12/01/2017: First Minister's Questions Politics Scotland

Hello and a warm welcome on this rather chilly day and a good New

Year to you as well. It is a new year, but it is the same topics and

anxieties. We are concerned about the health service. There will be a

debate this afternoon about the state of the education system and

there is always Brexit. Any of those questions could come up in questions

to the First Minister. Let us cross to be Chamber. With the Britain is

on her feet. Let us listen in. Let me wish you and everyone across

Scotland are happy New Year. Later today I will have engagement to take

forward the government was programme for Scotland. We have heard a lot

this week about performance in health systems. I think we should

all be able to agree that nobody should revel in sick people

struggling to treated anywhere. Instead we should be focused on

patients and how to improve care and that is why I welcome reports this

morning that the Scottish Government has brought in a team from the NHS

in England to help out the troubled Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow.

Can I asked the First Minister how many other Scottish hospitals have

benefited and continue to benefit from such arrangements? There is not

a team from the NHS in England helping in the Queen Elizabeth.

There is a support team provided by the Scottish Government helping the

Queen Elizabeth Hospital deal with pressures in A There is an input

to that from a very small team, to people I think from a commissioning

provider in the North of England, but this is a Scottish Government

support team and it's making sure the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, just

is as the case in hospitals across Scotland are dealing with the

increasing demand for A services. It's worth saying that our services

face challenges, particularly in the winter months and these are

challenges not just based in Scotland, but across the UK. Our

staff are doing a sterling job in dealing with those challenges. The

most recently published figures for the week ending the 1st of January

showed that out of every 100 patients, 92 were seen within the

four hour target. That is broadly similar to the same week last year,

despite A attendances being up by almost 3% since the same week last

year. My concern of responsibility is a Scotland but it's important to

say that due to the actions that we have taken to support A

departments across Scotland, our NHS is coping better than the NHS in

other parts of the UK. The Chamber doesn't have too take my word for

that. Let me quote Professor Derek Bell. He said Scotland is

consistently performing eight or ten percentage points better than

England. There is no complacency in this government when it comes to A

or any other health care services. I visited three different health board

this week alone, but we will continue to support our health

service and our A departments to make sure they continue to deliver

the services the patients deserve. Presiding Officer, I asked how many

hospitals were benefiting from such arrangements. As the First Minister

chose not answer I'm sure the Chamber looks to her updating us on

her convenience as to how many have been so served. We know they have

been problems at the Queen Elizabeth and we know this team that brings in

a lot of different people including people from south of the border has

been in place for a number of months, but what we don't know is

it's precise remit. How long it has been asked to stay for and what cost

has been incurred to the Scottish Government. Can I asked the First

Minister what has been the total cost over the past five years of

hiring specialist teams from other parts of the UK to help the NHS in

Scotland? We provide... We as the Scottish Government provide

appropriate support to help boards so that they can continue to improve

services and deliver better services to patients. Perhaps if the element

in the rest of the UK was doing similarly, there would be better A

performance across hospitals in England. As an aside, the latest

figures for England on A were published this morning. They show a

further decline in performance and they now show a gap between

performance in Scotland's A and England's of ten percentage points.

Let me say very clearly, Presiding Officer, the NHS in Scotland will

continue to use and learn from best practice in the delivery of health

care, where ever that best practice exists. Let me also say this very

clearly and there was no complacency on the part of the government, we

will come in see increases in the winter months and that will be

reflected in performance, but if there is best practice in the NHS in

terms of anywhere in the UK to be learned from, it is best practice in

the NHS in Scotland. I quoted Professor Derek Bell earlier on. I

don't know if Ruth Davidson has seen what he has written in this

morning's Scots man. He talks about the better performance, consistently

better performance than in other parts of the UK and he says that

this is in part due to the National programme to improve unscheduled

care that she is best practice and appears to be sharing patient

benefit. He then suggests the NHS in England should consider introducing

a similar national plan to the one already operational in Scotland. So

we do have best practice in A services. That is practice has been

delivered in our hospitals here in Scotland. Presiding Officer I simply

asked for a greater transparency in health spending and as a former

Health Secretary I would've thought that that was information that the

First Minister would have been happy to provide the Chamber. It seems

not. Of course the Queen Elizabeth Hospital is not the only new medical

facility with teething problems. In 2014 the First Minister announced

new trauma centres would open across the country. They were supposed to

receive the first patients last year, but yesterday the Scottish

Government announced the new centres would be years late. The First

Minister admitted they would be at least three years late and the only

explanation offered with scale and complexity. Communities have been

expecting the centres for two years and are now been told to wait at

least another three. I think they deserve a full explanation than the

one given and so does this Parliament. All the First Minister

of it now? -- will be First Minister give it to us now? We have record

levels of health spending in Scotland as a result of decisions

taken by this government. That record level of health spending is

delivering record numbers of staff working in our health service and

those record numbers of staff are delivering A performance in

Scotland right now that is ten percentage points better than A

performance in England and even further than that, compared to Wales

and Northern Ireland. We will never be complacent about the performance

of our health service, particularly during these difficult winter

months, but let me take the opportunity to thank each and every

one of our health care teams across Scotland who are doing such a

fantastic job on our behalf right now. In terms of the trauma centres

that I was very proud to talk about yesterday, including ?5 million of

investment in the next financial year to support this commitment, we

have rightly taken time to get this right. Ruth Davidson and others will

be aware, should be aware because many of their own members have been

part of this intense debate about the correct number and configuration

of major trauma centres across Scotland and Ruth Davidson would've

read in that programme to government published in September last year the

commitment that we would conclude the preparatory work by the end of

2016. That is exactly what we have done. We will now go on with

implementation, but it's important to be clear what we are talking

about. We're not talking about creating from scratch four new

facilities that currently don't exist. These four hospitals in

Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh already provide excellent

first-class trauma care. What we are talking about is continuing to

enhance what they do and to join up the services they provide with the

services that other hospitals provide and with the service that

the Scottish ambulance provided in an integrated trauma network and

that work will be done on an ongoing basis over the next three years.

Many of the improvements that are part of that will be delivered over

the course of this year, including key improvements to the trauma

service provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service. This is about

ongoing improvement to excellent services that are being delivered by

trauma care staff across the NHS. I was delighted to talk to that staff

yesterday and let me take the opportunity to take the opportunity

to thank them for the first class outstanding job that they are doing.

So not just late, but also scaled back from the party conference

announcements? Presiding Officer, there is another point here and once

again yesterday we saw this Scottish Government bypass Parliament and go

straight to the media regarding a major change it's been reported that

the Health Secretary is not due to update Parliament on the delay to

these trauma centres until October, meaning MSPs won't have a proper

opportunity to question the reasons behind this decision for nine months

and I think that is clearly unacceptable. The Scottish

Conservatives have requested that the Health Secretary comes to this

Chamber to give a full statement on the delay and I asked the First

Minister to ensure that that takes place next week. Providing officer,

can I point out to Ruth Davidson that I am in the Chamber right now

answering questions from her on major trauma centres! Said if she

can't get any or all of the information about this announcement

that she wants, then I would suggest that about a deficiency in her

ability to ask questions, not about any lack of information from the

Scottish Government. Can I also say to Ruth Davidson to further things

about this. I didn't go straight to the media yesterday, I went straight

to nine wells Hospital to talk to the staff who deliver trauma centre

care across this country. And incidentally, there was an IP Q

published in forming Parliament that I did it. Secondly, Ruth Davidson

clearly doesn't know much about this subject. She talks about scaling

back. Can I say that when I talked about the intense debate about the

number, that was about the fact that there were people who we should only

have two major trauma centres based in Edinburgh and Glasgow. We did not

think that was right, so what we have committed to our four major

trauma centres as part of an integrated network. Further evidence

of this government getting on with the job of delivering first-class

care services and finally, providing officer, I do say it's a bit rich

for Ruth Davidson to come to this Chamber and talk about the health

service. Especially in the week when the Red Cross has accused her party

presiding over a humanitarian crisis in the health service in England. So

I'll get on with the job... I'll get on with the job of supporting our

health care staffing doing the great job that they are doing in providing

health services across our country. I can see members are in quite a

rounding mood and if we could just please show some restraint. Kezia

Dugdale, question number two. Happy New Year, Presiding Officer. I once

asked the First Minister what engagements she has for the rest of

the week? Two take forward the programme for Scotland. Last year I

met with leading consultants and surgeons at the Aberdeen infirmary.

They said a new trauma centre in Aberdeen could be the difference

between life and death for people in the north-east. Whether it's someone

in a serious car crash or an accident on the brakes, they were

clear. Having access to world-class trauma care could be a life-saver.

The SNP promised the trauma centres will be open in 2016, but yesterday

the First Minister and a three-year delay and she looked like she was

celebrating that delay. Given what the experts tell us, is this the

First Minister accept that this delay could be a matter of life and

death? Aberdeen and Dundee major trauma centres will be fully

operational before the ones in Edinburgh and Glasgow, probably over

the next year to 18 months. Aberdeen is getting the life-saving trauma

centre that some people thought it should not get because there should

be only too, based in Glasgow and Edinburgh. It's important because

this is really important. These major trauma centres are not

brand-new facilities from scratch. These hospitals are already

providing trauma care. It's about enhancing what they do firstly, but

secondly, and this is the crucial part in perhaps the part that is not

fully understood, it's about joining up what these four centres do with

the work that other hospitals do in other parts of the country and

crucially with the work that the Scottish Ambulance Service will do

in an integrated trauma care network. That is the really

important part. One of the early parts of implementation of this will

be the provision of a 24-7 trauma desk within the Scottish Ambulance

Service said that patients get to definitive trauma care as quickly as

possible. This is not just about four centres, is about a network of

trauma care that is going to deliver better trauma care for patients that

is already being delivered. Let me stress, these hospitals are

delivering first-class care already. The life-saving medics I met told me

that they are telling the government more delays will cost lives. I

listened very carefully to the First Minister's response to Ruth

Davidson. I wrote it down word for word. She said we are rightly taking

time to get things right. She's that we are ensuring the correct number

and correct configuration. Wipe then did her government released a press

release on the 2nd of April 2014 that says, the four bases will be

operational Kezia Dugdale, if she had looked

into all the detail, with all the answer to her own question. After

that, it was another report that cast doubt on that being the correct

configurations. We had to look again, if we were taking into

account the clinical evidence if we were getting that correct. That is

why what I say it was exactly the correct thing, taking time to make

it right. These improvements are underway already, Aberdeen already

delivers life-saving trauma care, enhancing what it does, Dundee,

Glasgow, Edinburgh. But crucially, making sure that they work together

in that network with the appropriate support from the Scottish Ambulance

Service. These are the correct changes, being taken forward. The

other part of the announcement from that has not been talked about and

off, the focus on rehabilitation. It is about making sure that people who

suffer serious traumatic the rehabilitation that the need for the

quality of life. This is an integrated approach, correct

approach, based on evidence. Achievement, officer has taken

forward the work and we're to implement it. I also listened

carefully to the First Minister smacked response about problems

facing England's NHS. I think it is incredible to hear the First

Minister say that the Red Cross has not condemned our NHS. What happened

to the high ambition? It is an unhealthy seam that follows the SNP

and election pledges, patients promised world class care at the

Queen Elizabeth and they are not getting that. People in the

north-east were promised the trauma centre, but yours behind schedule.

We know that 700 people have died, waiting to leave hospital. Targets

are being missed. And dedicated health care staff have told us that

they are under pressure like never before. The only consistent thing

that the SNP deliver, broken promises on NHS. Kezia Dugdale's

comment about the Red Cross would be fine, if it was actually what I have

said. What I said we should be celebrating in our NHS, with no

complacency, is that hard-working staff in Accident and Emergency

departments are delivering performances against the targets,

ten percentage points ahead of hospitals in England, and even

farther ahead of Wales and Northern Ireland. And you do not have to take

my world for that. That as the view of the experts, and I quoted

Professor Derek Bell. I think we should be proud of the NHS staff are

doing that but we should continue to support them, given the challenges

that the fleece and will continue to cease throughout the winter. Kezia

Dugdale also mentions delayed discharges. We have seen evidence in

England, steep rises, over the last year, when we have got more work to

do. We have seen our main percent in NHS bed days lost to reduction

discharges. I have visited three different health boards this week,

and the people I have spoken to have talked about the six actions and the

benefits that are starting to be filled from integration of Health

and Social Care Act. Getting people discharged from hospital earlier.

Were the only government in the United Kingdom that is not just

talking about integration, we have actually done it. And the benefits

are being seen. Much more work to do but we will continue to support the

NHS. And finally Presiding Officer, I am going to say this to Kezia

Dugdale, and I know that she does not like this. This government was

elected on a commitment to increase resource spending by ?500 million,

more than inflation, over the life of this Parliament. Kezia Dugdale's

commitment in that election was just a increase in spending by inflation.

If Kezia Dugdale was standing in my place, they have service would have

less money. She has got a cheap to ask the questions that she has been

doing. -- a cheek. We have a couple of constituency questions. Murdo

Fraser. Thank you Presiding Officer. Yesterday, the four through approach

was closed for most of the decor is not -- day, causing disruption. I am

sure the First Minister wants to join me, commending all those who

worked so hard yesterday in difficult conditions to get the

bridge reopened as quickly as possible. However, it will not have

escaped the attention of my constituents, that if the new

Queensferry Crossing had been opened in December, as the First Minister

had previously promised, they can to -- could have been spared this

destruction. Can the First Minister tell my constituents today when the

Queensferry Crossing will be open. To get to the facts of us, if a

driver had not ignored warnings, not to take an HGV onto the bridge, this

would not have happened. The contractual obligation as for June

this year, and we're on track to make sure that it is going be open

on track and the Queensferry Crossing is also being delivered

under budget. I want to thank all those working hard on the Newbridge,

as I want to thank all those who worked really hard yesterday and

some of the most difficult with conditions that we can say at this

time of year to get the bridge repealed. It was a complex repair.

The bridge was open at nine o'clock last night. And I think all of us

should say a heartfelt thank you. Thank you Presiding Officer. I would

like to put on record that I am a PLO to the First Minister. A number

of my constituents are outside the parliament today, sitting position

for oil movement at the Moray Firth. The decision on ship to ship is for

the Maritime and coarsening agency, with the First Minister join me in

arching their ship to ship to listen to the views of my constituents and

the course attention to the potential environmental impact of

ship to ship if that was allowed to go-ahead. Can I thank you for the

question. Correctly pointing out that this is not a devolved matter,

despite the Scottish Government repeatedly making the case for these

powers to be devolved. On the basis of the current information, the

Scottish Government is unconvinced that ship to ship oil transfers can

take place, without resulting in an unacceptable risk to the marine

environment, particularly European designated area for bottlenose

dolphins. We ensure that the concerns of local communities are

going to be heard, well continuing to press for relevant powers to be

devolved to Scotland. And the Port authority is also a vital part of

the economy of the North of Scotland. The NCA has got a duty to

listen to these concerns, and to the local people, represented at

parliament today. I welcome those Finally, it's the parliament today,

and some of those could be unsafe. I want to assure them that the

Scottish Government absolutely hears those concerns and will continue to

do everything that we can to make sure that those are heard by those

making the decisions. It would be good advice after leaving parliament

to stop off at the Scottish Office, and make sure that the UK Government

is listening, I hope that they would listen to those concerns as well.

John Lamont. Thank you Presiding Officer. The First Minister

descriptively aware of the news that the Jim Clarke rally is not going to

be taking part. This could be divorced from the motor racing

calendar permanently, and that would be a blow to the Borders economy. I

would the First Minister and the Scottish Government to do all that

it can to support the Jim Clarke rally, and can the First Minister

show that the ongoing enquiry is not going to be an obstacle, rally

itself. Can look at its decision-making not to grant a

permanent? I am going to put this in detail to make sure that he gets all

the information that he needs around the legal position. My

understanding, it is the governing body that has taken the decision not

to hold the rally this year. I understand that is of great

disappointment to those who enjoy the event. But given past incidents

at that event, it is legitimate and understandable concerns about

safety. It has been the subject of reports. We will continue to do all

that we reasonably can to support those who want to ensure the safe

conduct of this event in the future. These events are not just matters of

enjoyment to followers of the sport but can be beneficial to the local

economy as well. I want to make sure that for the information around the

detail of this is provided to the member and the government will

continue to do what we can to liaise with the Jim Clarke organisers to

make sure that we can provide any reasonable assistance. Question

number three. Patrick Harvie. I want to add to the general wishes for a

good New Year. To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next

meet. Tuesday. Some of the people who may not have a happy New Year

those who are going be affected by the UK Government's new benefits

cap. We have put in a number of questions on this issue about the

people of Scotland. Household family is going to be affected by that

savage reduction in welfare. Some of them losing over ?100 a week. I know

that the Scottish Government opposes that policy and shares concern about

it. Not in asking those questions, it has been clear that the Scottish

Government does not have an understanding about the number of

households affected. Previous estimates said 4000 households, DWP

have suggested 5000, external organisations have sent even opt to

11,000 households in Scotland. Some 20,000 children affected by those

cuts. Does the First Minister agree with me, it is vital that we get an

accurate assessment of the number of people who will be affected by these

cuts, and the ways in which they are going to be affected if they point

out any chance to get the support that they need with these new powers

coming to the Scottish Parliament? I agree with that very much. Patrick

Harvie will be aware, that the Scottish Government is seeking to do

what we can to understand the numbers of those affected by the

benefit. But we are reliant to a large extent by information provided

by the DWP to give accurate assessments. We will continue to do

what they can, but also seek information from the DWP, so that we

can get an accurate assessment but also use accurate assessments to our

own plan approach. I will not go into detail with the interests of

time, but also other issues that we have to make sure we have an

understanding around DWP, for instance when we have the ability to

use the powers to formally abolish the bedroom tax. How that will

interact with the benefit. On this, and any other issue, we do not want

to be giving with one hand, only for the UK Government to be taking away

with other. Complex issues, but at the heart of this, a simple

commitment from the Scottish Government. We want to continue to

do what we have, mitigate as far as we can the impact of an fair will

feel changes, -- unfair welfare changes, and also put on the systems

that are fair, have respect and at their heart. Dignity Patrick Harvie.

I understand the complexity of the challenge. But it seems that the

Chartered Institute of Housing, and those who have conducted external

assessments are not restricted to these DWP figures. They have shown

that the impact is good to be much higher. The Scottish Government

needs to be able to work with him, and any other organisations that can

produce an accurate assessment. Can the First Minister give us some

clarity about when that assessment is going to be conducted, when we

will have an accurate understanding of who is going to be affected, how

many households and how they will be affected? Clearly, the idea of a

child poverty strategy is going to be close to meaningless if we do not

have a clearer understanding of the impact of these changes on child

poverty in Scotland. And will be Scottish Government reconsider the

option of top up to true benefit, research has shown that even 5%

could lift as many as 40,000 children out of poverty in Scotland.

In terms of the substance, how we are going to use these new powers,

some commitments set out in the manifesto that we were elected on.

The Green Party put forward proposals that they will with

interest. Including the one that he talks about. What we said in the

manifesto and what we are committed to doing, introducing the new early

years grant, providing increased and better support to families and the

lowest income households when they have children. And we will continue

to support not just for the first child, butt of all children as well.

We are determined to use these powers, to help tackle child

poverty. The more general part of Patrick Harvie's Christian, I will

speak to the relevant Cabinet Secretary, to get a fuller

understanding of the work that we are doing to get those assessments.

I think that he is correct. And experience would tell me that he is

right. DWP estimates for the number of people affected by those changes

tend to be at the lower end of the Spectrum. It is in our interests as

well as the interests of the chamber and the country, for us to properly

understand the situation. If it would be coupled to Patrick Harvie,

I am happy to ask officials to meet him and his colleagues, so that he

can understand the work we are doing to get to the position.

To ask the First Minister what will be discussed that the next meeting

of the Cabinet? Matters of importance to the people of

Scotland. The budget is coming up. The Scottish Government has received

weekly warnings on the economy and education. We have the risk of a

heart Brexit. Scottish education has gone from leading to just average.

The IPPR warned about schools this week. Small business confidence is

falling. We are going to have to do something about this. I believe the

First Minister needs to rise to the challenge by investing in education

and skills to get our schools back up to the best, to train other

people for work to boost the economy. As college funding has been

cut in real terms by ?90 million compared with seven years ago,

wouldn't it be right for us, considering all those challenges, to

reverse that can't inform? First Minister? We have put forward a

draft budget. Willie Rennie knows that we prioritise the economy and

he is right to say it is important given the challenges we face from

Brexit. The budget also prioritises education. I could not have been

clearer and I will continue to be clear about the importance we attach

to education, raising standards and closing the attainment gap. The

budget is a draft budget, and as is normally the case on we are passing

budgets we will discuss with others who want to discuss with us ways in

which we can listen to the suggestions that are put forward.

And the Finance Secretary has been discussing with other parties will

continue to do that, but be in no doubt, the economy, education and

public services and continuing to make sure we take this forward to

equip Scotland that the challenges that lie ahead will always be at the

centre of our spending plans. I am afraid that answer fails to match

the scale of the challenge that is before us and that is why the

Scottish Government has no majority for its budget. That ?90 million cut

from colleges has wiped out a whole sector of part-time courses. The

Royal Society of Edinburgh said today a 40% reduction in part-time

students in the last eight years and none has primarily affected women

and over 25-year-olds. The pupil premium for schools in England has

delivered real change that allows everyone, no matter what their

background, to participate in the economy. The Scottish Government's

attainment from plans are years behind and ?70 million short of what

is required to match that present investment. Of course other budget

changes will be required, but we have seen decline in schools and we

have seen decline in colleges so were the First Minister reverse the

decline and change her budget for the sake of our economy? We will

continue to discuss with Willie Rennie and others suggestions that

they have for amendments to the draft budget. That is how we always

conduct ourselves when we are at the stage of the budget process. I would

say to Willie Rennie that we in and week out what he is asking about the

change of the draft budget does change. Around Christmas it was

around mental health and we are in agreement that we need to do more.

Today it is a range of other things. We will continue to engage on these

matters and the financial Secretary's is open to anyone who

wants to have a constructive conversation. With regard to the

people equity funds, part of the Scottish attainment challenge was

the ?120 million go directly to schools in the form of a pupil

equity fund, delivering extra to support children who come from more

deprived backgrounds. That is a signal of our determination to close

the attainment gap. We put forward a budget that has the right priorities

but we remain open to discussing the detail of that with any party that

wants to engage and -- in a constructive way. What is the

position on the record number of drink-drivers that have been

stopped? It's more than disappointing to see a rise in the

number of drivers who have flouted the law and put their lives and the

lives of others at risk over the festive period. There is only one

safe level of alcohol if you are driving and that is none at all.

Unfortunately data shows the bus majority of those court will not

only over the new lower limit, but over the previously higher limit.

Police Scotland are taking action to catch those who put lives at risk is

by drink-driving, especially the hard-core drink-drivers and that's

why we have increased the number of checks carried out over the festive

period compared to the year before. Do these figures highlight the

effort and resources that Police Scotland are directing towards

safety over the festive period and does the First Minister commend the

services for making our roads and community safer? I do commend the

police thought the work in this area and I commend the work of all our

emergency services in the work they did over the festive period to make

us all safe. The festive drink-driving campaign demonstrate

that Police Scotland are right to focus very clearly on those who

drink and drive by taking the action necessary to catch those who are

putting not only their lives but the lives of others at risk by getting

behind the wheel after drinking. During the four-week enforcement

campaign there was an average of 610 drivers tested every day and that is

a 50% rise in the number of checks that were carried out the year

before. Assistant Chief Constable Benny Higgins said and I agree with

this, drivers need to take personal responsibility and be aware that

whilst the campaign is over, Police Scotland are focused on detecting

and arresting drunk drivers. There is no excuse for drunk driving. It

does put the lives of those doing it at risk and the lives of others at

risk and it is right that over the festive period and at all periods of

time we all say how unacceptable it is and we get behind Police Scotland

and the efforts to eradicate it. To ask the First Minister what the

Scottish Government's responses to a recent BBC report suggesting that

90% of performance athletes supported by SportScotland come from

a middle-class background? SportScotland and other clubs want

to build a system that is inclusive of everyone. The government has made

clear our determination to make sure children from our poorest

communities have the same opportunities as those from our

richest and that includes sports at every level. Our investment in sport

and PE in school represents a commitment. I thank the First

Minister for the answer. Would she agree that those performance

athletes who have had the honour of representing their country has done

so because of hard work and dedication? There is however an even

equality of opportunity and the answer is not too penalised the high

achievers, but to make sure that all opportunities are afforded to

everyone and stop with physical literacy at the earliest age as an

integral part of the educational framework? Yes I do agree with that.

If a good opportunity to take a moment to congratulate Sir Andy

Murray, then capping Granger and Gordon Reid for the recognition in

the Queen 's New Year on a list and everyone else who was recognised.

They are shining examples of the success of Scottish sport. It's

right that we continue to invest in elite sports and I have the honour

of officially opening the new elite performance Centre a few weeks ago.

It's also important that we support sport and physical activity at

grassroots. The amount of PE in schools increased dramatically over

the years that this government has been in office. I'm also proud that

we are supporting schools to do the daily mile in schools which is a

potentially transformational initiatives for the health and

fitness of our young people and yes it is right that we tried to promote

greater equality in opportunities for sport. I would say and this

might be the only discordant note in an area where I otherwise agree with

Brian, if you want to encourage more people from deprived areas to take

advantage of the opportunities in sport, perhaps reducing the

circumstances where the parents are having to use food banks or are

subject to benefit caps will help with that. Let us all get behind

making Scotland and even fitter nation. Thank you, Presiding

Officer. I note the First Minister's Sir, but I don't totally agree. I

refer to the report from the wholesome sport committee in 2009.

There is much to be learned from that report but I'm going to quote

from paragraph 268 we said, the international evidence that it is

notoriously difficult to achieve a lasting legacy from sports events in

particular the transformation of grass root sport and mass public

participation, recent comments have proved that we were right all those

years ago. Yet I do have concerns that there is still too much focus

and therefore funding directed towards the elite sports. I

recognise the achievements, but it's not all about medal count because we

partially justify that by a supposed payback of that nonexistent legacy.

Can I therefore ask if the government and the First Minister

will look at the balancing funding to more grassroots, not to try to

rely too much on that legacy which has not happened? I do think it is a

question of getting the balance right, but I don't think we should

reduce the support that we give for elite sports because in many ways it

is the performance and the success of our elite sportsmen and women

that will help to inspire young people to take up sport and to take

up physical activity. I would say to Christine and I know she will agree

with me invincible, just because something is difficult it doesn't

mean you should not try to do it in life. I suspect there are many young

people across Scotland over the last couple of years have picked up a

tennis racket because of the inspiration of Andy and Jamie Murray

and Gordon Reid. They may not become the world class players that these

three are, but nevertheless the inspiration will be important to

them. It is right that we support our elite sportsmen and women.

Christine Grahame is right and Brian Whittle was right. We also have two

support grassroots facilities and participation. That's what part of

the legacy of the Commonwealth Games was about increased facilities

across the country. A performance centre that I spoke about earlier is

one of many new facilities and enhance facilities across the

country. It's about getting the balance right so that we have got

not just the sport success to celebrate, but we are supporting a

population that is generally becoming healthier and fitter. How

were cutting the sport budget as proposed in the draft budget

encourage more people in working class communities to engage in

sport? We support sport in many ways. For example, our investment in

facilities, our investment through schools, sports, our investment in

major events. This is about the different ways in which we support

people who are taking part in activities. One of the things I do

think we have to do is get young people at a much earlier age into

the habit of activity and sport. That is why and I mentioned it

earlier on, the daily mile is such a simple thing, but such a potentially

transformational thing because at a very young age, I was at a school in

Edinburgh not along time ago where it was the nursery school kids who

were doing the daily mile. All of these things taken together are

important and whatever our political agreements are, all of us in the

Chamber should be to get behind that. Tyles the First Minister what

is the Scottish Government's response to the issue of hundreds of

adolescent mental health patients waiting for treatment? It's

unacceptable. The mental health Minister has been clear with health

boards that any falls in the performance or children experiencing

long waits is not good enough. It is though, and this is not intended to

take away the from the comments I've already made, but progress is being

made. The number of patients who waited at the 52 weeks has decreased

according to the figures we have got for the latest quarter. So there is

work to be done. I have said much in this Chamber before and I will say

much more in the weeks and months ahead about the importance of mental

health care. There is lot to be done, but progress being made.

I thank the First Minister for the question. I know that the First

Minister is a wheel that many young LGBT people have been struggling

with health as a result of bullying. The result shows that as a result of

LGBT people who have been experiencing doing has a long term

impact on well-being. What resources can tackle mental health and will be

central to the strategy, and include specific actions for named

vulnerable groups more at risk of vulnerable health? Something that

one or those -- Barnardos have expressed. That First Minister has

expressed support for the campaign, will she now commit to legislation

coming forward in this Parliament, it is such a serious issue and

support rate across the chamber. No action coming forward. I think the

member raises important issues, and has done that in a constructive way.

I do not think it is fair to say that no action has been coming

forward. I appreciate that she thinks we should be doing more,

faster, but we have a good deal of consensus about what we need to do.

She fair point, makes the point, although we have a dedicated mental

health Minister, it is not hugely the responsibility of the Minister.

And a good point between the linkages of mental health and

education. The strategy will look at this, particularly in education. It

is as much about prevention as it is treating mental health issues. She

is also absolutely correct to talk about the issues that linkages

people can face, because of homophobic bullying. I am a

supporter of the campaign, not just because of objectives but also the

way that the core vote, and we have a commitment to take forward the

issues that they have released with the government. We will do that in

consultation with him. A lot of substance and detail in this, across

a whole range of areas of government responsibility. It is important that

we get this correct, and the Middle Hill strategy will be published

shortly. That provides the direction of travel. And of course, that

strategy is backed by additional resources for mental health.

Spending on mental health resources has increased dramatically over the

course of the last few years but more funding is needed. Supporting

more services, not just treatment but prevention. I genuinely hope

that when we're going to have spirited debate, we can get behind

their actions that we need to take over the course of this Parliament

to make substantial changes, to the benefit of young people across the

country. Thank you. That includes First Minister's Questions. We have

that. The conclusions. It was rather rowdy! But they seemed relatively

well-behaved. Watching that with me were Lynsey Bews, Scottish Political

Reporter for the Press Agency, and the political commentator Hamish

Macdonell. According to Ruth Davidson, it was a combination of

the A Team and Green Lantern flying in! Some different interpretations.

I think it is a good rule of thumb, that if you see how many times the

First Minister actually thanks people who work in the public

sector, you can see how difficult she finds those questions. Five

teams, she thanked people who work in the public sector. Ruth Davidson

was saying, if the Scottish of service is so good, why have we been

taking people from England to help. And the Sturgeon was trained to

avoid any suggestion that people have been coming over the border,

because she knows is the Scottish of service in comparison to England.

Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee. Some different

interpretation of these were going to be brand-new devices. Nicola

Sturgeon said these are going to be add ons? Opponents feel that she was

playing their stone because they have apparently been delayed? It

seemed to be a bigger announcement at the time but she seems to be

backtracking on that, and said that we are just going to be making some

tweaks. She can talk about it being a complicated process, a lot of

things needing to be considered before these trauma centres can

officially open... But ultimately people are just good to look at the

headline, three year delay. It was a difficult set of questions for the

First Minister, those adopting said that some lives could be lost. Hyped

up. But tricky. Kezia Dugdale really using that the plane, that this

could be equally funded, highlighting the importance of

different consent. I'm running and fixing some of the issues. It does

not wash to compare to England. Heard that so many times. Wearing

thin. The answer from the First Minister was that we had changed

parameters, different configurations on these centres. And that was

correct to rethink? I think she was almost a victim of spin. It is not

the First Minister's fault that these centres have been the top, so

Winnie had not been delivered, she has got to play down the

expectations. Not actually new centres. It is a difference between

expectation and the delivery. I think she has to take the blame for

hyping this up. But able to cite expert evidence, that it is much

better in Scotland than south of the border. Better than them? But we

should not be measuring ourselves... The First Minister said that she was

not. But the Scottish Government do usually measure themselves in

performance against the rest of the United Kingdom. It is difficult not

to hold on to that when this comes along. This question of health

spending, we are going to come to the budget shortly, big generally?

It is getting some traction? It is similar to education. People are

scrutinising what is going on in the Hill service. Look at the Queen

Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow. Team sent in to sort out an all time low

performance. When that hospital opened in 2015, issues then, and if

anything it has got worse. The pressure is going to remain on the

First Minister. We can talk about the question of the budget. But we

can show some exchanges from the Finance committee yesterday. Derek

Mackay set out the draft budget, the SNP do not have the majority at

Holyrood, so he has got to convince another party to back the budget or

abstain. He had a hard time. You have taken the position to create a

tax differential, in terms of income tax, and you will be aware of

concerns raised by business organisations among others that it

is a risk, Scotland being the highest taxed part of the United

Kingdom. The impact that could have on the ability to attract

investment. The message that Scotland is high tax is put out by

the Conservatives and I think that is unhelpful when it is about the

way to package and quality of life in Scotland. I think that message

should not be put about by the Conservatives. Certainly, Scotland

continues to be a good place to live, work, invest. Do business. But

because you have shied away from using new tax powers, we know

councils have got less money, and need to make cuts. That is going to

affect local services. I believe when you look at the two to package

for government and local services it is fair. You talked about increasing

the threshold by the higher rate of inflation. That is the maximum of

what you said was to be considered in the manifesto. He said increasing

by a maximum of inflation. Why are you doing the maximum of what you

set out as something you consider? What we're doing is in line with

inflation. We take tax decisions year to year. That is the position

that we have put across. That is the figure in line with inflation. That

seems like the correct thing to do. It is our judgment. Patrick Harvie

has got a different opinion on the structure of income tax. We feel

that that fits within manifesto commitment, commands the support of

the people and is fair. Gives certainty. It was a tough time for

the finance secretary, standing his ground. We had questions today,

almost a shopping list from Willie Rennie of the Liberal Democrats and

Patrick Harvie of the dreams. The undercurrent was the budget. She

either has to go with the Liberal Democrats, find some concessions

that will get the Liberal Democrats on board or get some similar

concessions for the Greens. Liberal Democrats, she said I thought you

wanted mental health money? But she also offered a clear message to

Willie Rennie, the finance secretary's door is open. We can

discuss the shopping list. Also, Patrick Harvie on the subject, the

top pop to child benefit. Perhaps just keener to do a deal with Lib

Dems? Memories of the previous coalition? I suspect that Willie

Rennie is going to be the front runner because Patrick Harvie is so

far away from the SNP on tax. Of all the parties, the focus away on

agreeing on that. And giving Derek Mackay a hard time. Willie Rennie,

if you can get something on mental health then a deal could be done.

They need something on education because he need such a big point of

education during the election. And the Liberal Democrats are way away

from the SNP on tax. But Derek Mackay does not want to shift. But

the Liberal Democrats want to do a deal, they want to be seen as

relevant. They have not played a part in government here for ten

years. They are going to drive a hard bargain but want to do a deal.

And if the deal is done, this could almost be an apocalyptic stuff.

Bringing down the government. -- is not. It is. And we saw more from the

minority administration. They really need to move on this, in the

direction of the Liberal Democrats. And the door is open. We know that.

Thank you. We're coming to the close of the coverage of the very first

First Minister's Questions of 2017. The topics familiar but good

exchanges on the Hill service. And absolutely intriguing exchanges with

the Greens and Liberal Democrats, basically the budget and the bedding

taking place. I am looking forward to the weekend, Dundee United

against Queen of the South at Tannadice. A win for once would be

nice! Just in this New Year. It would make a difference. From me,

toodle for now. For two centuries,

it has told Scotland's stories. The Scotsman is one of the most

prestigious names in the Now the people behind the headlines

tell the incredible story of the paper itself.

It could get quite hairy. This was real

seat-of-the-pants stuff. I went down to the newsroom,

opened the door and I thought, "I've come home."

You're actually recording history.