 Felly, y dyfnodd gyfreiddiol y mynd i'w glidofnodd ni'n gweithio'n cyfrifio'n gweithio'r cyfrifio hynny, roeddaeth cyfroprosio fwy gwrs, rydw i hynny. Rhyw dechreu dda ni wedi'w gyfreiddiol iaith i ddechreu am 11 mlynedd. Rhyw dechreu am 11 mlynedd,�r Roderic Campbell. Rhyw dechreu am 12 mlynedd hynny? Rhyw dechreu am 12 mlynedd hynny. Rhyw dechreu am 12 years, Rhyw dechreu am 40 mlynedd y jwg ddigio ar gwaelid, ond Dr Alex Wolff, the University of St Andrews, has advised maybe Olaf Guthrusson, a 10th century king of Dublin and Nathumbria, has started Scotland collaborating with colleagues in Ireland, for example, on a seminar at Edinburgh Castle in autumn of this year in the prestigious European Association of Archaeologists Conference in Glasgow in September 2015. I also visited Dublin's Abbey Theatre and later met the chairman, Brian MacMahon. I also met Jimmy Deanehan, the Minister of Arts, Heritage and the Gail Tax, who hosted our joint event at the Stole Writers Week, celebrating the writers Maurice Walsh and Neil Gunn, and I look forward to welcoming Mr Deanehan for a reciprocal event at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on the 13th of August. Roderick Campbell. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer and welcome her comments on the role the University of St Andrews played in the archaeological find. Can she advise what lessons can be learned from Ireland's approach to culture, particularly perhaps in relation to broadcasting? On broadcasting, it is very interesting if you look at Ireland's experience, their national broadcaster RT supports broader culture, providing, for example, two orchestras, two choirs and a string quartet. That, of course, is on top of delivering four television channels, four national radio stations broadcast over the spectrum and a further five digital radio stations together with digital services such as the RT website and the RT player. Their budget is around £286 million, which, of course, is smaller than Scotland's current licence fee resources of some £328 million. Question 2, in the name of Mary Fee, has not been lodged, so the member has provided an explanation. To ask the Scottish Government what the implications would be for the common travel area of an independent Scotland. Scotland would remain a part of the common travel area, but as an independent country in its own right, as noted in Scotland's future, it will be in the overriding interests of the rest of the UK and Ireland for Scotland to remain in the common travel area. While supporting fresh talent, as introduced by Jack McConnell and any other similar immigration variations, is it not the case that membership of the common travel area and the absence of border checks is incompatible with a significantly different immigration policy? If the minister doubts that, will he consult the Republic of Ireland Government about the operation of the common travel area? What I will do on that exact point is to read a quote from the Irish Department of Justice spokesman in January of this year. The common travel area in no way alters our control over immigration or visa matters and who can and cannot enter or reside in Ireland. My suggestion is, as much as we will discuss in due course with the Irish Government, I suggest that Malcolm Chisholm does the same. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Dundee City Council regarding taking forward some of the plans in the Dundee City of Culture 2017 bid. I met with Dundee City Council on 9 January to discuss Dundee City Council's plans for its day of culture bid. I was delighted to hear about the council's plans to develop a new 10-year cultural strategy. Since then, the council has had a series of meetings with a range of officials and partners to progress their plans. Dundee City Council is on a pioneering journey that embraces culture and creativity to promote regeneration and to tackle wider social issues in a range of innovative ways. I thank the minister for her answer. When the Inverness bid for a city of culture failed in 2007, at that point, the Scottish Government stepped in and committed a substantial amount of money to ensure that some of the events would go ahead. Dundee City Council has said that some events will go ahead. Can she tell me which events will be going ahead as a result of her meeting on 9 January? Can she tell me how much money she will commit to make that happen? Quite clearly, decisions about what will go ahead in Dundee is actually for the council and its partners to determine as to what should go ahead, but I can say that I have been absolutely committed to Dundee City Council in terms of its cultural progression and the activities that can take place. I have already spoken to our national collections and our companies, also to Creative Scotland and the whole series of events, where funding comes from those organisations to take the plans forward. There are many very good programmes and initiatives that can still carry forward, but I cannot tell the member in terms of investment in Dundee, £125,000 from the Scottish Government to the Aspire programme, which again is using dance, drama and music for the young people of Dundee. Again, part of the culture bid is going forward in terms of the different plans. Of course, the V&A support, which is extensive, in terms of the funding also in relation to the different organisations, Dundee contemporary arts, £580,000, Dundee repertory theatre £1 million over, and Scottish Dance Theatre £800,000. Very strong programmes that currently exist, if you add on top the commitments from Creative Scotland, Event Scotland and all the different companies and indeed the collections in their support from Dundee. Dundee, probably compared to any other city, has the vibrant initiative and vision led by SNP-led Dundee council but supported from all our partners. That is what the national government does. It brings everyone together and that is what we are delivering for the people of Dundee. Question 5, Rob Gibson. Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what importance it places on using traditional music to promote Scottish culture around the world. The Scottish Government places great importance on the promotion of Scottish culture around the world and traditional music plays a key part in our work. The Scottish Government supports the traditional music sector through Creative Scotland, which disperses more than £2 million each year to organisations, individuals and festivals that directly form part of the sector. By supporting events such as Celtic Connections, Creative Scotland enables artists and musicians to promote their work internationally. In addition, Creative Scotland supports Showcase Scotland. As a result of performing at Showcase Scotland, Scottish artists are, for example, appearing at the Jodpery Rajasthan International Folk Festival in India this October. Rob Gibson. Cabinet Secretary for that answer. The Scottish Government has been giving an international showcase itself at major world events for Scottish musicians such as traditional musician Julie Foulas and classical musician Nicola Benedetti at the official handover of the Rider Cup in Chicago in 2012. Can the minister explain how the agencies such as Visit Scotland, SDI and the British Council work in partnership to promote Scotland abroad as a distinctive creative nation connected to the world in Creative Scotland's 2014 plan in 10s? Well, this year Creative Scotland will be publishing their international strategy and they will be working with the British Council, Visit Scotland and SDI in developing that. A very notable partnership that is very important is the Scotland and Venice visual art showcase at the Venice Biennale. That is a partnership between Creative Scotland, British Council Scotland, the Scottish Government and the National Galeries of Scotland. However, in promoting Scotland internationally, we are looking forward beyond the year of homecoming to future years, themed years, including that of architecture and design, and Visit Scotland in terms of promotion will also work with that. I also note the member's keen interest in promoting traditional music in particular, and that is very much part and parcel of the promotions that we deliver. I am very excited about the connections that are being made. To ask the Scottish Government what the set-up cost of an international development agency would be in the event of independence. The Scottish Government has undertaken a range of work to prepare for the transition to independence. Our approach is set out in Scotland's future. Pages 343 to 350 explain that a number of factors will influence the size of that one-off investment that Scotland would have to make in terms of transition to independence factors that include, for example, negotiations that would take place between the two Governments. As the Government has continued to reiterate over the past year and a half, if not longer, that we were prepared for those discussions right now if only the UK Government would come to the table. How does the minister respond to concerns that the set-up, running and transaction costs of a new international development agency could detract from aid spending and lead to aid fragmentation? Surely development jobs in Scotland and UK aid spending as a whole is better protected through pulling resources to administer the world's second biggest aid budget, not just from Whitehall but also from DFID's offices in East Kilbride. The question is completely of its own tone. I have said to other UK Government ministers that they have tried to use the poorest people in the world as a political football that is a very unwise move indeed. We have given a guarantee in Scotland's future that, if there are any aid projects that might possibly be affected by the transition, we will actually take care of that cost. It is the Scottish Government, not the UK Government, that has said that they will enshrine in law that 0.7 per cent commitment to the world's poorest. If she has any influence over her colleagues who have been in government for 13 years and have never met that pledge once, I would ask her to do that if she can. With great pride, my colleagues and Government have done just that. The international development agency of an independent Scotland cannot replicate everything that the UK currently does in relation to external affairs. What would the international development agency of an independent Scotland not do? No, I think that that is absolutely incorrect. It is not about what countries are necessary and how many countries you are working in and how much impact you have. We have said that we work currently in seven countries and we look not to work in too many more countries. The impact of what we do with a small budget of £9 million and £3 million with climate justice is world-renowned. We have had Banky Moon, UN Secretary General, Desmond Tutu, and former Irish President Mary Robinson commend the work that the Scottish Government does with the limited resource that we have. My appeal would be to Annabelle Goldie that she should have more ambition for our country in any department in government, but particularly in the ambition that we have shown already in helping the world's poorest. Question 7, Paul Marston. Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the budget of independence and funding available to creative organisations through the big lottery fund. Following independent Scotland, we will continue to receive a fair share of the national lottery ticket sales to support good causes, including the work of creative organisations. In independent Scotland, all decisions about the distribution of good cause money will be made in Scotland to ensure that the needs of local communities are met. The big lottery fund in Scotland supports communities and the third sector, and its role in relation to creative or cultural organisations is limited to the projects that deliver community benefits. General Arts lottery funding, amounting to £34.9 million in 2014-15, is already devolved to Scotland and delivered by Creative Scotland. Paul Marston. As the minister will be aware, allocation of funding is currently via the Barnett formula. What discussions have taken place in respect of the funding and arrangement, and what other discussions she has had with the national lottery organisation? At present, the licence to run the national lottery is held by Camelot Group PLC and is in place until 2023. The Scottish Government does not intend to change that arrangement, but clearly for other aspects that are more centralised, it would then be the opportunity for Scotland to do similarly what we do with Creative Scotland in terms of the arts and culture fund is to have all the decisions about the distribution of lottery funds made in Scotland. I have held meetings with Camelot. To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has sought with consular representatives to explain its case for Scotland leaving the United Kingdom. Ministers regularly meet members of the consular corps and discuss a range of subjects. Following the launch of Scotland's Future, the Minister for External Affairs and International Development held a briefing for consular representatives in Edinburgh on the 27th of November 2013. I held similar events with diplomatic representatives in Brussels and London on the 26th and the 27th of November. We know that most Scots are unconvinced by independence and the decision will, after all, be theirs. In a week when the Swedish Government has expressed concerns, the former US Secretary of State, President Obama and now the Chinese Premier, can I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer and urge her in the Scottish Government to redouble their efforts, which are clearly having the opposite effect to that which they would intend? I think that it is quite noticeable, for example, in Sweden that the Prime Minister said that we have a lot of experiences and referendums throughout Europe and we have learned to respect the results and not to speculate in advance. I think that the point being made about premier leasing the respect that the choice you make also in terms of what Barack Obama is saying, but ultimately the decisions that are made are to be made by the folks there. The people who are best placed to make decisions about Scotland are those who care most about Scotland and that is the people who live here. David Cameron seems more than happy to engage with every country that he can about Scotland's independence, apart from in debates with the democratically elected First Minister of Scotland. I think that the people of Scotland find that that says more about the Westminster Government's approach to Scotland internationally than anything else. Question number nine, Alison Johnstone. Ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the away aspect of its legacy 2014 Scottish Sport Relief Home and Away programme. Thank you, member. For the question, the Scottish Government is funding four projects in sub-Saharan Africa through the first phase of the sports relief away programme. The first phase of the programme is worth a total of £2.5 million, including a Scottish contribution of £1.25 million. The projects are based in Malawi, South Africa and Uganda, working to improve housing conditions to support people whose lives have been affected by conflict and assist in providing education for deaf children, but also developing a second phase of the away programme together with sport relief and making a further announcement on that in due course. Alison Johnstone, I welcome the projects and the Scottish Government support for those projects. The United Nations recognises that sport is a universal language that can be a powerful tool to promote peace, tolerance and understanding. How can the games help to strengthen Scotland's global links and solidarity between people in Scotland and elsewhere? Will there be opportunities for children in Scotland to learn about the away projects and to understand why we are supporting them? Alison Johnstone makes an excellent point. I have seen myself through the first phase of the projects and what an impact it is making, but the international development work that we are doing and the engagement through sports with some of the poorest in the world is not just being done by the Government. It is great to have, for example, the SFA involved in that, as well as other sporting agencies. I think that she makes the very right point, the very correct point, that perhaps there is a lot more that we can do to reach out to children here so that they understand the efforts that they can make in order to connect with other children in the poorest parts of the world. That is something that I will reflect on and see how we can do more of. To ask the Scottish Government what the value is of art treasures, paintings, artefacts and national treasures that it or the Scottish National Gallery holds. The Scottish Government does not hold a current valuation for the works of art which it holds. The hoardings comprise loans and purchase works, although there have been no purchases by the Scottish Government for at least 10 years. The National Gallery of Scotland does not have current market valuations for all of the items in the collection, which is made up of almost 100,000 works. Individual items in the national collections are only valued when there is a requirement to do so, for example, for loans out, which will require commercial insurance. I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer. Can I ask the cabinet secretary and can she tell me what the current value of artefacts, paintings and national treasures, out presently and loaned from the Scottish Government or the Scottish National Gallery, is at this time? There are no artworks out and loaned at present from the Scottish Government. The value of works that are loaned out from the National Gallery of Scotland is currently just over £1 million. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the rising cost of rent for housing. The Scottish Government is investing in social housing at rates that help to keep rent levels low. Scottish social housing has always been based on a principle of affordability to tenants in low-paid employment without recourse to benefits, a principle that we believe should be upheld. That is why, in July 2013, the Scottish Government increased the subsidy levels for all social housing by £16,000, which enables councils and housing associations to keep social rents affordable. Also, in outcome, 14 of the Scottish social housing charter, the Government requires social landlords to take account of what their tenants can afford when they set rents. Rent levels in the private sector are set at the market rate and will reflect local market conditions. I thank the minister for that answer. Under the SNP Government, housing associations have been starved of vital resources. As a result, housing association tenants have a natural fact in Scotland, seeing their annual rent rise by an average of £830 since the SNP came to power. When families are struggling with the cost of living, does the minister think that that is acceptable? In terms of the private rented sector, does the minister accept that increasing rents are an issue in the private sector, too? Will the minister support Labour's proposal next week to cap rent rises? As I said in my initial response, the Scottish Government has increased the subsidy to social landlords to allow landlords to be able to keep rents at an affordable level for their tenants. In terms of the Labour amendment to the housing bill, Neil Bibby is well aware that that was a substantial legislation that Labour is asking for. It introduced a very late stage in the bill, and only after Ed Miliband introduced it in England, it was not something that was introduced to any other stage of the bill or in any meetings we had. However, we are taking forward reform of the private sector tenancy regime, and we will be looking at rent levels as part of that consultation. In terms of looking at rent caps to help those in the private rented sector, I was interested to note the expert group on welfare welcome that idea, stating that rent should increase in line with inflation, but not above it, at least for the duration of the tenancy. Is the minister disagreeing with the views of her own expert group on welfare? I will repeat what I said earlier. We have been looking at the reform of the tenancy regime in the private rented sector. We set it up with a stakeholder group covering all stakeholders. They have now made recommendations to the Government, and we will be consulting on a detailed policy proposal for a new tenancy regime in autumn as part of it. I will say it again, that it will explore issues relating to rent levels. That is the appropriate way to do it is by consulting, discussing with stakeholders, receiving the evidence in the proposals, and then going out in consultation, and not throwing it in as a last-minute thing, as James Kelly is trying to do. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with the construction of the Borders railway. The construction of the Borders railway remains on schedule for completion in June 2015, with passenger services available by September 2015 following a period of driver training. We do, however, continue to examine possibilities with Network Rail for completion ahead of those timescales. I thank the minister for that response and welcome the project's continuing progress. The minister may be aware that it now takes an hour longer to travel from Hoiq to Edinburgh via public transport than it did in 1969. Borders rail will deliver an undoubted economic boost along its route. The First Minister said in April that Borders rail will act as a catalyst for the restoration of the rest of the historic Waverley route. Will the minister commit today to commissioning a feasibility study into the extension of Borders railway to Hoiq, at the very least, to support a town that, of course, was most affected by Beeching's Cats? The member is quite right to highlight the benefits that will flow from this project, not least because people disconnected from the railway network for nearly 40 years will be back able to use the services that will be both frequent and moderately priced. In relation to further extensions, what I would say is that we found it very productive to concentrate on the project in hand, to make sure that we get that done as quickly as possible on the right and the best possible way. The question that he raised about further extensions was raised last night at the cross-party group and I undertook to look into that and get back to the person concerned. I am happy to copy the member into that correspondence. Mark Griffin is about the Borders railway? Certainly, as far as I understand, the First Minister has already committed to a feasibility study on extending that line in the future. Can the minister say whether that would lead to the line being double-tracked across its whole length and whether there will be significant engineering works to the current package if any extension was proposed? Minister, it was a bit of the Borders railway. Indeed, it was, Presiding Officer. I just say that, obviously, part of the current project will be double-tracked, but it was essential to get the cost-benefit ratio, which was necessary to go ahead with the project, to make it, if you like, wash its face. Had we committed at that stage to double-tracking the entire line, it would have completely skewed the cost-benefit ratio. Further decisions on double-tracking in future would be taken at some time after the project itself is buried in. The same applies, as I have just mentioned, in relation to possible extensions. The First Minister has mentioned that that is a possibility, but we are concentrating on making sure that we get this project done as quickly as possible. To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the redevelopment of Stranraer Harbour Waterfront. We are committed to supporting sustainable economic growth in Dumfries and Galloway by working closely with Scottish Enterprise and Dumfries and Galloway Council as partners in the South of Scotland Alliance. We welcome the good progress that has been made by Dumfries and Galloway in taking forward the work of the Stranraer task force with identified investment in marine and community projects. The Stranraer and East Pier design brief has been developed to guide the regeneration of the former terminal site. Together with Scottish Borders Council and Scottish Enterprise and Dumfries and Galloway Council, it is developing a rural economic development programme for the area. The redevelopment of the Stranraer waterfront is a key part of that ambitious vision for growth in the south of Scotland. I am grateful to the cabinet secretary for that response. She will be aware that the site is now being tested on the open market and we all hope that that will have a successful outcome. However, if no buyer is found, would the Scottish Government consider further direct involvement such as the creation of an enterprise zone in Stranraer to encourage the investment that is so desperately needed not just for the enhancement of the derelict waterfront itself but also for the local economy? I am sure that we will appreciate that I am not in a position nor would it be appropriate to give specific commitments around specific proposals about that right now. I hope that that came through from the spirit of the answer that I gave earlier. The Scottish Government is very committed to working with partners in Dumfries and Galloway, particularly around some of the projects in Stranraer that it is talking about, to find the best way forward in relation to the regeneration of the area. We stand ready to discuss with partners what the best approaches might be in particular circumstances. I am as always happy to meet the member to have those discussions in more detail as well, if that would be helpful. To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages the availability of affordable housing in the private rented sector. Our housing strategy confirmed that we would support a substantial expansion of intermediate or mid-market rental properties to complement social rented housing and ease the pressures on it. We are doing that through a range of initiatives, including grant subsidy to RSL subsidiaries, the empty homes loan fund and the national housing trust. I thank the minister for that response. One in four people who rent privately live in poverty. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that private renters in Scotland spend 23 per cent of their income on housing up from 18 per cent just a decade ago. In order to improve the situation of the 300,000 household who find themselves in this position, Scottish Labour has proposed a cap on rent rises and an introduction of a standard three-year tenancy agreement. Why won't the Scottish Government support those measures? In terms of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report, it also reported that households in Scotland spend a smaller share of their income on housing costs than they do in England. The same report also found that poverty rates in Scotland are also lower than 10 years in England. I will refer the member back to the answer that I gave earlier. The Scottish Government is taking forward reform of the private rented sector tenancy. We will be consulting on a detailed policy proposal for a new tenancy regime in autumn, and part of that will explore issues relating to rent levels. We will do that in taking evidence, consulting with our stakeholders and allowing Parliament to give detailed scrutiny to any proposals that we put forward. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Transport Scotland and what issues were discussed. Transport Scotland is part of the Scottish Government and meetings with ministers occur regularly in the normal course of business. In July 2012, the Minister for Transport announced substantial cuts to the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement programme. Can he confirm which improvements were removed from the programme when phase 1 is due to be completed, and can he update the Parliament on a timescale for any future phases? I think that the member may recall that we announced at the same time that around 80 per cent of the original works proposed for the previous budget of £1 billion should be delivered for the new budgetary price. There are some parts of the programme that are being phased. For example, the Edinburgh Gateway was part of that phased approach. I expect to have completed the electrification itself, which was completed by 2018. Further works are falling on, which will be completed by 2019. However, that is a very substantial investment by the Government in this, around £850 million, which will lead to improved services between the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement programme, increased number of passenger spaces available, and improved the environmental cost, which is incurred by rail travel. In response to a question last week regarding the Levenmouth rail link, the minister suggested that neither he nor Transport Scotland had had any contact from Fife Council regarding this project. As the leader of Fife Council did in fact write to the minister on 28 May, and the letter was acknowledged by the Scottish Government, could the minister now correct the record and acknowledge that representations have in fact been made by Fife Council on this matter? Of course, if that's the case, I'll do just that. However, I think that the question that I was asked was whether we'd had representations saying that that was to be the priority of Fife Council. We had no record of any correspondence. If it's the case that something's been missed, I'll write to the member and confirm that. To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the building of more affordable homes in the rural communities of the Highlands and Islands? The Scottish Government has allocated over £53 million to Highland Council and the three island authorities for the period 2012-13 to 2014-15 to build affordable homes. The Scottish Government provides higher subsidy benchmarks for rural areas and west highland island authorities and remote rural orgyll compared to the city and urban developments. We have supported the small communities housing trust rent-to-buy model, which provides affordable housing for rural communities in Highland. I thank the minister for that answer. As well as constructing new homes, many constituents want to see empty and dilapidated homes bought back into use for affordable rent. Is the minister confident that the empty homes loan fund is as effective a measure as the previous rural empty properties grant scheme? Are there any plans to expand the scope of the empty homes loan fund? The empty homes loan fund has already approved projects in the Highland and Islands, and £4.5 million has been offered to over the £4 million that was originally set for the fund. Highland has £400,000 and the western isles have £155,000 allocated. We are looking at the empty homes loan scheme and we are always looking in discussion with local authorities and stakeholders to see how we can encourage more and more owners to bring their properties back into use, because that is something that we all want and I am willing to engage with the member in that if he has got something more discussion than that one as we go forward. In 2008, the Scottish Government launched the Rural Home for Rent scheme at a cost of £5 million. Can the minister tell us how many homes were built using those funds and if any review was carried out into the scheme? I do not have the figures at hand for that, but we did run the Rural Homes for Rent scheme as a pilot project that provided grant funding to rural landlords for affordable housing at the mid-market rent level. The funding could be used to renovate empty properties and build new homes, and it was popular in some parts of Scotland. We are aware that some people have looked for the reintroduction, but there were difficulties with that scheme. If the member has any specific questions on that scheme, she is willing to give me the questions and I will respond to them. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with cycling organisations regarding improvements to cycling infrastructure. Both myself and officials speak regularly to cycling organisations regarding cycling infrastructure, and the outcome of the most recent discussion was the allocation of an additional £7 million funding for cycling and walking infrastructure projects announced on 10 June. Last week, in partnership with Surstrans, the Scottish Government allocated 84 Commonwealth Games legacy cycle rights to businesses across Scotland, adding an additional 840 cycle parking spaces in workplaces. Given the growing appetite across Scotland for cycling infrastructure that makes cycling an easy and natural choice for everyday short trips, what message does it send out to cyclists and tourists visiting Scotland that Network Rail has banned cycling from Waverley bridge down into the station with cyclists having to use the narrow pavements already often congested with walkers and totally unsuitable for prams, buggies and bikes to pass each other? Will the minister take this matter up with Network Rail and ask them to urgently review this decision so as to permit safe access to the station for cyclists and much more customer friendly signage to be established? The message that it sends out is that Network Rail is very concerned about safety within the stations that it owns. I am informed by Network Rail that the decision to close both ramps to all users other than delivery vehicles has been necessary in order to create a more secure station, providing a number of benefits, including a safer interface between passengers and vehicles, as well as improving the air quality. The recently completed improvement programme has delivered new, fuel-accessible entrances to the station at Coulton Road and Market Street with additional cycle parking at the west side of the station. It is in everyone's interest that we have safe and secure access to the railway, and I am sure that Network Rail is already aware of those particular issues. In fact, I discussed it with the route manager for Network Rail last night. I am happy to further raise the issues that the member has raised, the issues that he has raised in relation to concerns about cycling access. I share Mr E's concern. As a regular commuter, I have to say that the new arrangements could not be more inconvenient, and I regard myself as reasonably able-bodied, but they now require access to taxes, for example, without any cover in times of heavy rainfall. What are elderly people or people with disabilities meant to cope with that? Part of the issue is the fact that Waverley is relatively unique in being effectively underground. It does not have any other stations that are in that situation. It has been very concerned to make sure that the safety of passengers and people accessing the railway is paramount. We have had a very serious fatal accident, as you will know in that regard. That is a background against which Network Rail has taken forward those proposals. There was access by taxes before that point, but they found out that that is a potentially dangerous, as it proved to be in the instance that I mentioned. They are further looking at this. I have had representations from Edinburgh City Council on the issues that they have raised with me on their behalf to Network Rail, but I think that their primary interest has to be safely accessing and coming out of the railway station. Of course, there are at least two taxie ranks very close by, as soon as they come out of the station. As I said, we will raise those issues again with Network Rail, but I think that they are doing this for the best of reasons. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the report below the breadline, published by Oxfam, Church Action on Poverty and the Trussell Trust. The report contains some important messages showing that a combination of changes to the social security system, low wages and rising living costs are contributing significantly to food poverty. It is unacceptable that anyone in a country as prosperous as Scotland should have to rely on food banks, yet both the Food Aid report that we published in December and the recent report from the Parliament's welfare reform committee showed that benefit changes and delays are leading more and more people to turn to food banks. We are taking action to support those who are most in need through our £1 million emergency food action plan, but we simply cannot mitigate all the changes that are coming from Westminster. We need the powers of independence to help to build a fairer society, including actions to address low pay and a welfare system better suited to Scotland's needs. I thank the minister for that answer. Does she agree with me that it is important that organisations such as Oxfam and the Trussell Trust should be able to draw attention to the perfect storm that is brewing with regard to the poverty experience by far too many people across the UK, which was also highlighted in the Scotland's Outlook campaign led by SCVO, without fear of being shut down, as is in the case of the Trussell Trust, or reported to the Charities Commission as in the case of Oxfam? Yes, I absolutely agree that organisations working in the front line producing have the evidence to inform all of us, and I do not think that they should be under any threat of being closed down, but the reality is that the UK Government's welfare reforms, which the Scottish Government has consistently opposed, involve punitive cuts, and that is what the UK Government does not want to hear. I very much agree with the member that all organisations working in the front line should have the right to speak out based on what they see day and daily in front of them and should not have any fear of being closed down because of it. I am sure that the minister appreciates that an increasing number of employed people are accessing food banks, and I am sure that she would agree that we need to do more to address in-work poverty. Whilst I welcome the £1 million food action plan, I wonder whether she regrets not introducing the living wage, because that is the power she has now. It would have made a difference to 400,000 families across Scotland. What I would say to the member is that if successive UK Governments had increased the living wage even in line with inflation, people in Scotland in low incomes would be £600 a year better off, but I would also say that this Scottish Government and the Deputy First Minister has made our position in the living wage absolutely clear. We have led in this in the living wage. The Scottish Government pays it to everyone across the sector that they are responsible for. We have supported the poverty alliance and funded the poverty alliance to promote the accreditation of living wage employers in Scotland, so nobody should have any doubt whatsoever about the position of this Scottish Government regarding the living wage. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding transport developments. The Scottish Government has had regular discussions with Aberdeen City Council over a number of transport developments, including public transport, road and rail infrastructure, electric vehicle infrastructure and hydrogen infrastructure. Can I welcome the announcement of the preferred bidder for the Aberdeen Western peripheral route? Given that Aberdeen City Council is a partner in delivering that project, can the minister advise whether the council is participating fully in discussions around that and the projects that will follow on from it, given the recent decision by the administration not to involve themselves in the public information events around the Hardigan Improvement Plan? I can confirm that the timescales are discussed regularly. As a funding partner to the project, Aberdeen City Council participates fully in all discussions. Following my attendance at Aberdeen City Council's Finance, Policy and Resources meeting, a very constructive meeting on 6 May to discuss the Scottish Government's commitments to improving Horrigan, the council has confirmed that it will work closely with Transport Scotland as a Horrigan Improvement and Middle-Field regeneration schemes progress to help to facilitate a joint approach that best serves local residents and road users alike. Thank you. That ends questions. The next item of business is a debate on motion number 10353, in the name of Johann Lamont on Scotland's future. Members wish to take part in the debate.