 That concludes general questions. Before we move to First Minister's questions, I will invite each party leader to make a short statement on that situation in Ukraine. Parliament will discuss the unfolding situation in Ukraine later and express its solidarity with a country whose very existence as independent democracy is now under attack. However, at this first sitting, since Russia's full-scale invasion, I wanted to condemn in the strongest possible terms, the unprovoked imperialist aggression of Vladimir Putin. There can be no doubt that he must now face the severest of consequences. Sanctions on him and his network of oligarchs and agents, their expulsion from countries across the world, sanctions on his banks and their ability to borrow and function, sanctions on his energy and mineral companies, and here in the UK immediate cleanup of the swirl of dirty Russian money in the city of London. But just as Putin must face and feel the wrath of the democratic world, the people of Ukraine must feel and not just hear our support and our solidarity. The world must now help and equip Ukraine to defend itself and resist Russian aggression. We must ensure humanitarian aid and assistance, and we must all stand ready to offer refuge and sanctuary where necessary for those who may be displaced. This is a critical juncture in history, perhaps the most dangerous and potentially defining moment since the Second World War. We live in this moment, but it is true to say that historic precedents will be set in the hours and the days to come. These will determine the new norms of what is acceptable or not in our international order. Putin is an autocrat. His control of the apparatus of state and of the economy, the military and the media can make his power seem impregnable, but, as with most strong men leaders, underneath the veneer of power lies insecurity and fear. Fear of democracy, of freedom, fear of the kind of popular uprisings witnessed over recent years in Ukraine ever happening in Russia. On that point, let us not assume that he is now acting in the name of the Russian people. We must ensure that anti-Putin forces within Russia have our encouragement and moral support too. Future generations will judge the actions that the world takes in this moment. There are, of course, many complexities, but, at its most fundamental, this is a clash between oppression and autocracy on the one hand and freedom and democracy on the other. We must all ensure that freedom and democracy prevail. The world that we woke up to this morning is a far darker and more unstable place than when we went to sleep last night. I said on Tuesday that the situation in Ukraine was at the forefront of all of our minds. Since then, the escalation in the aggression by the Russians towards Ukraine confirms that the only intention of President Putin was war, no matter what the cost. However, the costs will be high in the first few hours' lives have already been lost. The images of people fleeing the cities of Ukraine and the videos from those who have stayed behind capturing the invasion are difficult for all of us to watch, but it must be so much more difficult for Ukrainians here in Scotland and across the UK and anyone with friends, family or loved ones, still in the country. Because the pain of war is felt by people, families will lose loved ones, whole communities will be displaced, children will be left with lifelong scars, both physical and mental. I always thought and hope that war on this scale in Europe was something that I would only know of through history lessons at school, but, sadly, after this morning it is part of our daily lives once again. I support the UK Government and allies around the world in their condemnation of this Russian war and their united efforts to avert further bloodshed. We can only hope and pray that they will succeed and that we stand with the people of Ukraine. Today, a hard one and fragile peace in Europe has been shattered. It is a dark day and my party and I stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Vladimir Putin's attack on Ukraine is unprovoked and unjustifiable. Across the world today, the message is clear. Peace and democracy must prevail, and we will not bend to Vladimir Putin's imperial ambitions. Our first actions now must be to support the Ukrainian people. In supporting the fight against Russian aggression, we must provide urgent humanitarian assistance to defeat the horrors of war, hunger, destitution and need. The UK must urgently reinforce our NATO allies, the hardest possible sanctions must be taken against all those linked to Putin and the influence of Russian money and disinformation must be extricated from public and political life in the UK, including here in Scotland. The message from this Parliament must be loud and clear. We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Peace will prevail. Vladimir Putin will pay a heavy price. On behalf of the Scottish Green Party, I would like to offer our solidarity with the people of Ukraine in this moment of crisis. Ukraine is a sovereign democratic nation whose people have the inalienable right to self-determination. It is a European nation as its people have made clear by majority time after time in recent years. Today's escalation of a Russian invasion, which started in 2014, is a flagrant and grievous breach of international law, one that must be responded to in the most comprehensive terms. No form of sanction should be off the table. Action against Russian state-backed corporations and other entities must be swift. Here in the UK, it is essential that we tackle the money laundering networks used extensively by Russian elites. However, it seems inevitable now that there will also be a significant flow of refugees from Ukraine in the coming days, weeks and months. I trust that Scotland stands ready to play our part to support them in any way we can. Let us all hope, even at this hour, that a prolonged war can be prevented. The devastation that would bring does not bear thinking about it. We are proud to stand with the people and government of Ukraine, and I am very pleased that that message is coming from the entire chamber. I rise off with the solidarity of Scottish Liberal Democrats, the people of Ukraine. Presiding Officer, we woke this morning to a much darker world. A few hours ago, and for the first time this century, a land war has begun in continental Europe, and we have no idea how this will end. The Russian regime has violated the sovereignty of a democratic state. It has broken international law, and it has threatened the very fabric of peace and security in our world. It is very likely that the invasion will lead to a catastrophic and wholly needless loss of human life. It will displace thousands of Ukrainians, and we must be ready to help. The city of Kyiv is twinned with the city of Edinburgh. That relationship has to mean something, so we must be prepared to offer all those fleeing that conflict safe harbour in the villages and towns of Scotland. Today, the Parliament and all parties in it speak with one voice. We utterly condemn the expansionist aggression of the Russian regime and stand in total solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We now move to First Minister's questions, and I call Douglas Ross. Can I ask the First Minister if she has full confidence in her Government's NHS recovery plan? Yes, I do, but the Government will continue to work hard to ensure that the recovery plan continues to develop and evolve and be fit for the purpose of getting the NHS through the remainder of Covid and on to a path not just of recovery but of sustainability for the future. Audit Scotland, of course, has this morning published its regular review of the NHS. I welcome that report. It is a challenging report, but it is also fair and balanced. It recognises that the task that all Governments face to recover their health services from Covid is a difficult one, and there are no easy answers. The Audit Scotland report also, I think, fairly recognises the work that the Government and the NHS have done throughout Covid and, as we now enter into recovery from Covid, and indeed recognises the plans that the Scottish Government is now implementing with the NHS to ensure that sustainability for the future. Douglas Ross. Yes, I do. Three simple words from the First Minister confirming that everything that she has put forward in her NHS recovery plan has her backing. It is what she believes is a way of getting our health service out of the struggles of the pandemic. Yet it is a very different view from Audit Scotland, who has said this morning quite a damning verdict on the Government's plan to rebuild Scotland's NHS. It states, and I quote, that it is not enough detail in the plan to determine whether ambitions can be achieved in the timescale set out, not enough detail in the plan that the First Minister just moments ago said she is happy with. Will the First Minister now accept that the recovery plan does not go far enough and urgently needs to be redrafted to address the serious concerns that have been highlighted? No, I do not agree with that. However, I agree, and I said this in my initial answer, that, as the Government, we must ensure the implementation of that recovery plan and we must ensure that that recovery plan is flexible and adaptable to make sure that it is fit for the very significant challenge that Scotland faces and indeed countries across the world face in recovering their health services from the pandemic. I think that the Audit Scotland report today is very fair, very challenging, but I also think that people can go in and read it for themselves. It sets out and acknowledges the work that is under way. For example, on just page three of the report, Scottish Government plans have the potential to help the NHS become sustainable. Later on, the Scottish Government recognises the risk relating to workforce capacity and wellbeing. It has introduced a range of controls to mitigate those risks. The Scottish Government and the NHS are implementing lessons learned from the pandemic. The Scottish Government plans for recovery and redesign of NHS services are ambitious, although it goes on to say that they are challenging. The NHS has implemented a range of new ways of working to improve access to healthcare services, so that recognises and records the work that is under way. Finally, I would note that we are investing record sums in the national health service around just over £100 per head more than equivalent investment south of the border, which equates to £600 million more being spent on the NHS than would be the case if we were following the investment of the Government at UK level. There are also record numbers of people working in our national health service, so I recognise the challenge. That is perhaps one of the biggest challenges that faces us and other Governments, but it is one that we are focused on, and that the recovery plan will help us to address. We will continue to ensure that it and the resources that back it up are fit for the scale of that challenge. I notice that the First Minister picked elements of the report that were positive for her Government, but failed to address the actual substance of my question, which was about the lack of detail—not enough detail in the report—and the lack of clarity on the timescales that need to be met to reach the ambitions that are set out. The First Minister also mentioned workforce and record numbers, but the report makes it plain that the recovery plan will fail unless the Government recruits enough people with the right skills. It highlights vacancies at record highs throughout the health service. Scotland's NHS staff have gone above and beyond throughout the pandemic to keep the public safe, but they are now stretched to their limit. Today, on top of this damning audit Scotland publication, there are reports of junior doctors exhausted, burnt out and even leaving Scotland to work in health services elsewhere. First Minister, how will your plan to cut down waiting times actually achieve the desired outcomes when staff are at a breaking point, or worse, preparing to leave our NHS? First of all, we have record numbers of staff working in our national health service, and those numbers of course do not include vacancies. Those are staff in post, but we recognise the recruitment challenges. That is why Audit Scotland actually recognises this point. We are investing in the wellbeing of staff, as well as investing heavily in recruitment. Douglas Ross suggested that I had selectively quoted Audit Scotland's report. I am absolutely clear that it is a very challenging report, and there are real lessons in it for the Scottish Government, but it fairly recognises the work that we have been doing. On the topic of selective quoting, here is what the Audit Scotland report says about staffing. The UK's departure from the EU will further reduce the pool of workers available in future years. That is also one of the realities exacerbating the recruitment challenge that perhaps Douglas Ross might want to respond to and reflect on when he next gets to his feet. Those are big challenges. That is why we are meeting them with investment, with support for staff. In terms of the detail in the recovery plan, the recovery plan sets out our ambitions. It sets out the broad plans that we will implement to meet those ambitions, but of course we have also asked and they will deliver them next month to health boards to produce detailed implementation plans so that the detail of implementation is there. We then scrutinise and hold to account. Nobody should underplay the scale of the challenge that countries everywhere face in getting their health services back on track, but we are supporting the health service with investment, we are supporting staff and we will be focused on ensuring that our health service recovers and is firmly on a path to sustainability for the future. The Audit Scotland report lays bare that Scotland's NHS is on an emergency footing. A new evidence submitted this morning to the Parliament's Covid committee spells out the true cost of this Government's failure. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has said that delayed A&E admissions in Scotland led to over 500 excess deaths in 2021. The state, those avoidable deaths, are, and this is a direct quote from evidence to the committee this morning, entirely attributable to the delay to admission to admising these patients' experience. 500 lives lost because the Government didn't act early enough, despite receiving warning after warning that Scotland's NHS is in crisis. First Minister, if the Audit Scotland report isn't a wake-up call for you and your Government, surely those deaths must be. I know that Douglas Ross probably scripted that before coming into the chamber, but anybody listening to me will hear me taking very seriously the Audit Scotland report, the challenge that poses, the challenges that our NHS faces, which are in common to challenges that health services across the world face, but they will also have heard me set out, which is recognised in the Audit Scotland report. People, of course, can go and read the report for themselves. They don't have to take either my word or Douglas Ross's words for what it says, but it recognises the work that the Scottish Government is doing. It absolutely rightly questions the detail of that work, and it says that our ambitions are challenging, will take time to deliver, and the Scottish Government, as it always does, will pay very close attention to the recommendations that it makes. In terms of accident and emergency, I take all of those comments seriously. Of course, the NHS is and has been on an emergency footing. It would have been unthinkable for it not to have been on an emergency footing, given that we have faced the emergency and the crisis of a global pandemic. The consequences of that for our NHS and for people waiting for care has been severe, and I recognise that. However, if we look at A&E on its own, there are big challenges for us to confront—absolutely big challenges—but our A&E units are still the best performing anywhere in the UK. They have been for six years in a row. We have invested in staffing in our accident emergency units and redesigned to ensure that only those who need emergency care access it in that way and that they get quicker treatment. I don't shy away from the challenges here. This is a massive challenge for us and for Governments everywhere, but it is one that we are addressing with resources, with support and with the absolute focus that people have every right to expect us to do. Today's Audit Scotland report paints a devastating picture of the state of Scotland's NHS. It details out of control waiting times that are, in their words, ever increasing. A workforce that is burnt out, burdened by stress and strain, with 61 per cent of nurses saying that they are thinking of leaving their job because they are undervalued, and a system that is financially unsustainable. The impact on patients could be devastating. As the report says, health conditions will go undetected for longer, leading to potentially worse outcomes for people. First Minister, after 15 years in power, how did it come to this? NSRWR is possibly the only person that hasn't noticed that we have been in a global pandemic for the past two years. I think that people across the country understand the reasons for the pressures that Scotland's NHS is facing, that England, Wales and Northern Ireland's NHS is facing, and that health services across the world are facing. I take those pressures seriously. The Audit Scotland report has got a lot of positive things to say about how the Scottish Government and the NHS responded to the pandemic, how we prepared for this very challenging winter. Of course, it recognises the steps that we are taking to put the NHS on that path to sustainability, but it poses serious and challenging questions for us, as it has every right to do and every responsibility to do. However, NSRWR wants to look back over the past 15 years, and on the NHS I am more than happy to do that. If we look, for example, at funding international health service, since the Government took office back in 2007, funding for the health portfolio has increased by more than 90 per cent. Frontline health spending is 3.6 per cent higher per head in Scotland than in England. That is more than £100 per head that I referenced earlier. If we total that up, equivalent to £600 million to 14,000 nurses, NHS staffing, since the Government took office, up by more than 27,000 whole-time equivalent staff members, is more than 20 per cent. Again, that does not include vacancies. We will continue to face up to those very real challenges. We will do that with investment, support and determination and focus. NSRWR wants to pretend that those problems have all been created by Covid, but that is not true. Scotland's NHS was in crisis before Covid hit, and that is why we are struggling to recover. Here is a reminder of what was happening before Covid. Audit Scotland report 2017, 99 per cent increase in people waiting more than 12 weeks for an appointment. Audit Scotland report 2018, Scotland's NHS performance continuing to decline. Audit Scotland report 2019, Scotland's NHS financially unsustainable, year after year, the worst reports in the history of devolution. First Minister, how many more devastating reports do you need before you act in the interests of patients and staff? I do not pretend that all the challenges facing our NHS or other health services are all down to Covid. The health service has been facing demographic pressures. It has faced the pressure of a decade of Tory austerity. It started under the last Labour Government in case we forget that point. What was happening before Covid, our waiting times improvement plan, which was making progress, was reducing the longest waits in our national health service. I do not pretend that that. However, NSRWR wants to pretend that Covid has not had a significant and very significant impact, and it somehow wants to pretend that those challenges are unique to Scotland's national health service. Those are challenges being faced everywhere across the world. This Government is investing more than many other Governments in our health service. We are doing a range of different things to support our health service, and we will continue to do exactly that for the sake of those who work on the front line, but also for those patients who rely on its services. The First Minister's response is, frankly, nonsense. 680,000 people are waiting on an NHS waiting list. That is one in eight of the population. That was 450,000 before the pandemic. 1,000 NHS beds short. The First Minister cut beds before the pandemic. 3,500 nurses and midwife are short. The First Minister cut training places for nurses and midwives before the pandemic. Staff and patients are crying out for help, and the First Minister who responds with empty rhetoric rather than practical action. This Government has been solely responsible for Scotland's NHS for 15 years. The result is that staff burn out on wanting to leave and patients failed in languishing on waiting lists. This SNP Government has put Scotland's NHS at risk. How can they be now the ones to save it? People in Scotland, of course, make those verdicts and decide who they trust to steward our national health service through difficult times and on to the path to recovery. Let me take the two issues that Anna Sarwar raised. First, on bed numbers, we have to reflect on the bed numbers that we will need as we come out of a Covid pandemic and face the likely challenges that Covid will present over the years to come, as it hopefully becomes endemic. Anna Sarwar is, from a sedentary position, saying that bed numbers have been reducing in Scotland and countries across the world for many, many years because of advances in treatment, because many people who used to go into hospital for things like cataracts now get those treatments on a day-case basis. Let me remind Anna Sarwar that anybody can go and check this. Under the last Labour Liberal Administration in this Parliament, bed numbers fell every single year. Reflecting, and Andy Kerr, who used to be health secretary, used to stand here and make the same argument that I have just made about advances in treatment and technology. Of course, looking ahead, we need to address that. I do not underestimate the challenge that our nursing profession works under. In Scotland, where we have 8.4 qualified nurses and mid-wise per 1,000 population, compared with just 6 in England, there are 40 per cent higher staffing levels in nurses and mid-wise. Are there challenges in our health service that we have to confront and support the NHS through? Absolutely, but we are providing the investment, support and focus in determination. That is the trust that the people of Scotland have put in this Government, and we will get on with that job. I will take supplementary questions. The First Minister will be aware of the serious impact that exorbitant and unfair transmission charges are having on renewables developments across Scotland. Those charges are particularly punitive for the islands where developers face higher costs than anywhere else in the UK to connect to the national grid. What can the Scottish Government do to lobby the UK Government to reform a system that penalises the very places where the renewables potential is greatest? The transmission network's use of system charges remain a significant barrier to achieving net zero in Scotland. Indeed, of GEM's own analysis suggests that, by 2040, Scottish renewable and low-carbon generators will be the only ones to pay a wider charge with all others, including gas generators elsewhere in Great Britain, being paid credits. It is vital that we move towards identifying and progressing solutions as quickly as possible. A new approach is needed here, and we will continue to raise that with GEM and the UK Government, as we have been doing repeatedly, and we will continue to push for a fairer solution that recognises the massive renewable capability of Scotland. The Press and Journal reported this week on a survey showing nearly half of teachers in Aberdeenau considering quitting after being subjected to high levels of physical and verbal abuse. According to the survey, rarely a day goes by without assaults or abuse aimed at members of staff. Aberdeen Council reports a collaborative and co-operative approach between them and the unions, but that issue will be nationwide. First Minister, what is the Government doing proactively to stem this appalling abuse to our dedicated and hard-working teachers? Firstly, there are increasing numbers of teachers in our schools, thanks to investment provided by the Government. We will continue to support the wellbeing and the safety of our teachers working with local authorities—who, of course, are the employers of teachers—to do that. Frankly, all of us, regardless of political differences, should unite to say that any abuse or attacks on teachers or anybody else working in our public sector is completely unacceptable, and we should all show complete zero tolerance towards that. I'm very grateful, Presiding Officer. Figures released this week by the NUS Scotland show that one in three students are considering dropping out of college or university, one in four were unable to pay their bills in full as a result of financial pressure, and as many as 20% of students from widening access backgrounds were dependent on food banks. Does the First Minister agree that urgent action is needed now to address the surge in student poverty here in Scotland and, starting by extending the recently announced £150 fuel payment to all students directly? Scotland's young people can't afford any more excuses from this Government. Agree that we need to take seriously the financial pressures that students are living under in these very difficult times for many people across the country, and we will do that. We have provided support to students in a range of ways, and we will reflect very carefully on the case being made by the NUS at this time. I'm proud of the fact that students in Scotland don't have to pay tuition fees because one of the most important things that this Government has done in the face of opposition at various times from the Conservatives, from Labour and others, we have protected that vital principle of free education in Scotland, and we will always do so. Fiona Hyslop. The announcement of this week of £20 million investment from Scottish Enterprise for the Valneva facility in Westlothian is great news for jobs in Westlothian. Although final approvals for a Covid vaccine have not yet been achieved, does the First Minister recognise its potential management of the pandemic globally? As the UK Government previously cancelled their order, does she acknowledge the hard work and determination of the Scottish management of Valneva in helping to secure a major EU vaccine contract and also the contribution of my whistles and colleagues Hannah Bardell MP and Angela Constance MSP in working with Minister Ivan McKee to secure this very welcome £20 million investment? I very strongly agree with all of that. Valneva's decision to develop and manufacture its Covid vaccine heat in Scotland is extremely welcome and I would pay tribute to the local management here for all of their efforts. Valneva is a valued contributor to our life sciences sector and the Livingston facility is a really important asset developing and manufacturing vaccines for prevention and treatment of many infectious diseases and supporting high-quality jobs. The funding package will create employment and it will drive further research and it will, I hope, underpin Valneva's operations here in Scotland. I want to take this time to recognise again the hard work of all those involved for securing this additional investment as vaccine developments take place over the course of the months and years to come. I would also take the opportunity to pay tribute to Fiona Hyslop but also to Angela Constance and Hannah Bardell who have fought very hard on behalf of this company and I wish it every success for the future. On those two thirds of pupils in Scottish schools have experienced sexual harassment at or on their way home from school with some pupils being unaware of what is considered sexual harassment. Highlighting guidance around sexual harassment is not going far enough. What is the Scottish Government doing to ensure that young people can identify sexual harassment when it happens? We should again all come together to be very clear that harassment or abuse of any form, whether that is in the workplace, in schools, in the home or in society more generally, is completely reprehensible and unacceptable. It is the conduct and behaviour of perpetrators that need to change if we are to end that culture of harassment and abuse. We want all children and young people to learn tolerance, respect, equality and good citizenship to address and prevent prejudice as well as develop healthy relationships and the gender-based violence working group will consider the report in detail at future meetings. We are also providing funding to Reap Crisis Scotland to help to deliver programmes in secondary schools that aim to tackle sexual harassment and violence. A constituent who is immunocompromised recently got in touch to say that she has had very little antibody response to the Covid vaccination and is choosing to continue to shield. Subsequently, she has not seen her family or friends since the start of the pandemic and has become unemployed. That is all having a negative impact on her mental health. It is not fair that, as life begins to return to normal for many of us, those like her who are immunocompromised are forced to choose to continue isolating. What can the First Minister say to my constituent and people like her? Can she tell me whether the Scottish Government has considered introducing any antibody therapies for pre-exposure prophylaxis such as AstraZeneca's every shield to protect immunocompromised people from the effects of Covid-19? I will write to the member or ask the health secretary to write to the member with more detail of what I am about to say because I am only going to say it on a summary basis right now. There is some JCVI advice on further boosters for people who are immunosuppressed or compromised and that may, I do not know, be helpful in this case. I also set out in my statement earlier in the week some of the new developments around treatments and the work that the Scottish Government is doing to ensure that those treatments are getting to people who need the most. Treatments are already being delivered to people who need hospital care but we are now seeing treatments delivered to people who don't need hospital care but may be at risk of that. There are new oral therapies being trialled right now and I am sure that the points about antibodies is an important part of that. The last point that I would make here, which is a point that I sought to make on Tuesday in my statement, is that we cannot and we should not tolerate a situation where the majority of us can get back to normal but a minority feel that they need to continue to shield and that is why I do say to people that as we get back to normal we all have to show collective responsibility and solidarity. For those of us who may be frustrated with it, who choose, for example, still to wear face coverings, we are making it more possible for those who are most vulnerable to also get back to normal. We mustn't allow a two-tier society to be the one that is created as we recover from Covid but that takes responsibility and sacrifice on the part of all of us and I hope everybody across the country will take that seriously. The UK climate change committee has today called for a presumption against exploration of new oil and gas, making the case that renewables investment is the best way to tackle the energy price crisis. I am proud of Scotland's progress on renewables, but will the First Minister press the UK Government to end its policy of maximum economic recovery and start listening to the climate science? That is an important question. I have made the Scottish Government's position on maximum economic recovery clear. We must make sure that we face up to the tough decisions as we progress towards net zero. The Committee on Climate Change report that has been published today is well worth reading for everyone. It does not quite go as far as to say that there should be no further exploration, but I think that Mark Ruskell has summarised reasonably fairly when he talks about a presumption. It also says that it is wrong to say that new exploration will have a meaningful impact on energy costs for consumers. Those are things that all Governments have to take seriously, but power here does lie with the UK Government and we will continue to make those arguments very strongly. Question 3, Alex Cole-Hamilton. Thank you, Presiding Officer, to ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet. First Minister. Tuesday. Alex Cole-Hamilton. I'm grateful for that reply. The aggression demonstrated by the Russian regime in recent days asks us very search and questions once again about our energy security. Fifteen years ago, Alex Salmond thundered that Scotland would become the Saudi Arabia of renewables. A few weeks ago, the First Minister boasted of a truly historic opportunity for renewables jobs. The new owners of the BiFab site in Fristatae have secured work, but they cannot find Scottish workers. There just aren't enough trained workers to build even eight turbine jackets among the colossal wind farms of the 4th estuary. Instead, they have had to recruit dozens of workers from abroad because the SNP has failed to train enough skilled workers here. Not only are most of the wind farms being built in the Far East, but the work that we did win is not even being built by workers from Scotland. Doesn't this show that the SNP's renewable policy is all-wind and no jobs? First Minister. No, I don't agree with that, but I think that there are really important issues at the heart of that. Alex Cole-Hamilton has described the challenge that my Government is getting on with offering the solutions. I have been frank in the past. I do not think that we have done well enough in securing the economic supply chain and jobs benefits of our massive renewable opportunities, and I am absolutely certain that we must do much better in future. There is a substantial body of work under way to ensure that, as we take advantage of the opportunities of Scotland, we are building the economic advantages to go along with that. I am determined that we will get that right. There are global shortages of some of the skills being talked about here, and that is a problem. There are also real recruitment challenges here, exacerbated, of course, because of Brexit, but we are very focused on ensuring that, as we take advantage of that amazing opportunity, particularly around offshore wind, future generations will see the benefits and jobs and economic activity. I will certainly look forward to keeping the chamber updated on that in the months, and, indeed, the years to come. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's responses to the report by Andrew Webster QC and to the handling by Scottish Borders Council of school assault allegations, in particular those relating to abuse of vulnerable children in the Tweeddale support unit. The findings of this report are deeply concerning, and my thoughts, first and foremost, are with the children and families affected. All children have the right to be cared for and protected from harm, and to grow up in a safe environment in which their rights are respected and their needs met. Every local authority is expected to have in place appropriate child protection policies and procedures and effective processes to ensure that the concerns about the safety and protection of children are identified and dealt with. The Scottish Government remains ready to work with Scottish Borders Council to assist them in addressing any concerns raised by this inquiry. Christine Grahame. I thank the First Minister for her response. In fact, the QC described the actions by the council as reprehensible. First Minister, the parents' voices were ignored for four years. There was an internal inquiry that was told that was done and dusted and nothing to see here move on, near to pressurise for a successful criminal prosecution, near to pressurise for this independent inquiry. It took four years. So, I asked the parents what they wanted to ask the Scottish Government, and this is it. Will the First Minister consider making it mandatory that when issues of child protection arise when those children are in the care of a local authority, investigations must not be in-house because there is more of a whiff of cover-up in this case? Given that many of the relevant officers have, over the past four years, retired or re-employed elsewhere, have even been promoted to chief executive of another council, disciplinary proceedings are irrelevant—in fact, they are redundant. Will the Scottish Government consider exploring extending the principle of corporate crime to councils, in particular their officials? Given the seriousness of the issue, I want to say very clearly through Christine Grahame to the parents involved that I will of course consider any representations that are made. On the two specifics that Christine Grahame has put forward, while I am not going to pre-empt that consideration in any way, I give an assurance that we will take that seriously and look very closely at that. I am happy to communicate to parents through Christine Grahame as that consideration develops. Learning from cases like this is a vital part of an effective and improving child protection system. That includes looking at how the criminal law may operate. The Scottish Government, alongside Education Scotland, will seek to work with Scottish Borders Council in taking forward actions to address the recommendations of the inquiry and consider any learning that can be applied at a national level. However, I will look at any further changes such as those just outlined by Christine Grahame that could further strengthen our child protection systems and make sure that parents and everybody who needs to have confidence in those arrangements, because a few things in our society can be more important than that. I am concerned about the role of the general teaching council in child protection. When I asked the GTC how many child protection concerns had been referred to them, they told me that they did not know and that it would be too expensive to find out. They say that they are not in the front line of child protection, but, according to Scottish Government policy, everyone has a job in safeguarding children. Does the First Minister think that it is right that the regulator for teacher conduct is not in the front line of child protection? I am happy to look at the particular issue, because I think that it is important, and I will come back to Willie Rennie whenever I have the opportunity to do so. However, in principle, I believe that all of us, certainly in local government, across government agencies, but all of us as individual citizens have an obligation and a responsibility around child protection and to consider that we are all in the front line to a greater or lesser extent of that. The general teaching council obviously has particular responsibilities, so let me look at the comments that Willie Rennie has attributed to them in the chamber today and look at any difficulties in getting information out of them, and I am happy to come back in more detail whenever there is a chance to do so. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the recent report on the Scottish Crofting Commission. The Crofting Commission and the Scottish Government will reflect on the findings of the Public Audit Committee's report and consider what further actions might be needed in relation to its findings and recommendations. Action, of course, is already under way to address issues through an extensive improvement plan to date. 38 actions out of a total of 41 recommendations made in the audit report undertaken by Deloitte have either been implemented or are in the process of being implemented. Officials will continue to monitor the actions that are laid out in the commission's improvement plan to ensure that improvements are achieved and maintained. I thank the First Minister for that answer. Presiding Officer, the report is damming and says that the commission and the Scottish Government have failed to act on concerns raised in 2016. The SNP are in a state of paralysis on crofting reform. They failed to bring forward a bill in the last Parliament session and crofting law reform was dropped by the SNP Government in their programme for government last year. First Minister, crofting has the potential to make a great contribution to rural Scotland, but your continued inaction is blocking reform and deterring new entrants. First Minister, why are you letting down Scotland's crofters? Not surprisingly, I do not agree with that characterisation. I do agree, however, about the importance of crofting to local communities and, indeed, to the overall landscape and economy of Scotland. Those are important issues, and we will continue to take forward as appropriate crofting reforms. Particularly in relation to the Crofting Commission, the Rural Affairs Secretary meets regularly with it to discuss progress on implementing its actions but also on wider issues. We will continue to make sure that it delivers on the actions in its improvement plan and that we are taking forward appropriate reforms to ensure that crofters and crofting continue to have the important place that they have had for a long time in Scotland. Crofting Commission and other similar organisations have negative audit reports, and they have cited interference from the Scottish Government. Boards need to be clear on their duties and responsibilities, and the Scottish Government needs to respect that role. Therefore, would the First Minister urgently carry out a review of the Government's structures of the Crofting Commission and the other similar bodies to ensure that they are fit for a purpose? There is really a day that goes by in this chamber, including today, when the Scottish Government is not called upon to intervene and take action in relation to agencies or organisations that operate at arm's length. Of course, when we do, we often face the accusation of interfering. We continue to try to get that balance right in the interests of the people we serve. I said in my initial answer that we will reflect carefully on the public audit committee's report and consider what further actions we need to take. It is important that organisations such as the Crofting Commission understand their roles and responsibility, including in relation to the Scottish Government. We will reflect carefully, but we will also continue to support the Crofting Commission to implement the actions already in its improvement plan. Presiding Officer, to ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the reported view from Commonwealth that action is needed to address weaknesses in social care provision due to it being in a critical state, not fit for purpose, underfunded, rationed, fragmented, centralised and risk averse. I agree that action is needed, which is why we are taking forward the establishment of a national care service to help to end the postcode lottery of adult care in this country. A key to that will be ensuring that it is designed with service users so that the barriers to care that they too often face are taken down. I could probably helpfully hear quote Derek Feeley, who, of course, undertook the review of adult social care. He said that we won't achieve the potential social care support in Scotland without a new delivery system. We need a national care service to achieve the consistency that people deserve, to drive national improvements where they are required, to ensure strategic integration with the NHS, to set national standards, terms and conditions and to bring national oversight and accountability to a vital part of Scotland's social fabric. That is what we are seeking to achieve. Alex Rowley. I am grateful to the First Minister for that answer. While there will be no doubt a debate as legislation comes forward here on what kind of national care service we are going to have, there are immediate problems that need to be addressed. We do, First Minister, agree there to look at the inequality within the care workforce. In effect, Scotland has a two-tier workforce, the majority of carers being women, and it depends on whether they are employed in the public sector or the private and dependent sector. It depends on their pay, their terms and conditions. Unless that is addressed now, we will not be able to fix the social care problems that are escalating out of control. Will the First Minister agree to look at an immediate issue of the unfair, unequal treatment of care workers in Scotland? We are taking a range of immediate and short-term actions, more investment in social care, for example, taking actions to increase the pay and improve the conditions of the social care workforce. I recognise that there are different employers involved here. That leads to apparent inequities and injustices. One of the objectives of the national care service is to deliver national terms and conditions. We are, for example, through the national living wage and our fair work practices seeking to address those issues, not just in social care but across the economy. We will continue to take short-term actions while we build a new system fit for the future. I hope that there will be a rigorous and robust debate in this Parliament over the detail of this. I really welcome that, but I think that this is an opportunity for this Parliament to really make a generational change to how we deliver social care across our country. Michelle Thomson, in that case, will the First Minister join me in congratulating and recognising the remarkable achievements of Eve Muirhead and her team GB women's curling rink and the historic victory at the Winter Olympics in Beijing and the winning the gold medal and Bruce Mouthe, who, alongside his team GB colleagues, won silver? The success will now inspire many young men and women to take up what I believe is Scotland's real national sport, first being played here 500 years ago. She also applauded the role of small community curling clubs and facilities, such as Dumfries, Stronar and Perth curling rinks, and many across Scotland to provide opportunity for players of all ages with their wide ranges of abilities and disabilities to take up the sport. I thank the Royal Caledonian Curling Club and British Curling, which not only nurtures the sport at grass-roots level but creates a world-class training environment for curling to strive. First Minister, I am tempted to say yes to all of that and sit down, which I am sure is what you would prefer, but I am going to perhaps elaborate a little bit. Yes, I agree with all of that about the communities in Scotland who support curling, about the work of British curling, Scottish curling and all of those who have contributed to the success enjoyed over the past few days. I want to begin by congratulating Team Mouthe. The men's team for their amazing achievement was a really tense match. They just missed out on gold, but they should be really proud of themselves. They did themselves proud and they did all of Scotland and Team GB proud as well. Obviously, of course, I want to take the opportunity. It gives me great pleasure to take the opportunity to say a massive congratulations to Eve Muirhead and to all of Team Muirhead for winning an Olympic gold medal. There is no doubt that all of the team deserves our congratulations, but Eve Muirhead is well on her way. In fact, I think that she is already there to becoming one of the true global greats of her sport. So congratulations to all of them. I think that in really, really tough times they gave us all something to smile about over the weekend and we are grateful to all of them for that. I would like to raise with the First Minister the case of my constituent, Ann Sinclair, who last October, after waiting seven months for diagnostic procedure, was told that she has an aggressive form of endomerant cancer for which she is still waiting treatment due to Omicron wave. The First Minister will be aware of the importance of early diagnosis in the successful treatment of cancer. Will she agree with me that Mrs Sinclair's situation is not good enough and what assurance can she give my other constituents waiting for cancer diagnosis is that they will not be left in the similar positions? Yes, I absolutely agree that, from what the member has said, Mrs Sinclair's situation does not sound at all acceptable. Let me take the opportunity through the member to pass my thoughts to her at what I am sure is an incredibly difficult time. We have sought to prioritise cancer care right throughout the pandemic, recognising the importance of early diagnosis and early access to treatment. Of course, plans have already been implemented to further speed up diagnosis and ensure that treatment is swift and high quality, but we want to make sure that we have a responsibility to make sure that that is the experience of every patient suffering a cancer diagnosis. I do not want to go too much further, because it is not possible for me to do so into the specific circumstances of Mrs Sinclair's case, but if the member wishes to write to me with the detail, I will ask the health secretary to look into that in particular and come back to him as soon as possible. The old prison at Peterhead was turned into a visitor attraction in 2016, and after spending time there as a visitor and not a resident, I have to say that it is an excellent day out, the museum is struggling financially due to the pandemic, and I believe that I have written to the First Minister pleading for financial assistance. Will the First Minister commit to providing financial assistance to save Peterhead prison museum from closure? First, I am sure that, on behalf of the chamber, when I say that we are all delighted that the member was only there as a visitor. It is an important question, but I am sure that we have objective evidence as well. This is a serious matter. Visitor attractions across the country have suffered greatly because of Covid, and we are seeking to help them recover. I am not able, as I am sure that the member will appreciate it, to give a commitment to financial assistance for Peterhead in particular today, but I undertake to look in detail at the matter and consider whether we, or perhaps more appropriately, the council, can be encouraged to do more to support it. That concludes First Minister's questions. There will be a brief pause before members' business.