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Description
Read the full transcript of First Minister's Question Time in the Scottish Parliament Official Report: http://goo.gl/fbYw6z
First Minister's Questions
1. Ruth Davidson: To ask the First Minister what engagements she has planned for the rest of the day. (S5F-00317)
2. Kezia Dugdale: To ask the First Minister when she will next meet HIV Scotland. (S5F-00341)
3. Willie Rennie: To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet. (S5F-00346)
4. Christina McKelvie: To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the recent Scottish Social Attitudes survey, which shows that levels of prejudice in Scotland are falling. (S5F-00336)
5. Donald Cameron: To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to tackle the rise in the number of drug-related acute hospital stays. (S5F-00318)
6. Jackie Baillie: To ask the First Minister what impact the breaching of EU spending rules has had on the funding of infrastructure projects. (S5F-00343)
7. Emma Harper: To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the proposed deadline of March 2017 for the triggering of Article 50. (S5F-00337)
8. Liz Smith: To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government is having with the governing bodies of contact sports regarding head injuries. (S5F-00321)
Published by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body.
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B
B
Writing
officer
today's
report
from
the
Frazer
of
Allender
Institute,
spells
out
plainly
the
challenges
that
Scotland,
along
with
the
rest
of
the
UK,
will
face
over
the
coming
years
as
we
leave
the
European
Union,
like
most
members
of
this
chamber,
I
didn't
vote
to
leave
the
EU,
but
the
question
now
is
about
how
we
maximize
opportunities
ahead
and,
yes,
of
course,
mitigate
risks.
The
report
says
that
the
focus
must
now
be
on
areas
like
food
and
drink
and
on
manufacturing.
B
C
It's
a
bit
rich
to
be
asked
what
this
government
is
doing
to
protect
Scotland
from
the
risks
when
these
risks
have
been
created
by
the
Conservative
Party.
That
Ruth
Davidson
is
a
member
of
and
leader
of
here
in
Scotland,
but,
as
I
have
said
repeatedly
in
this
chamber
and
indeed
outside
this
chamber,
this
government
will
do
everything
in
its
power
to
protect
Scotland's
interests
and
to
mitigate
the
serious
risk
that
Scotland
no
facies
risks
that
are
set
out
quite
clearly
in
the
freezer
of
Allender
report.
C
Today
we
are
working
intensively
with
all
sectors
across
our
economy
that
work
has
been
led
by
an
economy
secretary
and
by
Mike
Russell,
who
I've
appointed
to
deal
specifically
with
the
brexit
negotiations,
and
it's
not
just
manufacturing
in
food
and
drink.
Earlier
this
week,
I
sat
down
with
the
financial
services
sector
to
discuss
the
real
concerns
they
have
not
just
about
brexit,
but
about
the
growing
indications
that
what
we
are
heading
for
under
the
Conservatives
is
the
hardest
of
hard
breaks.
It's
unlike
Chris
Davidson.
My
position
hasn't
changed.
C
B
Well,
let's
talk
in
more
specifics
about
specific
things
that
this
government
could
do
to
drive
Scotland
forwards
as
we
go
through
this
period.
The
First
Minister's
government
is
today
expected
an
announcement
on
underground
coal
gasification.
Let
me
quote:
Graham
blackett
the
head
of
bigger
economics
and
a
member
of
the
First
Minister's
own
growth
Commission.
B
He
says
that,
subject
to
the
robust
planning
and
regulatory
process
that
we
rightly
have,
there
are
major
advantages
and
being
the
first
movers
in
this
technology
and
becoming
a
world
leader
now,
I
know
that
the
First
Minister
is
restricted
and
what
she
can
see.
But
her
adviser
thinks
that
we
could
use
this
type
of
new
technology
to
boost
thousands
of
jobs
and
add
billions
of
pounds
to
the
Scottish
economy.
Does
she
agree?
First.
C
Is
aware
of
the
the
United
Kingdom
government
is
also
looking
carefully
at
the
issues
around
ucg
right
now
and
I'm
sure
she's
aware,
perhaps
more
aware
than
I
am
of
the
direction
of
travel
that
they
might
be
going
in
as
well.
I
think
Ruth
Davidson,
as
she
did
last
week,
seems
to
want
to
suggest
that
we
should
actually
ride
roughshod
over
evidence
and
over
the
reports
that
we
are
sales
of
commissioned.
Paul
wheelhouse
will
make
a
statement
to
this
chamber
at
this
afternoon.
C
He
will
report
on
the
work
that
we
have
asked
professor
Campbell
gamal,
to
undertake
on
our
behalf.
All
members
of
this
chamber.
Indeed,
everybody
across
the
country
will
be
able
to
look
in
detail
at
that
work
and
Paul
house
will
confirm
the
conclusions
that
the
government
has
reached
as
a
result
of
the
work
that
we
ask
to
be
undertaken.
C
I
think
that's
the
responsible
way
to
proceed,
because
it's
putting
the
concerns
that
people
have
and
the
interests
of
our
environment
and
our
economy
at
front
and
center
and
reaching
balanced
judgments
as
a
result
of
that
work.
That's
the
way
we
will
continue
to
proceed
on
this
important
matter
in.
B
The
same
way
that
people
can
still
by
going
on
the
scottish
government
website,
look
at
the
last
report
you
commissioned
on
fracking,
whose
advice
you
didn't
take.
But
let's
move
to
another
sector
emphasized
by
today's
Fraser
of
Allender
report
and
that
sector
is
food
and
drink.
Whisky.
Producers
tell
us
that
Latin
America,
a
market
of
600
million
people
has
a
potential
for
massive
growth
in
the
coming
year
and
yet
south
of
Texas
Scottish
development
international
has
only
one
tiny
office.
B
A
C
Well,
let's,
let's
just
walk
ourselves
step
by
step
through
that
question.
Firstly,
those
who
know
what
they're
talking
about
around
ucg
and
fracking
well,
not
that
Ruth
Davidson
managed
to
switch
between
the
different
technologies.
They
are
now
I,
don't
know
whether
she
did
that
in
full
knowledge
or
whether
she
needs
to
do
a
bit
more
homework.
What
we're
talking
about
today
is
underground
coal
gasification,
that
is
a
very,
very
different
technology
to
fracking
and
before
she
comes
to
this
chamber,
to
ask
questions
of
that.
I
would
have
thought
she
might
know
and
understand
that.
C
Secondly,
on
whisky,
I've
met
with
the
Scotch
whisky
Association
last
week
or
the
week
before
the
issues
they
wanted
to
raise
with
me,
but,
firstly,
the
success
of
the
Scottish
whiskey
industry,
but
also
the
real
concerns
they
have
a
bit
breaks
and
the
likely
impact
on
them
of
that
decision
in
terms
of
international
presence,
I'm
sure.
If
anybody
here
was
to
go
and
do
a
quick
google
search,
they
would
find
plenty
of
examples
of
the
Scottish
Conservatives
criticizing
the
international
presence
of
the
Scottish
Government.
Seen
things
like
it's
nothing
to
do
with
us.
C
We
should
leave
these
matters
to
the
UK
government.
Well,
thankfully,
we
don't
listen
so
as
well
as
the
excellent
work
the
SDI
are
doing
and,
of
course
we
are
considering
carefully
how
we
make
sure
SDI
is
properly
equipped
in
the
climate
that
we
have
now
been
put
in
as
a
result
of
the
recklessness
of
the
Tory
government.
We've
also
announced
recently
the
opening
of
new
investment
hubs
in
London
and
Dublin
and
Brussels,
making
sure
that
we
are
not
reliant
on
the
likes
of
Boris
Johnson
to
represent
as
overseas.
B
My
position
is
to
say
that
people
from
the
EU
and
elsewhere
are
welcome
here,
in
that
this
is
their
home
and
my
position
as
the
retain
the
closest
possible
trading
relationship
with
our
European
friends
and
neighbors,
while
expanding
trade
abroad.
But
my
position
is
also
to
face
up
to
the
realities
ahead
of
us
to
mitigate
risks
and
to
take
advantage
of
opportunities,
and
this
Parliament
now
faces
a
choice
about
whether
to
pick
the
lion's
share
of
its
efforts
into
examining
practical
solutions
or
simply
complaining
about
the
results
or
which
is
it
to
be
First.
Minister.
C
I
think
if
Davidson
is
perhaps
protesting
a
bit
too
much,
she
says
I'm
more
interested
in
heart
position.
I
have
to
see
if
anybody
can
work
out
what
Ruth
Davidson's
position
is
on
these
matters,
any
more
than
they're
doing
better
than
me
cause.
She
has
flipped
and
flopped
and
flipped
and
flopped
over
and
over
again,
since
the
referendum
result-
and
she
says
and
I
commend
her
for
it.
She
said
that
yesterday,
where
I
stood
up
and
said
the
morning
after
the
EU
referendum,
the
people
who
have
chosen
to
make
their
homes
here
are
welcome.
C
Here
they
make
a
contribution.
We
want
them
to
stay
in
continue
making
that
contribution.
Unfortunately,
the
difference
between
Ruth,
Davidson
and
I
is
this.
She
wants
control
over
immigration
to
stay
in
the
hands
of
the
xenophobes.
I
wanted
to
come
into
the
hands
of
this
Parliament
so
that
we
can
quickly
send
the
sailing
officer
Scotland
claims
itself.
No,
in
a
situation
we
didn't
ask
to
be
in,
we
are
in
this
situation,
fear
saying
all
the
risks
we
face
because
of
the
recklessness
of
the
conservative
government
at
Westminster.
A
C
D
Officer
across
Scotland
this
morning,
tens
of
thousands
of
people
stood
on
station
platforms
as
they
started
their
daily
commute
as
Minister
for
transport
in
October
2014
Keith
Brian
said.
The
new
franchise
agreement
awarded
to
value
was
a
world-leading
contract
to
deliver
for
real
staff
and
passengers.
Not
only
that,
but
it
was
a
contract
that
will
benefit
the
whole
of
Scotland.
Does
the
First
Minister
believe
that
those
promises
to
passengers
have
been
kept
fresh.
D
Sir
I
don't
commuters
on
the
morning
train
from
Dundee
to
Edinburgh
or
north
Bennett
to
Edinburgh,
or
the
nightly
commute
from
Cameron
old
to
downer
would
agree
that
Scotland
has
a
world-leading
contract
or
indeed
but
the
expectation
the
public
are
being
met.
In
the
past
few
months,
Scotland's
real
passengers
have
faced
cancellations,
delays
and
overcrowding.
New
figures
this
week
show
that
a
third
of
all
routes
in
Scotland
have
services
that
are
leaked
more
often
than
they
are
on
time
and
at
the
same
time,
a
bell.
D
C
Nz
that
deal
is
right.
Therese
concerns
the
traveling
public,
because
the
traveling
public
have
a
right
to
expect
services
that
run
on
time
and
that
they
can
rely
on,
and
it's
because
the
Scottish
government
is
saw
at
firm
in
that
commitment.
The
Kezia
Dugdale
I
assume
is
aware
of
that.
Under
the
contract
terms,
the
Scottish
government
requested
it
from
scott
reil
on
the
26th
of
august,
an
improvement
plan
which
was
then
received
on
the
16th
of
September.
We
had
absolutely
committed
to
working
with
scott
reil
to
deliver
a
quality
service
to
passengers.
C
D
Interesting
to
say
officer,
because
I've
got
that
improvement
plan
in
front
of
me.
In
fact,
it's
a
boast
of
a
press
release
from
Hamza
Yusuf
this
week,
3
million
pounds
worth
of
extra
investment
to
improve
passenger
comfort
and
accessibility
on
our
railways.
One
of
the
things
that
says
is
that
you're
going
to
spend
money
on
a
passenger
counting
equipment.
So
you
can
see
how
overcrowded
the
chains
are
I'm
going
to
suggest
the
first
one.
So
she
just
gets
someone
to
appreciate
how.
D
She
needs
to
be
honest
about
the
experience
faced
by
passengers
because
here's
the
thing
since
2011,
the
average
weekly
earnings
of
commuters,
rose
by
only
6%,
but
the
Scottish
Government's
cap
on
Russia
rail
fares
increased
by
over
23%.
So
let
me
make
that
absolutely
clear.
That's
a
rise
four
times
faster
than
earnings.
Those
who
travel
to
Train
by
what
further
work
everyday
are
paying
more
for
a
shocking
service
and
Scottish
commuters
are
fed
up
of
the
First
Minister's
excuses.
This
is
high
risk
for
ability.
C
I,
don't
think
anybody
listening
to
this
exchange
will
have
heard
me
make
any
excuses.
What
I've
said
it
is
our
responsibility,
working
with
Scott
Reil,
to
make
sure
that
quality
service
is
delivered.
That
is
exactly
why
the
Transport
Minister
has
been
taking
the
action
that
he
has
been
taken,
and
it's
why
we
continue
to
invest
significant
sums
of
money
in
the
real
network
to
make
sure
that
that
responsibility
is
discharged.
I
do
not
quibble
at
all
about
Kezia.
Dugdale
was
right
to
come
to
this
chamber
to
raise
these
concerns.
E
Crawford,
a
Thank
You
second
officer
with
the
First
Minister,
confirmed
that
she's
aware
of
the
HSBC
are
intent
on
relocating
around
200
high
quality
jobs,
and
that's
what
across
you
just
listen
to
what
I'm
saying
from
sterling
and
does
she
agree?
This
will
have
an
obvious
impact
on
individuals
and
the
local
economy,
and,
given
this
disappointing
news,
does
the
First
Minister
also
agree
with
me
that
this
strengthens
the
case
for
Sterling
to
successfully
secure
it,
set
it
to
you,
based
on
their
excellent
business
case
first
well,.
C
I,
of
course,
I'm
a
weight
of
the
situation
at
HSBC
I,
fully
appreciate
how
anxious
a
time
this
is
for
the
company's
employees
and
the
families
the
Scottish
Government
will
do
all
it
can
to
support
those
affected.
At
this
time,
Scottish
Enterprise
is
already
engaging
with
HSBC
to
explore
all
possible
avenues
for
supporting
the
business
and
its
workforce
and,
of
course,
in
the
unfortunate
event,
any
redundancies
do
proceed.
F
First
Minister
will
be
aware
that
on
the
23rd
October
4th
school
will
make
substantial
changes
to
bus
routes.
This
will
affect
many
of
my
constituents
and
will
affect
bus
passengers
in
Hopkins
that
since
a
and
the
transport
ministers
to
under
this
government,
the
number
of
buses
passenger
journeys
is
down.
Seventy
four
million
since
2007
and
notes
have
been
cut
by
sixty
six
million
kilometers
over
the
same
period.
A
C
I
I
think
first
Glasgow
and
indeed
all
other
bus
companies
should
consult
very
closely
with
local
communities
before
making
any
changes
to
local
services.
That's
why
I
would
expect
to
first
Glasgow
as
a
local
constituency.
Msp
representing
the
south
side
of
Glasgow
I
regularly
have
discussions
with
first
Glasgow
about
services
that
run
in
and
through
my
constituency
and
I
know.
Other
MSPs
will
do
likewise.
These
are
important
issues.
People
in
our
constituencies
depend
on
them
and
I
would
expect
a
bus
services
to
take
the
views
into
account
when
reaching
decisions.
C
G
Thank
You
presiding
officer
will
the
First
Minister
join
with
me
in
welcoming
to
the
gallery
today
a
delegation
of
containers
from
the
Doon
to
Gulick
ferry
action
group
for
my
region?
Can
the
First
Minister
confirm
that
it's
the
policy
of
the
Scottish
government
to
provide
a
vehicle
and
passenger
ferry
service
between
guru,
candid
in
town
centres
and
what's
development,
brain
limited,
which
is
wholly
owned
by
Scottish
Ministers,
instructed
to
tender
under
the
burek
to
denoon
procurement
exercise.
A
C
Firstly,
I
would
welcome
the
campaigners
for
the
demented
ferry
service
to
the
chamber.
I
know
many
of
them.
Well
is
there,
in
one
of
my
previous
government,
jobs
I
had
the
responsibility
for
taking
forward
this
work.
I
absolutely
appreciate
the
strength
of
feeling
around
the
tone
Center
to
tone
centre
vehicle
service
issue.
I
know
the
member
will
appreciate,
though,
that
know
that
we're
in
a
live
procurement
exercise.
There
are
strict
limitations
on
ministerial
involvement
in
that
tendering
exercise
and
what
I'm
able
to
see
at
this
stage,
but
I
hope
there.
H
We've
heard
the
conservative
international
trade
secretary
branding
European
citizens
working
here
as
cars
and
an
EU
negotiation.
We've
heard
the
conservative
Home
Secretary
advocating
less
than
foreign
workers
these
cards.
These
foreign
workers
are
our
neighbors
and
our
friends.
They
are
our
family.
People
who
voted
for
breaks
across
the
UK
did
not
vote
to
send
our
friends
home.
So
what
can
she
do
to
ensure
the
EU
citizens
are
treated
with
respect
and
dignity
in
these
negotiations?.
C
Well,
the
first
thing
I
can
do,
which
is
what
I
did
do
in
the
morning
after
the
EU
referendum
is
say
unequivocally
that
people
who
have
come
from
other
European
countries,
or
indeed
from
any
country
and
chosen
to
make
Scotland
their
home
and
make
a
contribution
here,
are
welcome
here.
This
is
their
home.
C
This
is
where
they
belong,
and
it
is
where
we
want
them
to
stay,
and
all
of
us
have
a
responsibility
to
say
that
as
often
as
we
possibly
can,
we
have
also,
since
the
EU
referendum,
taken
steps
to
liaise
with
the
community
of
EU
nationals
living
in
Scotland.
The
Cabinet
held
a
question-and-answer
session
number
of
weeks
ago,
in
order
to
hear
directly
their
concerns.
C
We've
taken
some
practical
steps,
for
example
around
at
university
tuition
fees,
to
give
some
reassurance
to
EU
Nationals
where
we
can,
and
we
will
continue
to
look
for
other
areas
in
which
we
can
do
that.
Unfortunately-
and
you
know,
it
is
a
matter
of
real
regret
to
me-
that
I
do
not
have
the
power
to
guarantee
the
rate
of
EU
nationals
to
stay
here
in
Scotland.
C
H
Though
many
of
these
European
citizens
work
in
places
like
Amazon
theatres,
they
have
decent
treatment
to
this
week,
amazon
celebrated
recruiting
more
people
below
the
proper
living
wage.
It
was
described
as
a
bonanza
I
have
raised
this
issue
before
an
action
was
promised
by
the
First
Minister,
but
nothing
has
changed
this
week.
The
Scottish
government
didn't
utter
a
peep,
not
one
word
of
criticism.
This
is
amazon,
has
had
millions
of
pounds
of
Scottish
government
grants
peeing
poverty
wages.
Does
she
still
intend
to
do
anything
or
has
she
lost
interest?
First.
C
Think
that
is
a
really
unfair
criticism
for
Willie
Danny,
because
he
knows
and
I
know
he
agrees
with
this.
How
seriously
we
treat
the
issue
of
the
living
wage
and
we
encourage
and
I
would
go
further
than
that
and
Patsy.
We
expect
all
companies
where
they
can
to
pay
the
living
wage
and
we've
taken
a
real
lead
in
this
I
wish.
C
I
had
the
power
here
in
Scotland,
not
just
to
guarantee
the
rate
of
EU
nationals
to
see,
but
actually
to
legislate
on
minimum
wage
levels
so
that
we
could
raise
the
statutory
minimum
wage
to
the
level
of
the
living
wage.
Let's
argue
not
just
for
companies
to
do
the
right
thing.
Let's
argue
for
having
some
of
these
powers
in
the
hands
of
this
Parliament,
so
we
don't
have
to
simply
call
on
the
UK
government
to
do
the
right
thing
for
it.
A.
I
First
Minister
will
share
my
concerns
that
today's
news
that
are
hard
breaks
it
could
cost
Scotland
80,000
jobs.
The
fleece
that
a
volunteer
Institute
report
shows
that
the
weaker
economic
integration
with
the
EU,
the
greater
the
negative
impact
does
the
First
Minister
think
that
it
is
high
time
for
the
Tories
to
stop
to
drop
their
bluster
over
leaving
the
single
market
and,
at
long
last
reveal
a
plan.
C
The
Tories
should
have
had
a
plan
to
deal
with
this
before
or
the
referendum.
It's
absolutely
shocking
that
they
didn't
have
that.
It's
equally
shocking
that
three
months
saw,
and
we
still
have
only
the
sketchiest
of
details
about
what
happens
now.
Unfortunately,
the
details
we
do
have
suggests
that
we
are
heading
down
the
road
of
a
hard
break.
That
which
is
the
phase
of
Allender
Institute
report,
says
today,
will
cost
people
in
Scotland
in
terms
of
lost
wages
and
lost
jobs
that
is
completely
and
utterly
unacceptable.
C
What
I
think
has
been
really
clear
from
the
conservative
conference
this
week
is
that
decisions
by
the
Prime
Minister
are
being
driven
more
by
her
desire
to
appease
the
Tory
right
than
they
are
by
the
genuine
interests
of
the
country.
I
think
that
is
wrong.
I
think
it
is
regrettable
and
I
think
it
is
deeply
irresponsible.
Thomas.
J
You
presiding
officer
mean
Andrew
Flanagan.
The
chair
to
the
Scottish
Police
Authority
was
asked
yesterday
of
a
public
concern
over
sex
offenders
and
violent
criminals
being
tagged.
He
said,
and
I
quote,
I
think
that
what
he
would
be
understandable
can
the
First
Minister
assure
the
public
that
her
government
will
not
use
the
extension
of
electronic
monitoring
for
these
criminals,
given
the
very
real
concerns
have
been
voiced
by
the
public
and
victims
of
claimed
public.
C
Safety
is
at
the
heart
of
all
of
these
decisions,
as
I've
said
previously
in
an
exchange
just
a
couple
of
weeks
ago.
It
is
not
for
politicians
to
decide
sentences,
it
is
for
courts
to
decide
appropriate
sentences,
but
when
a
court
is
deciding
the
appropriate
sentence
in
any
case,
whether
that
is
prison
or
an
alternative
to
prison
and
including
the
use
of
electronic
monitoring,
then
risk
assessment
and
issues
of
Public
Safety.
It
will
be
absolutely
integral
to
that
decision.
That's
right,
proper
and
the
public
would
expect
no
less
Daniel.
K
K
K
A
C
Firstly,
I,
of
course,
of
aware
of
the
the
disruption
and
the
concern
that
was
caused
to
the
members
constituents
as
a
result
of
the
incident
he
has
talked
to
Burton.
An
old
Scottish
water
will
deeply
regret
that
inconvenience
I'm
more
than
happy
to
ask
the
the
minister
with
responsibility
to
raise
the
particular
issue
that
the
member
has
brought
to
the
chamber
today
with
Scottish
water
and
asked
them
to
correspond
with
the
member
a
when
he
has
Scottish
waters.
Feedback
on
that
Tara.
L
You
presiding
officer,
it's
the
First
Minister
aware
of
the
turmoil
in
the
koftas
Commission,
caused
by
the
intolerable
behavior
of
the
current
convener.
Does
she
know
that
other
commissioners
have
asked
her
for
his
resignation
and
that
the
previous
chief
executive,
Katrina
McLean
left
because
of
the
convenience
behaviour
and
the
pressure
that
has
been
placed
on
Commission
staff?
In
those
circumstances,
will
she
and
her
rural
secretary
now
take
action
to
make
the
Commission
work
for
crafters
across
the
Crofton
counties
without
the
disruptive
presence
of
the
convener
First.
C
Toby
she
got
raises
a
very
important
issue.
The
cabinet
secretary
for
the
rural
economy
has
already
welcomed
the
apology
from
the
board
of
the
Crofton
Commission,
but
it
is
disappointing
that
the
convener
was
not
a
party
to
that
apology.
It's
important
that
we
get
to
the
stage
we've
been
able
to
draw
a
line
under
recent
events.
That
is
all
she
spent
in
dealing
with
these
issues
by
the
Commission
would,
in
my
view,
be
far
better
used
and
being
an
effective
regulator
and
contributing
to
a
sustainable
future
for
crofting.
C
I
know
that
Croft
and
commissioners
have
unanimously
called
in
the
convener
to
resign.
The
Scottish
government
has
requested
further
information
from
the
convener
in
relation
to
last
week's
events.
Well,
the
government
would
not
ordinarily
intervene
in
the
internal
operations
of
an
independent
statutory
body.
The
legislation
does
give
Scottish
Ministers
power
to
act
if
required,
and
can
a
short
average
score
that
the
cabinet
secretary
continues
to
monitor
the
situation
very
closely
and
we'd
be
very
happy
to
discuss
it
further
with
the
Tavish
skort.
A
C
I
welcome
the
findings
from
the
survey.
It's
encouraging
to
see
that
Scotland
is
becoming
a
more
inclusive
society,
with
more
people
embracing
and
valuing
diversity.
However,
we
shouldn't
be
complacent.
It's
completely
unacceptable
that
some
groups
in
society
do
still
face
prejudice,
so
we
need
to
continue
to
work
together
to
eradicate
discriminate
to
the
attitudes
in
Scotland
and
I
can
assure
the
member
that
this
government
is
absolutely
committed
to
doing
so.
A
M
I
thank
the
First
Minister
for
that
answered
in
that
commitment.
This
week
it's
Tory
Party
conference
saw
the
most
disgraceful
display
of
reactionary
right-wing
politics
and
loving
memory
with
the
Tories
Henton
it
they
will
target
foreign
workers
and
name
and
shame
businesses
for
not
hiring
British
employees.
We
perhaps
they
saw
an
early
glimpse
of
that
from
the
Scottish
Tories
in
recent
weeks,
when
they
questioned
Christian
a
large
rate
to
take
part
and
public
life.
C
We
do
that
by
standing,
strong
and
I
hope
United
in
defense
of
that
inclusive,
tolerant
society.
We
should
value
people,
but
the
contribution
they
make
here
not
by
where
they
were
born,
or
indeed
the
color
of
their
passport
and
I
think
that
work
is
undermined
by
some
of
the
rhetoric
we've
heard
from
the
Tory
conference
this
week.
You
know
Teresa
mace
speech
yesterday
was
endorsed
by
marine
lepen.
C
The
leader
of
the
French,
far-right
Nigel
Farage,
said
yesterday
that
virtually
everything
that
Theresa
May
said
in
her
speech
were
things
that
he
had
said
over
the
last
few
years.
I
do
think
all
of
us
have
an
obligation
to
stand
up
against
intolerance,
against
prejudice
against
discrimination
and
against
xenophobia
in
all
of
its
forms
and
I
hope.
Everybody
in
this
Parliament
will
do
so.
A
N
Thank
You
presiding
officer,
the
First
Minister,
is
already
called
out
the
hateful
disgusting
rhetoric
that
came
out
of
the
Tory
Party
conference
this
week.
Perhaps
the
most
sinister
of
their
proposals
was
that
from
amber
Rudd,
the
Home
Secretary
that
companies
will
be
forced
to
disclose
the
proportion
of
their
workers
who
were
born
outside
of
the
United
Kingdom.
Will
the
First
Minister
and
the
Scottish
government
support
businesses
in
Scotland
who
refused
to
comply
with
this
disgusting
proposal?
First.
A
C
Would
absolutely
stand
full
square
beside
any
company
that
refused
to
comply
with
any
request
to
publish
details
of
foreign
workers
and
why
I
found
particularly
offensive
was
the
idea
that
companies
would
be
named
and
shamed
for
the
foreign
workers
employed
as
if
there
was
something
shameful
about
employing
workers
from
other
countries.
It
is
absolutely
disgraceful.
C
I
know
amber
rod,
went
on
the
radio
yesterday
morning
and
tried
to
rule
back
from
this
proposal
by
saying
that
it
wasn't
something
the
Tories
were
definitely
going
to
do
well,
I
think,
is
a
bit
time.
The
Tory
stood
up
and
said
this
that
it's
definitely
something
they
will
not
ever
do,
because
it
would
be
downright
disgraceful
and
disgusting,
and
this
government
would
have
absolutely
nothing
to
do
with
it.
O
Thank
you
very
much
presenting
officer.
First
of
all,
I
associate
myself
with
the
comments
the
First
Minister
made
about
the
Tory
Party
conference.
I.
Think
all
of
us
on
this
side
would
be
in
philly
an
agreement
with
her.
On
that
point,
we
welcome
the
broad
findings
from
the
social
attitudes
survey,
as
well
as
figures
out
last
weeks,
which
showed
the
hate
crimes
in
Scotland
had
actually
fallen
over
the
last
year,
but
we
can't
be
complacent.
First
Minister.
O
We
still
have
bad
things
happening
in
Scotland
at
too
often,
for
example,
in
the
last
year,
Islamophobic
hate
crimes,
I'm
increased
by
eighty
nine
percent
prejudice
and
hatred
has
no
place
in
any
of
our
communities
and
certainly
not
in
any
part
of
our
society.
So
what
specific
action
will
we
take
to
highlight
the
issue
of
Islamophobia
and
to
just
hate
crimes
such
as
this
First
Minister?
Firstly,.
C
C
So
I
know
when
asked
I
was
very
familiar
with
the
range
of
what
we
do
seeking
to
work
with
communities
to
bring
people
together
to
make
diversity
something
we
celebrate
as
a
key
strength
of
our
country,
not
something
that
we
should
fear
and
exploit.
That
will
always
be
the
way
this
government
behaves
and
conducts
itself
and
I
hope.
In
doing
so,
we
will
continue
to
have
the
unanimous
support
of
everybody
in
this
chamber
largest.
P
C
Drop
taking
amongst
the
general
population
is
falling
and
indeed
the
number
young
people
taking
drugs
is
at
the
lowest
level.
In
a
decade
we
remain
determined
to
tackle
problem,
drug
use
with
our
partners
and
supported
by
an
investment
of
more
than
600
million
pounds
since
2000,
and
we're
working
to
reduce
the
harm
caused
by
drug
and
alcohol
use.
The
rise
in
the
number
of
hospital
stays
is
the
result
of
an
aging
cohort
of
drug
users.
C
P
Cameron
the
First
Minister
will
be
aware
from
the
recently
published
drug
related
hospital
statistics
report
that
general
acute
emissions
increased
by
almost
500
in
the
last
financial
year.
The
same
report
showed
that
around
half
of
those
patients
lived
in
the
20%
most
deprived
areas
of
Scotland
with
the
first
minister,
except
that
the
Scottish
government
needs
to
do
much
more
to
reduce
serious
drug
misuse
in
our
most
deprived
areas
of.
C
Course,
I
will
and
well.
We
still
have
a
problem
of
drug
use
that
there
will
always
be
more.
That
government
needs
to
do,
but
I
would
genuinely
point
the
member
to
some
of
the
the
trains
I
highlighted
in
my
opening
answer.
We
are
now
seeing
the
number
of
young
people
taking
drugs
at
the
lowest
level
in
a
decade
that
would
suggest
that
the
initiatives
we
are
taking
are
having
some
success.
C
Coupled
with
that,
it
is
right
to
see
that
we're
seeing
an
increasing
trend
of
hospital
admissions,
but
that
is
related
to
the
ageing
cohort
of
of
drug
users.
As
people
become
older
it
having
had
a
lifetime
or
substantial
parts
of
their
lifetime
at
taking
drugs,
then
they
do
more
and
more
need
Hospital
treatment,
and
that
said,
the
explanation
behind
that
particular
trained,
but
drug
use
in
any
community,
but
particularly
in
our
most
deprived
communities,
is
something
we
shouldn't
and
can't
be
complacent
about,
and
we
must
continue
to
do
everything
possible
to
combat
it.
Kenneth.
Q
Gibson,
a
Thank,
You
presiding
officer.
Does
the
First
Minister
agree
that
drug
related,
acute
hospital
stays
are
often
related
to
illegal
drug
use
and
can
and
can
she
confirmed
that
drug-related
claim
has
fallen
dramatically
since
the
SNP
came
to
office
with
a
fall
of
forty
five
point:
seven
percent
in
north
a
loan
from
1255
cases
a
decade
ago
to
671
last
year.
Q
C
I
certainly
would
welcome
and
point
to
the
recently
published,
recorded
crane
figures
which
highlight
the
reduction
in
drug
offences
in
north
asia
and
reflect
other
positive
trends
in
that
area.
North
asia
routinely
exceeds
the
national
performance
standard
that
expects
90
percent
of
people
in
need
of
drug
or
alcohol
treatment
to
access
it
within
three
weeks.
But,
as
I've
just
said
in
response
to
the
earlier
questions,
we
know
there's
no
room
for
complacency.
We
know
about
the
vulnerability
of
an
ageing
cohort
of
people,
who've
been
using
drugs
for
many
years,
and
we
must
deal
with
that.
C
But
there
is
also
and
Kenny
Gibson
is
right
to
point
it
out.
There
is
also
cause
for
optimism.
Nationally.
Drug-Taking
amongst
the
general
population
is
following
and
as
I've
already
said
today
for
young
people,
it
is
now
at
the
lowest
level
that
it's
been
in
a
decade,
so
there's
cause
for
optimism,
but
we
also
must
continue
to
tackle
this
problem,
because
it's
one
that
affects
too
many,
ladies
and
and
can
often
affect
those
lives
in
a
very,
very
dramatic
way.
Question.
R
C
2015,
the
European
Commission
suspended
three
European
structural
and
investment
fund
programs.
The
suspensions
prevented
the
Scottish
government
from
being
reimbursed
for
money
it
already
spent
for
the
duration
of
the
suspensions,
but
there
was
no
impact
on
the
projects
themselves.
All
suspensions
have
now
been
lifted
with
the
final
one
being
lifted
in
September
of
this
year.
Jackie.
R
The
total
capital
required
for
all
four
projects
will
be
at
least
900
million
pounds
and
according
to
audit
Scotland
Ketil
was
transferred
from
housing
and
capital
was
transferred
from
Scottish
water
and
300
million
pounds
was
borrowed
last
year
to
fill
part
of
the
gap.
Can
I
therefore
ask
the
First
Minister?
What
further
borrowing
will
be
necessary
to
finance
these
and
other
planned
projects?
What's
the
opportunity
cost
if
we
still
have
to
find
the
balance
of
the
900
million
and
what
projects
will
be
delayed?
R
C
Well,
I
know
understand
that
Jackie
Bailey
was
talking
about
the
onh
reclassification
I'm,
not
sure
how
anybody
could
have
a
taken
up
from
the
wording
of
a
question,
but
nevertheless
I'm
glad
we
know
have
a
meeting
of
minds
on
the
question
that
we
are
answering
as
Jackie
Bailey
knows
the
ons
reclassification,
and
there
are
a
number
of
issues
we've
seen
one
in
in
recent
weeks
about
housing
associations
where
the
OAS
reclassifies
from
private
to
public.
The
UK
government
also
has
similar
issues
to
contain
to
us
in
terms
of
the
capital
projects.
She
talks
about.
C
S
Time,
road
to
freedom,
okay,
thank
you
for
setting
off
sir.
The
Auditor
General's
report
last
week
tells
us
that
some
of
14
million
pounds
has
been
lost
from
the
Scottish
Government's
accounts
due
to
its
financial
incompetence
as
an
ability
to
comply
with
EU
accounting
rules,
which
projects
have
been
cut
or
delayed.
Because
of
this
incompetence.
Well,.
C
I
see
model
fees
are
made.
The
same
interpretation
of
Jackie
Bailey's
question
as
I
did
so.
I
should
see
my
previous
answer
to
Jackie
Baillie
stands
in
respect
of
this
in
terms
of
the
suspensions
that
the
effect
of
the
suspensions
which
have
all
now
been
lifted
is
to
temporarily
prevent
the
Scottish
government
being
reimbursed
for
money.
We
have
already
paid
out
to
the
project.
There
is
no
impact
whatsoever
on
the
projects
concerned.
Now
we
learn
lessons
as
other
governments.
Do
the
European
Commission
regularly
and
routinely
audits
projects
under
these
funds.
C
C
It
does
seem
clear
that
the
decision
on
the
timing
of
article
50
has
been
driven
more
by
the
Prime
Minister's
desire
to
appease
the
Tory
you
to
skeptics
than
it
is
by
any
rational
consideration
of
what
is
in
the
best
interests
of
the
country.
I
do
think
that
is
deeply
irresponsible
and,
as
we've
heard
already
in
this
session
of
First
Minister's
Questions,
we
can
see
in
the
report
by
the
phase
of
the
volunteer
Institute
this
morning.
C
T
C
I
have
no
idea
how
long
it's
going
to
take
the
UK
government
to
come
up
with
a
plan
they
should
have
had
one
by
now.
What
I'm
more
concerned
about
with
every
day
that
passes
is
the
direction
that
the
UK
government
does
seem
to
be
going
down,
not
just
exit
from
the
European
Union,
but
exit
from
the
single
market
know.
You
know,
let's
be
quite
clear
about
what
that
will
mean.
That
will
mean
that
tariffs
and
non-tariff
trade
barriers
to
our
companies
who
export
to
the
European
Union.
C
A
C
On
the
broader
issue
of
concussion
and
sport,
as
les
Smith
is
aware,
we
were
the
first
country
in
the
world
to
introduce
standard
guidelines
for
dealing
with
concussion
in
sports
when
the
Scottish
sports
concussion
guidelines
were
published
in
me
last
year,
these
guidelines
were
developed
with
a
range
of
experts,
including
the
chief
medical
officers
at
the
Scottish
Government
Scottish
rugby
and
the
Scottish
Football
Association
they've
been
made
available
to
all
sports
clubs
and
coaches
for
both
contact
and
non-contact
scores.
Listening
could.
U
I
wonder
if
these
updates
have
taken
place
and
whether
consideration
has
been
given
to
the
fact
that
there
is
currently
different
guidance
for
serious
concussion
injuries
in
different
sports,
for
example.
In
boxing
the
suspension
from
the
ring
is
a
minimum
of
28
days,
whereas
in
rugby
the
minimum
is
70
away
from
the
sport.
Would
she
agree
that
the
medical
expert
panel,
to
which
she
referred
in
her
letter,
might
look
like
to
look
at
whether
there
should
be
a
standard
approach?
First.
C
As
I
said
in
my
original
answer,
we
have
introduced
standard
guidelines
for
dealing
with
concussion
in
sports,
but,
as
I
said
previously,
when
listeth
last
raised
this
issue
with
me
and
was
raising
I
think
at
that
time,
the
prospects
of
legislation
which
the
consensus
among
amongst
medical
experts
appears
to
be
at
this
stage
at
legislation
would
not
necessarily
be
helpful.
But
when
I
said
it,
then
it's
what
our
CID
is.
C
We
do
need
to
make
sure
that
we
keep
this
under
review
and
that
as
we
do
so
we
are
informed
by
the
based
medical
opinion,
so
I'm
very
happy
to
take
the
comments
that
list
Smith
has
meet
today
and
make
sure
they
are
discussed
by
the
panel
of
medical
experts
that
inform
these
decisions
and
I'll
be
happy
to
enter
into
further
correspondence
with
her
when
we've
done.
So.
Thank.