:00:00. > :00:10.Which are known to First Minister's Questions. Question number one from
:00:11. > :00:14.Ruth Davidson. Thank you, presiding officer. You ask the First Minister
:00:15. > :00:19.what engagement she has planned for the rest of the day? Let me express
:00:20. > :00:24.our behalf of the chamber and on part of our country at the shock and
:00:25. > :00:27.sadness at the heinous attack on Westminster yesterday afternoon. We
:00:28. > :00:30.send our heartfelt condolences to those who've lost loved ones and our
:00:31. > :00:36.thoughts to all those who injuries. Many of us in this chamber have
:00:37. > :00:42.friends and colleagues, indeed some of us have family members who work
:00:43. > :00:45.within the Palace of Westminster. Parliamentarians, staff and
:00:46. > :00:48.journalists. Yesterday was a harrowing day for all of them and
:00:49. > :00:56.they have our support and good wishes. Above all, we stand in
:00:57. > :00:59.solidarity with London. A vibrant, diverse, wonderful city that will
:01:00. > :01:06.never be cowed by mindless acts of violence. This attack stands, of
:01:07. > :01:11.course, is a stark reminder of the dangerous jobs that are emergency
:01:12. > :01:17.services do everyday on our behalf. Yesterday, a Metropolitan Police
:01:18. > :01:21.officer went to work to protect and defend democracy. And did not return
:01:22. > :01:27.home. Our thoughts and breakers are with the family of BC Keith Palmer.
:01:28. > :01:30.However, today we should also express our appreciation to
:01:31. > :01:36.policemen and women across the country who risk their lives every
:01:37. > :01:38.day in of duty. To the police and security savvy keep us safe year in
:01:39. > :01:44.our own Parliament, we say thank you. Presiding officer, in the
:01:45. > :01:47.aftermath of the attack yesterday, I was updated by the National Security
:01:48. > :01:51.adviser and also on the immediate actions taken by Police Scotland. I
:01:52. > :01:54.convened a meeting of the Scottish Government's Brazilian committee
:01:55. > :02:00.last night. That was an opportunity to review what was known about the
:02:01. > :02:03.events in London, consider any indications for Scotland, and hear
:02:04. > :02:06.directly from the Chief Constable and other senior officers about
:02:07. > :02:10.their response and I am grateful to the Chief Executive Rob Parliament
:02:11. > :02:13.for taking part in that meeting. I have been updated again by Police
:02:14. > :02:19.Scotland this morning. It is important to stress that there is no
:02:20. > :02:23.intelligence of any increased threat or risk to Scotland. However, as a
:02:24. > :02:26.precautionary measure, Police Scotland have increased security at
:02:27. > :02:32.key locations, including Parliament and will keep these arrangements
:02:33. > :02:36.under review. The public should also remain vigilant, but go about their
:02:37. > :02:40.everyday business as normal. Presiding Officer, we know that at
:02:41. > :02:45.times like these, it can be all too easy to look for someone to blame.
:02:46. > :02:50.It is important, therefore, that we are very clear about this. Acts of
:02:51. > :02:55.terrorism are not the responsibility of anyone's faith or section of our
:02:56. > :02:58.society. The only people to blame for acts of terrorism are the
:02:59. > :03:06.individuals who plan and perpetrate them. Let me end by echoing and
:03:07. > :03:10.endorsing the words of the Prime Minister. Terrorists seek to
:03:11. > :03:15.undermine our values and destroy our way of life. They will not succeed.
:03:16. > :03:22.Whatever our disagreements, in this chamber or any other, we stand
:03:23. > :03:26.united in our core values of democracy, human rights, and the
:03:27. > :03:39.rule of law. These values are strong and the will endure. -- they will
:03:40. > :03:43.endure. I thank the First Minister for that answer. Behalf of these
:03:44. > :03:46.ventures, we express our deep shock at yesterday's events in
:03:47. > :03:50.Westminster. We do sender deep condolences to those whose loved
:03:51. > :03:54.ones were lost or injured yesterday and once again we express our
:03:55. > :03:58.gratitude to the police officers and security guards who at Westminster
:03:59. > :04:03.and here at Holyrood work to keep us safe. Whose bravery we see -- we
:04:04. > :04:08.seem only to truly appreciate at a time like this. People like Keith
:04:09. > :04:13.Palmer who lost his life yesterday doing his job, doing his duty.
:04:14. > :04:18.Yesterday a coward killed three innocent people and injured many
:04:19. > :04:25.more in an attempt to attack the symbol of our country's democracy.
:04:26. > :04:30.Paramedics demonstrated what a civilised society is by trying to
:04:31. > :04:33.save him. His attack on our freedom will fail today as we show our
:04:34. > :04:37.resolve by returning to work and getting on with our lives. Does the
:04:38. > :04:41.First Minister agree with me that as representatives of democracy the
:04:42. > :04:44.best demonstrate our defiance by sharing here in Edinburgh and
:04:45. > :04:48.Westminster that we will not be silenced or cold? That the best
:04:49. > :04:53.strike back against terrorism by staying true to our own values of
:04:54. > :05:00.democracy, freedom and the rule of law.
:05:01. > :05:04.APPLAUSE Indeed I agree wholeheartedly with
:05:05. > :05:08.the sentiments expressed by Ruth Davidson. Those of us who have had
:05:09. > :05:12.the opportunity to see some of the proceedings in the House of Commons
:05:13. > :05:18.this morning can't fail to have been moved by the poignancy of what we
:05:19. > :05:22.witnessed. All of us feel very deeply the impact of what happened
:05:23. > :05:27.yesterday, but for our colleagues and friends in the House of Commons
:05:28. > :05:32.and in wider Westminster, going back to work today must have been
:05:33. > :05:36.difficult and harrowing. But the dignity that was expressed by the
:05:37. > :05:40.Prime Minister and indeed by other members of Parliament, I think,
:05:41. > :05:46.gives us all an example to follow. We have many disagreements. That is
:05:47. > :05:53.in the nature of democracy. We have seen that in our own parliament over
:05:54. > :05:57.the past couple of days. But it is our ability to express these
:05:58. > :06:01.disagreements, often very passionately, that is the hallmark
:06:02. > :06:06.of our democracy. And it is the values of democracy, of human
:06:07. > :06:10.rights, freedom, of the rule of law, that terrorists seek to strike out.
:06:11. > :06:14.So whatever our disagreements and undoubtedly before too long we will
:06:15. > :06:18.return to these disagreements here and in other places, but we have had
:06:19. > :06:24.the opportunity in these past 24 hours to remind ourselves of this -
:06:25. > :06:29.that we are all united by a common humanity, and it is democracy that
:06:30. > :06:32.defends our ability to have these disagreements and to express them in
:06:33. > :06:38.the way that we do. I'd likely first -- I thank the
:06:39. > :06:41.First Minister for her answer. Can I ask her about the measures to
:06:42. > :06:50.protect people since yesterday's events? Yesterday and police
:06:51. > :06:53.Scotland -- yesterday at Police Scotland some were outlined which
:06:54. > :06:58.includes a major police substance and a substantial -- police presence
:06:59. > :07:02.and a substantial arms presence on our streets. It was described her
:07:03. > :07:05.yesterday Police Scotland offices dropped everything to be in the
:07:06. > :07:10.workplace. We again thank them for their actions. Can she today assure
:07:11. > :07:12.the chamber lobby police were given all they need to tackle this threat
:07:13. > :07:19.that the public are given the reassurances that they require?
:07:20. > :07:21.I'm happy to give that assurance. I have indeed been assured by the
:07:22. > :07:26.Chief Constable that he has the resources he requires to respond
:07:27. > :07:30.appropriately, and there will continue to be, as there always is,
:07:31. > :07:33.ongoing dialogue between the Scottish Government and arrogantly
:07:34. > :07:40.service to ensure that they do have the resources -- and our police
:07:41. > :07:43.service to ensure. The police have well-developed plans in place that
:07:44. > :07:47.enable them to increase security and response to incidents, like the one
:07:48. > :07:53.that we witnessed yesterday. These plans yesterday were activated by
:07:54. > :07:58.Police Scotland and put into place immediately. There is an increased
:07:59. > :08:02.police presence around our major conurbations, and that, as people
:08:03. > :08:07.would expect, includes an increase in the presence of armed officers.
:08:08. > :08:11.For reasons that I am sure the chamber will understand, I'm not
:08:12. > :08:16.going to go into precise detail about the police tactical response.
:08:17. > :08:19.It would be inappropriate and counter-productive for me to do so.
:08:20. > :08:26.However, that response does involve a substantial uplift in armed
:08:27. > :08:30.officers on duty, and also a consideration of resources to ensure
:08:31. > :08:33.that there has been a high-profile non-armed police presence across the
:08:34. > :08:37.country. And many members of the public will have seen evidence of
:08:38. > :08:42.that this morning, I'm sure, as they have travelled to work. As I said in
:08:43. > :08:53.my initial remarks, I have spoken to Deputy Chief Constable Gwyn this
:08:54. > :08:58.morning to be briefed on the arrangements that have been put in
:08:59. > :09:00.place and that will remain on place for the foreseeable future. The
:09:01. > :09:04.force continue to keep these arrangements under review. I am
:09:05. > :09:06.confident and therefore want to reassure the public that the police
:09:07. > :09:12.are doing everything that is appropriate to ensure the protection
:09:13. > :09:18.of the public. And finally I would reiterate a point I made earlier on.
:09:19. > :09:22.The public, as should be the case at all times, should be vigilant. If
:09:23. > :09:25.they have concerns about anything, they should trust their instincts
:09:26. > :09:28.and contact the police. But the public should get on with their
:09:29. > :09:32.daily business, as we in this Parliament are getting on with our
:09:33. > :09:37.daily business. That afternoon as the best response to terrorist. I
:09:38. > :09:41.thank the First Minister for the information and she is able to give
:09:42. > :09:46.the chamber. As has been noted again today, we can never guard against
:09:47. > :09:52.attacks like yesterday's by building ever higher walls or bigger
:09:53. > :09:56.defences. I never as a free or a liberal society in the UK should we
:09:57. > :10:00.wish to do so, even if it did work. As the deputy constable said this
:10:01. > :10:04.morning, the best defence is a cohesive society that self polices
:10:05. > :10:07.against the threat of extremism. A society which tops extremism from
:10:08. > :10:11.taking root and poisoning vulnerable minds. Can the First Minister
:10:12. > :10:15.outline practical efforts that the Scottish Government is making to
:10:16. > :10:17.ensure that we have the right community engagement in place to
:10:18. > :10:23.strengthen us all? I firstly would agree that there will always be a
:10:24. > :10:27.limit to what can be done to provide guarantees protection. But whatever
:10:28. > :10:31.can be done should be done. I've already outlined the increased
:10:32. > :10:36.police presence that police Scotland are making available. Those who
:10:37. > :10:39.heard the Deputy Chief Constable on the radio this morning will also
:10:40. > :10:43.have heard him talking about the specialist advice that is available
:10:44. > :10:49.to the police, including counterterrorist security advisers.
:10:50. > :10:54.To advise on physical security, barriers in place at key locations,
:10:55. > :10:58.for example. And it's important that we trust our police to take the
:10:59. > :11:03.right decisions in that regard. It is a fundamental point here that a
:11:04. > :11:07.robust resilience does come from community resilience, and the
:11:08. > :11:11.vigilance of the public. The police have been in contact with faith
:11:12. > :11:16.groups already over the course of yesterday, last night and this
:11:17. > :11:19.morning. The Chief Constable has issued today a message to
:11:20. > :11:24.communities, a message of reassurance. The Scottish
:11:25. > :11:27.Government, as we do on an ongoing basis, will also be making contact
:11:28. > :11:33.with key groups in our society, he faith communities to underline the
:11:34. > :11:37.important message of cohesion. Terrorists, by their very nature,
:11:38. > :11:45.seek to divide. Their intention, there are objective, is to lead us
:11:46. > :11:50.to turn on each other and. To look to people in our own society to
:11:51. > :11:53.blame. We must not do that. No faith group and there's a section of our
:11:54. > :11:57.society is responsible for what happened on the streets of London
:11:58. > :12:01.yesterday. And again, just as it is the best response to terrorism to go
:12:02. > :12:07.about our daily business confidently and defiantly. So, too, is it the
:12:08. > :12:13.right response to terrorism to unite as a society and to use that
:12:14. > :12:17.cohesion as a string. -- as a strength.
:12:18. > :12:20.I thank the First Minister once again for her response. This has
:12:21. > :12:25.been a week when we have been reminded that terrorism has many
:12:26. > :12:28.faces. In Northern Ireland, the passing of the former Deputy First
:12:29. > :12:34.Minister Bert has brought back memories of the sickening violence
:12:35. > :12:37.that has played at in that part of the United Kingdom. Yesterday
:12:38. > :12:42.reminded us of a new terror threat that has dogged the United Kingdom
:12:43. > :12:45.and our allies internationally. Terrorism comes in many forms and
:12:46. > :12:50.guises. It does not come from one religion or one group, but from the
:12:51. > :12:53.twisted worldview of individuals. Does the First Minister agree with
:12:54. > :12:57.me that the lesson here is not to tie one religion or group in the
:12:58. > :13:04.coming days, but to tackle the evil of terrorist ideology in its of? Not
:13:05. > :13:07.to blame whole communities, but to show that instead we all stand
:13:08. > :13:11.united against Tara. I think the best and strongest
:13:12. > :13:19.message we can send out in out -- sent out from our Parliament, and
:13:20. > :13:22.both Westminster and the people of London, and other parts of our world
:13:23. > :13:26.blighted by the active terrorists, is exactly that one. Whatever
:13:27. > :13:30.legitimate disagreements we have, we are united in those core values that
:13:31. > :13:35.we hold so dear. In times like this it is more important than ever that
:13:36. > :13:39.we come together to express those values and express our determination
:13:40. > :13:43.that terrorists will not divide us. Perhaps there is another lesson and
:13:44. > :13:48.perhaps it is one particularly resonant for us here in this
:13:49. > :13:54.chamber, at this time. We resolve disagreements by debate, discussion
:13:55. > :13:59.and dialogue. That's what democracy is all about. And whatever we
:14:00. > :14:06.disagree on, what we all agree on is the importance, the vital importance
:14:07. > :14:13.of a vibrant democracy. Let that message ring out loudly from our
:14:14. > :14:16.Parliament today. To ask the First Minister what engagements she has
:14:17. > :14:22.planned for the rest of the week. The engagements are to take forward
:14:23. > :14:26.the Government's plans for Scotland. May I add the thoughts and prayers
:14:27. > :14:30.of these benches and this party to all those affected by yesterday's
:14:31. > :14:34.attack, including the families of those who have died. Can I page of
:14:35. > :14:39.PC Keith Palmer who died doing what he did every single day, keeping
:14:40. > :14:42.people safe. Westminster means different things to different
:14:43. > :14:47.people. Our Houses of Parliament are a beacon of democracy for so many
:14:48. > :14:51.around the world. They represent freedom, tolerance and the rule of
:14:52. > :14:56.law. But Westminster is also a place of work. For cleaners, catering
:14:57. > :15:01.staff, janitors, journalists, police officers, administrators and many
:15:02. > :15:05.more. Many people go to work today concerned about the safety of
:15:06. > :15:08.others. The police officers here in Scotland are watching guarded train
:15:09. > :15:12.stations. The nurses who put themselves at risk every single day.
:15:13. > :15:16.And those who work in our schools, dedicating their careers to the
:15:17. > :15:20.enrichment of others. What I should say is can the First Minister give
:15:21. > :15:26.us everything that can be done is being done to ensure public safety?
:15:27. > :15:30.Kizzire Dugdale is absolutely right to draw attention to the problem
:15:31. > :15:37.that yesterday we were all reminded that Parliament at Westminster, just
:15:38. > :15:43.like Parliament here, is not just a symbol of our democracy, although
:15:44. > :15:46.Parliament the world over are exactly that. They are places where
:15:47. > :15:52.human beings go to work. So my oldest friends and life work within
:15:53. > :15:56.the Palace of Westminster. There will be many others in this chamber
:15:57. > :15:59.who can say exactly the same. I will not be the only one whose first
:16:00. > :16:03.thought yesterday were about people that I love and people who I count
:16:04. > :16:09.amongst my dearest friends. That is a reminder that politicians are
:16:10. > :16:13.human. The staff who work for them are, too. The journalists who report
:16:14. > :16:17.on us. At moments like this, it is that humanity that we are reminded
:16:18. > :16:21.of. I read a wonderful piece last night making that precise point. I
:16:22. > :16:29.would recommend it to anyone that hasn't already read it. I already
:16:30. > :16:32.outlined to Ruth Davidson the steps that Police Scotland have taken and
:16:33. > :16:37.will continue to take to make sure that they are guaranteeing, as far
:16:38. > :16:42.as can be done, public safety. But it is also important to work hard to
:16:43. > :16:47.guarantee public assurance. The police presence that many people
:16:48. > :16:52.will be witnessing on our streets today, higher profile than normal,
:16:53. > :16:56.it is not, and I stress this and it's important to continue to stress
:16:57. > :16:59.this, it is not because there is any intelligence whatsoever of an
:17:00. > :17:05.increased threat to Scotland. It is about assurance at. The public,
:17:06. > :17:09.understandably, feel nervous and anxious in the wake of events like
:17:10. > :17:12.this. And therefore part of the job of the police is to keep us safe,
:17:13. > :17:17.but also to contribute to that sense of assurance. Police Scotland on all
:17:18. > :17:22.of us will continue to do that in the days ahead.
:17:23. > :17:27.I thank the First Minister for those words and that advice. London is a
:17:28. > :17:31.microcosm of the world. We know from the Prime Minister's statement but
:17:32. > :17:35.those injured yesterday were British, French, Romanian, South
:17:36. > :17:41.Korean, Greek, German, Polish and Irish. London is an open and
:17:42. > :17:44.multicultural city, home to people of all faiths and from many
:17:45. > :17:50.different and diverse nations. A city that last year elected Europe's
:17:51. > :17:53.first Muslim mayor. So no matter the religion, nationality or identity of
:17:54. > :18:00.the attacker, or those arrested earlier this morning, this cannot
:18:01. > :18:03.and must not turn into a war on any community. Bringing people together
:18:04. > :18:08.must be part of the solution to combating terror. So will be First
:18:09. > :18:11.Minister join me in sending a strong message that Britain remains an
:18:12. > :18:15.open, tolerant nation that is home to people of all faiths and
:18:16. > :18:21.nationality? APPLAUSE
:18:22. > :18:28.Yes, I think that is an extremely important message. London is one of
:18:29. > :18:32.the most diverse and cosmopolitan cities in the world. Two weeks ago
:18:33. > :18:37.today, I walked across Westminster Bridge on my way to the Memorial
:18:38. > :18:44.service for Afghanistan and Iraq. And in that morning, Westminster
:18:45. > :18:47.Bridge was packed, as it is every morning, with people of all
:18:48. > :18:52.nationalities and all ages. School parties, excited to be witnessing
:18:53. > :18:59.the Palace of Westminster, and everything that the wonderful City
:19:00. > :19:03.of London has two offer. So we must remind ourselves that the victims of
:19:04. > :19:07.yesterday's attack would and could have been of all and any
:19:08. > :19:12.nationality. But it is also important to remind ourselves, as
:19:13. > :19:19.Kezia Dugdale has just done, that the responsibility for this attack
:19:20. > :19:25.does not lie with any faith or nationality. Terrorists seek to
:19:26. > :19:31.convert religions -- Tupe convert religions, and we should not in any
:19:32. > :19:36.way tribute to the ability to do so. -- to pervert religions. One of the
:19:37. > :19:40.issues I discussed both flashlight and a game this morning with the
:19:41. > :19:45.Deputy Chief Constable was the need to be vigilant against any increase
:19:46. > :19:50.in hate crime in the days ahead. All of us in this parliament should
:19:51. > :19:53.unite to send that message. The only people responsible for terrorism are
:19:54. > :20:00.the terrorists. Let's make sure that message goes loudly and clearly.
:20:01. > :20:05.This is, of course, the second time in less than a year where we have
:20:06. > :20:10.faced an attack on our democracy here in Britain and we have watched
:20:11. > :20:13.on as acts of terror has struck around the world from Belgium to
:20:14. > :20:19.Nigeria. In the days following the brutal murder of Jo Cox, we resolved
:20:20. > :20:22.that we had more in common than that which divides us, so does the First
:20:23. > :20:27.Minister agree with me that the best message we can send is that we will
:20:28. > :20:33.remain true to the values of tolerance and integration, freedom
:20:34. > :20:36.and solidarity? Yes, I agree wholeheartedly with that. I'm sure
:20:37. > :20:42.many people yesterday in the immediate aftermath of the attack in
:20:43. > :20:48.London. Of Jo Cox and the incredible dignity with which her husband and
:20:49. > :20:52.her family reacted in the days immediately following her murder. I
:20:53. > :20:54.had the privilege of speaking to Brendan Cox last week in pledging
:20:55. > :20:58.the support of the Scottish Government for the activities that
:20:59. > :21:06.he is planning to commemorate the anniversary of her murder. But this
:21:07. > :21:10.is an opportunity for us all to remind ourselves of the values that
:21:11. > :21:15.she encapsulated and the values that all of us hold so dear. These are
:21:16. > :21:19.the values that terrorists seek to strike at. There are whole
:21:20. > :21:24.motivation is to divide, to undermine and to destroy the wheel
:21:25. > :21:27.of life that we hold dear. So just as we all did in the aftermath of
:21:28. > :21:33.the murder of Jo Cox, letters again today send that message to those who
:21:34. > :21:37.would commit to acts of terrorism anywhere in the world that they will
:21:38. > :21:43.not succeed because whatever we disagree on, we are united by a
:21:44. > :21:51.rock-solid commitment to the values that Kizzy Dugdale has articulated.
:21:52. > :22:03.To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet. On Tuesday.
:22:04. > :22:07.May I add behalf our own party our deep concern for all of those
:22:08. > :22:11.affected by yesterday's horrific events. Our deepest sympathies for
:22:12. > :22:15.the friends and families of Keith Palmer and all of those who were
:22:16. > :22:19.killed yesterday. The respect and gratitude we all feel towards those
:22:20. > :22:23.who step forward in such circumstances, both by standard to
:22:24. > :22:26.help the injured and the emergency services, who showed professionalism
:22:27. > :22:32.and dedication and our hopes for the recovery of those who have been
:22:33. > :22:36.entered. The lasting injury that some people wish to inflict upon a
:22:37. > :22:41.soul is to destroy the empathy and solidarity which our society depends
:22:42. > :22:45.upon so we must all be united in expressing and building that empathy
:22:46. > :22:49.and solidarity, in particular challenging those who would seek to
:22:50. > :22:54.blame, stigmatise and alienate people on the basis of their
:22:55. > :22:59.religion. There are doors, sadly, in our society, in our media and in
:23:00. > :23:04.politics in this country and others, who are today reacting to these
:23:05. > :23:07.events by continuing to express racist, anti-Muslim and
:23:08. > :23:12.anti-immigrant sentiments. So as well as reflecting on the First
:23:13. > :23:15.Minister's comments about actions necessary to address security
:23:16. > :23:18.concerns, can I welcome the assurance that the First Minister
:23:19. > :23:22.has just given that the Government will also respond robustly to any
:23:23. > :23:25.increase in hate crime and presidents and ask if the First
:23:26. > :23:33.Minister agrees that we must continue to confront any presence of
:23:34. > :23:37.such pyrite threat in our society? Yes, I do agree with that. Just as
:23:38. > :23:41.we have to stand strong against the terrorists, so too did we have to
:23:42. > :23:47.stand strong against anyone who would seek to exploit the acts of
:23:48. > :23:53.terrorist division in our society. I think we are all acutely aware at
:23:54. > :23:58.times like this of the feelings particularly with them or Muslim
:23:59. > :24:02.community. People who feel as horrified and as shocked and as
:24:03. > :24:07.distressed as any of us do about the attack that happened yesterday. But
:24:08. > :24:14.who have often the additional burden of feeling that some in our society
:24:15. > :24:19.seek to blame them for these acts. So at this moment in time, at these
:24:20. > :24:23.moments in time, we must stand shoulder to shoulder with them. I
:24:24. > :24:29.know from my own constituency, which is members are aware, has a very
:24:30. > :24:34.high Muslim population, just how important it is to do that at this
:24:35. > :24:39.time. And that takes a number of forms. It is about reaching out, as
:24:40. > :24:42.I've already said, both the police and the Scottish Government will do
:24:43. > :24:48.that across all faith communities in the days that lie ahead. It is about
:24:49. > :24:54.calling out anybody who seeks to respond to what happened in London
:24:55. > :24:58.yesterday with racism or intolerance or anti-immigrant sentiment. And it
:24:59. > :25:02.is about making sure that we are vigilant against hate crime and that
:25:03. > :25:07.the police will respond vigorously to any crimes of that nature, and as
:25:08. > :25:10.I said earlier on, I've had assurance from the police this
:25:11. > :25:17.morning that they will do exactly that. This is a moment for
:25:18. > :25:20.remembering what unites us as human beings and that, in all of the
:25:21. > :25:24.different ways of forms that we have been discussing here this morning,
:25:25. > :25:30.is the most important message we can send. May I also ask the First
:25:31. > :25:36.Minister to reflect on the children and young people growing up at this
:25:37. > :25:42.time who must also be looking on at these events. Their experiences, not
:25:43. > :25:47.only of what the CNN news of this attack and others, but also the
:25:48. > :25:50.experiences of our response as a society, these experiences will
:25:51. > :25:55.shape their understanding of the world around them. I grew up at a
:25:56. > :26:00.time when the Cold War created fears and in security, fears of violent
:26:01. > :26:04.destruction on an unimaginable scale, but I can barely imagine the
:26:05. > :26:11.impact of the brutal reality of yesterday's clear attack and others
:26:12. > :26:15.on those growing up today. What does the First Minister believe we can do
:26:16. > :26:17.with their education system and within our wider society to overcome
:26:18. > :26:21.those fears and ensure that young people grow up with those same
:26:22. > :26:25.values of respect and empathy that we have all spoken of and with
:26:26. > :26:32.confidence in the capacity of humanity to stand together? I think
:26:33. > :26:35.Patrick Harvie raises a very important point. I, like Patrick
:26:36. > :26:39.Harvie and like many others in this chamber, grew up during the Cold War
:26:40. > :26:43.and grew up when there was a time when the fear of terrorism was Irish
:26:44. > :26:51.terrorism and I remember very well as many of us do how real that helps
:26:52. > :26:56.at times, but what we did not have to content with then as young people
:26:57. > :27:02.today do have to content with was the 24 hours a day - seven days a
:27:03. > :27:06.week convenience of news on social media, Twitter or Facebook, which I
:27:07. > :27:12.think we all recognise makes everything seem so much more acute.
:27:13. > :27:15.At literally every second of every day. And therefore I do think we
:27:16. > :27:20.have to be conscious of the impact on young people of that. But the
:27:21. > :27:25.other side of that is that social media makes this world smaller and
:27:26. > :27:30.it gives our young people the ability to reach out to people on
:27:31. > :27:34.the other side of the world, to build common cause around those
:27:35. > :27:39.things that unite us as human beings. It is important that our
:27:40. > :27:43.education system does ensure that we instil those values, that all of us
:27:44. > :27:50.hold dear, those common values. But we should also seek to lead by
:27:51. > :27:54.example and that is something I picked all of us in this chamber
:27:55. > :28:01.across all of the parties feel a responsibility for. To ask the First
:28:02. > :28:08.Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the
:28:09. > :28:13.Cabinet. Matters of importance to the people of Scotland. For four
:28:14. > :28:17.years, I would walk up getting too old and over Westminster Bridge. I
:28:18. > :28:20.would look up to Big Ben and then down the Thames. Dodging past the
:28:21. > :28:26.tourists taking pictures of this iconic scene recognised right across
:28:27. > :28:32.the globe. I would send the steps and into the Palace of Westminster,
:28:33. > :28:36.nodding at the police officer, who would nod in return. Good morning
:28:37. > :28:39.was the personal touch. I do not think I will be able to walk that
:28:40. > :28:45.route again without thinking of the people one over, the woman in the
:28:46. > :28:53.river, the police and the people injured. The three people who died,
:28:54. > :28:57.perhaps some work tourists taking pictures. The officer who stood to
:28:58. > :29:06.defend democracy but losing his life in the process. But I do want to be
:29:07. > :29:11.free to walk that route again. Getting the balance right between
:29:12. > :29:18.security and freedom is a difficult one. Does the First Minister agree
:29:19. > :29:26.with me that we must act based on security, expertise, evidence and
:29:27. > :29:31.intelligence and not fear? Yes, I do. I agree very strongly indeed. I
:29:32. > :29:34.think Willie Rennie has just very movingly accounted his own
:29:35. > :29:38.experiences of making the journey that many of those who work within
:29:39. > :29:43.Westminster would have made yesterday morning. Those of us who
:29:44. > :29:51.have never worked within Westminster can relate our own experiences of
:29:52. > :29:56.coming to work in this blog are not noted in the morning and got, many
:29:57. > :30:06.of whom have because conflict from the very beginning that were come
:30:07. > :30:12.true and not as colleagues but as friends and work every single day in
:30:13. > :32:05.positive and was a reminder of how But these acts of terrorism happen
:32:06. > :32:11.abroad, as well as home, almost every day. And we must do all we can
:32:12. > :32:16.to protect our open, free and liberal society. Never generalising,
:32:17. > :32:20.never stigmatising, reaching out to all faiths, religions, countries and
:32:21. > :32:23.creed. Although the attacker yesterday was born here, his violent
:32:24. > :32:29.ideology is one that pervade the globe. That is why we must act
:32:30. > :32:34.together with our partners wherever they are in the world. It's about
:32:35. > :32:38.defence, security, intelligence, but also soft power. Soft power through
:32:39. > :32:44.international aid, diplomacy and partnerships. Does the First
:32:45. > :32:48.Minister agree with that? Yes, I do. I think there's two point
:32:49. > :32:51.there that are worth underlining. The first is the one that Willie
:32:52. > :33:04.Rennie made. Of course acts of terrorism that happen here at home,
:33:05. > :33:09.on our own shores, may force acts on as -- may feel acts more forcibly
:33:10. > :33:17.than further afield. But it is necessary that across the world we
:33:18. > :33:22.deal with events like this. A tourist was interviewed and he was
:33:23. > :33:27.from Turkey. He made that point that you are shocked by what had happened
:33:28. > :33:30.yesterday, but he came from a country where these incidents were
:33:31. > :33:35.sadly a regular occurrence. I think that is a reminder that we probably
:33:36. > :33:40.all have an obligation to give more attention to act like this that
:33:41. > :33:45.happen in other parts of our world. The second point that I think is
:33:46. > :33:51.worth underlining, this is a point, again, that is resonant in the age
:33:52. > :33:55.we live in. Whatever relationships there may be at any time between
:33:56. > :34:01.different countries, the important of all countries working together on
:34:02. > :34:06.security, defence, intelligence, are vitally important. And again,
:34:07. > :34:11.perhaps the theme of our discussions this morning, if we were to draw one
:34:12. > :34:16.out, is this. Whatever our disagreements, whatever different
:34:17. > :34:22.relationships we may want from time to time, there are many, many things
:34:23. > :34:30.that unite us. Not just the human values that we have spoken about,
:34:31. > :34:33.but the common interest that will have to work together to combat
:34:34. > :34:37.terrorism and keep safe. I thank the party leader for the
:34:38. > :34:42.contributions. We move now to supplementary questions.
:34:43. > :34:46.This morning the Edinburgh evening news revealed that NHS staff,
:34:47. > :34:49.patients and visitors will face an increase in parking charges from
:34:50. > :34:54.seven payments to 15 payments per day. Does the First Minister think
:34:55. > :34:59.it is therefore our hard-working NHS staff to face the more than doubling
:35:00. > :35:03.of parking charges to go to their work? What advice does the NHS give
:35:04. > :35:06.to the NHS boards in Scotland regarding parking charges for NHS
:35:07. > :35:11.staff, and will be First Minister back Michael to NHS Lothian to scrap
:35:12. > :35:22.the staggering 114% increase in parking charges?