 292. In the name of Joe Fitzpatrick, be agreed to. Are we all agreed? The motion is therefore agreed to. Next item of business is topical questions. Question 1, Willie Rennie. Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what restrictions it is implementing in response to the suspected case of bird flu in Fife. Presiding Officer, laboratory tests have revealed that there is a very mild form of H5N1 avian influenza virus that has been identified in a broiler breeders flock near Dumfermline. It is quite distinct from the highly pathogenic form of H5N1, which has caused significant problems over the last decade or so around the world. However, robust action has immediately taken following reporting of initial suspicion to ensure that any potential risks from these birds, either to public or animal health, were minimised. As a result, the farm is under restrictions and the local area is subject to controlling bird movements and gatherings by means of a one-kilometre temporary control zone. The eggs supplied by this unit are not for consuming consumption but are sent to a company hatchery, which is also under similar restrictions. No eggs laid during the period in which the flock is believed to have been infected have hatched. A thorough investigation to identify the likely source of infections is now under way. All their actions are in line with requirements under EU law. A cull of the birds in the premises will be started not later than tomorrow morning. I have been advised by the professionals in Public Health Scotland and Food Standards Scotland that there is a minimal risk to public health, although precautions were put in place to safeguard those involved in the depopulation and cull. We have been in communication with our stakeholders who support our actions to date. I thank the minister for that answer and the reassurances that he has given on public health, because that is critically important with the episode. However, after years of the contingency plans and exercises, this is a real live test of the system. I know that it is early days, but can the minister tell me more about how the outbreak was identified, how long it took for the authorities to be involved, whether there are any early indications as to the source of the outbreak, but also his overall view about whether the system is working effectively? As Willie Rennie quite rightly says, there are tried and tested contingency plans for such outbreaks in Scotland and the disease control groups that were met in early doors as soon as the suspicious cases were identified by a private vet that has been called in by the company that owns the farm. Therefore, I commend the farm manager for reporting the suspicious illness of the birds in question and the private vet who in turn reported and took the necessary action with the authorities. That, of course, is the responsible action that we would expect all poultry keepers and their vets to take. I thank them for that. In terms of the source, quite clearly, there have been a number of similar instances in England in 2015, albeit at different strains of H5N1 and Avian flu, and some on the continent as well. It is widely accepted that the wild bird population played a role in spreading this, but, of course, it is early days in terms of this particular incident in Dunferman, and that is why those investigations are on-going to try and identify what potential source may be of this incursion, so that these will continue and I will keep Parliament updated as they progress. I thank the minister for that answer, and I think that he is right about the vet and the farm manager. They have to be commended for the way that they conducted themselves for what could have been spread to another incident on a wider basis, so they have to be commended for the swift action, the professional action. Can the minister give a guarantee that he will come to Parliament again and present a full report into the incident so that we can fully understand whether the system has worked effectively in this case? Although it has been low risk on this occasion, it may be different on a future occasion, and we really need to know whether the system is working effectively. Can he give that guarantee? I certainly give the guarantee to Willie Rennie and other members that I will keep Parliament updated as this investigation progresses on any wider issues that may arise from that. I have already notified the rural affairs committee within Parliament of steps so far, and I will continue to do that. To ask the Scottish Government what powers are available to local authorities to carry out roadside emissions testing. The road traffic vehicle emissions fixed penalty Scotland regulations 2003 provide powers for designated local authorities in Scotland to carry out roadside emissions tests and to issue £60 fixed penalty notices for any emissions offences under the road vehicles construction and use regulations 1986. That is identified by the tests that the Scottish Government provides financial support to local authorities for this work. There are clearly discrepancies between how various local authorities are implementing those regulations. At the Scottish Government published its national air pollution strategy in November, can the minister tell me if all the actions identified for delivery in 2015-16 are on track? What budget is assigned to delivering those actions? Can the minister assure us that the strategy to end air pollution is fully funded? It is quite a complex area. I am happy to come back to Alison Johnstone with more detail on implementation. Having just been debated in November 2015, when we published Cleaner Air for Scotland, clearly there is a lot to be done. It is a very challenging area. It is right to keep pressure on it, including our partnership with local authorities. There is already funding in the system to execute many of the actions that have been identified. In addition to Alison Johnstone's point about the local authorities who are implementing the key action in terms of roadside testing, 13 out of the 32 local authorities are implementing that. I encourage others to implement the current regulations as well. I know that there are continuing discussions around that, but Alison Johnstone wishes further information on the implementation. I am happy to supply that, but it is at an early stage, but it is clearly a very ambitious strategy to improve air quality, which is so necessary because of the health impacts in our country. Professor David Newby's research demonstrates a clear link between air pollution and heart disease. In fact, he has stated that air pollution is one of the top avoidable contributors to heart disease. The minister frequently cites his record levels of investment in walking and cycling, but when that record is a lowly 1.9% of the transport budget, it appears clear that the minister is making transport investment decisions that are putting Scotland's health at risk. I would ask the minister when he will start to take the issue seriously and invest in the transport options that will allow us to eradicate air pollution. I think that there is a range of work that can be welcomed. If we were to target roads investment, for example, I think that the new Queensferry crossings and necessary investment should not be criticised or the work in the dualling on the A9 is partly about road safety as well and should not be criticised because it is about protecting life-seek. It is a fair point to say that emissions from vehicles is damaging to the planet and damaging to individuals and community health as well. It is fair to say that some premature deaths are brought about because of those emissions. That is why we support, for example, the decarbonisation of transport, the move to electric vehicles and low-carbon vehicles as well and the specific funding for that. I would not criticise the investment, the record investment and active travel as well, which that is right. I did not hear it from Mr Brown, record high funding and active travel, and I have sustained that despite the financial pressures that we face. Over £1 billion has spent every year on encouraging people out of the car and into public transport as well. I think that they are all the right budget decisions, a very challenging environment. However, I do not undermine in any way or underestimate the challenging and proving environment and encouraging people to make healthier life choices. That is what the Government will continue to do as part of the cleaner air for Scotland strategy, and there are many other interventions. I thank the minister for the thoughts there. Is there not a point that there is lots of good work being done, but we do need more concerted action in those areas where air quality is breached, the standards are breached? Is that not the point at which we need leadership from the Scottish Government to work with local authorities for targeted action in the urban areas where it is clear that we now have people dying preventable deaths because of poor air quality? It is a fair point that Sarah Boyack makes. Where there has been breaches or identified areas of concern, clearly there are air quality management areas in place that can support that. There may be a range of interventions that can be made. It is not necessarily just about environmental enforcement but different decisions that can tackle the local hotspots. I am more than happy to continue to work in partnership with local authorities to identify those areas to try to improve local air quality. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support those affected by Hoitnitware entering administration. I am deeply concerned that Hoitnitware Ltd has been placed into administration with the loss of 119 jobs. My thoughts are with staff and their families at this difficult time. I will be visiting the site tomorrow to speak with the Administrators, KPMG, Borders Council and Members of Workforce and their representatives to assure them that we will do everything possible to support them. I can confirm that the Scottish Government and its agencies in partnership with Scottish Borders Council are exploring every possible avenue of support for the company and we are working very closely with the Administrators to secure new owners for the business. I can also confirm that we are providing support for the employees facing redundancy through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations partnership action for continuing employment. Through providing skills development and employability support, PACE will aim to minimise the time those individuals affected by redundancy are out of work. All affected employees have received information on PACE support and a PACE redundancy support event and job sphere will take place this Friday, 15 January, at Hoik Rugby Club, where PACE partners and local employers with vacancies will be available to meet with individuals to assist them with future employment opportunities. I thank the Minister for that answer and for the very constructive dialogue that he has had with me over the last few days about this important matter. The loss of at least 120 jobs in a town the size of Hoik will have a far greater proportional effect on the enclosure of Tata Steel. To that end, I would repeat my request that the minister considers setting up a task force to give additional support to the textiles industry in Hoik. Would the minister consider that further? Yes, we will consider that further. We are open minded as to whether a task force is required. As we discussed this morning, John Lamont and I, it is prudent first to take a short while to assess the situation working closely with the administrators as we always do and the workforce representatives and the local authority. However, I will revert to the member on this. Similar concerns have been expressed to me by Callum Kerr, the MP and Paul Wheelhouse. As Mr Lamont knows, I seek to take up my partisan approach on all of these matters. If there is a task force, we will seek to have appropriate balanced political representation on it. I hope that that is a sufficient answer at this point for Mr Lamont's question. Thank you for that further response, minister. From a practical perspective, I know from my discussions with the employees and trade union officials that there are concerns about the online application process contained in the PACE pack. Can the minister ensure that additional support is provided at the PACE event on Friday to assist those employees who are struggling? I have, following our discussion this morning, Mr Lamont and myself asked the head of PACE to ensure that that particular aspect does not pose a hurdle. We will take steps to ensure that that aspect is dealt with. I would like to emphasise that we hope to continue the support that we have provided to the textiles industry, including RSA awards over the past 18 months, totalling £536,000 to five individual companies, including, in fact, Point Network. I also know that Mr Wheelhouse and Mrs Swinney have been involved in textile events over the past years. I have previous administrations, so the problems are not new. I think that there is a shared determination across the house, which is supposed to promote the excellent work that is done, the high-quality work in the industry, which has great successes. It is not all doom and gloom, but also to address the extremely unfortunate position that Hoik faces now, particularly in the light of the fact that they took place just around the same time as the time was affected by flooding. That kind of double whammy is one that will be felt very strongly in Hoik and, therefore, I will be very much looking forward to hearing tomorrow from those most directly involved how we can work together to tackle the challenges that Hoik and the people of Hoik face. Thank you. That ends topical questions. The next site of business is a statement by John Swinney on flooding.