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Read the full transcript of General Question Time in the Scottish Parliament Official Report: http://goo.gl/RllPF1
1. Ben Macpherson: To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it
plans to establish a permanent trade representation in Berlin. (S5O-00261)
2. Joan McAlpine: To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on implementing
the recommendations of the report, Chronic pain services in Scotland: Where are we now?. (S5O-
00262)
3. John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to reopen
rail stations at Reston and East Linton. (S5O-00263)
4. Colin Beattie: To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of the recent ministerial
visit to Munich to discuss future trade with the EU. (S5O-00264)
5. Adam Tomkins: To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the report,
Scotland's Digital Future: A Strategy for Scotland. (S5O-00265)
6. Gordon MacDonald: To ask the Scottish Government what the annual value is of EU research
programmes undertaken at universities in the Edinburgh area. (S5O-00266)
7. Alexander Stewart: To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle cybercrime in
light of the challenges faced by Police Scotland. (S5O-00267)
8. Linda Fabiani: To ask the Scottish Government how it supports veterans. (S5O-00268)
9. Bob Doris: To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the performance of Strathclyde
Partnership for Transport. (S5O-00269)
10. Rachael Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to make roads in
South Scotland safer. (S5O-00270)
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C
Secretary
key
thrown
as
I
inspire
the
First
Minister
on
the
fifteenth
of
october.
The
scottish
government
will
create
a
permanent
presence
in
germany
by
setting
an
innovation
and
investment.
Berlin
staff
numbers
and
positions
talk.
Resource
requirements,
including
specific
location
and
Berlin,
will
be
determined
as
soon
as
possible
and
Germany
has
been
selected
because
it's
at
the
heart
of
the
EU
significant
opportunities
for
enhanced
collaborative
working
with
Scotland
in
areas
such
as
manufacturing,
environment.
B
C
D
Jackie
Lee,
the
first
minister's
announcement
of
increasing
trade
representation
in
Berlin,
is
welcome.
But
can
the
cabinet's
actually
tell
the
chamber
whether
additional
staff
will
be
recruited
for
this
purpose
or
simply
transferred
from
other
responsibilities
within
SDI
and
whether
there
is
additional
money
available
and
if
so,
how
much
cabinet
secretary
no.
C
Jackie
village,
fair
to
the
statement
by
the
First
Minister
and
what
she
said
there
would
be
a
doubling
of
SDI
staff
across
the
board.
So
they
have
been.
Germany
will
bring
together
staff
from
scottish
government
from
visit
Scotland,
I'm
from
Scottish
development
international
and,
of
course,
that
will
be
on
the
basis
that
HTS
staff
will
across-the-board
double
number,
which
should
increase
our
presence.
And
it's
one
thing,
of
course,
that
much
of
this
as
stuff,
which
will
be
happy
to
do
in
any
event,
which
is
increasingly
important
and
urgent.
A
E
Thank
you
for
reading,
also
kind
of
sexist
to
one
of
the
better
and
six
faces
has
been
a
huge
labeled
investment
into
the
integration
of
the
eastern
half
of
the
city,
including
the
for
wishing
all
that
hose
in
stock.
Well,
any
nutrition
habits
to
consider
how
such
construction
activity
could
actually
benefit.
Scotland
can.
C
A
raised
at
the
National
Economic
Forum
air
this
week
with
the
first
minister,
as
well
as
high-value,
manufacturing,
healthcare
and
low-carbon
state
that
we
have
been
very
proactive
in
making
sure
that
we
can
increase
our
trade,
as
I
say,
not
least,
to
try
to
make
up
for
what
we
foresee
is
the
consequences
of
breaks
it,
but
also
to
increase
economic
prosperity.
Inclusive
prosperity
here
in
Scotland
is.
F
G
To
which
the
members
of
affairs
was
published
in
april
2014
by
healthcare
improvement
Scotland
and
made
a
number
of
recommendations
to
any
test
boards
on
scottish
government
in
order
to
help
plan
and
drive
improvement
and
pin
services
across
Scotland.
For
this
suggestions
made
of
the
Scottish
Government,
we
provided
support
to
the
National
chronic
pain
improvement
group
formally
than
the
national
chronic
pain
steering
group,
which
was
tasked
with
overseeing
work
to
take
forward
irrelevant
recommendations.
G
Having
addressed
all
of
these
recommendations,
the
group
came
to
its
natural
end
in
March
2016,
additionally
for
each
board
to
establish
the
seven
improvement
groups
referred
to
in
the
report.
The
scottish
government
made
pipe
a
pump
prime
funding
available
from
2412
to
a
total
of
1.3
million
for
a
two-year
period.
These
group
considered
those
recommendations
in
the
report
directed
towards
any
chessboards
German.
F
F
I
know
that
the
center
doesn't
keep
their
four
children
under
the
Royal
Hospital
for
Children
glasgow
doesn't
offer
a
residential
integrated
service
on
the
park
without
offered
at
the
baths
center
for
pin
services.
I
have
a
twelve-year-old
contention
suffering
from
complex
regional
pain
syndrome
who,
in
the
view
of
our
doctors,
requires
a
residential
course
event
agree
to
treatment
that
can
only
be
provided
in
bath
can
administer.
Give
me
reassurances
that
where
the
clinical
needs,
it
is
proven
that
we
will
continue
to
set
it
to
send
the
small
number
of
cases.
Two
baths
for
treatment
moment.
A
H
A
I
Even
if
the
local
authorities
decided
to
proceed,
weather
stations
have
already
advised
the
scottish
for
fun.
Fifty
percent
of
the
construction
costs
for
the
station
subject,
of
course,
the
suitable
business
case
being
provided.
The
offer
of
fifty
percent
contribution
is
significant
and
consistent.
Percentage
of
funding
contribution
offers
to
all
other
beds
to
discussion.
I
A
H
The
Minister
for
that
answer
that
our
sources
from
then
transport
scotland,
which
suggests
the
transport
scotland,
does
not
want
your
king
of
these
stations
to
take
place
so
kind
of
minutes.
To
reassure
me
that
this
is
not
the
case
and
if
it
is
the
political
will
of
this
government
and
in
the
desirability
of
your
putting
these
stations,
will
ensure
that
these
views
are
overridden.
Mr.
I
I
know
of
I
mean
I
don't
know
what
sources
as
he's
referring
to,
so
I
can
give
you
directly
from
the
scottish
government
that,
of
course,
f
the
business
cases
there
after
councillors
are
committed
to
it,
which
I'm
sure
that
they
are.
There
is
no
lack
of
your
hesitancy
from
the
scottish
government
whatsoever
to
see
the
opening
of
these
stations
and,
as
demonstrated
by
putting
forward
a
contribution,
suggested
contribution
of
fifty
percent,
which
is
in
line
with
other
station
fun
beds.
That
have
comment.
I
I
am
considering
the
latest
offer
from
the
council
about
government
response
in
the
next
few
weeks,
but
certainly
the
commitment
from
the
government
is
absolutely
there
and
I
have
to
see
when
I
first
convened
this
meeting
and
my
new
law
I
was
heartened
by
the
cross-party
support
that,
after
these
stations
for
a
good
campaign
by
local
campaigners,
cross-party
support
commitment
from
the
government
commitment
from
the
council's.
This
can
happen.
But
that
is
totally
a
bridge
that
needs
a
gap
that
needs
their
branches
in
terms
of
funding
which
I
will
consider.
J
K
Government
is
clean
its
intention
to
stay
at
the
very
heart
of
Europe,
not
on
its
fringes.
First
Minister's.
Recent
announcement
of
a
four-point
plan
to
use
trade,
including
a
permanent
trade
representation
in
Berlin,
is
testament
to
this
two
weeks
ago,
supported
by
SDI
and
David
scripture
of
the
british
german
business
network.
I
like
a
technician
community
involving
for
Scottish
companies
and
people
made
brave
machines
with
vision
and
son
amp.
The
mission
was
aimed
at
promoting
stronger
economic
ties
between
Scotland
and
Bavaria.
By
exploring
areas
are
shared
interest
under
the
banner
of
Scotland
can
do.
K
K
Consultancy
may
include
a
very
positive
meeting
with
the
deputy
minister
president
of
area
also
agnya,
who
expressed
interest
in
leaving
a
return
mission
to
scotland
next
year,
and
discussions
with
the
economic
ministry
and
municipal
authority
and
unique
as
well
also
included
a
visit
to
the
usual
impressive
new
IBM
Watson
facility
in
Munich
meeting
with
a
board
member
of
BMW
meetings
with
new
technology
center,
with
the
fraunhofer
institute
to
discuss
the
project
on
photonics
in
glass,
cool
with
being
renewable
energy.
The
last
two
being
leading
German
companies
rooted
in
Bavaria.
K
J
A
K
Think
it
certainly
does
presiding
officer
I
think
this
mission
demonstrate
their
remains:
a
lot
of
goodwill,
tour,
scotland
in
you
and
specifically
in
Bavaria
itself,
whereas
I
see
there's
17
existing
training
relationships,
but
the
the
the
establishment
of
the
innovation
investment
harbin
Berlin.
She
was
a
commitment
to
as
the
cabinet
secretaries
outlined
in
his
answer
to
mr.
McPherson.
K
A
strong
commitment
to
building
on
the
links
between
Germany
and
Scotland
to
exploiting
the
very
strong
interest
is
in
Germany
and
investing
is
gone,
and
indeed
our
existing
economic
links
more
broadly
operator
based
in
which
to
further
develop
the
German
tourism
market
and
to
help
restore
his
profile
in
germany.
?.
L
M
Scottish
government's
commitment
to
refresh
its
existing
digital
strategy
was
detailed
in
the
programme
for
government
announcement.
The
fair
strategy
will
fit
eight,
how
you
take
forward
digital
ambitions
under
the
version
of
realizing
Scotland
full
potential
in
a
digital
world,
and
will
demonstrate
the
road
that
digital
can
play
in
delivering
this
government's
priorities
and
impressions
for
Scotland
and.
L
Tokens
I
think
the
cabinet
secretary
for
that
reply.
It
employees
around
70,000
people
in
Scotland
and
contributes
about
3
billion
pounds
to
our
economy
and
scottish
government's
own
skills.
Investment
plan
for
the
sector
has
identified
that
there
could
be
up
to
11,000
tech,
jobs,
tech
job
opportunities
every
year
until
2020,
but
in
recent
conversations
with
business
organizations
in
glasgow,
I've
listened
to
numerous
concerns
that
business
is
finding
it
difficult
to
fill
software
jobs.
A
M
I
think
it's
a
very
fair
point.
Mr.
Tomkins,
please!
Yes,
we
will
cover
the
issue
of
skills
and
education,
that
approach
on
stem
as
well
and
ensuring
that
we're
calibrating
all
our
systems
to
support
both
the
public
and
the
private
sector
and
in
improving
our
capabilities
that
relates
to
digital,
so
that
we
can
release
their
potential
of
country.
Of
course,
we've
got
to
make
progress
and
connectivity,
but
skills
and
having
the
right
people
is
absolutely
critical
and
we'll
focus
our
attention
on
that.
When
we
refresh
and
publish
forthcoming
strategy
really.
N
M
I
think
that's
a
fantastic
opportunity
to
to
redesign
some
of
our
public
services
to
focus
on
the
digital
first
approach
to
be
more
effective
and
efficient
and
I.
Think
an
organization
like
revenue,
Scotland's
been
very
efficient
and
how
they've
adapted
and
created
systems
around
a
digital-first
approach.
You
want
a
real
customer
focus,
our
once
for
Scotland
approach
and
a
calibration
of
our
systems
to
be
effective
and
efficient
and
save
the
needs
of
our
citizens
and
take
advantage
of
the
digital
opportunities
that
are
before
us
question.
P
P
R
The
Spanish
government
is
committed
to
working
with
these
Scotland
down
this
morning,
police
authority
to
ensure
that
the
police
have
more
specialists,
such
as
experts
in
cyber
crime
and
kind
of
fraud,
and
that
the
service
has
the
right
mix
numbers
of
stuff
for
the
future.
Scotland
is
also
developing
its
cybercrime
infrastructure,
through
the
creation
of
a
network
of
state-of-the-art
hubs
to
ensure
that
knowledge
and
skills
are
maintained
to
a
high-level.
How.
Q
To
shoot
the
Minister
for
her
response,
which
he
agree
with
the
association
of
Scottish
police
superintendent,
that
criminals
have
evolved
faster
than
pleased
Scotland,
exploiting
advances
in
digital
technology,
so
that
the
internet
is
arguably
the
largest
enabler
for
claiming
Scotland.
So
what
can
I
ask?
Is
that
scottish
government
doing
to
implement
these
impacts
mission.
R
Well,
I
I,
I
we
say
to
the
member
that,
of
course,
we
are
working
at
together
with
a
police
Scotland
to
ensure
that
they
have
the
capacity
to
deal
with
the
ever
increasing
challenges
that
cybercrime
present
and,
of
course,
we
are
committed
to
ensuring
that
they
have
the
necessary
resources
to
do
that.
But
I
would
say
in
terms
of
resources,
two
things
one.
R
Of
course
it
is
the
case
at
the
moment
that
police
Scotland
is
losing
around
25
million
pines
hair
adam
through
the
that
claw
back
on
the
part
of
the
UK
government,
and
if
the
member
cares
about
police
at
resources
for
police
Scotland,
he
might
want
to
get
on
the
foreign
his
waist
mr.
colleagues,
to
get
that
money
back
to
please
Scotland,
where
it
belongs
in.
C
Secretary
friend
got
his
government
places
great
importance
on
veterans
and
their
families.
We've
established
a
state-of-the-art
national,
pathetic
service
committed
over
5
million
pounds
from
2015
for
world-class
specialist
mental
health
services
and
provided
almost
four
million
pounds
for
veterans
housing,
we've
appointed
as
Scottish
veterans
Commissioner.
The
first
such
position
in
the
UK
have
also
published
a
face
strategy.
Renewing
our
commitment
setting
priorities
on
healthcare,
housing
and
jobs,
and
earlier
this
month,
is
the
partnership
with
standard
life.
Bringing
Scott
is
veterans
fun
to
total
600,000
pounds
over
three
years.
S
I'm
sure
that
the
cabinet
secretary,
like
me,
will
welcome
the
one-stop-shop
for
veterans,
which
has
recently
been
established
and
Lana
Shire.
However,
I
have
had
correspondence
with
veterans
concerned
about
already
established
and
ongoing
medical
and
respite
services.
Does
the
cab
secretary
agree
with
me
that
it
would
be
useful
to
arrange
that
high
rate
of
his
government
meet
with
me
and
those
concerned
veterans
to
discuss
their
experiences?
Camera
section.
C
Well,
I
would
also
welcome
the
new
veterans
first
point:
alliance
of
service
is
one
of
seven
new
services
established
across
the
country,
which,
of
course,
is
based
on
the
award-winning,
a
veteran's
first
point:
login
model
veterans.
First
point
line
shows
building
an
infrastructure
support
for
veterans
within
the
local
community
by
working
in
partnership
with
national
and
local
agency,
and
our
commitment
to
veterans
is
absolute
as
we
set
it
most
recently
in
the
renewing
our
commitment
document
published
earlier
this
year.
C
Veteran
should
not
be
disadvantaged
as
a
result
of
their
service
and
it's
vital
that
they
receive
timely
access
to
the
services
and
support
they
need
whatever
and
whenever
they
need
it.
And
last
night
I
attended
with
the
convener
of
the
cross-party
group
on
veterans
and
the
Armed
Forces
community
at
the
launch,
by
forces
in
mind
of
their
report,
which
actually
said
in
relation
to
mental
health
services
in
Scotland
scotland
eyes.
Arguably
one
of
the
most
of
us
mental
health
and
related
health
provisions
for
veterans
in
the
UK.