 Maen nhw'r cyffredinidau? Maen nhw'n cyffredinidau? Mae'r cyffredinidau er mwyn gydaenol wrth gwrs ymlaen o'r ddod. Felly mae겠습니다ach chi'n gwneud chi ddweudio ar gyfer iawn, i gyd yn nhw'n nhw, i gynnig ei gyd yn nhw i gyd. Fyeth gydaenol, Sander White? Fyth meddwlos ar gyfer iawn, gyda'r Cymru gydaenol, roedd esgu ei ddifen iawn, yn ddefnyddio i'r bobbyn ar y honnod y Cymru, gyda'r gymryd yng Nghyrch Nesaf Blygeddiaeth i'r lle, The Scottish Government believes that the Home Office must fund all local authorities properly and equitably for the crucial role that they play in supporting people seeking asylum. Local authorities in Scotland should not be treated differently to those in England. I have made my deep concerns about the issue clear to the immigration minister in both meetings and correspondence, most recently at a four nations meeting on asylum on 15 October. I thank the minister for that reply. Although the Scottish Government stepped in recently to assist those asylum seekers facing the situation in Glasgow, that has not been a permanent solution. Can the cabinet secretary provide any further information on negotiations with the Home Office regarding equity of funding for Glasgow City Council as a designated home office dispersal area? I absolutely believe that we need a long-term, sustainable solution to ensure that local authorities that are participating in asylum dispersal are properly funded and that people at the end of their asylum process are not facing left-facing destitution and homelessness. We will continue to raise the issue with the Home Office. We note that the Welsh Government and English local authorities have also made similar concerns known. I am deeply disappointed that the Home Office has so far chosen not to act on those concerns, leaving the Scottish Government, local authorities and the third sector to pick up the pieces and look forward to tomorrow's debate on that issue, when members of the Parliament will also get a chance to raise their voices on that issue. Patrick Harvie. I very much welcome the minister's approach on that and sincerity. Does the Scottish Government agree with the Glasgow task force that there is in fact no legal barrier to the use of public funds to provide emergency accommodation for those who in fact themselves are designated as having no recourse to public funds? Does the Scottish Government agree with that position that there is no legal barrier? We have certainly made what we have done within the competencies that we have is to provide third sector partners with the ability to help to cope with those who are facing destitution. Most recently, I visited Positive Action in Housing and provided additional funding to help them to cope with the influx of people that they are having to deal with to cope with some of the decisions that have been taken around asylum seekers in the city, but I go back to the point that this is about making sure that our local authorities are treated equitably and that the Home Office needs to listen to that if they want to continue to see local authorities to provide homes for those people who are seeking refuge in asylum in our country. Pauli McNeill, I agree with the cabinet secretary and Sandra White that all local authorities should be treated equally. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that forced destitution of asylum seekers, already vulnerable, is an inhumane policy and should be reversed? Will she give the Parliament some indication that accommodation and, particularly, advocacy should be given to asylum seekers who have been refused asylum by the Home Office? Absolutely. I totally agree with the sentiment and share that with what Pauli McNeill has in how she has articulated it. Again, I just underline that we already provide funding to asylum seekers services for asylum seekers living in Scotland to help to avoid that destitution where we can. We are also providing an additional 130,000 to strengthen advocacy and advice services supporting people seeking asylum and those who are at risk of eviction. Again, tomorrow's debate gives us an opportunity to flush out more of those issues. Colin Smyth, I ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to support the development of better housing in Dumfries town centre. The Scottish Government has allocated almost £88 million over this parliamentary term to support the delivery of Dumfries and Galloway's affordable housing priorities. The funding may contribute to the council's aim to improve town centre living through its town centre living fund, which includes, as a priority, increasing the supply of affordable housing. We also support the Scottish Empty Homes partnership and specialist Empty Homes officers to help to provide assistance to return empty homes into use across Scotland, including in Dumfries and Galloway. Colin Smyth, I thank the minister for that answer. The minister is aware that, as he has met the mid-staple cotter project in Dumfries, the aim is to take ownership of disused buildings on our high street, refurbish them and create enterprise space but also housing above shops. Does the minister agree that this is entirely the type of community-led fight back against the decline of our town centres? The Government should be supporting them while it considers making it a pilot scheme backed by Government investment so that the mid-staple cotter has the funds to buy back those properties. I pay tribute to those active in the mid-staple cotter group and those folks who have been involved with the Stove network as a whole. I think that their community activism is leading to change in Dumfries. I am very pleased at the council holding an empty homes conference the other week, which I attended, and I know that Mr Smyth was there. I am pleased to see that it is using funds that it has raised from council tax when second and long-term empty homes to provide a fund to ensure that new homes in the town centre of Dumfries become a reality. I will keep a close eye on that, but I would also ask other local authorities to look at what Dumfries and Galloway are doing here, because I think that that kind of thing needs to be replicated elsewhere. Others could follow their example. Finlay Carson, I will let it stretch to Galloway. The minister will agree that it takes a combination of factors to create a vibrant and sustainable town centre for residents and businesses alike. The budget in one day announced the package of rates relief for English high streets worth £900 million. We would love to see something like this in Scotland. No, I would like your question. Does the minister agree with me that this type of policy would invigorate business and housing in town centres? Well, here in Scotland we have had the small business bonus for some time, with 10 years in fact, which has seen businesses the length and breadth of Scotland benefit either from zero rates or from reduced rates. I think that we have put in place a fair package of measures to ensure that small businesses continue to thrive. Beyond that, we will work closely, as we always have done, with Scotland's town partnership in promoting the town first principle. Of course, I will continue to meet people right across the country to look and see where we can export best practice to other places to reinvigorate our town centres here in Scotland. To ask the Scottish Government how the views of local communities are taken into account by ministers during the consideration of a planning appeal. Presiding Officer, our planning system is inclusive and the views of the local community are fully taken into account, along with all relevant material considerations in reaching decisions on all planning appeals, including those of national importance, where Scottish ministers will normally make the final decision. For that last month, Orkney Islands Council rejected applications by Hulun Energy for two proposed windfarm projects at Hestah and Sestronsi and Cost in the West mainland, both giving rise to considerable public concern locally regarding potential impact on landscape, habitats, wildlife and amenity. Given that Hulun Energy has confirmed that they are appealing the council's decision, can the minister explain what opportunity they will be for objectors to make their case to those in government responsible for considering the appeals? What assurance can he give that the views of the local community will not simply be overridden in this process? Presiding Officer, obviously I can't comment on live applications, as Mr MacArthur and other members know. A reporter has been appointed to decide both appeals and is aware of the time and critical nature of those appeals. All representations that are made by the local community on the planning application are forwarded to the reporter by the planning authority in order that they can be fully taken into account in the determination of a planning appeal. Is the minister aware that many of my constituents in steps have no confidence in the current appeal system? In particular, following the Scottish Government reporter's decision to allow a planning application, which had been refused, but to allow it to go ahead to build on greenbelt land at Hornshill Gateside famine steps, would he agree with me that we must value our greenbelt areas, listen to the concerns of communities and respect local decisions? Presiding Officer, as Ms Smith knows, I cannot comment on any ongoing application, any live application at all, but reporters are appointed to take the views of all, including, as I have just explained to Mr MacArthur, the views of communities. Reporters work independently, they take account of the local development plan and material considerations in coming to their decision. They are independent, they listen to communities, and I think that our system is a fair one in that regard, taking account of all views. Scottish Government, how successful participatory budgeting has been since the introduction of the community's act? Thank you. Supported by the Scottish Government's 6.5 million community choices fund over the past four years, participatory budgeting has gone from strength to strength, establishing itself firmly in Scotland. Last year, over 70,000 people voted for the things that matter to them in their community, with almost 1,000 local groups securing funding. Participatory budgeting has been very successful in supporting the aspirations of the Community Empowerment Scotland Act 2015 by putting decisions about how we invest in communities into the hands of the people who live and work in them. Bill Ballantyne I wonder whether the delivery of participatory budgeting is taking up significant local government officer time and has a significant cost attached. What support will the Scottish Government supply to assist with the on-going delivery of participatory budgeting? I have just outlined that we have supported that with significant resources. The decisions that people are making are better decisions not just for the communities themselves but also for the local authority. Again, we are ensuring that we support local authorities through that process. We have seen participatory budgeting growing across the country, enabling and empowering communities to take decisions. That is a good thing. I think that most people would agree that that is a good thing. I hope that local authorities would agree that that is a good thing. Furthermore, we are providing support around communities of interest. Glasgow Disability Alliance published the Action Research Budgeting for Equality report, which is helping people to ensure that people with disabilities can also take part in important decisions. That is the key thing, making sure that everybody gets a chance to have a say in how decisions are made and where they live, because those are often times better decisions for the community. To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet North Ayrshire Council. Thank you. Ministers and officials will continue to regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, including North Ayrshire Council, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland. On 24 August, I met representatives of North Ayrshire Council at Ardrossan academy to announce the roll-out of free sanitary products across all schools, colleges and universities in Scotland. One of those representatives included the then chief executive, Elma Murray, who is set to retire soon, and I would like to put on record my thanks to her for her instanting commitment to the people of North Ayrshire and her commitment to public life. Jamie Greene. I thank the minister for her response. Can I place on record to my thanks to Elma Murray and wish her successor the very best of luck in that role? The reality is that, like many local authorities, North Ayrshire Council has been on the receiving end of Scottish Government cuts in recent years. In the last Scottish budget, it saw a £5 million reduction in its funding. I am glad that Mr Gibson thinks that that is funny. Given that we now know that the Scottish Government's block grant is going up, would the minister agree with me that there is really no justification for further cuts to North Ayrshire's budget? Cabinet Secretary. It might be Halloween. He has certainly had a nightmare with that supplementary. Despite the rhetoric from the Conservatives, austerity is far from over. In fact, we continue to experience the cuts of the UK Government resource block grant that has been cut and will almost be £2 billion lower in real terms for 2019-20 compared to 2010-2011. That is the reality of the fact for Jamie Greene. He should recognise that this Government continues to treat local government fairly, but he has to realise and look a bit closer to home for where the cuts start. Kenneth Gibson Thank you, Presiding Officer. Minister, will you next meet North Ayrshire Council? Will rates be discussed? Last week, Mr Greene claimed that North Ayrshire businesses pay 65 per cent more than the rest of Scotland, with payments of £225 million and that non-domestic rates incomes should increase by the consumer price index rather than the retail price index. Can the minister confirm that North Ayrshire's non-domestic rates income was in fact £41.665 million in 2016-17? Will businesses pay the same rates as North Ayrshire's non-domestic rates income was in 2016-17? The current financial year of CPI is being used, and Mr Greene needs to do his homework on such matters before attacking his current income. Cabinet Secretary, Mr Greene has a continued run of nightmares in the way he articulates points of view. I can confirm to Mr Gibson that businesses in North Ayrshire pay the same level of non-domestic rates as those in other authorities across Scotland, and it is simply nonsense to suggest that they pay 65 per cent more. They are also currently benefiting from the most generous package of rates relief that is currently available in the United Kingdom, with stats published only this morning, confirming that more than 3,000 businesses in North Ayrshire are estimated to benefit from our small business bonus scheme in 2018-19, a benefit worth £5.8 million to the local economy. I am sure that Mr Gibson will make good use of those good, positive facts and figures. To ask the Scottish Government what role local government will have in implementing the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board's strategic plan. The strategic board is an independent board and will develop its own plans for how to engage with local government in implementing its strategic plan. The board's membership includes local government and COSLA representation, and ministers expect the board to ensure that local government continues to be fully involved and engaged. The Scottish Government therefore supports the board's stated commitment to on-going engagement, including with local government. Ministers believe that local government is an essential element of the good governance of Scotland, and we are committed to working closely with COSLA and other local government interests. I thank the minister for that answer, but local government is mentioned twice in the 47-page document that presents a complex structure for shaping skills development, and there is a real risk of confusion over the role of local authorities. Can I therefore ask the Government what specific actions it will take to make local influence and skills development stronger, not weaker, and what role local authorities will play in that? I reiterate the fact that the board's membership includes local government and COSLA representation. The very heart of the decision making and the very heart of the board includes local government, and it will continue to expect that the board continues to ensure that local government continues to fully contribute as fully involved and fully engaged. We, along with our partners in local government, have a joint governance role across Scotland. It is important that, when there is economic and enterprise skills on the agenda, local government continues to be involved and to have an active role, and that is exactly what we expect from the strategic board's plan. I refer to my Regist of Interest, as I am a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that planning policies and decisions do not discriminate against minority groups. Under existing legislation, ministers and planning authorities are required to perform their statutory functions in a manner that encourages equal opportunities. The planning bill also includes provisions to ensure that all members of the public have a greater say in planning the future of their places. Travelling show people often live in caravans or mobile homes. When development is proposed on neighbouring sites, it is important that impacts such as noise and vibration are taken account of the different types of accommodation that could be affected. Does the minister agree with me that planning policies and decisions should help to protect and facilitate the traditional way of life of travelling show people? Is he satisfied that current planning guidance in practice is adequately protecting travelling show people? I spoke at some length this morning about gypsy travellers and show people at the scrutiny of stage 2 of the planning bill. The quality of our places matters to all of us. Planning has a responsibility to ensure that the needs of all our communities are understood and met. Planning can play a vital role in ensuring that gypsy travellers have safe and secure places to stop or settle. I am absolutely committed to ensuring that gypsies and travellers are properly involved in the planning of the future of their places. As I said to Ms Lennon and other members of the planning committee this morning, and it is open to all members, if they want to know what the Scottish Government is doing at this moment in time in terms of research to get that right, I am more unhappy to provide that information. How is it ensuring that housing that is part of its affordable and social house building programme contributes to a low-carbon future? All projects that are funded through the Scottish Government's affordable housing supply programme are required to meet current building standards. Over and above that requirement, a higher level of grant is available for homes that are built to a higher greener standard. New homes in Scotland are now producing around 75 per cent less carbon dioxide emissions than the homes that are built to the 1990s standards. Looking at energy performance certificates issued for new homes, 95 per cent of them achieve an A or B rating for environmental impact. Can the minister update Parliament and the Government's thinking on three issues that will drive down carbon emissions, the potentials to set a net zero carbon standard for new buildings through the use of carbon offsetting measures, enabling infrastructure for the charging of electric vehicles in new buildings and ensuring that all new buildings are as energy efficient as technology will allow, reducing the need for future retrofitting? On a net zero carbon standard for new development, we are investigating this as part of our current review of building regulations. We launched the Plugged In Households initiative on 19 October. That aims to widen access to electric vehicles, including through housing associations and car clubs, so that communities across Scotland can share the benefit. On the last matter, a review of the energy standards set by building regulations started earlier this year includes a focus on reducing energy demand and will consider the extent to which it is practical to future-proof new buildings to support further change such as the decarbonisation of the heat that we use in our buildings. I have to move on to the next set of portfolio questions. I apologise to Gil Paterson, the only member whom we did not manage to reach. Scottish Government, what action is it taking to reduce levels of social isolation among older people? By the end of the year, we will publish our final social isolation and loneliness strategy. Our draft strategy was published in January 2018 and identified that older people should feature as a prominent group within the final strategy, as we recognise that they are at more risk of being affected by social isolation and loneliness. I have recently been meeting with a wide range of stakeholders and partners on the details of the final strategy, and last week we published the analysis of the consultation responses. In addition, we have included a new national indicator in the national performance framework. I thank the minister for that response. Social isolation is likely to cost the NHS as much as £12,000 per year and can be as significant a risk factor for early death as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Due to lower levels of connectivity, it is also very likely that those who live in rural areas may experience isolation and loneliness. Given that there is high burden on the NHS, may I ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to combat social isolation, particularly in rural areas? We are working on all the impacts, especially on rural strategies. One of the key aspects that are emerging is rural connectivity and rural transport projects. I had a lovely visit to Galloway Wales a few weeks ago, which was a great example of that. There is a key element to the work that we are doing on social isolation and loneliness about connecting people and especially looking at rural areas and how we can work together collaboratively to answer those questions. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the estimates for social security spending in the Scottish Fiscal Commission's 2018 economic and fiscal forecasts. As set out in the Scottish Fiscal Commission Act 2016, the Scottish Fiscal Commission's independent forecasts of devolved social security expenditure are used to inform the Scottish Government's budget. The Scottish Fiscal Commission will publish its next report, Scotland's economic and fiscal forecasts, including updated forecasts for social security expenditure, on 12 December to accompany the Scottish budget for 2020. I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer. In the past, ministers have sometimes hinted that they do not agree with the Scottish Fiscal Commission's forecast. Last year, for example, the cabinet secretary for finance argued that the Scottish Fiscal Commission was more cautious than the Scottish Government on income tax forecasts. Can the cabinet secretary therefore confirm if the Scottish Government has any plans to do any of its own modelling or projections of welfare spending at all, or can she confirm that it will always use the Scottish Fiscal Commission's forecast? We have a team of officials that do work exactly on forecasting. They also work very closely and share their information with the Scottish Fiscal Commission. Our modelling and forecasting as a Government has been there right from the beginning of the social security process. The Scottish Fiscal Commission's forecasting is what has to be used for the budget. I accept challenging to forecast what the expenditure will be on some of the social security assets, because this is a new power to Scotland and we are delivering, for example, best start grants, which are new. We are also encouraging take-up more than the current Westminster system. However, the member can be assured that the Scottish Government officials do work very closely with the Fiscal Commission and share all their forecasting and modelling information. Mark Griffin. The cabinet secretary has said in recent written answers that the Scottish Government could be paying more than £2.5 million to the DWP to deliver Scottish choices, and at the full-year cost of delivering, carers allowance by the DWP will cost the Government £5.9 million. Is the cabinet secretary able to set out how much she expects to pay the DWP over the course of the remainder of this Parliament to deliver Scotland's devolved benefit powers? Mr Griffin is quite right to point out that we have to pay the DWP for the choices, such as Scottish choices, and, for example, when we are looking at split payments in universal credit, that will be another aspect that we will need to look at. The information for the parliamentary term—I do not have it at the moment, because we are still negotiating with the DWP—and, for example, around split payments, we need to establish what we would like to see as the Scottish Parliament before we enter very detailed negotiations with the DWP. However, I will be sure to keep the Parliament and particularly the member up-to-date with our work on that process. To ask the Scottish Government what support it can give to older people who find themselves lonely and isolated. We are supporting a range of initiatives to tackle social isolation and loneliness among older people. That includes funding for the Age Scotland helpline, support for the development of men's sheds and support for a range of local community-based projects that bring older people together to spend time with each other. I look forward to building on that further with an older people's framework, which we will launch in 2019, to help to focus on promoting a positive image of older people, tackling prejudice and ensuring that older people's voices are recognised in decisions around their services. John Mason I think that the minister may be aware of the Bell Grove hotel in my constituency, which is effectively a private hostel with a lot of older, lonely and isolated people. It is believed that the hostel management intercepts the mail of the residents and that makes them even more lonely and isolated. Can she say if there is anything that the Government can do for those residents? The minister is right. I am well aware of the Bell Grove hotel, but I say to him that any intersection of another person's mail without their consent is a criminal activity, and such concerns should be reported to the police. As the member is aware, the Bell Grove hotel is a privately owned hotel hostel and is not typical of the homelessness accommodation in Glasgow. If the member can give me more details of his constituents' concerns, I would be happy to pass those on to the housing ministers. Homelessness is a clear example of how a person can become socially isolated and loneliness, and it is an area in which we are taking real interest in recognising the needs during the process of the strategy. 4. Linda Fabiani Thank you, Presiding Officer, to ask the Scottish Government how it defines older people. Be careful, minister. Presiding Officer, the Scottish Government focuses mainly, but not exclusively, on the over-fifties. While recognising the importance of removing barriers to a positive ageing for everyone, that age is chosen because, for many, it is a point of at which life circumstances start to change in ways that have implications for the future. For example, in relation to working patterns, caring responsibilities and long-term health conditions. As I mentioned earlier, we will publish to older people's framework next year, which has been developed alongside older people's organisations. It will cover combating negative stereotypes and celebrating the contribution that all citizens can make whatever their age. I do not have Ms Fabiani's happy with that definition, Ms Fabiani. Can I say, Presiding Officer, that I have not realised till now that our minister was actually elderly and that some of us are positively ancient? I suggest that that perhaps will be looked at as part of the strategy, because I am sure that there are very few 50-year-olds who feel very elderly. However, having said that, in that people are living longer lives these days, I have now seen quite often a serious problem in East Kilbride, where you have very elderly carers who are looking after daughters and sons with disabilities or learning difficulties, and they are in fact elderly themselves. I feel that that is a very particular kind of caring, needs a different kind of approach and very special consideration. There is a group in my constituency of East Kilbride that many in this Parliament are aware of. We have done a lot of work on this over the years, and I would ask that the minister would come and hear first-hand what some of the issues are. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. If I could rescind the cake that Ms Fabiani ate at my significant birthday party recently, I would be taking it back off her anyway. She makes a very important point about carers, and we all know that all carers now have rights under the carers act to have their individual needs and personal outcomes identified. For the first time, they also have the right to support for any identified needs that meets the local eligibility criteria. A major focus of those new rights is that support, information and advice for carers should be tailored to the individual circumstances and characteristics, including any needs due to their age. I would be absolutely delighted to visit Ms Fabiani and her constituents in East Kilbride. To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide in response to the reported increase in rent arrears among universal credit recipients in the Mid Scotland and Fife region. We expect to spend more than £125 million in 2018-19 on welfare mitigation and on measures to help protect those on low incomes. That includes more than £60 million in funding for discretionary housing payments of which over £50 million is to fully mitigate the bedroom tax. As a result of cuts by the UK Government, welfare spending will be reduced in Scotland by £3.7 billion in 2020-21. The Scottish Government cannot mitigate cuts off that scale. Mounting evidence shows that universal credit claimants are more likely to be in rent arrears and that the very limited measures that are announced in the UK Government's latest budget do not address the fundamental flaws in the discredited system. Mark Ruskell Can I thank the minister for that robust answer? We know that in Stirling, even though universal credit was introduced for a few months last year, it led to an increase in rent arrears of 15 per cent, while in Fife there was an 82 per cent increase in crisis grant expenditure as a result of universal credit. It is clear that this policy is providing a huge strain on families and is a vindictive attack on our welfare state. Is the minister confident that the funds that are available within the constraints of the Scottish Government's budget will be enough to cope with universal credit roll-out, particularly the managed migration that will be taking place in the next year? The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills As I pointed out in my original answer, the scale of the welfare cuts that are coming to Scotland makes it impossible for the Scottish Government to be able to mitigate that. It is simply too enormous to be able to mitigate against that £3.7 billion of cuts. The member is absolutely right to point out that universal credit is an entirely flawed system. The budget was an opportunity to stop the roll-out of universal credit, to end the benefit freeze, to scrap the absolutely inhumane and indefensible two-child policy, and to fully reverse cuts to work allowances. That opportunity was not taken. I spent this morning speaking to constituents in Edinburgh, where universal credit will be rolled out soon, and they are frightened of the consequences that are coming down there. It is a shame that the UK Government did not respond to that this week. Gillian Martin briefly, please. What is the reaction of the cabinet secretary who reports that CFIM, one of Aberdeen's biggest food banks, has warned that it may no longer be able to supply other organisations in the north-east of Scotland so that it can cope itself with the full roll-out of universal credit in Aberdeen? They have called it a scary time. It is an extremely concerning time, and the fact that we are seeing increased renter ears, as Mark Ruskell has pointed to, and the extent to which the increased numbers that are going to food banks in the areas that have been served by universal credit is a testament to how bankrupt this system is. I am very concerned to hear Gillian Martin's reports about what is going on within her constituency and with that food bank. I fear that it may not be the only one in Scotland that will be suffering those demands. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress it is making with its commitment to recruit up to 250 community-link workers to work in GP surgeries by the end of this parliamentary session. Responsibility for community-link workers sits within the portfolio of the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport. Community-link workers continue to form a core component of primary care reform. Our commitment to delivering 250 link workers by 2021-22 is on track, and as part of our support to the new GP contract, the Scottish Government is funding integration authorities to deliver that commitment. Integration authorities have set out how they will do this in their primary care improvement plans. Despite a pledge by the Scottish Government to recruit 250 community-link workers by the end of the parliamentary session, last month it was revealed that just three had been recruited in nine months as of September, taking us to a grand total of 56. Not only are we making little headway in terms of numbers, 38 out of the 56 in post are on fixed-term contracts, some as little as 18 months. Those are vital health workers that can connect people to non-medical sources of support in the community. What action will the minister take to drastically improve the extremely slow progress? As I pointed out in my original answer, we are on track to deliver our commitment for the 250 workers. Annie Wells is fully aware of that. I know that she has received written answers from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport around the progress in that area. We are determined to fulfil our commitment for that. Maureen Watt, please. I wonder whether the cabinet secretary will join with me in congratulating Aberdeen Health and Social Care partnership, who have concluded a contract with Sam H to provide 20 link workers across all 30 city GP practices for a two-year contract with a one-plus-one option to the value of £0.7 million. Is that not an example of the money being there? It requires the will commitment and drive at a local level to make this happen. I would absolutely welcome the work that has been going on. Maureen Watt is quite right to point to that improvement. It shows that the Government remains on track to fulfil our commitment for 250 workers. I am pleased to hear about the development in the member's area. Question 7. To ask the Scottish Government what budget it expects Social Security Scotland to have for IT for the rest of the parliamentary session. On 1 September 2018, Social Security Scotland became an executive agency of the Scottish Government. The 2018-19 budget for the agency for IT is expected to be £3.4 million. That budget will grow in future years as systems and processes to support further devolution go live. The outlying business case for the agency for social security in Scotland was published in April 2017. That estimated cost of the social security agency has a steady state of between £144 million and £156 million per annum. Social Security Scotland devolution is a complex and multi-year programme of activity. That process is not yet complete with systems and processes currently being developed, and the social security agency will not reach a steady state until welfare devolution is complete. That is a huge undertaking. After the SNP's failures on cap funding, police, IT and NHS 24, and I could go on, people will be very nervous. Can the minister tell us specifically what lessons were learned from those to ensure that the new system will work? Indeed, the Audit Scotland report, which looked at a number of public sector projects in relation to IT, has looked at what is going on within social security, and the new powers that are coming to the Scottish Parliament has said that we are making good progress within social security Scotland and our programme. We recognise that that is, of course, a complex area. It is the biggest change to devolution since this Parliament was set up. That is why we are pleased with our progress. That remains on time, and the progression that we are making with Social Security Scotland can only go well if we have a good co-operation from the DWP. I hope that the member will encourage the DWP to remain with their commitments on IT because that will ensure that we deliver our timetable. To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to protect vulnerable older people from bogus callers and rogue traders. The Scottish Government is committed to protecting and supporting vulnerable older people. We continue to work with Police Scotland, trading standards and partners, including neighbourhood watch and crime stoppers, to help to raise awareness, provide practical advice and encourage the reporting of any suspicious activity. Following a report by the Newson's Calls Commission to empower and protect individuals, we have implemented an action plan to protect people from scam callers. That includes the funding for call blocking units to vulnerable customers. We have also implemented preventative measures through the nominated neighbour scheme to help to build resilience and encourage communities to look after each other. Thank you, minister, for a response. Sadly, doorstep, scammers, commonly target, older people, only last week an 86-year-old lady from Livingston lost hundreds of pounds through trade bogus traders caught at home. Would the minister therefore commit to having further discussions with her justice colleagues on this issue to consider disinno awareness for raising campaigns, particularly on darker nights? Absolutely. A great point to bring up is that the member will know that crime stoppers lead a national doorstep crime campaign, if in doubt, keeps them out. There are many other aspects of the work that we do along with Police Scotland and other organisations, but I am happy to brief my justice colleagues and see how we can make progress on this issue. I apologise to Joan McAlpine, Alexander Stewart, whom we did not reach. We then have to move on to the next item of business time. It is very tight, and we have two short debates. I am not going to really pause, I am just going to fill in time by singing or talking or while you get your seats. Mr Greene, please, we have to move on.