Chamber and committees

I thank the member for her intervention and I acknowledge what she says. However, when a party is in government, it is there to provide as much as possible for the whole community, not just parts of the community. The Sheriffhall roundabout has become a disappointing saga, with promises being broken again and again. It is now nearly two years since the independent reporter submitted recommendations to Scottish ministers, but we are still tied up with bureaucracy.

The debate has shown clear cross-party support for the action that is required. I can only hope that the Scottish Government is willing to listen.

Progress on Sheriffhall is long overdue, and it is time for the SNP to stop sitting back and waiting. It must deliver, even if that means that it has to be dragged kicking and screaming to make the right decision—to deliver the roundabout upgrade for communities.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer, I am still having difficulty connecting. I would have voted no.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app did not connect either. I would have voted no.

The future of the Knockengorroch festival, which is billed as Scotland’s oldest greenfield festival, hangs in the balance due to financial pressures that have arisen as a result of the festival having running costs of more than £320,000 in recent years. What action is the cabinet secretary taking to ensure that such vital regional festivals are allowed to thrive and survive?

This debate is a welcome opportunity to highlight the importance of empowering Scotland’s entrepreneurs and innovators. Innovation will be key to Scotland’s future, but it has also been key to Scotland’s past. After all, it is one of the things that we are known for in Scotland. Our spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation was pioneered throughout the Scottish enlightenment, and Scotland has long been a cradle for ideas and progress. It is therefore not at all surprising that Scotland has countless inventions to its name, many of which we have heard about in the debate.

The Government’s motion is at least right to speak about the importance of Scotland becoming

“one of Europe’s fastest growing start-up economies”.

I, too, take the opportunity to congratulate Ana Stewart on being appointed as Scotland’s new chief entrepreneur. However, we are debating yet another motion in which the Government’s rhetoric does not match its actions, as Murdo Fraser’s amendment points out.

As members on our benches have raised many times before, the Scottish Government’s approach to taxation is making it difficult for certain sectors to attract and retain top talent. That includes important sectors such as fintech. Those in that sector have warned that higher Scottish income tax is making it difficult for the sector to grow, while economists have warned that the approach risks shrinking the Scottish tax base. Headhunting companies have warned that their jobs have already been made more difficult by the introduction of the advanced rate of Scottish income tax. How is that situation supposed to help Scotland to become one of Europe’s fastest-growing start-up economies? That concern is being raised by many economists.

Our amendment to the motion mentions the report that the Hunter Foundation published last month, which laid bare many of the problems that Scotland’s economy is facing. The report is clear that Scotland needs a new growth strategy that fosters innovation in sectors with high potential. It is also clear that a much more business-friendly environment is required in order to make Scotland more attractive for inward investment. Any politician who has spoken to businesses across Scotland in recent weeks, months and years will be well aware of that. The Fraser of Allander Institute found that only 9 per cent of Scottish businesses believe that the Government understands their needs. Speaking about his foundation’s recent report, Sir Tom Hunter said that Scotland was facing a “managed decline” under the Scottish Government but that Scotland can still reclaim its place on the global stage if we bring forward the right policies, including on tax. I endorse that view.

The Scottish Government should have an ambition for Scotland to become a leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, but the Government’s record does not match its ambition. To make that vision a reality, Scotland needs a new approach that is based on commonsense policies, including cutting income tax, which is so important. That will also help to incentivise more of the world’s brightest talent to stay in Scotland. We want to attract talent and we want businesses to flourish, but they are being stopped by the Government’s policies.

With the correct approach, Scotland can be a leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. That is what we wish to achieve, but the Scottish Government must play its part to make that dream become a reality. It will be only a dream if the Scottish Government does not listen to the individuals and organisations who are telling it that its tax policy is harming entrepreneurs and innovators.

Serious assaults by teenagers continue to rise. The number of children possessing knives is up 15 per cent among 11 to 15-year-olds and 14 per cent among 16 to 18-year-olds. In recent weeks, police have been called to a primary school to deal with a child carrying a knife, and, tragically, a 16-year-old lost their life on Irvine beach after a fatal stabbing by another teenager. Clearly, the Scottish National Party’s soft-touch approach to justice is not working. Is it not therefore time to back the Scottish Conservatives’ calls for more stop and search powers to tackle the epidemic of youth violence?

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the number of serious assaults committed by teenagers has increased in the past five years. (S6O-04747)

It has been reported that Police Scotland receives approximately 20,000 calls per month relating to mental health issues. The impact of the demand on the service is significant, with a lack of suitably trained psychologists and a lack of fast-tracking for individuals who have the ability to be looked after, and those individuals should not be held in police custody suites. What action is the Scottish Government taking to urgently support police officers during this mental health crisis?

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it plans to provide to homeowners affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in their properties, in light of recent reports that offers from local authorities may result in unaffordable mortgage costs. (S6O-04730)

The Scottish RAAC campaign group reports that families are living in homes that are literally falling apart. That has left people facing homelessness, rising debt and mental health struggles, as their homes become worthless. The Scottish Government opts to trade blame with Westminster. Will the Scottish Government now commit to providing financial assistance to homeowners who are left in an horrendous situation?