Chamber and committees

First, I welcome the fact that we are in a better position today regarding resolution of the war in Europe than we were when we met seven days ago. That is helpful and comes as a consequence of the engagement that has been undertaken and that was the subject of a discussion I had on Tuesday with the Foreign Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London to consider the steps that are being taken. I place that point on the record.

Secondly, it is important that we have the defence forces and requirements that are necessary for our times. I simply point out to Mr Sarwar that nuclear weapons are held by a number of countries just now, but that has not stopped the conflict that is taking place in Ukraine at this very moment.

What we need in order to ensure that we can repel Russian aggression is effective conventional forces. On the conventional forces of the United Kingdom, the previous Government promised in 2014 to increase the number of Scotland-based personnel in the regular armed forces to 12,500 by 2020. That was not met, so I am not going to stand here and take lectures from Mr Sarwar about the actions of the United—[Interruption.]

The specific issue that Christine Grahame puts to me relates to energy pricing, which is a reserved matter, so an interaction would have to take place with the UK Government and be resolved. We expect any transmission owner to fully consult local communities and the relevant statutory and local bodies regarding proposals for development before submitting applications, including for pylons, and we expect all of the dialogue to take place to ensure that the voice of the community is heard in every respect.

What I hope individuals hear is that the Government, in its budget, which Mr Harvie supported, is committing to delivering more than £300 million of investment in the heat in buildings programme. That is a huge amount of public money being invested in lowering the costs of domestic heating for individuals, and that financial support is available as part of our financial programme.

In relation to housing, the Government has committed to bringing in rent controls and we will do that. The proposed legislation is currently being scrutinised in the Parliament. It will provide protection for individuals through rent controls. Measures and mechanisms are available to individuals to challenge rent increases that they experience as a consequence of the existing legislative framework, but the Government is going further by introducing rent controls, and I look forward to the Parliament scrutinising and supporting the legislation.

Mr Greene knows that I take very seriously the issues around university funding. I also take seriously the points put by him with, as always, courtesy and respect. However, I have to point out that the Conservatives voted against the Government’s recent budget and the £1.1 billion that we are investing in the university sector and called for tax cuts that would have reduced the available public funding by £1 billion.

With the greatest of respect, I do not think that the Conservatives have been demonstrating in any way, shape or form a grown-up contribution to the discussion that is taking place—[Interruption.] I know that the Conservatives do not like me pointing out such home truths, but I will continue to point out the home truths, because the Conservatives are absolutely riddled—[Interruption.]

I give Joe FitzPatrick the absolute assurance that the Government is engaged deeply in the issues that affect the future of the University of Dundee. We do that through the proper channels required by law, which is through the Scottish Funding Council. However, that should not be mistaken for anything other than the fact that the Government is deeply involved in discussions to ensure that the future of the University of Dundee is secure.

I represent a parliamentary constituency that adjoins Mr FitzPatrick’s constituency of Dundee City West, and I acknowledge that many of my constituents are affected by the concerns that he has put on the record. I find the university’s proposed plan deeply troubling. The Government is engaged closely in finding a way forward that will ensure that we secure the university’s future so that it can continue the formidable work that it has always done on behalf of the people of the city and of Scotland.

The Government will do exactly what I have just told Mr FitzPatrick: it will continue its deep and serious involvement in working with the Scottish Funding Council to support the University of Dundee. That is what the Government is doing, and will continue to do, to ensure that we secure the future of Dundee.

I know that Mr Marra wants to have all the details of what that might involve. However, a huge number of factors are relevant here, not least of which are the role of independent financial institutions, such as banks, and the fact that the University of Dundee is an independent self-governing institution. I do not run the university, and I have to respect what the law requires me to do in respecting its independence, which the Parliament has required to be the case. None of that should be interpreted as saying anything other than that this issue is right at the top of my agenda. I want to see that the future of the University of Dundee is secured, and I will do everything that I can to ensure that that is the case.

The research analysis will be published shortly, and we are happy to explore the issues that it raises with Parliament.

Carol Mochan alights on an issue where we need to be prepared to have a mature discussion about the issues and the questions that are raised. She will observe the debate as much as I do and will see that when such proposals are brought forward, they are sometimes met with ferocious resistance.

I am happy to encourage a mature dialogue in Parliament about how we can take action to address the legitimate point that Carol Mochan raises, which fuels inequality in our country. It is essential that we address the issue to improve outcomes for individuals in our society.

I am grateful to Colin Smyth’s constituent for the efforts that he has made to keep himself fit and healthy. That is a good example to set.

The Government has put in place additional funding to national health service boards to deliver more procedures during this financial year. The target was to deliver 64,000 procedures, and we have delivered more than 75,500 surgeries and procedures to the end of January 2025, which means that we have exceeded the original plans on delivery.

As a consequence of the Government’s budget and the work that is under way through the NHS improvement plan, we are expanding the capacity that is available in the health service, we are expanding the volume of procedures that are being undertaken and we are taking action to reduce the waiting times that Colin Smyth has asked me about today.

Nicola Sturgeon gave very strong leadership to Scotland during some really difficult times. She took forward a large number of policy innovations that have made Scotland a better country than we have been in the past. I noticed that, yesterday, there was a gracefulness—I suspect that this will be the tone of today’s exchanges—in the responses of Mr Sarwar, Mr Cole-Hamilton, Mr Harvie and Ms Slater to the service of Scotland’s first female First Minister and the longest-serving First Minister. I notice that that graceful tone has been jeopardised by Russell Findlay.

Yes—I agree with what Annie Wells puts to me. During the festive period just a few months ago, Police Scotland strengthened the drink and drug driving campaign. I hope that that gives Annie Wells assurance that it will now be woven into the approach that the Government and Police Scotland are taking.

I reassure Annie Wells that there is a very high conviction rate for drug driving. In 2022-23, 95 per cent, which is a very high level, of those who were accused were convicted as a consequence of charges being brought. I accept unreservedly the member’s point about the necessity of raising awareness of the dangers of drug driving. We will ensure that that is reflected in the overall messaging on the issue.