 Fy g挫gun, newidwch i sut yn dweud, iawn, Jacki B 54? Fy gweithiau Oes Ythom ni, gw efect y cymryd nifer empannau ddydd ag рукod fyrddwr. Fy gweithi'n ddaf yn ddiweddargiad y cyfr wennod o'r шcenedd ac yn cael deum…… …menodd i'r ffr forg leolicŷr fraith y dale. Dyma yw wedi'r s Canton an.(時候, gan robiwch, gan rhai rac y lle…) … mewn cray Chi ond iawn, a hwnnw stai o'v stimulation. Fy gweithio yn y bwysig heb yn cael ei gweld bysig yn gweithwyr, maes yn gweithwyr cais 25 miliwn mlynedd ar ymlaen Inside. Mae fydd ddigwyddor vinew mae'r fawr gweithwyr darparu fel mae fydd yn gweithwyr ar ymlaen Inside, yn credu iًw'r llei fynd i'r gweld bysig yn gweithwyr gan gweithwyr ar dweud. prisons i gweithwyr mewn llei ffwrdd maes yng nghyminte, paethwch i ni, a'r athlates hynny. Rwy'n mynd i gael i'r cyflwystaethau a'r athlates. Yn y ddechrau, mae'n mynd i ddiddordeb yn Scotland wedi'u llwyaf o'r ddechrau ar ddechrau 2007? Mae'n ddiddordeb i'r ddiddordeb yn Deydeb, i gael i'r amser yng Nghymru i ymddiadau Coslau, a'u ddiddordeb i'r ddiddordeb i ddiddordeb o'r rhaglen fathlach i ddiddordeb i ddiddordeb i ddiddordeb i ddiddordeb, I think that that is a considerable achievement in the face of Westminster austerity cutbacks. I know that Labour councils were the most enthusiastic in responding to the Scottish Government's urgings in maintaining the number of teachers. Jackie Baillie? That is how it is. That is how it is. That is how it is. I suppose that probably falls into the First Minister's category of the most accurate answer that anybody has ever given in any Parliament, and we know what nonsense that was. The First Minister knows that I am a kind and helpful person, so let me help him out here. Between 2007 and 2013, the number of teachers in Scotland dropped by 4,000. That is 4,000 fewer teachers in our classrooms teaching our children, and it is the poorest kids and those who need the most support who will suffer. The experts are worried, Presiding Officer. They do not agree that this is because of falling school roles. On Tuesday, the teachers union, the EIS, told this Parliament that every week pupils are sent home because of a lack of teachers. The National Parent Forum said that the poorest pupils will be worse off and get less support because of the cuts. The First Minister will not tell us the truth about the drop in teacher numbers. Maybe he can perhaps be more forthcoming about another issue. Can the First Minister tell us whether the total number of people going to college in Scotland has gone up or down since 2007? The number of teachers in Scotland in 2011 was 51,212. These are teachers employed by local authorities. In 2012, 51,100, in 2013, 50,932. That means that COSLA and Labour councils across Scotland and SNP councils have kept to the agreement of maintaining the teacher pupil ratio at the 2011 level of 13.5. I think that that is a considerable success against the austerity cuts that Scotland has suffered from Westminster. I think that, given that that is part of an agreement that has encompassed the leaders of councils across Scotland and the Scottish Government, I would have thought that Jackie Baillie would acknowledge that her party has some part in the maintenance and the success in maintaining teacher numbers and the teacher pupil ratio in those circumstances. I hope that Jackie Baillie is prepared to celebrate the huge and substantial successes of Scottish education, the record exam results, the hugely promising and effective introduction of curriculum for excellence, and the fact that the concentration of our college courses on courses which give people full-time qualifications is one of the reasons that we are seeing such hopeful signs in the huge and substantial decline in youth unemployment. Of course, full-time college places have been maintained in terms of the full-time equivalents as we promised in our manifesto. These are substantial achievements, not just of the Government but of the teachers, the lecturers and the pupils and the students across Scotland. Jackie Baillie. Can I suggest that the First Minister doesn't hide behind the professionals involved because they are the ones making the complaints about his education system? Do you know, if I was a teacher, the First Minister's report card would be marked lack's attention, could try harder and can't even grasp the basics. So let me tell him about the college experience because the reality is the number of college students in Scotland has been cut by 140,000 since 2007. That's 140,000 fewer people going to college and making a better life for them and their families. He knows there's a cut, I know there's a cut, the people watching at home know there's a cut. The First Minister dodged my first two questions. How about we go for third time lucky? Can the First Minister tell us whether the number of Scottish students going to university from the poorest areas of the country has gone up or down in recent years? First Minister. There are substantial improvements in exactly that ratio, thanks to a number of initiatives that the Government has taken, particularly the maintenance of the educational maintenance rate payments, which have been abolished in England but maintained here in Scotland helping exactly the poorest students in the country. Of course, the Labour Party's checkered track record in failing to support those initiatives, helping students from deprived families, is a matter of record in this Parliament. The achievements of Scottish education against the significant pressure of funding cutbacks for Westminster is something for which this Government is rightfully proud. In terms of allocating credit to that for the teachers of Scotland, for the introduction, the successful introduction of curriculum for excellence against that background, I think I'm allocating the credit where credit is undoubtedly due. I think that the Government can take some credit, however, for the successful introduction and maintenance and expansion of the school building programme, the schools for the future programme. You see, I remember it wasn't so long ago when Jackie Baillie was health minister when our colleagues were questioning our education when they were saying that we weren't building any schools in Scotland. We now have the figures for the first seven years of SNP Government against the background of austerity, 463 school building projects completed since 2007, 135 more than the 328 in eight years of Labour Liberal Administration. I know that Jackie Baillie doesn't want to celebrate these new schools across Scotland and the conditions in which our pupils are now being taught, but will she at least acknowledge if we wind the clock back to some people in the back benches used to be in the front benches, really winding the clock back when I look at some of these Labour members. It was the claim of the Labour Party that we couldn't build any schools. They said we weren't building a single school. In fact, we built substantially more in seven years than the Labour Party meant in the entire time and office. Jackie Baillie, Presiding Officer, even by the First Minister's usual standards, that was truly woeful. For all of his responses—can I just say to him, you're not in the playground any more, First Minister—you can't say a big boy did it and then ran away. Education is fully devolved, it's your responsibility. Let me just say to the First Minister, his Government celebrates percentages. We talk about real people and here are the facts. The First Minister knows that the number of Scottish students going to university is down by 12,000 and for those from the poorest backgrounds is down by over 3,000. The universities are cut by 35 per cent, student debt is up by 69 per cent and despite the First Minister's assertions, the reality is that he is failing Scotland's future. The truth is that there are fewer teachers giving our children the education that they need. There are fewer college places for people trying to get on in life and the poorest people are less likely to go on to university under this SNP Government. He should be ashamed. Isn't it the case that when the First Minister leaves Bute House for the last time, he should perhaps consider taking the education secretary with him? That, of course, is a record number of students going to full-time courses in colleges and universities across Scotland. It is a huge achievement and, in contrast to what is happening south of the border, to the initiative that this Government has taken, we have seen a closing in the gap in terms of the access to our universities and colleges of students from underprivileged backgrounds. That has been the point of maintaining their educational maintenance allowance. Of course, that has been proved possible because education is free in Scotland. We abolished the back-end tuition phase introduced by the Labour Party and restored education on the basis of merit and achievement, not on the basis of the size of your checkbook. I know that whichever candidate was successful for leadership of the Labour Party, one of the first things on their agenda will be the reintroduction of tuition fees. I can just say to Jackie Baillie that that will not be tolerated or accepted by the people of Scotland. I thought that the point of peak absurdity in the line of Jackie Baillie's question was when she said that the Labour Party celebrates percentages. Are they celebrating the 23 per cent percentage of people currently voting for the Labour Party? I'm told that I heard on the radio this morning that there are scientists at Glasgow University who are researching the expanding nature of the universe, and there are political scientists all over Scotland who are researching the contracting nature of the Scottish Labour Party, from big bang to black hole, expansion of the universe, disappearance of the Labour Party in Scotland. Rhyf Davison. Rwyf Davison, i gydagrwch neeach o ddechrau gyda Naesodd. Rhyf Davison, ddweud. Rhyf Davison, mae gydagrwch ganddechrau o ddyglu тыchid gan gyflwyno. Gweithiwn, mae'r edrych yn ffarras gwrth gwrs, ac mae'n gwrth gwrs o gydagrwch o'i iawn, er mwyn gofynol i'r bâtfyrdd a'r gyflawn. Rwyf bawb gwaith, oedden nhw, a'r newydd diwglu iawn. Yn ysgrifennid, y ddechrau, Cair Blwymor wedi'i gweithio y bwch i'r ystodol yn y troi'r eich cyfnod o'r gennym, i wedi'i gweithio'r tynnu ar gyfer caelno'r ffagoriaeth, oedd yn ystodol y bydd y maesafio'r ysgrifennid yn cael y gweithio'r edrych. Mae'r ddweud yn cael y bwch yn ei graf o'r ysgrifennid, ac mae'n gweithio'r ysgrifennid yn ei graff. Mae'n ddigonwch ond ein bod angen i chi i'ch gweithio'r ysgrifennid, The Education and Welfare Committee of Tuesdays, two parent groups, are the scrapping of local authority education boards altogether. I want to ask the First Minister. Now that he's got one foot out of the door, can I ask him why? Why is he so wedded to councils being the only provider of free education in this country? Why does he believe that there is no better way of doing this? Mae'n ystod y cyhoedd gweithgwyng, yw Ianeddiaill Ysgolennu. Mae'r gwneud oherwydd yn ei bobl yn i'n rhan ff番wthlet a'r Cymru. Rwyf dawno'n rhan i'n meddwl fanfflit. Rwyf am dweud i ddeithasus i ddweud i ddeithasus ddull â ceir Blwmer, yr ardigol â hyn gyfan hynny, dweud i ddeithasus eich gweithiau. Mae'n ystod yn ei bod yn meddwl. Mae'n fawr i gael i ddim ymddangasus dros eu ddeithasus ar dgwch yn ddeithasus-nos. I did not feel that doing both the preface and the introduction, as Ruth Davidson did, was perhaps the best use of resources in terms of developing that pamphlet, but when people in that pamphlet argued that we should adopt the rampant disorganisation and privatisation according to the national union of school teachers that is being deployed south of the border as the means of going forward in Scottish education, then they may stake absolutely the temper of the people. If she cares to study Keir Bloomer's article that she cited, she will say that he notes, although he says the difference is not massive, that of course it is a matter of fact, that in terms of international comparisons, in terms of the piece of study, we have arrested the decline that was taking place till 2006. He also notes that on two out of the three measurements, the Scottish performance is ahead of that south of the border. Given those facts, why on earth would anyone in Scotland be interested in the advocation by the Conservative party and their advocacy of adopting the disastrous disorganisation of the English education system far better to pursue the education system that we have in Scotland? Ruth Davidson? The First Minister clearly did not read Professor Lindsay Patterson's entry, where he compared the two and said, and again I quote, Mr Gove's public preference is the more compelling. It's interesting that the First Minister references the Keir Bloomer essay and talks about the piece of study because he goes into that in some great detail. He shows in that, that the year that this Parliament started, Scotland's schools were performing well above the international average. Since then, we have dropped 20 points in reading, 35 points in maths and 9 points in science. Our young people are less able to compete now than they were at the start of devolution. We must do better. So why does this Government dismiss the lessons that can be learned from the charter schools movement in Canada and America, the free school reforms of Sweden or the technical colleges of Japan? Across the globe, school autonomy drives up standards. The First Minister sticks rigidly to the one-size-fits-all approach on education, so rather than self-congratulation, shouldn't this Government put its ego aside and learn the lessons from around the world? First Minister? Since she is quoting Keir Bloomer, she will accept, as I stated in my first answer, that he notes that the decline in performance that was noted between 1999 and 2006 has been arrested in terms of the PISA comparison since. He notes that in his article, and she must accept that because it is there in black and white. I was interested in the Conservatives' offering of New Zealand and America as the international examples that we should follow, because in the same standards, the PISA examples, we have substantially closed the gap with New Zealand in the last few surveys. Secondly, we are ahead of America in the measurements. Why would it be a fantastic example to quote in the Conservative party press release of two countries, one of which we have closed the gap and the other which, in the case of America, that we are substantially ahead? Can I not, Ruth Davidson, understand this, that in terms of the vast expansion of nursery education, Scotland is doing well? In terms of the exciting development of curriculum for excellence, Scotland is doing well? In terms of the Ian Wood commission, in terms of vocational education and how it relates to the colleges, Scotland has got an exciting opportunity to develop vocational education through the cool school and college curriculum. In terms of our advocacy of free education, then we have been vindicated by the success of our universities over the last few years. All of those aspects, Scottish education is performing well. As we go forward into the future to enhance and improve that informance, let us do it in terms of the Scottish principles of education. That means that each child should get an equal chance, not have to pay by the check group for education and not go down the road of privatisation and disintegration, like the Tories south of the border. I have a number of constituency questions today. Last week, I wanted to get through as many as possible, so brief questions and brief answers. Christian Allard. I am sure that the First Minister and the chamber will join me in sending condolences to families of the crew of the Fresabara registered fishing vessels the ocean way, which was tragically lost on Sunday resulting in fatalities. This tragedy is not only a strong reminder that fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations. It also highlights the fact that our many different nationalities working in our fishing industry today, as for the crew, we are Filipino. Could I ask the First Minister if the Scottish Government has been involved in helping to contact the families in Philippines? Let me agree with the sentiments expressed by Christian Allard that, obviously, I am a former member of Parliament for Fraser, but many members in this chamber have close connections with fishing constituents. We also like to record the Government's thanks to all those who acted quickly to try and preserve human life, sadly of course in vain and some of the people involved. The Scottish Government has been in contact with the Marine and Coast Guard Agency and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch since the weekend, including to provide them with information about this particular fishing vessel, which was fresabar registered but fishing from Northumbria. Responsibility for making contact with relatives of deceased is a matter, of course, for the relevant police force and, in this case, Northumbria Police, but I should say that we have already made it clear to the police authority that if they require further assistance in terms of the nationality of those whose lives are lost, the Scottish Government is anxious and willing to help in any way that we can. NHS Grampian has lost its entire local leadership in recent weeks, both executive and non-executive. Does the First Minister recognise the damage that has done to staff morale and public confidence in what has historically been an exemplary local health service? Will he, in that context, undertake to ensure that the next chair of the NHS board is someone who lives and works in Grampian? The next chair of the NHS board, and I have seen some public offers in terms of who it should be, will go through the proper public appointments process. Can I say that I met the incoming Chief Executive of Grampian Health Board yesterday, and Malcolm Wright assured me that one of his first acts when he takes up office will be to arrange a meeting with local MSPs to discuss the way forward for Grampian health board. We have to recognise, as Richard Kerri did in his note to NHS staff, that there had been a breakdown of relationships between some senior clinicians and senior management in Grampian. Therefore, he concluded, as others have, that the way forward is to have new leadership in NHS Grampian. We should go forward from there and rally behind the new chief executive as he addresses those questions as he fully intends to do. He comes into post, Malcolm Wright, with a substantial track record in being able to address those concerns. I do not for a second say that the finances are the key or the only issue here, but Lewis MacDonald will know that, historically, a Grampian health board was underfunded compared to the Scottish average, 9.1 per cent when we took office. I am delighted to say that over the next two years it is going to move to 9.6 per cent, which is much closer to the fair allocation. He should reflect in all relevance, however, that it does seem extraordinary that, after eight years of Labour-liberal administration, that process of underfunding should have continued for so long, and he should welcome with me that, in fairness to all health boards across Scotland, the new formula will bring each and every health board to a fair allocation, including the Grampian health board. John Scott First Minister will be aware that approximately 25 jobs are under threat at Prestwick airport, as Greer aviation and landmark have been served notice to leave the airport by the management of Prestwick airport. Does the First Minister share my concerns about the potential loss of jobs and businesses? Will he ask senior transport Scotland officials to meet with Greer aviation and me to discuss the matter and avert the closure of those businesses that have served Prestwick and Ayrshire well and provided a constant income stream to the airport for almost 15 years? The First Minister I do not think that the local members' depiction of that is entirely the full story, but perhaps that the best way forward, knowing his interests in the airport, is to arrange the meeting that he asked for. It recognises, of course, that this is an operational matter for the airport itself. The senior management team are tasked with all aspects of taking the airport forward, including the development of significant commercial opportunities in terms of how the airport intends to develop. However, in relation to the issues that the member raises, I will be glad to facilitate the meeting that he requested. Liam McArthur Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. HIE is seeking to build a number of units in Linus in my constituency as part of welcome efforts to support renewables development, yet, despite earlier commitments from his Government and his enterprise agency, the tender has been framed in such a way as to effectively prevent any orcney-based firm from competing for this work. Here is the power to do something about this, so will he agree to suspend the tender process, so that steps can be taken to allow small businesses in my constituency a fair crack of the whip? The First Minister No, but what I will undertake to do is to examine the issue and write in detail to the local member to see if I can help him in his legitimate inquiry. The First Minister Question number three, Alice McKinnis. Alice McKinnis Thank you to ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet. The First Minister Issues of importance to carry forward the Government's programme for Scotland. Alice McKinnis This week, the chief executive of the care inspectorate Annette Bruton warned that it would be a serious mistake to assume that Scotland is immune from the type of child exploitation seen elsewhere in the UK. She reported that Scottish agencies had made progress, but are still not effective enough. What discussions has the First Minister had with the care inspectorate on the support that can be given to ensure the safety of children in Scotland, and what priorities has he identified for action? The First Minister There was a full cabinet discussion on these matters. In fact, there were two cabinets, and I understand that the minister will be making a statement this coming Tuesday, so Alice McKinnis will have full opportunity to press her questions. Alice McKinnis Thank you. I look forward to the publication of some action on that, but people would expect the First Minister to take close interest in what is a national issue. People in South Yorkshire assumed that agencies and committees and working groups were protecting their children, but we have learned that you have to check and double check, so it is right to press the First Minister on this. This is insidious and creeping abuse. Scotland's public agencies still have, and I quote, important and major weaknesses in dealing with the first reports of abuse. What deadline will the national plan set to give Scotland's young people the comprehensive assurance that they will be protected? The First Minister Can I say that I chaired a long cabinet session on exactly these matters on Tuesday, and a range of initiatives were discussed. Of course, accepting the announcements that have already been made, for example, the new unit within the new Scottish Police Service for Investigating Crime and Criminality, which I think is something that will have substantial advantages over the variation in approach, which was part of the difficulty in terms of previous police services. The single police service gives us the advantage of being able to have the specialism and detail of knowledge that that investigative unit will have. I know that Alice McKinnis will welcome that. The statement that Mr Russell makes on Tuesday will go into a range of matters and a comprehensive response. There is no complacency whatsoever in terms of the Scottish Government's approach for those things, and we recognise that everyone in this Parliament understands both the importance and the necessity for making absolutely sure that our agencies and our legislation is entirely fit for purpose and see that some of the abuses that have historically been documented can be addressed for the future and that any weaknesses in our system will be addressed. Of course, in terms of the survivors and the victims of previous abuse, they will get the justice and the hearing of which they rightfully advocate and cry for. To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the impact of UK Government welfare reforms on families in which at least one family member is in employment. I think that we should start calling them the welfare changes, not the welfare reforms, but to have for changes £6 billion an estimate is the estimate of the money and funds that will be removed from the Scottish economy. That is from families in Scotland in the six years 2011-12 to 15-16. Independent projections suggest that up to an additional 100,000 children and 150 working age adults will be living in poverty by 2020 because of welfare reform. As a member highlights, households in Scotland are increasingly experiencing inward poverty. Employment is no longer, in itself, a protection against poverty. Six in 10 children and over half working age adults in relative poverty in 2012-13 lived in households where somebody was working and this, unfortunately, is an increasing trend that is going to be aggravated by the further changes that the Chancellor is planning. Jamie Hepburn. Thank you, First Minister, for the answer. With these welfare changes hitting the poor and many working families hard, the First Minister will be aware that a range of front-line organisations such as the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Children First, the Poverty Alliance and Engender have called for the devolution of powers of over-welfare to Scotland. Does the First Minister agree with me that this whole Parliament should unite behind these calls so that we can make better decisions here in this Parliament to improve in these matters and build the fairer Scotland that we all want to see? First Minister. Yes, I would. I think that, increasingly, a number of people in this Parliament who would say that Scotland should not but should not control welfare will be a diminishing number as people across the range of issues recognise that the decisions made closer to people in Scotland will take account of the issues that the member rightfully raises. I think that we should off these issues just well on the subject of inward poverty and we should recognise that the logical consequence, in fact the inevitable consequence of the recent announcements by the chancellor of his checker, is that thousands more people in each and every constituency in Scotland will suffer a reduction in the standard of living as a result of the changes that the chancellor intends to make. Those are people who are working, who will get poorer as a result of the changes of the chancellor, which, of course, as I understand it, the opposition in Westminster seems prepared to accept and to go along with. Thousands of people in each constituency. I think that that is an intolerable situation. I am certain that no administration in this Parliament would ever counter in such a move. Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government response is to the KPMG study, which indicates that more than 400,000 workers in Scotland are not being paid a living wage. First Minister. Well, attacking low pay is a key priority of this Government. We fully support the living wage campaign. We have, of course, led by example, and for the fifth consecutive year, have required employers subject to our pay policy to pay their staff the Scottish living wage. We should note, as a result, in the KPMG report that the living wage is paid to 81 per cent of Scottish employees, a greater proportion in any other part of the UK outwith the south east of England. James Kelly. I thank the First Minister for that answer. I am sure that the First Minister will agree with me that it is unacceptable that more than a quarter of a million women are not paid a living wage in Scotland. Some of those women are working on cleaning contracts in Scottish Government locations. Can I therefore ask the First Minister for Minister if he will agree to set out a national living wage strategy and to urgently review all Scottish Government cleaning contracts to ensure that people in those locations are paid a living wage? A pity James Kelly did not attend my speech at the STC conference when I laid out exactly such a strategy and how the Government intends to roll out the living wage. This Government, of course, introduced the living wage in Scotland and will be pursuing it for the fifth successive year next April. It would be wonderful if, at some point, in his comments and rifle comments in those matters, Mr Kelly would acknowledge that it was this SNP Government who introduced the living wage across the public sector. Indeed, of course, it is this SNP Government who, in the recent contracts that were negotiated for catering in the Scottish Government and, of course, the railways have secured the living wage as part of those contract negotiations. It is, of course, also the case. I heard Mr Kelly on the radio. It waxed lyrical about £8 being offered as the minimum wage by the Labour Party, forgetting to tell people that it was to the year 2020. In other words, on that, a 2 per cent increase in the minimum wage year by year is likely, in fact, almost certain that even an inflation increase would take the minimum wage past that amount. No wonder the Labour conference and the Leader's Speech at the Labour Conference have been given such a resounding raspberry by working people in Scotland. To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the potential impact on the economy of the recent fall in crude oil prices. First Minister, depending on a number of factors, final impact in the economy will find out how it passes through to investors and to consumers. It would be unwise, of course, to assume that recent law falls will last. Indeed, much of the recent decline is driven not by market fundamentals but a reaction to temporary oversupply in the market as OPEC tries to force out the production of US shale oil. Indeed, most recent forecasts on the OECD, Cambridge Economics, Standard Charter Bank and even the CBI are for a bounce back in prices next year. I wonder if the member would just like to think of how secure economy would be if we had, like Norway, had the opportunity to invest in an oil fund. I saw in a Financial Times report this week that every day for the past 13.5 years that is grown by an average of $165 million. When oil prices were high, when oil prices were low, the Norwegian oil fund grew by $165 million a day. Would that Scotland had discovered oil at the same time as Norway? With the oil prices today trading at under $83 a barrel, they have now reached a four-year low. That is a 20 per cent drop since the day the First Minister lost the referendum campaign. Will he, having put that at the centre of his campaign for an independent Scotland, a case decisively rejected by the north-east where the industry is based, will he now accept that that case has been lost? Will he bury the hatchet with the UK Government and work to ensure that the oil service industry has the best of support north and south of the border to weather this storm and return to a successful future? I have spoken with the authority and the confidence of 8 per cent in the most recent Scottish opinion poll. At some stage, the Conservative party will consider whether a revival to 8 per cent indicates a glowing future, but why is the Conservative party at such an all-time low? It is such an all-time low because it seems to suggest that having oil and gas in massive quantities is a curse and an undeniable burden for the Scottish people. What other people look at is the announcement of new discoveries in the North Sea, the excite energy discovery of the Bentleyfield with 300 million barrels. Only two weeks ago, British Petroleum announced another discovery in the central North Sea, which obviously only became apparent after September 18. Not to mention today's report in the press and journal, which indicates that the latest drilling in Clare Ridge is sowing extraordinary oil well flows. People from that will conclude that the size of the resource in the North Sea and in the waters round Scotland will outlast the Scottish Conservative party by many decades and will power Scotland in times to come. That ends First Minister's questions. We now move to members' business. Members who leave the chamber should do so quickly and quietly.