:00:20. > :00:28.A very warm welcome to the Scottish Parliament, here at Holyrood. As we
:00:29. > :00:33.go on air, the conservative UK manifesto is being launched in
:00:34. > :00:39.Halifax. Perhaps some elements of that will filter through to the
:00:40. > :00:43.exchanges here. The prime event today at Holyrood is questions to
:00:44. > :00:49.the First Minister. Let's cross to the Chamber and my colleague, Nile
:00:50. > :00:56.Gallagher. Yes, don't change the channel, stay with us for First
:00:57. > :01:02.Minister's Questions. If you want to follow what is happening with the
:01:03. > :01:09.Conservative manifesto launch, do like the MSP are doing and watch it
:01:10. > :01:13.on your phone. What are the engagements for the Brit minister
:01:14. > :01:19.today? I will be on the leaders debate, which of course Theresa May
:01:20. > :01:22.is ducking. We don't have enough teachers in Scotland and given the
:01:23. > :01:25.fact that all sides accept this, does the First Minister agree with
:01:26. > :01:29.me that when young people here do choose teaching as a career we
:01:30. > :01:36.should do everything we can to ensure that they stay? As we have
:01:37. > :01:40.discussed before, Scotland in common with many other countries faces a
:01:41. > :01:45.challenge in teacher recruitment. That is why we are increasing the
:01:46. > :01:48.intake into initial teacher education, why the General teaching
:01:49. > :01:54.Council is looking to encourage more people into teaching and look at
:01:55. > :01:59.different routes into teaching. I suspect Ruth Davidson will ask next
:02:00. > :02:03.about teach first. I am open-minded to looking at ideas about how we get
:02:04. > :02:08.more young people into teaching but we have got to make sure that these
:02:09. > :02:11.ideas work for Scottish education, so we will continue to do everything
:02:12. > :02:18.we can to address the challenges we face. She raises the issue teach
:02:19. > :02:22.first let's have a look at it. This week we learned that in the last
:02:23. > :02:26.five years nearly 400 talented graduates have left Scotland to
:02:27. > :02:30.teach elsewhere in the UK. That is because they were attracted by the
:02:31. > :02:34.programme, very successful programme, which despite versions
:02:35. > :02:40.operating in 40 countries around the world still has not been allowed to
:02:41. > :02:43.step foot in Scotland. So that is 400 enthusiastic young teachers to
:02:44. > :02:48.pupae in our schools but aren't because Nicola Sturgeon says so. We
:02:49. > :02:53.have heard in recent days about the huge quality issues surrounding
:02:54. > :02:56.teacher training here, given that, come the First Minister give me a
:02:57. > :03:01.good reason why she is stopping new schemes like teach first but running
:03:02. > :03:07.here in Scotland and seeing if they can improve matters? I have met with
:03:08. > :03:12.teach first and discussed with them previously whether it would be
:03:13. > :03:22.possible to adapt their schemes to adapt to Scottish education. When I
:03:23. > :03:25.visited not long after I became First Minister as school in London
:03:26. > :03:30.that had taken part in the London challenge, and we did look carefully
:03:31. > :03:33.at the London challenge and incorporated some of its learning
:03:34. > :03:37.into our own attainment challenge. The headteacher in that school was
:03:38. > :03:42.sceptical about temp one. One thing she said at the time was that it was
:03:43. > :03:47.in her view, and they appreciate there would be other views, but it
:03:48. > :03:53.was quite short-term and it was a difficulty often in retaining those
:03:54. > :03:56.teachers. We will continue to discuss with the teaching profession
:03:57. > :04:01.and the local authorities how we make sure we get the brightest and
:04:02. > :04:04.best teachers into our schools. The General teaching Council has been
:04:05. > :04:09.looking at different ways of bringing young people into schools.
:04:10. > :04:14.Ruth Davidson doesn't talk about the pasta graduates in Scotland who to
:04:15. > :04:19.go into teaching. I want to encourage more of them to do so. We
:04:20. > :04:23.will continue to look at all of these issues as we drive forward
:04:24. > :04:27.with our determination to drive up standards in our schools and close
:04:28. > :04:32.the attainment gap between the richest and poorest. In the
:04:33. > :04:38.Amsterdam gave me a good reason why she won't let temp one work here, it
:04:39. > :04:43.was I spoke to a woman in London but they haven't closed my mind to That
:04:44. > :04:51.is exactly the first and so the First Minister give me in January
:04:52. > :04:59.2016, almost 18 months ago. Is there it is -- is there a decision in our
:05:00. > :05:02.future here? You have to question if the First Minister really
:05:03. > :05:07.understands the problem that we face because we have 4,000 fewer teachers
:05:08. > :05:12.than when she came to power. We aren't recruiting enough trainees to
:05:13. > :05:16.fill the gaps. We have 16% of training places for English unfilled
:05:17. > :05:23.and nearly a quarter for maths. She claims that her government is on top
:05:24. > :05:27.of this. Let me ask this, if she is, what percentage of secondary schools
:05:28. > :05:33.say that the lack of teachers is constraining the number of subjects
:05:34. > :05:37.they can offer? I have been very clear about the challenges we face a
:05:38. > :05:41.run teacher recruitment that is why John Swinney has been working with
:05:42. > :05:45.the general teachers Council to look into how we get more teachers and
:05:46. > :05:52.education but it is also why we have been increasing the intake into
:05:53. > :05:57.initial teacher education. As I said in relation to temp one, we have had
:05:58. > :06:02.initial discussions about whether that programme can be adapted for
:06:03. > :06:05.the particular circumstances of our education. We will continue to look
:06:06. > :06:08.at these issues in the round and drive forward the plans we are
:06:09. > :06:15.taking forward. The national improvement framework, which is
:06:16. > :06:18.already seeing reforms around school education, the attainment challenge,
:06:19. > :06:23.the attainment fund, the people equity fund in particular which as
:06:24. > :06:27.we speak is channelling resources into the hands of head teachers so
:06:28. > :06:59.they can drive the improvements they want to see in their schools. While
:07:00. > :07:01.we two-week Ruth Davidson gets up and asks about this, this government
:07:02. > :07:05.will get on with taking the action that binds the solutions. What a lot
:07:06. > :07:11.of waffle. I am pleased the First Minister thinks it is legitimate for
:07:12. > :07:12.me to ask questions about our failing education system. I think it
:07:13. > :07:14.is my duty to ask these questions. The question I asked was what
:07:15. > :07:16.proportion of our schools our constrained in the lessons they can
:07:17. > :07:17.teach, and the answer was 70%. That was the figure reported to the
:07:18. > :07:22.education committee. 70% of schools that can't offer the pupils they
:07:23. > :07:26.want to because her government has not recruited the teachers. Instead
:07:27. > :07:30.of facing this crisis, what do we get? This week we have seen
:07:31. > :07:35.backslapping of ten years in power while education has been getting
:07:36. > :07:39.worst. This is a First Minister who has provided over a teacher
:07:40. > :07:45.recruitment crisis, who has fallen asleep at the wheel on education.
:07:46. > :07:53.His response to bad test results is to take Scotland out of the tests.
:07:54. > :07:56.And knocks back ideas like temp one that she can't explain apart from
:07:57. > :08:01.some woman in London she has stopped too. Isn't it time that we had a
:08:02. > :08:07.First Minister in charge who does something about all of the mistakes,
:08:08. > :08:11.doesn't just admit them? The International summit of teaching
:08:12. > :08:14.experts that the Deputy First Minister attended just before Easter
:08:15. > :08:19.recognised there were teacher recruitment challenges across the
:08:20. > :08:24.world. Ruth Davidson to suggest this is a problem unique to Scotland I
:08:25. > :08:28.think is unfortunate. I think it is unfortunate that we two-week she
:08:29. > :08:34.stands up here and rightly points to areas where we need to improve but
:08:35. > :08:38.repeatedly fails to talk about the improvements we are seeing in
:08:39. > :08:43.Scottish education. The fact that in our schools are young people are
:08:44. > :08:49.coming out with record high passes, record advanced higher passes. We
:08:50. > :09:01.have more young people achieving national five qualifications. We are
:09:02. > :09:05.starting to see on a number of indicators the beginning of the
:09:06. > :09:10.closing of the gap between the richest and poorest. I am the first
:09:11. > :09:13.to admit there is much more to do, but Ruth Davidson should stop doing
:09:14. > :09:21.a disservice to teachers and pupils across this country... By using
:09:22. > :09:26.terms like a failing education system. We do not have a failing
:09:27. > :09:37.education system in Scotland and Ruth Davidson should be ashamed
:09:38. > :09:40.standing up here suggesting we do. Questionable to. What engagement she
:09:41. > :09:44.has planned for the rest of the week.
:09:45. > :09:47.Engagements to take forward the Programme for Government in
:09:48. > :09:51.Scotland. Yesterday, the First Minister and I've met with Brendan
:09:52. > :09:54.Cox, the husband of Jo Cox and at that meeting the First Minister
:09:55. > :10:00.rightly agreed that there is no place for abuse of any kind in our
:10:01. > :10:05.political debate. A few weeks ago a prominent Internet bloggers said of
:10:06. > :10:12.Oliver Mundell, a member of this Parliament, that he is the sort of
:10:13. > :10:17.public speaker who made you wish that his dad had embraced his
:10:18. > :10:22.homosexuality is sooner. There is no place in society for homophobia like
:10:23. > :10:28.this, which he agree with me? Of course I do. For Kezia Dugdale to
:10:29. > :10:34.get up here and suggest in any way shape or form that I would condone
:10:35. > :10:40.homophobia I think is deeply unfortunate. It was the kind of
:10:41. > :10:43.issue we were all discussing with Brendan Cox yesterday, all of us
:10:44. > :10:51.should make very clear that that kind of language, any form of abuse
:10:52. > :10:57.of any minority or any politician of that nature is completely
:10:58. > :11:02.unacceptable. I see a abuse on a daily basis being hurled at me, at
:11:03. > :11:08.my colleagues, people on my side of the political spectrum and I don't
:11:09. > :11:13.hold Kezia Dugdale personally responsible for that, so we should
:11:14. > :11:17.all join together and save that that kind of abuse is unacceptable and at
:11:18. > :11:26.least have this as an issue on which we have consensus and not division.
:11:27. > :11:30.I very much welcome that response from the First Minister. Of course,
:11:31. > :11:35.this was a remark posted on Twitter by Stuart Campbell, who writes for
:11:36. > :11:39.the website wins over Scotland. In the Daily Record I call but Mr
:11:40. > :11:42.Campbell for his homophobic comments. People should listen to
:11:43. > :11:48.this if they are serious about tackling homophobia and abuse in all
:11:49. > :11:53.of its forms. Mr Campbell has written to me through his lawyer to
:11:54. > :11:58.demand a ?10,000 payment for, and they could, damage to reputation.
:11:59. > :12:02.Presiding Officer, I stand firmly by my comments, I have never quite tied
:12:03. > :12:10.to believe and I will not start today. There is a catalogue of
:12:11. > :12:16.evidence that demonstrates the file that Stuart Campbell thinks is
:12:17. > :12:21.acceptable. Given that we are in the general election campaign, will the
:12:22. > :12:30.First Minister today condemned wins over Scotland and anyone else who
:12:31. > :12:31.poisons political debate in our country? I just have condemned
:12:32. > :12:35.anybody he indulges in that kind of language or abuse. I am not
:12:36. > :12:38.responsible for Stuart Campbell any more than Kezia Dugdale is
:12:39. > :12:45.responsible for people who hurl abuse at me in the name of being a
:12:46. > :12:50.supporter of the Labour Party. Let's cut to the chase about what is going
:12:51. > :12:54.on here. Kezia Dugdale is asking me about this today because she hopes
:12:55. > :13:00.it means I won't be able to remind her that her colleagues in Aberdeen
:13:01. > :13:07.yesterday voted for a Tory Administration there. What we are
:13:08. > :13:10.seeing here today is a bit of a political smoke screen. Let me put
:13:11. > :13:15.it beyond any doubt, I condemn anybody who hurls abuse on social
:13:16. > :13:20.media or anywhere else and all of us should do that. The abuse I see
:13:21. > :13:32.directed at me on a daily basis would make somebody's carer Carol,
:13:33. > :13:38.and some of it does come from people professing to be supporters of Kezia
:13:39. > :13:44.Dugdale's party. I do not alter personally responsible for that and
:13:45. > :13:47.I think we should accept that there are people out there and we should
:13:48. > :13:50.all united in condemning it. APPLAUSE. When my colleagues do
:13:51. > :13:52.something I disagree with I take action. I am asking the First
:13:53. > :14:25.Minister to do the same stop the A few SNP politicians have called
:14:26. > :14:31.him out. 44% of SNP MSPs and 50% of SNP MPs have actively encouraged him
:14:32. > :14:37.along. I have the list here. It includes ten government ministers.
:14:38. > :14:46.The Finance Secretary. The Justice Secretary and the Transport
:14:47. > :14:50.Minister. As leaders we have a duty to stand up when it becomes an
:14:51. > :14:55.outlet for aggression, intolerance and hatred. I want to have the First
:14:56. > :15:01.Minister act clearly yes or no question. Will she today order her
:15:02. > :15:09.politicians and her own ministers to denounce and shun wings over
:15:10. > :15:15.Scotland once and for all? APPLAUSE. I've follow thousands of people on
:15:16. > :15:20.twitter and I am followed by hundreds of thousands of people on
:15:21. > :15:27.twitter. Is Kezia Dugdale really trying to say, if I was to go
:15:28. > :15:33.through Kezia Dugdale's tweets or members of her group or her party,
:15:34. > :15:36.and I came up with tweets that were somehow unsavoury in some way, is
:15:37. > :15:41.she really saying that she would hold herself personally responsible
:15:42. > :15:50.for that? This is absolutely ridiculous. I am unequivocally,
:15:51. > :15:57.condemn abuse of any kind. I have a list here of abuse that has been
:15:58. > :16:07.hurled by many people who are not a Tory councillors in Scotland. I have
:16:08. > :16:17.had abuse from people who have been members of the Labour Party, I have
:16:18. > :16:19.been called a fascist and a Nazi, or my party has by Ian Smart, who was a
:16:20. > :16:20.senior member of the Labour Party and they didn't hold Kezia Dugdale
:16:21. > :16:24.responsible. Let's cut to the chase here. This is a smoke screen being
:16:25. > :16:32.erected by Kezia Dugdale today. Because her party is in disarray, it
:16:33. > :16:37.is in Civil War, it is in meltdown and as leader of the party, she is
:16:38. > :16:41.directing this at me to hide one simple fact, as leader of the
:16:42. > :16:46.Scottish Labour Party, she is not in control of the room party because
:16:47. > :16:50.she can't stop councillors going into coalition with Tories up and
:16:51. > :16:53.down the country. That is why she is asking about this today as a smoke
:16:54. > :17:02.screen to protect yourself against the State of a room party.
:17:03. > :17:11.Some constituency questions. Thank you. I wonder if the First Minister
:17:12. > :17:14.would join me in welcoming the Government's victory against the
:17:15. > :17:21.judgment blocking the development of offshore wind farms, a victory that
:17:22. > :17:24.is good news for Scotland and the climate change and jobs front and
:17:25. > :17:28.would she encouraged the RSPB who instigated the original action to
:17:29. > :17:33.accept the appeal decision and resolve the concerns by working with
:17:34. > :17:38.the developers on, for example, the sympathetic sighting of wind
:17:39. > :17:44.turbines? I do very much welcome the judgment. I think the development of
:17:45. > :17:48.offshore wind is important, not just for environmental reasons, but also
:17:49. > :17:54.economic development Scotland and I hope this means these developments
:17:55. > :17:59.can continue. What happens now is a decision for the RSPB. I hope we
:18:00. > :18:04.will see an end to the court action. I would also say and I hope the RSPB
:18:05. > :18:08.will listen to this because protecting the environment is really
:18:09. > :18:12.important and I know they have legitimate concerns about this so I
:18:13. > :18:16.would want to say very clearly to them and others that we want to make
:18:17. > :18:20.sure we work in a way to allow the development of offshore wind for the
:18:21. > :18:24.benefits it brings but does so with the protection of the environment
:18:25. > :18:29.very much paramount. I hope we can move forward on that basis. Thank
:18:30. > :18:34.you, Presiding Officer. The first Mr may be aware that an estate agency
:18:35. > :18:41.based in Edinburgh is demanding a buyer's premium fee. If prospective
:18:42. > :18:44.buyers do not agree to pay it, the property is offered to the next
:18:45. > :18:48.bidder who can pay it. The constituent spent 12 years saving
:18:49. > :18:57.for his first flat and is now expected to pay a fee of over ?2000.
:18:58. > :19:03.Does she agree it is an example of unscrupulous practice and will her
:19:04. > :19:08.government look into this issue and assessed the legality of the
:19:09. > :19:12.practice? Does the First Minister agree that the subject matter of the
:19:13. > :19:18.estate agents act should be devolved so that this parliament has the full
:19:19. > :19:22.powers over matters relating to the acquisition of land and property? I
:19:23. > :19:27.am happy to look into this matter. I agree these powers should be
:19:28. > :19:34.devolved. The regulation of estate agents is currently covered by
:19:35. > :19:39.consumer protection in the Scotland Act. I absolutely agree that fees
:19:40. > :19:44.charged by estate agents should be completely transparent and I'm
:19:45. > :19:53.stunned the Scottish Government has recently received one complaint
:19:54. > :20:00.about a buyer's premium -- I understand. I will write to the
:20:01. > :20:03.member on this matter. The NHS Grampian this week announced it can
:20:04. > :20:09.no longer guarantees surgery within 12 weeks of diagnosis. It is not in
:20:10. > :20:14.a position to meet the targets she has set. Will her government step up
:20:15. > :20:19.and provide them with the funding it should receive under the
:20:20. > :20:25.Government's own formula, a formula which is now nearly ten years old
:20:26. > :20:29.and has still not been delivered? We have moved health boards closer to
:20:30. > :20:35.parity, as it is called, than was the case when we took office and
:20:36. > :20:40.under the formula we continue to do that. On the specific issue raised,
:20:41. > :20:44.we are clear with all health boards that patiently waiting for treatment
:20:45. > :20:49.such as elective surgery must be seen as seen as quickly as possible
:20:50. > :20:53.and it is important patients with the highest clinical priorities such
:20:54. > :20:57.as cancer patients are seen extremely quickly. We are investing
:20:58. > :21:06.additional resources and we have been working with NHS prank in --
:21:07. > :21:12.NHS prank which we will announce soon to help build up capacity to
:21:13. > :21:16.make sure all patients are treated in a timely fashion. We see waiting
:21:17. > :21:20.times now lower than they were when this government took office but we
:21:21. > :21:24.also see demand on the health service continuing to rise, mainly
:21:25. > :21:28.due to the ageing population. We must continue to work with health
:21:29. > :21:30.boards and make sure they have the required resources to continue to
:21:31. > :21:42.deliver the standard of service patients deserve. My constituent
:21:43. > :21:48.Doctor who lives with his wife and two children is going to be deported
:21:49. > :21:52.on the 11th of June. The Glasgow University lecturer has recently
:21:53. > :21:58.been awarded ?1.32 million research grant from the UK Government which
:21:59. > :22:02.employs a further three people. The Home Office has repeatedly given him
:22:03. > :22:10.the wrong information which has led to this personal crisis. A Canadian
:22:11. > :22:14.national, his wife qualifies for UK citizenship and one of his children
:22:15. > :22:20.was born in the UK. Would the First Minister intervene in this case to
:22:21. > :22:31.assist allowing the doctor to remain here in Scotland and continue his
:22:32. > :22:37.valuable work? Obviously, I do not know the details of the case, but I
:22:38. > :22:40.would be very happy to look into the detail and see if there is anything
:22:41. > :22:45.the Scottish Government can do to appeal to the Home Office to see
:22:46. > :22:48.sense, if indeed that is what is required. I think the case he has
:22:49. > :22:56.outlined in terms of the details is shared with the Chamber today do
:22:57. > :22:57.seem to illustrate the complete wrong-headedness of the UK
:22:58. > :23:04.Government's approach to immigration. We see today as the
:23:05. > :23:09.Tories publish the manifesto a recommitment to an immigration
:23:10. > :23:12.target that they know is not deliverable but they know that in
:23:13. > :23:16.the process of trying to deliver the target they will do and hull damage
:23:17. > :23:22.to not just the Scottish economy but the UK economy as a whole -- untold
:23:23. > :23:25.damage. Today they are publishing proposals to increase the amount of
:23:26. > :23:32.money employers have to pay if they wanted employee skilled migrants
:23:33. > :23:36.from outside of the EU. As the BMA have pointed out, it includes
:23:37. > :23:39.doctors and nurses and other people working in our health service. Not
:23:40. > :23:44.only will we make it harder to recruit people into the health
:23:45. > :23:49.service, harder perhaps to recruit people into the teaching profession
:23:50. > :23:52.from outside this country, but we will also charge our public services
:23:53. > :23:59.when they are trying to do so. This really sums up the fact that the UK
:24:00. > :24:03.are pursuing an immigration policy damaging to the economy of the
:24:04. > :24:07.country and of course they are trying... They are doing it as they
:24:08. > :24:12.are increasingly morphing into Ukip and that I think makes it all the
:24:13. > :24:15.more important that after this general election there are strong
:24:16. > :24:19.voices standing up to the Tories and making sure Scotland's interests in
:24:20. > :24:30.this and so many other areas are properly protected. Patrick Harvie.
:24:31. > :24:38.When will the Cabinet next meet? Tuesday. A few days ago, the Prime
:24:39. > :24:43.Minister showed how hugely in touch she is with the priorities of the
:24:44. > :24:47.country by declaring that she has always supported fox hunting and
:24:48. > :24:49.maintains a commitment to its reintroduction. Today the
:24:50. > :24:56.Conservative manifesto promises a step backwards in the introducing
:24:57. > :24:59.this cruel and barbaric act to parts of these islands. It was also
:25:00. > :25:18.revealed one of Ruth Davidson's former colleagues who resigned is a
:25:19. > :25:19.member of a fox hunting club in Scotland claiming it was part of her
:25:20. > :25:20.way of life. An estimated 800 foxes are killed by hunts each year in
:25:21. > :25:21.Scotland. Many are killed by hounds rather than being shot, in clear
:25:22. > :25:24.breach of the act. The First Minister will be aware of the huge
:25:25. > :25:28.amount of anger and concern there is among members of the public about
:25:29. > :25:33.this issue. Does she agree with those members of the public who are
:25:34. > :25:39.contacting all parties to demand a ban on this brutal act? The sheer
:25:40. > :25:41.agree with her own party leader at Westminster who says he totally
:25:42. > :25:48.opposes fox hunting and if she does, will the law in Scotland totally
:25:49. > :25:51.oppose fox hunting? Before I come onto the position of the Scottish
:25:52. > :25:55.Government, I think it says a lot about the priorities of Theresa May
:25:56. > :25:59.and the Tories when they go out of their way to deny parliament any say
:26:00. > :26:04.over the hugely important issues associated with exit and yet they
:26:05. > :26:10.are committed to giving Parliament a free vote on Read reviews in fox
:26:11. > :26:17.hunting -- associated with Brexit. They have got completely the wrong
:26:18. > :26:20.priorities. Obviously, when David Cameron was talking about this
:26:21. > :26:24.previously, it raised an issue about the differences between the law in
:26:25. > :26:28.England and in Scotland and at that point, we committed to looking at
:26:29. > :26:34.loopholes in the Scottish law, Patrick Harvie will be aware, we
:26:35. > :26:38.have had people look at this in detail and we are considering the
:26:39. > :26:42.recommendations and considering whether changes in the law required.
:26:43. > :26:47.I do understand the concerns of the people who are writing to us, as I
:26:48. > :26:51.have always been an opponent of fox hunting and I remain an opponent of
:26:52. > :26:54.fox hunting and we need to make sure the operation of the law in Scotland
:26:55. > :27:02.is appropriate and that is what the process is intended to ensure. I
:27:03. > :27:05.think the very many people contacting politicians at the moment
:27:06. > :27:10.on this issue will want to clear up the answer about what is proposed in
:27:11. > :27:15.Scotland. The review was welcome but it followed a very narrow remit,
:27:16. > :27:20.defined by the Scottish Government which specifically excluded
:27:21. > :27:27.consideration of a full ban and indeed his Lordship himself said
:27:28. > :27:32.that he always had in notion that there must be a way of preserving
:27:33. > :27:36.fox hunting and said that he was not minded to abolish fox hunting but to
:27:37. > :27:41.find a way of maintaining it. Whilst some of the proposals may go beyond
:27:42. > :27:47.the status quo, they would be tantamount to proposing the Scottish
:27:48. > :27:51.Government endorses a form of regulated fox hunting. If the
:27:52. > :27:55.Scottish Government means to consult openly on this issue, can the First
:27:56. > :28:02.Minister confirmed the consultation will include consideration of a
:28:03. > :28:20.complete ban on mounted fox hunting in Scotland customer failing that,
:28:21. > :28:20.removing the exemption in the act that allows flushing foxes to guns
:28:21. > :28:22.given the significant evidence this is used as a decoy for traditional
:28:23. > :28:22.brutal and barbaric fox hunting? While I understand the concerns
:28:23. > :28:26.people are expecting and share some of the concerns, I think Patrick
:28:27. > :28:29.Harvie Miss characterises the position of the Scottish Government.
:28:30. > :28:33.The exemptions in the current laws are exemptions that were debated and
:28:34. > :28:38.agreed by this Parliament, I appreciate before I think Patrick
:28:39. > :28:44.Harvie was a member. There was a member 's Bill brought forward and
:28:45. > :28:51.these issues were fully debated at that time. There have been concerns
:28:52. > :28:54.raised about what I am describing as loopholes and whether we need to
:28:55. > :29:01.tighten the law further. We have embarked on a process. We have had
:29:02. > :29:07.the Lord look at this in detail. We are now consulting on what the Lord
:29:08. > :29:10.has said and given it is a live consultation, we should allow it to
:29:11. > :29:16.take its course. If Patrick Harvie wants to consult to the
:29:17. > :29:21.consultation, if he has, I apologise, but if he has not he can
:29:22. > :29:25.consult and argue for it to go further. We should go forward with
:29:26. > :29:31.this process and that is the right thing to do. Be under no doubt at
:29:32. > :29:35.all, this government opposes fox hunting and that is the position we
:29:36. > :29:40.have long taken and a position we continue to take.
:29:41. > :29:46.What issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet? Matters
:29:47. > :29:52.of importance to the people of Scotland. Children in Lothian waited
:29:53. > :29:57.666 days to get important mental health treatment. For anyone, that
:29:58. > :30:02.must feel like a lifetime. For a person so young, that must feel like
:30:03. > :30:07.eternity. Why are waiting times so bad when the First Minister said it
:30:08. > :30:11.would be a priority? It is a priority and is Willie Rennie nose,
:30:12. > :30:13.and I should say that there are still some long waits for mental
:30:14. > :30:18.health treatment that are acceptable, but we are making
:30:19. > :30:24.progress in bringing waiting times down. -- that are unacceptable. We
:30:25. > :30:30.have seen the number of people working in these services increase
:30:31. > :30:33.as well. This is a priority and they know it is a priority not just for
:30:34. > :30:38.this government before parties across the chamber and we will
:30:39. > :30:40.continue to bring forward the investment and other actions
:30:41. > :30:44.required to make sure that all young people coming forward for mental
:30:45. > :30:51.health treatment get that treatment and in a timely way. This is true of
:30:52. > :30:55.many of the challenges we grapple with the health service, but it is
:30:56. > :30:58.particularly true here, that we have vastly increased demand for mental
:30:59. > :31:03.health services, which is something we should think of as a good thing
:31:04. > :31:06.because it means the stigma is reducing, but it does mean we need
:31:07. > :31:11.to equip the services to deal with that. We are seeing improvement in
:31:12. > :31:15.waiting times and investment and the numbers working in mental health
:31:16. > :31:21.services and we will make sure that improvement continues. We have heard
:31:22. > :31:26.that all before. I will cope what you said last year. And I has to
:31:27. > :31:32.First Minister she told me this. This is one of the most serious
:31:33. > :31:36.issues we face as a society. When we discussed this suit your budget
:31:37. > :31:40.process, we discovered that the government was much further behind
:31:41. > :31:45.than even we had feared. Children in Lothian are not alone. In the ten
:31:46. > :31:52.tier of her government, the weight in the Highlands the 623 days. In
:31:53. > :32:00.Fife, 611 days, in Grampian it is a year. The government published
:32:01. > :32:05.independent legislation in weeks but it took 15 months to get round to
:32:06. > :32:09.the mental health strategy. These children deserve better from this
:32:10. > :32:12.government and First Minister. Will those children still be waiting as
:32:13. > :32:19.long next year or is she going to do something different? Willie Rennie
:32:20. > :32:26.is completely mischaracterising the position of the government. The
:32:27. > :32:31.facts speak for themselves. I recognise the challenge of improving
:32:32. > :32:38.services. That is why the workforce has increased by just under 50%
:32:39. > :32:43.under this government, spending on mental health has increased by 42%.
:32:44. > :32:50.In this year alone, spending will increase to ?1 billion for the first
:32:51. > :32:53.time and we continue to take steps to ensure that mental health
:32:54. > :33:05.services get an increasing share of the overall help budget. There are,
:33:06. > :33:10.although we are seeing waiting times reduced generally, there are some
:33:11. > :33:16.long waits which we are seeking to tackle, but to put that in context
:33:17. > :33:23.there is now 82.5% seen within 18 weeks, which is a 3.5% increase from
:33:24. > :33:27.the last quarter. I don't pretend that we don't still have work to do
:33:28. > :33:32.here, it is a feature of the increasing demand we are seeing, but
:33:33. > :33:39.the investment, the workforce and the progress in reducing waiting
:33:40. > :33:43.times is also there to see. Our mental health strategy contains a
:33:44. > :33:46.range of actions that focus rightly on the prevention and early
:33:47. > :33:51.intervention to meet the mental health needs of children and young
:33:52. > :34:01.people and to step in and promptly when they develop, so for example a
:34:02. > :34:06.review of Pastoral services and referrals. Willie Rennie is right to
:34:07. > :34:10.say this is a challenge that we need to address, but he is wrong to say
:34:11. > :34:17.we are not taking the action to address it because we definitely
:34:18. > :34:30.are. A couple of supplementary is. Joan McAlpine. No? Today the Israeli
:34:31. > :34:35.ambassador is in the Scottish parliament. Will the first
:34:36. > :34:40.representative or a representative of the government meeting him? If
:34:41. > :34:44.so, could they deliver alive message that after 50 years of Palestinian
:34:45. > :34:49.oppression that the illegal occupation of the West Bank must
:34:50. > :34:54.end? That the illegal expansion of settlements must end? That the
:34:55. > :35:00.illegal seas on Gaza must end? And they must allow free access of food,
:35:01. > :35:05.medicines and supplies into the Gaza Strip. And that he understands that
:35:06. > :35:09.without justice, without the quality and without freedom, there can never
:35:10. > :35:17.be peace. APPLAUSE. Fiona Hyslop will meet the
:35:18. > :35:22.Israeli ambassador later today and she will deliver our behalf of the
:35:23. > :35:26.Scottish Government a strong message on justice for Palestine and for
:35:27. > :35:31.Palestinians covering the very issues that he raises. This
:35:32. > :35:34.government has been clear in our support for people in Gaza and the
:35:35. > :35:42.range of injustices -- injustices that they suffer. I have led to
:35:43. > :35:49.bathe in this chamber about Gaza in the past and ultimately we remain
:35:50. > :35:53.committed to the two state solution in Palestine, so that message will
:35:54. > :36:01.be delivered strongly of behalf of the Scottish Government by Fiona
:36:02. > :36:06.Hyslop today. Given the actions of the Labour council group in Aberdeen
:36:07. > :36:09.and reports of two further deals between Labour and Conservatives,
:36:10. > :36:12.does the First Minister agreed that the clear message to voters is that
:36:13. > :36:22.if you vote Labour you will get Tory? In large part of the countries
:36:23. > :36:26.it certainly seems to be the case. This is a serious point. Labour
:36:27. > :36:32.votes in Aberdeen yesterday were used to put the Tories into
:36:33. > :36:35.administration. That should say something to everybody who might be
:36:36. > :36:40.considering voting Labour in the future, that if you vote Labour at
:36:41. > :36:48.you often get Labour, you get the Tories. That is the reality. Perhaps
:36:49. > :36:55.Kezia Dugdale will want to take the opportunity of just making it clear
:36:56. > :36:58.that the suspensions of the Aberdeen councillors yesterday will
:36:59. > :37:04.miraculously be waved away after the 8th of June. So perhaps at the first
:37:05. > :37:08.opportunity Kezia Dugdale Cattell is that because I expect this and is
:37:09. > :37:12.the general election is out of the way we will see these Labour Tory
:37:13. > :37:16.coalition is taking affect all over the country and I think that says
:37:17. > :37:21.everything we need to know about Labour and the Tories and the
:37:22. > :37:29.alliance between the two of them. Sandra White. Can I has to First
:37:30. > :37:31.Minister what action the Scottish Government is taken to tackle
:37:32. > :37:36.homelessness in Glasgow and across the country? The Scottish Government
:37:37. > :37:39.has ensured that homeless people in Scotland have some of the strongest
:37:40. > :37:45.housing rights anywhere in the world. Our focus on the prevention
:37:46. > :37:50.of homelessness has led to consistent falls in homelessness
:37:51. > :37:54.applications including in Glasgow. There is more to do to address rough
:37:55. > :38:00.sleeping. Providing a home is not the only support that vulnerable
:38:01. > :38:04.people need. That is why our current priorities include strengthening the
:38:05. > :38:09.development of approaches like housing first, piloted in Glasgow,
:38:10. > :38:12.which provides permanent accommodation alongside intensive
:38:13. > :38:18.peer support to help people with complex needs sustained their
:38:19. > :38:21.accommodation. I thank the First Minister for that supply and the
:38:22. > :38:28.support of homeless people in Glasgow. I want to say to everyone,
:38:29. > :38:32.I'm sure we all think it is unacceptable that in the country as
:38:33. > :38:37.rich as Scotland should have anybody dying on the streets because of
:38:38. > :38:40.homelessness. Does she share my deep concern is that homelessness will be
:38:41. > :38:44.made worse in Glasgow and the rest of Scotland with the move to
:38:45. > :38:48.Universal Credit, delays in payments, and the UK Government's
:38:49. > :38:56.welfare changes will put more people at risk of being homeless and this
:38:57. > :38:59.is unacceptable? Yes, I do. Let me just underline how important it is
:39:00. > :39:04.to this government to continue to tackle homelessness and rough
:39:05. > :39:08.sleeping. I know that is a key priority of what they hope will be
:39:09. > :39:14.the new administration of Glasgow City Council by the end of today and
:39:15. > :39:18.we will work with them to make sure we don't have a position where
:39:19. > :39:22.people are sleeping rough and anybody is facing the prospect of
:39:23. > :39:26.dying on the streets of our country. That is an unacceptable situation
:39:27. > :39:32.and I will not let that happen in our country. On benefit changes,
:39:33. > :39:34.this is an important point. I was in Inverness last week visiting a
:39:35. > :39:39.foodbank and talking to people who work front line with benefit
:39:40. > :39:44.applicants in Inverness. The reason Inverness is important is because it
:39:45. > :39:47.is a part of Scotland would Universal Credit has already been
:39:48. > :39:55.ruled out. The experience there should send shivers up our spines at
:39:56. > :39:57.the thought of Universal Credit being rolled out more widely,
:39:58. > :40:03.because their experiences of people's benefits being hugely
:40:04. > :40:07.delayed, people not getting the money they are entitled to on time,
:40:08. > :40:11.not getting all of the money they are entitled to. People have fallen
:40:12. > :40:22.into rent arrears, into debt, all through no fault of their own. Many
:40:23. > :40:26.of the people who are finding themselves in these positions are
:40:27. > :40:30.people who are working. They are working hard to try to support their
:40:31. > :40:34.families and are being treated in this way by a Conservative
:40:35. > :40:38.government that is ruling out these benefit changes that are not fit for
:40:39. > :40:42.purpose. I think the roll-out of Universal Credit should be halted
:40:43. > :40:46.until the Tories can assure everybody that they have got it
:40:47. > :40:51.right because the price of not doing that and carrying all is to plunge
:40:52. > :41:00.many more people into misery and potential homelessness. That would
:41:01. > :41:03.be unforgivable. Anywhere else. In April, third sector organisations
:41:04. > :41:07.emphasise the need once again for the Scottish Government to develop a
:41:08. > :41:11.new national homelessness strategy. Will the First Minister listen to
:41:12. > :41:17.their concerns and commit government to developing the strategy? We will
:41:18. > :41:22.continue to work with organisations like shelter to ensure that we have
:41:23. > :41:28.the right tactical policies in place to back up those strategies. We have
:41:29. > :41:32.some of the strongest rights for homeless people in Scotland and we
:41:33. > :41:36.have seen consistent falls in homelessness applications, but we do
:41:37. > :41:42.know we have to keep making Gress and we have an issue around rough
:41:43. > :41:45.sleeping. I would repeat the point I have just made, particularly to a
:41:46. > :41:50.Conservative member of this Parliament, any strategy we have on
:41:51. > :41:53.homelessness or tackling poverty and lifting people out of poverty is
:41:54. > :41:57.going to continue to be undermined as long as we have a Conservative
:41:58. > :42:02.government at Westminster that is intent on driving more and more
:42:03. > :42:06.people into poverty by cruel and callous Social Security cuts, so
:42:07. > :42:10.either to the question back to the Tories. By have detailed your bosses
:42:11. > :42:20.in London does not penalise and the poor and work with us to help them
:42:21. > :42:24.instead? Colleen McNeill. There is anecdotal evidence at least
:42:25. > :42:28.that rough sleeping is increasing in Scotland. Most people you talk to
:42:29. > :42:36.save the noise see more people sleeping in doorways. Few things are
:42:37. > :42:39.more shocking than people dying from called or hunger on the streets of
:42:40. > :42:49.Scotland. I know there are many reasons why this might be the case.
:42:50. > :42:54.I urge you to review the current strategy on housing and rough
:42:55. > :42:59.sleeping. To review the fact that Google authorities may need more
:43:00. > :43:03.resources to take this autumn, to review the fact that although the
:43:04. > :43:08.figures may not there at their side, that the evidence is strong enough
:43:09. > :43:11.to review the strategy that we currently have. I know that the
:43:12. > :43:18.First Minister has already agreed to look at some of the issues I raised
:43:19. > :43:21.last time, housing first, I know she is committed to this, but in all
:43:22. > :43:25.seriousness when you have have had deaths as we have seen on the
:43:26. > :43:31.streets of Glasgow, is it not time to have another look at the strategy
:43:32. > :43:35.that you currently have? Indeed it wouldn't be, which is why we are
:43:36. > :43:39.taking action to help councils deal with these issues. In terms of the
:43:40. > :43:43.statistics around rough sleeping, and I will cite the statistics of
:43:44. > :43:49.the degree of caution because many of us would think there has been
:43:50. > :43:53.under reporting. The statistics do not show an increase over the past
:43:54. > :44:00.three years, they show a steady state. I do not underestimate the
:44:01. > :44:05.fact that there may be an under reporting in the statistics. We are
:44:06. > :44:09.already taking action to strengthen the homelessness prevention strategy
:44:10. > :44:14.group so we have the right strategic direction, but we are also taking
:44:15. > :44:19.practical action, funding a post in Glasgow City Council's access team
:44:20. > :44:22.for example, to make sure we are improving the liaison between the
:44:23. > :44:26.council and housing associations and the other looking to see the housing
:44:27. > :44:33.options approach that has been piloted in Glasgow extended. This is
:44:34. > :44:37.something that's the moderator of the Church of Scotland came in to
:44:38. > :44:40.see me a year ago, that the housing options approach is important
:44:41. > :44:46.because it does recognise that often particularly for a vulnerable
:44:47. > :44:49.person, sorry the housing first approach, particularly for a
:44:50. > :44:53.vulnerable person, you need to provide more than accommodation, it
:44:54. > :44:56.is the support around that. We will continue to work with councils to
:44:57. > :45:03.make sure we are actively addressing these issues and will continue to do
:45:04. > :45:07.so. Question six. To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish
:45:08. > :45:09.Government is taking in response to the Scottish mutual Consortium
:45:10. > :45:18.report indicating that the shop vacancy rate rose? We have taken
:45:19. > :45:22.significant steps to help the retail sector. Our town centre first
:45:23. > :45:26.principle and our town centre action plan is designed to tackle key
:45:27. > :45:32.issues such as empty shops and improve the vibrancy of our town
:45:33. > :45:37.centres. We have a highly competitive business tax
:45:38. > :45:41.environment, have lifted 100,000... We have lifted 100,000 properties in
:45:42. > :45:48.Scotland out of nondomestic rates altogether. I will add for the
:45:49. > :45:54.benefit of the record, that the Conservatives voted against 100,000
:45:55. > :45:58.businesses being taken out of business rates. We have also funded
:45:59. > :46:03.relief for two thirds of retail properties. We have given Google
:46:04. > :46:06.authorities the power to further reduce rates. It is important to
:46:07. > :46:11.note that the shop vacancy rate in Scotland is lower now than it was in
:46:12. > :46:15.2015 and remains lower than that of the UK but we continue to want to do
:46:16. > :46:18.more to support the retail sector and get shops in our town centres
:46:19. > :46:23.occupied and providing services to the public.
:46:24. > :46:31.Shop vacancies are up while productivity growth in retail is
:46:32. > :46:35.slower than the rest of the UK. This is evidence this Scottish
:46:36. > :46:39.Government's economic policies are failing. With the business rate
:46:40. > :46:44.revolution hitting Scotland hard, the Government needs to get back to
:46:45. > :46:49.the day job of focusing on the economy or it will be the Scottish
:46:50. > :46:57.retail sector paying the price. We have seen an increase from January
:46:58. > :47:04.this year to April from 9% up to 9.2% in terms of the vacancy rate.
:47:05. > :47:09.In 2015, the vacancy rate was 10.6%. It is lower now than it was then.
:47:10. > :47:13.The Scottish Retail Consortium report highlighted that footfall in
:47:14. > :47:19.Scotland's high streets and retail parks grew by 3.2%. The third
:47:20. > :47:25.fastest growth rate of all of the UK's nations and regions and the
:47:26. > :47:31.fastest growth in Scotland since July, 2014. A few facts to perhaps
:47:32. > :47:36.correct some of the mischaracterisations at the heart of
:47:37. > :47:40.the question. The member sites the wider economic performance in
:47:41. > :47:44.Scotland and we, like other parts of the UK, have work to do to get the
:47:45. > :47:51.economy growing faster, something not helped by the extreme Brexit the
:47:52. > :47:55.Tories are pursuing. Yesterday we saw unemployment again fall below
:47:56. > :48:00.the UK average up we saw employment in Scotland increase, we thought
:48:01. > :48:04.productivity growth in Scotland around 7% over the last few years,
:48:05. > :48:10.completely stagnant in the rest of the UK. We will get on with the hard
:48:11. > :48:13.work of supporting our economy and unfortunately we face a Tory
:48:14. > :48:17.government in Westminster that appears intent through extreme
:48:18. > :48:25.Brexit in undermining our economy. That is the reality. That concludes
:48:26. > :48:29.First Minister's Questions. The conclusion of questions to the First
:48:30. > :48:34.Minister including the exchanges about Brexit and the UK general
:48:35. > :48:37.election. The Tory manifesto here, section on Scotland, talking about
:48:38. > :48:44.our precious union, saying in the past, Conservative governments, UK
:48:45. > :48:51.Governments, they have forgotten the devolved nations. Saying there
:48:52. > :48:55.should be no independence referendum, no further independence
:48:56. > :48:59.referendum until Brexit is signed and settled. Time to pull together,
:49:00. > :49:05.not a part. Joined by a couple of chums, Robbie Dinwoodie, the Tory
:49:06. > :49:11.manifesto, it will be of interest...? I am guessing this is
:49:12. > :49:14.the biggest sign yet that Conservatives are very confident of
:49:15. > :49:19.a big victory next month because traditionally all parties have been
:49:20. > :49:28.very wary of any move that could offend the grey vote because...
:49:29. > :49:32.Means testing winter fuel payment, scaling down slightly the triple
:49:33. > :49:37.lock on pensions? It could be presented as quite anti-pensioner
:49:38. > :49:40.and it is rare for parties to be brave enough to do that and I think
:49:41. > :49:46.they must think they have got the election in the bag. Ruth Davidson
:49:47. > :49:51.going by there with the Conservative perspective on the union, the points
:49:52. > :49:55.I raised, no independence referendum, not forever, but not now
:49:56. > :50:01.and not now for the for Siebel future. She wants Brexit sorted
:50:02. > :50:07.first. -- the foreseeable future. At least not until after Brexit which
:50:08. > :50:11.is pretty much what we expected. No surprise. We thought it would be
:50:12. > :50:19.confirmed in a manifesto. Not putting a timetable on it, not until
:50:20. > :50:24.Brexit is done and dusted. Questions on the Scottish Government's record,
:50:25. > :50:29.Nicola Sturgeon repeatedly saying, it is legitimate to raise these, she
:50:30. > :50:34.did not seem happy they were raised, did she? It has become a regular
:50:35. > :50:38.rhythm, you get the Government's existing record on an area,
:50:39. > :50:44.education, teacher numbers in particular, Ruth Davidson went on
:50:45. > :50:48.that. The reply generally is, we are moving in the right direction,
:50:49. > :50:53.taking action, has not come through. Then the quite stinging response
:50:54. > :50:57.from Ruth Davidson that it was just a lot of waffle and she is asleep at
:50:58. > :51:06.the wheel. White vigorous exchanges. Let us talk to... Kezia Dugdale has
:51:07. > :51:10.just walked past. She was on about social media, the impact. Nicola
:51:11. > :51:18.Sturgeon felt it was a bit of a red herring. It was odd, Kezia Dugdale
:51:19. > :51:25.was upset about a particular blogger... She was upset. Cannot say
:51:26. > :51:30.too much. She was upset. It was odd because she was obviously holding
:51:31. > :51:33.Nicola Sturgeon to account for this and Nicola Sturgeon had quite an
:51:34. > :51:41.easy defence of saying, it is nothing to do with me. Nicola
:51:42. > :51:45.Sturgeon looked genuinely puzzled, there is always spin, but she looked
:51:46. > :51:50.genuinely surprised. Nicola Sturgeon had the answer, I have been insulted
:51:51. > :51:55.by lots of people including people from the Labour Party. I do not hold
:51:56. > :52:02.you personally responsible. Why are you holding me responsible for this?
:52:03. > :52:05.Robbie? This incident happened about a month ago on social media and I
:52:06. > :52:09.think Nicola Sturgeon felt bringing it up today was to distract from
:52:10. > :52:15.some other matters affecting the Labour Party which we will come to
:52:16. > :52:18.in due course. Fox hunting, Patrick Harvie. Back to the beginnings of
:52:19. > :52:22.the parliament, he seemed to feel there was a real concern. Quite odd
:52:23. > :52:29.in a way because obviously it allowed Nicola Sturgeon and into
:52:30. > :52:37.attack trees in May and say she is completely out of touch Test and in
:52:38. > :52:45.two Theresa May. -- and into the reason may. Mental health, the
:52:46. > :52:49.crisis among young people in particular, the length of time they
:52:50. > :52:54.are waiting to get treatment and help. Again, very similar answer
:52:55. > :53:00.from Nicola Sturgeon, we are throwing money at it, it will come
:53:01. > :53:06.down. Willie Rennie is not happy it is happening fast enough. Hang on, a
:53:07. > :53:09.bit more from you in a moment. In those exchanges with Kezia Dugdale,
:53:10. > :53:15.Nicola Sturgeon suggesting it was a bit of a blind to avoid the Chamber
:53:16. > :53:19.talking about Aberdeen where the local label councillors have been
:53:20. > :53:26.suspended by the party at Scottish lashed low-level -- Labour
:53:27. > :53:31.councillors have been suspended by the party at Scottish national
:53:32. > :53:35.level. Professor John Curtice put it in context for us. We have to
:53:36. > :53:39.remember that in all of the mainland councils in Scotland, we ended up
:53:40. > :53:43.with no party in overall control and therefore they need to be
:53:44. > :53:47.understandings or deals to sort out who will run the administration.
:53:48. > :53:54.There are a lot of councils in Scotland were basically either the
:53:55. > :53:57.Conservatives... They have to come to an understanding. The truth is,
:53:58. > :54:03.these parties are wanting to draw red lines, saying, no, we are not
:54:04. > :54:08.willing to do a deal with the Conservatives, or the SNP, as a
:54:09. > :54:11.result, probably on quite a lot of councils, forming administrations
:54:12. > :54:15.will be difficult and it is not made easier by the fact we are in the mix
:54:16. > :54:24.of febrile atmosphere of a general election. We expect these decisions
:54:25. > :54:28.be put off. The truth is, the Labour Party in particular often finds
:54:29. > :54:32.itself the third-largest party on a council and in effect the party that
:54:33. > :54:36.can decide whether it is the Conservatives are allowed to run the
:54:37. > :54:39.council or the SNP. They will find themselves with some pretty tough
:54:40. > :54:45.but potentially important choices in the coming weeks. The polls,
:54:46. > :54:50.anything shaping up either UK tutor Michael Scotland? What seems pretty
:54:51. > :54:56.clear in Scotland is it will be tougher fight for the SNP than two
:54:57. > :54:59.years ago -- anything shaping up in the UK or Scotland? Much brighter
:55:00. > :55:05.for the Conservatives north of the border than two years ago. Perhaps
:55:06. > :55:08.running as high as 30%. Certainly in the high 20s. Meanwhile, another
:55:09. > :55:12.difficult election for the Labour Party with its support falling below
:55:13. > :55:27.the record low it recorded two years ago. Therefore, in effect, we are
:55:28. > :55:31.talking about, how many seats can the SNP hang onto? The Conservatives
:55:32. > :55:42.have hoped for picking up some. Maybe half a dozen, meanwhile, there
:55:43. > :55:43.are odd constituencies, like Edinburgh South, Edinburgh West,
:55:44. > :55:46.where Labour and the Lib Dems still have hope. It is a question probably
:55:47. > :55:46.of how much of the SNP dominance of Scottish representation. We are
:55:47. > :55:49.still expecting for Scotland's representation at Westminster to be
:55:50. > :55:53.predominantly SNP. Manifesto is emerging, UK and soon Scottish, does
:55:54. > :55:58.that shaped the campaign or is it done? In a sense, they are coming
:55:59. > :56:01.out in the middle of the campaign were often the parties have told us
:56:02. > :56:05.a lot of what they are for and against already. I am not sure in
:56:06. > :56:10.truth the manifestos will make that much difference. Manifestos often
:56:11. > :56:14.make more difference after an election. They become the bible by
:56:15. > :56:19.which they get judged. People like you read them and they say, hang on,
:56:20. > :56:29.you said six months ago you would do this and you are doing is an
:56:30. > :56:34.indifferent. They become a benchmark by which whoever wins gets to be
:56:35. > :56:41.judged when they are in office. That is probably a much more important
:56:42. > :56:42.role than influencing voters between now and the 8th of June. Professor
:56:43. > :56:45.John Curtice talking about manifestos and the row in Aberdeen.
:56:46. > :56:47.You can see why the Labour Party has decided to take the tough action.
:56:48. > :56:52.Since the referendum campaign when they sided with the Tories, they
:56:53. > :56:56.suffered for that. They are continuing to suffer for that. Mixed
:56:57. > :57:11.messages here. At Westminster, standing on an identical platform,
:57:12. > :57:13.it puts them squarely against the Tories. That has become... They are
:57:14. > :57:14.trying to slap down the Labour councillors in Aberdeen. Kezia
:57:15. > :57:18.Dugdale says it is not about Aberdeen, not about that, it is
:57:19. > :57:21.about Labour's values. One of the difficulties is that in advance they
:57:22. > :57:27.did not say no deal with the Tories, they said no deals that result in
:57:28. > :57:31.austerity. Yes, it was kind of understood that probably meant the
:57:32. > :57:34.Tories because they would be the party associated with austerity. In
:57:35. > :57:37.Aberdeen, they said ahead of the deal, they did not want the deal to
:57:38. > :57:42.go ahead. They also said any deals had to be approved nationally by the
:57:43. > :57:46.executive and that deal was vetoed yesterday and they were given an
:57:47. > :57:51.ultimatum to drop the deal or be suspended. How does it look for
:57:52. > :57:55.Labour? They can present this and I am sure they will as standing tough
:57:56. > :58:00.against any accommodation with the Tories, is there another side? The
:58:01. > :58:06.fact it has been allowed to happen, they should have been more forceful
:58:07. > :58:07.in advance of local government elections, saying, Labour will not
:58:08. > :58:10.go into coalition with the Tories because they are the party of the
:58:11. > :58:14.Westminster government and inflicting austerity. Instead, as
:58:15. > :58:18.you say, they kept it vague, it seemed to be the intention, they
:58:19. > :58:21.should have been explicit and distanced themselves from the Tories
:58:22. > :58:27.months ago. Perhaps they can resolve that issue or perhaps not, we will
:58:28. > :58:32.see. The main UK manifestos have come out, the Scottish ones starting
:58:33. > :58:36.to emerge. The next phase. Yes, although it is always strange
:58:37. > :58:41.because it is the UK election so the UK manifestos stand and it is really
:58:42. > :58:47.only the SNP that has the full manifesto in Scotland for the UK
:58:48. > :58:51.election. Otherwise it is what has ready come out from the Lib Dems,
:58:52. > :58:57.Labour and the Conservatives, with bits that apply to Scotland and bits
:58:58. > :59:03.which do not. Briefly, it has been so short since the last UK election?
:59:04. > :59:06.You did have this dramatic week of the Labour manifesto, a manifesto
:59:07. > :59:13.including quite a lot of things which have been said. Thank you very
:59:14. > :59:17.much indeed, the UK manifestos will be covered on the BBC. We will bring
:59:18. > :59:21.you all of the details of the Scottish manifestos as they emerge,
:59:22. > :59:24.all of the detail and far more from the election campaign. Big event
:59:25. > :59:29.tomorrow, the play-offs. I will be watching.
:59:30. > :59:31.With the general election approaching,
:59:32. > :59:35.with the leaders from six Scottish political parties going
:59:36. > :59:43.head-to-head before you, the voters, in the Scottish Leaders' Debate.
:59:44. > :59:44.A bunch of boys fae Baillieston, Bellshill and Saltcoats
:59:45. > :59:48.It would be the greatest night of their lives...
:59:49. > :59:51.the night when Celtic Football Club captured the hearts of Europe...
:59:52. > :59:56.They were like brothers. I loved them. Absolutely loved them.
:59:57. > :00:00.A bunch of boys fae Baillieston, Bellshill and Saltcoats