Chamber and committees

The Government is working to introduce legislative proposals in that respect, but Mr Harvie’s characterisation of the Government’s programme is not accurate and not representative. On a variety of issues—whether on transport, agriculture, heating, renewable energy or measures to reduce carbon through investment in forestry or in peatland restoration—the Government is taking the steps that are necessary to tackle climate action. We will do that as part of a sustained programme. That includes the underpinning of provision of £4.9 billion of investment, in the Government’s budget, to support those objectives. We are determined to fulfil those commitments to Parliament.

On Mr Findlay’s first point, I hope that my first answer to him gives him reassurance that I attach the greatest significance to the voice of victims being heard in our criminal justice system. If there are ways in which that needs to be strengthened—indeed, we have legislation before Parliament to do exactly that, which, in our former lives, Mr Findlay and I scrutinised together on the Criminal Justice Committee; we were able to co-operate there, so we might be able to co-operate on some of those questions—I assure him that we will look at those points. There is scope for the bill to be amended on the basis of the point that Mr Findlay has raised.

In relation to the tragic case in West Lothian, the Lord Advocate has made it clear that a renewed investigation should take place. The Crown will determine, on the basis of a police investigation, what actions, if any, should be taken—to do so is the proper role of the Crown.

Any question of a fatal accident inquiry, again, rests independently on the Crown’s judgment, and the Lord Advocate has made clear her position on that. We will, of course, hear more from the Lord Advocate as the case is considered.

That will come down to the delivery of actions, and the Government is focused on getting on with those things.

Let us take renewable energy as an example. Because of the policy certainty that is offered by this Government, we have, essentially, decarbonised Scotland’s electricity network by the shift to renewable energy.

We are delivering on many other aspects of our policy agenda, but I have made it pretty clear that we do not all have to wait for new plans and strategies, because we have lots of those things. The Government’s commitments to climate action and a programme of delivery are clear, and are what ministers are taking forward.

I look forward to engaging with Mr Harvie and his colleagues on how we can support that by passing the Government’s budget, because none of what Mr Harvie is talking about will be achieved if the budget is not passed and if the £4.9 billion that we plan to invest in climate action cannot be invested.

On the basis that a dog is for life, and not just for Christmas, the Scottish Government works throughout the year with key stakeholders, including the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, local authorities and other Administrations, to raise awareness of the responsibilities of prospective dog owners and of buying a pet safely. We particularly point to the Scottish SPCA’s Christmas campaign on the issue and we encourage prospective owners to consider rehoming a dog, instead of buying a puppy.

We welcome and support Christine Grahame’s efforts with the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill, which will help to emphasise the need for people to act responsibly when deciding to buy a dog or to take one into their lives, and to be responsible owners in ensuring the dog’s welfare for as long as they have it.

I associate myself with Mr Sarwar’s remarks and express my good wishes to you, Presiding Officer, and to parliamentary staff for a happy Christmas. I express my appreciation to those in the emergency services, our volunteer community and our public services who will be working hard to keep everybody safe and supported during the Christmas break.

On the question of housing, the Government accepts that there is a housing emergency. We are not building enough houses. We have built more affordable houses per head of population in Scotland than have been built in other parts of the United Kingdom, but we are not building enough, which is why the Government has significantly increased the housing budget for the next financial year by more than £200 million. We have allocated £768 million, representing a 38 per cent increase in the housing budget, to help build the housing that is required to meet the needs of people in Scotland.

The Government has a strong record on building houses, but we have a changing society that requires more house building, and the Government is putting in place the resources to make sure that that can be the case.

I welcome the positive news of the deal between Harland & Wolff and Navantia. It has come about with a great deal of engagement from the Deputy First Minister, trade unions, management and staff, and collaboration with the United Kingdom Government. The deal will provide security and reassurance to employees at the Methil yard in Mr Torrance’s constituency and at the Arnish site in the Western Isles, in the constituency of Dr Allan. It is welcome news and I am delighted to see it.

I happily associate myself with the remarks of Mr Greene, who has made a substantial contribution in the Parliament to the issues of mental wellbeing and support for individuals who are wrestling with social isolation and loneliness, and I commend him for doing that.

A whole range of third sector organisations provide invaluable support. As First Minister, I have the privilege of encountering and engaging with many of them. It is heartwarming to see the vital role that they perform in our society, and they will be doing so over the Christmas break, when many of us will be appreciating some time of respite.

I therefore associate myself very much with Mr Greene’s remarks. I assure him that the Government’s budget will be focused on supporting third sector organisations. They are a linchpin in the delivery of many of the interventions that we need to put in place to support the mental wellbeing of individuals. Obviously, the Parliament will consider those questions in the spring to make sure that we have that support in place for those organisations.

I will read my earlier answer again, because it is printed and typed in front of me, so this information will have to be correct. [Laughter.] I am becoming slightly uneasy at the frequency with which the question is being put to me, so this wording had better be correct: I want to be clear that there will be no break in service for users of Contact Scotland BSL while we retender for the free service.

There is clearly an issue here, which I need to get to the bottom of, because, if I am getting it from both sides of the chamber, I had better make sure that it is absolutely watertight. However, that is the commitment that I give to the Parliament today and, because I have given Parliament that commitment, that is what is going to have to happen.

I understand the importance of the point that Mr Doris puts to me. I can confirm that the Minister for Public Finance, Ivan McKee, has written to the UK Government on the question.

In the absence of banking facilities, post offices become central to the delivery of access to finance for individuals. I note the concerns that Mr Doris has raised and that there was a parliamentary debate on the subject the other day, led by Kenneth Gibson. That provides an illustration of the degree of parliamentary concern on the question.

I confirm that that letter has been written, and we will engage with the UK Government to try to find a different approach to that flawed process.

The first point that I will make is that figures published this week show that record levels of attainment in literacy and numeracy have been achieved in our schools and that the attainment gap in literacy has reduced to its lowest level ever. The attainment gap in positive destinations has reduced by 60 per cent since 2009-10, with 92.8 per cent of school leavers being in positive destinations nine months after leaving school in 2022-23. Figures published just today show that, when young people leave school, more Scottish students than ever before are securing places at university, including record numbers of students from our most deprived communities.

In addition, the Government has secured agreement with local authorities on an increase in teacher numbers. We have also secured agreement about reducing teacher contact time to give teachers and professionals the opportunity to develop their practice, and we are putting in place resources to improve the levels of attendance in our schools, which are lower as a consequence of the Covid pandemic. We need to work hard with individual pupils to rebuild their attendance at school. That is the set of actions of a Government that is determined to strengthen Scottish education and deliver for the people of Scotland.