 That concludes the debate on retail and town centres in Scotland. It's now time to move on to the next item of business, which is an urgent question. I call Liam Kerr. As the Scottish Government, for what reason, the constitution secretary reportedly referred to the statistic that Scotland has 25 per cent of Europe's offshore wind resources. At a meeting with European delegates on 4 October and in newspaper columns of 17th 14 oes wrth 22 oes. In light of an email indicating that officials had advised him that the statistic was inaccurate on the 28th of September 2022. Cabinet Secretary Angus Robertson, can we please have Cabinet Secretary's microphone? Can I just ask you to check that your card is in Cabinet Secretary. We will just… Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. It's a matter of fact and I hope not to ond, Scotland is exceptionally well-endowed with renewable energy potential. As renewable technologies licensing grounds and completed schemes develop at home and abroad, so does the statistical context. An example of that is last year's Scotland licensing ground, which was the world's largest ever leasing ground for floating offshore wind with developer ambitions at over 17 gigawatts. The statistic that the member highlights has been used by both the UK and the Scottish Governments, but is now considered to be overtaken by developments. That's why I am no longer using the statistic. The Scottish Government has committed to provide Parliament with updated statistics in due course, and I am confident that it will confirm that Scotland is well-placed to be a significant European leader in renewable energy production. I hope that the member will join me in using them to promote Scotland at home and abroad. I thank the cabinet secretary for completely evading the question that I asked. Cabinet secretary, I have an FOI that says that he presented this statistic as a fact on the 4th of October to foreign politicians. Since foreign politicians and the people of Scotland in his columns on the 17th and 18th of October were potentially misled by the cabinet secretary, what action has the cabinet secretary taken to ensure that foreign politicians know what the truth is, to ensure that he is tracked down and corrected to anyone else to whom he has repeated the misleading statistic, and to establish which of his other colleagues have similarly repeated the misleading statistic so that they too can ensure that they were giving out accurate information? I, the Scottish and the UK Governments are no longer using the statistics that have been overtaken by developments. However, it is important not to inadvertently create the impression that Scotland is not a nation with significant renewable resources. It has immense natural resources. When projects that are awaiting under construction or already operational are added to the current reported potential pipeline, the total potential capacity reaches over 40 gigawatts, the equivalent to producing enough electricity annually to power every home in Scotland for 17 years or every home in the UK for over a year and a half. There is appalling disrespect for this Parliament in the cabinet secretary's refusal to answer or even address the question that I have put. Of course, there is a bigger picture here around what this says about this Government, because on 8 November 2022, I asked Minister Lorna Slater when did ministers first become aware that they were using a figure that, to quote Scottish Government officials, had not been properly sourced? She said that ministers became aware of the issue on Tuesday 8 November. In an email dated 16 November 2022, the cabinet secretary wrote to his constituent that ministers became aware on 8 November that it, the 25 per cent statistic, was not an accurate figure. Cabinet secretary emailed me last week, stating, and I quote, officials emailed advice to my private office against using the 25 per cent statistic on 20 September 2022, which suggests that the information that he gave to his constituent was not correct. At page 41, under the heading Honesty of the Ministerial Code, it says, holders of public office should be truthful. At section 1.3c, it says, given that the circumstances that I have detailed suggest that there have been major breaches of this code, when will the cabinet secretary and minister Lorna Slater be tendering their resignations in disgrace? It was an interesting speech rather than a question, was it not? The statistic, and I will say it again for the member's benefit, who was just keen to read out what he had written before he arrived in the chamber clearly, the statistic that the member highlights has been used by both the UK and the Scottish Government is now considered to be overtaken by developments. That is why I am no longer using this statistic. I have also made clear in an earlier answer to him, and I am sorry that he does not see that that is good enough. The Scottish Government is committed to providing Parliament with the updated statistics in due course. I hope that he will join me in using them to promote the renewable sector in Scotland. Colin Smyth Thank you, Presiding Officer. The cabinet secretary was advised by his own officials in September not once but twice not to use the 25 per cent figure. Can the cabinet secretary tell us why he ignored that advice when pushing the bogus stats to a French Government minister, then he doubled down by citing those dodgy figures in newspaper columns and in speeches? Why did he do that? Why did he ignore that advice? Given how important the principle of truthfulness is within the ministerial code, should he not refer himself for investigation under that code? Colin Smyth Can I just point out to the member that the potential of Scotland's massive renewable energy is recognised internationally, especially among our northern European neighbours? Can I just ask members to ensure that we are all able to hear members when they are speaking? The member asked the question and then just proceeded to barack me. If he will allow me to— Colin Smyth I should continue. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Can I say to Colin Smyth that his colleague in the Norwegian Labour Party Andreas Bjellan-Eriksson, the State Secretary for Energy— Well, I'm sorry that Colin Smyth isn't interested in this, because his colleague in Norway most certainly was. I met him at the beginning of this month in Tromsa, and his and him and his colleagues are extremely keen to co-operate with Scotland because they recognise that both of our countries have so much renewable energy potential. I agree that we want statistics to be as up-to-date as possible, and I hope that Colin Smyth will join me in using them to promote renewable potential, the investment and the jobs that we'll bring and make our contribution to combat the climate crisis. Alex Cole-Hamilton Thank you very much indeed, Presiding Officer. Nobody in the chamber is disputing that Scotland has tremendous offshore renewable generation potential. What we are disputing is the bogus statistics, which artificially inflate that statistic on the world stage. Now, twice we've seen some fancy footwork from the cabinet secretary, trying to say that the statistic has been overtaken by developments in his words. But the fact is that if that development he's talking about is a realisation that this figure was in fact always mints, then he is quite right. This was a mash-up of reports and academic research going back to 1991, which excluded the renewable powerhouse of Scandinavia, and we have raised that several times in time again. In fact, I challenged both First Minister and Lorna Slater on this figure when they told me that it was outdated when it was in fact never true. They dodged my parliamentary questions, asking them to correct the record within the requisite time, and that correction has never been lodged. So can I ask the cabinet secretary why there are no consequences for any of these ministers, including him? Does accuracy, transparency and accountability, both in Parliament and on the international stage, matter so little to this Government? Can I just point out to the Liberal Democrats that this is a statistic that was used by the UK Government? I think I'm right in saying a Government that included Liberal Democrats. The member is absolutely right to say that we should aspire to the best statistics that we can have. That is what we are working towards, and I hope that he and the representatives of other parties will do everything to promote renewables around Europe and the rest of the world rather than trying to undermine Scotland's reputation. Does the cabinet secretary not understand that Scotland's renewable wind potential does not need made-up or exaggerated statistics and that, by doing so, he and his Government undermine Scotland's natural resources reputation? I have to assume that the member is not aware that it is a statistic that was used by a Conservative-led United Kingdom Government. This is a statement, that is a statement of fact. It is also a statement of fact that statistics need to be updated. That is exactly what is going to happen. I hope that he and everybody else in the chamber will use that to promote Scotland at home and abroad. That concludes the urgent question. The next item of business is consideration of business motion 8062, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the parliamentary bureau on changes to this week's business. I call on George Adam to move the motion. I move, Presiding Officer. I call on Stephen Kerr to speak to and move amendment 8062.1. Presiding Officer, I move the amendment in my name. Yes, I am trying everything I can because I would have thought that members on all sides of this chamber would want the issue of the teachers' strike properly aired in our nation's Parliament. What is this Parliament for if it isn't to address the major issues of today? The people of Scotland are watching and listening, and today, right across Scotland, pupils are not at school and parents and carers are doing their best to cope with yet another day of disruption. Haven't our young people had enough disruption to their education over the past three years, and yet this Scottish National Party Government won't agree to send a minister to this chamber to make a statement and to answer questions? Is it so unreasonable to expect the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills or the Deputy First Minister, because he's the one who's really running this shambola co-operation to come to the chamber to make a statement and answer questions, but this Government doesn't want to send the haplish Shirley-Ansonville anywhere near this chamber to answer a statement or to make a statement or to answer questions? I thank the member for giving way. He makes a lot of noise. Has he got a proposal to solve this problem? John Mason asked to have a proposal. Yes, it's to amend the business motion so that we can have a statement and questions tomorrow. I'm very grateful to Stephen Kerr for giving way. John Mason asked, does he have a proposal to offer? If, as I know, the Stephen Kerr party joined me in meeting EIS reps up at the National Poetry Library this afternoon, he told that all the talks conducted by Shirley-Anne Somerville and John Swinney contain absolutely nothing new other than that there is no more money, what would you like us to cut? Stephen Kerr. I'm grateful to the members for their interventions. I agree with Ash Regan. Ash Regan said that Shirley-Anne Somerville has not been, is not now listening to the concerns of teachers and parents. Shirley-Anne Somerville has lectured me, she's lectured all of us, about how she wasn't going to negotiate with the teachers' representatives because that isn't how negotiations are done. However, what do we hear this morning on BBC Radio Scotland? The same Shirley-Anne Somerville telling us that she and John Swinney were finally going to negotiate with the EIS. I give way to Michael Marra. Michael Marra. I thank the member for giving way. Does he share Labour's concerns about the—I'm glad that he will—regarding the number of young people in targeted constituencies in the ministers of this Government who are losing extra days of education? Does he think that the minister should be in front of this Parliament telling us what accommodation can be made to make sure that they receive the grades and support that they require? Stephen Kerr. Absolutely. I agree with Michael Marra. I absolutely agree. Suddenly it's the done thing for the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills to go to the negotiation table, just as they've been asking for months. Given the way that Nicola Sturgeon praised her favourite Humza Yousaf for preventing strikes in the NHS, because he was on top of his job if anyone believed that, I actually feel sorry for Shirley-Anne Somerville because clearly her boss thinks that she's not up to her job and that's probably why John Swinney has been at the table with the EIS. I don't think that I have any time. Perhaps you would like to listen to what one parent wrote to me. I am writing to express my extreme disappointment and frustration at the ongoing strike action by teachers. As a parent to S5 and S6 children sitting final year exams, I am deeply concerned about the impact that this is having on my children's education and their future prospects. I am particularly dismayed at the apparent lack of progress in resolving the teachers pay dispute. It's unacceptable that our children's education should be disrupted in this way and I urge you all to do everything in your power to bring this situation to a swift and satisfactory conclusion. I'm also concerned about the Scottish Government's handling of this issue. It is clear that additional resources are needed to support our children through this turbulent period and I would like to know what steps the Government is taking to address that. I could go on, but I respect the fact. I could go on because there's a lot more that parents have written to me to express their concern about the disruption to their children's education that might not mean very much to SNP members. It means a great deal to Scotland's parents and carers. There's lots that could be said on the subject. There are many questions that need to be asked. What is the SNP Government doing to bring this dispute to an end? Other than the endless three repeating, as the Cabinet Secretary did this morning on the radio, how terribly disappointing it always is. What is the contingency plan to support pupils facing important exams? What plans are in place to ensure that the exam timetable is not disrupted? What is the contingency plan to get exam papers marked? This isn't scaremongering, but it's crashing what they're facing. How can we credibly look to parents, young people and teachers of Scotland in the face when their Parliament isn't even prepared to hold this SNP Cabinet Secretary to account for this unfolding mess? Who ever thought that I would be the calm cooling effect in any debate? Here we are, and I'd like to remind members that, possibly when we're talking about bureau and future business, Mr Kerr's outburst has nothing to do with the subject matter, nothing to do with the current negotiations. Mr Kerr asks what will solve the current issues with the union cool heads. That's what's going to beat in your chest and shout and bawling in this chamber will not do that. I'd also encourage Mr Kerr to talk to his business manager. He knows how the system works. As you know, the Parliamentary Business Bureau is set up so that we can have these discussions and make sure that we have the discussions regarding parliamentary business and not just automatically drag it to decision time at 5 o'clock in the evening, but the Parliamentary Bureau is the ideal forum for these discussions. On the actual issue that Mr Kerr said last week about... Can I just ask the minister if you could just... Yes, thank you. There's conversation going on across the aisles and I'd be really grateful if we could just get out of this habit because I'm seeing it on too many occasions. Can we please hear the minister? I think we've finally heard through Mr Kerr what he was saying. It was something very similar to last week and my answer would be a referendum to my answer I gave him last week, which is discussions are on-going, negotiations remain at a sensitive and critical stage and a statement would therefore not be appropriate at this time. But in closing, the Deputy First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary, both cool heads, are speaking with the unions at this very moment. Thank you. The first question is that amendment 8062.1, in the name of Stephen Kerr, which seeks to amend motion 8062, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on changes to this week's business, be agreed. Are we all agreed? The Parliament is not agreed, therefore we'll move to a vote and there'll be a short suspension to allow members to access digital voting.