 The first item of business today is general questions, and our first questioner is Gillian Martin. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it's taking to close the gender pay gap. The Scottish Government recognises that the gender pay gap is symptomatic of structural inequalities in the workplace, as well as education and wider society. That's why we're tackling the issue on a number of fronts. We've established a gender pay gap y sw pluggedwch Wirsham that will be chaired by the Minister for Employability and Training, which will identify specific actions that reduce gender pay gaps across sectors as a key element of the Government's inclusive growth vision. The Minister for Employability and Training has also written to the chief executives of those public bodies subject to Scottish Government pay settlement to urge them to continue to work towards reducing pay gaps in their organisation.ように to work towards reducing pay gaps in their organisation. I thank the secretary for that answer. The Scottish Government does not have the Felly, mae'r ddaeo cyfforddol yn cael ei gynffordd… … o newid i gael i ddechreuon nhw ftakwyl, ac yn mynd i ddechrau i gael i ddechreuon nhw los. Felly, mae'r ddaing iawn erioedd yn cyd-dyniad mewn i ddiolch i ddechreuóaimniol o'r r tailsawn. Ond, mae'n gweld i spunio'r cyfforddoli i gael i ddechrau i ddechreuon nhw i gael i ddechreuon nhw aきwm a i ddatblygu ei sefyllfa. The Royal Government has recommended that work be done on improving the gender element of the Scottish business pledge to encourage businesses to actively tackle their pay gap. Is the Government doing any work on that, and will the cabinet secretary agree with me that equally paid women would inject billions into the Scottish economy, and that is a potential that we cannot afford to ignore as we seek to grow that economy? I very much agree with Gillian Martin's last point, to which I believe that we o'r bwysig y gallai nid ddollwch. Rydyn ni'n brif tele oherwydd, i gael o'r bwysig ddollwch, ac oedd pwysig hynny o'r cynnig oherwydd oherwydd, os ydynt. O'r pwysig, os ydynt oherwydd o Gilym checkwyr Cymru i gyfyllwyr cymdeithasol, ond, mae wedi gweld yn gweld yn cerddiffwn o ffastfiedigol cyddiadau cyddiadau cyddiadau cyddiadau, os gallai mae'n allanodd o gylliddo! Rydyn ni'n cei mai cymdeithasol hefyd ei ffurwyr cyddiadau, I differently, the business pledge is being looked at and we have had a number of discussions with businesses including myself, to look at those different elements of the business pledge in order to make sure that it makes the wider aims. Those aims could be taken forward by use of the Government's procurement powers, which lies with my colleague Derek MacKy. It is worth pointing out that the gender pay gap is far too high at 6.6 per cent. yn Scotland well below the UK's level of 9.1 per cent, but we are intending to take further action to make sure that we can drive that down further to achieve the benefits that Gillian Martin rightly alludes to. Kezia Dugdale. The cabinet secretary will be aware that bonuses and partnership dividends are not counted into the gender pay gap calculations. I understand that the First Minister is attending the finance sector's gender summit in the summer. Could I ask the Scottish Government to raise that with the finance sector, particularly when you do factor that in the pay gap in the finance sector can be as high as 40 to 60 per cent in some companies? I am happy to pass on those comments to the First Minister. I would say that, of course, in relation to dividends and many other aspects, those are covered by powers that are reserved to the UK Government. They do have the powers to take those things into account to a far greater extent. Wouldn't it be far better had we got those powers that we could take action directly? I am willing to say to Kezia Dugdale that, of course, we will pass on the suggestion that she has made to the First Minister. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the media industry regarding the role that it can play in challenging Islamophobia. The Scottish Government is committed to challenging Islamophobia wherever it arises in Scotland. Last year, we supported Interfaith Scotland to host an event for media platforms and Muslim community leaders to explore how Muslims are represented in the media. Last summer, we published our tackling prejudice and building connected communities action plan, an ambitious programme of work to tackle hate crime and build community cohesion. The action plan contains a commitment to engage with key stakeholders, including social media platforms, to consider further steps to prevent and tackle online hatred. We will be holding an event later in 2018 to consider those issues more fully. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Last night, the cross-party group on tackling Islamophobia met leading figures of the broadcast and print media for what was a very frank and open conversation. An action plan has been agreed to go forward, which is very positive and welcome on all sides. The cabinet secretary mentioned the platforms of social media, which clearly remain a challenge. One of the proposals that was put forward to the First Minister back in January, which I am pleased that she accepted, was to hold a social media summit to look directly about Islamophobia and other forms of prejudice. Can the cabinet secretary tell us when that is likely to be and which organisations would be included? I am excited to hear about the event last night and the commitment for the broadcasting media and print media. I will be keen to monitor that action plan, along with my colleagues who are dealing with the inequalities in particular and communities. In terms of the event, I will make sure that the member knows—I cannot tell you at this point in time—when the event is and who will be attending. I am more than happy to share that with him and others who have a particular interest in the event. It is about tackling hate crime, and it is also about tackling some of the other representation issues. I also assure the members that, in relation to my discussions with Ofcom and, indeed, other media outlets, positive portrayal and tackling hate crime is also something that we need to make sure is covered as part of the action. 3. Alex Rowley To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether lack of initial infrastructure investment is a barrier to new house and development. The Government is committed to increasing the supply of housing across all tenures. Although the majority of housing sites are able to progress, we recognise that infrastructure provision can delay delivery of some sites in some locations. We are therefore pursuing additional planning and investment measures to improve the delivery of infrastructure affecting housing supply. Reforms to the planning system proposed in the planning bill are designed to improve the co-ordination and delivery of infrastructure with development planning. Our Housing Infrastructure Fund and Building Scotland Fund are substantial investment programmes that can provide financing support to help to unlock housing infrastructure blockages for key sites. Alex Rowley I thank the minister for that answer. I know that the minister understands why we need to get every bit of house building moving. I know that he understands the opportunities, the skills and the jobs that will come from a national programme of house building. For the life of me, I do not understand why he has brought forward a planning bill that in my view there is nothing to address one of the main barriers. Will he think again and have discussion with the industry and with local councils, all of whom are saying that there are major house developments being stalled right across Scotland because they are lacking front-loaded infrastructure for, in particular, schools, education and health? We need to get house moving. Will he have those discussions with the industry? Alex Rowley I have discussions with industry and local authorities on a regular basis. In terms of the planning bill itself, we have introduced the enabling power for an infrastructure levy, which I think will go a long way to helping in some of those regards. Beyond that, as I have already highlighted, we have the housing infrastructure fund, which has unlocked sites in areas such as Granham and Aberdeen, Dumbeg and Argyll and Maryhill locks in Hamilton Hill and Glasgow. I will continue to have discussions, as I have said, and we will look to improving the situation as we move forward. Christine Grahame Following on from Alex Rowley's question, will the minister give consideration to the section 75 process in planning, including where appropriate provision for community or health centres? Historically, there has been some caution expressed around using obligations to secure provisions such as dental practices, community surgeries or GP surgeries, which are often privately owned. In some areas such as Forth Valley and Grampian, that has been addressed by requiring that any developer contributions for those things are transferred to the NHS to address capacity deficiencies identified and not directly to GP surgeries. If Ms Grahame wants to speak to me further, I am more than happy to talk to her about how that is happening in NHS Forth Valley and NHS Grampian. Richard Lochhead Can I ask the Scottish Government if it has any plans to meet the new administration of the Murray council? Dyrr Macai I met the new council leader on Tuesday. Richard Lochhead That was an early meeting and I have a positive sign of a new working relationship. I am sure that the cabinet secretary wants to reiterate my congratulations to the new council leader of Grahame Leadbitter and the first female convener of the Murray council, Councillor Shona Morrison and her colleagues. Is he aware that they have inherited very difficult legacy issue after over 18 years of the other parties being in charge of the Murray council? Those issues have been compounded by Conservative party austerity, not least the fact that £13 million a year has been removed from Murray through welfare reform, hitting families across the area. Will he continue to work with the council on those very difficult legacy issues and pledge to do all he can to help the people of Murray in difficult times ahead? Richard Lochhead Yes, I will pledge to do that. I met the previous administration, indeed the all parties in the council on a cross-party basis. I welcome the fact that the new administration has very much hit the ground running. I look forward to providing assistance where the Government can. Of course, local government received a very fair settlement and Murray will have to tackle those legacy issues. I look forward to positive co-operation so to do. Jimmy Halcro Johnston Does the minister recognise the figure that was published recently by the Scottish Parliament's own information centre? Setting out the Murray council has endured £106 cut in funding over the last five years for every man, woman and child in Murray. When he met the new SNP colleagues on Murray council, did they make representations to him about those cuts? Richard Lochhead Local government has a very fair settlement from the Scottish Government. Of course, in the last two years, that has included real increases to local government as well. Of course, if I had followed Tory advice, it would be tax cuts for the richest, not more investment into the public services of Scotland. I recognise, however, that the Tories are not changing their tune on taxation, but this Government has properly funded local government and will continue to ensure that we support our local service as well as the transformation that is required. It could be argued that many of the issues in Murray are as a consequence of the neglect from some politicians in that area and not least the Conservatives. John Scott To ask the Scottish Government in light of the implications for wildlife in Scotland what its response is to the joint study by the Mammal Society in Natural England, which states that almost one in five mammal species in Britain is at risk of extinction. Roseanna Cunningham The Scottish Government welcomes the report. This is the first substantive update about the number and range of these species in the UK in 23 years and was commissioned jointly by SNH, Natural England and Natural Resources Wales. It highlights the need for further information and a better understanding of some of our native species, and we will consider the results as we work to improve how we protect our native mammals. John Scott I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer, but she will know that the report has found that a total of nine of Scotland's mammals have been categorised as critical, endangered or vulnerable. A further six have been listed as near threatened. Can I ask what action the cabinet secretary is taking in order to halt the decline in the species in Scotland and what measures she is taking to ensure that biodiversity as a whole is improving across Scotland? Roseanna Cunningham I think that the member would probably welcome some of the action that has already been taken. A total of 11 species were assessed as at risk in Scotland, one that the Scottish wildcat critically endangered, and the polecat is endangered. There are four vulnerable species, the Nathusias pipestrel—that's a bat, for those who are not aware—Hedgehog, Orkney vole and Otter, and five near threatened. Of those three show population increases, Hedgehogs, water voles and polecats, and six are stable or increasing in range in Scotland, and that is Mountain Hair, Otter, Water Voles, Red Fox, Red Squirrel and Hedgehog. With that, we feel that the society's estimate of one in five nearing extinction, at least in so far as Scotland is concerned, is an overestimate. I have much more specific information available for individual species, but I fear that I would run afoul of the presiding officer's timing rule, and I will ensure that the member gets the more detailed information about individual species that he may wish. Ivan McKee I am sure that the cabinet secretary will agree that we must do all that we can to protect existing mammal species. Water voles, Arvicola amphibious, have declined by 94 per cent in the UK since the 1950s. However, the discovery of thriving populations of water voles in Glasgow province, far from their traditional habitat, is considered to be of national significance and has been studied by academics from Glasgow university. Will the Scottish Government factor this endangered species into any policies that it develops to protect mammal populations? The First Minister Can I just say, however, that, when we are talking about species loss and biodiversity, it is perhaps not really a matter of great joking and laughing? I am just a little concerned that people are not actually taking this seriously. Can I thank Ivan McKee for his question about water voles? I have seen a recent report—in fact, I am sure that it was televised—showing the fantastic work that is being undertaken by Glasgow City Council, SNH and Glasgow university. Researchers are still trying to understand why the Glasgow water voles have managed to switch to living in grasslands. The Glasgow water vol project is a three-year partnership between the University of Glasgow, Glasgow City Council, SNH, People's Trust for Endangered Species and the Seven Lochs project. It will carry out further research. Those findings will help to inform future habitat and population management guidelines and allow developers to regenerate areas of the city in a way that allows water voles to flourish alongside people, which is something that I am sure everybody in this chamber would want to see. Clare Baker To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding what action can be taken to tackle secondary ticket sale for events. Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport has loved it. The Scottish Government fully appreciates the concerns that are expressed about the deliberate resale of tickets for profit, known as touting, and recognises that some events sell out quickly and that ticket touts are online sellers take the opportunity to sell tickets at significantly higher prices. Powers in relation to secondary ticketing are reserved to Westminster and we cannot bring forward any legislation in this area under the current constitutional arrangements. We welcome, however, the provision in the Westminster Digital Economy Act 2017, creating a new offence for criminalising the use of ticketing bots to purchase tickets in excess of a maximum permitted amount. The Scottish Government officials are continuing to keep in touch with officials in Whitehall on this to ensure a positive outcome for Scottish consumers. Clare Baker I thank the cabinet secretary for the response. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that secondary ticket sale websites are exploiting music fans with unjustified and inflated prices? While recognising that consumer protection law is reserved, has the Scottish Government fully explored all options around using the regulations that stopped ticket touting at the Commonwealth Games to ticket touting at music events, employing an argument that its reputation also needs protection? Maira Maira Llywodraeth Cymru There are, obviously, specific regulations in relation to the Commonwealth Games. Can I explain to the member that the regulations under the Digital Economy Act come into force in July 2018, and they will be enforced by the police? Professor Wharton's 2016 report accepts the view that greater enforcement of existing measures is needed. The Competition and Markets Authority have agreed undertakings for three out of the four main sites, so enforcement action may I understand follow for that outstanding site. Neil Bibby To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent violent crime in Inverclyde and Renfrewshire. Annabelle Ewing Violent crime is totally unacceptable and, since 2006-07, the number of violent crimes has fallen by 68 per cent in Inverclyde and by 62 per cent in Renfrewshire. Alongside tough enforcement, our approach to violent crime is very firmly focused on prevention. We have already invested more than £14 million in violence prevention since 2006-07, including support for the National Violence Reduction Unit and medics against violence who work to develop and deliver various violence prevention initiatives, including the accelerated delivery of the mentors and violence prevention programme that is being delivered in schools across Scotland, including in Inverclyde and Renfrewshire. Finally, I would say that we also continue to invest in our known lives better lives at youth engagement programme. That is being rolled out across Scotland. It has already been delivered in 24 local authorities and is on track to be delivered in all 32 local authority areas this year. Neil Bibby I thank the minister for that answer. During the FIF, I asked the justice secretary what he would do to ensure that key division for Renfrewshire and Inverclyde has the resources that it needs to tackle an increase in violent crime, including increased knife carrying. He said that this was an operational matter and gave no commitment to further resources for the division. This is a very serious issue and people in my region want assurances so that the kind of high-intensity policing that is needed to stamp out violent crime and weapon carrying is maintained. Can I ask again the minister what assurances the Scottish Government can give that sufficient resources are made available to the police in my area? The cabinet secretary is kept surprised of any issues of concern raised by Police Scotland. I am not aware of any specific issue being raised by Police Scotland with regard to the matter that the member specifically referred to, but we remain open to any approaches in that regard. We had proposed increases in our budget, which the member voted down increased resources for Police Scotland across Scotland. The member did not seem to support that. I reiterate on the key issue of prevention of violent crime. Of course, violent crime is down. Knife crime is down by 68 per cent since 2007. We are determined to continue to tackle violent crime and keep people safe, further to the investment of £14 million in violent prevention projects. It may interest the member to know that we are also seeking to have further detailed analysis carried out about the characteristics of violent crime in Scotland today in those places where there are persistent pockets. That will be looking at the factors behind violence, what may be changing, what is needed to secure further reductions and that work is on-going and will report in due course.