 Pan ddim i eich cwestiwn, wrth i eich cwestiwn i ddim yn defnyddio mewn cwestiwn, sodd eich cyfleu'r gwneudol o gwaith iawn, ei allan o gynnwys cyflodol i gyfer'u gwneudio, a gawr i gwyfnodol i'ch gwylwg y gall Unig, a hodd Alhag Mwrad Ballywag-Ebrahym, y llef, ddim yn cymdeithas ypwynt Brŵ angylwydd arno imp 당신 mwysliwm mewn dwyllwn. Y nesaf y pwysnes ymwyslwn o'r cwestiwn yn y cwestiwn arno imp. Yn y cwestiynau yng Nghymru, rwy'n cael Douglass Ross. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. The SNP ferry scandal has damaged our nation's reputation for shipbuilding excellence and has left islanders without vital transport links they need for their everyday lives. This week Audit Scotland said this. The costs to complete the ferries have continued to escalate. The total cost to taxpayers, because of SNP incompetence, is now £338 million. Three and a half times more than the original contract of £97 million, and there's still no completion date for the ferries. But Ferguson Marine, fully owned by the SNP government, has paid out bonuses of £87,000 to highly paid chiefs. So, very simply, First Minister, what were those bonuses for? Before I answer those questions, let me remind the chamber that the Deputy First Minister will make a statement to Parliament this afternoon on those issues and will provide updates in respect of some of those issues. Two issues in response to Douglass Ross's question. First, in respect of the Audit Scotland section 22 report that was published on Tuesday, we welcome that report and certainly acknowledge the legitimate issues that were raised in it. As I said, the Deputy First Minister will provide the update requested by the Auditor General this afternoon. That report is critical of the payment of bonuses to senior staff at the Yard in the financial year 2021-22. And the process by which those payments were arrived at. We accept that criticism and can assure Parliament that new arrangements have been put in place indeed at the Deputy First Minister's request to ensure that that doesn't arise in the future. The second point from me is in relation to the construction of the ferries. I have said many times and I say again, we deeply regret the delays to the completion of the ferries and the cost overruns. The management at the Yard has, of course, made assessments of the cost of completing the ferries and Scottish Government officials are applying robust scrutiny to that. Again, the Deputy First Minister will be able to give a further update to Parliament this afternoon. Douglass Ross. I'm sorry, our standing orders of this Parliament are very clear. If a minister is aware of information that they can provide to Parliament, they should do so. It's not acceptable for the First Minister to say, tune in in a couple of hours' time. This is First Minister's questions. As the leader of the Opposition here in Holyrood, I'm asking about an issue that she must be aware of. So I will ask again, what were these bonuses for? £87,000 of taxpayers' money as the Deputy First Minister whispers in her ear. I hope he has the answer for the First Minister to give this chamber a First Minister's question. The Auditor General is clear that those bonuses were unacceptable, his words. We think that they are downright scandalous. It's indefensible. It's a bonus for failure. This failure is all on the SNP Government. This is a company owned by ministers. They are ultimately in charge of it. Will the SNP Government and the First Minister intervene now and demand that those bogus bonuses are returned to the taxpayer? I'm aware that Douglas Ross is rarely interested in listening to the answers to questions, but I am answering the questions. In relation to the bonuses, Audit Scotland issued a section 22 report that was published on Tuesday. In that report, the Auditor General is clear that the governance involved in the process that led to those payments was deficient. In other words, it is not possible to be clear about the basis of those bonus payments, those performance payments. Excuse me, First Minister. We will hear one another in this chamber at all times with courtesy and respect. Regardless of who is speaking in the chamber, I expect all members to do the courtesy of listening. That indeed is why changes have been put in place, new arrangements have been put in place to ensure that a situation like this doesn't arise again. Of course, there has been changes in the management at the shipyard since the financial year in which those bonuses were paid. We take seriously and respond in full to the views in the section 22 report published by the Auditor General. More generally, as I went on to say, focus continues to be on ensuring the completion of the ferries and that the Scottish Government applies robust scrutiny to all cost assessments that are issued by the shipyard. Douglas Ross. Really? Really the Scottish Government ensures that they look at all the costs paid by the shipyard. So why can the First Minister not just stand up and tell me asking the question and people here in the chamber and people across Scotland what was done by the Fat Cats to deserve £87,000 of bonuses? It's a very simple question. Audit Scotland said this week it is not clear how the performance was assessed, nor were appropriate frameworks and governments in place. Those bonuses for failure should not have been allowed and the First Minister should be able to tell the people of Scotland what they were paid for. She went on to say that there are changes so the situation doesn't arise again. But today, there are reports that the current chief executive of Ferguson Marine can get an £82,000 bonus every year and his contract has no criteria for measuring performance. So once again, Nicola Sturgeon and this Government is putting eye-watering sums of public money in jeopardy to be paid to ferry bosses for failure. So First Minister, why are Fat Cat bosses getting a single penny before a ferry has been finished? The issue identified by Audit Scotland is that the process involved in the payment of these bonuses was deficient and therefore there is not sufficient clarity of the basis in which they were paid. That is the issue that was identified and the issue that we are seeking to address so that a situation like this cannot arise in the future. That is the position that I have set out and I am setting it out clearly and of course the Deputy First Minister will make a further statement to Parliament later on where others can question him on that as well. We remain focused in supporting the shipyard to complete the ferries as quickly as possible. I have said many times before and I will no doubt say many times again the delays and the cost overruns are deeply regrettable but I come back to a point that I have also made many times again. We have always been determined to secure the future of that shipyard in order that it can deliver these ferries and have a future that allows those employed at the shipyard to continue to be employed there. So yes, there have been regrettable failings here which of course the Government is accountable for but we remain focused on addressing these and we will continue to do it with that determination and focus. Douglas Ross. I think it's incredible that the First Minister just accepts us all to be happy that a mistake has happened. We don't know why this money's been paid out but it is £87,000 of taxpayers' money going into a project that is already three and a half times over budget. I'm not sure what John Swinney's going to pull out the hat this afternoon but if it's the same answers, people of Scotland will demand more because this is our taxpayers' money that is being wasted with no accountability from Nicola Sturgeon or the SNP. So on top of £87,000 of bonuses for failure, Seymal, the ferry agency, has spent almost £100,000 on a PR firm. What a waste of money! No one can put positive spin on this disaster. Speaking this week, Audit Scotland in their report said this. There is still no certainty over how much the ferries will cost when they will be ready or whether the shipyard has a viable future. Those are the words of the Auditor General. So as Nicola Sturgeon prepares to sail off into retirement and considers her own legacy, she should reflect on the fact that these ferries have been in construction throughout her time in office and they remain rusting hulks and that islanders who rely on them remain without these vital links. So can the people of Scotland get a straight, honest answer from the First Minister for once? When will these ferries be ready and how much will the total cost be? First Minister. Firstly, going back to the very beginning of that question, if I've learned one thing over recent times in this job, it's never to expect Douglas Ross to be happy about anything. So I'm not sure that is going to change. In terms of the detail of the questions, of course, the estimates for cost and delivery of the ferries are in the public domain. They will be updated as appropriate. The Deputy First Minister will give a further update to Parliament later this afternoon. Of course, Ferguson's have continued to progress with the building of the ferries. For example, the MV Glen Sannock successfully completed a dry docking period at the start of this month. So these milestones continue to be delivered. I am of the view that the failures here are unacceptable. I deeply regret these failures, but that is why it is important that we continue to focus on delivering these ferries and also securing a long-term future for the shipyard. In terms of the auditor general's comments about viability, of course, all businesses have to secure long-term viability. The yard is working to secure commercial opportunities and has already been successful in securing some commercial opportunities. That, of course, is part of our priority, to make sure that the ferries are completed, but then of course to make sure that Ferguson's shipyard has a long and secure future and continues to employ those whose jobs depend on it. Question 2, Anna Sarwar. Yesterday's Tory budget demonstrated who's side they are on. A budget that gave tax breaks to the wealthiest and did nothing to help those most in need. We need a meaningful windfall tax now to scrap the non-dom status and to invest in our communities across the country. That's not possible with this Tory Government. While the Tories do little to address the cost of living crisis across the UK, we have a Scottish Government not doing enough to address the NHS crisis here in Scotland. One key part of our NHS is dentistry. Can the First Minister tell the chamber what proportion of dental practices are now refusing to take new NHS patients? First Minister. I don't have that figure immediately to hand. I can provide it. What I do know is that over 1.6 million NHS examination appointments were completed between April and October with an average of more than 300,000 courses of treatment per month. That means that we are on course for over 3.5 million contacts over the course of this financial year. Clearly, there are pressures on NHS dentistry as there are pressures on all parts of the national health service. We continue to support the dentistry profession as we continue to support the NHS as a whole. I should have declared an interest that my wife and I are both qualified dentists. Nicola Sturgeon may not know this, but my wife and I meant to get a dental check-up every six months if you are a citizen across the country, so those figures are not good enough. Data obtained through freedom of information request shows that just one in five dental practices are taking on new patients. One in five. In four health boards in areas in Scotland, zero practices are taking on new NHS patients. Zero. We know who suffers when dentistry is cut back. Children, the most deprived and families forced to go private. Almost one in 10 children have severe decay or an abscess up significantly since 2020. In fact, dental extractions under general anesthetic are the most common reason for children to be admitted to hospital. I have worked in our NHS. I was a dentist in Paisley and I saw first-hand the impact of this Government's failures on the poorest communities in our country. Surely the First Minister knows as I know and NHS staff across the country know that this health secretary is incompetent and out of his depth. First Minister. NHS dentistry, of course, is under pressure. All parts of the NHS are under pressure. I will not repeat the statistics that I gave in my first answer, but we have worked to incentivise NHS dentistry in the course of abolishing dental charges starting with young people. I will come back to youngest people and dental health in a moment. If you look at some other statistics and comparisons, we have in Scotland 57 dentists per 100,000 of our population providing NHS dental services. That compares with just 43 per 100,000 south of the border. 50.4% of adult patients were seen by an NHS dentist in the last 24 months. 50.4% compared to just 38.2% in England. Of course, the latest figures show that over 95% of the Scottish population are registered with an NHS dentist. Just over a third of adults and less than half of children compared to that, 95% of Scotland have access to an NHS dentist in England. Yes, under pressure, but a solid foundation there. Finally, in terms of child oral health, in recent years we have seen very significant improvements in child oral health in Scotland. The first year of the national dental inspection programme in 2002 at Anasarworth should be aware of this showed that 45% of primary 1 children had no obvious decay experience. In 2021-22, that figure had increased from 45% with no obvious decay to 73%. That's the improvement we're seeing in child oral health. Yes, there are challenges but we continue to support the dental profession to meet those challenges head on. I welcome free dentistry but you need dentists in order to get the treatment across Scotland and the First Minister is clearly not listening to the profession. Rather than confronting the NHS crisis we have an SNP talking to doctors about themselves. In fact, it seems the only thing missing from this SNP leadership election is an Ash Regan press conference outside the Four Seasons or maybe a Saltaire waving stop the seal rally by Kate Forbes outside Holyrood and meanwhile the machine candidate, the incompetent Humza Yousaf is presiding over chaos in Scotland's NHS. This morning we heard a mother of BBC Radio Scotland saying her son who is about to start school despite years of trying. Never seen a dentist and he will be one of many. The British Dental Association have told us the number of dentists in our communities has fallen despite what Nicola Sturgeon claims and they also tell us 59% of Scottish dentists have reduced the amount of NHS work since lockdown and 83% of dentists plan to reduce NHS services further in the year ahead. In their words it is very clear an exodus is in motion. The health secretary has lost the confidence of dentists and patients. He has lost the confidence of the SNP finance secretary. Surely even Nicola Sturgeon can see that Scotland has no confidence in him and he's not up to the top job. First Minister Well ultimately of course it's the Scottish people who will make these judgments and the record of past years is one that I know terrifies Anas Sarwar but come back to NHS Dentistry because Anas Sarwar rightly talks about the importance of access to NHS dentistry so let me just repeat the figures showing the reality. Elsewhere in the UK just over a third of adults and less than half of children have access to an NHS dentist that's position in England. Is more than 95% 95% of our population are registered with an NHS dentist that's access to dentistry we've got more dentist per head of population than other parts of the UK and significant progress has been made on improving child oral health so yes there are pressures yes there are challenges but these statistics show that we are meeting those challenges and we will continue to do so. To ask the First Minister ahead of the publication of the next report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change next week what the Scottish Government is doing to ensure that Scotland plays a leading role in tackling the global climate emergency. First Minister I look forward to the publication of the next IPCC report I certainly hope it leads to accelerated action to tackle the climate emergency on a global scale. The Scottish Government is and it's important that it continues to take action both here at home but also working to support the global effort to tackle climate change. Earlier this week I chaired a cabinet sub-committee focused on firstly our response to the recent Committee on Climate Change report and also looking at progress towards the update of our climate change action plan. Maryam Burgess I thank the First Minister for her answer Scotland's history of heavy industry means that we have a significant responsibility to tackle climate change the greatest challenge we face this century. We've also shown how we can lead from the front in transforming energy supply to clean green renewable future. Does the First Minister agree with me that this decade is one of crucial choices for example on standards of homes and buildings on transport patterns on what we farm and how we use land and that it is those areas that our future lies in not squeezing more fossil fuels out of new oil fields like Rosebank and Jackdaw. First Minister Yes I do agree that this decade is a critical one if the world is to avert what will otherwise be the catastrophic impacts of climate change. Indeed the issues that the member highlights for example how we decarbonise the heating of our homes, further decarbonise transport were exactly the issues we were discussing at the Cabinet sub-committee that I referred to and that I chaired earlier this week so the Scottish Government is focused on making sure that we take the action necessary. The member is right to point out that countries like ours that have done the most to cause climate change and have benefitted from emissions and that the generations now have a particular responsibility to take action to combat climate change and that undoubtedly includes the transition away from fossil fuels to clean renewable sources of energy and that is important for Scotland. It's important for Scotland in the context of the climate emergency but of course the North Sea is a declining basin so it is important for other reasons as well but it's also important that that transition is a just one which is why our work on just transition is so important as well. What a litany of utter complacency we've just heard in that question in response. In fact the Scottish Government's response to the climate emergency shows 7 out of 11 legal emissions targets missed, 11 out of 20 biodiversity targets missed, 6 out of 8 key environmental milestones missed and annual peatland restoration targets missed. After almost nine years of failing to get a grip on the climate emergency, does the First Minister believe that all, one or none of the candidates to succeed her will do a better job than she has? First Minister recognised across the world as being a leader in tackling climate change and rightly so and it's particularly notable that we have done that achieved that leadership status in the teeth of Niger opportunistic opposition from the Conservatives to almost every proposal we put forward. Their hypocrisy is breathtaking because when we look at the proposals we've brought forward to try to encourage people to travel to work in ways other than in their cars or to recycle bottles and cans for example what do we get from the Tories we get nothing but opposition but we'll continue to tackle climate change with or without the help of the Scottish Conservative Party Monica Lennon We all want Scotland to play a leading role in tackling the global climate and nature emergencies Does the First Minister agree with me that the global campaign to establish a lot of ecocide a mission started by the respected Pauli Higgins, the late Pauli Higgins who was a barrister and a environmental campaigner is an important campaign and is rightly building momentum across Europe and around the world Will she join me in encouraging people to support that campaign and will she encourage her government to continue to engage with me and the campaigners to explore how we can bring this into criminal law in Scotland? First Minister Yes, in principle I do and I would pay tribute to campaigners across many issues in the fight against climate change I think it is important that we continue to increase our efforts given the scale of the challenge that we face so I will encourage the Government that comes after mine to continue to do all of these things and to do them bravely and to do them despite the opposition that will come from the Scottish Conservatives and I would hope other parties across the chamber will work with the Government to make sure that we are meeting these important obligations Question 4, Kenneth Gibson To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the UK Government's spring budget First Minister While any limited additional money for the Scottish Government's budget is welcome it does not go nearly far enough. We have repeatedly called on the UK Government to deploy its full range of powers to support people the public sector and businesses through the cost of living crisis and the Chancellor's budget yesterday was disappointingly another missed opportunity to do that. The decisions announced yesterday mean that this Government will continue to have a constrained ability to support vital services and provide fair pay rises. This Government is doing everything it can within its limited powers to ensure people receive the help needed but the UK could have done far more to ease the burden affecting so many and of course that demonstrates yet again why Scotland does need the full powers of independence. Kenneth Gibson I thank the First Minister for that reply The Office for Budget Responsibility says that UK household disposable income will fall by 5.7 per cent this year and next the largest two-year fall since records began in 1957. Does the First Minister agree that this damp squib of a budget goes nowhere near addressing the true scale of the cost of living crisis was a missed opportunity to support households struggling to meet eye-watering energy costs rising again as the Chancellor ends the £67 monthly payment many households have relied on since October provides no help to businesses struggling with acute skills and labour shortages and that an independent energy rich Scotland would invest in carbon capture ignored by the UK for a decade, reform broken energy markets and cut costs for households and businesses alike. First Minister I absolutely agree with Kenny Gibson, firstly he's right to point to the economic forecast but let's look at what the experts had to say yesterday about the IFS, the OBR may be more positive about inflation in the economy but it's still projecting that 2022 and 2023 will see the biggest ever fall in living standards or the resolution foundation, the economic outlook is better than previously feared but it's still very bad, this is on course to be the worst parliament on record for living standards by a country mile, that's the conservative responsibility and the conservative record. Kenny Gibson can I say how deeply disappointed this government was yesterday that we had no further clarity on a timeline for the deployment of the Scottish cluster we were expecting further clarity we had been given assurances I had been given assurances directly by the Prime Minister that further clarity would be forthcoming so it's doubly disappointing that we didn't get that yesterday the Deputy First Minister will be writing to the UK Government setting out that disappointment and frustration to make sure that letter is published Thank you Yesterday the Chancellor announced the introduction of 30 hours of free childcare from nine months old this has the potential to truly transform childcare by supporting parents and giving our children the best possible start in life I've been contacted by mums across Scotland who think this is a wonderful policy Does the First Minister agree with me that the Scottish Government should match this major commitment by extending the current childcare policy? The Scottish Government was to match the UK Government on early years education and childcare we'd have to reduce the provision that is currently available in Scotland because we are already way ahead of anything the UK Government provides because of the doubling under this Government of early years education and childcare for three and four year olds and eligible two year olds of course we want to go further and we're clear about this at the last election for younger children but we want to make sure that an important principle in our provision is also respected about the universal approach because what was announced yesterday by the Chancellor is very limited and to give an indication of how limited the consequentials in the forthcoming financial year from that commitment to the Scottish Government amount to just around £20 million that tells its own story about how despite the spin what the UK Government is proposing here is very very limited our ambition remains very much higher Swimming pools across Scotland are currently facing closure including the leisure pool in Perth where I live yesterday in the budget statement the Chancellor announced a £63 million fund for swimming pools in England will the Scottish Government use the Barnett consequentials that will arise from that extra money to support swimming pools here in Scotland currently facing closure? I'm not sure whether Murdo Fraser has ever been invited to use the Prime Minister's personal swimming pool but if he hasn't I'm sure that that invitation will be forthcoming on the issue of swimming pools local sport and leisure facilities include Douglas Ross seems a bit sensitive about the Prime Minister's private swimming pool maybe he hasn't had an invitation either local sport thank you all I don't find I'm perhaps amused by the leader of the opposition rather than the issue local sport and leisure facilities including swimming pools are vital in supporting both the physical and mental health across the country of course energy costs have been a very significant issue facing many sports facilities particularly swimming pools over recent times we will continue to support local councils with the best possible financial settlements and in terms of the use of consequentials of course that will be a matter for the incoming First Minister and his or her cabinet question number 5 Cree Coy to ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will make any assessment of the effect that long A&E waiting times has on patient mortality First Minister I think everyone accepts that there is a link between long waits and increased risk of harm that is why we remain committed to delivering improved A&E performance in 2018 in NHS England the emergency medicine getting it right first time programme carried out an analysis of the relationship between time spent in emergency departments and patient harm that analysis proved association but not causation we considered that analysis very closely and we will continue to monitor research and analysis into the relationship between time spent in emergency departments and patient harm but of course we remain focused on ensuring we reduce waits in accident and emergency First Minister, new figures have revealed that an estimated 765 people died due to dangerous day long A&E waiting times last year that means 64 patients dying needlessly leaving behind 64 grieving families each and every month under this SNP Government the First Minister has less than two weeks left in the job so she has no need to deflect disemple or distract attention by shifting the blame so will she now therefore take this opportunity to apologise to the families of those patients who died and say sorry for her Government's appalling legacy on the Scottish NHS First Minister Firstly, we accept and everybody should accept that long waits lead to poorer outcomes that is why we focus on reducing A&E waiting times and it's why we have worked so hard to ensure that we continue to have the best performing accident and emergency waiting time departments anywhere in the UK Let's put some context on this Our College of Emergency Medicine has made estimates about Scotland but it's also estimated that in 2022 there were over 23,000 excess deaths in A&E linked to long waits in England that's proportionally three times higher than the estimate for Scotland that is unacceptable Can I ask that members do not continue to contribute while people are asking questions or responding to them? That is why it is vital that we continue to reduce long waits in particular in A&E and in recent weeks not only have we been seeing an improvement in accident and emergency waiting times but we've seen a reduction in the longest waits those waiting over 8 hours and 12 hours and we will remain focused on securing these improvements Paul O'Kane has died that we are talking about In the final quarter of 2022 excess deaths in Scotland rose by almost 10 per cent above the five-year average meaning that an additional 1,433 people died than would have been expected based on historical trends Each death a tragedy but they're not a statistical coincidence They are evidence of widening health inequalities the normalisation of 12 hours waiting in A&E and a failure to increase cancer diagnosis rates This is the heartbreaking reality of HUMSA use of disastrous records as health secretary and it will be the legacy of this First Minister So I'd ask her why has she allowed the NHS to decline into such a state of perpetual crisis and does she agree with clinicians, staff, patients and indeed her finance secretary Kate Forbes that HUMSA use of shouldn't be anywhere near running our health service First Minister If every one of these numbers is a human being and it's important that it is treated in that way which is why when the member goes on to politicise in the way he has done I think he kind of undermines his own argument in that The comparisons are important only because if we listen to questions like that the suggestion is that the situation in our national health service in Scotland is somehow unique and that it is all down to whoever the health secretary is or the fact that we have an SNP Government The reason I make these comparisons is for context Health services everywhere are dealing with these challenges The biggest challenge of course in recent years is the global pandemic that has caused many of these pressures but that is why it is so important that we are a Government that has supported and continues to support record investment, record numbers of people working in our national health service we're now seeing improvements in waiting times, we want to see these improvements go further and faster but we've seen a reduction in those waiting for the longest periods of time in accident and emergency departments so this is the hard work of Government under new leadership in coming weeks albeit but this Government will remain focused on doing the hard work and repaying the trust that the people of Scotland have placed in us Question number six Colin McNeill To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide police with access to all correspondence transcripts, meeting notes and other communications with ministers as officials with the Scottish prison service to assist with the investigation regarding the Allen-Marshall case First Minister My thoughts and condolences remain with the family of Allen-Marshall the former justice secretary met with him personally following the fatal accident inquiry determination. There is now a live police investigation under way so it would be inappropriate for me on the Scottish Government to comment on that investigation but I will confirm that the Scottish Government is fully with any investigation undertaken by Police Scotland Colin McNeill Since I first read of the death of Allen-Marshall who died in March 2015 as a result of injuries sustained four days earlier whilst being held in Oman to HMP Edinburgh I did vow to do all I can for Allen's family First Minister will know that the CCTV footage from the prison showed that Allen was dragged naked by the feet faced in along a corridor by 13 prison officers involved were given immunity from prosecution in the eight long years since the death Allen's family have been waiting for the answers Press reports indicate that some of the prison officers were branded consistently dishonest at the inquiry but were able to retire on full pensions without any stain on their service The independent review into the response to this in prison custody that was discussed recently in this Parliament recommended that families should have unfettered access to information about a death in custody I wonder if the First Minister agrees that this is a shocking episode in Scottish justice and that of course it's a matter for the Lord Advocate I fully appreciate that but does the First Minister agree with me that future Lord Advocates need to look at the outcome of this case and the mistakes in this case before granting immunity in the future I call on the Government I think they have said they'll do this to implement and fill the recommendations of the independent review into death in custody First Minister Can I point back to the comment I made earlier on there is a live police investigation so it is appropriate that I am careful in what I say in order that nothing I say could possibly prejudice any on-going investigation expressed I watched the full CCTV coverage my heart goes out to the family of Alan Marshall and I absolutely understand the concern that was raised by that decisions around prosecution or immunity from prosecution are rightly and properly in our democracy for independent prosecutors and it would be wrong for me as a politician to seek to second guess that but there is now of course an investigation under way in relation to the wider point and I think it is a point very well made the independent review of death in custody was important and it is now vital that that is taken forward the Scottish government is making progress on recommendations including the proposal for an independent investigation into every death in custody so in answer to the question Pauline McNeill asked should lessons be learned from this case to inform future decisions that is the case but that must be done in the proper way and in line with due process but I absolutely understand the concerns that have been raised in association with this case and I hope the processes under way will help to give further if not comfort then some degree of assurance and in time consolation to Alan Marshall's family we move to general and constituency supplementaries and I call Graham Simpson the First Minister will recall that in October last year I asked her to consider introducing baby loss certificates for parents who have experienced a pregnancy or baby loss prior to 24 weeks and this week she announced that this will happen this summer along with the introduction of a memorial book and of course that has been welcomed by parents and charities including baby loss retreat whose shop I opened in Airdrie so I want to thank the First Minister and ask if she can be more specific about when it will happen and what the process will be for getting a certificate First Minister This initiative will begin this summer I will ask that further information is provided near the time about the specific date for that and I will ask that some information is shared with MSPs about the particular process some detail of that was shared earlier this week when we announced the initiative for example there will be no need for medical evidence for people who apply for either an entry in the memorial book or a certificate and that is important this should be as easy a process as possible for bereaved parents I think this is a really important step forward I think again going into detail people are aware of it this is absolutely the right thing to do for the country it is important to me personally and I hope it does bring some comfort and consolation to those who lose babies before 24 weeks in the future but also to some who have suffered that loss in the past and I know from many of the comments that have been made in response to the announcement this week that the initiative is the case but I will ensure that further information is shared and that as that develops over the period until this initiative is launched we will continue to share as much as possible Fulton McGregor The First Minister may be aware of a recent decision taken by North Lanarkshire Council to downgrade early years workers predominantly women from grade 9 to grade 7 a significant drop in income of up to £10,000 in some cases I've been contacted by many of those workers terrified of the impact those changes will have especially in the grip of a cost of living crisis they also feel let down and undervalued Does the First Minister agree with me that early years workers are an absolute cornerstone of their education system and can she outline the Scottish Government's on-going commitment to this sector and will she join me in my North Lanarkshire constituents MSP colleagues in calling for Labour-controlled North Lanarkshire to reverse this decision First Minister I very much agree with Fulton McGregor that early learning and childcare workers are a cornerstone of our education system indeed we could not have delivered the landmark expansion to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare without them the Scottish Government fully funds councils to deliver 1,140 hours of high quality early learning and childcare to all eligible children with around a billion pounds of investment each year to make decisions about funding and workforce to meet their statutory duties on provision in their area I do appreciate that the proposed changes in North Lanarkshire are causing real concerns for early learning and childcare staff I understand that the council is working with staff on trade unions to find solutions for those affected by the proposed changes but I would certainly encourage the councils and all parties to continue to work together to identify a positive way forward Thank you The First Minister promised a new national treatment centre for Cumbernauld in 2021 that was supposed to treat its first patient in 2026 FOI requests have said that that will not happen until 2028 at the very earliest and even that is challenging so can the First Minister say when our government will deliver on the promise made back in 2021 and start seeing my constituent Cumbernauld who are currently languishing on NHS waiting lists? We continue to keep the whole programme under review to make sure that we deliver all of these new centres as quickly as possible Of course the context is very challenging with high inflation leading to higher construction costs but there are four national treatment centres opening in the coming year I hope that I may get the opportunity to open one before leaving office and they will provide significant additional surgeries and procedures, these four new centres in NHS 5, NHS 4th valley NHS Highland and the second phase of the golden jubilee are going to make a significant contribution to the NHS recovery plan and the other centres as I say we keep under review to ensure that they are delivered as quickly as possible despite the challenging circumstances we face Thank you, the UN refugee agency has condemned it international charities are horrified by it and the EU commission is scaving of it and it may indeed be in violation of continental wide European convention on human rights. Does the First Minister agree that the UK Government's illegal migration bill has no place in an open and internationalist Scotland that we in this parliament are seeking to build? Yes, I do agree with that wholeheartedly this Scottish Government like many other people has condemned what is a cruel and inhumane bill and we continue to urge the UK government to scrap it it is beyond me how Douglas Ross could have voted for that bill in the House of Commons earlier this week I think it is incumbent on all of us to demonstrate respect for international law human rights and social justice in offering protection with humane, fair and compassionate refugee and asylum policies and I certainly hope and expect that is exactly what an independent Scotland would be able to do during this week this Scottish Government extended funding for a women in conflict fellowship and at the same time the UK Government pressed forward with a bill that would see the rights of women subject to trafficking and sexual exploitation taken away and children subject to detention. No one no one with any moral conscience should support legislation that in line with international law against international law removes offering a place of safety to desperate people fleeing conflict and persecution and Jamie Greene I know from your own contributions you will be aware that this week is sign language week the First Minister will be as relieved as I am, I'll finish the rest of the question in English. Thank you to our wonderful parliamentary interpreters. I wonder if the First Minister would join me in raising awareness of British sign language acknowledging its distinctness as a language in its own right both here in Scotland and right across the UK sharing the same equal status as Welsh and Scots Gallic for example this year's sign language week theme is protecting BSL so will the First Minister and the whole Parliament join me in helping to promote, to protect and educate people about BSL and in doing so encourage more people to start learning this beautiful, unique and visual language so we can truly protect and protect and preserve BSL for many future generations to come and in doing so join me in thanking the many interpreters in this Parliament who help us. First Minister I do agree and let me take the opportunity to echo those sentiments entirely. BSL is a distinctive language in its own right it is a beautiful language and visually distinctive as the member has said and I'm proud that this Parliament has recognised the status of it that is absolutely appropriate. I think we could all do more to raise awareness of it perhaps we could all do more to learn the language and perhaps now that I might have a bit more time that's a commitment I'm prepared to make here today. Can I just take the opportunity in agreeing with everything that Jamie Greene has said to thank some BSL interpreters without whom I couldn't have done my job over the past few years. Everybody will recall during the Covid briefings the BSL interpreters that were there present with me every single day. They were crucial in making sure that we were able to communicate properly and fully the public health messages that were so essential to keeping the country safe during that time. That is just one example of the value of BSL. I want to thank them for that, for all users of the language and interpreters of the language and let us all make a resolution that we will do more to raise awareness of it for the interests of the inclusive country that I think all of us are proud to live in. That concludes First Minister's questions. The next item of business is a member's business debate in the name of Gillian Martin and there will now be a short suspension to allow those leaving the chamber and public gallery to do so before the debate begins.