worried about on the existing regulations on wind turbines, I would be happy for ministers to consider those proposals if she wished to submit them to the Government.

The Government is committed to improving healthy life expectancy and addressing the underlying inequalities that contribute to health disparities. Tackling poverty and inequality remains the best way to improve population health outcomes and life expectancy, and the eradication of child poverty is my Government’s number 1 priority. The budget that was recently passed prioritises action to address inequality at its roots, including investment in breakfast clubs and employability initiatives, and by developing systems that will effectively remove the two-child limit.

There has been an increase in energy prices since the election, when people were promised that there would be reductions in energy prices. That is a matter of deep regret. High energy prices are the single greatest driver of fuel poverty in Scotland. Those are the realities that people are wrestling with.

That is why it is important that we invest in our energy infrastructure and that what comes from that energy infrastructure is assistance in reducing the cost of energy for individuals in Scotland, so that the cost is not the burden that it is today, as Audrey Nicoll set out.

The work that Emma Harper has undertaken on the issue is important and helps the situation. There are other steps. The Scottish outdoor access code sets out how to exercise access rights responsibly when walking dogs in the countryside. The Government and NatureScot will continue to promote responsible dog ownership across radio and social media platforms as part of the on-going communication campaigns on the issue. I hope that that will help in the situation that Emma Harper puts to me today.

I am familiar with the issues that Mr Carson raises with me. There will be dialogue and engagement with health ministers on that question. Many of the points are related to judgments that are made about clinical safety. I hope that the Parliament accepts that the Government must take seriously the advice that we receive on clinical safety around the number of births that take place in particular areas and the degree of specialism that will be provided. I assure Mr Carson that the Government will always consider very carefully the clinical advice that we are given in that respect.