 Maen nhw,riwch ddweud hynny o gynnig o gy tänw reactor cyn rhywbynnag ar gyfer y byd yneliad a ynfertydd gyda'r dŵr iawn a rwy'n ôl eich gwasanaeth. Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to improve online connectivity in town and city centres. Cabinet Secretary, Fergus Ewing. Presiding Officer, this government is committed to driving technological and digital innovation to transform our economy. mae'n mynd i gael ei ddweud y ddarparu cyfnodol i'r ddymarfer. Felly, yn y fawr cyfnodol, rydyn ni i fynd i'w Scottland y ffaith i'w hefyd yn ei ddydd i'w telecomu. Rydyn ni i'w ddwylo'n cyfnodol fawr, gyda mawr i ymgyrchau i methu i ddweud i'w ddydd y 1 miliwn pwysig, a wneud o'r ddwylo'n cyfnodol i'w ddydd i'w ddwylo i'w ddwylo across Scotland? Bruce Crawford, I thank the minister for his reply, or the cabinet secretary, should he say. I welcome the Scottish Government's commitment to delivering free wi-fi throughout city centres, particularly as not everyone in Stirling city centre in my constituency currently benefits from this. How will the Scottish Government help more businesses like those in Stirling to make better use of the digital infrastructure, particularly now that the largest UK tech incubator company codebase has established itself in Stirling a very exciting development for a fabulous city? Mr Crawford makes a very good point that good connectivity leads to business investment, inward investment and in Stirling. It is also relevant to point out that, in Stirling, thanks to the digital Scotland superfast broadband programme, the proportion, the percentage of premises, households and businesses that are able to access digital superfast broadband at speeds in excessive honour and excessive 24 megabits per second has risen from 59 per cent to 90 per cent. In other words, one-third more people and businesses in Stirling have access to superfast broadband as a direct result of the Scottish Government investment and programme. I think that that is solid progress on which we shall seek to build. Finlay Carson. Of course, welcome the announcement for the Government's promise to deliver free wi-fi throughout major towns and city centres. Can the minister provide some clarity on how that will be delivered and what constitutes a major town? For instance, will towns like Dumfries and Stirling in my constituency meet the criteria? We will bring forward details of our commitment, which was set out in the programme for government, to deliver free wi-fi to major towns and cities across Scotland, and we will do so in due course. It is important to point out that we have already, as a direct result of Scottish Government investment, provided wi-fi access to a large number of libraries, community halls and sports centres, and facilities for the most vulnerable in society, such as homeless hostels and residential care homes. As a direct result of our investment, 99 per cent of Scotland's libraries now offer free public wi-fi an excellent facility. I am grateful for the chance to publicise that. I am also happy if Mr Carson wants to write to me to consider any representations that he makes regarding any specific towns in his constituency very carefully indeed. 2. Pauline McNeill To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to put specific provisions in the Social Security Scotland Bill to rule out private contractors conducting disability assessments. Minister Jeane Freeman We have made clear commitment to this Parliament and to the people of Scotland that private contractors will not be used to conduct disability assessments, and I will deliver that commitment. I want the member to know that I have looked at the issue in detail. My view is that a legislative ban is the wrong way to address the matter, because it brings with it significant potential for other difficulties and unintended consequences to occur. I have offered the member some examples of that. I do not want to take up more time, Presiding Officer, but let me say that my belief, like hers, is that this policy of not using private sector contractors is the right one to take for Scotland. I want to make sure that a legislative ban does not inadvertently deflect from or compromise that delivery. As the member knows, my door is always open, and I am very happy to discuss that further with her and to talk through the basis of my decision. Kelly McNeill I would like to welcome the statement that Jeane Freeman has consistently made on this important question about who should be allowed to do the work of assessment in the social security system. I am sure that she will agree with me that there is strong feeling amongst claimants who have had traumatic experiences dealing with private contractors. I fully appreciate that she has given it full consideration. How, then, can we ensure that, in the future and in future Governments, if it is not on the face of the bill, future Governments will respect the implementation of a system that is a public system and not a private system? Mairi Gwbethraedden I thank Ms McNeill for her support and for her additional question, because it raises a matter that has come through over the summer and for many key stakeholders. That is the point about future proofing what we are doing here in terms of social security. I have to say that there is a limit to what we can do. We are setting through the legislation that will come to this Parliament in due course for debate in this chamber, as it is currently now in committee. Through that, we are laying a robust framework for a rights-based social security system that is founded on the principles and so on of dignity, fairness and respect that I have already touched on. We can in that set in statute some key elements of it. However, what we cannot do in that legislation is preclude future democratic decisions by people in Scotland in who they elect, who they send to this Parliament and who becomes a future Government. There are limitations to future proofing that can be undertaken, but, as I have said, I am very content to talk further with the member and others on this matter on our draft bill. Sandra White Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. Minister, we met users—I hate to use the word users—but we met people from the Social Security Committee this morning. We heard evidence from the claimants that they were absolutely adamant that they did not want private contractors to deliver the Social Security Bill, particularly in the assessments, but they welcomed the guidance that is in the bill, and they were very supportive of that. That gives a bit of flexibility, as the minister has already said, just in case there is a future Government that does not look upon the Social Security Bill as favourably as this Government does with dignity and respect. I am not sure that there is a question there, but, Minister, I have a very brief response. Perhaps, Presiding Officer, I can just use this opportunity to say a wee bit about how we do intend or the work that we have begun on assessments. We have another question, so perhaps you can respond to that one. Jeremy Balfour Thank you, Presiding Officer. I am a minister, and I may have taken my funder almost there. Perhaps the question is, if we are going to move away, will the people that do the assessments be employed full-time by the Scottish Government, and if that is the case, where will we find physios, nurses and OTs to fulfil those roles? In regard to that, what cost has the Scottish Government put on employing those people full-time going forward? The First Minister Excellent question. Thank you very much, Mr Balfour. Can I just repeat that private companies, with their necessary and understandable profit motive, are incompatible with their rights-based social security system? I appreciate fully that Mr Balfour is not as old as I am. What we are doing is looking with experts, led by the chair of the BMA GP group, who is a member of the expert advisory group, providing advice to me on carers and disability benefits, that they are now working across the health and social care sector with experienced colleagues to devise a system of assessments that will be evidence-based, fair and, most certainly, fewer in number, because we will get our decisions right first time without the need for those assessments. They are working that through for me because the best people to solve those issues are the people who know about it. We will then use qualified, experienced professionals across healthcare sectors and social care to provide assessments for us when they need to be undertaken, ensuring, unlike the current system, that the individuals who undertake an assessment are experienced and professionally qualified in the condition that the person presenting has. In other words, we will make sure that our system can deal with fluctuating conditions, with neurological conditions, with mental health and will treat people with dignity, fairness and respect. I am comfortable in a future meeting with the Social Security Committee. I believe that I am there in November to explain in further detail how those individuals who will not be employed full-time by us, but will bring professional expertise from their daily healthcare and social care practice to benefit our rights-based social security system. Miles Briggs To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to expand GP services in Lothian. The Scottish Government is aware of the pressures facing general practice and fully committed to supporting a model of sustainable general practice. I met Lothian GPs last November to discuss how our significant national investment, £71.6 million for this year, can directly support general practice in Lothian investment this year, which will improve GP recruitment and retention and expand the multidisciplinary primary care team as part of a commitment to see an additional £250 million invested annually in direct support of general practice by the end of this Parliament as part of a wider £500 million investment in primary care. Since the meeting, health and social care partnerships across Lothian are supporting practices to use their receptionists to sign post-patients who do not need to see their GP to the right person, which is helping to take the strain of GPs and through cluster working GPs are able to identify areas for improvement and test solutions such as enhancing their multidisciplinary teams. Miles Briggs, is the cabinet secretary aware that over 40 per cent of GP practices within NHS Lothian are either full or not accepting new patients or restricting registrations? Does she agree with me that this is an indication of the crisis affecting GP services as they struggle to cope with demand? With the RCGP predicting a shortfall now of 828 GPs across Scotland by 2021, does she really believe that the Scottish Government is doing enough to ensure that areas like Lothian, with one of Scotland's fastest growing populations, is going to have enough adequate numbers of GPs to actually cover this increase in patients? Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, I am aware of the challenges in Lothian. As the member will know, that is why I met Lothian GPs to discuss more closely some of their particular issues. He will be aware, as I laid out in my initial answer, the investment that we are making in primary care and in general practice specifically. There is a lot happening within the expansion of the primary care workforce, of course, not just increasing the number of GPs but also other multidisciplinary team members. We have increased the recruitment and retention fund, specific initiatives such as the GP development fellow, which Lothian has taken advantage of. I can say to the member that, in terms of the GP specialty training recruitment, I can tell him that over 90 per cent of the 1,082 Scottish GP training places are filled. There is some progress being made. I absolutely accept that there is more to be done, which is why we are working very hard with the BMA to deliver a new GMS contract that I think will help to transform primary care. Neil Findlay. I wish that the cabinet secretary would stop talking in euphemisms. We do not have challenges, we have a crisis in general practice. Over the summer, I held a drop-in session for GPs in West Lothian. They told me of a staffing crisis, the complete reliance on extremely scarce and expensive locum cover, and practices are resignation or sickness absence from collapse. All practices in Midlothian have closed lists. What a damning indictment of this Government's failure to plan for general practice. Will the minister apologise to GPs and their patients for this crisis and tell us what is happening now to resolve it, not in some time in the future? To Neil Findlay, what is happening now is a £71.6 million investment this year directly supporting general practice, not just in Lothian, but elsewhere across this country. What is happening now is a negotiation of a brand new GMS contract that will transform primary care. The importance of that is that we need to make general practice more attractive as a career, and the new contract will help to do that. What is happening now is that 90 per cent of the specialty GP training place is being filled because of the efforts that are being made to promote general practice. A lot of action is being taken in the here and now to support general practice that will make a real difference in the here and now in Neil Findlay's area and elsewhere in Scotland. Stuart McMillan, to ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to local festivals. The Scottish Local Festivals are in the main, supported locally by their local authorities. The Scottish Government provides support through the national funding bodies Creative Scotland and Event Scotland. Creative Scotland supports festivals that apply directly to it for funding while Event Scotland supports a portfolio of events through its national, international and signature programmes, designed to assist event organisers to grow their audience. Support is also available through themed year funding, which in 2017 links inspirational events with the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology. Stuart McMillan, to ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to local festivals. In 2019 marks the bicentenary of the death of the great enlightenment inventor James Watt. I have proposed that a week-long James Watt festival should take place in Inverclyde, the place of James Watt's birth, and that it would celebrate the legacy of the great inventor. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that this festival could play an important role in re-establishing Scotland's place internationally as innovators, thinkers and cultural leaders? We would also have the positive impact upon Inverclyde, the teaching of STEM subjects, wider society, the economy and culture. Indeed, events plan to celebrate the life and achievements of James Watt would be warmly welcomed across Scotland, particularly for the reasons that the member outlines, particularly by the community in Inverclyde. We are very happy to consider approaches, as Creative Scotland and its open funding in particular. Of course, on 23 August, the Scottish Government announced £250,000 for annual science festivals precisely because the inspiration that young people can have in the STEM subjects can be told through those festivals. I think that celebrating the great James Watt is one of the ways that could enhance that programme in 2019. 5. Stuart Stevenson To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the provision by local authorities of parking sites that is suitable for gypsies and travellers. The provision of gypsy traveller sites is a matter for the relevant local authority, and the Scottish Government does not routinely collect information concerning sites in Scotland. All Scottish local authorities must, by law, produce a local housing strategy that sets out their priorities and plans for delivering housing and related services. Those strategies should include plans for meeting any gypsy traveller housing needs, including addressing any requirement for the provision of suitable sites. Stuart Stevenson Noting the particular difficulties in Murray, where Tory part-time MP Douglas Ross was recently a member of the council administration that has failed to provide any such parking sites, does the minister believe that rather than vilifying travellers who make a valuable contribution to society as a top priority problem, as he described it, Mr Ross and others in his party should work to address that deficiency? Stuart Stevenson Yes, I do agree with Mr Stevenson. As I set out in my first answer, the provision of suitable gypsy traveller sites in Murray is a matter for the Murray council based on their local housing strategy. Councilers should look at the needs highlighted in their local housing strategy and address the issue accordingly. Gypsy traveller communities are among the most disenfranchised and discriminated against in Scotland. The Scottish Government values the gypsy traveller community, the contribution that it makes and the important role that it plays in enriching Scotland socially, culturally and economically. We are committed to tackling all forms of discrimination and promoting a multicultural society based on mutual trust, respect and understanding. Claudia Beamish Ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making to ensure that the voluntary sector groups are treated as equal partners in the development of integrated health and social care. Shona Robison The Scottish Government promotes and values the contribution that the voluntary sector and other third sector organisations make to the integration of health and social care. Integration authorities must involve the third sector in the strategic commissioning and locality planning process, and a third sector representative is required to be a member of the integration joint board. IJBs also have the flexibility to include nominations such as a representative from the voluntary sector, however, that will vary due to local circumstances. Claudia Beamish I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer, but it is not addressing some of the needs and concerns of the voluntary sector that I represent in South Scotland. I have been involved on a voluntary basis with the third sector and know about the fragility and challenges before becoming an MSP. Healthy Valleys in Lanark and Borders Care, Voice and Gallous Shields have both expressed concerns to me about funding security and continuity, training opportunities and status recognition, most importantly of all. What can the cabinet secretary do to reassure those groups and groups across South Scotland and more widely in Scotland? Shona Robison First of all, Claudia Beamish wants to write to me with some of the specific concerns that local organisations have. I would be happy to look into them in more detail. What I can tell her is that the Scottish Government has established and supported a network of third sector interfaces to support and fund third sector organisations at a local level. Funding of more than £12 million was provided to 32 third sector interfaces covering each local authority across Scotland. I would have thought that organisations in her area would have benefited from that. Shona Robison If she wants to write to me, I am happy to look into them.