27/04/2017 Scottish First Minister's Questions

Willie Rennie failed to get a single answer from the First Minister

on whether the SNP will support all EU membership in its manifesto.

He should have waited a week, now we have two.

Nicola Sturgeon's stated position is to be a full member

of the European Union, MPs stated position is to leave

of the European Union, her MPs' stated position is to leave

the common fisheries policy.

But full membership of the European Union

means full membership of the fisheries policy.

Isn't that the case, First Minister?

Ruth Davidson has clearly not been paying attention.

The SNP has been consistent over many, many years in our criticism

of the common fisheries policy.

And very clear about our intentions to see it fundamentally reformed,

the 2007 manifesto continued to work for withdrawal from the CFP,

in 2011, the CFP well past its sell by date,

the 2014 by paper on independence, independence for Scotland

and the European Union would give Scotland an opportunity to take

a leadership role in reforming the common fisheries policy sober

a leadership role in reforming the common fisheries policy.

So the reality here is, it's the SNP

that stands up for Scottish fishing

and always will stand up for Scottish fishing!

And of course, the uncomfortable truth for Ruth Davidson

is that its success at Tory governments who have sold out

is that its successive Tory governments who have sold out

the fishing industry.

Remember the words...

Remember the words - I know Ruth Davidson

doesn't want to hear what's coming next, Presiding Officer.

Remember the words of the Tories - in the wider UK context,

the fishermen must be regarded as expendable!

That's the Tory record on fishing - and of course,

we know that the Tories are at lining up to sell out fishing

again because the Brexit white paper makes it clear that fishing will be

a negotiating chip in the Brexit talks, so the SNP stands up

for fishing - Tories sell them out.

Ruth Davidson.

Priceless, Presiding Office - she wants to quote internal SNP

documents.

Let me quote a document, chapter 13...

Chapter 13 of a little thing called the EU conditions

of membership, and it says, it requires the introduction

and participation in the common fisheries policy, and it doesn't get

much clearer than that.

So let's spell out the complete absurdity of the SNP's position

here or should I say the positions.

Firstly, it's the SNP's position that Brexit is a terrible threat

to Scotland, and that fishermen are better off

being governed by the EU's hated common fisheries policy.

That's the position Angus Robertson outlined at the weekend when he said

we're in favour of Scotland being a member state of the EU

and in favour of a reformed Common fisheries policy.

But it's also

their Brexit position, that Brexit is a sea of opportunity

for fishermen and we must avoid any policy, any practice or regulation

or treaty which could return us to the common fisheries policy -

and we know that because on Tuesday, two of his parliamentary colleagues

signed a pledge written by the Scottish Fishermens'

signed a pledge written by the Scottish Fishermen's

Federation saying so.

Can I ask the First Minister, was Mr Robertson wrong

or are his colleagues wrong or is that the SNP plan to try

and say they are all right so they think the people are so daft

we won't notice?

Ruth Davidson has managed to hold several different positions

on Brexit all by herself.

Brexit is a terrible threat to Scotland is what Ruth says

is the SNP's decision.

is the SNP's position.

The problem is that used to be her position as well!

Remember her screaming it from Wembley, but now

of course, it's different, she's fallen into line

with Theresa May, and now Brexit is the greatest thing

since sliced bread.

You know, on this issue, Ruth Davidson flip-flops more

than a fish being landed.

Flip-flop, flip-flop!

On Brexit.

The truth of the matter is that the SNP always has

and always will stand up for fishing.

You know, we've already heard about the Tories thinking fishing

is expendable, expendable.

That was the word the Tories used about Scotland's fishing industry

but let's come up to date and let's read the Brexit white paper,

paragraph 8.16 - given the heavy reliance on UK waters of the EU

fishing industry, it's in both our interests to reach

a mutually beneficial deal that works for the UK and the EU's

fishing communities.

Let me translate that for the Davidson.

That means the Tories are lining up in these negotiations to sell out

the fishing industry, and allow European countries what they say

that they don't want, which is access to Scottish fishing waters.

The Tories are preparing to perpetrate a con on Scotland's

fishermen - they will not get away with it, it is the SNP who stand up

for the fishing industry.

Ruth Davidson.

Presiding Officer, maybe Nicola Sturgeon's MPs didn't report

back to her, but let me quote but the Chief Executive

of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation told them and MPs

at Westminster last week.

Two Secretaries of State, two ministers said the UK is leading

the EU and the CFP, and we will regain control

of our fishing -she wants to go toe

to toe over fishing, let's bring that on.

Presiding Officer,

this week, Mike Russell was in Brussels and he was speaking

to fishing industry chiefs and his pitch was that Scotland

will leave the EU with the rest of the UK but after independence it

will go straight back in, but it will opt out of all the things it

doesn't like including the common fisheries policy.

And this is utter nonsense.

So right now, we have SNP MPs in fishing communities saying the CFP

is terrible and Scotland would pull out, and at the same time we have

Nicola Sturgeon standing up in Edinburgh trying to win the vote

of remainers, saying they would go straight back in.

Doesn't even the First Minister see the utter hypocrisy here?

Utter consistency in the SNP's position over years on the common

fisheries policy - what I see from the Tories

is flip-flopping all

the time on Brexit and on fishing.

And ff Ruth Davidson's argument

And if Ruth Davidson's argument

today is that the Tories are not preparing to celebrate fishing

industry to use them as a bargaining chip in negotiations that lie ahead

I give her the opportunity to explain in simple terms

to the chamber today

for exactly the Brexit white paper means when it says that the UK

government wants a deal that works for the EU's fishing community.

What does that mean if that doesn't mean allowing Spain

and other countries access to European fishing waters?

Why can't Ruth Davidson be honest with the fishing community?

The Tories are preparing to treat them as expendable all over again.

It's the SNP that will always stand up for fishing.

Ruth Davidson.

After Brexit, we'll be out of the CFP as

members of her party that

want to take us back in.

But what we've got,

Presiding Officer, is the SNP saying they're in favour of joining

the European Union, but the First Minister

not confirming whether the SNP will back full membership

in their manifesto.

They say they are in favour of the common fisheries policy,

except for MPs and fishing can these who say they are against it and then

we have the real whopper, in Scotland, we have Nicola Sturgeon

saying the coming election hasn't anything to do

whatsoever with independence.

But from the broadcast studios

of London, up pops Alex Salmond to confirm they want to use this

election to demand a referendum that the rest of us don't want.

So the First Minister thinks that on fishing, on EU membership

and on independence, she can face both ways and promise

all things to all people - isn't it the case she's treating

the electorate as fools?

First Minister.

This election of course, as I said yesterday morning, is an opportunity

to determine who chooses Scotland's future -

is it a Tory government

at Westminster, or is that this democratically elected

Scottish Parliament, exactly the same as Alex Salmond

commented yesterday afternoon.

But let's get back to fishing

because what we've just seen here is Ruth Davidson

all at sea, drowning in our fishing waters because she can't explain...

And Ruth Davidson really has to explain this in simple terms

to Scotland's fishing communities - I gave her the opportunity once

and she failed to do so, so I am going to give her

the opportunity again.

What does it mean in the UK Government says that they want

a deal that works for the EU's fishing communities?

That can only mean that the Tories are preparing to sell

out Scottish fishermen, grant other European countries

access to fishing waters, and treat that vital Scottish industry

as expendable once again.

I think that is crystal clear from Ruth Davidson today.

It's the SNP that will always, as we always have done,

stand for Scottish fishing.

Question number two, Kezia Dugdale.

To ask the First Minister what engagement she has planned

for the rest of the week.

Engagements to take forward the Governor's

programme for Scotland.

Next week, voters will go to the polls to decide the future

of local services like our schools.

The First Minister it used to claim that education was her number one

priority, but even she doesn't claim that any more.

After ten years of SNP government, Scottish education is facing

challenges like never before.

Since the SNP took office there are 4,000 fewer teachers,

1,000 fewer support staff and class sizes are bigger.

International studies show that Scotland is declining in maths,

reading and in science.

John Swinney's response to this was to publish a mini manifesto

repeating the very promises he's been breaking every year since 2007.

So can the First Minister tell teachers, parents and pupils why

they should believe the SNP this time around?

First Minister.

Well, education is my top priority, that's why...

Kezia Dugdale doesn't like to hear this, but that's why right now,

across Scotland, head teachers and teachers have in their hands

?120 million of additional funding.

That's why local government services are better off to the tune

of ?400 million under this SNP government, and I would say

to Kezia Dugdale, that she has zero, not a shred of credibility left

on the issue of local government funding.

Because for years, in her local government manifesto,

published just days ago, she complains about the council tax

freeze, how it's strangling local goverment services, and yet,

of the eight councils freezing the council tax in this election,

you know how many are led by Labour?

All eight.

This is Stirling - Labour freeze your council tax.

So don't come here talking about funding for local services

So don't come here talking about funding for local services,

when it's your councils failing to raise the money we

need for our schools.

Kezia Dugdale.

From the First Minister who has cut ?170 million from local

services this year alone?!

And if education was her top priority she would be listening

to teachers across Scotland who are crying out for help.

Black Priory School in Edinburgh felt the need to e-mail all parents,

the e-mail said, "As you may be aware there is currently a national

shortage of teachers - this is making it challenging

head teachers around the country to trying to fill vacant

posts or indeed cover classes."

There is a teacher at shortage in Scotland.

Will the First Minister be honest, how many schools are struggling

like Black Hall, just how many teacher vacancies either across

the whole of Scotland?

John Swinney, myself, this government have never shied

away from the issue that Scotland, like many countries right now, has

an issue with teacher recruitment, that is one of the reasons why

we have increased the intake to teacher training to train more

teachers, to work in our schools and close the attainment gap.

The fact of the matter is it is this SNP Government that

is investing in local services.

Whatever Kezia Dugdale tries to say, there is ?400 million available

extra in this financial year for council services

and the question for Labour is this -

if they don't think there is enough money for council services, why

are there eight Labour-led councils going into this election promising

to freeze the council tax?

Maybe Kezia Dugdale will give us a straight answer

to that straight question?

In all of that, Presiding Officer, there was no answer to the question

that I asked, and I'll give the answer to the First Minister.

The reality is that there are 700 teacher vacancies in Scotland

and 400 of them are in our secondary schools,

where pupils will begin their exams in just a matter of days.

And I can reveal today that the Government's own internal

documents admit that it could take up to three years to

fill these vacancies.

Three years for the Government to ensure there are enough teachers

to educate our children, three years to clean up

the mess the SNP have been making for the past ten.

Three years to give our young people a fair chance in life.

But we all know Nicola Sturgeon will spend the next three years

campaigning for independence, so can the First Minister really keep

a straight face and tell teachers, parents and pupils that, once again,

education is her number one priority?

First Minister.

As I said, we recognise the challenge in teacher

recruitment, Scotland is not unique in that regard,

that's why in 2017-18 we are making resources available to train...

Kezia Dugdale doesn't want to listen to this,

to train an additional 371 teachers, its why the General Teaching

Council right now has a number of initiatives underway

to encourage people back into teaching to encourage

new people into teaching.

These are the actions we are taking to tackle what is a problem

and challenge for many countries and we are doing that of course,

in conjunction with the national improvement framework,

the attainment challenge, the attainment fund,

putting extra resources into the hands of head teachers,

because our commitment to raising attainment and closing that

attainment gap is absolute and we'll get on with the hard work of doing

it, leaving Labour, as usual, carping on the sidelines.

We have a couple of constituency questions.

Thank you.

The First Minister will be aware last Thursday Diageo announced plans

to cut up to 100 jobs in Scotland, potentially

affecting up to 70 workers at premises in my constituency.

The GMB union laid the blame squarely at a Tory hard Brexit.

What assurances can the First Minister get my

constituency?

I was very concerned to learn that Diageo has begun

consultation with staff over potential job losses and I know this

will be an extremely anxious time for employees and their families.

Keith Brown has a body arranged to meet with the company

and officials and Scottish enterprise are engaged

with the company already and we will do all we can to explore

all options for storing the business and protecting jobs

and while families and individuals are affected by this situation

have the right to expect a similar response from the UK

Government, I think it's really troubling that the GMB union appears

to have raised concerns about the impact of Brexit on these

jobs and got very little response from the UK Government.

This is yet another example of the threat that rakes

-- Brexit poses to Scotland.

Ruth Davidson used to tell us but doesn't any longer

but what I still believe and examples like this sadly illustrate,

we will continue to do everything possible to support the workers.

John Lamont.

Thank you, Presiding Officer, I declare an interest as a trustee

of the Lifeboat Trust, one of the best examples

of a community campaign was for the creation

of an independent lifeboat when the RNLI withdrew their service,

the community rallied together organising a fundraising effort

to raise funds needed to establish their own lifeboat service...

Order, order.

When donations started to roll in the community trust was used

to funds whilst Lifeboat Trust was set up, the money was

transferred to the Lifeboat Trust and the new boat was purchased.

I had the pleasure sitting beside the First Minister

at the launch of the new lifeboat.

On Twitter, the First Minister spoke of this incredible achievement,

of the community coming together and spoke of what they had achieved,

it was something special.

It now transpires Scottish Waters have stripped

the community trust of the water rates exemption for the community

cafe and its centre.

I've been in correspondence with the SNP environment minister

but she has confirmed that she will not give the exemption

for this community trust.

Given the exceptional circumstances surrounding this will First Minister

unlike her backbenchers apply some common sense to this?

This issue has a ready been drawn to my attention,

the situation with the water and sewerage charge around ?900 that

has gone to the community trust.

On the investigation I've done into the matter is so far this

charge appears to be a direct result of the excellent efforts to raise

funds for the lifeboat, funds that didn't actually belong

to the trust but which they held and then transferred to the Lifeboat

Trust account when that account was set up.

Given those circumstances, I am hugely sympathetic

to the situation they find themselves in, and I have this

morning instructed my officials to look again at this issue

to try to find a solution.

I was at the launch of the lifeboat, it was a fantastic example

of a community coming together in order to preserve a service

that is vitally important to life in that community, so having looked

at this it seems unfair, that's why I've instructed officials

to see what they can do to fix it.

That's the kind of action people can expect from an SNP Government.

Question three, Patrick Harvey.

To ask the First Minister from the Cabinet will next meet.

I think I heard that question - Tuesday.

I think the reason the First Minister couldn't hear was

because the Deputy First Minister was shouting across the chamber

in her ear.

Can I suggest, I know this is election time,

can I suggest all members are more respectful to all other members,

so we hear questions and answers?

Patrick Harvie.

If the Deputy First Minister wants to continue to distract

the First Minister it's no skin off my nose.

Can I say the Scottish Government proposed tax cuts for aviation

which we all know, even though the Scottish Government at first

denied it, will increase carbon emissions that are driving climate

change, increasing emissions at the time when we should be

cutting them radically?

Even if the First Minister thinks the aviation damage to the climate

can be ignored, its clear that this tax cut will also be very unfair.

Research published by the Green Party shows just how unfair -

even if the airlines pass the full tax cut on through reduced ticket

prices, the highest income households stand to gain far more

than anyone else.

Of the 90-odd million tax giveaway going to UK

leisure passengers alone, the richest 10% of households

will gain over 33 million while the poorest 10% stand to benefit

by just 8.5

While public transport that people depend on everyday remains

expensive and unreliable, how can it possibly be fair to offer

a tax break that drives up both pollution and inequality?

Can I deal with both of those issues, firstly,

the climate change issue, because it is extremely important

to this Government.

We are meeting our climate change targets and we have some of the most

ambitious climate change targets any for in the world, the UK Committee

on Climate Change previously commented on this issue making

the point, and it's a point I would endorse more generally,

where any policy has a potential adverse effect on emissions

that increases the responsibility of Government to make sure

we balance that in other ways, and our overall ambition to meet

those climate change targets is absolute as a commitment

that the Government has set.

On the wider issue of reducing ADT, and I should say the discussion

and vote in parliament this week was not on rates of discount tax,

it was about transferring the legal responsibility for this

from the Westminster Parliament to the Scottish Parliament,

this is about trying to improve the connectivity of Scotland,

because we know improving connectivity of Scotland is one

of the key things we need to do to grow the economy of Scotland.

We all know growing the economy of Scotland is really important

in terms of supporting the public services that all of us rely on,

that's why we must have a balance in our policies.

But, as Patrick Harvie will be aware, in response

to the Finance and Constitution Committee stage one report,

already confirmed we will commission an independent economic assessment

and the Government will bring forward tax exemptions

at stage two so there is plenty of opportunity for the parliament

to scrutinise the details.

It's important we get policies right in the round so, yes,

we are supporting our vital public services but we are also supporting

the economic growth that is so vital to doing exactly that.

Patrick Harvie.

The vote this week wasn't on rates and bands and a Green Party

will move amendments to introduce social and environmental principles

into that legislation and we won't vote for it

unless those powers.

But the First Minister cites the UK Committee on Climate Change,

who have argued for a cap on aviation emissions growth.

She also says we need more connectivity -

it's perfectly clear from the continuing growth

of our existing aviation that Air Passenger Duty has not

stopped that growth.

Even for routes where rail is a perfectly viable option,

we are failing to make sure it's the affordable choice

for people to make.

Relentless aviation growth cannot possibly be sustainable,

we have visitors today to Parliament who are the most directly affected

people by that growth, affected by the noise and pollution

from increasing flights here in Edinburgh and those campaigning

against an additional runway at Heathrow.

The aviation industry itself can well afford to lobby hard,

sponsoring lavish events here at Westminster and even

at the First Minister's Party Conference, but should we not be

listening more closely to those whose lives will be most affected

by increased inequality, increased pollution here at home

and the effects of climate change around the world?

Is it not time the Scottish Government had a coherent policy

on aviation levels, including a cap on the emissions and protection

for communities from the direct impacts they have to live

with on a daily basis?

Firstly trying to find some consensus, it's important

all voices are listened to.

The Scottish Government has made clear that in our view

there are benefits to Scotland from Heathrow expansion, but it

would be for the UK Government in taking forward that policy

to answer the questions on the impact on people living

around that area, and also the impact

on the environment and of course we will continue to pay very close

attention to the answers to those questions and the case

made as it develops.

On our own policy, Patrick Harvie talks about

relentless growth in aviation, it's not what I'm proposing

or what the Government is proposing or advocates, but good

connections for Scotland, of course good real connections

are vitally important and I would encourage people to use

the train when travelling across the UK but our economy also

needs good aviation connections and we know over past years,

the constraints there are a spin on the economy from lack of certain

routes and in particular of direct flights into and out of Scotland

so we need to get these policies right, we must grow our economy.

How many times rightly and understandably in this chamber

do we talk about the challenges facing the economy and the need

to have policies to grow the economy.

That's a key priority of the government and connections

for business, for exporters, is a vital part of that but of course,

we have to make sure all of our policies taken together,

pass the climate change challenge, and it would be one thing

to level these criticisms of the Scottish Government

if we weren't meeting climate change ambitions, but not only

are we meeting those, and have been praised

by the committee on Climate Change for our record, we are meeting

the targets ahead of schedule, are not complacent,

we want to up our ambition and go further, but we need to have policy

balance so we can support economic growth and have support for public

services across the chamber that we want to see.

Willie Rennie.

To ask the First Minister of what issues will be discussed

at the next meeting of the Cabinet?

Excuse me.

Matters of importance to the people of Scotland.

The First Minister has done nothing in the last 20 minutes

to avoid her party looking shifty and evasive on Europe

and independence.

The First Minister said on Monday, this election is not

about independence.

Yesterday, we see her sitting on a "Yes to Independence" branded

Yesterday, we see her sitting on a "Yes to Independence" branded

motorbike, in the shadow of the Wallace Monument

on the B-road to Bannockburn.

So can the First Minister tell me what the position is today?

So can the First Minister tell me what her position is today?

My position is as it's always been, he seems to be struggling

to understand it, I support Scotland being independent and an independent

member of the European Union, there you go, how can Willie Rennie

struggle to understand that?

And he's right, I went to Bannockburn yesterday,

I went to visit a fantastic heritage project, the restoration,

the proposed restoration of Alnwick Berghuis where

Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed back in those days,

so that was a fantastic visit yesterday and I'm proud in this

election, to get out there and make the case for a strong opposition

to the Tories at Westminster and making the case that

on the key questions, independence and other key

questions, it should be the voice of this Parliament,

is democratically elected parliament that determines

the future of Scotland, not the voice of an

increasingly right-wing Tory government at Westminster.

Willie Rennie.

Does she really think we're all buttoned up the back?

She said...

Once again, once again, she has refused to say that this

is what the election is about, but her predecessor

was on the radio saying exactly that is what it is about,

it's about independence first, last and every priority.

Last week, she was evasive about her future plans

Last week, she was evasive about her future plans in Europe -

this week utter confusion about independence.

Starting with denial, and ending with a Hell's Angels tour

of the central belt.

Meanwhile, the economy is teetering on the edge of recession,

international education rankings have slipped, and the mental health

strategy is months behind schedule.

She should be ashamed of that record.

The best way out of all of this is for her to do just

what the majority of people in this country would applaud her for -

why can't she just cancel this divisive, independence referendum

referendum campaign, and get back to her

job for Scotland?

So says the guy that's gone around the country arguing

for a second EU referendum.

And in answer to Willie Rennie's first question, I think most people

watching this would start to think that yes, the Liberal Democrats

appear buttoned up the back.

So, Willie, if the cap fits, perhaps you should wear it.

But more seriously, Willie Rennie raises in passing

issues like education and the economy and mental health.

I agree that these are fundamentally important issues, which begs

the question, why Willie Rennie didn't take the opportunity of these

questions today to actually ask me about any of these matters?

He has the opportunity.

Here am I, standing here,

he can ask me anything he likes, but chooses not to ask me

about education, health, or the economy.

Do you know why that is, Presiding Officer?

Because all of the opposition parties here - actually

they are the ones that only want to talk about independence,

and why is that?

Because it is a smoke screen.

It is a smoke screen, Presiding Officer, because none

of them are prepared to talk about their own policies

or their own record.

So let me tell you what I am going to work in this election.

So let me tell you what I am going to work in this election to do.

I am going to work to win this election -

there is no other party

in this chamber prepared to say that that is what they are trying to do.

The first supplementary question from Monica Lennon.

I have a question on a domestic matter, it's about education.

The First Minister will be aware that college electors

are on strike today, and they're gathering outside Parliament

for a rally this afternoon after talks on Tuesday aimed

at resolving the ongoing industrial dispute failed to reach a solution.

Now, the SNP have been promising lecturers equal pay since 2011.

Lecturers have already compromised by agreeing to stagger pay over

three years up to 2019.

But despite this, a deal was agreed last year

still has not been honoured.

What message is does the First Minister have

for the striking lecturers, and what action ministers taking

for the striking lecturers, and what action are ministers taking

to resolve the dispute?

First Minister.

In terms of the lecturers that are visiting Parliament today,

the Minister for further education and higher education will meet

with them later today.

I want to see this dispute resolved, because strike action

I want to see this dispute resolved, because strike action

I want to see this dispute resolved, because strike action

in our colleges is in no-one's interest, certainly not

in the interest of college students.

But let me be clear what has happened here.

We have put in place, as we were asked to do, arrangements

for national bargaining.

Now, when you have those arrangements, it becomes ultimately

a matter for the trade union and the employers to resolve.

Now, as I understand it, and clearly I pay close

attention to these matters,

this is not actually a dispute about pay.

The pay increases have broadly been agreed.

This is now a dispute

about terms and conditions about the amount of class contact

time and numbers of holiday.

time and numbers of holidays.

So I would encourage certainly the employers to go the extra mile

to resolve this dispute, and I hope in discussion with the union,

they will be able to do that.

I think the move to national bargaining

is a significant step forward.

But once you have governments having to step in to resolve these

things, you no longer have national bargaining.

So if we want national bargaining that is going to work,

both sides have to be prepared to come to a resolution under very

much hope that happens and soon.

Tavish Scott.

The First Minister will know that farmers and crofters

have three weeks to make 2017 payment applications.

She will also know the ?180 million computer system to make these

payments does not work.

Will she undertake to give her long-suffering officials

in departments across Scotland the tools in order to make their job

possible, and that does not include continuing with a computer system

that does not work?

Well, of course we support our officials working

across the country,

and officials working on these matters are working

exceptionally hard.

We will ensure they are equipped with the tools they need to do

the job, it's vitally important that payments to crofters

and farmers more generally paid and paid on time.

We are focused on that.

I am prepared to ask him to meet with Tavish Scott to listen to any

concerns he continues to have.

And we set out what we're doing to address them.

Fulton MacGregor.

I would ask the First Minister, what action the Scottish Government

is taking to protect children and young people online?

Last week the Minister for children launched a national action plan

on Internet safety for children and young people.

It contains a range of actions we will undertake, working

in partnership with the police, health boards, and crucially

children and young people themselves.

Our approach seeks to help young children stay safe on the Internet,

and to support parents and carers be more where the potential

risks they face online.

Fulton MacGregor.

I welcome this development.

It's vital we all do what we can to keep children safe in every

aspect of their life.

Can the First Minister advise what role was envisaged for service

providers and technology businesses, who clearly also

have a responsibility

to protect children from harm online?

Well, the online industry, and I have to say, social media

providers in particular, have a key role,

a key responsibility in ensuring that children and young people

do stay safe online.

It is reassuring to see the industry taking its responsibility

to protect children seriously, through a range

of actions and measures.

But we should continue where it is necessary to put pressure

on the industry to take the action that is appropriate, because there

is more for the industry and for providers to do.

Indeed I think there's more we can all do to help keep

children safe online.

So the action plan we published last week sets out how the government

will take the steps that are for us to take, and I look forward

to industry playing its role fully with ministers and other

stakeholders to implement its measures.

I mean, the Internet overwhelmingly is a force for good.

We should embrace that positively.

It opens new worlds to children every single day,

but the downside are the dangers and the risks children face.

So we must tackle, them so children can continue to enjoy

and benefit from the Internet as they currently do.

Liam Kerr.

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's

position is on the accuracy of the GERS figures.

GERS is a national statistics publication, which means it has been

independently assessed by the UK Statistics Authority to make sure it

meets the code of practice.

meets the code of practice for official statistics.

That code ensures that statistics are of high

quality and public value.

GERS estimates the level of public rent new raised in Scotland

and for residents of Scotland under the current constitutional

It is based on a range of estimates and it is not

an indication of the finances of an independent Scotland,

which of course would be dependent on a range of other factors,

including the spending choices and priorities of the government

of the day.

Liam Kerr.

I thank the First Minister for that reply.

But she has to say that to those SNP supporters including

members of this chamber, who in recent months have mounted

a concerted attempt to undermine and de-legitimise GERS.

So can she also put on record that GERS are official statistics,

produced by her government to the highest standards

and that those who denigrate the figures are - including in this

chamber - as a matter of fact, simply wrong?

Well, can I recommend to the member that when he comes here

and asks a question, he actually manages

to listen to the answer?

Let me repeat what I said in my first answer.

He asked me to put on record that they national statistics.

The first words in my original answer were "GERS is a national

statistics publication."

A bit of listening instead of heckling might have gone down well.

The point I'm making, the simple point I am making is this.

GERS doesn't tell us anything much about the finances

of an independent Scotland,

and it's not just me that says that.

The Frazier of Allah Institute says that GERS

reflects that current constitutional arrangements.

An independent campaigner said recently that nobody suggests

the GERS figures reflects what an independent

Scotland would look like.

Yes, they are official statistics known to be of high value.

They have a range of estimates underpinning them

as everyone is aware.

as everyone is aware,

but crucially they reflect the position in Scotland,

under current constitutional arrangements, not

under independence.

Alex Rowley.

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government

will take to ensure that older people receive the free

personal care payments that they are entitled to,

in light of research by Age Scotland, which suggests that

thousands are missing out due to delays in accessing

and arranging care.

Age Scotland's figures show that 95% of older people assessed as needing

care received the services they need within five weeks.

And those with critical and substantial needs were conducted

within two and a half weeks.

That said, no-one should have to wait longer than necessary

to receive their care package, that's why we continue to work

closely with councils to make provision even better

than it already is.

Alex Rowley.

I thank the First Minister for that question.

But the fact remains that for many individuals

and for many families, far too often their experience

of health and social care is not always a good one.

Pope Francis, Presiding Officer, said where there is no honour

to the elderly, there is no future for the young.

Being able to provide support and care for older people

in Scotland at the point where they need that

support and that care, must be the accepted will of every

Scottish Government.

Will the First Minister agree to set up a review that will examine

the progress today in rolling out integrated health and social care,

looking at what is working, what is not, and why it is not,

and building on best practice across Scotland to ensure that every

individual who needs health and social care

is able to access it?

First Minister.

I agree strongly with the sentiments behind Alex Rowley's question.

How we care for our older people is very often the proof

of a civilised society.

We should all be proud of elder care in this country.

And the fact that vast majority older people get good,

high-quality care, and they get it upon an assessment that says

they need that care.

Yes there are still some individuals for whom that is not the experience,

and we must and determined to work to resolve that.

For that reason, we did take the step as a Government,

a step that no previous Government was prepared to do, to formally

by statute integrate health and social care.

It is why, as Alex Rowley is aware, we are now doing again

the very difficult thing that governments have shied

away from my long time, of transferring money from acute

health services into social care and community care,

in recognition of the fact that it is those services that

are absolutely essential that individuals, particularly older

people, but when it comes to relieving the pressure

on our acute health service.

He asks for a review, I would say the progress

of integration is under constant monitoring and review will stop that

will continue to be so.

It is absolutely the right thing to do.

Initiatives of that magnitude clearly have

challenges along the way.

I already speak on a regular basis to people who work in social care

in different parts of the country who point to improvements that

are already being made because of that integration.

We are delivering, or the people out there are delivering those

services, are delivering a high quality service for older people.

Working with health services and voluntary organisations

which are absolutely crucial here as well, to make sure

that is the experience for every single older person in Scotland.

Christine Graham.

As the First Minister is aware, the introduction of free personal

care in 2002 has saved over the 15 years, tens of millions

to the Treasury because they're not required to pay out attendance

allowance.

Tens of billions that could have gone towards free personal care.

Does the First Minister agree with me that it is ironic,

indeed hypocritical, that in the same breath as the Tories

defend their cruel rape clause and demand the Scottish Government

provide funding to support that callous clause,

they refuse to pay out savings that we have made in this Parliament

through our compassionate policies?

She is absolutely right.

It remains something of a national scandal

that the UK Government clawed back attendance allowance from Scotland

following the introduction of free personal and nursing

care under previous administration in 2002.

Christine Grahame talks, I may have misheard her,

about the tens of billions of pounds that have been lost to this

Government as a result of past and current UK governments.

Let me tell you how much much that is exactly,

over the past 15 years.

It now amounts to ?600 million.

More than half a billion that rightly should be here in Scotland,

helping to support our older people that is now currently in the pockets

of the London Westminster Treasury.

That policy, I have to say, was started by a Labour UK

Government but it has been continued by Tory UK Government.

If either of those parties now wants to say that they stand up

for pensioners, although that would be difficult for the Tories,

who are preparing to abandon the triple lock on pensions,

but if either of those parties want to come here and talk

about what more we need to do for older people, the support

for this government is trying to get that money back for Scotland

would certainly be overdue, but it would be very welcome indeed.

Thank you, that concludes FMQs.

APPLAUSE

Thanks very much I'll try and live up to that billing, now,

and thank you all for coming this morning and being with

with us for this launch.