09/11/2017: First Minister's Questions Politics Scotland

A very warm welcome to the Garden

Lobby at the Scottish Parliament

during what is quite a remarkable

period of political turmoil. The

resignation last night of Priti

Patel from the UK Cabinet, still

concerns at Westminster and here at

Holyrood about sexual harassment.

The announcement about a standards

committee for code of conduct for

MSPs about whether it is robust

enough. There could be questions

about the economy and public sector

spending as well. We can cross for

coverage for questions for the First

Minister.

Conservative Aleksandar

Burnett asking questions in general

questions over the issue of mental

health. Still some questions on the

general questions list. Not sure how

many the presiding officer will take

before we move on to First

Minister's Questions. More happening

here this afternoon. We have the

questions to the Scottish

Parliamentary corporate body, and

that's the group of officials and

MSPs that looks after the workings

and running of the organisation of

this Parliament. Usually the

corporate body does not draw much

attention but it could change today.

Presiding Officer, we recognise the

work done by hard-pressed staff who

answer 999 calls. This week we heard

more evidence of things going

tragically wrong. Elizabeth Bowen

called my 99 to record a domestic

abuse situation. 84 minutes later

she had been murdered in cold blood

by her brother. But the control room

told her they refuse to send

officers to her house. We know this

is not an isolated incident. The

question people ask is this, how

many more times will call for help

go unheeded before the situation in

emergency control rooms is sorted

out.

This is an extremely serious

issue and involves an extremely

serious case. The first thing I

would want to do here today,

presiding officer, is to convey my

thoughts and sympathies, my

heartfelt thoughts and sympathies,

to the family of Elizabeth Bowe.

This is a tragic incident and police

Scotland has rightly offered an

apology to the family for its

handling of the initial call that

was made. It's beyond doubt that

there were significant failings here

and police Scotland went out with

their own procedures in dealing with

these types of calls. In other

words, police Scotland did not

provide the response expected of

them. That's not acceptable and it

is crucial between service learns

lessons from that. In terms of Ruth

Davidson's wider questions, there

are significant improvements that

have been made to police call

handling. That's not just my view.

We know from the update report

published by Her

Majesty'sInspectorate earlier this

year that that is the view of the

Inspectorate as well. Clearly

following another tragic case, there

was a review of call handling

carried out published in November

2015 so there have been improvements

made and it is vital the police

continue to make these improvements.

Since the incident Ruth Davidson has

raised today, further action has

been taken. For example, the police

have ruled out risk and

vulnerability training to more

staff. -- police have rolled out.

New training on the grading and

coding of incidents. This was a

tragic and unacceptable case and

nothing I say today is intended to

detract from the seriousness of

that, but it's simply not the case

to say significant improvements are

not being made, and have not been

made to call handling, and it's

important lessons from cases like

this continue to be learned.

I thank

the First Minister for the answer

and she points to the assurance

review from Her

Majesty'sInspectorate made in

January of this year to her

government's defence. Let me run

through some of the 200 incidents

from the last year that we have

uncovered, mostly since the report

was made. In one case, a suicidal

man was told to hang up. In another,

to make separate call handles failed

to record a report of a dead body in

a house. In another, a couple rang

999 to report their front door was

being kicked in, but did not get

help because the wrong address was

written down, and police officers

were not even dispatched. That's the

reality of what's happening right

now. Does this sound to the First

Minister like a system that is

functioning well yet?

Every single

one of the incidents that has been

cited today by Ruth Davidson is

serious and unacceptable. As I said

in my initial answer, I don't want

anybody to hear anything I say today

as detracting from the seriousness

and unacceptability of these

incidents. I do think it's important

also to put the situation into

context. Ruth Davidson cites 200

incidents, as I say, completely

unacceptable. But Police Scotland

handled 2.6 million calls every

year. Let me quote what Derek

Penman, the chief inspector of

Constabulary said on this issue when

he appeared before the subcommittee

on policing. He said that we must

realise that there will always be

risks and things will happen. Some

people fail to accept that, but we

need to recognise that improvements

have been made and there is no

crisis in police call handling. I am

very clear that one incident of the

type of Ruth Davidson cited here

today is one too many. And lessons

must be learned from all of these

incidents. As lessons will be

learned from the one that was

reported on this week. I also think

we need to recognise the number of

calls that are handled. And use that

as context. But also to recognise,

as was recognised by Her

Majesty'sInspectorate, the

significant improvements that have

been made. Ultimate accountability

of this government is to continue to

make sure these improvements are

made and all lessons when they need

to be learned our learned.

We keep

hearing that things are getting

better, but time and time again,

members of this chamber have raised

concerns about the way the

centralisation of our police force

has been administered, and time and

time again the Justice Secretary

brushes those concerns aside and

insist the rushed closure of control

rooms under his watch is safe. As I

have just read out, incidents are

continuing. The problem in part of

this government's making, are still

live. The public has a right to

expect better. The Justice Secretary

claims he is on top of this. Does

the First Minister share his

confidence?

Ruth Davidson, to her

credit, is raising a significantly

important issue, and one that is to

the concern of the public across

Scotland. I think she risks doing

herself a bit of a disservice in how

she characterises the approach, both

of the police and of the government.

It is simply not true, and it is not

fair, presiding officer, to say this

government or the Justice Secretary

has ever brushed aside concerns of

this nature that have been raised.

Indeed, it was the Justice Secretary

who commissioned the report into

call handling that Her

Majesty'sInspector carried out and

published in November 2015 with the

update report we referred to in

January of this year. It's also not

just me, or indeed the Justice

Secretary, who are saying

significant improvements have been

made. That is the view of Her

Majesty'sInspectorate of

Constabulary. The vast majority of

recommendations made in that

original report have already been in

fermented. Significant action, some

of which I have already narrated

today, has been taken to strengthen

the call handling processes and to

make sure the whole process is of

the quality people deserve. But I

will never stand here and say

anything other than the type of

cases we have heard reported this

week, or the ones Ruth Davidson has

quoted in this chamber are anything

other than completely unacceptable.

But in accepting that, it would

equally be wrong for me to somehow

say that no improvements have been

made. And it is wrong for Ruth

Davidson to say that, because that

is not the case. Significant

improvements have been made and will

continue to be made. All sins that

are required to be learnt absolutely

will be learned.

The issues I am

citing happened since the report was

published. This is not an issue that

has been resolved. It is still

ongoing. We were promised, all of us

in this chamber, that taking control

rooms out of local areas would not

result in a loss of local knowledge.

Let me read some more cases from

this year. A woman threatened by her

former partner, who did not get a

response from police because they

were sent to the wrong address. A

man threatened with a knife, police

were sent to the right flat, in the

right street, but in the wrong town.

A caller who rang as their mother

and niece were being assaulted, and

again police sent to the wrong

location. The Justice Secretary

promised that if performance dropped

at any of Police Scotland's call

handling centres, there would be

rapid intervention. He made that

promise two years ago. We are still

seeing hundreds of serious

incidents. Can the First Minister

look those families in the eye and

say her government has lived up to

its promise?

I would say to any

family who has experienced the kind

of experiences Ruth Davidson has

cited today, that is completely

unacceptable and there is no dispute

between Ruth Davidson and I on that

fact. I would like nothing better,

presiding officer, as First

Minister, than to stand here and say

and be able to give an absolute

categoric guarantee that in a police

system that handles 2.6 million

calls every year, that nothing will

ever go wrong. But there is no

country on the face of this planet

that has a government that can stand

up and give that categoric

guarantee. However, we will continue

to take all appropriate and

necessary steps to make sure the

system that is in place is as robust

as possible. The point I am making

is that significant steps have been

taken, leading to significant

improvements since the report in

2015. Again, I would say, if it was

only me standing here saying that,

then I guess the scepticism Ruth

Davidson is articulating today might

have more justification, but Her

Majesty'sInspectorate is saying

significant improvements have been

made and has also made the point

that given the volume of calls, and

unfortunately it is deep regret to

everybody, there will be cases where

go wrong. Our duty is to make sure

that risk is minimised as much as

possible, and that is what we will

do. These lessons will continue to

be learned, and we will continue to

give the police service the support

it needs to make sure the public

have assurances, and the call

handling arrangements in place are

robust. I have already quoted Her

Majesty'sInspectorate. Let me also

quote from this year, very recently,

Nevin Rennie, who used to be the

president of the Scottish

Association police superintendents,

I know the police receive millions

of calls every year, and the vast

majority of them answered extremely

well, very professionally. Although

recognises that sometimes things

will go wrong. Our duty is to make

sure we act in any case where that

happens so all appropriate lessons

are learned and we will continue to

do that.

Jackie Baillie.

Will the

First Minister join with me in

commending the bravery and courage

of all those who have come to speak

out about sexual harassment.

I

absolutely join the Jackie Baillie

in doing that. Many organisations,

all political parties, and indeed

this Parliament and other

parliaments have had to confront

some very difficult situations in

recent days, but it's right and

proper that we have been prepared to

do so. I think the priority for all

of us, and these are not easy

situations, is to encourage women to

come forward, and to make sure that

when women do, the environment that

is being provided for them is as

supportive as possible, that they

have confidence that they will be

listened to, and believed. And that

any concerns or complaints they

bring forward will be robustly

investigated. That has led to all of

us looking afresh at our procedures

and tightening those procedures. I

know my own party has done that and

the Scottish parliament is doing

likewise. We should pay tribute to

women coming forward and should

encourage others to do so if they

feel that is what they want to do.

I

agree with the First Minister on

that point, it takes incredible

bravery to speak out about

harassment, especially when often it

is the woman having to report the

behaviour of a man in a position of

power. A helpline is a welcome first

step, but it's pointless if it does

not ring, and it will not ring if

victims do not see that allegations

made are then investigated

transparently. Because an absence of

complaints does not mean an absence

of harassment. Our response needs to

go further, because we no apologies

are not always enough. Can the First

Minister tell us what changes she

wants to see in the parliament to

create that safe space for people to

speak out?

That's not just a matter

for me, it's a matter for Parliament

collectively. I met with the

presiding officer, representatives

of other parties last week, where we

talked about the changes in

procedures that Parliament should

make. I made the point at that

meeting and have made the point

publicly that changes in procedures

are necessary and important, but

it's the underlying culture that

allows some men, and I stress, some

men, but predominantly men, to

behave in a way that leads to women

feeling the way that many women have

done. And we have got to change that

underlying culture. John Swinney in

this chamber last week said it was

for all meant to reflect on their

behaviour. I would reiterate that

point. -- for all men to reflect.

The presiding officer points it out

to me, it's not a matter for me as

First Minister, it's a matter for

Parliament. The Parliament's

corporate body with no women

represented on it is unacceptable,

and that has to be addressed and

resolved by this Parliament. As

Parliament we are about to consider

legislation about gender balance and

public bodies and this Parliament

has a duty to lead by example.

That's a matter for all Parliament

to address, but I make it clear this

afternoon what might opinions are.

Again there is much to agree with,

but I think we all know a woman will

not speak out if she thinks she will

be ignored or if the man's behaviour

is unchallenged or excused as a

joke. It should be a watershed

moment. This is our opportunity to

tackle sexual harassment in our

Parliament, our country and society.

The Scottish parliament must lead

the way. No matter if you are a

backbencher or minister. No matter

if it is at Holyrood or Westminster,

sexual harassment needs to be

challenged, and challenged

transparently. First Minister, if

the standard of behaviour is not

good enough for somebody to remain

as a minister, then how can it be

good enough for an MSP?

Will Obviously, Jackie Baillie is

referring to the situation of Mark

MacDonald. Mark MacDonald did what

John Swinney asked all men to do

last week and reflect on his

behaviour. He came to the conclusion

that that behaviour, whatever he

might have thought of it at the

time, was behaviour that was not

appropriate and he did, in my view,

the right thing by resigning. Let me

be clear that that behaviour was

about language not physical conduct

and while I think it justified the

step Mark MacDonald took, let me

also make it clear that it was not

language that would come in anyway

close to being something that would

require to be referred to the police

and I think that context is

important. There is also another

point here, Presiding Officer. I

agree with Jackie Bailly, 100%,

actually on the point that bill will

not be encouraged to come forward if

they don't believe they will be

taken seriously, if the behaviour

they are complaining of will simply

be dismissed or they feel they will

be ignored but I think there is

another issue here, particularly

relevant to the politics. And it is

particularly difficult, I think for

politics. Women, possibly will also

be discouraged from coming forward

if they think that the moment they

do, every aspect of what they are

raising as a concern will be all

over the media and in that

situation, I think we would

unintentionally give politicians

perhaps more protection than others

in society and that's not what any

of us want to do. So that's the

environment we want to create for

women coming forward and also on

occasion it has to involve

respecting the confidentiality and

the privacy of the issues women are

raising. And that will mean

sometimes we have to find balances

in these things that are not always

easy for those standing up in

Parliament explaining. None is easy

but it is all about making sure we

provide the right environment for

women. I want every woman who has

had any experience of this nature,

who wants to come forward now, who

feels they can do that and they can

do that in the right way and get all

of the support, including at times,

confidentiality that they require to

enable them to do. .

Some conyou

constituencicy supplementaries, the

first one, Alexandra Stewart.

There

has been anger and distress and

upset amongst Fife residents in my

region. The flare that lights up the

sky can be seen as far away as

Angus. The night sky has been turned

to daylight in some areas, caution

anxiety, sleeplessness and distress.

Day after day residents have had to

ensure noise pollution and

vibrations, not to talk about the

impact of quality of air and the

environment Will the First Minister

to take affirmative action to hold

Exxon Mobil to account over their

unannounced flaring and give my

constituents some answers?

First,

can I say I understand the issue

raised and have a great deal of

sympathy with the concerns the

public are expressing on this

situation and in all issues like

this, in due course, if there are

issues of accountability, then those

must be taken seriously. Here, of

course, the regulatory body, prot

Scottish Environmental Protection

Agency, is engaged in this issue and

looking into it and I understand its

engagement includes engaging with

the local population, I will ask the

Environment Secretary to write to

the member updating on the actions

and investigations under way by SEPA

but it is a serious matter that must

be properly and transparently

resolved.

Alison Johnson.

Thank you,

to ask the First Minister what

action the Scottish Government is

taking to support Adam Maxwell, who

has barely slept since the death of

his wife, Kirsty in Benidorm in

April this year as he and Kirsty's

family press for a full

investigation into the circumstances

of this tragic loss?

Well, firstly,

let me offer my sincere condolences

to Mr Mocks well and all of Kirsty's

family on their tragic loss. -- Mr

Maxwell. It is impossible for us to

imagine what he and his wider family

are going through at this time but

they should know my uts thouts and

I'm sure the thoughts of everybody

across the Parliament are with them.

The Justice Secretary met with the

family in September to listen to

their kefrnlts I understand the

investigation by the Spanish

authorities into the circumstances

surrounding Kirsty's death is still

ongoing and police officers still

continue to offer support to the

Spanish authorities. I can give

Allister Johnson the ainsurance that

the police will liaise closely with

the family or interview any

potential witness who is reside in

Scotland thflt family deserve

answers of what happened to their

loved one and the police in Scotland

will do everything they can to make

sure they get them.

Thank you,

Presiding Officer, to ask the first

minute, following the sudden

decision in VG energy, engulfed

intoling whichdation, what action

the Scottish Government can take to

support the firm's 39 staff?

With,

firstly, this will be an extremely

difficult time for the staff of the

company concerned, as is always the

case in these situation. Scottish

Government will liaise with the

company to see if there are any ways

in which employment can be protected

but pace our approach to supporting

people facing redundancy will be, if

it is not, already fully engaged

offering appropriate support to

those affected and I'm sure the

employment secretary would be happy

to discuss the situation further

with the member if there are any

other members he wishes to raise.

Question number 3, Willie Rennie

I'm

sure the First Minister will join me

in wishing a speedy recovery to the

police officer stabbed at Edinburgh

College on Monday. We all stand

together in appreciation of his

service and his duty. In the case of

Elizabeth Boe from my constituency

is deeply troubling. It is an issue

I have raised repeatedly over recent

years since the centralisation of

the call centres. I think it is

reasonable to ask these questions

because the area was at the centre

of the crash where two people were

left at the side of the road dying

because of the inexperienced call

handlers. It was recommended there

should be additional training.

Account First Minister give us a

guarantee that all the staff there

have the appropriate experience and

the staff in this individual case

have the appropriate experience as

well.

Well, firstly I would join the

member in wishing well the police

officer who was stabbed earlier this

week, we wish him a speedy recovery.

That incident, of course is a

reminder of the risks our police

officers take on a dilly basis as

they work hard to keep all of us

safe. Secondly, I would say to Willy

are ennee, it is of course entirely

reasonable and legitimate for these

questions to be raised. Willy Rennie

has raised these issues over peered

of time and that is to his credit.

In terms of the Elizabeth Boe case,

of which I have already had

exchanges around with Ruth Davis

son, I can give an assurance that

all recommendations in the report

will be taken forward by Police

Scotland and implemented in terms of

some of the specifics about

individual officers I'm not going

into the detail, I'm happy to ask

the Justice Secretary to write to

Willie Rennie with more detail if he

wishes but as I said in response to

Ruth Davidson, police officers have

been undertaking training, about

helping staff to better identify and

assess risk and capture all relevant

information on calls. We'll continue

to make sure thaefrg that requires

to be done, following these cases is

done and I will continue to pay

close attention to this as First

Minister but the Justice Secretary

continues to be engaged on these

issues on an ongoing basis.

Can I

thank the first minute sister for

that answer. I would appreciate some

more detailed response from the

Justice Secretary in this case

because it is particularly important

to understand the level of

experience of the staff. It it is

disturbing that the A9 crash

happened over two years ago but the

family have still not had that fatal

accident inquiry that was promised

to them at that time. We need to

understand what needs to be improved

in order for improvements to be

made. There are still questions

about the underlying reasons of what

went wrong snaint Andrew's. We still

don't know what exactly went wrong

on the A9. So what guarantees

account First Minister give that we

will be told before another tragedy

happens?

Well, firstly, in terms of

a fatal accident inquiry, I

absolutely understand the desire of

the family in that case to have all

of the answers to the questions that

they have. As Willie Rennie knows

and it is important that I make this

clear, decisions around fatal

accident inquiries are not for me as

First Minister or indeed for the

Justice Secretary they are for the

Crown Office. I'm sure the Lord

Advocate would be more than willing

to update Willie Renniep around debt

significance making in that inquiry

in that ka.s I want it make it

clear, as I did to Ruth Davidson,

but to make it clear not just for

those in this chamber but for the

benefit of the wider public. There

no, sir sense in waiting for fatal

accident inquiries before action is

taken to learn actions and address

any failings that have been

identified. The work of Hearn's

inspectorate, the work of PERK is

hugely important in that regard. --

of Her Majesty's expect rate. I

would not want to minimise the

seriousness of the cases but it is a

case that significant improvement

have been made and lessons learned

and we will continue to make sure

that's the case in all cases and

continue to make sure more action is

taken

Thank you N this important

week in the run-up to Remembrance

Sunday can I ask the First Minister

to outline what support the Scottish

Government provides for veterans to

make the transition from military to

civilian life. My constituency has

long and proud connections with the

military but I'm sure veterans

across Scotland will be interested

to hear the First Minister's

response.

Well, of course as we

approach Remembrance Sunday, the

interest and sacrifices of our armed

services and indeed our veterans are

very much at the forefront of our

minds. Last year the Scottish

Government published a summary of

our work to support our Armed Forces

community in Scotland. Next week the

veterans minister will update

Parliament on this. We have invested

more than £1 million through the

Scottish veterans' found in 2008 to

support over 140 projects across

Scotland to provide value ub

housing, health and employment

support for veterans and established

a veterans' mroiblt group to lead

work in this area and this year we

committed £5 million to ensure that

veterans in receipt of social care,

receive the full value of their war

pensions. Although transition issues

are reserved, we'll continue to give

veterans across Scotland the support

they deserve. I think all year

round, particularly at this time of

year, all of us recognise that

nothing we can do of this nature

will ever repay fullity debt of

gratitude we owe to our armed

services and to our veterans'

community.

Graeme day.

Thank you

Presiding Officer, whilst the legal

obstacle to the development of four

off shore windfarms have been

removed. Three of the developments

off the Angus coast still require

contact for difficult support to

proceed. Would the First Minister

join me to encourage the UK

Government to take this step

forward, to meet our climate change

obligations.

Well I agree with

Graham Day we have a project ject

now well under discussion and many

wind forms in the come years and

together these projects will be

provide two gig ga Watts of

renewable energy and huge economic

benefits for the entire country. UK

Government has committed to a third

contract for spring 2019, providing

an opportunity for the remaining

projects in the fort and tie to

secure a contract to build on this

momentum to build on this economy

for Scotland. Wear committed to

protecting our marine environment,

threatened by climate change, so we

need to play our part in tackling

this Global Challenge. I think it is

widely recognised that Scotland is

woorld leader in this field and we

want to make sure that the support

is there, that ensures we can

continue to be so.

Christine

Grahame.

Thank you, Presiding

Officer, to ask the First Minister

what measures the Scottish

Government can put in place to

curtail tax avoidance?

Well

unfortunately the Scottish

Government only has power to

directly tackle tax avoidance in

relation to two fully devolved tax,

LBTT and the Scottish landfill tax.

We take a simple, clear and very

probust approach. We have our

general anti-avoidance rule that is

wider than the corresponding UK rule

this. Allows revenue Scotland tying

action against tax avoidance

arrangements, considered to be

artificial, even if they otherwise

operate within the law. Following

recent reports about the use of

offshore tax hafbs the finance

secretary has written to the

Chancellor, seeking urgent

reainsurance that the UK Government

will now take the issue of tax

avoidance serious lane demanding

that concrete action is now taken.

Christine Grahame?

I think the First

Minister for her answer in

particular the steps the Scottish

Government is taking to reduce tax

avoidance, however, does she share

my disgust, particularly towards

those disclosed in the paradise

papers whose salaries are paid by

the public, like Fiona and Mark

Delaney, and other actors in the hit

show Mrs Brown's boys, whose wages

are paid by the BBC, funded by

licence-payer with them squirrelling

away some £2 million offshore to

avoid income tax and does she agree

with me they should consider

disbarring themselves from using,

for example, any health service

across the UK, which they obviously

don't want to pay for, or wouldn't

they like that script?

I think Christine Grahame is right,

and the anger underlying the

question I'm sure is shared by the

vast majority of people across the

UK. People should pay the taxes they

are due to play. Paying tax is the

collective duty we have to ensure

that we have public services that

are there for all of us when we need

them. The taxes we pay provide the

national health service, the

education system, the infrastructure

and other support our businesses

need to prosper and thrive. So when

somebody does something by putting

something in an offshore haven, for

example, not paying full tax, they

are depriving services of the money

they rely on, and that is wrong.

According to HMRC estimates, the

Treasury lost out on £6.9 billion

from evasion and avoidance in

2015-16. And 1.7 billion of that was

down to tax avoidance. For

individuals and businesses, tax

contribution should be a matter of

not what you can get away with, but

in respecting the spirit of the law

and paying a fair contribution. That

would be my message to individuals.

My message to the UK Government is

that it is in their power to crack

down on some of this stuff. I think

it's a matter of regret and shame

that they haven't done so. Hopefully

we'll see some action before the

next set of papers that are released

no doubt sometime in the future.

APPLAUSE

Murdo Fraser.

While I accept there

is much more to be done on tax

avoidance and evasion, I wonder if

the First Minister would acknowledge

that the tax gap in the UK at 6% is

the lowest it has ever been, and is

among the lowest in the world. I

wonder if she would acknowledge

that. On the subject of regret and

shame, I wonder if the First

Minister now regrets being part of

the government that paid £10 million

of taxpayer's money to Amazon, a

company that hardly has an excellent

record when it comes to paying tax

stop what if I had to guess what --.

If I had to guess what MP would leap

to the front of the queue in

defending tax avoidance, I would put

Murdo Fraser to the top of that

list. We could cite figures, as

Murdo Fraser has just done, about

the tax gap being less than it is in

other countries, but let me repeat

what I said earlier on. Close to £7

billion is lost public services in

our country because of tax avoidance

and tax evasion. That's

unacceptable. Even if Murdo Fraser

can't quite bring himself to see it

and say so, I think the vast

majority of people across the

country will do so. We call on all

companies, Amazon included, to pay

their due tax. And we call on the UK

Government, whether power on this

lies, to take the action to ensure

people pay the tax that is due.

James Kelly.

Is the First Minister

correctly points out, companies who

participate in tax evasion and tax

avoidance reduce the amount of money

that goes to public services. To

address the issues we talk about

every week in this chamber, building

a better health service and

supporting education. With the First

Minister therefore agree to call in

and cancel any public contracts

where companies have been shown to

have participated in tax avoidance,

to ensure that all public contracts

are awarded to companies who

organise their tax affairs in a fair

and transparent manner and pay

fairly into the public purse?

I

generally agree with the sentiment

of the question. As James Kelly

knows we have made significant

reforms to public argument over a

number of years to make sure that

where companies benefit from public

contracts, they are expected to

behave, not just within the letter

of the law, but behave in a way that

people think is acceptable. I would

also hope James Kelly recognises

that the powers around tax avoidance

and cracking down on tax avoidance

principally lie, unfortunately not

with this Parliament, but with the

UK Government. I would hope James

Kelly would join us in calling on

the UK Government to outlast do

something about it.

Andy Wightman.

The First Minister will be aware of

reports on the Paradise Papers

regarding the Saint Enoch Centre in

Glasgow. And for example, Edinburgh

airport is owned by a complex

structure with branches in

Luxembourg and the Cayman Islands.

What additional work as the Scottish

Government undertaken to ensure the

risks of tax avoidance by offshore

companies are identified and ended?

We will continue to do everything

within our power to crack down on

this kind of behaviour. I have

already spoken about the fact that

we have more robust rules and the

two taxes where we have

responsibility, than is the case

across the UK. Andy Wightman is

aware and has a keen interest in the

work that we are progressing in the

context of land reform, to increase

transparency with a registry of

controlling interests. I really wish

this Parliament had more power in

this area than we do. Unfortunately,

we don't. Let those of us that think

that is rom-com together, first of

all to demand the UK Government

takes action that it has so far

dragged its feet about, and

ultimately having the powers lying

within this Parliament so we can

crack down on the people that we

want.

Liam Kerr.

To?ask?the?First?Minister,?in?light

of?reports?of?crews?being?attacked

when?dealing

with?bonfires?over?the?weekend,?what

action?the?Scottish?Government?is

taking?to?ensure?the?safety

of emergency responders.

None of us should ever tolerate

attacks against firefighters, or

indeed any member of our emergency

services, who do a remarkable job in

very challenging circumstances. The

Minister for community safety

visited Dalkey fire station on

Tuesday and spoke to firefighters

who had been attacked while on duty

on bonfire night and thankfully none

had sustained significant injuries.

Unfortunately one police officer

suffered burns from a firework

related attack that I understood to

be serious but not life-threatening.

We join together in this chamber in

wishing that offers a speedy

recovery. We wish to deal robustly

with those offences and those

charged with attacks against

emergency service workers can face a

prison sentence, a £10,000 fine or

both.

I thank the First Minister for

that answer. Last weekend our

emergency services were targets of

mindless violence. Specialist

support was demanded by front line

officers but was refused, as a

result an officer suffered serious

burns from a firework thrown at her

face. But the Scottish Government

does not collect data on how many of

these incidents take place.

Therefore if it does not know the

scale of the problem, it does not

have an idea on whether the

solutions will be the right ones. As

a first step to protecting those who

dedicate their lives to protecting

us, will the Scottish Government

immediately begin gathering and

publishing data on the number of

assaults that have taken place

against emergency services and

commit to an urgent review of

resourcing and protecting equipment

based on data?

I do believe there is

work already being progressed around

the very reasonable issue of data

that the member has raised. But I

will have the Justice Secretary or

the Minister for community safety,

who I believe is overseeing this

work, write to him with further

details. The point about data, not

just in this issue, but is a

important and reasonable one. We

will reflect whether further action

is required as we move forward on

that front. More generally, and I'm

sure all of us want to send

sympathies and good wishes to the

officer who was injured. I

understand Police Scotland had put

in place a significant amount of

planning for bonfire night. A

significant number of additional

officers had been deployed, double

the number normally on duty. A

formal debrief to review these

events has been scheduled to ensure

any lessons that are required to be

learned are learned for the future.

I think all of us should come

together, say yes if there are

lessons to be learned, they should

be learned, but we should come

together to set the clearest

message. Our emergency service

workers put their lives literally on

the line each and every day to keep

us safe. It's unconscionable and

awful that anybody could ever

contemplate attacking a member of

our emergency services while they

are going about their duty. We must

condemn that and make clear there

will be zero tolerance towards it.

There is a lot of interest in this

particular question. Alex Hamilton.

Last year the social use of

fireworks resulted in several

convictions for mobbing and rioting

in my constituency. As was mentioned

this year, a police officer was

hospitalised for burns following a

direct hit for fireworks thrown

directly at her. Year-on-year we see

an escalation in this kind of

behaviour. As the First Minister

agree that as well as a mature

discussion around the licensing

private firework use, we also need

to dramatically invest funding in

detached and sessional youth work in

like Muirhouse as a means of

diverting young people from the

standard activity in the first

place.

Yes I do. I think that's a

reasonable point to make. A number

of things that we need to do,

firstly to make sure that our police

officers and firefighters are

properly resourced on and around

occasions like bonfire night. I

think there were double the number

of officers normally on duty who

were on duty on bonfire night, given

some of the disorder we have seen

recently. I also think it's a

discussion to be had, and probably a

look required at the rules and

regulations and laws around both the

sale of fireworks and the permitted

use of fireworks. As the member will

be aware, there is split

responsibility between this

Parliament and the Westminster

Parliament. The Scottish Government

has responsibility for legislation

on the use of fireworks, but it is

reserved to Westminster in terms of

sale and possession of fireworks.

But I will not be... In fact I'm

sure there will be nobody in this

chamber who hasn't had concerns

raised by constituents this week

about firework use. The Scottish

Government will certainly take a

look at where we have the powers, to

see if we should have more or take

further action. The point raised

about diversion, not just in this

context, but more generally, is an

important one. I have already

praised and paid tribute to

emergency services, but we also need

to pay tribute to youth workers

working with young people, seeking

to engage them with more productive

conduct than that we are speaking

about, and that's a valid point to

make.

Neil Findlay.

I support

everything the First Minister has

said about attacks on Fire Service

crew, but attacks on the Fire

Service, in many guises. Can we also

condemn any proposals to reduce Fire

Service numbers, and close fire

stations? Because these are a

further attack on the Fire Service.

Will she commit today to halt any

proposals that may come forward in

the future that would reduce Fire

Service jobs and reduce the number

of fire stations?

We will continue

to protect the front of our Fire

Service, to do the job that they are

there to do. There have been no

closures of fire stations since the

reform of the Fire Service took

place. It's absolutely right that

the Fire Service, given the changing

demands on them, look at the action

they have to take to make sure their

firefighters are properly equipped

to do the job we expect them to do.

As we see in this year's budget,

where we have increased the revenue,

the operating budget of the Fire

Service, we will continue to work

with the Fire Service to make sure

they are properly equipped to do the

vital job we depend on doing.

Rhoda Grant.

To?ask?the?First?Minister?what?disc

ussions?the?Scottish?Government?has

?had?with the UK Government

regarding reports that the UK

could leave the common agricultural

policy and

common fisheries policy in March

2019 with no transition period.

On Monday the role economy and

environment secretaries met the

death -- Defra Secretary of State as

well as the Welsh equivalent. The UK

Government at that meeting was not

able to give any clear position.

Farmers and fishermen need to know

what regime they will operate under

in less than 18 months' time. It is

simply unacceptable that the UK

Government has so far been unable to

provide the clarity that has been

requested and that is required. We

will continue to press Defra and UK

ministers on this critical issue in

the coming weeks.

The First Minister

knows that many of our fishers and

farmers depend on access to UK

markets to sell their produce. And

also on EU subsidies to make our

food more affordable and to protect

the environment. What steps can she

take to provide them with some

comfort that that will continue

post-March 2019?

We will do

everything we can to make sure that

support that our farmers and

fishermen depend on continues after

the UK leaves the European Union.

But right now it is the UK

Government that requires to provide

that clarity. We don't even know

right now whether the cap and the

Common Fisheries Policy will

continue for that period, or whether

the UK will exit at the point of

Brexit in March 2019. Just to

underline the confusion reigning in

the UK Government, two quotes a

matter of days apart. Lord Duncan

from the Scotland Office speaking to

the NFU said the Secretary of State,

Michael Gove, has been very clear

that he believes farming and fishing

should not be part of any

transitional deal. Five days later,

Michael Gove, certainly a

transitional period of around two

years will follow. I have some

thoughts about what will happen to

see a peak during that period. It's

unconscionable that farmers and

fishermen who rely so much on EU

subsidies still have no clarity

whatsoever. I hope everybody across

this chamber will join us in putting

pressure on the UK Government to

resolve the situation and give the

clarity so urgently needed.

That concludes First Minister's

Questions.

Well, First Minister's

Questions terminating with Brexit

there. And previously a range the

other topics. The subject of Bonfire

Night there. The First Minister

conceding there will be an inquiry

into what Scottish Government,

Scottish Parliament can do on that

topic. Iechl I'm joined by two

journalistic colleagues. Hamish

McDonnell. She got a tough time for

Ruth Davidson and Willy Rennie.

It is difficult. She is in charge of

everything like that that happens in

Scotland but when you have problems

that appear to have happened, as

Conservatives say, 2700 problems at

call handling at the police, she has

to take responsible for it and it is

very, very hard to do so, kickly

when you have

the Leader of the Opposition who

reads out occasion after occasion

after occasion where things have

gone wrong. It is difficult knob

that position and she has to take it

on the chin.

And Ruth Davidson did

it really and effectively. -- a

difficult job in that position. She

didn't set them out all but then

gave another set of problems and

another set of problems.

Yes, she

sort of laid a trap, she allowed the

First Minister to answer, saying

there had been this report by the

Chief Inspector of the constabulary

that said that things were

improving, that work had been done

to deal with some of the issues of

call handling and Ruth Davidson came

back and said - ah, since the report

all the other cases and serious and

worrying ones, where policep were

September to the wrong address and

wrong town and things like that.

It

was effective but of course which --

Willie Rennie has been pursuing this

for sometime.

That's where the

politics came N underlining this you

have to look at the changes the

Scottish Government has made to the

police force, the amalgamation into

one force and the is entramising of

call centres. And that is he at

politics and that's what has tied

the Scottish Government in and

Sturgeon turning and she has made

these changes and as a result she

has to answer for the repercussions.

The subject of tax came up, but tax

avoidance rather than tax raiding,

we are expecting tax raising the

budget but tax avoidance was the big

topic.

And perhaps one for the First

Minister to get out because it is

mainly the UK Government for this

year and something for them to deal

with, she would like to bring in

more powers but there were questions

from Christine Grahame for people

funded from the public purse. BBC

cast members.

On Mrs Brown's Boys.

And whether it is acceptable for

them to use pick will services

whether they are engaged in tax

avoidedance.

Hang on a second chums,

stay with us for a moment, another

topic raised with the myrrhs

minister was the question of

behaviour of MSPs. The Standards

Committee has announced an

investigation into whether the code

of conduct is fit for purpose and

there will be questions this

afternoon in Parliament to the

Scottish Parliament's corporate

body, the organisation that does the

rules and regulations for

Parliament. Nine questions all about

sexual harassment. I gathered

together two who are agency those

questions and began by asking Clare

Baker what she made of the way

Parliament has handled the zmrants.

Thank you very much for joining us,

the two MSPs, each of whom has a

question this afternoon to the

parliamentary corporate body. Clare

Baker you have a question asking

about the general awith a the

corporate body is handling matters.

Do you think it has been

well-handled?

I think it is

important that we hear from them

this afternoon exactly what measures

they have taken. I think there is a

level of confusion about where the

Scottish parliamentary body reaches.

And it doesn't refer to MSPs or MSP

staff and I think it is a gap and it

is confusing for staff when you look

at how the Parliament deals with the

issue.

You have a concern about the

code of condug. There is a code of

conduct for MSPs. What is your

concern?

I feel the code we have

doesn't cover this type of area.

Not

behaviour.

Not between an MSP and

their staff. If there is an area

where there's going to be problems

and if we want to find a good

solution and allow people to come

forward and talk about t it is a

good idea to have a code of conduct.

Where we are orchestratering,

everybody know what is they should

and shouldn't be doing, it is

something that Parliament could look

at going forward.

Loads of other

questions, of course but let's talk

generally, Clare, is this problem of

sexual harassment, is it at all

possible to categorise the scope? Is

it widespread, endemic, what? What

would you say?

I think it is

difficult to put a I if, a

percentage on that, but I think the

experience is on Parliament, you can

cover with other work places across

Scotland where they need to see a

cultural change where sexism and

harassment doesn't exist. Anybody,

whether work in Parliament or any

work place should feel confident.

Shouldn't feel vulnerable that it

works. I think it is an issue not

limited to Parliament but I think it

is something you can find out.

Some

people have made the point that

staff members, maybe don't know what

to do, to report concerns other feel

perhaps intimidated about reporting

concerns.

Yes, obviously if you

have' had a problem potentially with

the MSP you work for, obviously they

are also your manager, in a lot of

instances, it would be that person

themselves you would go to in the

first instance to raise a complaint.

Clearly in these allegations it is

not possible, not something somebody

would want to do. I think you are

right, we need an agreed process in

place. It needs to be widely known,

so all the staff know exactly what

to do if something like this occurs.

It needs to be people need to feel

safe. They need to know what is

going to happen to their complaint

to. Feel secure, if they are going

to go forward with this, how it'll

be handled and what process it'll

be. We want to encourage people to

come forward so we can find out, as

you said, if there is a large-scale

problem. And as Clare said, it is

common for all work places. But I

think I feel fairly sure that we

don't have the kind of endemic

cultural situation that they maybe

have at Westminster. I don't think

Holyrood is quite in that category

but I still think it is important

for us to see what we can do to

improve the processes.

What do you

make of that?

I would largely agree

with her. I think we have to make

sure we are not complacent in the

Scottish Parliament and there are

conversations around Parliament

about instances that have taken

place that are unacceptable and they

have had people resigning from their

positions, so it does indicate that

there is a culture in here that

needs to be challenged.

Well, there

we have T I have talking earlier

with Ash Denham and Clare Baker.

Joined now by two journalistic

colleagues. On the topic, let's talk

about the questions, Hamish to the

corporate body, questions this frn

gentleman, one thing I'm sure will

be raised is the fact that all six

members of that corporate body,

Nicola Sturgeon raised the are male,

but they were not nated by the party

not Parliament but they are men

The

corporate body is an organisation

which sits below the radar. We don't

pay much attention but it is

important because it runs this place

in terms of setting the rules and

the issues between residing officer

and parliamentarians. It is all

male. One problem s not the people

themselves.

Kesa Dugdale called for

change.

In the jargon of the day, it

looks bad that you have an all-male

organisation in charge of these

things, when really there should be

nor gender balance there. The First

Minister pretty well

independenticated she supported that

while stressing it is a matter for

Parliament as a whole, she said

don't continue like that.

They have

changed the rules to say that can't

happen. ...

In future.

But there are

been calls for the members of the

corporate body to step down and a

system has been set out for a

billion ot, where parties pull out

hat whether they have to elect a

female person, for gender balance.

It is a very important procedure,

but it is procedure, I put the same

question to you, the question I

asked the two MSPs, the problem

here. There isn't a culture of

sleaze and harassment, but, I mean,

it's a large organisation, and any

large organisation will have of

individuals and particularly, it may

happen outside Parliament, it may

happen in bars,tyly where there is

drinking involved, there is always

kind of lines getting blurred and

boundaries crossed, though, I don't

think it is a huge problem but it

needs to be rooted out

Nicola

Sturgeon is making clear, many

others are making clear this, needs

to be a turning point. The problem

needs to be addressed at

Westminster, but needs to be

addressed here as well at Holyrood.

The terms a lot of people are using

is this watershed moment.

Watershed.

I think they are right. I think

because there is almost a feeding

frenzy on behalf of the media,

particularly in Westminster but up

here too to chase this issue, and

women are being encouraged to come

forward which is great, that things

have to change. There is an

acceptance things have to change. We

have seen that today with moves

towards a remove and we'll see it

this afternoon. We haven't send the

end of it in temples what Parliament

is going to do.

I said Nicola

Sturgeon was outspoken on this, she

is. One thing sheep wasn't frank on

was the question from Jackie

Baillie. She addressed several of

them but Jackie Baillie said if Mark

MacDonald's behaviour snted good

enough to stay as a minister, how

can he stay as an MSP? She frankly

didn't answer that.

No, she avoided

T she said it hasn't been criminal,

nothing reported to police.

Text

messages.

Language rather than

touching. I think she was perhaps

saying it wasn't too serious in the

scale of seriousness, but it is a

good question. I mean, I suppose for

the Scottish Government their issue

is...

It is puzzling some folk in

Aberdeen who've spoken to the BBC.

In terms of standing down as an MSP,

that wouldn't be for her to decide.

You cannot sack an MSP, for good

reason, protection for elected

members for good reason, it is up to

them to decide or if they have to be

recalled for a serious offence.

It

is up to the electors to decide

whether or not Mark MacDonald should

continue. I think Nicola Sturgeon

was trying to make what was quite a

difficult case because she couldn't

set out in detail what had gone on

but she was trying to say it was

serious enough for him not to be a

minister but not serious enough for

him to leave the Parliament. Was

answering it whilst trying not to

explain what went on and she made

the point, price having a go at the

he media, saying what was wrong with

the media highlighting everything

and making it difficult for victims

to come forward. Another point

point.

Where do you see this going,

here at Holyrood and perhaps

Westminster?

I think there will be

fundamental changes, I think both in

the Scottish Parliament's corporate

body. There's likely to be a gender

balance...

Is it more difficult, the

cultural changes?

I think there'll

be perhaps more opportunity for

reporting.

An independent element to

the assessment as well, perhaps?

I

think that would be a good idea for

outside bodies to perhaps take a

look at the way things work, but in

terms of a cultural change, I'm not

sure there is a culture of

harassment that needs to change but

there might be individuals that need

to change their behaviour.

Jenny

Hamish, thank you very much. Those

questions to the corporate body will

come this afternoon. You can catch

up with them on BBC Holyrood live

coverage. But that's all from me.

Goodbye.