Chamber and committees

Although the issue that Alexander Stewart raises is of particular concern to Scotland, long waits for any patients are unacceptable, and urgent action must be taken to reduce waiting times across our national health service. Can the cabinet secretary say anything about the work that the Scottish Government is undertaking to help boards across the country to provide additional procedures and extra appointments?

The latest figures from Social Security Scotland show that, since their launch, the Scottish Government’s five family payments have paid more than £1 billion to families across Scotland to help to end child poverty. Meanwhile, the Labour United Kingdom Government at Westminster is maintaining the cruel two-child cap, which has forced thousands more children into poverty since Labour came to office, including in my Dundee City West constituency. Can the First Minister say more about the actions that the Scottish Government is taking to tackle poverty against the backdrop of disastrous Westminster policy making?

Does the member think that the fact that the Labour-Liberal Administration in this place failed to remove the right-to-buy scheme has anything to do with the challenges that we face?

We know that a key way to reduce the pressure on A and E is to ensure that people know where to go to access the healthcare that they need. Will the cabinet secretary provide an update on the work to alleviate pressures on emergency departments? What can be learned from exemplar A and E departments such as those in NHS Tayside? Will he comment on how A and E waiting time figures in Scotland compare with those across the rest of the United Kingdom?

The cabinet secretary mentioned hospital at home a couple of times in his answers. Can he say any more about the steps that the Scottish Government is taking to further develop the programme, which, as we know, plays an important role in reducing pressure on hospitals and ambulance services?

The challenges that Claire Baker outlined in her Mid Scotland and Fife region are not unique and are also experienced by my constituents in Dundee, so I am pleased that the Scottish Government has maintained a strong track record in growing Scotland’s NHS dental workforce. Will the minister provide an update on how many dentists currently operate in Scotland and how that figure compares with the figures for England and Wales under Labour Governments?

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. There seems to be an issue in this part of the chamber. I would have been delighted to have voted yes.

You are tedious.

Shameful!

A fascist!