30/03/2017: First Minister's Questions Politics Scotland

Hello there and a very warm welcome to the Scottish parliament, the

Garden Lobby here at Holyrood. Much more Brexit today, we will get the

outline details of what will eventually become the Great Repeal

Bill, the repatriation of EU law, bringing it back to Britain as part

of the departure process. Of course much of that law, some of that to be

devolved out to the territories including Scotland, a controversial

issue. More of that later but the substance of this programme,

questions to the First Minister, let's cross to the chamber.

Welcome to the chamber, the presiding officer in fighting his

guests to the chamber and this weeks proceedings, among the guests the

Polish ambassador, we'll cross to the chamber, the First Minister is

about to get to her seat. We turn to First Minister's Questions, Ruth

Davidson. To ask the First Minister for engagement she has for the rest

of the day. I will take forward the programme per Scotland. To ask the

First Minister does she believe that Scotland's schools are staffed with

enough teachers? The Education Secretary and I have even open about

the recruit and challenges that are in parts of the education system.

That's why we have been focused on making sure we are a track is the

best and brightest people into the teaching profession, making it

easier in partnership with the General teaching Council for

Scotland to get teachers into the classroom and we'll continue to take

that action. Have funded local authorities over the past number of

years to maintain the numbers of teachers and that's the right thing

to do as part of the overall programme of reform to make sure we

are driving up standards and closing the gap in attainment. The simple

and correct answer there was no, there aren't. Because here are the

figures. Since the SNP came to the number of teachers has fallen from

55,000 to just under 51,000, down by more than 4000. When schools need

supply teachers to fill and they are struggling more and more. This week

we contacted councils across Scotland to find out how the stock

of supply teachers had fallen in recent years and here are the

Scottish borders has been a drop of more than a third and supply

teachers since 2011, in Edinburgh it's worse, the numbers have had, in

Glasgow alone over the same time frame, we've lost 1000 supply

teachers. Fewer teachers, more vacancies and fewer supply teachers

to fill in when needed. How can the First Minister defend that? Teacher

numbers as we had debated in this chamber many times in the past, over

a period of years, the numbers of teachers will fluctuate in line with

fluctuations in the number of pupils in our schools. In recent years, we

have and this is a statement of fact, presiding Officer, we have

wondered local authorities as pupil numbers started to rise to also

maintain teacher numbers so we can broadly maintain the pupil teacher

ratio as well. That is a fact. In terms of teacher recruitment

challenges, we have in recent times opened up as I said earlier, in

partnership with the General teaching Council for Scotland, 11

new routes to get teachers into the classrooms to make it easier to get

the best and brightest in the profession into classrooms doing for

a do best. We also increased the future intake for teacher training,

this year I think we've reduced that, increased that brother by just

short of 400, 370, we've asked the GDC to see what more can be done to

motivate supply teachers, we are taking a range of actions to make

sure we have the right numbers of teachers in schools teaching our

young people and of course that is part of the wider programme that I

spoke about. We have taken the decision as part of the budget this

year to get ?120 million direct Lee into the hands of headteachers so

that they can invest in resources, the things they believe will have

the biggest impact on raising attainment and that's more start,

whether it teaching or specialist SAP, that's for the discretion of

headteachers. We continue to take the action that is required to be

taken. We will continue to focus on that. She's standing there asking

for applause for cleaning up her own mess. This isn't a fluctuation,

we're more than 4000 teachers down and thought we'd learned this week

is the real cost of teacher shortages. It got rather drowned out

by the first ministers referendum plans but education Scotland made

clear that the recruit went Scotland we face is damaging the quality of

education in Scotland, not just in primary school but secondary school

too. According to the head of school leaders Scotland the shortage is

such that headteachers are having to take on staff not because they are

right for the job but because they are the only ones available. Does

the First Minister think this is a decent return for ten years of SNP

government? We have plenty of evidence of improving standards in

schools. I can point to... The record exam passes that young people

are achieving in our schools. I can point to the record positive

destinations of young people leaving our schools, going into employment,

further education or training. I can point to the beginning of the

closing of the attainment gap although I readily recognise there

is much more work to do. Yes we have a challenge when it comes to

recruitment of teachers in particular areas, and that's not

unique to Scotland but what we are doing as I set out in my previous

answer is taking a range of actions to ensure that we meet that

challenge. We will continue to focus on exactly that, the programme of

reform in education, I already mentioned additional funding going

direct to headteachers, the attainment challenge focusing on

literacy and numerous sick, the introduction of China not everyone

in the chamber with national assessment so that we can publish

robust information about the performance in schools and measure

the improvements we are taking. This is a comprehensive programme of

reform and I and the Deputy First Minister will continue to be

absolutely focused on delivering it. The First Minister is going through

actions that are being taken but the Sony necessary because her

government has been asleep at the field for the last decade. But the

real question is about this governor's priorities. This weeks

Tom Hunt wrote in a national newspaper, setting out some of the

positive steps that are finally being taken, like leadership

development for headteachers to ensure we get better leaders in

schools and he talked up the work being done by skills development

Scotland to link young people with employers but he finished his peace

with this... Let me read it. Scotland faces challenges so I ask,

is independence our biggest priority? And Sir Tom, grown if you

like, but he's only asking the question that a lot of people want

answered. Separation or education, which is at, first Mr? Firstly in

terms of education, I know there are many things that Ruth Davidson

doesn't like to acknowledge, for example, around 30% increase in

higher passes since 2007, 90% of young people going into positive

destinations, the improvement we see in closing the attainment gap, the

increase in early years and childcare which is so crucial to

closing the attainment gap, the additional resources going into the

hands of headteachers and as she just spoke about, the extra support

John Swinney was talking about this week to headteachers making sure we

have the best leadership in our schools. That's come back to this

point about who is concentrating on these matters and to add every

opportunity tries to shoehorn in the reference to the Constitution. I

don't know... I don't know how... Ruth Davidson spends her week, when

she's not appearing in comedy shows or talking about independence.

Here's just some of the things I do in an average week. ?10 million to

support a food and ring set, signing an economic partnership agreement

with the very, this is just the last few days, chairing a Cabinet

kneading deciding the content of the Social Security Bill Buck continues

work and 2018 budget plans that talks about what we are doing to

reduce cancer waiting times. Finalising the mental health

strategy which will be published this very day. Convening a meeting

with the Social Security Minister to talk about our new Social Security

agency, announcing 300 new jobs in the city of Glasgow. Talking to

manufacturing companies about how we boost that sector of our economy,

reviewing with the Deputy First Minister the education reform

programme, talking to the transport Scotland and transport Minister

about the Queensbury Crossing, I could go on but I know I'm running

out of time. Let's focus on some of the things other ministers have been

doing while the opposition talk about their priorities, the Health

Secretary funding to widening access to medical schools, funding to

increase cervical cancer screening, the Education Secretary funding for

support for headteachers, the Public Health Minister, extending the

family partnership, the Children's Minister, setting out plans to

double childcare and of course last but not least, the Community

Secretary, support for young homeless people who are having their

housing Benefit removed by the Conservative government at

Westminster. So I'll take no lectures, I'll take no lectures

about the day job. It's just a pity so much of our day job is spent

cleaning up the mess made by a Tory government! Presiding Officer, the

First Minister talks about priorities, is she really coming

here, I know she's had a tough week and I know it's getting worse but is

she coming here to say after forcing a two de debate on independence,

forcing through a referendum against the wishes of the people of

Scotland, forcing through bad, that she will stand here and still say

that education is her priority, where her government hasn't abated

education on government time in this chamber since October? How does she

answer that? No education since Labour, independence every single

day. -- since October. The difference between this government

and the Tories is that they debate and we deliver. 120... Let me

tell... Let me... Let me tell Ruth Davidson what we've delivered in

government time and with government money. ?120 million or headteachers

to improve standards in our schools. I'll continue to allow Ruth Davidson

and the Tories to debate with each other come out get on with

delivering the people of Scotland! Question two, Kezia Dugdale. To ask

the First Minister of what engagements she has planned for the

rest of the week. More engagements to deliver for the people of

Scotland. Kezia Dugdale. One thing the First Minister has done is

deliver justice for the survivors of mesh. A group of women I met a few

days ago for in whose lives have been destroyed by a medical

procedure that was supposed to help them get better. One woman I spoke

to camp set down without being in excruciating pain. Others have him

paralysed. These women feared that the review into the use of mesh

products would be a fight wash and First Minister, that's exactly what

it is. In their own words, these women have even left dismayed, has

gusted and betrayed. Will the First Minister take this opportunity to

apologise to the woman who had been so badly let down? -- disgusted. I

am deeply sorry for the suffering of these women, that are mentioned and

many others who suffered complications because of treatment

with mesh. As Kezia Dugdale knows, the Health Secretary will make a

statement in the chamber this afternoon on this issue. The

independent review which was instructed by this government to

look into these issues was published on Monday of this week, but contains

eight important conclusions that health boards across this country

will now be expected to take forward. The Health Secretary has

recently met with two of the women who have been understandably quoted

in the media, all of McIlroy and Elaine Holmes to hear directly, in

person, their views, she met with the women to make clear at the

Scottish mesh survivors group views have been heard and more than that,

as we take this work forward, we want to make sure there are views

remain at the centre of it. The chair of the review has insured all

evidence that formed the review was made publicly available alongside

the report when that report was published. I am very grateful to all

the members of the review of the considerable time and effort they

dedicated to this really important piece of work over the past number

of years. Health Secretary will set out in further detail this afternoon

the actions that will now be taken to make sure these recommendations

are implemented in full and I hope the chamber will welcome the Health

Secretary's state and when it's made later. That is a welcome apology but

make no mistake. There has been a cover-up and this is a national

scandal. Whatever the Minister says this afternoon, the report has been

compromised. Because we know the original draft report was supported

all members the few group of the final report has lost the faith of

those involved. And that's quite the chair, a clinical expert and the

patient's representatives have all resigned. Even the First Minister is

an successor as Health Secretary Alex Neil said it was totally

unacceptable. Most importantly, countless women whose lives have

destroyed by this, think it's a fight wash. If these women don't

have any faith in the report, how possibly can the First Minister?

I think there are extremely important issues involved here, as a

matter of fact, not to underplay any of the issues involved, the cheer

resigned for personal reasons, not for concern about the report as far

as I am aware. I take very seriously the responsibility and I know the

Health Secretary does as well as we move forward from the statement

Shawna Robertson will give this afternoon to implement the

recommendations that we do work hard to make sure we build the faith of

those who have been affected by this and that is one of the most

important responsibilities we have. The report, this was appointed the

Health Secretary made very clear to establish whether the cheer of the

review, all of the evidence has been made publicly available alongside

the report, it is they are available for anybody to read, the

recommendations in this report must now be taken by word and must now be

taken forward in a way that has the confidence of the women who have

been affected. I would ask members to wait to hear the statement that

will be made this afternoon, they will have the opportunity rightly

and properly to ask questions about that statement but it will set out

clearly the steps which will now be taken to make sure that all the

right action is taken but in a way that restores the confidence and the

faith of the women affected. That is responsibility I take seriously with

the Health Secretary and when that statement is made this afternoon I

hope members across the chamber, I know they will ask searching

questions but I hope there will be support for the actions the Health

Secretary will set out. The women want to have faith in this process

but they also want to see some action. Here is an e-mail from

Sophie, she is 18 and the daughter of a survivor, Sophie e-mailed at

half past two this morning as she cared for her mother and the e-mail

said this will stop "I am struggling to remember my mum before Mech took

her from me, she is not dead but a shell of the women I previously

loved, adored and had been inspired by. You should live a day in our

life. On the days when the pain is so bad my fiercely independent

mother cannot even brush her own teeth. Given what she knows about

this, if the doctor told the First Minister or someone that she loves

that they should have this procedure would she go ahead with it? Because

Nicola Sturgeon's answer is no or even if she isn't sure, then surely

she must ban this devastating and dangerous practice once and for all.

My heart goes out to the woman Kezia Dugdale has just referred to in the

e-mail on the heart of her daughter. But secondly Kezia Dugdale rightly

calls for action and that is what the independent review was set up to

recommend and the Health Secretary will set out a Parliament this

afternoon exactly that, the action which is now being taken. Actions

like informed consent, genuinely informed consent is one of the

issues. There has been a suspension on routine procedure is of this

nature although there has been the ability of women have the

information and are in pain and choose to go ahead to do so. But

safety, informed consent, making sure there is the right guidance in

place, these are all at the heart of the recommendations the Health

Secretary will talk about this afternoon. I know this from my years

spent as Health Secretary, with some exceptions even in the history of

this Parliament, Health Secretary 's are rarely clinicians, we have to

rely on expert clinical advice and sometimes that advice can be

contradictory and sometimes it can be very difficult to find the right

way forward on the basis of that. We use our best endeavours to do so and

that is why the independent review was set up. That is why all of the

evidence which informed the outcome of that review has been published. I

recognise, the Health Secretary recognises that some of the women

involved in this review have lost faith in that and it's a crucial

part of our responsibility to restore that face laid-back faith.

I do not expect members across the chamber to stop asking important

questions on the heart of their constituents, I accept the

importance of that but I hope also we can build some consensus around

the actions which will be outlined to the chamber later this afternoon.

Two constituency supplementary is, the first Daniel Johnson. Thank you,

this week the development trust made a

the sick kids is not just the hospital but a beloved institution

for many people in Edinburgh and beyond, it's touched the lives of

thousands including my own family. Will the First Minister give me and

my community this submission which must be approved by ministers in the

coming weeks will be treated carefully and seriously by the

government. There are competing interests given that the government

has an interest in the sale of the site but also must approve the bid

is a ballad community interest bid, could the First Minister spell out

the criteria and approach her government will use to assess the

submission? I know how important these issues are when a much loved

hospital is no longer used as a hospital in this case it is because

we have a new sick kids hospital being built in Edinburgh but the use

of that site and what happens to that for a community is important.

The question that has been asked is that we as ministers make sure

careful consideration is given for the application the member refers

to, absolutely we will. I cannot pre-empt that consideration or that

decision but generally and we see this through legislation, the

community empowerment act and not just in cases like this, part of

what we want to do is make sure communities are at the heart of

plans for the regeneration and redevelopment of areas in their own

areas and these principles and criteria will tell you much be used

to judge the application. This week at the transport minister confirmed

there had been over 700 separate deployments of temporary traffic

lights to bring this strategically

important road back up the standard? We don't want the use of temporary

traffic lights where that can be avoided but I am sure all members

and everyone listening to this will that in instances where we have for

example roadworks or other might have been landslips or problems

caused by weather often that's unavoidable as roads are repaired. I

am happy to come back to the member on the detail particularly on the

number of times temporary traffic lights have been used on that road

but what I would agree is that we want to keep it to a minimum but

sometimes repair work on our road system is unavoidable and it's

necessary to make sure we have an efficient and effective road system

across the country. Tuesday the 18th of April. Coming just a day after

the UK Government signalled its form our intention to withdraw not only

from the EU but the single market something even Leave campaigners

promised would not happen and will rip away our freedom of movement and

undermine recruitment and education, health, social care and that the

economy, I personally find it astonishing to hear the

Conservatives raise the issue of recruitment in public services. But

today, today the UK Government is publishing its absurd repeal bill.

Covering a huge areas of power which have no place being exercised by UK

ministers. Can I ask what the First Minister's view is on the scope of

that repeal bill Weston does she agree it must not be allowed to

change legislation which a number of important points. He is

absolutely right to point out that the biggest risk to recruitment in

the public services right now is the one posed by the Conservatives in

the form of Brexit and it's quite breathtaking hypocrisy for any

conservative to stand up and talk about these issues without

recognising the responsibility they bear. Secondly on the great repeal

bill it's hugely important not just for this government but for this

Parliament, one of the things which should concern everybody is the way

in which Conservative ministers at Westminster echoed by Conservative

Party members in this chamber choose their words so very carefully over

this issue. They talk about not taking away any decisions that we

already make as if we are somehow supposed to be grateful for that.

But the issue of course around the great repeal bill is about power is

currently with the EU, FBI to be repatriated in areas that are

currently wholly devolved, agriculture, fishing, for example,

where should those powers go? And other current terms of the Scotland

act those powers should automatically come to this chamber

but nobody in the UK Government and I discussed this with the Prime

Minister on Monday but nobody in the Conservative benches will give that

guarantee which leads me to suspect what the Tories are actually

planning is a power grab on this Parliament. That will be absolutely

unacceptable. When that happens I don't expect the Tories to back us

up but at that point I will be looking carefully at the Labour

benches because surely not even Labour in those circumstances could

stay subservient to the Tories, surely even they would have to stand

up for Scotland? It's not only the Scottish Government which should

recognise the content being shown by the UK, it's all of this Parliament

which should recognise that contempt, they have not only refused

to discuss with ministers the timing of Article 50 or any of the other

details of their plans, they have refused to come and answer questions

to our parliamentary committees which would give all of us whatever

our view on these matters the ability to ask serious questions so

in the face, in the face of that content that has been shown to

Scotland by the UK Government we want to put the power over

Scotland's future back into the hands of the voters who live here.

The UK ministers one that power for themselves, their ability to rebate

laws without the normal checks and balances. This is the same UK

Government which promised to write into law the permanence of this

Parliament, the permanence of a parliament that 74% of people in

Scotland voted to create and they abandoned that promise as well. So

while UK ministers wish to seek for themselves that power to rewrite

laws with the abuse of antique powers to bypass Parliament can I

ask for the First Minister's commitment to ensure there will be

full parliamentary scrutiny because it's not only one Parliament but all

parliaments which need the ability to hold all ministers to account. I

absolutely agree, and before we get to the usual arrogance sniggering

from the Tory benches, everyone across this chamber who actually

wants this Parliament to be respected should agree with Patrick

because not just Scotland's but all of the devolved administrations have

been treated with contempt by the UK Government so far in this process.

Patrick Aryee rightly said we did not see the Article 50 letter, we

did not know when it was going to be published, we did not know what it

was going to say but to be fair that Prime Minister did give me an

insight into its contents on Monday of this week, she told me and this

is a direct quote, she told me the letter would be not detailed, not

short but not blindly either. So I am grateful to her for that insight

into the government is thinking. But in case anybody is thinking of

course that this is just me as an SNP First Minister complaining about

the UK Government people should listen to Carwyn Jones, the First

Minister of Wales who yesterday said that in his view the devolved

administrations had been treated with contempt and that it was the

behaviour of the UK Government which was doing more than anything else to

undermine the United Kingdom so I think it's important that everyone

across the chamber stands up for the rights of this Parliament before we

go any further in this process. The last point I would make which I'm

sure the Conservatives in particular will be interested in, I have seen

Ruth Davidson, and others, on Twitter furiously this morning

talking about research published by John Curtis, let me point to a

finding in this research. It asked respondents this question, what did

they think of this statement, Scotland as a nation should not have

to leave the EU when a majority of Scots voted to stay. A majority of

people agreed with that statement. The fact of the matter is people do

not want Tory Brexit, the question is what are we going to do to

protect people from the impact of Tory Brexit.

Supplementary questions, the first, Liam McArthur. This morning a

damning report into victims of sexual crime was published,

describing the service as -- that some received as unacceptable, sick

epic and gaps in provision and we've fallen behind with best practice

elsewhere in the UK. The report confirmed in the islands that is

have to make traumatic trips to the mainland for examination, I know the

First Minister and Justice Secretary feel that compounds the trauma they

have suffered so will the First Minister give a commitment to update

this Parliament as soon as we return from recess on the action tour

government plans to take on the back of this report? Yes, I will be happy

to ensure there is a full ministerial statement on this issue,

I think all of us agree the consequences and impact of rate and

sexual assault are devastating and we must do all we can to support

victims when they supper this he must crime. -- rape. The Chief

Medical Officer will chair a group of experts from health and justice

to ensure health boards approve the provision of appropriate health care

provision for any big who requires forensically examine and this will

complement work that Healthcare Improvement Scotland is already

doing to develop new national standards used by health boards,

there'll be a consultation on the standards and it will be published

by the end of this year. Many people talk about the importance of the

sexual assault referral centre and that's a way of delivering this

care, we don't think it will necessarily work for all of Scotland

but it is vital in all of Scotland, that victims of sexual offences get

the support they require. Liam McArthur rightly raises particular

issues faced by Island communities, I know he is the MSP for Orkney but

he'll be interested to know that NHS Shetland has a ready made a public

commitment to provide an holistic approach to victims of rape and

sexual assault and they are working to put in place the necessary

equipment, accommodation and trained staff to ensure they can deliver on

that and we will work with other health boards in particular and

other Ireland health boards to make sure the same approach is taken. A

final point which is important, many victims of this kind of crime when

they have to undergo forensically examine a want that to be done by a

female doctor for reasons that all of us can absolutely understand. One

of the issues we've been trying to understand better is why more female

doctors don't come forward to work in this area and weep in working

with images education Scotland to understand that they carried out a

survey that closed at the end of February and were working to analyse

the responses. I recognise the report published today is not good

enough and I have no hesitation in saying that, we have worked under

way already to address the challenges and the group that has

been announced today chaired by the Chief Medical Officer will make sure

we take whatever further action is required. Andy Whiteman. Thank you,

the First Minister will be aware of the excellent investigative

reporting of David Smith and others in the Herald newspaper... Following

a report on Monday the SLP involved in the long drink scheme, can the

First Minister advise me whether the government is considering reforms to

criminal or of Scotland, but would implement a crackdown on the litany

of crime being perpetrated and does she agree a new offence of the

carriers liability could be a way of holding to account individuals and

firms involved in criminal activity in cases where they undertake no

steps of due diligence on the identity, motives or purposes of

partnerships they are responsible for creating. I thank him for

raising this issue, let me pay tribute to the workers at the Herald

for the work they've done to shine a light on some of these practices. We

will continue to look at whether there is action we can take within

our devolved powers to better tackle this issue. The issue of the

carriers liability has been raised, per issues he will understand I

cannot give him an answer today but I will ask the Justice Secretary to

consider that option. As he and other members know, we are talking

about the conduct of limit of partnerships, much of the solutions

to the problems identified lie in the hands of the Westminster

government, we have been pressing the Westminster government to act,

SMP MPs have been particularly vociferous in doing so and we will

continue to press for action there. But we will not shy away if we have

the power to do that within our own powers and we will continue to look

at that and I will ask the Justice Secretary to respond in detail to

him in due course. Rhona Mackay. Thank you. Scotland has a great

record in attracting investment, second only to London in recent

years. Can the First Minister provide an update on inward

investment and plans to reach out beyond our borders to attract jobs

and growth to Scotland? It is really important particularly now that we

give a message that Scotland is open for business. We continue to be

considered as a prime business location for global companies

looking for a foothold in and access to Europe. Just yesterday, I was

able to visit a company in Glasgow to announce growth and expansion

plans which involve more than 300 new jobs for the city. I hope

everybody across this chamber would find it within themselves to welcome

that. Yesterday that the Ernst Young attractiveness survey

published regularly highlights recently be had a record level of

investment projects in Scotland and of course for some years, we've seen

that Scotland is the most successful part of the UK for inward investment

outside London and the south-east. We need to work harder now to

continue that success given the applications of Brexit, that's why

we have been taking action for example, to establish investment

hubs in Dublin, London and Berlin and next week, I'll undertake a

series of engagements in the United States, focused on creating jobs,

opportunities and economic links for Scotland. We'll continue to focus

but withstanding all of the challenges we face that are not of

our making in doing everything we can to bring jobs and investment

here to Scotland. Kenneth Gibson. Thank you. To ask the First Minister

for further initiatives the government will take to boost

tourism in light of day 50 when 6% increase in attendance at Scottish

visitor attractions in 2016. As the figures illustrate this has been a

retro gear for leading visitor attractions as they again

outperformed the rest of the UK in terms of growth visitor numbers. The

success of the attractions will continue to play a vital role in

making Scotland a destination of first choice from visitors from the

UK and across the world and will work with those of Scotland and

stakeholders to see how we can achieve the aims of the tourism

strategy, delivering a greater degree of connectivity than before,

through direct routes and maximising the impact of this key sector. I

thank the First Minister. Last year was a bumper year for Scottish

tourism with visitor numbers growing more than twice as fast as the rest

of the UK, such attractions are vital in attracting visitors to

Scotland whose expenditure serves to grow employment and a thriving

tourism and hospitality sector. The ten most popular UK attractions are

in London with the National Museum of Scotland the most visited with

1.8 million visitors, in Ayrshire the top attraction a castle and

country Park was 133rd. While a wide range of attractions and heritage

Museum attractions are tracked high-quality experiences, what more

can be done to encourage people to make Scotland a first choice

destination but to visit areas such as are sure of Scotland? I

absolutely sheer his focus on getting the benefits of tourism to

all parts of our country, not just the cities or the most famous

attractions and that someone born and brought up in Ayrshire I know

there are many excellent visitor attractions including the castle.

Scotland has so much to offer tourists, were not only steeped in

history and heritage, we've got the best landscapes in the world, a huge

opportunity capturing interest in marine tourism so we will continue

to work with partners including in Ayrshire to implement for example

the Marine A course. The J, first of kind in the UK and that will have

particular relevance to Kenny Gibson's constituency. We work with

everybody across Scotland to make sure we attract more people to come

to Scotland, to spend money, to enjoy everything the country has to

offer, tourism is one of the most important and successful sectors and

we have to do everything possible to ensure it continues to be so. Jamie

Greene. To ask the First Minister further Police Scotland plans to

increase the number of foreign officers. The number of armed police

officers is principally an operational decision for the Chief

Constable who takes account of a range of factors including

intelligence reports and threat and risk assessments. I spoke to the

Chief Constable last week as I said in the chamber, after the tragic

events at Westminster and he assured me he had the resources he requires

to respond appropriately to that incident. That of course included

the uplift in armed officers announced last year. Following the

incident in London last week, we saw a substantial increase in the

numbers of armed officers on duty here in Scotland and a confederation

of resources to introduce a non-armed police presence the

country as well. I thank the First Minister for that answer. This is

indeed an operational matter for the police but we had very mixed

messages yesterday. Police chiefs said they are already much better

and don't see the need for more firearms officers. The Scottish

Police Federation representing rank and file has said they don't have

the capability right now to use armed police if required. Who

doesn't First Minister think is right? We will always work to make

sure the police have the resources they need. That is why in June last

year, we agreed with the police although this was driven by the

judgement of the Chief Constable, that there should be an increase in

armed officers in Scotland 424, taking the total number to 479. In

the wake of last week's incident it was possible immediately for the

Chief Constable to substantially increase, I think, almost double the

number of armed officers who were on duty. I and the Justice Secretary

had discussions with the Chief Constable and his colleagues on a

regular basis about policing in general, but given the threats we

face right now in particular about the capacity and capability of

police to deal with an increased risk from terrorist attacks. We will

continue to do so and as part of discussions we continue to listen

Catholic too what rank and file officers to the Scottish Police

Federation tell us as well. Iain Gray. To ask the First Minister of

what the Scottish Government's responses to reports that only one

in 18 schools were inspected last year. Education Scotland is

committed to increasing the number of and frequency of inspections, in

future years, that's one reason why they've been undertaking a review of

inspection approaches in consultation with schools and key

stakeholders. These approaches will help support the achievement of

closing the team and gap and raising the bar for all, in addition to

inspections education Scotland provide support to schools, and in

201516 carried out a review of every local ready and a specific

inspection of the education functions. The fact is that

education Scotland has not been increasing, it has been reducing the

numbers of inspections and in fact, the rate is less than half of those

carried out in 2007 from the SNP came to power. Does the First

Minister not see that the problem is education Scotland is inspecting its

own delivery of educational policy, and it's clearly in deciding to do

less of that. Will she accept that the merging of the inspectorate into

education Scotland was a mistake which should be reversed?

APPLAUSE On the last point, these are matters

that we are currently considering in the context of the education

governance review which will report on to Parliament in due course. In

terms of the trend in the last couple of years around inspections,

in 14- fitting, there were 148... But as I said, education Scotland is

reviewing its approach to inspection with a view to increasing the

inspections but I have said I'm quite perplexed by his question. He

seems to be saying fairly legitimately in some respects that

there's not enough inspections in our schools but the reason I'm

perplexed is that I remember very well the speech that his party

leader made in this chamber in September 25th team, in response to

me at learning the programme for government. Kezia Dugdale said this

and this is a direct quote, the First Minister should immediately

suspend all school inspection visits for one year. Had Labour been in

power there wouldn't have been 143 inspections in our schools, there

would have on zero inspections in our schools. Which is why I'm

slightly perplexed by his question. To ask the First Minister what

progress the Scottish Government has made on its commitment to reduce the

number of working hours for junior doctors? The passionate campaigning

of Brian Connelly following the tragic death of his daughter Lauren

has already led to improvements in the hours junior doctors work.

Working with the BMA and NHS we have ended the practice of junior doctors

working seven nights in a row and that's a major advance and a tribute

to Mr Conway's campaign. The number of hours worked by junior doctors

has fallen from an average of 58 hours a week in 2004, 248 on average

now. We are determined as the Health Secretary has said to go further and

we are working with the BMA Scottish junior doctor committee to ensure

minimum rest periods following night shifts and improvement to facilities

whilst we work towards what remains the goal of 48 hour maximum week for

junior doctors. I am pleased the first Mr raises the heroic effort of

Brian Connelly who lost his daughter just before she was 24 as she was

driving home after working as a junior doctor. I want to be directly

from the letter to the Health Secretary just this week and I

quote, you have broken your commitment to implement an actual

working week of 48 hours with no averaging as you promised to me in

writing. Doctors are still being scheduled to work 12 days in a row,

some working over 117 hours between days off. You're caught to the Times

in response is yet further evidence of your failure to treat this issue

with the seriousness and urgency it deserves. Mr Connelly goes on, you

blithely confirm that all junior doctor rotors in Scotland fully

comply with the working time directive knowing full well that any

compliance with the directive is only being achieved by a combination

of averaging and the continuing failure to record actual working

hours. He adds, sound bites for the press are no substitute for action

and are a poor camouflage for the leadership required to tackle this

national scandal. The excessive working hours cannot be justified,

they are inherently dangerous and must change and change soon before

there are even more deaths. The responsibility for it affecting the

necessary change rests firmly upon your government 's shoulders so I

ask the First Minister directly will she instruct the Health Secretary to

apologise to Mr Connelly and get to grips with this scandal? Nothing I

can say in this chamber will ever satisfy but I hope I can reassure Mr

Connelly because he has campaigned on this issue and I think can take

great credit from some of the improvements we have already made,

when the Health Secretary wrote to Mr Conway in 2015 after she met him

she said I believe we can commit to this which is the 48-hour maximum

working week as the longer term aim but as I said I wish to be in a

position to make this commitment within a form and achievable

timescale and that remains our position. The later letter simply

recognise that in order to deliver that we have to work with the BMA

and the junior doctors committee and it would be worth, mentioning the

times, it would be worth reading a letter in The Times two days ago

from the junior doctors committee when it said it is vital for patient

safety that rotors are well-designed and adequately staffed however

rather than just focusing on working hours in one week and more effective

way is to address specific risk areas. All we are saying is we are

working with the junior doctors committee to work out how best we

deliver the commitment we have. That commitment, to put it beyond any

doubt as to work towards a maximum 48 hour week, that is what Mr

Connelly wants us to do and along the way I would say thank you in

great part to Mr Connelly we have already made a number of

improvements, the end to junior doctors being rostered to work seven

nights in a row was one of the LA demands made. It also is reducing

the average hours from 58, down to 48. Progress has been made thanks in

large part to Mr Connelly and I want to assure him today and the Health

Secretary will be happy to meet with him again but I want to assure him

today that we remain committed working with dollars to delivering

that maximum 48-hour week. -- working with doctors. Thank you,

that concludes First Minister's Questions. Closing with a

substantial discussion about the health service and it was a health

issue which was very prominent indeed earlier on during the

exchanges, the question of implants, let's talk about that, I enjoyed by

my journalistic colleagues, Simon, when I First Minister is addressing

questions, if it is a generic issue or it's a vague topic of policy is

one thing, but we are dealing here with women in pain and it was very

powerfully raised by Kezia Dugdale and difficult for the First Minister

to answer. It's never a good look for a government to have a scandal

of any kind and then there is an enquiry and the victims call it a

whitewash. The question and doubt it. They say things have been

removed and it has been rewritten and then when you have the Education

Secretary who ordered the enquiry still questioning it is a whitewash

its a big problem. The Health Secretary. Yes, Kezia Dugdale did a

good job addressing that aspect of it and making it personal, raising

the case of the individual whose mother was suffering from this and

it was extremely effective. The answer given was that all the

information given to the enquiry has been published and was urging

members to wait for the statement we expect this afternoon from the

current Health Secretary. That's right, we will hear a statement this

afternoon about what the government's response will be to the

review. I agree it was very question from Kezia Dugdale, she is often on

solid ground taking up these personal stories. This woman was

often in terrible pain who could not be moved by her experience. Her

daughter was saying she can hardly get out of bed to brush her teeth.

It's obviously a very important issue which the government will need

to do something about. And she personalised it again. Yes, asking

if you, Nicola Sturgeon, would advise a relative to have this

procedure. Yes, I think the first Mr was put on the spot there. Let's

move to the questions initially raised by Ruth Davidson, on the

subject of education, fewer teachers, she keeps returning to

that point. I think the Tories think it's a rich seam, the Scottish

Government's record on domestic issues is suffering somewhat both on

education and the health service and other areas. I would expect them to

focus on these issues, accused the Scottish Government of forgetting

about the bread-and-butter stuff what they go after independence.

They expect to enjoy. Nicola Sturgeon says it's not me that talks

about independence, it is you talking about it endlessly. She did

have a point we have to spend two and a bit days debating it, huge

publicity around the boat and now we are expecting a big campaign from

Nicola Sturgeon to try to force the Prime Minister to back down over the

timing. The First Minister has just joined us for a photocall connected

to I think Maggie 's cancer care centres, let's talk about the First

Minister and the challenge on schools, the implicit challenge was

you are neglecting the day job and she then read out her diary.

Exactly, this is the old mantra, get back to the day job, education comes

up usually from the Tories, sometimes Labour. But the First

Minister was ready. She knew it was coming up, it always does. She had a

good response, she said they are going to introduce a policy Tories

support as well as introducing reforms. Patrick Harvie came back on

the issue well later on, raising the issue that this is a convenient area

for the Tories to divert attention away from the disaster they are

responsible for which is Brexit. Sticking with Ruth Davidson, she

mentioned because logician once but I think she got away with it. She

turned a question about schools into a question about the constitution.

They want to touch on the independence dying but they want to

put Nicola Sturgeon under pressure on the bread-and-butter stuff, the

problem with the defence on this is that she is saying we are trying to

do this and that, you have been in power for ten years but at what has

happened on your watch so it's quite an effective line of attack. The

question arising out of the Brexit debate, coming most explicitly as

the Brexit Minister goes by, it came most explicitly during the exchanges

with Patrick Harvie, he was going hard on Article 50. Absolutely, it

was such a huge day, we saw the letter going in, we saw an immediate

hard push back from Europe on certain aspects, Angela Merkel in

the timetable, now we have seen the great repeal bill today which will

be an amount of work for this place, I have heard from certain place that

displays could be sitting until midnight to deal with the

legislation. That is not family friendly. On the great repeal bill,

Patrick Harvie called it a absurd, is it? It will be challenging, it

will take a long time to sift through, it's the process of

bringing EU law back into British law and then there will be

negotiations about what powers lied at Westminster or are devolved

Scotland but I thought Nicola Sturgeon came back very strongly on

this whole constitutional issue and the contempt with which I suppose

the devolved parliaments have been held. She was not told, she was not

given advanced warning of the letter and I think the other points was

this meeting with Theresa May on Monday and Theresa May said the

letter will not be detailed, won't be short but will not be lengthy

either so I think that's another issue which will go down as now is

not the time. On the subject of Article 50 and the great repeal

bill, the devolved powers returning to Scotland? Getting the sense of

what the Prime Minister said, I think she will create a UK wide

framework and then devolved delivery and have flexibility, allow this

place to have flexibility. Nicola Sturgeon called it a power grab. It

is and it isn't, these powers are held by Brussels at the moment. The

problem is if you have two separate systems, you create internal borders

and it makes it harder for the UK Government to do trade deals if you

have two separate systems so I think a bit like Social Security is

heading now, we will get deep devolved flexibility but an overall

UK wide framework. I would see it as a very dangerous risk of power grab.

The Prime Minister in her speech to the Tory party conference said she

wanted to keep areas such as agriculture coming back in devolved

areas back at Westminster rather than devolved. There is no reason

the Scottish Government and UK Government could not work on making

sure that there is uniform regulation across the two areas.

Thank you both for joining me. The photocall goes on in the background,

the First Minister has departed, more on Brexit later today, much

more, watch it on the BBC but from Holyrood, goodbye.