 The first item of business is portfolio questions. The first question is number one from Liz Smith. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with local authorities regarding equalities in their employment practices. Minister and officials regularly meet the leaders and chief executives of all Scottish local authorities to discuss a variety of issues. At official level, we have also had discussions with local authorities with a view to reaching a consensus on equality issues. We share the vision of the fair work convention that, by 2025, people in Scotland will have a world-leading working life where fair work drives success, wellbeing and prosperity for individuals, businesses, organisations and society. This vision challenges not only businesses, employers, unions and the third sector but also has clear actions for national and local governments. We fully endorse the convention's framework and will work with them to embed its principles and workplaces across Scotland. Liz Smith, I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Yesterday afternoon, cabinet secretary, you were quite clear that the Government's fairer Scotland action plan features 50 different concrete actions from the Government as to regard to what will happen to tackle poverty and inequality. Can I ask what analysis the Scottish Government has undertaken to advise the costs that will be incurred by local authorities when it comes to implementing the action plan? I appreciate Ms Smith's interest in the fairer Scotland action plan, which was launched nearly a month ago. There are 50 concrete actions that are ambitious, but we are absolutely confident that they are all affordable. Of course, the 50 action plans are not all actions for local government. The whole purpose of the fairer Scotland action plan is to demonstrate actions that are required by this Government, by local government and other aspects of the public sector. Of course, there was an equality impact assessment done. Can the cabinet secretary give her views on councils that, in their equalities and employment practices, have not yet settled the equal pay claims? It is clear and evident that councils are independent and have their own responsibilities towards their own employees. It is the repeated position of this Government that any on-going delays to settling equal pay claims is totally unacceptable. That is a point that this Government has made repeatedly. Indeed, I reiterated that position prior to research and answers to questions in this chamber. Marko Biagi, when he was previously the local government minister, had written to our colleagues and local government. I have recently written to local authorities, because it is completely unacceptable that, as those equal pay claims go back to 2006 or, indeed, even further, there cannot be any justification for taking so long to resolve those. The Equal Pay Act was introduced in 1970. As a piece of legislation, it is as old as I am. We know that the pay gap remains stubborn, so all the more reason for local authorities to go on and settle outstanding equal pay gap claims. As I said, the pay gap is proven to be stubborn, although it should be noted that, given that we debated it at a length yesterday, that new figures released by ONS on the annual survey of hours on earnings show that the gender pay gap in Scotland has, again, decreased further, from 7.7 per cent in 2015 to 6.2 per cent in 2016, lower than the 9.4 per cent UK figure. Nonetheless, any gap remains unacceptable. Miles Briggs, to ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Funeral Poverty and Funeral Payment Reference Group. The Funeral Poverty and Funeral Payment Reference Group has met three times over recent months. The group has helped to organise and plan three round-table events, which I have attended with reference group members, local authorities and funeral industry representatives. They are also supporting us to organise a national conference on funeral poverty in November. Through this work, the group has helped to shape both its approach to funeral poverty and the new Scottish benefit that will replace the funeral payment. Miles Briggs, I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. The minister will be aware of the specific concerns of my constituents here in Edinburgh City, who faced the highest costs in the whole of Scotland with a basic burial standing at £2,253, with the Scottish average being £1,373. What assessment will the group make of the variations across Scotland in basic burial costs? In particular, what pressures families across Scotland are facing in areas such as mine in Edinburgh? I am grateful to Mr Briggs for lodging the question, because it also gives me the opportunity to answer his legitimate concerns. It also gives me the opportunity to pay tribute to Alex Neil. As it was my predecessor, Mr Neil, who had commissioned the working group on funeral poverty, which was reported in February this year, and which made a number of recommendations that we are currently working through with the assistance of the reference group and establishing the reference group, was one of the recommendations that was made by that report. To Mr Briggs, it makes a very valid point that the variation in burial costs and cremation costs is quite stark. Although we know that, over the past decade, funeral costs overall have risen by 92 per cent over the past year, the overall costs have had a small decline, but underneath that, we are still seeing rapidly rising cremation and burial costs. That is why one of the very important roundtables—we are all important—is our ongoing work with local authorities. Local authorities are independent, but, through the roundtables and the national conference, it is imperative that local and national Governments, along with industry and funeral directors, work together to resolve the real issue of funeral poverty, which is increasing and will most certainly not be going away, given that funeral costs continue to rise and the number of deaths is predicted to rise by 15 per cent over the next decade. Ruth Williw-Wiall, does the cabinet secretary agree with me that the UK Government's failing to do enough to simplify and promote the funeral payment has resulted in take-up rates remaining shockingly low? I absolutely agree with the member, but that is not just my opinion. The issues and problems in and around with the funeral payment, as it currently stands, have been well rehearsed. I know that those issues were raised with the DWP's existing work that they have done. The recent Work and Pensions Committee report on bereavement benefits acknowledged those issues, and there was also a Westminster debate on social fund and funeral payments. One of the main issues that we hope to tackle in Scotland and are absolutely determined to tackle is, indeed, the low take-up of the DWP's funeral payment, particularly when that is devolved to Scotland. One of the very important issues is that, as the funding when it is transferred to Scotland will be based on the spend in Scotland the year before transfer, we know that the resources transferred will not meet the current need or, indeed, our desire to increase the reach of the benefit. We know that around 4,000 people receive a funeral payment in Scotland, but our estimate is that up to 16,000 people are in need and could apply for that benefit if we were reaching people who were entitled to make the claims. To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting town centre regeneration in South Scotland. Minister, Kevin Stewart. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Scotland's town centre first principle agreed with COSLA together with the measures that are set out in the town centre action plan, set the conditions and underpin activity designed to tackle the key issues in town centres across Scotland. The Scottish Government is providing £1.8 million in funding from our regeneration capital fund to support the Stranraar town centre regeneration initiative. Local authorities remain responsible for local regeneration and local economic development. They are best placed to respond to local circumstances working with their communities to develop the right vision for their town centres. Colin Smyth. I thank the minister for that answer. If he agrees with me that the internet shop in improved transport links to our cities, the rise of supermarkets and out-of-town developments have left many of our market towns across South Scotland plagued by empty shops. There is a real need to find alternative ways to bring people into our town centres. One important way to achieve that is to invest in more town centre housing, providing alternative uses for former retail properties. Given the extra cost of developing housing in town centres and often old buildings compared to greenfield sites, will the minister make a commitment that increasing investment in town centre housing will be a priority in the Government's forthcoming budget so that we really can regenerate our town centres? The Government recognises the importance of town centres. We have delivered things such as the small business bonus, which has benefited nearly 100,000 businesses, many of them based in town centres. In terms of housing and delivering affordable housing in our town centres, we have already committed £6.75 million for that, and that will benefit town centres right across Scotland. We are building on the learning from the test approach to enable more housing to be delivered in our town centres right across the country. Prior to a meeting that I am holding on Friday with Stena Dumfries and Galloway Council to visit Scotland and Srinard business leaders, what reassurance can I give the stakeholders that the Scottish Government will do all that it can to assist the Srinard community with the East Pier Regeneration project? As I have already stated, the Government has already provided £1.8 million pounds worth of funding from the Regeneration capital grant fund to support Stranrair town centre regeneration initiative. It is also open to local authorities to support a number of other initiatives by bidding in to the annual £25 million regeneration capital grant fund that is open to all local authorities in the country. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the energy efficiency of Scotland's housing stock. Since 2009, we have allocated over £650 million on a raft of energy efficiency and fuel poverty programmes. In the programme for government, we announce that we will make available a further £0.5 billion over the next four years. Our investment is helping to improve the energy performance of Scotland's homes. The share of homes with the top three energy efficiency ratings has increased by 71 per cent since 2010. One of the key issues is the warmth of homes. I wonder if the cabinet secretary can make any comment about the oncoming winter and the warmth of homes in the future. Presiding Officer, I have already outlined the Government's investment that we are making, have made and will make over future years. We have carried out over a million different actions in a million homes in recent years. I would be interested to hear from Mr Cameron and the Tory benches what they think about the UK Government who has ended its support for the Green Deal finance initiative, which we received £15 million of consequentials for in 2015-16. That is money that is now no longer available to us because of that UK Government cut. James Dornan Can I ask the minister what plans he has to respond to the recommendations of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group and the Scottish Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force reports, which were published earlier this week? Thank you, Presiding Officer. Obviously, the Government will look very closely at the recommendations by both of those committees. I thank them very much for the efforts that they have put in. One of the things that I have said already is that we will look very clearly at the definition of fuel poverty. That is not to define fuel poverty away. That is to make sure that we as a Government target our resources at those folks who are most in need. I have listened with interest what the minister said in relation to the Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force report. He will be aware that the proportion of households living in fuel poverty and extreme fuel poverty is highest in my Orkney constituency. The task force itself has talked about rural proofing the approach to tackling the issue. What reassurance can he give my constituents that the approach that the Government will take in terms of deploying that investment will prioritise those areas that at the moment have the highest levels of fuel poverty and the highest level of need? Thank you, Presiding Officer. As I said in my previous answer, what the Government wants to do is to make sure that resources are targeted at those most in need. I will see first hand for myself very soon what the situation is in Orkney. I intend to visit Orkney in the very near future and on the itinerary is discussion round about fuel poverty in Orkney. To ask the Scottish Government what additional support from the council tax reduction scheme will provide from April 2017 for families in the Musselborough Job Centre area who have migrated to universal credit. Anyone who currently receives council tax reduction support will continue to be eligible if they are in receipt of universal credit. In addition, our proposed reforms to council tax will make local taxation fairer and continue to protect households on low incomes, including those in receipt of universal credit. I welcome the answer from the minister, but spices information is rather different that the council tax reduction scheme increases due in April will not apply to those families who have migrated to universal credit. I would be grateful if the minister would investigate and perhaps tell us how that can be corrected. I am grateful to the member for drawing that to my attention. That is certainly not my understanding. My understanding is that the council tax reduction scheme will benefit up to 7,000 to 7,000 households by an average of £173 a year by increasing child allowance within that scheme by 25 per cent. I most definitely will take Mr Gray's point on board and investigate the apparent disparity in figures and report back to you. Does the minister agree with me that universal credit is not yet fit for purpose and should be halted until it is in a state that can actually support people and not cause further financial hardship? Yes, I do. It is extremely disappointing that a scheme that was announced in 2010 is not yet rolled out. Indeed, the latest completion date is 2022. I can only imagine if the Scottish Government ever took so long to do something—the criticisms that we might hear from some of my colleagues on my left, at least geographically. We have expressed our concerns over the roll-out of universal credit for a considerable time. We called on the DWP to halt the roll-out in Scotland until it is in a position to bring in the Scottish flexibilities around universal credit, which, of course, are part of the benefits that will be devolved to us by those flexibilities. Unfortunately, we have not been successful in that, but we believe that the opportunity that we will have when that opportunity comes around to give people a choice on how their universal credit is paid will help people in a considerable manner. To ask the Scottish Government whether there will be an appropriate level of staff to assist with those who are expected to receive help with the migration. Thank you, Presiding Officer. It seems to me that that question is best directed by one of the member's Westminster colleagues to the DWP, because it will, of course, be the DWP who is currently responsible for the roll-out of universal credit, the concocted scheme, the proposition and the benefit itself. I can only but imagine, although, of course, we do not get that information from DWP, exactly what it might be that is holding them up on that. Clearly, there are issues around staffing and other IT matters, and I look forward to hearing the response that the member gets from the DWP when her Westminster colleagues put that point. Question 6, Margaret Mitchell. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met local government representatives from the central Scotland parliamentary region. Ministers regularly meet the leaders and chief executives of all Scottish local authorities, including those in central Scotland, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with the local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland. As the member will know, Councillor Harry McGwigan of North Lanarkshire Council is a cosless spokesperson, and I have met him on a number of occasions recently in this capacity. That is a very comprehensive answer, but he will be aware that councils like North Lanarkshire operate a community alarm system that enables elderly people to remain independent within their home. However, as from August 2016, budgetary constraints have been cited for the decision by North Lanarkshire Council to set a £5 a week, £20 a month charge. As a result, hundreds of such alarms have been returned. Does the minister agree that that is not only deeply worrying, but is also putting vulnerable people at risk? It also represents a very short-sighted decision that fails to recognise the preventative spend advantage of providing those alarms free of charge. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Obviously, budgetary decisions are a matter for North Lanarkshire council itself. However, I agree with the member that in taking decisions, councils should look at prevention, and I feel that that is preventative spend. I urge North Lanarkshire council to take cognisance of what the Government has said previously about preventative spending, but ultimately the budgetary decision is up to North Lanarkshire council itself. I would agree that those alarm systems are a good idea for preventative measures, but I wonder if the minister, given that he represents local government across the whole of Scotland, could tell us how many other councils operate those alarm systems and how much they charge? I do not have that information to hand, Presiding Officer, but I am willing to write to Ms Smith and let her know. The minister makes a point about difficult decisions. What discussions does he have on local authorities about the type of difficult decisions that they face? I know that, in Fife, the community alarm system, the payment for community alarm was introduced some time ago when his party was in power as a budget decision at that time. Councils are facing massive cuts, and we are seeing that in services. What discussions does he have on the impact of the cuts? Thank you, Presiding Officer. I know that colleagues are speaking to local government in a regular basis. Finance Secretary Derek Mackay is having regular meetings with COSLA at this moment in time about the forthcoming budget. Of course, we are still not completely sure of what is going to happen in that regard, because we are waiting still on the chancellor's autumn statement, which is more likely to be a winter statement now, rather than an autumn one. Question 7, Maurice Golden. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the implementation of the national planning framework protects biodiversity as well as green spaces. National planning framework 3 is clear that biodiversity is a nationally important asset. Planning authorities are legally obliged to take the national planning framework into account when preparing development plans for that area. Maurice Golden. Thank you for that answer, but is the minister aware that an SNP Government-appointed reporter has recommended building on more than a dozen green belt sites across Eastumbartonshire? Residents will be rightly concerned about the impact of such developments will have on the character of their communities, on biodiversity and on the local landscape. Will the minister agree to work with the local community to look at those proposals again to ensure that any development plans properly reflect the views of local residents and allow Eastumbartonshire to continue to support a wide range of green spaces? There are extensive opportunities for local communities to get involved in the preparation of development plans. I am keen to ensure that the review of planning in the forth coming white paper adds to that list of opportunities. In terms of the Eastumbartonshire situation at the moment, the independent examination of the plan has made recommendations to Eastumbartonshire council suggesting the release of additional sites. It is now up to the council to consider those recommendations and, following that, to submit the plan to the Scottish ministers. As the plan will come to ministers in due course, I cannot comment on any individual areas. To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to tackle claimants abuse of the welfare powers that are being devolved. The Scottish Government intends that our social security system will operate on the basis that people have a right to support and care where and when it is needed without being stigmatised or treated as potential abusers of the system. Nonetheless, the Scottish Government has a zero tolerance attitude to intentional fraud and we are currently seeking views on how we can best protect against fraud as part of the consultation on social security. Last week, O&S labour market statistics showed that the claiming count over the last year was down over 8,000 in England, 2,000 in Wales and almost 6,000 in Northern Ireland, but in Scotland it was up by 2,000. Can the minister explain to the chamber why Scotland is the only UK nation to have a right in the claiming count? I would say to the member that at least part of the rise in the claiming count is indeed some of the work that we are effectively doing and encouraging individuals to claim the benefits that they are entitled to. With respect to the idea that those who seek help and support from our social security system or indeed the UK Government's welfare system are abusers of that system, I would just like to lay on record the fact that in terms of the DWP's most recent statistics for 2014-15, the level of fraud in the benefits system is 0.8 per cent, which is £80 in every 100 pounds that are spent, totaling about £1.3 billion. I would like us to pause and compare that to the £16 billion that costs the country in terms of tax fraud. Fulton MacGregor The minister may have seen the heartbreaking appeal from a mother in my constituency at the weekend who has had her benefits sanctioned for four months, leaving her unable to buy food or clothes or nappies for her child. While the actions of the Lanarkshire Baby Bank and Coatbridge Citizens Advice Bureau in supporting this family should be applauded, does the minister agree with me that no family should be put in this situation? Fulton MacGregor I have seen the article in the evening times and I agree that, while it is heartening to see the generosity with which the people of North Lanarkshire and Coatbridge responded, with over 200 of them coming forward within an hour of the video appearing online to offer help and support to this mother and her two-year-old, they were offering help and support to an individual who had been placed in a dire predicament that the DWP had forced her into. The tragedy here, unfortunately, is that this is by no means an isolated incident. The Scottish Government has made its position on sanctions abundantly clear. We are told and they are justified by the UK Government that sanctions incentivise work. On the contrary, there is no evidence of that at all, but the evidence that does exist is that sanctions actually increase poverty and the anguish that people suffer. That is why we supported the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee call last year for a full and independent review of the system, and it is why we continue to believe that the current sanctions regime should be suspended. It is indeed a discredited system. Mark Griffin I wonder if the minister would agree with me that, rather than treating people with suspicion who desperately need support from the state, we should be working to boost the claimant count, including the 100,000 people who qualify for tax credits and who have not applied, which represents a loss of more than £400 million to families who desperately need it and the Scottish economy. I absolutely agree with the member. Indeed, part of our work in social security and in the consultation is to look at what we need to do across Scotland to increase the information that individuals have on the benefits that they are entitled to and to encourage and support them to take up those benefits, whether they are delivered and administered by the UK Government or very shortly by the Scottish Government. I know that I will have the member's support in working out exactly how we do that and making sure that people across Scotland receive the entitlements that they are due. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ring-fence funding for supported accommodation in local housing lines when that is devolved. After much uncertainty on 15 September, the UK Government announced that it will ensure that the supported accommodation sector will continue to be funded at current levels. A new funding model will be developed in England and funding will be devolved to the Scottish Parliament to allow us to make our own provision for supported accommodation from 2019. We are still waiting on further information and details from the UK Government, but we will make our own plans known when we have had the opportunity to consider the full information and consulted with the relevant stakeholders. Elaine Smith I thank the minister for that response. I hope that she can appreciate that there is concern that money could be reduced further or allocated elsewhere. I trust that the minister in taking that forward will keep stakeholders informed, both individuals and the industry as it goes forward. Indeed, I will. As I have said, once we have received the details from the UK Government, we will consider our plans and consult with relevant stakeholders before we bring those forward. To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making towards the full implementation of the town centre action plan. The town centre action plan has been implemented in full and a number of actions have been taken that set the right conditions to enable town centre regeneration across Scotland. The most significant action has been the introduction of the town centre first principle that was agreed by the Scottish Cabinet and COSLA leaders in July 2014. We have published two reports showing the wide range of activity against the themes in the action plan since its inception. Neil Bibby. I thank the minister for that answer. The face of our town centres is changing. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reinvent town centres as mixed, connected, socially inclusive places of living. The decisive shift that we need from development led by developers to sustainable development in our towns, for our towns, will not be achieved by pilots and demonstration projects, but might by making town centre living mainstream. In response to Colin Smyth, the minister mentioned the small amounts being invested by the Scottish Government, but like Colin Smyth, can I ask what resources are the Scottish Government willing to put behind town centre living and what kind of investment in town centre living can we expect in next year's budget? I am heartened by the amount of questions that have appeared today about town centres. That might be partly due to the fact that Scotland's town partnership held an event hosted by John Scott in recent weeks. We are investing in our town centres. As I said, in terms of the housing delivery, £6.75 million has already been put into that. Local authorities of the ability, as I have said previously, to bid into the regeneration capital grant fund. Beyond that, we have the £1.7 million town centre community's capital fund. As I have said already, regeneration of town centres and economic development in town centres are primarily a matter for local authorities, and they need to adapt policies, particularly their own planning guidance, to ensure that there are opportunities to build housing and other things in our town centres. To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the role of local authorities and communities directly in public service decision making. We are continuing to implement the Community Empowerment Scotland Act 2015, which will strengthen the voices of communities and the decisions that matter to them. The act will make it easier for communities to take on public sector land and buildings. It will provide a mechanism for community bodies to seek dialogue with public service providers on their terms when they fail that they can help to improve outcomes and give them a right to be heard. It will place new duties on councils and other local public services to work together and with their communities through community planning in order to improve outcomes and issues that matter locally. I thank the minister for his answer. He will be aware of the cause of the report two years ago, which stated that Scotland is the most centralised Government in Europe. Since then, health and social care has been integrated with less input and control is now exercised by local authorities than ever before. Police and fire services are already centralised and funding for the attainment fund is to be taken from local authority budgets as well. Will there be a future or even a need for local authorities and local decision making at all in five years' time? If so, can the minister tell us what that will be? The Government is committed to giving communities across Scotland a louder voice and stronger powers. Our commitment goes beyond the community empowerment act, and that lies at the heart of our approach to public sector service reform. As Mr Scott is well aware, we will introduce a bill during the course of this Parliament to decentralise local authority functions, budgets and democratic oversight to local communities. We will be consulting on and bringing forward an islands bill to reflect the unique needs of those communities. We will be enabling community councils to demonstrate a strong democratic mandate to deliver some services. Also, working with local government, we have set a target of having at least 1 per cent of their budget, subject to community choices budgeting. That will be more than £100 million that people will have a direct say in how it is spent. It is incumbent on all of us to ensure that communities have their say in the public services that they have. In his community of South Ayrshire, we have recently granted £191,000 from the communities fund to help to support programmes for young people who are living in some of the most deprived areas. He will also be aware that the Carrack Centre in Mabel has benefited from over £53,000 in grant funding from strengthening communities programme. That is decentralisation. Ask the Scottish Government how proposals in its new social security bill could benefit carers. Unpaid carers play a vital role in caring for their family, friends and neighbours. We have already committed to increasing carers allowance so that it is paid at the same level as job seekers allowance. That is an increase of almost 18 per cent and eligible carers will each get around £600 more per year. We are currently undertaking a wide-ranging consultation on social security that finishes this coming weekend. I am pleased to say that I was at one such event this morning with carers where I am listening to them and others in receipt of benefits that we will be responsible for to take their views on how we can best create a social security system that is fit for Scotland. I thank the minister for that answer and for her attendance at the recent carers cross-party group meeting that covered the very subject. That CPG discussion raised a number of important issues in the relation to the bill from a carers perspective. As we move forward, the minister will ensure that carers are involved as far as they can be in shaping the new social security system in order that we emerge from that process with something that better supports them and those that they care for than the present UK arrangements. I thank the member for that additional question because it allows me the opportunity to put on record in the chamber that our approach to the consultation, which is one of listening and talking to those with direct experience of the benefits that we will take responsibility for, as well as those who advise and support them, the many organisations involved and indeed those who deliver payments across Scotland, is an approach that we will continue when the consultation ends this weekend. We are absolutely committed to designing with those individuals the future system for social security in Scotland, working through the interrelationships between the 15 per cent that we will be responsible for and the remaining 85 per cent that we will stay with the UK Government and DWP and looking to advice, support and indeed advocacy services that will enable individuals both to take up the benefits that they are entitled to but to experience a system that is genuinely living the values of dignity, fairness and respect. To ask the Scottish Government how it empowers communities to have more of a say in matters that affect them. The Government has taken a number of actions to empower communities. With this Parliament we developed the community empowerment act to give communities new rights. We also established the £20 million empowering communities fund, which gives local groups the money and support they need to make changes happen on their own terms. As part of this fund we launched the community choices programme in June this year and this will support thousands of people to have a real say in budget decisions in their areas. Would she agree that the communities that are situated on Scotland's trunk roads, for example Cairnryan and Spring Home, should play a pivotal role in the decision making process regarding planning and implementation of traffic calming schemes? Aspects of that question perhaps would have been better directed at the transport minister but, in terms of the planning aspects, we had an independent planning review. As part of the wide range of recommendations from that planning review, we said that we needed to include ways, identify ways to improve the strengthening of community engagement in plan and decision making. The planning minister will be consulting on various options for change over the winter. I thank the minister and members and we'll move on to the next item of business.