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We have done many studies recently that show how receptive business is to using rail because, with new technology, one can work on the railways in a way that one cannot in the car, so there is potential for big economic gains.We need to think about how we move within cities—that has been touched on already.
I will not go into the details of them, but I know about the meeting that you have had with him and, since then, I have also spoken to him.I have always found John Swinney to be receptive to the arguments that we have made on cycling.
However, I am aware of colleagues in other areas where the reception has been different. Local government officers are also under pressure at times, when decisions are being made by members who are concerned about criticisms that they may face.
An awareness-raising element is crucial, but there is a receptive audience out there. Resources are being developed for schoolchildren; for example, various films are available and in certain initiatives children are being taken on to the bogs of the UK’s national parks.
Once again, those proposals have been met with a lukewarm reception from the SNP Government. When it comes to rail, there are even more SNP broken promises.
Some expenses came from when we entertained Chinese delegations, for example, and we were trying to create an environment for them that matched the reception that they had given us, in order to push our numbers up and improve our partnership.
In England, free meals are only for pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2. The majority of Scottish taxpayers pay less tax than those in England, and we provide a compassionate and fair distribution of that tax.
If you were at the parliamentary reception, you would have met some of those apprenticeship ambassadors and heard about the great work that they do in promoting the programme in schools right across Scotland.