:00:19. > :00:23.Hello there, and a very warm welcome to the Scottish Parliament and the
:00:24. > :00:28.Garden Lobby. We are here on Parliament business but the shadow
:00:29. > :00:32.of the elections hangs over it, I'm not sure the general election has
:00:33. > :00:39.heated up yet but it's entered new linguistic realms with Boris
:00:40. > :00:43.Johnson's comments about Jeremy Corbyn this morning. I'm sure that
:00:44. > :00:49.will not feature in comments and questions to the First Minister but
:00:50. > :00:52.let's cross to the chamber. Willie Rennie failed to get a single answer
:00:53. > :00:56.from the First Minister on whether the SNP will support all EU
:00:57. > :01:00.membership in its manifesto. He should have waited a week, now we
:01:01. > :01:05.have two. Nicola Sturgeon's stated position is to be a full member of
:01:06. > :01:10.the European Union, MPs stated position is to leave the common
:01:11. > :01:13.fisheries policy but full membership of the European Union means full
:01:14. > :01:21.membership of the fisheries policy. Isn't that the case, First Minister?
:01:22. > :01:24.Ruth Davidson has clearly not been paying attention. The SNP has been
:01:25. > :01:29.consistent over many, many years in our criticism of the common
:01:30. > :01:35.fisheries policy. And very clear about our intentions to see it
:01:36. > :01:42.fundamentally reformed, the 2007 manifesto continued to work for
:01:43. > :01:48.withdrawal from the CFP, in 2011, the CFP well past its sell by date,
:01:49. > :01:50.the 2014 by paper on independence, independence for Scotland and the
:01:51. > :01:54.European Union would give Scotland an opportunity to take a leadership
:01:55. > :02:01.role in reforming the common fisheries policy sober reality here
:02:02. > :02:07.is the SNP is the one that stands up for Scottish fishing and always will
:02:08. > :02:14.stand up for Scottish fishing! And of course the uncomfortable truth
:02:15. > :02:19.for Ruth Davidson is that its success at Tory governments who have
:02:20. > :02:26.sold out the fishing industry. Remember the words, remember the
:02:27. > :02:29.words, I know Ruth Davidson doesn't want to hear what's coming next,
:02:30. > :02:37.Presiding Officer. Remember the words of the Tories, in the wider UK
:02:38. > :02:42.context, the fishermen must be regarded as expendable! That, the
:02:43. > :02:48.Tory record on fishing and of course, we know that the Tories are
:02:49. > :02:53.at lining up to sell out fishing again because the Brexit white paper
:02:54. > :02:57.makes it clear that fishing will be a negotiating chip in the Brexit
:02:58. > :03:07.talks, so the SNP stands up for fishing, Tories sell them out. Ruth
:03:08. > :03:12.Davidson. Priceless, Presiding Officer, she wants to quote internal
:03:13. > :03:18.SNP documents let me quote a document, chapter 13... Chapter 13
:03:19. > :03:22.of a little thing called the EU conditions of membership and it
:03:23. > :03:27.says, it requires the introduction and participation in the common
:03:28. > :03:32.fisheries policy and it doesn't get out clearer than that. So let's
:03:33. > :03:37.spell out the complete absurdity of the SNP's position here or should I
:03:38. > :03:42.say the positions. Firstly, it's the SNP's position that Brexit is a
:03:43. > :03:45.terrible threat to Scotland and fishermen are better off being
:03:46. > :03:50.governed by the EU's heated common fisheries policy. That's a position
:03:51. > :03:54.Angus Robertson outlined at the weekend when he said we are in
:03:55. > :03:57.favour of Scotland being a member state of the EU and in favour of a
:03:58. > :04:02.reformed Common fisheries policy but it's also the Brexit session that
:04:03. > :04:06.Brexit is a sea of opportunity for fishermen and we must avoid any
:04:07. > :04:11.policy, any practice or regulation or treaty which could return us to
:04:12. > :04:17.the common fisheries policy and we note that because on Tuesday, two of
:04:18. > :04:21.his parliamentary colleagues signed a pledge written by the Scottish
:04:22. > :04:27.fishermen Federation saying so. Can I ask the First Minister was Mr
:04:28. > :04:31.Robertson wrong or are his colleagues wrong or is that the SNP
:04:32. > :04:38.plan to try and say they are all right so they think the people are
:04:39. > :04:41.so daft we won't notice? Ruth Davidson has managed to hold several
:04:42. > :04:53.different positions on Brexit all by herself. Brexit is a terrible threat
:04:54. > :05:00.to Scotland is what Ruth says is the SNP's decision. The problem is that
:05:01. > :05:05.used to be her position as well. Remember her screaming at from
:05:06. > :05:09.Wembley but now, of course, it's different, she's fallen into line
:05:10. > :05:13.with Theresa May and now Brexit is the greatest thing since sliced
:05:14. > :05:21.bread. You know, on this issue, Ruth Davidson flip-flops more than a fish
:05:22. > :05:31.being landed. Flip-flop, flip-flop! On Brexit. The truth of the matter
:05:32. > :05:35.is that the SNP always has and always will stand up for fishing.
:05:36. > :05:41.You know, we've already heard about the Tories thinking fishing is
:05:42. > :05:45.expendable, expendable. That was the word the Tories used about
:05:46. > :05:52.Scotland's fishing industry but let's come up to date and let's read
:05:53. > :05:56.the Brexit white paper, paragraph 8.16, given the heavy reliance on UK
:05:57. > :05:59.waters of the EU fishing industry it's in both our interests to reach
:06:00. > :06:03.and the Julie beneficial deal that works for the UK and the EU's
:06:04. > :06:08.fishing communities. Let me translate that for the Davidson.
:06:09. > :06:13.That means the Tories are lining up in these negotiations to sell out
:06:14. > :06:19.the fishing industry and allow European countries what they say
:06:20. > :06:25.they don't want which is accessed to Scottish fishing waters. The Tories
:06:26. > :06:29.are preparing to perpetrate a con on Scotland's fishermen, they were not
:06:30. > :06:38.get away with it, it is the SNP standing up for the fishing
:06:39. > :06:42.industry. Ruth Davidson. Presiding Officer, maybe Nicola Sturgeon's MPs
:06:43. > :06:47.didn't report back to her but let me quote but the Chief Executive of the
:06:48. > :06:53.Scottish fishermen Federation told them and MPs at Westminster last
:06:54. > :06:57.week. Two secretaries of State, two minister said the UK is leading the
:06:58. > :07:01.EU and we will regain control of our fishing, she wants to go toe to toe
:07:02. > :07:07.overfishing, let's bring that on the Presiding Officer, this week, Mike
:07:08. > :07:11.Russell was in Brussels and he was speaking to fishing industry chiefs
:07:12. > :07:15.and his pitch was that Scotland will leave the EU with the rest of the UK
:07:16. > :07:19.but after independence it will go straight back in but it will opt out
:07:20. > :07:26.of all the things it doesn't like including the common fisheries
:07:27. > :07:29.policy. And this is utter nonsense. So right now, we have SNP MPs in
:07:30. > :07:34.fishing communities saying CFP is terrible and Scotland would pull out
:07:35. > :07:37.and at the same time we have Nicola Sturgeon standing up in Edinburgh
:07:38. > :07:41.trying to win the vote of remainder is saying they would go straight
:07:42. > :07:48.back in. Us and even the First Minister see the utter hypocrisy
:07:49. > :07:53.here? Utter consistency in the SNP position over years on the common
:07:54. > :07:56.fisheries policy, what I see from the Tories is flip-flopping all the
:07:57. > :08:02.time on Brexit and on fishing and of Ruth Davidson's argument today is
:08:03. > :08:05.that the Tories are not preparing to celebrate fishing industry to use
:08:06. > :08:09.them as a bargaining chip in negotiations that lie ahead give her
:08:10. > :08:12.the opportunity to explain in simple terms to the chamber today for
:08:13. > :08:19.exactly the Brexit white paper means when it says that the UK of and
:08:20. > :08:24.wants a deal that works for the EU's fishing community. What does that
:08:25. > :08:29.mean if that doesn't mean allowing Spain and other countries access to
:08:30. > :08:32.European fishing waters? Why can't Ruth Davidson be honest with the
:08:33. > :08:38.fishing community, the Tories are preparing to treat them as
:08:39. > :08:45.expendable all over again. It's the SNP that will always stand up for
:08:46. > :08:49.fishing. Ruth Davidson. After Brexit, we'd be out of the CFP as
:08:50. > :08:55.members of her party that want to take us back in but what we've got,
:08:56. > :08:59.Presiding Officer, is the SNP saying they're in favour of joining the
:09:00. > :09:02.European Union but the First Minister, not confirming whether the
:09:03. > :09:07.SNP will back full membership in their manifesto. He said they are in
:09:08. > :09:10.favour of the common fisheries policy except for MPs and fishing
:09:11. > :09:14.can these who say they are against it and then we have the real hopper,
:09:15. > :09:19.in Scotland, we have Nicola Sturgeon saying the coming election hasn't
:09:20. > :09:23.anything to do whatsoever with independence but from the broadcast
:09:24. > :09:27.studios of London, up pops Alex Salmond to confirm they want to use
:09:28. > :09:32.this election to demand a referendum that the rest of us don't want.
:09:33. > :09:37.First Minister thinks on fishing, on EU membership and on independence,
:09:38. > :09:40.she can face both ways and promise all things to all people, isn't it
:09:41. > :09:47.the case she's treating the electorate as fools? First Minister.
:09:48. > :09:54.This election of course as I said yesterday morning is an opportunity
:09:55. > :09:58.to determine who chooses Scotland's future, is it a Tory government at
:09:59. > :10:03.Westminster or is that this democratically elected Scottish
:10:04. > :10:06.Parliament, exactly the same as Alex Salmond commented yesterday
:10:07. > :10:13.afternoon but let's get back to fishing because what we've just seen
:10:14. > :10:18.here is Ruth Davidson, all at sea, drowning in our fishing waters
:10:19. > :10:22.because she can't explain and Ruth Davidson really has to explain this
:10:23. > :10:25.in simple terms to Scotland's fishing communities, I gave her the
:10:26. > :10:29.opportunity once and she felt to do so so I am going to give her the
:10:30. > :10:34.opportunity again. What does it mean in the UK Government says that they
:10:35. > :10:39.want a deal that works for the EU's fishing communities? That can only
:10:40. > :10:43.mean that the Tories are preparing to sell out Scottish fishermen,
:10:44. > :10:48.grant other European countries access to fishing waters and treat
:10:49. > :10:52.that vital Scottish industry as expendable once again. I think that
:10:53. > :10:58.is crystal clear from Ruth Davidson today. It's the SMP that will
:10:59. > :11:09.always, as we always have one, stand for Scottish fishing. -- the SNP.
:11:10. > :11:11.Questionable too, Kezia Dugdale. To ask the First Minister what
:11:12. > :11:14.engagement she has planned for the rest of the week. Engagements to
:11:15. > :11:18.take forward the Governor's programme for Scotland. Next week
:11:19. > :11:23.voters will go to the polls to decide the future of local services
:11:24. > :11:26.like our schools. The First Minister it used to claim that education was
:11:27. > :11:32.her number one priority would even she doesn't claim that any more.
:11:33. > :11:35.After ten years of SNP government Scottish education is facing
:11:36. > :11:41.challenges like never before. Since the SNP took office there are 4000
:11:42. > :11:46.fewer teachers, 1000 fewer support staff and class sizes are bigger.
:11:47. > :11:50.International study shows Scotland is declining in maths, reading and
:11:51. > :11:54.in science. John Swinney's response to this was to publish a mini
:11:55. > :12:00.manifesto repeating the very promises he's been breaking every
:12:01. > :12:03.year since 2007 so can the First Minister tell teachers, parents and
:12:04. > :12:08.pupils white they should believe the SNP this time around? First
:12:09. > :12:14.Minister. Education is my top prior to, that's why... Kezia Dugdale
:12:15. > :12:21.doesn't like to hear this but that's five right now, across Scotland,
:12:22. > :12:29.head teachers and teachers have in their hands, ?120 million of
:12:30. > :12:36.additional funding. That's why local government services are better off
:12:37. > :12:42.to the tune of ?400 million under this SNP government and I would say
:12:43. > :12:47.to Kezia Dugdale, she has zero, not a shred of credibility left on the
:12:48. > :12:52.issue of local Vermont funding. Because for years, in her local
:12:53. > :12:55.government manifesto, published just days ago she complains about the
:12:56. > :13:01.council tax freeze, how it's strangling local over meant services
:13:02. > :13:07.and yet, of the eight councils freezing the council tax in this
:13:08. > :13:12.election, you know how many are led by Labour? Eight. This is Stirling,
:13:13. > :13:16.labour, freeze your council tax. Don't come here talking about
:13:17. > :13:24.funding for local services when it's your councils failing to raise the
:13:25. > :13:33.money we need for our schools. Kezia Dugdale. From the First Minister who
:13:34. > :13:40.has cut ?170 million from local services this year alone? And who's
:13:41. > :13:42.-- at education was a top priority should be listening to teachers
:13:43. > :13:47.across Scotland who are crying out for help. Black Priory School in
:13:48. > :13:52.Edinburgh felt the need to e-mail all parents, the e-mail said, as you
:13:53. > :13:56.may be where there is currently a national shortage of teachers this
:13:57. > :13:59.is making it challenging head teachers around the country to
:14:00. > :14:06.trying to fill vacant posts or indeed cover classes. There is a
:14:07. > :14:10.teacher at shortage in Scotland. Wilbur First Minister be honest, how
:14:11. > :14:13.many schools are struggling like Blackall, just how many teacher
:14:14. > :14:20.vacancies either across the whole of Scotland? John Swinney, myself, this
:14:21. > :14:25.government have never shied away from the issue that Scotland, like
:14:26. > :14:28.many countries right now, has an issue was teacher recruitment, that
:14:29. > :14:33.is one of the reasons why we have increased the intake to teacher
:14:34. > :14:37.training to train more teachers, to work in our schools and close the
:14:38. > :14:42.attainment gap. The fact of the matter is it is this SNP government
:14:43. > :14:47.that investing in local services, whatever Kezia Dugdale tries to say,
:14:48. > :14:51.there is ?400 million available extra in this financial year for
:14:52. > :14:56.council services and the question for Labour is this. If they don't
:14:57. > :15:00.think there is enough money for council services white either eight
:15:01. > :15:04.Labour led councils going into this election promising to freeze the
:15:05. > :15:12.council tax? Maybe Kezia Dugdale will give us a straight answer to
:15:13. > :15:15.that straight question? In all of that, Presiding Officer there was no
:15:16. > :15:19.answer to the question that I asked and I'll give the answer to the
:15:20. > :15:24.First Minister. The reality is is that there are 700 teacher vacancies
:15:25. > :15:29.across Scotland and 400 of them are in our secondary schools for pupils
:15:30. > :15:32.will begin their exams in just a matter of days. And I can reveal
:15:33. > :15:36.today that the government's own internal documents at net that it
:15:37. > :15:42.could take up to three years to fill these vacancies. Three years for the
:15:43. > :15:46.government to ensure it are enough teachers to educate our children,
:15:47. > :15:51.three years to clean up the mess the SNP have been making for the past
:15:52. > :15:56.ten. Three years together young people a fair chance in life. But we
:15:57. > :16:00.all know, Nicola Sturgeon will spend the next three years campaigning for
:16:01. > :16:06.independence so can the First Minister really keep a straight face
:16:07. > :16:08.and tell teachers, parents and pupils that once again, education is
:16:09. > :16:14.her number one priority? First Minister. As I said, we recognise
:16:15. > :16:20.the challenge in teacher recruitment, Scotland is not unique
:16:21. > :16:23.in that regard, that's why in 2017, 18, we are making resources
:16:24. > :16:28.available to train... Kezia Dugdale doesn't want to listen to this, to
:16:29. > :16:32.train an additional 371 teachers, its white the General Teaching
:16:33. > :16:35.Council right now is another of initiatives under way to encourage
:16:36. > :16:39.people back into teaching to encourage new people into teaching.
:16:40. > :16:42.These are the actions we are taking to tackle what is a problem and
:16:43. > :16:47.challenge for many countries and we are doing that of course, in
:16:48. > :16:50.conjunction with the national improvement framework, the
:16:51. > :16:53.attainment challenge, the attainment bond, putting extra resources into
:16:54. > :16:59.the hands of head teachers because our commitment to raising attainment
:17:00. > :17:04.and close in that attainment gap is absolute and we'll get on with the
:17:05. > :17:13.hard work of doing it, leaving Labour as usual, camping on the
:17:14. > :17:18.sidelines. We have a couple of constituency questions. Thank you.
:17:19. > :17:21.The First Minister will be aware last Thursday Diageo announced plans
:17:22. > :17:26.to cut up to 100 jobs in Scotland potentially affect up to 70 workers
:17:27. > :17:33.at premises in my constituency. The GMB union laid the blame squarely at
:17:34. > :17:36.the third of a damaging Tory hard absorb what assurances can the First
:17:37. > :17:41.Minister get my constituency face and London said to do the
:17:42. > :17:44.conservatives? I was very concerned to learn that the jewel has begun
:17:45. > :17:51.consultation with that staff over potential job losses and I know this
:17:52. > :17:55.will be an extremely anxious time for employees and their families.
:17:56. > :17:59.Keith Brown has a body arranged to meet with the company and officials
:18:00. > :18:03.and Scottish enterprise are engaged with the company already and we will
:18:04. > :18:08.do all we can to explore all options for storing the business and
:18:09. > :18:12.protecting jobs and while families and individuals are affected by this
:18:13. > :18:16.situation have the right to expect a similar response from the UK
:18:17. > :18:19.Government I think it's really troubling that the GMB union appears
:18:20. > :18:23.to have raised concerns about the impact of exit on these jobs and got
:18:24. > :18:27.furry little response from the UK Government. This is yet another
:18:28. > :18:33.example of the threat that rakes it poses to Scotland. Ruth Davidson
:18:34. > :18:37.used to tell us but doesn't any longer but what I still believe and
:18:38. > :18:41.examples like sadly illustrate, we will continue to do everything
:18:42. > :18:48.possible to support the workers. John Lamont. Thank you, Presiding
:18:49. > :18:52.Officer, I declare an interest as a trustee of the lifeboat trust, one
:18:53. > :18:58.of the best examples of a community campaign was for the creation of an
:18:59. > :19:00.independent lifeboat when the RNLI withdrew their service, the
:19:01. > :19:05.community rallied together organising a fundraising effort to
:19:06. > :19:10.raise funds needed to establish their own lifeboat service... Order,
:19:11. > :19:14.order. Nation started to roll in the community trust was used to funds
:19:15. > :19:18.whilst lifeboat trust was set up, the money was transferred to the
:19:19. > :19:21.lifeboat trust and the new board was purchased. I had the pleasure
:19:22. > :19:26.sitting beside the First Minister at the launch of the new lifeboat, on
:19:27. > :19:30.Twitter, the First Minister spoke of this incredible achievement, of the
:19:31. > :19:34.community coming together and spoke of what they had achieved, it was
:19:35. > :19:39.something special but now transpires Scottish waters dismissed stream
:19:40. > :19:44.have stripped the community trust of the water rates exemption for the
:19:45. > :19:48.community cafe and its centre, I'd been in correspondence with the SNP
:19:49. > :19:53.environment and stir but she has confirmed that she will not give the
:19:54. > :19:59.exemption for this community trust. Given the exceptional circumstances
:20:00. > :20:06.surrounding this will First Minister on like her backbenchers, apply some
:20:07. > :20:11.common sense to this? This issue has a ready been drawn to my attention,
:20:12. > :20:16.the situation with the water and sewerage charge around ?900 that has
:20:17. > :20:19.gone to the community trust. On the investigation I've done into the
:20:20. > :20:22.matter is so far this charge appears to be a direct result of the
:20:23. > :20:27.excellent efforts to raise funds for the lifeboat, ones that didn't
:20:28. > :20:30.actually belong to the trust but which they held and then transferred
:20:31. > :20:37.to the lifeboat trust account when that account was set up. Given those
:20:38. > :20:41.circumstances, I am hugely sympathetic to the situation they
:20:42. > :20:46.find themselves in and I have this morning instructed my officials to
:20:47. > :20:51.look again at this issue to try to find a solution. I was at the launch
:20:52. > :20:54.of the lifeboat, it was a fantastic example of a community coming
:20:55. > :20:58.together in order to preserve a service that is vitally important to
:20:59. > :21:02.life in that community so having looked at this, it seems unfair,
:21:03. > :21:06.that's why I've instructed officials to see what they can do to fix it,
:21:07. > :21:13.that's the kind of action able can expect from an SNP government.
:21:14. > :21:18.Question three, Patrick Ah Van. To ask the First Minister from the
:21:19. > :21:30.Cabinet will next meet. I think I heard that question, Tuesday. --
:21:31. > :21:32.Patrick Harvie. I think the reason the First Minister couldn't tear was
:21:33. > :21:35.because the Deputy First Minister was shouting across the chamber in
:21:36. > :21:40.her ear so can I suggest, I know this is election time, all members
:21:41. > :21:45.are more respectful to all other members, so we are questions and
:21:46. > :21:49.answers? Patrick Harvie. If the Deputy First Minister wants to
:21:50. > :21:53.continue to distract the First Minister it's no skin off my nose
:21:54. > :21:57.but can I say the Scottish Government proposed tax cut aviation
:21:58. > :22:00.which all know, even though the Scottish Government at first denied
:22:01. > :22:04.it will increase carbon emissions that are driving climate change,
:22:05. > :22:07.increasing emissions at the time when we should be cutting them
:22:08. > :22:13.radically? Even if the First Minister thinks the aviation damage
:22:14. > :22:18.to the climate can be ignored its clear that this tax cut will also be
:22:19. > :22:23.very unfair. Research published by the Green Party shows just how
:22:24. > :22:27.unfair, even if the airlines pass the full tax cut on through reduced
:22:28. > :22:34.ticket prices the highest income households stand to gain for more
:22:35. > :22:38.than anyone else. Of the 90 odd million tax giveaway going to UK
:22:39. > :22:42.leisure passengers alone, the richest 10% of households will gain
:22:43. > :22:47.over 33 million by the press 10% stand to benefit by just eight and a
:22:48. > :22:52.half. While public transport that people depend on everyday remains
:22:53. > :22:56.expensive and unreliable, how can it possibly be fair to offer a tax
:22:57. > :23:04.break that drives up both pollution and inequality? Can I do with both
:23:05. > :23:07.of those issues, firstly, the climate change issue because it six
:23:08. > :23:11.to me important to this government. We are meeting our climate change
:23:12. > :23:15.targets and we have some of the most ambitious climate change targets any
:23:16. > :23:17.for in the world, the UK Committee on Climate Change previously
:23:18. > :23:21.commented on this issue making the point and it's a point I would
:23:22. > :23:26.endorse more generally, for any policy has a potential adverse
:23:27. > :23:31.effect on emissions, that increases the responsibility of government to
:23:32. > :23:37.make sure we balance that in other ways and our overall ambition to
:23:38. > :23:40.meet those climate change targets is absolute as a commitment that the
:23:41. > :23:46.government has set. On the wider issue of reducing ADT and I should
:23:47. > :23:52.say the discussion and vote in parliament this week was not on
:23:53. > :23:55.rates of a discount tax, it was about transferring the legal
:23:56. > :24:00.responsibility for this from the Westminster Parliament to the
:24:01. > :24:03.Scottish Parliament, it's about trying to improve the conductivity
:24:04. > :24:06.of Scotland because we know improving connectivity of Scotland
:24:07. > :24:11.is one of the key things we need to do to grow the economy of Scotland.
:24:12. > :24:14.We all know growing the economy of Scotland is really important in
:24:15. > :24:19.terms of supporting the public services all of us rely on, that's
:24:20. > :24:23.why we must have a balance in policies but as Patrick Harvie will
:24:24. > :24:29.be aware in response to the Finance and Constitution committee stage one
:24:30. > :24:32.report, already confirmed we will commission an independent economic
:24:33. > :24:37.assessment and the government will bring forward tax exemptions at
:24:38. > :24:40.stage two suburban plenty of opportunity for the parliament to
:24:41. > :24:45.scrutinise the details. It's important we get policies right in
:24:46. > :24:49.the round so yes we are supporting our vital public services but we are
:24:50. > :24:54.also supporting the economic growth that is so vital to doing exactly
:24:55. > :25:00.that. Patrick Harvie. The bulk this week wasn't on rates and bands and a
:25:01. > :25:02.Green Party will move amendments to introduce social and environmental
:25:03. > :25:08.principles into that legislation and we won't vote for it unless those
:25:09. > :25:13.powers. But the First Minister cites the UK Committee on Climate Change
:25:14. > :25:16.who have argued for a cap on aviation emissions growth. She also
:25:17. > :25:22.says we need more chronic David E, it's perfectly clear from the
:25:23. > :25:28.continuing growth of our existing aviation that Air Passenger Duty has
:25:29. > :25:32.not stopped that growth. Even for roads for rail is a perfectly viable
:25:33. > :25:36.option we are failing to make sure it's the affordable choice for
:25:37. > :25:42.people to make. Relentless aviation growth cannot possibly be
:25:43. > :25:45.sustainable, we have visitors today to Parliament who are the most
:25:46. > :25:50.directly affected people by that growth, affected by the noise and
:25:51. > :25:52.pollution from increasing flights in Edinburgh and those campaigning
:25:53. > :25:58.against an additional runway at Heathrow. The aviation industry
:25:59. > :26:06.itself can well afford to lobby hard, sponsoring lavish events here
:26:07. > :26:09.at Westminster and even at the First Minister's party Conference but
:26:10. > :26:13.should we not be listening more closely to those whose lives will be
:26:14. > :26:16.most affected by increased are quality, pollution here at home and
:26:17. > :26:20.the effects of climate change around the world? Is it not time the
:26:21. > :26:26.Scottish Government had a courtier and policy on aviation levels
:26:27. > :26:29.including a cap on the emissions and protection for communities from the
:26:30. > :26:36.direct impact they have to live with on a daily basis? Firstly trying to
:26:37. > :26:41.find some consensus, it's important all voices are listened to. The
:26:42. > :26:45.Scottish Government as made clear argue that in our view there are
:26:46. > :26:49.benefits to Scotland from Heathrow expansion but it would be for the UK
:26:50. > :26:54.Government in taking forward that policy to answer the questions on
:26:55. > :26:58.the impact on people living around that area and also the impact on the
:26:59. > :27:01.environment and of course we will continue to pay very close attention
:27:02. > :27:05.to the answers to those questions and the case made as it develops. On
:27:06. > :27:11.our own policy, hattrick Harvey talks about Loretta -- relentless
:27:12. > :27:16.growth in aviation, it's not what I'm proposing the government is
:27:17. > :27:19.proposing or but for the advocate is good connections for Scotland, of
:27:20. > :27:24.course good real connections are vitally important and I would
:27:25. > :27:28.encourage people to use the train when travelling across the UK but
:27:29. > :27:33.our economy also needs good aviation connections and we know over past
:27:34. > :27:37.years, the constraints there are a spin on the economy from lack of
:27:38. > :27:40.certain routes and in particular of direct flights into and out of
:27:41. > :27:45.Scotland so we need to get these policies right, you must grow the
:27:46. > :27:48.economy, how many times rightly and understandably in this chamber do we
:27:49. > :27:52.talk about the challenges facing the economy and the need to have
:27:53. > :27:56.policies to grow the economy. That's a key priority of the government and
:27:57. > :28:00.connections for business, exporters is a vital part of that but of
:28:01. > :28:05.course, we have to make sure all of our policies taken together, past
:28:06. > :28:08.the climate change challenge and it would be one thing to level these
:28:09. > :28:11.criticisms of the Scottish Government if we weren't meeting
:28:12. > :28:17.planner change ambitions but not only are we meeting those, and have
:28:18. > :28:21.been praised by the committee on Climate Change for our record, we
:28:22. > :28:24.are meeting the targets ahead of schedule, are not complacent, we
:28:25. > :28:29.want to opt our ambition and go further but we need to have policy
:28:30. > :28:32.balance so we can support economic growth and have support for public
:28:33. > :28:36.services across the chamber that we want to see. Willie Rennie. To ask
:28:37. > :28:41.the First Minister of what issues will be discussed at the next
:28:42. > :28:46.meeting of the Cabinet? Excuse me. Matters of importance to the people
:28:47. > :28:51.of Scotland. The First Minister has done nothing in the last 20 minutes
:28:52. > :28:56.to avoid her party looking shifty and evasive on Europe and
:28:57. > :29:05.independence. The First Minister said on Monday, this election is not
:29:06. > :29:07.about independence. Yesterday, we see her sitting on a yes to
:29:08. > :29:15.independence branded motor bike in the shadow of the Wallace Monument
:29:16. > :29:21.on the bee Rautenbach burned so can the First Minister tell me what this
:29:22. > :29:28.position today? -- Road to Bannockburn. My position is as it's
:29:29. > :29:32.always been, he seems to be struggling to understand it, I
:29:33. > :29:37.support Scotland being independent and an independent member of the
:29:38. > :29:40.European Union, there you go, how can Willie Rennie struggle to
:29:41. > :29:45.understand that and he's right, I went to Bannockburn yesterday, I
:29:46. > :29:50.went to visit a fantastic heritage project, the restoration, the
:29:51. > :29:58.proposed restoration of Alnwick Berghuis where Bonnie Prince Charlie
:29:59. > :30:04.stayed back in those days, so that was a fantastic visit yesterday and
:30:05. > :30:08.I'm proud in this election, to get out there and make the case for a
:30:09. > :30:12.strong opposition to the Tories at Westminster and making the case that
:30:13. > :30:17.on the key questions, independence and other key questions, it should
:30:18. > :30:19.be the voice of this Parliament, is democratically elected parliament
:30:20. > :30:23.that determines the future of Scotland, not the voice of an
:30:24. > :30:31.increasingly right-wing Tory government at Westminster. Willie
:30:32. > :30:42.Rennie. Does she really think were all buttoned up the back? She
:30:43. > :30:48.said... Once again, once again, she has refused to say that this is what
:30:49. > :30:53.the election is about but her predecessor was on the radio saying
:30:54. > :30:59.exactly that is what it is about, it's about independence first, last
:31:00. > :31:03.and every priority. Last week she was evasive about her future plans
:31:04. > :31:09.in Europe, this week but confusion about independence. Starting with
:31:10. > :31:15.denial and ending with a Hells Angels tour of the central belt.
:31:16. > :31:19.Meanwhile, the economy is teetering on the edge of recession,
:31:20. > :31:26.international education rankings have slipped, and the mental health
:31:27. > :31:31.strategy is months behind schedule. She should be ashamed of that
:31:32. > :31:36.record. The best way out of all of this is for her to do just what the
:31:37. > :31:42.majority of people in this country would applaud her for, white can't
:31:43. > :31:45.she just cancel this divisive, independence referendum campaign and
:31:46. > :31:55.get back to her job for Scotland? So says the guy that has gone around
:31:56. > :32:03.the country arguing for a second EU referendum. In answer, to Willie
:32:04. > :32:07.Rennie's first question, I think most people watching this would
:32:08. > :32:12.start to think that yes, the Liberal Democrats appear buttoned up the
:32:13. > :32:20.back. So, if the cap fits, perhaps you should wear it. More seriously,
:32:21. > :32:24.Willie Rennie raises in passing issues like education and the
:32:25. > :32:27.economy and mental health. I agree that these are fundamentally
:32:28. > :32:30.important issues which begs the question, why Willie Rennie does not
:32:31. > :32:35.take the opportunity of these questions today to actually ask me
:32:36. > :32:42.about any of these matters? He had the opportunity. Here am I, standing
:32:43. > :32:46.here. He can ask me anything he likes, but chooses not to ask me
:32:47. > :32:51.about education, health, or the economy. Do you know where that is,
:32:52. > :32:55.presiding officer? Because all of the opposition parties here
:32:56. > :33:00.actually, they are the ones that only want to talk about
:33:01. > :33:03.independence. Why is that? Because it is a smoke screen. It is a smoke
:33:04. > :33:10.screen, presiding officer, because none of them are prepared to talk
:33:11. > :33:15.about their own policies or their own record. Let me tell you what I
:33:16. > :33:20.am going to work in this election. I am going to work to win this
:33:21. > :33:22.election, there is no other party in this chamber prepared to say that
:33:23. > :33:36.that is what they are trying to do. The first question from Monica
:33:37. > :33:40.Lennon. I have a question on a domestic matter, it's about
:33:41. > :33:43.education. The First Minister will be aware that college electors are
:33:44. > :33:47.on strike today, gathering outside Parliament for a rally this
:33:48. > :33:52.afternoon after talks on Tuesday aimed at resolving the ongoing
:33:53. > :33:57.industrial dispute failed to reach a solution. The SNP have been
:33:58. > :34:01.promising lecturers equal pay since 2011. Lecturers have already
:34:02. > :34:07.compromised by agreeing to stagger pay over three years up to 2019.
:34:08. > :34:11.Despite this, a deal was agreed last year still has not been on it. What
:34:12. > :34:15.message is does the First Minister have for the striking lecturers, and
:34:16. > :34:21.what action ministers taking to resolve the dispute? First Minister.
:34:22. > :34:25.In terms of the lecturers that are visiting Parliament today, the
:34:26. > :34:32.Minister for further education and higher education will meet with them
:34:33. > :34:36.later today. I want to see this dispute resolved, because strike
:34:37. > :34:39.action in our colleges is in no 1's interest, certainly not in the
:34:40. > :34:44.interest of college students. Let me be clear what has happened here. We
:34:45. > :34:50.have put in place as we were asked to do, arrangements for national
:34:51. > :34:53.bargaining. When you have those arrangements, it becomes ultimately
:34:54. > :34:59.a matter for the trade union and the employers to resolve. As I
:35:00. > :35:04.understand it, clearly I pay close attention to these matters, this is
:35:05. > :35:08.not actually a dispute about paid. Pay increases have broadly been
:35:09. > :35:12.agreed, this is now a dispute about terms and conditions about the
:35:13. > :35:16.amount of class contact time and numbers of holiday. I would
:35:17. > :35:19.encourage certainly the employers to go the extra mile to resolve this
:35:20. > :35:25.dispute and I hope in discussion with the union, they will be able to
:35:26. > :35:28.do that. I think the move to national bargaining is a significant
:35:29. > :35:32.step forward. Once you have government having to step in to
:35:33. > :35:37.resolve these things, you no longer have national bargaining. We want
:35:38. > :35:41.that, there is going -- that is going to work, both sides have to be
:35:42. > :35:47.prepared to come to a resolution under very much hope that happens
:35:48. > :35:51.and soon. Tavish Scott. The First Minister will know that farmers and
:35:52. > :35:55.crofters have three weeks to make 2017 payment applications. She will
:35:56. > :36:01.also know the ?180 million commuter system is to make these payments
:36:02. > :36:04.does not work. -- computer system. Will she undertake to give her
:36:05. > :36:07.long-suffering officials and departments across Scotland the
:36:08. > :36:11.tools in order to make their job possible, and that does not include
:36:12. > :36:15.continuing with a computer system does not work? Of course we support
:36:16. > :36:19.our officials working across the country, and officials working on
:36:20. > :36:21.these matters are working exceptionally hard. We will ensure
:36:22. > :36:26.the equipment and the tools they need to do the job is vitally
:36:27. > :36:29.important, the payments to crofters and farmers more generally paid and
:36:30. > :36:36.paid on time. We are focused on that. I am prepared to ask him to
:36:37. > :36:39.meet with Tavish Scott to listen to any concerns he continues to have.
:36:40. > :36:46.And we set out what we're doing to address them. Fulton MacGregor. But
:36:47. > :36:49.I would ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is
:36:50. > :36:56.taking to protect children and young people online? Last week the
:36:57. > :37:00.Minister for children launched a national action plan on Internet
:37:01. > :37:03.safety for children and young people. It contains a range of
:37:04. > :37:06.actions we will undertake, working in partnership with the police,
:37:07. > :37:11.health boards, and crucially children and young people
:37:12. > :37:14.themselves. Our average 60 help young children stay safe on the
:37:15. > :37:17.Internet and to support parents and carers be more where the potential
:37:18. > :37:22.risks their face online. Fulton MacGregor. I welcome the stem
:37:23. > :37:26.element. It's vital we all do what we can to keep children safe in
:37:27. > :37:30.every aspect of their life. Can the First Minister advise what role was
:37:31. > :37:32.envisaged for service providers and technology businesses, who clearly
:37:33. > :37:39.also have a responsible of the two protect children from harm online?
:37:40. > :37:44.The online industry, and I have to say, social media providers in
:37:45. > :37:47.particular, have a key role. Key responsibility in ensuring that
:37:48. > :37:52.children and young people do stay safe online. It is reassuring to see
:37:53. > :37:55.the industry taking its responsibility to protect children
:37:56. > :37:59.seriously, do a range of actions and measures. We should continue where
:38:00. > :38:03.it is necessary to put pressure on the industry to take the action that
:38:04. > :38:07.is appropriate, because there is more for the industry and for
:38:08. > :38:10.providers to do. Indeed I think there's more we can all do to help
:38:11. > :38:14.keep children safe online. The action plan we published last week
:38:15. > :38:17.sets out how the government will take the Steps that are for us to
:38:18. > :38:22.take, and I look forward to industry playing its role fully with
:38:23. > :38:27.ministers and other stakeholders to implement its measures. The Internet
:38:28. > :38:30.overwhelmingly is a force for good. We should embrace that positively.
:38:31. > :38:34.It opens new worlds to children every single day, but the downside
:38:35. > :38:38.for the dangers of the risk children face. We must tackle them so
:38:39. > :38:45.children can continue to enjoy and benefit from the Internet as they
:38:46. > :38:48.currently do. Liam Kerr. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish
:38:49. > :38:53.Government 's position is on the accuracy of the GERS figures. GERS
:38:54. > :38:58.is a national statistics publication which means it has been
:38:59. > :39:01.independently assessed by the UK Statistics Authority to make sure it
:39:02. > :39:05.meets the code of practice. That code ensures that statistics are of
:39:06. > :39:10.high quality and public value. GERS estimates the level of public rent
:39:11. > :39:14.new raised in Scotland and for residents of Scotland under the
:39:15. > :39:20.current constitutional arrangement, it is based on a range of estimates
:39:21. > :39:23.and it is not an indication of the finances of an independent Scotland,
:39:24. > :39:26.which of course would be dependent on a range of other factors,
:39:27. > :39:31.including the spending choices and priorities of the government of the
:39:32. > :39:36.day. Liam Kerr. I think the First Minister for a reply. She has to say
:39:37. > :39:42.that, to those SNP supporters including members of this chamber,
:39:43. > :39:46.who in recent months had mounted a concerted attempt to undermine and
:39:47. > :39:49.delegitimise GERS. Can she also put on record the GERS our official
:39:50. > :39:53.statistics, produced by her government to the highest standards
:39:54. > :39:56.and that those who denigrate the figures are, including in this
:39:57. > :40:04.chamber, as a matter of fact, simply wrong? Can I recommend to the member
:40:05. > :40:07.that when he comes here and asks a question, he actually manages to
:40:08. > :40:14.listen to the answer. Let me repeat what I said in my first answer. He
:40:15. > :40:20.asked me to put on record that they national statistics. The first words
:40:21. > :40:23.in my original answer work, GERS is a national statistics publication. A
:40:24. > :40:28.bit of listening instead of heckling might have gone down well. The I'm
:40:29. > :40:33.making, the simple point I am making is this. GERS does not tell us
:40:34. > :40:39.anything much about the finances of an independent Scotland. It is not
:40:40. > :40:51.just me that says that. The Frazier of Allah Institute says that jurors
:40:52. > :40:54.-- of an Institute, reflects that. An independent campaigner said
:40:55. > :40:57.recently that nobody suggests the GERS figures reflects what an
:40:58. > :41:03.independent Scotland would look like. Yes, they are official
:41:04. > :41:06.statistics known to be of high value. They have a range of
:41:07. > :41:13.estimates underpinning them as everyone is aware. Crucially they
:41:14. > :41:14.reflect the position in Scotland, under current constitutional
:41:15. > :41:25.arrangements, not under independence. Alex Rowley. To ask
:41:26. > :41:29.the First Minister what action the Scottish Government will take to
:41:30. > :41:33.ensure that older people receive the free personal care payments that
:41:34. > :41:36.they are entitled to, in light of research by Age Scotland, which
:41:37. > :41:44.suggests that thousands are missing out due to delays in accessing and
:41:45. > :41:48.arranging care. Age Scotland's figures show that 95% of older
:41:49. > :41:52.people assessed as needing care received the assistance they needed
:41:53. > :41:55.within five weeks. Those with critical and substantial needs were
:41:56. > :41:59.conducted within two and a half weeks. That said, no one should have
:42:00. > :42:02.to wait longer than necessary to receive their care package, that's
:42:03. > :42:04.why we continue to work closely with councils to make provision even
:42:05. > :42:12.better than it already is. Alex Rowley. I think the First Minister
:42:13. > :42:16.for that question. The fact remains that for many individuals, and for
:42:17. > :42:24.many families, far too often their experience of social care is not
:42:25. > :42:29.always a good one. The residing officer said, where there is no
:42:30. > :42:32.honour to the elderly, there is no future for the young. Being able to
:42:33. > :42:37.provide support and care for older people in Scotland at the point
:42:38. > :42:41.where they need that support and that care, must be the accepted will
:42:42. > :42:47.of every Scottish Government. Will the First Minister agreed to set up
:42:48. > :42:51.a view that will examine the progress today in rolling out
:42:52. > :42:58.integrated health and social care, looking at what is working, what is
:42:59. > :43:03.not, and why it is not, and building on best practice across Scotland to
:43:04. > :43:08.ensure that every individual who needs health and social care is able
:43:09. > :43:13.to access it? First Minister. I agree strongly with the sentiments
:43:14. > :43:16.behind Alex Rowley's question. Health care the elder people is very
:43:17. > :43:21.often the more uncivilised society. We should all be proud of elder care
:43:22. > :43:27.in this country. And the fact that vast majority older people get good,
:43:28. > :43:30.high-quality care, and they get it upon an assessment that says they
:43:31. > :43:34.need that care. Yes there are still some individuals for whom that is
:43:35. > :43:39.not the experience, and we must and determined to work to resolve that.
:43:40. > :43:44.For that reason, we did take the step is a government, a step that no
:43:45. > :43:47.previous government was prepared to do, to formally by statute integrate
:43:48. > :43:52.health and social care. It is white, as Alex Rowley is aware, we are now
:43:53. > :43:56.doing again the very difficult thing that governments have shied away
:43:57. > :44:01.from my long time, of transferring money from acute health services
:44:02. > :44:04.into social care and community care, in recognition of the fact that it
:44:05. > :44:07.is those services that are absolutely essential that
:44:08. > :44:10.individuals, particularly older people, but when it comes to
:44:11. > :44:16.relieving the pressure on our acute health service. He asks for a
:44:17. > :44:19.review, I would say the progress of integration is under constant
:44:20. > :44:23.monitoring and review will stop that will continue to be so. It is
:44:24. > :44:29.absolutely the right thing to do. Initiatives of that magnitude
:44:30. > :44:33.clearly have challenges along the way. I already speak on a regular
:44:34. > :44:35.basis to people who work in social care in different parts of the
:44:36. > :44:40.country who point to improvements that are already being made because
:44:41. > :44:45.of that integration. We are delivering, or we the people out
:44:46. > :44:49.there are delivering those services, are delivering a high quality
:44:50. > :44:52.service for older people. Working with health services and voluntary
:44:53. > :44:55.organisations which are absolutely crucial here as well, to make sure
:44:56. > :45:02.that is the experience for every single older person in Scotland.
:45:03. > :45:05.Kristin Graham. As the First Minister is aware, the introduction
:45:06. > :45:09.of free personal care in 2002 has saved over the 15 years, tens of
:45:10. > :45:12.millions to the Treasury because they are not required to pay out
:45:13. > :45:16.attendance allowance. Tens of billions that could have gone to
:45:17. > :45:20.free personal care. Does the First Minister agree with me that it is
:45:21. > :45:25.ironic, indeed hypocritical, but in the same breath as the Tories defend
:45:26. > :45:31.their cruel reap laws and demand the Scottish Government provide funding
:45:32. > :45:34.to support that callous clause, they refuse to pay out savings that we
:45:35. > :45:40.have made in this Parliament through our compassionate policies? She is
:45:41. > :45:45.absolutely right. It remains something of a national scandal,
:45:46. > :45:48.that the UK Government clawed back attendance allowance from Scotland
:45:49. > :45:54.following the introduction of free personal nursing care under previous
:45:55. > :45:57.administration in 2002. Kristin Graham talks, I think she may have
:45:58. > :46:04.misled about the tens of billions of pounds that have been lost to this
:46:05. > :46:08.government as a result of past and current UK governments. Let me tell
:46:09. > :46:15.you how much much that is exactly, over the past 15 years. It now
:46:16. > :46:20.amounts to ?600 million. More than half ?1 billion that rightly should
:46:21. > :46:23.be here in Scotland, helping to support our older people that is now
:46:24. > :46:28.currently in the pockets of the London Westminster Treasury. That
:46:29. > :46:32.policy, I have to say, was started by a Labour UK Government but it has
:46:33. > :46:37.been continued by Tory UK Government. If either of those
:46:38. > :46:40.parties now wants to say that they stand up for pensioners, although
:46:41. > :46:43.that would be difficult for the Tories who are preparing to abandon
:46:44. > :46:46.the triple lock on pensions, if either of those parties want to come
:46:47. > :46:50.here and talk about what more we need to do for older people, the
:46:51. > :46:53.support for this government is trying to get that money back for
:46:54. > :46:58.Scotland would certainly be overdue, but it would be very welcome indeed.
:46:59. > :47:09.That concludes FMQs. Ending with a very substantive issue
:47:10. > :47:14.there, the business of free personal care and attendance allowance and
:47:15. > :47:16.the call for the early days of this Parliament. The former
:47:17. > :47:20.administration for the should have pushed harder with the UK
:47:21. > :47:25.Government. Those are things for the past, for the present we have the
:47:26. > :47:29.exchanges today. Was there any of the rudeness of mugwump, no there
:47:30. > :47:30.was not. I stress, constructive mugging going on.
:47:31. > :47:32.Joining me now are the political commentator Rebecca McQuillan
:47:33. > :47:39.and The Courier's political editor Keiran Andrews.
:47:40. > :47:46.I'm concerned on that one. Rebecca, first of all, let's flip flop a
:47:47. > :47:50.little bit, to use Nicola Sturgeon's phrase of the day. Willie Rennie
:47:51. > :47:54.first. He pursued hard this business of whether the election was a
:47:55. > :48:01.referendum on a referendum. He did. He actually brought together the SNP
:48:02. > :48:06.stance on Europe, which is quite as clear as it once was. And whether
:48:07. > :48:11.this was really about trying to strengthen their mandate for a
:48:12. > :48:17.second independence referendum. He used some fairly colourful language.
:48:18. > :48:23.Called her shifty and pervasive! He did, and talked about her posing on
:48:24. > :48:30.the BRoad to Bannockburn. The reason he has chosen to call this issue is
:48:31. > :48:37.he knows the polls show you is not a huge enthusiasm for an independence
:48:38. > :48:41.referendum. He suspects the SNP are trying to, not to talk about it too
:48:42. > :48:45.much. And therefore trying to put them on the defensive line. On this
:48:46. > :48:50.point, Nicola Sturgeon said I am in favour of independence. There's a
:48:51. > :48:53.shock. I'm in favour of the EU, she has said previously in a statement
:48:54. > :48:57.that there was already a mandate for a referendum and all the selection
:48:58. > :49:01.would do would be reinforced that. She says she has made it clear. Does
:49:02. > :49:11.Alex Salmond was Mac comments muddy the water? I think his comments do.
:49:12. > :49:15.It seems he can't go on TV without giving journalists a newsline. It's
:49:16. > :49:19.built in to his DNA. It does make it difficult for Nicola Sturgeon, she
:49:20. > :49:25.knows that running an election campaign based on a second
:49:26. > :49:35.independence referendum will be difficult. Most Scots voted no will.
:49:36. > :49:40.To have her predecessor bring it front and centre of this again,
:49:41. > :49:44.might cause a few problems, certainly in all parts and the
:49:45. > :49:48.north-east of Scotland. Was it aptly who said a period of silence on your
:49:49. > :49:54.part would be welcome? Is that possibly the sentiment she has. I
:49:55. > :49:59.don't think anyone, not even the First Minister, could zip up the
:50:00. > :50:06.mouth of her previous incumbent. Let's go back to the stop them, Ruth
:50:07. > :50:10.Davidson. The fishing industry, the European issue generally. She was
:50:11. > :50:17.going quite hard on that? She was. We have mentioned there, how this
:50:18. > :50:23.issue of Europe is difficult. She was talking about, gunning for votes
:50:24. > :50:29.in the fishing constituencies. We know for example, the Tories are
:50:30. > :50:33.hoping to perhaps take some big scalps in the selection. Talk of
:50:34. > :50:40.even Angus Robertson, the leader of the SNP at Westminster, losing his
:50:41. > :50:44.seat. We don't know how likely that is, but they are putting all their
:50:45. > :50:48.energies into that certainly. What they are trying to do is say, look,
:50:49. > :50:51.you say you don't like the Common fisheries policy but you're poor in
:50:52. > :50:55.Europe told a different story. Nicola Sturgeon was quite effective
:50:56. > :51:01.in coming back. -- your policy in Europe. She talked about joining the
:51:02. > :51:04.market and 73, she recalled the White Paper saying there has to be a
:51:05. > :51:08.role for the European fleet. She absolutely came out all guns blazing
:51:09. > :51:16.on that, and aimed to put Ruth Davidson on the offensive. She asked
:51:17. > :51:19.what does the White Paper mean when it says the UK Government wants a
:51:20. > :51:24.deal that is acceptable to EU fishing communities. Turning to
:51:25. > :51:27.Kezia Dugdale, she was going not for the UK general election but the
:51:28. > :51:31.small matter of the locals next Thursday. Lots more in the
:51:32. > :51:35.slightest, I say that in a gently satirical sense. She was raising the
:51:36. > :51:39.issue of education. Nicola Sturgeon's first priority, or was
:51:40. > :51:43.it? Education has been a real thorn in the side of Nicola Sturgeon, said
:51:44. > :51:47.she announced it was her main priority, I think she would be
:51:48. > :51:52.judged by. She has been judged on her record of education as a First
:51:53. > :51:58.Minister. It has been tough. There are 700 Scotland -- Scotland are
:51:59. > :52:01.short of 700 teachers. That's an awful lot of people is not getting
:52:02. > :52:08.the education that they deserve, and they need. It was quite refreshing
:52:09. > :52:14.to see actual domestic policy come to the fore of a FMQs, which was
:52:15. > :52:19.general election campaigning in every other sense. It was a dream,
:52:20. > :52:24.wasn't it, Nicola Sturgeon reported those suggestions from a Kezia
:52:25. > :52:28.Dugdale, but she did not go out all guns blazing as you said with
:52:29. > :52:33.regards to other things. She is aware it is a tricky record to
:52:34. > :52:37.defend. She says, we're trying our best, it's not in his coroner has
:52:38. > :52:41.shortages. Absolutely. John Swinney has been put in charge of education,
:52:42. > :52:45.he was seen as the man to come in and sort out the problems left by
:52:46. > :52:47.his predecessors. He has found more lurking under the floorboards and
:52:48. > :52:53.perhaps either him or Nicola Sturgeon expected. Patrick Harvie of
:52:54. > :52:57.the Green Party, some effective questions on the business of the
:52:58. > :53:04.impact of air taxation. That's right. There is a bill just
:53:05. > :53:08.approved, its first stage, which would enable the Scottish Parliament
:53:09. > :53:14.to start the process of doing away with air passenger. He pointed out,
:53:15. > :53:17.as other have before him, there is no official analysis yet about what
:53:18. > :53:21.the economic, social or my mental impact of that would be. Now the
:53:22. > :53:24.Scottish Government have said they will go away and provide that
:53:25. > :53:31.information before rates and bandings are set. Nicola Sturgeon
:53:32. > :53:36.trying to set the other side of the equation, the potential benefit? She
:53:37. > :53:40.was playing the, if you like, the stateswoman role with that. Saying
:53:41. > :53:45.she has two balance issues of mitigating climate change against
:53:46. > :53:50.boosting the economy. We have a good record on climate change. Give us a
:53:51. > :53:54.chance to get this right. Rebecca and Kieran, hang on very few
:53:55. > :53:58.seconds. Local politicians always tell you the only poll that matters
:53:59. > :54:01.is the one on election day. They are of course entirely right. Does that
:54:02. > :54:05.mean they pay no attention to the polls come from the opinion
:54:06. > :54:08.pollsters on the way? No, of course it doesn't. They pay very close
:54:09. > :54:12.attention to that indeed. I decided to catch up a little bit in the
:54:13. > :54:17.where we are on the polls and spoke to an expert from the Scotland
:54:18. > :54:20.Office of Ipsos Mori, Mark Diffley. The vast majority of polls that have
:54:21. > :54:24.been published since the campaign was on the way since the election
:54:25. > :54:32.was called, showing the Conservatives at UK level of very
:54:33. > :54:37.strong lead position. Up to 40%, 50% of the vote. Two things, to watch
:54:38. > :54:42.out for. Some of that is at the expense of Labour, who are down in
:54:43. > :54:45.the early to mid 20s in some polls, which would be a pretty disastrous
:54:46. > :54:53.result for them of course. Actually the Ukip vote much collapsing at a
:54:54. > :55:00.UK level as well. Down to four, five, 6%. The Tories being the main
:55:01. > :55:09.beneficiary of that. I suppose at the Mrs Merkel question, what first
:55:10. > :55:14.did attracted Theresa May to the election? Polling helped. There are
:55:15. > :55:19.a number of factors behind her rationale and reasoning. She is
:55:20. > :55:22.right in saying, if she gets an increased majority, that will
:55:23. > :55:26.probably help with the Brexit negotiations. That's at the
:55:27. > :55:31.forefront of her mind. Of course the polling really does help. It's not
:55:32. > :55:38.just that the Tories are set for an increased majority at this stage,
:55:39. > :55:42.albeit we are not actually into the campaign proper yet. Her personal
:55:43. > :55:46.majorities in all the polls are pretty sky-high. There was a lot of
:55:47. > :55:52.voter satisfaction with the job she's doing. A lot of confidence in
:55:53. > :55:58.the prospects of her leading the UK's negotiations on Brexit. As
:55:59. > :56:03.ever, Scotland is different, the polling picture is different in
:56:04. > :56:08.Scotland? Hugely different, as ever, or as ever in recent times. I had to
:56:09. > :56:11.say, although not at the same level, we are seeing somewhat of a Tory
:56:12. > :56:15.resurgence in Scotland as well. The polling that has been done, since
:56:16. > :56:20.the Prime Minister called the election, shows the Tories up
:56:21. > :56:24.approaching a third of the vote in Scotland, which in recent times is
:56:25. > :56:28.entirely unprecedented. I think the bigger picture of course is that the
:56:29. > :56:34.SNP still a very dominant position, in terms of the number of seats they
:56:35. > :56:40.are likely to win, I doubt it will be up at 56 again like it was in
:56:41. > :56:41.2015. Still likely to be the vast, vast majority of the 59 seats that
:56:42. > :56:42.are available in Scotland. That was Mark Diffley
:56:43. > :56:52.from pollsters Ipsos MORI. On the apparent disparity in the
:56:53. > :56:52.situation in Scotland and the rest of the UK.
:56:53. > :56:57.Rebecca McQuillan and Keiran Andrews are still with me.
:56:58. > :57:04.A glance at the morning Star, they said Churchill was a shoo-in and 45.
:57:05. > :57:09.Anyway. The point was, it still all to fight for. On a UK basis that
:57:10. > :57:13.still true, but the Tories do look pretty comfortable. The polling
:57:14. > :57:22.industry has had some nasty knocks, hasn't it, in the last couple of
:57:23. > :57:26.years? Sparta about -- part of that, they have been trying to call polls
:57:27. > :57:30.which are very close. When you have a 3% margin of error which is very
:57:31. > :57:33.difficult to narrow, and you have a very close result, there will be
:57:34. > :57:39.problems. There have been methodical runs as well. This is a very
:57:40. > :57:43.substantial lead in the polls that Theresa May has, so I think it's
:57:44. > :57:47.probably fairly safe to bet that she will be returning to Downing Street.
:57:48. > :57:51.What will happen to labour on the other hand, that I think is more of
:57:52. > :58:00.a moot point. We have to see what happens now that... Once the
:58:01. > :58:04.election rules kick improper. What happens to Jeremy Corbyn? 59 MPs by
:58:05. > :58:12.definition in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon saying it's about standing
:58:13. > :58:17.up for Scotland. Sturgeon is really pushing this rhetoric that they had
:58:18. > :58:24.to be the official opposition, the real opposition, with the collapse
:58:25. > :58:28.of any effective opposition from the Labour Party in the Commons. It's
:58:29. > :58:32.likely the SNP will leave seeds in the selection simply because 56 of
:58:33. > :58:37.the 59 was an incredible result last time. A hugely high bar. Just
:58:38. > :58:40.because that falls, as Mark Diffley says, they will still be the largest
:58:41. > :58:43.party with a considerable difference and the largest part of the boat,
:58:44. > :58:49.which is still a win in Scotland. Thank you very much my both of you.
:58:50. > :58:52.We will see the outcome of the elections in the UK general
:58:53. > :58:53.election, and we will see whether United are promoted to the
:58:54. > :59:10.premiership! That's it from me. this super-sized hospital has been
:59:11. > :59:16.transforming lives in Scotland. There's nowhere else in Scotland
:59:17. > :59:24.that could have done This is all Roz,
:59:25. > :59:33.she's trying to frame me! This is the final push,
:59:34. > :59:37.we cannot fail. He sent you, didn't he?
:59:38. > :59:42.Are you expecting someone else? Our crack team of experts
:59:43. > :59:59.use pioneering research