22/09/2016: First Minister's Questions Politics Scotland

be arranged. We will arrange that after First Minister questions.

Question number one, Ruth Davidson. What engagement has been First

Minister got planned for the rest of today? Plans to take forward the

plans for Scotland. I agree that a community sentence might be the best

option in sentencing, but does the First Minister agreed that the crime

of rape should not be amongst them. I agree that the crime of rape

should be treated with the utmost seriousness and severity. Indeed

statistics show that the vast majority, the overwhelming majority

of rape cases, 93% of rape cases carry a custodial sentence and the

average sentences are 17% longer than they were in the years

2006-2007. Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the courts and

it will be wrong for me as First Minister to comment on any

individual case, but in terms of community payback orders, it's a

sentencing option available to courts, that they will make the

judgment based on recommendations. They take into account risk

assessment, protection and the background of the individual and

where a non-custodial sentences given, the court will consider all

matters. There is also robust risk assessment that is ongoing. There is

no doubt in my mind that the events of rape or attempted rape should be

treated with utmost severity. I would like to thank the for that

response. While she recognises 92% of sentences in: a custodial

sentence, the rest don't. This morning rape crisis Scotland said it

is difficult to see in what circumstances a CPO could ever be an

appropriate sentence for rape of the rape of a young child. Surely

everyone here can agree that they are right? I have the utmost respect

for what Rape Crisis does and they should be listened too seriously. I

agree and I have made it clear. Rape is one of the most heinous offences

that can be committed in our society and I believe it is incumbent on all

of us and anyone with influence in the justice system to make sure it

is treated seriously. I hope it is a point that Ruth Davidson will

accept. As First Minister I do not have influence over individual

cases. Before a court will make a decision on the appropriate

sentencing, they will take into account a range of circumstances.

This includes the age of the offender. It is right in our society

that is the independent judiciary that decides on sentencing, but

regarding policy it is clear to me that we need to treat rape and other

sexual offences with the seriousness that they merit. That is why I have

pointed to these statistics. The average length of a custodial

sentence for rape is no longer. We are seeing through the criminal

proceedings with the Crown office bringing more successful

prosecutions for rape and attempted rape. 125 convictions in 2014-2015,

which is up by 89. Police Scotland has also improved the reporting of

rape and sexual offences. I hope members across the Chamber will

accept that fundamental point of principle about criminal justice in

our society. It's not politicians who decide sentencing, it's right

the courts should do so. Thank you for the response. These are

sensitive issues. I know everyone in this Chamber is united over this,

but the reason I raised it is that they have been concerns over CPO 's.

The Scottish government say sanctions are open to the courts

when they are breached. Every year a third of orders are broken with

scant evidence that people are punished. I repeat that we on this

side of the Chamber absolutely accept the need for community

sentencing, but what is the First Minister doing to address these

issues of CPOs? She is right to raise this particular issue around

non-custodial sentences because we have to monitor on an ongoing basis

the effectiveness of non-custodial sentences like community payback

orders. Individuals on CPOs are subject to robust and ongoing risk

assessment. When the order is breached, the court can introduce

different sanctions, including imprisonment for breach of the

payback order. This is very pertinent to the issue of

effectiveness of these disposals, which is one of the issues Ruth

Davidson is raising. Individuals released from a custodial sentence

of six months or less reconvicted more than twice as as those given a

community payback order instead. That tells us that non-custodial

sentences like CPOs, when they are handed down in appropriate

circumstances, they are more effective than short-term prison

sentences. I absolutely accept that these are issues of the utmost

seriousness and we have to look at all of the evidence. I hope all of

us will agree that way it is appropriate, and I stress where it

is appropriate, keeping people out of prison, and I'm not talking about

particular offences, but general terms, keeping people out of prison

and rehabilitate them in the community said they are less likely

to reoffend is a good thing. None of that takes away from the seriousness

of certain types of offences which should always be treated with the

utmost seriousness by our courts. We can all agree that reducing the

offending is important, but people and the public must have confidence

that the sentence is appropriate for the crime and that includes

punishment. The trouble is that too often the response from ministers is

simply to declare that the system is working fine and everyone should

just accept it, but CPOs are not working fine, First Minister. They

are an SNP creation and they are this government was not policy. They

are being applied to serious crimes like rape, when they shouldn't be.

Up to a third of them are breached and up to a fifth of them do not

contain any punishment element at all. We need a calm, considered

fresh review by the Scottish government on the way that CPOs are

being handed out. Will be first Minister take that action because it

is needed. I will make a number of points to Ruth Davidson. Firstly she

may or may not be aware that there was an independent evaluation

published in 2015 of CPOs that showed they are viewed with a degree

of confidence by most sheriffs and are seen as an improvement on

previous community sentences. Those given a CPO are less likely to

reoffend be reconvicted. Again, we have statistics that bear that out.

It's also important to say that CPOs can include electronic monitoring

sanctions if there is noncompliance with them and anyone who breaches a

CPOs and fails to take up the opportunity a non-custodial sentence

like that offers them will face sanctions and possible imprisonment.

In the most recent figures we have 420 2014-2015, 17% of CPOs were

revoked because they were breached. I actually agree that when somebody

commits a crime, as well as thinking about how we rehabilitate and reduce

the risk of reoffending, there has to be a punishment element to the

sentence passed down and we have got to in our policy framework get that

balance right and then we have two entrust the decisions in individual

cases to independent judges and sheriffs. My responsibility as First

Minister is to make sure we get the policy framework rights. Seeking to

do that, we will always look at the evidence that tells us non-custodial

sentences are being effective or not. I hope that all members will

feed into that, but having set the policy framework and objectives, we

must trust the independent judiciary to make the decisions on individual

cases. The Davis will probably say I was wrong if I started to pass

comment on sentences passed down by judges. -- Ruth Davidson. I want a

say in all sincerity to members across this Chamber that we will

consider to consider and evaluate and make changes so we can keep the

public safe and that we do what we have to do to reduce reoffending.

When will the first Minister -- when will the First Minister meet

Alzheimer Scotland? The Minister for mental health this afternoon will

speak at the annual dementia awards. Given the answer. Between 2010 and

2015 the Tories cut Scotland's block grant by 5%. As an economic policy

that damages our public services and is the equality in our country.

Kezia Dugdale knows I agree with this, but she also knows that before

we have a debate in this Chamber about who in Scotland bears the

burden of Tory austerity, we should first unite to try to stop Tory

austerity happening in the first place. Kezia Dugdale is right to

point out that according to the report, Scotland's budget has been

cut by 5% in real terms, but she will also know that that report

looks to the future and says there is the likelihood of further cuts to

our budget by the end of this Parliament. We have a new Chancellor

of the Exchequer who has said, and I'm prepared to take him at his

word, that he will reset economic policy. I would hope that Kezia

Dugdale will join with us on these benches to say to the Tories, put an

end to austerity, put an end to austerity at source and do it now.

Thank you. I am glad the First Minister can agree with me that Tory

cuts of 5% are unacceptable. So how can it be that today's accounts

commission report shows that the SNP have cut local council funning not

by 5%, but by 11%. The SNP haven't just passed on Tory cut, they have

doubled those Tory cuts. And the report tells us who is paying the

price. Older people, who need help to get washed, aren't getting it.

Elderly folk who five years ago would have had help with their

meals, aren't getting it. The number of elderly Scots getting any care at

all has fallen by 12%. And what is worse, is that we know that the SNP

is planning more cuts to councils and cuts to councils are cuts to

care. The First Minister has the power to stop these cuts, why won't

she use it? Well of course in terms of the most recent figures that we

have available in terms of the outturn figure, social work spending

has increase by 6 percent in real terms, social care spending has

increased by 5% in real cuts to councils are cuts to care. The First

Minister has the power to stop these cuts, why won't she use it? Well of

course in terms of the most recent figures that we have available in

terms of the outturn figure, social work spending has increase by 6

percent in real terms, social care spending has increased by 5% in real

term, since 2008 - 9. Of course, in terms of the report publish by the

commits commission today it is important and it has lots of I think

very important messages for all of us, it says if we keep doing things

the same way as we are doing, there will be an additional financial

burden on social care services by the end of this Parliament. That is

why we have ipt greated social care and health, the biggest reform since

the establishment of the National Health service making sure we are

finding better ways of delivering service, more prewrenion, community

based services to reduce admissions to hospital and care home, and it

was in my party's manifesto, I don't think it was included in Kezia

Dugdale's manifesto we will invest an additional ?1.3 billion oh this

Parliament in health and social care partnerships, the first in Stormont

has been the ?250 million transferred into health and social

care partnerships in this financial year, so we know we face the

challenge of an ageing population and we are determined on this side

of the chamber, to face up to and work with local councils to address

that challenge. I think the question Kezia Dugdale has to answer is this,

when she concedes... The point, Kezia Dugdale concedes that one of

the pressures, the biggest pressure on the Scottish Government budget is

cuts being imposed by a Tory Government, yet even although Kezia

Dugdale accepts that the Tories, if Jeremy Corbyn is re-elected on

Saturday are going to be in power for many, many year, she expects us

to shrug our shoulders and accept that. I don't think that is good

enough. The First Minister tells the chamber

she has put ?250 million extra into health and social care, what she

forgot tell the chamber she took ?500 million out last year, that is

why we had to vote against her budget. And the truth is, the

accounts commission report tells us that overall spending is falling,

First Minister. In fact it says these cuts are unsustainable. And

the truth is, they don't have to happen. I am only ask Nicola

Sturgeon to do what she has wanted to do her entire political life,

make different choices from the Tories. So when she write hers

budget in the coming week, the First Minister will face a choice. She can

double down with even more cuts to care or she can back Labour's plans

to use the powers of this Parliament. What it is to be First

Minister? Kezia Dugdale doesn't oppose Tory austerity, she wants to

shift the burden of Tory authority on to working people the length and

breadth of this country. I would say to her, I would say to

her, she put that proposition to the people of Scotland just four months

ago and she sit ocean than side of the chamber because her party came

third in the Scottish Parliament election. Now, we will continue...

We will continue to face up to the challenges, face up to the

challenges in our social care service, that is why we have

integrated health and social care, manager in all the years that Labour

were in power they shied away from do, it is why we are taking the

difficult steps of transferring resources from acute Health Services

into health and social care partnerships, to build up the

capacity of the services and help develop more community serviceses to

keep older people out of hospitals and care homes and enable them to

stay in their own home, it is why we are taking all of these actions and

why we will reflect on the accounts commission report to inform the

decisions we continue to take, these are the serious decisions that this

Government will continue to take, but I say again, to Kezia Dugdale, I

would ask her to reflect on the position she and her party have in.

She stands up the regularly, and says that the future looks to be a

Tory future in terms of the Westminster Government. Yet she has

the never to come here and lecture me about the implications of Tory

cuts that her party are powerless to do anything about. The Labour Party

is a complete and ut ever shambles, and perhaps she should be taking

more responsibility for the Tory's ability to impose cuts on Scotland.

Thank you, to ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.

Tuesday. Last week, a newspaper levelled a

serious allegation against the Scottish Government, SNP pledge to

sabotage cuts to benefits. For once in my life presiding officer I hope

the Daily Mail have it right. The Scottish Greens have published

detailed proposals showing how aren't 13,000 people a year could be

protected from the benefits sanctions regime, if devolved

employment programmes refuse to co-operate with that programme. So I

work the words we haved are from Lang constarntion while we can't

stop the UK Government putting conditions on work related benefit,

we are not going to be giving them any information or responding to

inquiries if we think that might lead to a sanction. Can the First

Minister confirm, does that commitment go beyond the already

announced voluntary schemes, in relation to disabled people and

people with long-term health conditions or whether this be the

universal approach for all people party pace -- participating? I thank

him for raising that, he knows and the tenure of his we knows how

serious the Scottish Government is in introducing a Social Security

system with the limited Social Security powers we will be getting

that have dignity and humanity at their heart. I think the sanctions

regime imposed by the Tories in its current form breaching the

principles, I know that from the many people I see in surgery and we

will see them who have sanctions imposed on them for reason they

should never face those circumstances, so as we develop the

of the detail of the system we are putting in place, we want to make

sure we mitigate the effects of that and don't co-operate in a scheme

that is about piling human misery on misery. Was have embarked on

consultation, that will lead to a Social Security, bill rather in

these chamber, over the everybody in year, and the fine detail of that

will flow from the consultation work we are doing, but the principles are

very very clear, and I look forward to having the assistance and

cooperation of part Rick Harvey and his colleagues, and in helping us

put in place that system that in its detail lives up to the principles we

have articulated. Grateful for that answer. It sound as to the First

Minister has gone further in the past. It sound like we will see

employment programme which are voluntary and do not impose harmful

and counter productive sanctions on people in Scotland. Another aspect

of the consultation is aren't young carers and the need to have an

additional allowance that rereflects their position in life and the work

they do does the First Minister acknowledge that great deal of the

ill pact will be aliviated on them if we address the financial aspects

and ensure a young careerers allowance is seen in financial terms

not only in terms of benefits in kind.

Again, I do agree the thrust of his question. In terms of employment

programmes, the point of employment programmes should be to help people

into work, not to put in place a system full of trip wires they fall

over and end up being sanctioned as a result. That will be the ethos

behind the programmes we put in place. That was one of the things

from indeed green par ties manifesto we have agreed to consider we are in

the process of considering how that could best work to give effective

help to young career, I was in the last couple of days reading an

update on the early discussions we have had round the development of

that policy. We haven't come to conclusions on what the best scheme

will be but we will do that shortly. I look forward to another policy

from this Government that is about recognising the the the work carers

do, the impact caring responsibilities have in their life

and the responsibility of all of us to help them leave a full life of I

again I look forward to co-operation of Patrick Harvie and his

colleagues. What issues will be discussed at the

next meeting of cabinet? Matters of importance to the people of

Scotland. New figures show that children in Scotland can wait two

years for mental health treatment. The Scottish Government promised

they would receive treatment within 18 weeks. That promise has not been

kept this year, or last year. Why is the First Minister letting these

children down? Again, I would say to Willie Rennie this is an important

issue, I don't agree that, Scotland was the first country in the world,

I think, to introduce a target for access of children and adolescence

to mental Health Minister treatment. We have more to work do to make

Schurrle young and young people get the accuse shes we think they

deserve. We have been increasing sinstment, we have been increasing

the up this year of clinicians working in mental Health Service, we

have had an increase in the number of psychologists working with young

people. As we covered in First Minister's questions two weeks' ago

we are seeing a significant rise in demand. That puts pressure on

services that we have a responsibility to meet, we should

welcome that increase in demand in the, to the extend that it shows

that young people are more able to come forward because the stigma is

discreasing, so our strategy backed by ?150 million of new resources

shows the seriousness we take this issue an we will continue to take

the steps to improve service so all young people get access they deserve

and need. The First Minister says the problem is more young people are

asking for help. It is not their problem, it is the Government's

problem for not being ready, we saw this coming. We have warned about

this. We have got a plan to invest in primary care and young people.

What was the response the Government. It was delay spending

?70 million available for mental health sup for ported because they

couldn't get the strategy agreed on time. Will the First Minister commit

to spending that ?07 million on services for young people today? I

think he is raising an important issue but I think he should try to

engage with it in a way that will help all of us, face up to an

address this important issue. The first thing is it not fair of Willie

Rennie, people will know it was not fair for him to say I described

young people come foger wad was a problem. I went on to say it was my

responsibility and the responsibility of the be Government

services can meet that demand. To be fair, that what I said, I also set

out some of actions we are take, Willie Rennie talks about spending,

we have set out plans to invest an locationam ?150 million in mental

Health Service, 54 million to reduce waiting times, we are going to spend

?10 million to up port new ways of, something to be fair he has

repeatedly rated, ?15 million specifically to support better

access to children mental Health Service and a range of other

initiatives that are all about recognising positively recognising

the increase in demand and making sure we are taking the steps to meet

that demand. I accept it is for the opposition parties to put pressure

on the Government to scrutinise the Government to hold the Government to

account. I would hope on this really vital issue, we can try to find a

degree of consensus as well. I think this is one of the most serious

issues we face as society, not just about treating young people with

mental health problem bus spreading them, and there a bigger discussion

we could have about that but the Government is absolutely committed

to the action we have set out. I hope we will have the support Willie

Rennie as we implement the actions. To ask the First Minister if she

agrees with me that the train women who serve in public life are sexual

predators and should not be used for political satire? I don't know what

specific all comments Annie Wells is referring to the, but... If it is

the incident at the weekend, then of course. Again, this is serious. I,

as I hope everybody, even my sternest critics would accept that I

would never, ever condone homophobia. I genuinely hope that

there is no one across this Chamber that would argue with that. Some of

the terminology we have heard used in satire over recent days is

terminology I would never use and I don't condone it. It's terminology I

can well understand that people would be offended by. I would also

say that it's not appropriate or reasonable to describe a lesbian

woman who has been out as a lesbian for 30 years because she is not

personally offended by some of that as homophobic. Let's unite in

condemning homophobia. We were just talking about mental health in some

of the reasons for mental health problems with LG BT Young people

comes from homophobia and homophobic bullying. Let us bring that the

seriousness to this issue. I take responsibility here and these

comments are targeted at me and my party as much as anyone else's, but

let us not use this to throw things at each other. Let's unite and show

that homophobia has no place in our society and it should be challenged

on all occasions. The first Minister will be aware of the significant

support for the community maternity unit at the Vale of Lieven hospital.

Will she ensure the health board's proposal to close the unit is

designated as a major service change and therefore must be subject to

sign off by Scottish ministers? As Jackie Baillie knows, the decision

about whether Abe particular service change is deemed major is one taken

in consultation with the Scottish health Council. Those discussions

are ongoing. The Health Secretary will make that determination once

the recommendation has come to her. The proposal that Jackie Baillie

talks about our proposals. They must be consulted upon and properly

considered with the interests of patients absolutely at the heart and

where there are major service changes, the ultimate decision will

sit with the Health Secretary. Jackie spoke about our visit to the

community midwifery unit. As Health Secretary I was working hard to

secure and safeguard the Vale of Lieven that was under serious threat

from the labour administration. The Vale of Lieven Hospital got the

future because of the decision this government has taken. To ask the

First Minister to her reaction to the death of a young boy outside his

school in my constituency last week on whether she thinks traffic

exclusion zones around school should be more widely considered as Jamaat

firstly, any loss of life on Scotland's Road is a terrible

tragedy, but the death of a young child is especially poignant and our

thoughts are with his family and friends at this unimaginably awful

time for them. It is for local authorities to decide on road safety

measures around schools and they do so in consultation with parents and

local residents. Innovative measures such as the traffic exclusion zone

recently trialled in Haddington could certainly be part of those

considerations and I would encourage local authorities where it is

appropriate to consider proposals like that because one thing I think

we would all agree on is that the safety of children must be

absolutely paramount. To ask the First Minister what plans the

Scottish government has two on Scotland's Paralympians. I'm sure

everyone in the Chamber and across Scotland is proud of the 33

ScottishPower athletes who were part of team GB and the 17 medals they

have brought home to Scotland. I'm looking forward to welcoming home

our Paralympians and Olympians at the reception at Herriot Ward

University. That will be followed by a public event in Festival Square in

Edinburgh. We are proud of all our Paralympic athletes, but if I could

make a special mention of Libby Clegg and Joe Butterfield. As well

as winning gold medals, they also set new world records, something to

be doubly proud of. I'm sure she will concur that the success of team

GB shows just how much hard work has been put in by coaches and athletes

and support from their families. For Scotland to improve it medal tally

from 12 in London 2012 to 17 is heartening. Does the First Minister

agree that the silver medal won for the backstroke inspirational and

with the Paralympic Centre being built in lots eight Paralympians? I

agree. Abby Kane made team GB at the age of 13. That is an inspiration in

itself. She then went on to win a silver medal in Rio, which is

absolutely fantastic and I think she has single-handedly demonstrated to

a whole generation of young people, and young girls in particular, what

they can achieve by hard work and dedication. So I absolutely support

and salutes her prowess and bravery. In terms of investment, we have

invested ?6 million into the overall investment into sport Scotland

National Centre in Inverclyde which will open in spring 2017. It is a

fully inclusive facility and will aid preparation for future games.

I'm sure that is something Kenny Gibson will welcome. The centre will

also be available to members of the local community and will provide a

valuable assets of those who want to enjoy sport. What action is the

Scottish government taking to reduce waiting times for young people refer

to mental health facilities in Forth Valley? In the past there were far

too many children who were on scene and he is neither are met. To

respond to this we have doubled the number of psychologists working and

were investing an additional ?150 million over this parliament and we

will be publishing our new mental health strategy at the end of the

year. The Minister for mental health has been clear that the target needs

to be in fruit. The investment involves almost ?5 million for an

access improvement team that has already started work. Clearly any

additional support to urgently address this situation is welcome,

but as has been mention, since the 18 week referral time target was

introduced in December 2014, the number of young people receiving

treatment has fallen from 56% down to 28%. It highlights that there are

many young people who are in desperate need of support. This is

the case not just in Forth Valley, but across Scotland. Evidence shows

that half of all diagnosable mental health problems start before the age

of 14. It's vital that young people get the help they said urgently need

they need it. Will the First Minister listen to the calls to

develop an urgent action plan for boards need this urgent support.

It's not just the question of more money, it's a question of more

expertise be made available and will she encouraged the minister for

mental health to join me and meet with representatives from the health

board to see how we can best address this urgent situation. The Minister

of mental health will be happy to meet with the member and we will

discuss these issues with health boards on an ongoing basis. This is

something that I and all of us have to remind ourselves of. I regularly

quote statistics in this Chamber, we all do, but behind every statistic

is a human being. That's a timely reminder for all of us. That is why

it is so important, firstly not to see the increasing demand as a

problem, but to see it as a sign that more young are coming forward

and also to recognise our responsibility to meet the demand.

In terms of Forth Valley, the performance has been an acceptable

-- unacceptable. It's not just about extra investment, although they are

receiving help, but it's about expertise which is why I will draw

his attention to the last part of my first answer to him, that we have a

team that will bring the expertise to the and eventually bring the

waiting times down. Will the First Minister agree that it's probably

high time that members recognise the huge effort has been put on the

ground to improve mental health services, particularly in Forth

Valley. In Forth Valley there has been a complete redesign of service

with additional investment. Can the First Minister confirm what extra

investment has been made to aid dedicated professionals who deserve

praise for improving the services? We have to remember that the

dedication of the people working on the front line here, they are facing

increased demand, but the fact that waiting times in some areas aren't

as good as we want them to be is not down to any lack of dedication or

hard work on the part. That is what I come back to the point that our

responsibility is to increase capacity to meet demand. In terms of

Forth Valley, as I said, it is receiving support from the new team

to help them deliver on the new design. We are investing a further

?1.3 million in Forth Valley to support reductions in waiting times.

A further ?725,000 over three years to support innovation in the

delivery of the service. That in addition to the ?500,000 delivered

this year to support the workforce. There are intense efforts being made

to support those on the front line and that will be replicated across

Scotland in different ways so that we can see services that are capable

of meeting the increased demand that young people are creating because

the stigma of mental health is is thankfully reducing. We have heard

about the increasing waiting times and there is no escaping that. This

week a survey revealed a postcode lottery with children and young

people in the water deprived areas having worse mental health. More

investment is required. Does the First Minister share concerns that

?150 million over five years might not be enough and what steps will be

taken by the mental health Minister to keep that under review? Firstly,

Monica Lennon is right in many of the points she has made,

particularly to draw attention to the link in depravation and mental

health. She also referred to a number of people who have submitted

views to the strategy consultation and they will be taken into account.

The hundred and ?50 million investment will help to increase

capacity and improve waiting times. It's not about playing a particular

sum of money, it about dedicating money for improvements. We will keep

that under review as we implement the new mental health strategy, but

there is an absolute determination on the part of the mental health

Minister and the government to make sure we have services in Scotland

that can meet the increased demand for rental services. Going back to

something I said earlier on, which Monica Lenin was right to hint at,

it's much about prevention as treatment. -- Monica Lennon. It's

about improving the mental health, not just treating problems.

Does the First Minister agree with me that the biggest single thing she

could do to treat this issue is to have a specialist in every surgery

across Scotland, that is the biggest spend to save initiative she could

ever make? Well, we do agree that there needs to be more services in

primary care, I indicated that in a previous answer, so we are committed

to more link workers working in primary care settings, to improve

the experience that patients have there, so, in principle I do agree

with the sentiment of the question, I simply schaun against anybody in

an issue that is as complex in this one in suggesting there is one magic

bullet solution, there are a whole range of things we need to do to

improve prevention but to improve treatment and accesses to service,

that is why the holistic strategy we will produce by tend of the year is

so important. The point raised, we will have a part to play in that but

there are a range of other things we need to do as well. That concludes

First Minister quayses. There we have it. The conclusion of

questions to the First Minister, extensive discussion there of the

question of mental health, the First Minister explained under

preparation, that was raised by Willie Rennie, first, let us mull

over some of the topics raised with my colleagues, Ian Swanson and Libby

Brook, thank you for joining us. Let