 The next item of business is First Minister's Questions, and at question number one I call Douglas Ross. Thank you very much, everyone. We will suspend business at this point. Thank you. This Parliament rightly prides itself on being open and accessible, and of course we want to maintain that. Visitors are welcomed into the gallery to watch their elected representatives at work. But far too regularly disruption is causing members to lose the opportunity to ask questions and to represent their constituents interests. I'd like to assure members that work is under way on a range of measures that may be implemented to protect parliamentary business from persistent disruption. We'll go back to where we were, and I call Douglas Ross. Thank you, Presiding Officer, and you will have our full support with that. I'm pleased that I managed to hold my tongue at this time with that introduction. As I was saying, less than 40 hours ago, Hamza Yousaf stood in this chamber and promised to be the First Minister for all of Scotland. Yesterday he had an opportunity to prove that with the new ministerial team he appointed, but he failed in his first big test. This is the largest Government since devolution, with more ministers than ever before. But key ministerial posts relating to social security and tourism were abolished, yet a new minister for independence was created. Does the First Minister really believe that appointing a taxpayer-funded nationalist campaigner is governing for all of Scotland? How delighted I am to have appointed the cabinet that has the most number of women in it in the history of devolution. I'm delighted to be able to appoint a cabinet that had a number of members under the age of 40. How delighted I am to have appointed a cabinet and a Government that is focused on the priorities of the Scottish people. We have a cabinet secretary for the wellbeing economy that puts the economy first, that makes sure that the economy works for the people, not the other way round. We have a cabinet secretary for net zero and just transition, who are to unlock our green potential on the day that the UK Government have once again relegated the ACORN project to track 2. We have a cabinet secretary for social justice to tackle child poverty to help us to tackle the effects of Westminster austerity. As ever, only the member who has been called to speak should be speaking, and I would ask members to treat one another with courtesy. Yes, I make no apology whatsoever for having a Minister for Independence because my goodness, we need independence now more than ever before. We need it now more than ever before because in energy rich Scotland we have Scots that are fuel poor because of the UK Government's policies. We need independence now more than ever before because we have more food banks in this country at any other time than ever before because of over a decade of austerity. So I would say to Douglas Ross, to the UK Government, we will continue to advocate and to advance independence because we need it now more than ever before. Douglas Ross? I found myself in the bizarre place that I was actually hoping there might be another intervention in the gallery just to stop that long rant from Humza Yousaf that didn't address the question at all because I specifically asked. Here they go. We will suspend. Thank you. We will resume. Douglas Ross. I was just lamenting on the point that clearly Humza Yousaf had a script prepared there. He read it ad nauseam. I'll try and continue if you want to try and continue because Humza Yousaf read out a script specifically about an independence minister within his Government. I will have to suspend Mr Ross unfortunately. We will suspend business. We will resume. Thank you for endeavouring to continue, Mr Ross. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I was saying, Humza Yousaf's answer, totally ignored the point of key ministerial posts that he abolished. The Social Security Department had an individual minister with a Cabinet Secretary and a Minister for Social Security. Ben Macpherson was an extremely efficient, incredible minister and that position has been abolished. He has been able to create a dedicated Minister for Independence. It is the same old from the SNP, another nationalist leader when Scotland needs a national leader. He is picking up exactly where Nicola Sturgeon left off. Just look at his first week in office. On Monday, within minutes of becoming leader of his party, he said that he would push right away for the powers to hold another referendum. On Tuesday, in a call with the Prime Minister, he demanded another independence vote and on Wednesday he appointed a Minister for Independence instead of looking for areas of co-operation between Scotland's two governments he's looking for a fight. Does the First Minister seriously believe that that's a priority for the people of Scotland? First and foremost, it's been just over 24 hours since I was sworn in at the Court of Session. My first act, just about 24 hours after being sworn in, is to not just double the fuel insecurity fund as we promised to do, from £10 million to £20 million. My first act is to triple the fuel insecurity fund, because of course fuel poverty in this country is a disgrace, and it's a disgrace that has been imposed upon us by Conservative UK Governments. That is speaking to the priorities of the Scottish people, and of course social security is the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice. In terms of tourism, of course we have a small business minister, trade and innovation who will take that responsibility forward. I know that this is new territory for Douglas Ross, but it's a really good thing for a party leader to make sure that they make good on the promises during an election campaign. It's of no surprise to anybody that, as First Minister of Scotland, of course I will advance the cause of independence. I will do that because I do not accept the fact that we have children in poverty here in Scotland because of a decade of austerity. I do that because I do not accept that a country as energy-rich as ours should be fuel-poor because of the UK Government. I do that because I do not accept that people must suffer under sky-high energy bills. I will continue to make the case for independence because, as I say, people need independence to unleash and unlock the potential of this country. We can do so much more with the powers of an independent nation. Douglas Ross, the First Minister has to realise that independence is not a priority for people across Scotland right now, but getting our economy going certainly is. So let's hear what some of Hamza Yousaf's own colleagues have to say about his chances of reviving Scotland's sluggish economy. SNP MSP Ivan McKee said that this Government needs to reset its relationship with business. An SNP source described one of the ministers' acts as one of the few non-idiots that was available. Former SNP minister Alex Neil said that it seems that the best economic brains in the Government have been sidelined and another party quote made an equally scathing assessment of the First Minister's reshuffle. These are their words. Huge challenges are coming in public finances. Is this really the team that can tackle that? There is a concerning lack of numeracy skills within this group. If members of Hamza Yousaf's own party have no confidence in his ability to manage the economy, how can the country? My goodness, my goodness, how desperate is Douglas Ross? Do you know whose opinion I really care about? It's the people of Scotland who have given their word time and time again. They have put their trust in the SNP election after election after election. They have done that because we deliver for the economy. They have done that because we deliver for the priorities of the people of Scotland. We have an incredible cabinet with talent right across finance, right across economy, social justice and wellbeing. Whether it's on the front benches or whether it's on my back benches, I am proud to have a team full of talent. I look across the Conservative benches and they wouldn't even make it on my subs bench. Let me say this much. I see that the First Minister may well have changed, but Douglas Ross goes on the same old broken record of personal attacks and insult after insult. How good has it done him? How much good has it done him? The latest poll that has come out shows that Douglas Ross has managed to lead his party, if that is the word, into third place. A third-rate politician leading a third-rate party, Presiding Officer. Douglas Ross? I really hope that the First Minister gets better than this. He doesn't just have to take it from me. I know that he can't see the faces behind him, but we can. We can see the reaction of his back benches to his contribution here. We will suspend. We will resume, and I call Douglas Ross. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. We will suspend. Incredibly, we are going to have to clear the gallery. I am very, very sorry, but we require to clear the gallery at this point. We will clear the gallery at the moment. There will be a suspension. Thank you, colleagues. I don't think that I can adequately express my deep regret that such action is required in our national Parliament. I am extremely sorry for the overwhelming majority of those who have travelled to the Parliament today to watch their elected representatives at work. I am pleased that we have been able to continue to accommodate our young people here. While we continue to focus on a swift solution to this, we will see what we can do in terms of targeting any response. For today, given that we have had five disruptions, it is essential that we do all that we can to protect the wellbeing and safety of those who expect to come to this Parliament and quietly watch the Parliament at its work. It is very unusual that we take points of order during First Minister's questions. I will, on this occasion, Mr McMillan. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I absolutely agree with your comments and your sentiments. There are some young people remaining in the gallery, which I welcome, but there are also some young people, particularly in schools from my constituency, who have travelled from Gwyrwch to be here today, and they are now no longer in the public gallery. There will be other young people who are out of the gallery. I would generally request that we can get all the young people back in because they have done nothing wrong. I am content, if members are, to wait for a few minutes to see what we can do to accommodate those who have been caught up in the disruption. We just suspend for a few more minutes and enable our colleagues in security to see what can be done in that regard. Can I have Douglas Ross' microphone, please? If they go into the mic system, I was just walking away, that was going to be it. I respect everything that you have tried to do, Presiding Officer, but this shower has been doing this week after week after week. The image of genuine constituents being forced out of our Parliament is one that we will all regret and one that none of us want to see repeated. I am very grateful that young people have been able to stay but we must do something to stop this going forward. If I remember correctly, because it was some time ago, the First Minister was trying to criticise me for my questions and some of the things I was saying in question 3. They were all direct quotes from his own party members, even some of his own MSPs. They were criticising his ability to turn around the economy. Humza Yousaf is leading a divided party that has no confidence in his Government's ability. It is no wonder why. He has stuffed his cabinet full of his predecessors' lackeys, ministers with almost poor attract record in government, as he has. More ministers than ever before, yet he managed to appoint just one that did not support him in the leadership election. He squeaked a win and then forced the former finance secretary Keith Forbes and her supporters out of government in an act of petty vengeance. Now, to shore up his position within his feuding party, he is back pushing independence because it is the only thing that unites the SNP. Humza Yousaf is more divisive than even Nicola Sturgeon was. He has already split his party down the middle and now he wants to do the same with the country. In these difficult times, Scotland needs a Government focused on the real priorities of people across Scotland and the big challenges we face. Yet instead, we have one that is at war with itself and focused on engineering further division. If Humza Yousaf cannot even unite his own party, how can he possibly unite the country? First of all, I agree with the action that you have taken. I am delighted that young people were allowed to stay. Can I commend the young people for behaving much better than some of the adults that were in the public gallery? On Douglas Ross' criticism of the economic literacy of this SNP-led Government, let me remind them, of course, that under the SNP, under Nicola Sturgeon, under John Swinney, and I am pleased to be building on this legacy, that Scottish GDP grew more than UK GDP. Can I also make the point that if we had listened to Douglas Ross, who demanded that we copy Liz Truss' tax cuts for the wealthiest, we would have had over £500 million less to spend to invest in public services. Thank God we did not listen to them. I am building upon a legacy where we have higher unemployment, lower unemployment and low economic activity. As for division, the Conservatives are a party that tore themselves apart over Brexit. The Tory party has had more leaders in as many months than Douglas Ross has jobs. This coming division coming from a man who said that if he was Prime Minister for one day, the only thing he would do would be to hammer the rights of one of the most marginalised communities in the country. So I will take no lessons on division from Douglas Ross. I am delighted to have appointed a Cabinet and a ministerial team that will build upon the legacy that Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney have left us. It makes us the most popular party in Scotland. It makes us the national party of Scotland. We will work every single day to earn and re-earn that trust, but it is because we focus on the priorities of the people of Scotland that we are going to continue. I am certain to be the most popular party in this country. The new First Minister has lots to get together with, so I thought that it is only fair that we should start with something that he should already be across. There is a mental health crisis affecting children across Scotland, but they are struggling to access treatment. During Humza Yousaf's time as health secretary, more than 11,000 children and young people waited more than the 18-week standard for treatment. Shockingly, more than 14,000 had the referral for mental health treatment rejected entirely. Will the First Minister take this opportunity to offer an apology to the children and families that he let down as health secretary? As has become customary, when Anasawar asked his questions, he does not acknowledge the impact of a global pandemic. A global pandemic has been the biggest shock of the NHS in its 74-year existence. Of course, anybody who has been let down, particularly our children and young people, not only offers an apology, but deep regret for anybody who has had to wait longer. I would not want my loved one, I would not want my children, if they ever needed those services, to have to wait any longer than they should. But we are taking action on recovery. I am taking action on recovery. For example, when we look at CAMHS, we look at the number of young people waiting to be seen for their mental health. The number of children starting treatment from CAMHS in the most recent quarter is the highest figure on record. The last four quarters, in fact, have seen each of the four highest figures on record for the number of children starting treatment for CAMHS. I agree with Anasawar that there are too many young people waiting too long, but this action, the recovery that we have made, the recovery that will now be led by the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery for the NHS and for social care, we will make sure that we continue to invest in that. Let me end by saying that it is because of our progressive taxation that we are able to invest a record £19 billion in our health service, and I hope that we continue to make improvements in relation to young people waiting for CAMHS. The First Minister cannot use the pandemic for this excuse because they have never met in 16 years their CAMHS standards, so no excuse of the pandemic on this one. Because incompetence has consequences. Behind these statistics are struggling children and heartbroken families. Here is just one example, 10-year-old Alan Gilbrath. He has been waiting for his mental health treatment to start the entire time Humza Yousaf was health secretary, and here is what Alan's dad Robert told us. He is really up and down. He will have days where you won't get a word out of him. We don't know what's happened unless something goes wrong. I feel like he's just been left. It doesn't matter what happens with him. There's been an array of cancelled appointments. We expect him to give Alan a diagnosis, maybe start treatment, something to help, but there's been nothing. All we get when we phone is that we're sorry. I cannot even begin to understand why Alan has gone from ready to start medication to the back of the queue, especially when it's a matter of mental health, and I really fear for what further delay it will mean for him. We just feel constantly let down. We are very aware of the pandemic, but there is just not an answer, all while my son and my family are suffering. Health secretary Humza Yousaf failed this family. Why will First Minister Humza Yousaf be any different? Of course, on the individual case that Anasawa references, I'm more than happy to receive the details and see if there's any way that we can assist Alan and, of course, assist his family as well. Let me say once again that I am the first and have been, when I was health secretary, to acknowledge that there are challenges. There were challenges pre the pandemic, but anybody who, of course, and all of us have lived through the last few years will acknowledge that the impact of the global pandemic has been felt. Of course, in a health service here in Scotland, but in health services right across the UK, and I would say right across the world. Our recovery is starting to see improvement. If I look at the latest figures, overall CAMHS waiting lists have decreased by a reduction of around about 777 people. Children waiting over 18 weeks has decreased by 1,110. Children waiting over 52 weeks have decreased by 523. That's a 41.9 per cent reduction. The number of people recruited to CAMHS at a record high under this Government and under my tenure as health secretary. All of that, I fully accept, will be cold comfort to Alan, Robert and their family. I'm more than happy to look at this individual case, but we are on the road to recovery, not just on our health service, but on our mental health services to the area. Alan was waiting the entire time Humza Yousaf was health secretary. Let that sink in. A young child needing desperate help from our NHS having to wait the entire time Humza Yousaf was health secretary. No hiding behind any pandemic, no hiding behind the statistics in that book. That is families suffering right across this country. It's not just two years of SNP failure, it's 16 years of SNP failure. This Government has never met their 18-week CAMHS standard. When Humza Yousaf was health secretary, Labour repeatedly called for a new referral system so that no young person is rejected for treatment, that every GP practice has a dedicated mental health worker and a mental health A&E in every health board so that patients can be fast tracked but they failed to listen. So why can't the First Minister say that for children like Alan and their families, incompetence has consequences, continuity won't cut it and more of the same isn't going to improve their lives? Can I again say to Anna Salwar that I am not suggesting and have never suggested that there weren't challenges pre-pandemic. Equally I accept and I hope he accepts that the global pandemics and the impact of that have been significant, not just on our NHS but of course on mental health services as well. We know that local authorities report that between January and June 2022 more than 38,000 young people and families accessed over 230 new and enhanced community-based mental health support. Now why do I mention that? Because CAMHS is of course important but our interventions, our investments in early intervention are extremely important as well. I take the point also made about rejected referrals and that's why we've accepted the recommendations of the report in relation to rejected referrals and the audit that took place in 2018. So I expect to continue to see progress in that regard. When statistics covering quarter one of 2023 are released later this year in June, we're confident that a number of boards will have made significant progress in meeting the standard of 90 per cent of young people seen by CAMHS. We know that health services right across the UK have been impacted by the global pandemic. What are we doing about it? Not just making sure that we make right by the recovery of the NHS but ensuring that we invest a record £19 billion in our health service in 2023-24. What else are we doing? We're making sure—and of course I led in this as health secretary—that our NHS staff are the best paid here than anywhere else in the UK. That's why, of course, I'm pleased that we've never lost a single day this winter to strike action, which is very different to other countries across the UK. 3. Liz Smith To ask the First Minister in light of last week's fiscal sustainability report published by the Scottish Fiscal Commission what the economic priorities of the Scottish Government are. The report highlights the impact of long-term change in demographics to our economy and public finances, but we're experiencing those challenges now as business and public services struggle to recruit and retain staff. There's simply no doubt that Brexit and the loss of freedom of movement has exacerbated those challenges. Scotland has distinct economic needs so the UK Government must give us a formal role in deciding which occupations are on the shortage occupation list. The national strategy for economic transformation sets out the actions that we are taking. Economic success, of course, is not just GDP growth but delivering a wellbeing economy that will increase productivity and international competitiveness and deliver fairer, greener prosperity for all of Scotland. We're doing everything possible within the powers that are currently available, but we need the full powers of independence to truly unleash and maximise Scotland's potential. 3. Liz Smith The report paints an extremely gloomy picture of the Scottish economy, most especially in terms of our weaker productivity, our demographic challenges and, in the words of the Scottish Fiscal Commission, the magnitude of the fiscal gap in the Scottish budget for the foreseeable future. Can I ask the First Minister how he intends to address Scotland's substantial fiscal deficit and whether he now accepts that Kate Forbes was absolutely right when she said that current SNP policies simply wouldn't cut it because there had been a lack of focus on broadening the tax base and on economic growth? I'll tell you what rejoining the EU would certainly help us in relation to undoing the damage that Brexit has done to businesses up and down the country. Astonishing that Liz Smith was able to get through that question without mentioning the damage and the impact that Brexit has done to our economy and businesses right up and down the country. The loss of access to the largest single market in the world, the lack of access to freedom of movement, talked to any hospitality industry up and down the country and they will tell you just how damaging Brexit has been. What else has been damaging immigration? Those immigration policies have been brought forward by her Government that works against the economic interests of Scotland. To extend, Liz Smith and I have worked on some of those issues before. We have worked on, for example, a post study work visa that the UK Government rejected. Scotland needs to say in the shortage occupation list that the UK Government has rejected that. It should let asylum seekers work and pay tax. If you talk about increasing the tax base, the UK Government has rejected that. We want to extend the rural visa pilot. The UK Government has rejected that. We will do everything in our powers to help the economy but we are doing it under the constraints of devolution, under the constraints of a Tory Government that does not work for the economic interests of Scotland and we will not be able to make the maximum use or unleash our full potential until we have the powers of a normal independent nation. Kenneth Gibson Thank you, Presiding Officer and I welcome the First Minister to his post. The fiscal sustainability report makes it statly clear that without fundamental change our public finances will be utterly unsustainable. While the bulk of the sustainability risk lies with the UK public sector debt expected to rise to 267 per cent of national income, Scotland, due to demographic change and increasing demand, will also have to re-prioritise its spending. What steps will the First Minister take to address this direct challenge to our public finances and the crucial services that they provide? Kerry Gibson gets it in her nutshell. We are relying on decisions made by the UK Government and that will impact and inflict damage as it has often done to our businesses and to our economy. Let me just say that there does not have to be a choice between growing our tax base, our revenue base and investing in the wellbeing economy. You can do both. Progressive taxation. You can have progressive taxation. I am really pleased that we have a legacy of progressive taxation left to us by John Swinney and his role as a former finance secretary. That means that we can invest in our economy, invest that extra billion pounds in our health service, invest in making sure that we have fair work. If we have fair work and that wellbeing economy then of course that is to the interests not just of the people but of the economy as well. Kenny Gibson is absolutely right. So, as long as the UK Government holds the majority of the financial levers in their hands, they will continue to hold this country back. Following the First Minister's very welcome comments in the daily record about the need to redistribute wealth more fairly, can I ask if he will meet with myself and representatives of the Scottish Trade Union Congress to discuss further opportunities for progressive financial reform? Yes, I will. I had a very constructive engagement with the STUC during the leadership contest. I think that they have some excellent ideas on how to increase, for example, the revenue out and doing that in a way that is fair. I absolutely nail my colours to the mass when it comes to progressive taxation. I think that Government ministers, MSPs and those that earn the most should be paying the most. I make no apology for that. At the same time, I believe in growing our economy, not for its own sake but for making sure that we invest in fair work. That is something that every single person in this chamber should be able to get rid of. I do not understand why we hear the moaning and groaning from the Conservatives. I do understand because if we had listened to them, if we had given tax cuts to the wealthiest, we would have had over half a billion pounds less to invest in our public services. There is no way I will be doing that. I will be making sure that those that earn the most pay the most to invest in our public services. To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the potential impact on the anticipated 1 April rise in energy bills on household finances in Scotland. The reversal of the rise in the energy price guarantee was the least that the chancellor could do this spring, but a progressive Government, which truly has people as their priority, would have done so much more to support households in needs. We called on the chancellor to extend the £400 energy bill support scheme, but he failed to deliver, and in doing so he has placed more pressure on vulnerable households struggling to pay their bills and heat their homes. In contrast, my first act, as First Minister, 24 hours after being sworn in at the Court of Session, has been not to double, but to triple our fuel insecurity fund last year from £10 million to £30 million in 2023-24. That fund is a critical plank in our support to people who are struggling with their energy costs. It continues to provide a lifeline to households who are at risk of self rationing or self-disconnecting their energies. Following the UK budget OBR forecasts show, typical household energy bills are expected to remain in excess of £2,000 until at least winter 2024-25, and possibly beyond. Given that, will the First Minister take this opportunity to urge the UK Government to reverse the incomprehensible decision to scrap the £400 energy bill support scheme, which is leaving many families in the UK? In my constituency, and across Scotland, hundreds of pounds worse off. Jackie Dunbar is absolutely right, and I join her in urging the UK Government to reconsider. The removal of the support scheme means that a typical household annual bill will increase by around about 19 per cent. As well as removing 50,000 households from fuel poverty, the continuation of the support scheme would have removed 120,000 households from extreme fuel poverty. Instead, the UK Government has inexplicably chosen a course that will result in approximately 920,000 fuel-poor households in Scotland. That equates around 37 per cent of all Scottish households. It is unacceptable. While the Scottish Government is doing everything that we can within its limited powers to ensure that people receive the help that they need, the UK Government could have done far more to ease the burden affecting so many, demonstrating why we need those full powers of independence. It is a scandal, Presiding Officer, that in energy rich Scotland, our people are facing fuel poverty because of the actions and, indeed, the inactions often of the UK Government. We must never, ever accept that as the norm, or as the status quo. 5. Pam Duncan-Glancy To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the poverty statistics that was published last week in the report on poverty and income inequality in Scotland 2019-22. Poverty levels are lower for all individuals and for children than the UK average, but I fully state unequivocally that they remain unacceptably high, which is why I want all the powers of a normal nation such as all social security and all employment powers. We will continue to use all the levers that we have and have allocated almost £3 billion this year to a range of measures to help mitigate the impacts of the cost of living crisis. Our investment in the Scottish child payment, the most ambitious child poverty reduction measure in the UK, is estimated to lift 50,000 children out of relative poverty in 2023-24. Tackling poverty will be the defining mission of my Government, which is why I will conven an anti-poverty summit to help guide the choices that I make as First Minister shortly. Pam Duncan-Glancy I thank the First Minister for that answer, but over 15 years the SNP have squandered Labour's legacy. People are poorer. Relative poverty is up. Poverty amongst disabled people is up. Persistent poverty is up. The best spin the SNP could come out with is that these terrible figures are stable. The First Minister has failed to tackle poverty in Glasgow, where he represents, and in Dundee, where he lives. He has failed to tackle poverty over 10 years as a Government minister. He says tackling poverty is his priority, but he has not appointed a minister for social security. I ask the First Minister why should people in Scotland trust him to reduce poverty? Social security is being led by the cabinet secretary. It is a cabinet position for social justice. She is sitting right there. She is waving right at you. It will be a cabinet responsibility. We are spending £3 billion to mitigate the harmful effects of Tory austerity. Almost £3 billion includes the game-changing Scottish child payment. We support families in a variety of ways, including free school meals, free bus travel for under 22s and free school meals for around 145,000 pupils. We have made significant increases, as I have already mentioned, to our food fuel and security fund, as well as the Scottish welfare fund. John Dickie, known to members right across the chamber of the child poverty action group, said that there should be no doubt that Nicola Sturgeon has made huge progress in putting in place the building blocks that are needed to end child poverty. It should be said that the statistics that are being quoted and discussed here, of course, are from before we increased the Scottish child payment. Let me say clearly to Pam Duncan-Clancy that I do not get into politics just to mitigate every time that the UK Government brings forward harmful policies. Every time we do that, we have to take money away from the NHS, education, transport and justice to mitigate the harmful impacts of cruel Tory policies. Would it be better to have the full powers over social security in our hands, the full powers over the finances, the full powers over employment, all in our hands instead of being at the mercy of the UK Government? That is the difference between Pam Duncan-Clancy and I. She wants to keep those powers in the hands of the Conservative Party. I want to make sure that they are in our hands so that we can unleash this country's potential. Jeremy Balfour, the Scottish child payment has not been paid to many of my constituents yet. On Monday, I visited a charity that has been trying to help those individuals and was told that it would not even bother contacting Social Security Scotland until next month because we cannot make that payment. The first decision by the First Minister was to take away a minister who was so responsible for social security. Will he look at that again and apologise to all my constituents and to the hundreds of people across Scotland who are still waiting for that money and who has a system that is simply not working? I am happy to look at individual cases of Jeremy Balfour. I wish to bring them to my attention. The cabinet secretary has responsibility for social security and social justice. We will look into that. Let me say once again, particularly to the Conservative member, that they are utterly shameless over a decade of austerity. Economic vandalism, which has meant that energy prices are sky-high, inflation sky-high, a Tory cost of living prices, took money out of the pockets of those on universal credit during the pandemic. Let me say to Jeremy Balfour that no one believes his crocodile tears for those who are suffering as a result of Tory cruelty. Question 6, Arianne Burgess. To ask the First Minister what actions the Scottish Government will take to tackle the climate and nature emergencies. The Scottish Government is committed to tackling the twin climate and nature crises and ensuring a just transition that creates jobs and economic opportunity across Scotland. I thought that we would have enough interventions. This is at the heart of the Butehouse agreement between the Scottish Greens and the SNP Government. I look forward very much to working together and indeed across this chamber to deliver the actions that we need. Our top priorities include the development of our next climate change plan, a draft that will be brought to this Parliament this November, and taking forward our new biodiversity strategy too. That will ensure that Scotland plays our part in delivering on the goals within the new global biodiversity framework that agreed in Montreal in December. Arianne Burgess. I thank the First Minister for the answer. As the UN Secretary General said last week, our world needs climate action on all fronts, everything, everywhere, all at once. That is the challenge for the new climate plan and the Scottish Greens are committed to playing our part in ensuring we meet it. That is a climate plan which transforms, transport, reshapes land use, radically shifts how we keep our homes warm and reaps the reward of tens of thousands of green jobs in our new economy. Later today, the First Minister will set out his new cabinet and ministerial team to Parliament. Can he outline how that new team is set up to deliver this greatest challenge, the climate challenge? I thank the member for her question. Let me be absolutely clear that my Government is committed to tackling the climate emergency. When I spoke to new members of the cabinet, the junior ministerial team, I made it clear that we must be radical. We must be bold in all areas of government, but particularly in the biggest challenge that our planet faces, our humanity faces. That is, of course, the threat of climate change. It is a priority that runs across the work of all members of my cabinet and my ministerial team and one that I will take, of course, a personal interest in myself, because the transition to net zero is not just one of the defining challenges of our time. It is also a huge economic opportunity for Scotland. If we unleash the green potential of this country, we will create tens of thousands of jobs in the decades to come. I will work tirelessly to ensure that we grasp that opportunity, creating green jobs and opportunities right across Scotland. I want the north-east of Scotland in particular to be the net zero capital, not just of Europe but of the world. The First Minister has been part of a government that the Climate Change Committee pointed out has missed seven out of eleven of our legal climate targets, including being Minister for the Highest Emitter of Greenhouse Gases transport at a time to coin a phrase when the trains did not run. Why has the Government, being a minister in, for more than a decade failed to deliver a credible plan that will even come close to meeting a target of net zero by 2045? A Government that the Climate Change Committee said will almost certainly miss our target to reducing emissions by 75 per cent by 2030. We, of course, have some of the world-leading targets and some of the most ambitious targets in the world. The latest emissions data for 2020 shows that Scotland's emissions are down by over 50 per cent since the 1990 baseline, over half way to zero. We continue to be ahead of the UK as a whole in delivering long-term emissions reductions. We are also already making progress to decarbonise our energy systems. In 2020, Scotland generated the equivalent of almost 99 per cent of our gross electricity consumption from renewable sources. I have already said that we will come to this Parliament, of course, with that climate change plan. It will be ambitious. What I would say to Labour is that what does not help is if they oppose us at every single turn for every single climate measure that we bring for the sake of just opposition. So, if Labour and I say to all of the chamber, if they are serious about tackling the climate emergency, back us when we take the radical and bold action that is required. Thank you. We will move to general and constituency supplementaries, and I call Co-Cab Stewart. Thank you, Presiding Officer. The First Minister will recall a meeting with myself and representatives of Sport Scotland and Cricket Scotland following the changing boundaries report, which found institutional racism within Cricket Scotland itself. Despite being placed under special measures, the working group has made no meaningful progress to date. In fact, it's only met once in seven months. Well respected, EDI advisory board members have resigned, and many within the sport have spoken out about their concerns that this issue just isn't being taken seriously, and it's a fast-moving situation who knows what's next. I'm sure that the First Minister will agree with me that enough is enough, and polished PR from Cricket Scotland just won't cut it and we need action. Will the First Minister commit to calling for an urgent meeting to meet with me, the chair of Sport Scotland, Cricket Scotland, to discuss this woeful lack of progress and to find a constructive way forward? I'm not sure why there was growing from some benches to my left, but such an important issue was being raised by Co-Cab Stewart. Can I pay credit to Co-Cab Stewart, but also can I importantly pay tribute to many of those Cricket players, former and current, who put their head above the parrot to talk about racism, which is not an easy thing to do. They did that at much personal cost and at much professional cost as well. Again, I don't understand why they were truntering from the Conservative benches to what was a very important question indeed. We are clear that there's no place for racism, no place for discrimination in any kind of sport or indeed wider society. I have, of course, in my previous role, had many meetings, a number of meetings I should say, with Sport Scotland and indeed with Cricket Scotland to discuss this very matter. My understanding is that there have been robust discussions between Sport Scotland and Cricket Scotland last week. They have reiterated that all options are being considered as they are held to account. The final decision on whether Cricket Scotland exits special measures will be dependent on all recommendations from the changing the boundaries report being met in absolute full. We will continue to engage with Cricket Scotland. Of course, I will ensure that the appropriate minister does meet with Colcab Stewart and I will make sure that I also make time, because this is an issue that is very close to my heart, to meet with Colcab Stewart to discuss these issues further. Pam Gossel. Last week, we heard shocking allegations that Edinburgh University discouraged two students from reporting sex attacks to the police. With one student reportedly being told that the university would be unable to support her if she reported this incident to the police, does the First Minister agree that survival is a major issue? The drivers of sexual assault must fully be supported to report crimes against them. Will his Government commit to a full independent investigation to establish the full facts of this situation and why this is allowed to happen? First Minister. Of course, the university is independent of the Scottish Government, but I absolutely agree with Pam Gossel that she has a strong track record of standing up for issues in this regard. I am very worried and frankly horrified by the situation as she articulates that I accept that I do not know the full detail of that. Perhaps after this session, if Pam Gossel feels she can, she can furnish me my office with the full details of that. In a previous role, when I was just a secretary, I was often commending the excellent work that has been done by Emily's test by Fiona Dray and her family. I hope that every university would sign up to the excellent initiative that is Emily's test. I will consider the actions that Pam Gossel has asked me to consider. I hope that she can furnish me with further details, but I absolutely share her sentiment that anybody who has been a victim of sexual harassment, sexual abuse must be fully supported, particularly by our universities and colleges. In Aberdeen, the SNP has, for the second time, voted to permanently close six libraries in the city tomorrow. Aberdonians know that local government has a statutory requirement to provide adequate library facilities to all residents. We all heard the First Minister's predecessor when she said that the Scottish Government is committed to supporting libraries directly. Will the new First Minister reassure my constituents that he will not stand by and allow our library buildings to close? Can I say that I agree with the sentiment of the member's question around the importance of our libraries? They are not just important for those who love books. Of course, they are important for that sake, too, but they provide a number of important IT facilities, for example, for people who might not have access to broadband. They provide other services such as welfare services, which can often be provided. Many of us will hold our surgeries in local libraries as members of the Scottish Parliament. I absolutely agree with the sentiment behind the member's question. We place great importance on public libraries and believe that everyone should have access to those public libraries. Equally, of course, it is often the case that members across the chamber quite rightly believe, as I do, that decisions for a local authority should be made by the local authorities. Aberdeen City Council's plan to close libraries will, of course, be extremely difficult for the library staff and the community. However, we recognise the financial challenges that local authorities are facing at my policy. I said this throughout the course of the recent campaign to work with local government to get a new deal for our local authorities that will allow them even more financial freedom and flexibility. In 2324, Aberdeen City Council will receive £436.9 million to fund local services. Taken together with the decisions to increase council tax by 5 per cent, it will receive an extra £34.3 million to support vital services. In addition, all local councils will receive their fair share of the current undistributed sum of £329 million. I take this opportunity to welcome the new First Minister to his seat. I know that the First Minister will, like me, have taken great joy in watching Scotland's men team triumph over Spain at Hamden on Tuesday in a famous victory. He will also be aware that unlike fans in England and Wales, fewers here do not have access to watch the men's national team on a free-to-view TV. Can I therefore ask what if any engagement has taken place with broadcasting providers about showing these football matches on free-to-air TV? Does he agree with me that increased access to games like that on Tuesday will help to inspire the next generation of footballers? For some reason I heard Jackie Baillie shout, oh, seriously, I thought we would all get behind the national team for a phenomenal result just the other day. Even the ray of sunshine that is Jackie Baillie must be able to get behind the Scottish football team. I noticed that, after that result, there were some calls to put Steve Clark in the cabinet, but I think that he will do an even better job currently where he is. Fulton MacGregor makes a really important point. I couldn't be clearer. Women and men's Scottish football international matches, both in the men's game and the women's game, should be part of the crown jewels of free-to-air sporting events. Sadly, of course, the UK Government, we know, has failed to act. We will continue to press the UK Government to expand the listed events regime, but it would be far simpler, of course, as I have said already, if those powers rested in this Parliament. We will work with the Scottish FA to continue to make football more accessible to all across society. Fantastic performances, like we saw on Tuesday night, not only to put a smile on the faces of the nation, but I hope that what they can do is really inspire people of all ages, young and old, not so young, to get active and kick a ball around. Rytll Hamilton. I think that the breaking of glass was not a good omen for this new First Minister. I recently met with campaigners from Endometriosis south of Scotland. All three spoke of their own experience. All three, in unbearable pain, having to go private to get a diagnosis, this is typical of women across Scotland who face up to eight years for a diagnosis. It was revealed on Sunday that the Scottish Government's Endometriosis advisory group has not met since April 2022. Does the First Minister agree that this is an insult to the 100,000 women suffering with unbearable pain across Scotland? Will he commit to ensuring that this group meets? What I would say to Rytll Hamilton is that she raises an exceptionally important point. Of course, I was involved in this work in my role as health secretary and, of course, Marie Todd in her previous role took forward much of this action as the minister was responsible for women's health. I have met a number of organisations that represent women who have been particularly affected by Endometriosis. Rytll Hamilton is absolutely right that far too many women have been far too long for that life-changing diagnosis. We have the women's health plan, which is committed to taking forward some of this work. I will happily look at the meeting of the group as Rytll Hamilton rightly highlights and see what further progress we can make in our right to the member with an update. The First Minister will be aware that, over two years now, we have waited for the UNCRC Bill to come back to this chamber to be remedied. During that time, there has been changing Government narrative about why the UNCRC Bill has not come back to this chamber. Can the First Minister undertake that the bill will return to this chamber before summer recess or, if it cannot, will the Government publish the correspondence and what is causing the hold-up between the Scottish Government and the UK Government? I have to say once again that I do not disagree with the sentiment behind Martin McField's really important question. We wanted to make sure that those rights were incorporated into our legislation because we wanted to do the best by our children and by our young people. I know the action that the UK Government chose to take. We are continuing to liaise with the UK Government. I will see what can be published in relation to those discussions, but as soon as we have some sort of agreement on the way forward, I will make sure that we make progress in this, because there is nothing more important than the rights of our young people. That is the father of two children myself. I will absolutely look at his request to see what can be published, but I can give him an absolute promise that there is no shortage of intent, or pace, or urgency from the Government that I lead. That concludes First Minister's questions. At this point, colleagues, I deeply regret that, due to the completely unacceptable interruptions that we have experienced today, I am unable to call any more members to put questions to the First Minister on matters of importance to the people that they represent. I apologise to those visitors who travelled here in good faith, often at great inconvenience, to watch their representatives at work. Rest assured that I will review and escalate measures as required to counter the actions of a small minority who seek to disrupt our work. I have no doubt that all members share my determination that our democratically elected Parliament will continue to do its vital work on behalf of the people of Scotland.