Chamber and committees

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the potential impact on Scotland’s finances, how much it estimates will be raised in increased taxes in Scotland in 2025-26 as a result of the UK autumn budget. (S6O-04036)

As the cabinet secretary said, a significant proportion of the higher taxes that we are talking about come down to Labour’s decision to increase national insurance contributions. It is of deep concern that the UK Government now appears to be briefing that it will not cover the full cost of the national insurance increase to Scotland’s public sector, which could cost our public services hundreds of millions of pounds and who knows how many jobs. Can the cabinet secretary provide any update regarding what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the impact that that short-sighted Labour decision could have on our public services?

Recognising the symptoms of a stroke in its early stages is crucial to saving lives and improving patient outcomes. What further steps are being taken to help to train staff across primary and emergency care sectors to recognise stroke symptoms?

I am sure that the First Minister will, like me, welcome the hundreds of activities that are taking place across Scotland as part of this Scottish careers week. Those events are a great opportunity to showcase the work by partners to help people make positive education and career choices that will help to shape their futures. I believe that members can even try out some augmented reality tools that will be on show at a Skills Development Scotland reception taking place in Parliament today after First Minister’s questions.

Will the First Minister therefore join me in welcoming the commitment not only from the young people who have weathered the challenges of the past few years by remaining focused on their career goals but from the many careers and teaching professionals whose dedicated support is invaluable to all those looking to make the right choices for their futures?

Thank you, Presiding Officer, but the excellent answer that has just been given covers my question. [Laughter.]

I understand that preventative support and early intervention are among the cabinet secretary’s top priorities, with a focus on improving relationships, behaviour and attendance in schools. Will she speak to the most recently published guidance under the behaviour and relationships in schools action plan and on how the Scottish Government is following up its implementation and success in schools across Scotland?

Can the cabinet secretary give an update on the work of the Scottish Government’s public library improvement fund in supporting the vital role of libraries by helping our hard-working library staff to bring their innovative ideas to life?

ScotRail has stated:

“Where ticket offices see reduced hours, staff will carry out”—

as the cabinet secretary has said—

“other customer supporting duties”,

including

“increased staff visibility”.

What assessment has been made of how the changes can help to increase safety in stations in Scotland?

The ability to make pre-application community engagement mandatory is reserved to the UK Government under the consenting regime of the Electricity Act 1989, so that limits our ability to reform energy policy. Will the cabinet secretary advise members what engagement the Scottish Government has had with the new UK Government on reforms to ensure that that process can swiftly be taken forward while giving communities a voice?

We know that the situation is all over the place at the minute, but there are reports that the United Kingdom Chancellor of the Exchequer is planning to slash capital spending budgets by as much as 10 per cent—a massive figure. That has alarmed a number of parents in my constituency who are concerned about the impact that such deep cuts would have on education, particularly in Gaelic. Will the cabinet secretary say how such proposed cuts would affect Scotland? Will she reassure my constituents of the Scottish Government’s continuing commitment to supporting education in the face of continuing Labour austerity and, in particular, to the provision and expansion of Gaelic education?