Chamber and committees

I thank Fulton MacGregor for raising an important issue. I recognise that Huntington’s disease is a devastating condition, and I absolutely agree with him that all who are affected should be able to access the best possible care and support.

Through our neurological framework, we have been working hard to improve neurological services across Scotland. My officials previously met the charity to better understand the needs of people with Huntington’s disease. The Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health will be happy to meet the charity’s representatives to further discuss the provision of Huntington’s care in Scotland, and I will be delighted to encourage the taking forward of dialogue with the Scottish Government neurological conditions team.

The higher history review was published by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. The report was independently reviewed and endorsed by the director of qualifications and assessment at the Welsh Joint Education Committee, which is the largest awarding body in Wales, so there has been no example of anybody marking their own homework. The report has been independently reviewed.

Obviously, this is a matter of distress. I understand the concerns about the performance of young people when they do not get the qualifications that they hoped to achieve. However, what has been undertaken is a thorough and independent review of the concerns, which has been peer reviewed by another awarding body.

Keeping young people safe online is of paramount importance to the Scottish Government, and prevention is key. Since 2020, we have invested more than £400,000 in supporting young people to navigate online spaces and use screen time in a safe way and in ensuring that parents and carers have the information to guide young people and recognise risks.

On 9 August, I wrote to social media companies X, Meta and TikTok, asking them specifically how they are combating the spread of misinformation and what steps are being taken to address racist and hateful speech across platforms.

Although regulation of the internet remains a reserved matter, we have successfully engaged with the United Kingdom Government on its Online Safety Act 2023 to strengthen protections for young people.

That is a slightly more definitive question than I can answer in the chamber today.

However, I can say to Mr Whitfield that there is good evidence of progress in tackling the temporary accommodation issue through some of the action that has been taken on voids. For example, the City of Edinburgh Council has reduced the overall number of voids in its properties by 500—500—to 970. I pay tribute to the City of Edinburgh Council for what it has done.

The Government wants to work constructively with local authorities to ensure that we make as much progress as we can in the short term on reducing the number of voids. We will be happy to discuss those issues with East Lothian Council, Scottish Borders Council or Dumfries and Galloway Council in Mr Whitfield’s region. If we all use the resources, flexibilities and powers that are available to us, we can make an impact on those issues, as the City of Edinburgh Council has demonstrated, and improve the quality of life for families in our country.

I do not think that Mr Sarwar listened to my second answer, which was quite clear. I set out the strengthened measures that we have taken to expand the capacity of the national health service—[Interruption.]

I am happy to associate myself with the remarks made by Douglas Lumsden. During his sporting career, Sir Chris Hoy demonstrated absolute and total courage and dedication to what he was doing. In facing up to what he is facing now, he is demonstrating courage and dedication to achieving all that he hopes to achieve. I commend him unreservedly for all that he has done. I wish him and his wife well with their diagnoses, and I send their family all good wishes at this challenging time.

The policy point that Sir Chris Hoy makes about prostate screening is very important. We need to do all that we can. We must constantly challenge whether the testing regime is adequate and appropriate, so the Government will take forward the priority that Mr Lumsden has put to me. I am grateful to Sir Chris Hoy for putting such impetus behind the requirement to do so.

The second point—we are on helpful clarifications here, Presiding Officer, if you will forgive me—is that most of the taxation that is imposed on business is not determined by this Parliament; most of it is determined by the United Kingdom Parliament. With regard to business rates, we have the most comprehensive business relief scheme for small businesses. That means, in our estimations, that about 50 per cent of the hospitality sector pays absolutely no business rates whatsoever in Scotland. That is where we take our action to support the sector in Scotland.

The application at Peterhead is live, and I would be breaching the ministerial code if I were to make any detailed comments about it. There will be processes of scrutiny to be undertaken, which ministers will undertake, on the basis of the information. Of course, all decisions of the Government can be subject to legal challenge because of the Parliament’s constitution.

The Government takes incredibly seriously our obligations on tackling climate change. On Tuesday, the acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy steered through the Parliament the final stage of the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill, and the Government is considering all the issues in relation to the tackling of climate change in the budget priorities that we take forward. I assure Mr Harvie of our absolute determination to do so. No change of Government in the United States is going to change this Government’s attitude about the imperative of addressing the climate emergency.

What I know is that we have to be prepared to invest in economic growth. I have set out my firm view that investing in economic growth means investing in the infrastructure and the capacity of our country and investing in the public services on which a great deal of economic foundations are founded. I also understand the importance of creating, encouraging and stimulating private economic activity in our economy, which is why one of the four priorities of my Government is supporting and nurturing economic growth.

If Mr Choudhury provides me with the details, I will certainly have a look at that case. The provision of such accommodation is obviously a decision for local authorities, and I cannot intervene in decisions by local authorities on the allocation of housing: I would be acting inappropriately if I did so.

I would make two substantive points in response to Mr Choudhury’s question. First, as part of our investment programme in housing, we need to work to ensure that our housing stock reflects the needs of the population, so accommodation that is suitable for wheelchair use is important.

Secondly, I had a discussion this morning with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities about the provision of funding for adaptations in housing to make it more suitable for the needs of individuals, allowing them to be sustained in their own homes. Those issues will be considered as part of the budget process. I look forward to engaging with the Labour Party on how we might be able to take forward some of those priorities—which will happen only if there are enough votes in Parliament to support the Government’s budget.