11/05/2017: First Minister's Questions Politics Scotland

Hello. A very warm welcome to the Garden Lobby here at Holyrood.

Glorious weather. Beautiful day for going out canvassing. Yes, of

course, the UK general election is well under way. The leak of the

draft Labour manifesto today causing quite a fuss. The main emphasis of

this is questions to the First Minister on the devolved powers of

the FM. But you can bet that UK begun election will come up as well.

Let's cross to the chamber and find out. That's Mary Fee on her feet

asking a question about education. A hot subject this week. That Labour

manifesto will rear its head today once questions to the First Minister

gets under way. The issue of renationalisation of rail, bus and

postal services might not be so controversial with everyone here.

But the Trident question is certainly one which the First

Minister may want to use against Kes can ya Dugdale. The Scottish Labour

Party vote in the favour the getting rid of Trident. As we saw in its

draft form today, favours maintaining the Trident system

against the Scottish Labour Party and of Jeremy Corbyn. On top of

that, we're bound to get questions on those devolved issues with a view

to the election campaign, how they might impinge upon it. We've had

those questions this week about education, about literacy and the

SNP Government's record on that. That's an issue which Nicola

Sturgeon said she wants to make her main priority. This is, of course,

the Education Secretary, John Swinney on his feet to answer that

question. We faced a number of Labour local authorities that were

absolutely determined to reduce teacher numbers. I wouldn't have it.

So, I'm delighted that as a result of the Government's strong action in

this respect, we see an increasing number of teachers in our schools

and our classrooms and I'm delighted that the ?120 million that the

Government has made available directly to the schools of our

country, which the Labour Party voted against every single one of

them, is now recruiting another teachers in our classrooms and

assisting in the delivery of education in Scotland. I would have

thought Mary Fee would have welcomed that. Deputy First Minister getting

things under way early. Well, that's warmed us up! The First Minister

does not need to follow that example. Returning to First

Minister's Questions. Ruth Davidson? Thank you. I want to ask the First

Minister what engagement's she's planned for the rest of the day. The

Government's programme for Scotland. Today, in Scotland in an S2 class of

30 pupils, on average, five can't write properly. That's double the

number of just four years ago. When the First Minister sees statistics

like these does she feel embarrassed, achimed or both?

Actually, what I feel is utterly determined. Determined to carry on

with the changes we are making in Scottish education so that we

continue to see the improvements in attainment and progress in closing

the attainment gap. Ruth Davidson points to the S2 performance in

writing in the study published this week. I'm not going to try in any

way to diminish the significance of those findings. But, I think it is

important to say this, that study, a sample study, measures S2 pupils

against the standard that they're expected to reach in S3. What we

know now from the much more comprehensive data that we're

publishing through the national improvement framework, which we'll

continue to publish on an annual basis and will become informed by

the standardised assessments. We see over 80% of the pupils in S3 meeting

the standard that they're required to meet. We'll continue to take

forward the meshures that have been guided by OECD recommendations. For

example, our new attainment challenge, our new attainment fund

which as the Deputy First Minister said is directing resources to head

teachers. The new bench marks for literacy and numeracy put in place

backed by a range of targeted programmes from the attainment

challenge, book bug, play top read programme in the early years, read,

write, count in early primary. The read reading challenge. We'll

continue to take forward the new detailed mesh you arement system

which will track progress not just by way of a sample survey, but by

using data on every pupil in primary 1, 4, 7 and S3 broken down by local

authority and schools. In answer to the question, I feel determined to

continue to get on with these reforms to make improvements for

pupils right across our country. Ten years and five out of every 30

pupils can't write properly. Presiding Officer, we like to pride

ourselves in Scotland that our education system was the best in the

world. After ten years of this SNP Government, we can do so no longer.

Last week, I stood here and raised the fact teacher training places are

not being filled. Yesterday, we learnt about the standards of that

training. On the time spent on literacy one trainee said it would

be a single week. One week. Another said she and her fellow trainees

don't have the sufficient skills in numeracy to be able to teach it to

11-year-olds at a reasonable standard. So, we've not enough

trainee teachers coming through and the ones who are, aren't being

taught properly. That's not their fault. But, if they're not getting

the proper instruction, what chance do they have of teaching our

children? Firstly, I think, as I said also last week, while we should

not and this Government does not ignore the challenges we face, we

should not do a disservice to pupils and teachers across the country. As

I've just said, more than 80% of S3 pupils, according to the

comprehensive data we publish, are meeting the required standards in

writing. We're also seeing annual increases in the proportion of

school levers reaching the national 5 level. The gap between richest and

poorest closing. A record number of advanced higher passes. A record

number of higher passes in the last few years. Let me turn also to the

question of teacher education. In terms of entry into initial teacher

education, we've increased the intake into teacher education as

part of the work we are doing to make sure there are the required

numbers of teachers coming into our schools. In terms of the content of

teacher education, which is the substance of the question Ruth

Davidson asked and has been under discussion at the Education

Committee this week. There's a couple of points to make first

before I action we've taken. It is universities, of course, in

partnership with the GDC that decide the content and structure of initial

teacher education. Here's a fact... Here's a fact that Ruth Davidson

won't like to hear. It says something good about Scottish

education. The recently published complete university guide rate the

four of Scottish universities in the top seven across the UK for

teacherer education. We have recognised we need to do more around

teacher education. I'm surprised Ruth Davidson doesn't seem to know

this from the content of her question, in our delivery plan

published last year, we committed to a review of Scotland's initial

teacher education courses. And, the report of that review will be

published in the next few weeks. On that, as well as on the other

issues, this is the situation. We've got good performance across

education in Scotland. But there are areas where we have recognised we

need to do better. This Government is getting on with the job of taking

the action that will deliver these improvements. Here's a fact for the

First Minister. Bright young trainees are starting their careers

in Scotland without the tools they need to do the job. That's not me

saying it. That's what they told this Parliament just yesterday. As

the Education Secretary acknowledged this week, we need inspections to

flag up issues in our schools but the number of inspections has gone

down upped the SNP. Why? We don't have enough inspectors and the one's

we have are being dragged off the job to sort out of the mess that the

curriculum for excellence. Does this sound like a system which is in any

way functioning properly? She just said about curriculum for

excellence, not only did Ruth Davidson go against what her party

said about curriculum for excellence, she goes against the

judgment of the OECD when they did a review of curriculum for excellence

and said that was a reform that they welcomed but they pointed out the

areas where we had to further improve to deal with the challenges

we face. So, what we have in education is good performance and we

have a range of international experts who have said that. We have

a number of challenges, not least the ones the SSLN survey highlighted

this week. We have a programme of reform that's getting on with making

the changing backed by significant addition at investment in our

schools that are about delivering improvement. So, I think it is

important that this Parliament scrutinises that on an ongoing

basis. As First Minister with the Deputy First Minister, I'm going to

stay focussed in taking forward this reform programme. As I said last

week, what we often find in this chamber is opposition parties

calling for us to make changes but as soon as we make any of those

changes and as soon as some people might think they disagree with them,

we find opposition parties running for cover. Well, this Government

will continue to focus on making the reforms and making the changes that

we think are required to drive the improvements we are determined to

see. It's funny the First Minister talked about what a range of

international experts said about. Professor Lindsey Paterson. He says

this: Curriculum for excellence has ignored the need for deep knowledge

with the dismaying consequences that we now see. So, every week we stand

up here and hear jargon about cross curricular this and joined up that.

It's not much help if we've children in our country that can't add up,

can't write and can't read. Last week, the First Minister accused me

of being obsessed about the constitution. Well, here is her

record in this place. Since last year, this Government has spent more

time debating the constitution than debating education, health,

transport and justice combined. And we have had enough. After ten years,

after ten years, don't the people of Scotland deserve a Government that

will for once focus on their priorities and not on hers? Let me

share some of the views... Order, that's enough! Let me share some of

the views of the international exports I was referring to. Page 13

of the OECD review of Scottish education states this. The

curriculum for excellence is an important reform putting in place a

coherent 3-18 curriculum. It rests on a contemporary view of skills and

what makes for powerful learning. The deputy director for OECD. We

applaud Scotland for having the foresight and patients to put such

an ambition reform as curriculum for excellence in place. That's the

support backed up by the international council for education

advisers. Who were deeply impressed with the schools they visited during

their programme here. We'll continue to build on the strengths of

Scottish education and make sure we drive the improvements through the

action I have been talking about. The the attainment fund, putting

?120 million into the hands of head teachers. The attainment challenge,

driving improvements in literacy and numeracy. Making sure we don't have

to just rely on a sample SSLN survey. We have comprehensive data

on every pupil in these particular school years. We'll continue to take

forward that programme of reform. Let me turn to the issue of

priorities. You see when Ruth Davidson talks about the time spent

in this chamber debating the constitution, what she's trying to

distract attention from is that has been time debating the implications

of Brexit. The Brexit disaster. The Brexit disaster that the Tory Party

is leading this country into. Secondly, on priorities. Over the

past week, the Scottish Tories have churned out press release after

press release after press release. In all of those press releases, we

have seen health mentioned once. We've seen education mentioned 12

times. We've seen me, the SNP or Independent mentioned a grand total

of 153 times! So, Presiding Officer, I'll get on with the job of

improving education, but I'll take no lectures on priorities from Ruth

Davidson or the Tories! What engagements has the First

Minister planned for the rest of the week. The bring forward the

Government's plan for Scotland. Scotland's nurses need a pay rise.

Since 2010 they've seen a real terms cut in wages of ?3,400. Our NHS

staff are underresourced and underpaid. The Labour Party will

always argue for better wages because it means better performance.

The reality of today's NHS is nurses are more likely to leave the

profession because the work isn't paying as well as it should. The

results, hundreds of millions of pounds spent on agency staff. So,

why did the SNP vote against scrapping the pay cap last night?

Well, I think this is a really important issue, not just for people

working in NHS but for public sector workers generally. We've had a

period of pay restraint. The reasons for that pay restent were firstly

the financial crash. Then the long period of austerity started under

Labour and continued under the Tories. The reason for that pay

restraint, the reason was to protect jobs in the public sector and make

sure we can protect investment in areas of the public sector like our

NHS. As I said previously, we're seeing more investment in our NHS

today under this Government than we would if Labour were in Government.

They didn't pledge as much as we did. On the issue of pay, can I say,

I think this is an issue we are required to look carefully at now

inflation is rising again. With the NHS, of course, it is the

independent pay review body that makes pay recommendations. The

Health Secretary yesterday committed to working with the health unions to

jointly commission work that we would then submit to the pay review

body for its deliberations for the next year. But, we have taken action

to make sure that we are treating workers in our NHS as fairly as

possible. Unlike Governments elsewhere in the UK, we have

targeted low pay and we've also made sure that we've always accepted

recommendations of the pay review body and made sure people working in

our NHS aren't denied the progression they've sometimes been

denied elsewhere. As a result of that, while I do not deny for a

second the real pressure that people working in our NHS are under, as a

result of that, in Scotland, every entry level NHS support staff worker

is paid more than ?1,000 a year more than their English counterparts. A

band 5 nurse, the level for a newly qualified nurse, is paid ?300 a year

more than somebody doing the same job in England. And, crucially, paid

?312 a year more than a nurse doing the same job in Wales. Why do I

mention Wales? Labour is in Government in Wales and they haven't

even done as much as we've done to protect the pay of nurses. We'll

continue to make sure we work with our trade unions to get fairness for

our nurses and for public sector workers. In all of that, there's no

escaping the reality whilst they might be ?300 better off than

England they are worse off than they should have been under her

Government. And the brutal reality of a decade of SNP has seen them

make a complete and utter mismachinagement of our 2346789 HS

The Times newspaper today reports a ?400 million contract for private

doctors to work in our NHS that went out to tender on the 1st May. The

brutal truth is our hospitals have to turn to private sector because

they don't have enough doctors in the first place. Labour can reveal

today the number of consultant posts that have remained vacant for six

months or more has increased six fold since 2011. That's the reality

of complete and utter mess she has made of our NHS. So, tell me First

Minister, why can't the SNP find ?400 million for private health

companies but it can't find the money to pay our NHS nurses? I'll

take no lessons on private sector involvement in our NHS from the

Labour Party who signed PFI contracts in our NHS that continues

to drain the budgets. The reality is, reliance on the private sector

reduced under this Government. That is right and proper. Let's go back

to the important issue of pay. Not just in the NHS but in the public

sector. I understand why workers across our public sector think the

1% pay cap has now to be lifted. We'll continue to talk to trade

unions. I was talking about this very issue earlier this week. And

will continue to make sure the evidence we submit to the pay review

body for the NHS properly reflects the circumstances in the economy

today. We've had pay restraint because we have had an extremely

tight public spending environment. We have had to make sure we protect

jobs in the public sector and protect investment in our National

Health Service. The other thing Kezia Dugdale won't want us to

mention is the fact we've also in Scotland had a policy of no

compulsory redundancies in the public sector. We look at the NHS.

We see 12,000 compulsory redundancies in the NHS. 20,000

South of the border, none here in Scotland. I'm not standing here

saying it is easy for anybody working in our NHS. Because of the

action we've taken to make sure we target extra resources at low paid

people, making sure people working in our NHS get access to

progression, because of that, 60% of agenda for change staff will have

been paid more than the 1% uplift when they're progression and action

in low pay's taken into account. I don't think it is at all fair for

Kezia Dugdale simply to dismiss the fact we have done more than any

other Government anywhere else in the UK to try to help public sector

workers in this difficult time. We will continue to do exactly that.

The difference is this Government stands on the side of public sector

workers in the NHS and elsewhere too. Two things come from that.

First of all, in all of that answer, she's actually asking us to be

grateful that she's not sacking nurses because of her compulsory

redundancy policy. Secondly, there is a clear difference between our

two parties. Whilst I have a progressive plan to protect our

public services and stop the cuts, all she has is a plan to see the

private sector profit from Scotland's sick. That is the

reality. And the Times romp today also tells us the amount of private

money going into the NHS has doubled in the last two years alone upped

her watch. Let's look at those facts. Our hospitals don't have

enough nurses. Those nurses don't have enough money in their pocket.

Our hospitals don't have enough doctors. But this there's enough

money for private health firms S this what the NHS looks like when

the Government's more interested in running a referendum than running

the NHS? Let's look at private sector spend. Private sector spend

fell last year in NHS Scotland. It represents 0.7% of the Scottish

Government's total health resource budget. In comparison, in a trend

started under the last Labour Government, the NHS in England

spends 7.6% of its budget on the private sector. So, we will continue

to make sure that we are investing in the public NHS not the private

sector. Interestingly, one of the first things I did when I was Health

Secretary was scrap the private contract for the running of a

hospital that was introduced by the last Labour administration. So, the

problem for Labour here is all these things they pontificate about in

opposition are things they failed to do when they had the opportunity in

Government. And, lastly, I don't expect anybody working across our

public sector to be grateful to any Government. They are dealing with

extremely tough times. I recognise that. I recognise that particularly

for people working at the front line of the NHS. But I would expect

opposition parties to recognise that in these tough times, this

Government has done more in terms of public sector pay than any other

Government across the UK. That's why agenda for change, staff are made

more in Scotland than England and why newly qualified nurses are paid

more in Scotland than they are in England and Labour-governed Wales.

We have record funding in our NHS and record numbers of staff working

in our NHS as well. I'm conscious we've taken a lot of

time on the first two questions. There are a number of members who

wish to get in. If we can make progress. Two constituency

questions. John Finney? North-west highland, it's UNESCO status in 2015

after ten years of hard work by local communities. That status is

assessed every four years. It is next due to be assessed in 2019.

Until now, the Scottish Government's provided core funding. This year,

the Scottish Government took the decision not to supply core funding.

The park have put of a crowd funder that closed on Monday. They've

raised 12,816. What's gone into achieve that can UNESCO status, it

would be a disaster if that status was lost. Will you examine options

for sporting the West Highland geopark to keep its UNESCO status? I

am familiar with go owe park and the UNESCO status it has. It is

extremely important. As I recall, the Scottish Government provided

initial core funding with a view to geopark becoming sustainable. I am

happy to ask for it to be looked into again and see if we can do

anything. I'll report back to on-Finney once we've had the

opportunity to look at it. Our bowling and tennis club in Greenock

is a 175-year-old club offering vital sporting facilities. Changing

to water and sewage charge exemption rules has left them facing a bill up

to ?2,000 per annum which could drive up membership costs or force

them to close doors. They are not the only ones. What comfort can the

First Minister provide charities, clubs, village halls and sporting

groups that the Government will look at these charges. Will she commit to

a full and open review into this policy? . It is not too long since

we had a full review of the situation around charities with

water rates or exemptions. I remember it well. At the time, I was

the minister in charge of taking forward the recommendations from

that review. I remember well we tried to put in place a system that

was as fair as possible to as many charities across the country. The

test for he exemption are based on the income of charities and capital

that the charities hold. Therefore there will always be some charitable

organisations that don't get examingses because they've capital

above those thresholds. I am more than happy to have the relevant

minister look at the particular loringation cited here. To make sure

the rules are being applied appropriately. The genuine point is

all members will recognise with any system of exemptions like this,

there will be some organisations that do not qualify for the

exemptions. I know that will be very difficult for organisations in that

position. I'll ask Rose Anne in a Cunningham to look at this

particular case and report back to the member in due course. To ask the

First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the

Cabinet. Matters of the importance, the people of Scotland. Yet again,

we've #45ered about the poor statistics on education. The mother

of our 15-year-old schoolboy said to me yesterday that she is worried her

son could be one of those statistics. He is struggling with

reading and writing. She is anxious about his future. And she is also

angry with the SNP who have been in charge for the whole of her son's

education. What has the First Minister got to say to that mother

and her son? I'm concerned to learn of any parent anywhere in the

country who has concerns of that nature about their child's

education. I would repeat again how seriously I and this Government take

the challenges that we face in education. I won't repeat as I did

with Ruth Davidson, all of the strengths of Scottish education. I

do think it is unfair to teachers working hard across the country not

to recognise those strengths and to recognise some of the real

improvements we're making. Up with of the ones I didn't mention earlier

on was the improvements in attainment with pupils with

additional support needs. Because we recognise some of these

challengeses, we are taking the action we're taking. I don't know

the school the child 69 parent quoted by Willie Rennie goes to. But

it is very, very likely that the head teacher of that school now has

in his or her own hands, additional resources, significant resources to

invest in areas that head teacher thinks is required to attain improve

thes. It is that action we're determined to continue to drive

forward. Many of the reforms we are taking forward are reforms Willie

Rennie's opposing. Yes, it is absolutely right members bring

concerns to this chamber. But, we also have to be prepared to do the

difficult things that are required to see the improvements we all want

to see. I'm afraid that's more promises to

improve school education at some point in the future. It won't help

that schoolboy now. He could be part of a lost generation. He's been in

school for a decade. Every single day off that the SNP education

secretaries have been in charge. And they still sit round the Cabinet

table today. These are the Education Secretary is that rejected a pupil

premium for six whole years, even though it raised attainment in

England. They delayed education for two-year-olds, rejected a penny on

income tax education and cut thousands of places from our

colleges. When the First Minister and her ministers have got it so

wrong for years, why on earth should that mother and her 15-year-old son

ever trust them again? Firstly, these are important issues and

important challenges we've got to face. I do think it does a real

disservice to the young people of our country to use language like "A

lost generation". That is pretty disgraceful. Secondly, Willie Rennie

talks about investments he thinks we should have made years ago. I would

remind him that those years gone past are exactly the years the

liberal Democrats were in a Westminster coalition with the

Tories, cutting Scotland's budget year after year after year. APPLAUSE

The last point I would make is the most important point. Willie Rennie

says the parent he talks about, what good will this do now. The money I'm

talking about that is in the hands of head teachers is in the hands of

headteachers right now. I've spoken to headteachers in my constituency

who are already talking about the initiatives they are taking forward

with this investment. The additional investment direct to headteachers,

the extra investment elsewhere, but also the measures we are taking

forward to ensure that we can track the progress as a result of these

measures. Willie Rennie repeatedly stands up in this chamber and

opposes the things we are trying to do to make sure that we can see

these improvements and make sure we can be accountable to every parent

across this country. We will get on with doing the things that need to

be done, even sometimes when they are difficult and don't get the

support of the Liberal Democrats. APPLAUSE

Last night BBC Scotland broadcast a shocking documentary on the human

trafficking trade. It provided clear evidence that young girls are being

trafficked from Slovakia to Glasgow where they are forced into sham

marriages to local men. This is a scandal and human tragedy which is

going on under our noses in Scotland right now. Can the First Minister

set out what her government will do to support girls who arrive here in

such appalling circumstances and what measures can be taken to cut

down on trafficking and traffickers who indulge in this evil trade? This

is an extremely important issue. Annie Wells is right to say that it

is both a terrible crime, it is also a global problem. It's important we

take robust steps to tackle it, both in cracking down on the crimes being

committed but also making sure we are supporting the victims. In terms

of tackling crime, the human trafficking and act passed by this

Parliament in 2015 gives both police and prosecutors enhanced powers to

detect and prosecute those responsible for human trafficking.

Police Scotland also uses joint investigation teams established

under European law to work with Romanian and Slovakian police in

this area. It's vital that Police Scotland continues to work closely

with UK immigration, Euro poll and other nations' police forces in

order to investigate human trafficking offences. We will

continue to make sure our police force have the powers and resources

to investigate and tackle what are evil crimes against these

individuals. The second important point is how we support victims of

human trafficking. We continue to support what is the invaluable work

of organisations that offer assistance to victims. In 2017-18

the government will provide grant funding to specific organisations

who support at Old victims of human trafficking, an increase on previous

funding. Will also continue to work with them to improve the support

available to prevent re-trafficking. There is a whole range of it. I will

be happy to write to the Minister with more detail but we should all

agree that the crime of human trafficking is evil and we've got to

bring those responsible to justice but also provide the support the

victims need. Is the First Minister may be aware there is huge

disappointment following a prolonged investigation and nine separate

court hearings related to the case of the illegal killing of a hen

Harrier. The video footage supplied was inadmissible. Notwithstanding

the progress made by ministers in recent years in tackling wildlife

crime for the First Minister acknowledge this is a serious crime

threatening the species. Given that wildlife crime is often difficult to

detect, the law and the approach of the Crown Office must take into

account such factors. Can I ask the First Minister if she will be

willing to investigate this case? I do agree very much with Richard

Lochhead. As he will understand, decisions about the prosecution of

crime are decisions for the Crown Office and the Law officers act in

that respect independently of ministers. I think it's important we

take wildlife crime very seriously. Particularly in cases where it

threatens a threatened species. I'll be happy to ask the relevant

Minister again to meet with Richard Lochhead to look at what more we can

do, particularly taking into account his point about often these crimes

taking place in remote areas and therefore they are more difficult to

detect. It's important we make sure the policy framework, and the law

around this, and that the decisions taken by the Crown Office are doing

everything possible to crack down on these kinds of crime. We will

continue to do everything we can to make sure that is the case. College

lecturers have been. On strike for the fourth day in this current

dispute, impacting on them, their families and their students'

education and exams. Can I ask how many days lecturers will need to

strike before the First Minister intervenes to insured the pay deal

is honoured? Does she agree with me that preparation time is essential

in order to enable high-quality learning? I agree with the last

point. I want to see this dispute settled. I don't want to see college

lecturers on strike. It's not in their interests or in the interests

of squalid Dutch students. As members will be aware that dash in

the interests of college students. It will see a significant pay rise

for the vast majority of college lecturers. The discussions now are

about how different terms and conditions are replaced with a

national system. Talks are continuing and I would encourage

both sides to go the extra mile, including and perhaps especially the

employers to go the extra mile to reach an agreement. In terms of the

point about government intervention, and I take this seriously because

ministers have been speaking regularly with both sides trying to

make sure we do everything to encourage them to move towards a

resolution. The move to national bargaining was something the union

is rightly long campaigned for an something I'm delighted to see this

government has delivered. If we have a situation where in order to

resolve a dispute government has to step in and intervene, that's not

the success of national bargaining, that would be the failure of

national bargaining. Ministers will continue to discuss with both sides,

we will do everything we can to bring it to a settlement. Talks are

ongoing, I think today and certainly tomorrow and I hope we will see a

resolution of this. That's in the interest of college lecturers and

also college students. I hope that reassures the member that the

government will continue to make sure we are doing everything

possible to bring that about. I'd like to refer members to my register

of interest to ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government

is marking meant to help awareness week. I welcome the opportunity to

highlight Mental Health Awareness Week. It's important we all do what

we can to increase awareness and reduce the stigma. To mark the week,

the Minister for mental health met with parents of children with

experience of mental health services and last I spoke at an event to

discuss stigma within the workplace. We will hold the first meeting of a

stakeholder Forum on the 23rd of June. That is a specific commitment

in our new strategy because we know that working with stakeholders will

be key to the actions of the strategy in the year ahead. I thank

the First Minister for that answer. In my opinion one of the most

important actions outlined in the strategy is a commitment to

introduce a managed clinical network for perinatal mental health. How

would that be progressed and how will it help mothers experiencing

mental health problems? Progress is being made and just this week the

lead clinician for the managed clinical network for perinatal

mental health has been appointed. They heard at first hand from others

their experiences in asking for and getting the right help. I would

expect the new network to get it right for parents and their children

by driving up standards of care through integration of services and

more collaboration. I ask the First Minister whether the Scottish

Government has had discussions with agency to SEPA? The Scottish

Government is in regular contact with the Scottish Environment

Protection Agency. SEPA staff are present in Grangemouth on a regular

basis as part of their duties to deliver regulatory functions. I

understand the following discussion with locally elected members, SEPA

is establishing a site to support the wider Stirling -based team. I

thank the First Minister for that and I welcome the fact that SEPA are

going to have those discussions with Grangemouth. It doesn't require an

answer! To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is

doing to better resource planning authorities in light of an increase

in planning fees for major applications from the 1st of June

2017. We need a planning system that supports both businesses and

communities to deliver high quality development on the ground. There has

been a general understanding that fee levels are too low and in many

instances aren't proportionate to the work involved in processing

planning applications. Fees and performance go hand-in-hand

therefore we are increasing the maximum fee for major planning

applications to provide further resources to councils to improve

performance. The National view of planning fees

that she has mentioned, maximum fees have risen from 30,000 to 120 5000.

This is a welcome Rob Dorset for local authorities. Many planning

authorities have done an excellent job despite cuts. Organisations such

as homes for Scotland, are TPI and smaller building firms want to make

sure there is a corresponding improvement in the service for those

fees. With the First Minister recognise that these costs could be

prohibitive if there isn't a dramatic improvement in waiting

times in particular I'm looking at the figures for house-building,

where there is an average weight of 48 weeks. I know the government has

a strong interest in this, planning to build 50,000 houses. I'd like to

know what the First Minister can do to ensure those additional costs are

spent on improving the planning system itself. I think I would make

two quick points. Firstly it's important to stress that the maximum

fee increase only applies to major applications, which account for less

than 1% of all applications. It wouldn't impact on our plans to

deliver 50,000 affordable homes. Secondly, the fee increase is

deliberately about giving councils resources to improve their

performance. Improving planning performance and doing it on a

consistent basis across the country is one of the things we can do to

boost economic growth in Scotland. Its vital these increases lead to

that improvement in performance. We are seeing improvements in

reductions in waiting times for example, there is more that can be

done and I hope this increase in the feed together with the actions will

take forward from our wider review of planning will help with that in

the period ahead. To ask the First Minister in light of the local

government elections, whether Scottish Government will act to

randomise the ordering of candidates by surname on ballot papers in

future elections? For somebody who surname starts with an S, I can see

the attraction! Can I begin by congratulating all councillors

elected last week. I'm sure everybody would join me in wishing

them well in their roles to support local communities. Following the

successful electronic count, randomise the ordering of candidates

's earnings is one of the innovations the Scottish Government

will consider for future elections. No decisions have been taken but

it's one of the changes that will be subject to consideration. I thank

you for that answer. The SNP randomises its own internal SNP

ballot so it seems reasonable that the SNP government introduces such a

measure in local elections. The system produces results heavily

biased in relation to surnames. In Glasgow 40 of the 43 contests where

two or more candidates from the same party stood, the individual who

surname is closest to the beginning of the alphabet received the highest

number of votes. Does the First Minister agree that after three

elections, there is clearly something wrong when one surname can

prove such a decisive factor in whether one is elected, and does she

not agree that if this isn't addressed the credibility of the

single transferable vote system is at stake? APPLAUSE

I think that has to count as a classic question! Before I address

the substance of the question I'm delighted that there was an Aitken

elected in Glasgow because Councillor Susan Aitken of course is

set to be the new SNP leader of Glasgow City Council. I'm delighted

about that. On the serious issue, it's important that no candidate in

any election is at an unfair disadvantage. We would all agree

with that and that's why we have already said that we will examine

the particular issue that Kenny Gibson has raised. It's also

important with any changes to how we do elections but we build consensus

around that. Not for any one party to decide on those changes. As we

look at but we will be looking carefully at opinion not just across

the parties but across civic Scotland as well. As we do have this

consideration over the next few years I would encourage everybody

across Scotland to contribute to it. That concludes First Minister's

Questions. They can't get away from elections. Even talking about the

ordering of names on the ballot paper. It's the UK general election

that is dominating attention. I'm joined by two colleagues, speaking

as a tailor I come after both of you in the running order is! Simon

Johnson, first of all, let's talk about the education question. Again,

Nicola Sturgeon looking contrite but argumentative in response to it.

Yes, I thought sometimes Nicola Sturgeon is at her best when her

back is against the wall but she really struggled. She said, you are

talking down pupils and teachers, we are doing X, Y, Z. She came up with

a convoluted excuse about how we shouldn't be looking at the fact

that half of S2 pupils can't write properly. To be honest I thought she

struggled because the figures were... It was a tough gig. They are

reading off a list of things they are doing latterly to try and

address the situation. Both Willie Rennie and Ruth Davidson came back

to the fact that ten years ago they came to power. I think she was

struggling quite a bit on it. Katrina, it came out of the evidence

at Holyrood and the fact it wasn't just the pupils who were in numeric,

the teachers themselves lacked the skills in transmitting new Morrissey

as well. Yes, trainee teachers, people who are going to educate the

next generation said that they were concerned that they didn't have the

numeracy skills to teach maths to primary seven pupils. Clearly

something has to be done. Nicola Sturgeon says there is a review

going on and that's due to publish in the next few months. What it will

bring, we will see Ben. Simon, it was both Ruth Davidson and Willie

Rennie going on this question. It is a devolved matter but they are

trying to make an election point as well. Absolutely. It plays into two

key themes for both parties. One is to do with Nicola Sturgeon's

competence in government and secondly, it's playing into this

argument that the Scottish Government has been focusing on

Constitution and the independence referendum rather than doing the day

job. But will be a major theme for the Conservatives and Liberal

Democrats. The First Minister came back she said it's not me obsessing

about the Constitution and it had education, health, transport and

justice combined. Nicola Sturgeon said we've been debating the

constitution because we've been debating the Brexit shambles your

Tory government caused. Is it fair to judge, this is a UK general

election, it's not about the matters people decide what people bridge the

two. Everything is fair game in politics. People don't understand

the daily nation between this place's powers and Westminster's

powers. It feeds into issues of competence about Nicola Sturgeon

specifically. Let's talk about Kezia Dugdale's chance for Labour, she was

going again on the SNP's record. It was health and nurses pay. It was

one of the other big responsibilities the Scottish

Parliament has. Kezia Dugdale was saying, under the SNP's watch, over

the last ten years nurses have seen their wages decline in real terms by

over ?3000. Nicola Sturgeon didn't so much dispute that but she said,

hang on, nurses are paid more in Scotland than in England and Wales.

She said a newly qualified nurse in England or Wales would get ?300 less

than their counterparts in Scotland, pointing to Wales which is of course

the one part of the UK where Labour are in government. It was an attempt

by Kezia Dugdale to place herself on the side of the workforce and Nicola

Sturgeon quite explicitly said in her final statement, we are on the

side of the workforce. There was a battle there for the hearts and

minds. Yes, that was a question to do with one eye on the election as

well. Labour are fighting a battle for their base, public sectors

workers, workers in the NHS. This was Kezia Dugdale saying, I'm on

your side, I believe you should be getting more pay. Katrina, the two

topics health and education struck me that they will almost rehearsed

positions. Of course these are topics that have been raised

endlessly, education was raised last week. Kezia Dugdale was raising the

subject of nurses pay only yesterday. But it appeared that they

were almost formulaic in the questions and the response as if it

was familiar ground for all of them. It did, didn't it? The education

questions came off the back of the statistics we had earlier this week

and also on the appearance of trainee teachers at the education

committee. Kezia Dugdale and Labour were making the same point about

nurses pay yesterday. Both sides had their arguments lined up and gave us

their lines. It doesn't take us much further forward. Finally, you can

see the First Minister responding slightly contrite but equally the

Education Secretary sitting next to her looked really solemn and

serious. They know this is a huge challenge on these education stats

but don't seem to be very good. That's the thing. It's very

difficult to turn around, when you've got 49% of S2 pupils who

can't write well. It's going to take years of difficult work and they are

going to keep getting hammered on this. They can project improvements

but it's going to take a while. It's going to take a long time and taking

on the education unions as well, which is difficult stuff. They've

done a lot of low hanging fruit making this and that free but this

will be really difficult. A lot of this was done in England a long time

ago. Katrina and Simon, hang on a second. As I mentioned it's the

small matter of a UK general election coming up in four weeks'

time. We've had the leak of the draft Labour manifesto, pretty well

right now it's going to the national executive of the Labour Party at a

meeting in London to ratify change. The Scottish party has their input

to that. I spoke to Kezia Dugdale just before coming on air, she

wasn't exactly delighted that it had been leaked but she welcomed the

statement there was against independence in a referendum. I

asked her about the fact the manifesto, contrary to the Scottish

party's conference position, the manifesto backs the renewal of

Trident. You're in favour of Trident according to the manifesto. The

draft manifesto clearly says it supports the renewal of Trident,

that's the Democratic position of the UK wide Labour Party. Not the

Scottish Labour Party? We took a position against the renewal of

Trident and we argued that within our movement. The final fate of the

Labour Party is to renew Trident but also to... Said the Scottish party

is overruled? This is part of our democratic process, we took a

position and made our voice Claire. I'm joined by my colleagues again.

Simon, let's talk about the leak. Parties like to be in charge of the

distribution of policy not having it done by leak. Ignoring what's

actually in the document, a leak of an entire manifesto, what it tells

the electorate is that this is a party at war with each other.

Somebody inside has seen it in their interest... To pass it to the

Telegraph who broke the story. The Telegraph and the Mirror! Somebody

trying to cover their tracks, perhaps. There's somebody in there

who isn't very enamoured with the direction of the party or Mr Corbyn

and is trying to sabotage the campaign. This party is not ready

for government. As to the content, substantial renationalisation,

rail... Rail, energy companies as well. The price cap that the Tories

to cried in 2015 on energy prices coming in, now under Labour.

Substantial changes as well and offers on Social Security and

benefits. Yes, yes. It's interesting, going back to what

Simon said about it going to the Telegraph, he said it shows a party

in chaos but another commentator was saying, actually more people will

read the Labour manifesto as a result! LAUGHTER There's a lot of

tax and spending, regulation, nationalisation. It does smack of

the 1970s... A gloomy picture of Mr Corbyn, you must have been dredging

through the archives to find that one! He looks much smarter now. What

does it say about Scotland and the input of the Scottish Parliament?

The position on Trident for example, it's slightly shambolic. We've got a

UK party saying we are in favour of Trident with a leader who clearly

isn't. Up here we've got a Scottish party whose official position is

that they are opposed to the renewal of Trident with Kezia Dugdale as a

leader who is in favour of Trident. What the voters will make of that, I

think they'll be rather confused. They can go with the manifesto

approach that Trident will be renewed but they are seeking a

multilateral approach. On the subject of the election we will be

hosting a series of ask the leader debates on BBC One Scotland a week

before the general election, hosted by Glen Campbell. We are looking for

members of the public to put their questions to each of the party

leaders. You can apply to be part of the audience by visiting the

website. You can follow the election

throughout the campaign here on BBC Scotland.

The race is on to complete London's most ambitious railway.

I don't think we've seen anything to this scale and complexity before.