 We look forward to having you here. Good afternoon, everyone, in the first item of business today's portfolio questions. When we get as many people in as possible it would be great to have short questions and answers. Question 1 is from Bob Doris. To ask the Scottish Government how it seeks to support Jewish culture in Scotland. Mr Whomийda Ywsa? I thank the member for the question. The Scottish Government recognises and values the contribution of Scotland's Jewish communities, and that they make to our nation. Most recently we've provided £10,000 to the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities to continue their being Jewish in Scotland project to explore how attitudes of being Jewish in Scotland have changed over the past year. That is on top of £21,750, providing 2011-12 to create a picture of contemporary Jewish life in Scotland. The Scottish Government also supports, as the member will know, the annual commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day through a grant into faith Scotland. On 27 January, the First Minister attended the 2015 national Scottish Holocaust Memorial Day in Ayr. I thank the minister for that extensive answer. Does the minister agree that the celebration of Jewish culture is an expression of the tolerant and inclusive Scotland that we all want to nurture? Will the minister take this opportunity to contribute to the contribution of our Jewish communities who have made Scotland who have contributed towards Scottish society and put on record our solidarity with them at a time of heightened anxiety due to the increase in antisemitic abuse and attacks? I thank the member for raising the important point. We stand absolutely shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish community here in Scotland whose contribution is vast. We all know that that contribution has been economical to our economy, it has been to our education sector, it has been social, it has been cultural and we should celebrate that. All of us have a duty across this chamber, regardless of which party we belong to, to stamp that out wherever it exists. On the actual attacks, I should say to the member that I am pleased to note that, although there is a lot more work to be done, there has been a 15 per cent decrease in antisemitic incidents, and that has been a 35 per cent decrease from the year before. Still, there is a heck of a lot to be done. Perhaps the final point I would make on this is that, in a time of inflamed rhetoric around immigration and migration, it is important that all of us stand with one united voice to say that those who seek to divide us should not be allowed to do so, not now and indeed not in the future either. Excellent, and Mike Taggart. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Can I ask the minister how he seeks to support the Jewish culture within the education system in Scotland? Of course, you know, a religious education is a matter for local authorities, but of course, there should be as much exchange of information as possible. I know that when I was in school, certainly, it was an important part to be able to learn from other Jewish pupils and from those from the community directly. I know that Scottish Council for Jewish Communities does programmes where they go into schools. Members of the community speak about their different traditions, so I am more than happy to speak to the minister and the cabinet secretary for education to see what is going on and to provide the member with a fuller answer, but the more we can promote that interaction between communities, the better. To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Creative Scotland's project funding was spent in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire in the last year, and how many projects in Aberdeen received support. In 2013-14, Creative Scotland provided almost £1.8 million in 27 awards in the Aberdeen city area and almost £2.2 million in 30 awards in the Aberdeenshire area. That represents their total spend in those areas. Creative Scotland has advised that it is not possible to identify the amount of funding that was project-specific and to frame that as a proportion of total project spend. Projects supported include the Youth Music Initiative, support for artists and cultural venues, including Aberdeen performing arts and north-east arts touring, which works in Aberdeenshire, and, more recently, Creative Scotland has awarded £130,000 to the sound festival, which is based in Aberdeen, for its work in 2015-16. Independent analysis carried out by members of the arts community in the north-east shows that per capita spend from Creative Scotland in Aberdeen was under £10, whereas in both Edinburgh and Glasgow it was over £50 per capita. Will the minister agree that those figures show that Creative Scotland should be doing more to support the arts in Aberdeen and the wider north-east, particularly when there are many exciting projects that support, such as the sound festival, which the minister mentioned, as well as our theatres, and what will she do to ensure that there is more investment in the arts in the north-east in the future? In 2013-14, in relation to Aberdeen City, it ranked 14th for investment per head of population, so mid-table in terms of ranking per head of population and, indeed, for Aberdeenshire, it was 13th in 2013-14 per head of population. The analysis that he is referring to, which I have not seen, is that analysis. I probably reflect that there is funding for the national performing companies and collections, which are based in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Four of the five national performing companies are based in Glasgow, but he would be pleased to know that when the Scottish Government's cabinet was meeting in Aberdeen, I met with Aberdeen performing arts. I was delighted that it has now received regular funding, a major achievement for that cultural body. We were discussing the importance of the companies, in particular, providing support and performances, which they already do, but specifically during the period of the fantastic renovation, again funded through Scottish Government public bodies and agencies, including Historic Scotland of the Music Hall. Yes, I recognise that there may be a disparity, but that will be due to the national performing companies. That is precisely why we insist, as part of the Government's relationship with the national performing companies, that they perform as they regularly do in Aberdeen. That will not appear in the figures of the report that he has cited. Thank you very much and good afternoon, Presiding Officer. Is to ask the Scottish Government when it plans to announce details of the new film and TV studios in Scotland. As I stated in my evidence session at the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee on Wednesday 4 February, Scottish Enterprise has received a new proposal to provide studio infrastructure for Scotland. That proposal is currently subject to a due diligence and is commercial in confidence at present. However, I anticipate being able to confirm if that proposal is viable in April 2015. Thank you very much for that response and I'm grateful that there is some movement. Considering this issue has been going on for some years now with no visible progress, can the minister assure me that all necessary steps are being taken by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Film Studio delivery group to ensure and create a Scottish film studio? And when will we see real progress on the Glasgow site? In relation to Glasgow, I refer the member to my evidence, where I set out quite clearly that, in terms of propositions, you cannot have a private sector tender when response from Glasgow specifically was for 100 per cent publicly funded studio. However, I do absolutely recognise the skills and the existing infrastructure in Glasgow. I have tasked the film delivery group to look at different options further to the one that has been provided. That relies on the business coming through the door. It relies on the economy and the opportunities, but when the outlander starts to be broadcast in the UK, I think that people will see the importance of the film industry, the investment that it can bring, but it also recognises that more can be done. We already invest a record amount in the film industry far more than compared to the previous administration, but there is much more that can be done. There is a huge potential. I would affirm to the member my commitment and this Government's commitment to this sector. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I was interested in Hanzala Manich's comments about progress. I just wondered, therefore, could the cabinet secretary outline the current level of Scottish public sector investment in the screen sector and how that compares with 2007-2008? In terms of support for the sector, what I can say is that the current proposal is £21 million in relation to the previous administration. It was far, far less than that. In terms of what that means, for example, Creative Scotland currently invests £8 million in terms of the screen sector prior to that, I think that it was about £3 million. That is a big increase from £3 million to £8 million in relation to direct film subsidy, but in the film and television sector as a whole, the total is now £21 million, which is considered not just in film, but also in television. It is very important that, in our focus currently on the film sector, we do not forget the television sector as well. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with representatives of the European Commission. The Scottish Government ministers and officials meet regularly with the European Commission to advance the Government's agenda across a range of portfolios. For example, I met officials from the Commission's Trade Director General on 19 February for a factual briefing on trade policy, which covered a range of issues among them. Thank you. I would indeed like to ask about the transatlantic trade and investment partnership. That deal risks much more than public services like the NHS. Westminster's Environmental Audit Committee pointed out yesterday that there are 1,300 cosmetic chemicals restricted in Europe compared with just 11 in the US. Does the minister agree that TTIP will weaken our environmental and public health protections? Will he write to the Commission and UK ministers voicing opposition before the negotiations enter their ninth round in April? I appreciate the member's concerns, TTIP, and many of the concerns that are also shared by this Government. That is why the First Minister herself has written to the Prime Minister outlining a number of those concerns. Those concerns include the NHS and public services, as she mentioned, and the issue of transparency around the negotiations. However, as she quite rightly says, maintaining standards are not lowering standards. We have had assurances, but until there is a final agreement, it is difficult to oppose TTIP without seeing a final agreement. What we will continue to do is put forward all our concerns and put them forward in a constructive manner. We have asked for specific things within TTIP—for example, a black and white exemption in the text of the agreement that was signed by members of the Cabinet and indeed the First Minister herself. I am more than happy to meet the member. We have written to the Commission and to the UK Government. On those matters, I can get her copies of those letters in corresponding responses where it is appropriate. However, we are certainly in agreement that TTIP or any agreement, if there is an agreement, must be about raising standards and not lowering standards. Thank you, Presiding Officer. The minister may be aware of the commission's proposed cuts to horizon 2020, the fund that many Scottish universities benefit from. Can he say what representation the Scottish Government has made on the issue? I am aware of it. At the recent meeting with David Lidington, the UK Government's Minister for Europe, I raised that specific point and mentioned that, if there are any funds that are to be found for President Junker's investment package, we would have serious concern if those funds were taken from horizon 2020 for exactly the reasons that the member raises. It should be to put it into context. In terms of the money that was reduced from horizon 2020, it was specifically for President Junker's investment package. It could be that universities and they should be able to benefit from that, which I hope in Scotland they absolutely would. However, yes, we share the concerns and there should be, we would hope, no further reduction of horizon 2020. What discussions has the Scottish Government had with the European Commission regarding its proposed energy union? Does the minister agree with me that completion of such a union would help to integrate Scotland into a pan-European energy market? I would not be happy to give the correspondence and the discussions that we have had, including the discussions that the cabinet secretary has had and any other conversations. However, we agree that there are, of course, potential benefits for Scotland. Of course, that is another good reason why Scotland most certainly should remain a member of the European Union. In his discussions with the European Commission, the minister raised the economic and political situation in Greece, where we recently saw a Government democratically elected by the Greek people in a manifesto to oppose austerity, only to be immediately prevented from enacting that manifesto by the Troika of the Commission, the IMF and the ECB. Why was there no protest from the Scottish Government or from Governments across Europe about that democratic outrage? I should say that when the Greek Government was elected and appointed into place, I was one to give a message to the Prime Minister or congratulating him on getting into his position. I noticed that Ed Miliband did not make a single comment in terms of congratulation to Sir Itza. In fact, he was hiding away from that. In terms of our own voice in the European Union, of course, he will be more than well aware because of the recent referendum that that voice was represented by the UK Government. I wish that we had a greater voice. I hope that he will support us in terms of our discussions, in terms of the Smith commission, so that Scotland has a voice and can be a counterbalance, because there is no doubt—and he is correct to make mention of this and to allude to this—that this Government is anti-austerity, unlike, of course, the party that he represents. Question 5. In the name of Jenny Marra, was not lodged and a less than satisfactory explanation was provided? Similarly, question 6 was not lodged and a less than satisfactory explanation was provided. Question 7, Stuart McMillan. Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the impact on devolved areas of responsibility of reported plans to replace the TV licence fee with a household tax. There are no plans to replace the television licence fee with a household tax in the context of renewal of the BBC's royal charter for 1 January 2017. That said, on the Thursday, 26 February, the House of Commons Select Committee on Culture, Medium and Sport published its fourth report, Future of the BBC, in which they wrote that there currently appears to be no better alternative for funding the BBC in the near term other than a hypothecated tax or a licence fee. I also looked at the possibility that the report did in the longer term of introducing a broadcasting levy applicable to all households. The director general of the BBC Lord Hall of Birkenhead indicated in a speech to BBC staff on Monday 2 March that he saw some merit in the idea of a broadcasting levy. Against the background where annual funding for BBC Scotland will have fallen from £102 million to £86 million by the time the charter is renewed, the Scottish Government will be making the case for adequate resources publicly funded, reflecting that £320 million that Scotland contributes currently through the licence fee to produce the high-quality programming that Scotland deserves under any approach to funding. I recently conducted a survey in which 74 per cent of the 1,600 constituents who have replied agreed that broadcasting legislation should be devolved to this Parliament. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me and my constituents that those powers should be devolved in order that we in this chamber can decide any changes or alternatives to the TV licence fee and how that income is spent and bearing in mind the comments that she just mentioned in terms of £320 million that Scotland actually contributes, but it is going to be reduced down to £86 million in which we receive. I agree with that. In our submission to the Smith commission, we made the case for devolution of broadcasting, including the licence fee, as part of a coherent package of reforms on a divo max model. It is disappointing, although not the first disappointment that the Smith commission outcome fell short of that. However, we will use the formal consultative role for the Scottish Parliament that is proposed in renewal for the BBC charter, as I am sure the Parliament will itself to press the case for more production for Scotland and from Scotland. To ask the Scottish Government what support it has given to community arts groups across rural South Scotland in the last year. In 2013, Creative Scotland invested over £3 million in 94 awards to individual artists and organisations in South Scotland. Those included support for the artistic programme at the Boswell Book Festival, the Llamar Muir Festival and the Alchemy Film Festival. In 2014-15, Creative Scotland also awarded capital funding for Motebray in Dumfries and Ayrgyethe Theatre. Creative Scotland is also investing over £500,000 over the three-year period, from 2015 to 2018, in the Ayrgyethe partnership, the Stove Network Ltd and the Wigtown Festival Company, as regular funded organisations. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Lanark Memorial Hall, which is managed by South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Ltd for South Lanarkshire Council, was able to offer the use of its box office for community group music in Lanark to support its production and mud and butterfly. Although the model was a relationship with a local authority, could the cabinet secretary give consideration to providing funding to support such ventures as this to ensure that communities have access to excellent venues across South Scotland and beyond, the cost of which is often beyond groups means? I think that the member makes a very interesting point. There are sometimes skills and experience that can be shared more widely, and I think that box office, backroom staffing in terms of administration would allow a small amount to go an awful lot further. It is an area that I am very interested in to help build capacity. I think that one of the areas that our national companies could also support in, so we have to look at the kind of network across Scotland to support the lifeblood of many local communities, which is a lot of the voluntary cultural work that takes place. I am sure that members will have seen the Lanark exhibition that was here last week and commend the activities in that area. To ask the Scottish Government how much funding is available for the 2015 Edinburgh festivals expo fund and when the details will be announced. I was delighted to announce further investment of £2.25 million in support of the Edinburgh festivals through the Scottish Government's Edinburgh festivals expo fund on 6 March. Scottish Government's expo fund investment has been transformative for the festivals and their artists. It helped to showcase them on an international platform. You only have to look at the range of Scottish artists from Don Paterson, Allie Smith, James Robertson and Martin Creed in the Scotsman Steps to identify some of the world-class art that is being performed here. The expo fund has made a major contribution to the export of that international talent and the showcasing of Scottish cultural talent. I thank the cabinet secretary for that response. Following the submission of my question last week, the cabinet secretary helped to make the announcement on Friday, so it is very welcome. Perhaps I can ask the cabinet secretary how we can support festival programmes in other cities and, although Edinburgh's programme is unique and international, how do we increase opportunities for other cities across Scotland? Clearly, the Edinburgh festival is contributing £250 million to the local economy and also more widely. It is a calling card not just for Edinburgh but for Scotland culturally, but it rightly identifies the role of other festivals. For example, Celtic Connections is a regular funded organisation from Creative Scotland and there are other festivals that have that support. I am delighted that the Magnus festival, in Orkney, has such funding. There is support for other festivals. It is important that new festivals can get support either from Event Scotland or Creative Scotland. There are avenues in which we already support different festivals, but I am working with Visit Scotland on how, with Visit Scotland, Event Scotland and Creative Scotland, we can make more of that wonderful offer all year round from the festivals throughout Scotland. Thank you. Disappointingly, question 10 in the name of Cara Hilton. There has been no explanation lodged for that question not being lodged. Infrastructure investment in cities, questions 1, Lewis MacDonald. To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to contribute to the proposed city deal for Aberdeen. We are always happy to consider new proposals and ideas to stimulate economic growth. We are working with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire to establish a detail of what a city deal for the region is intended to deliver. We remain absolutely committed to working with all our cities to unlock investment, whether that is individually or collectively. I thank Mr Brown for that positive response. Can he be aware, of course, of the emphasis in the city deal proposal published this week on the need for improvements to rail infrastructure north and south of the city of Aberdeen? Does he agree that, during the stretch of single track rail rail line at Montrose, we would strongly support the city deal proposals by linking in an enhanced rail network around Aberdeen with the central belt? Can he tell us if he does agree that that is significant when the Government will make a decision on whether or not such an improvement should be included in its instructions to network rail for control periods 6, starting in 2019? First of all, we all recognise—it has been recognised for a number of years now—the constraint that the Montrose Basin presents in relation to that. It is a very substantial project in its own right. First of all, in relation to the city deal, it is only right that, having received that just this week, we take some time to look at the city deal, as you would expect us to do, to see where we can possibly work together. I hope that we can support in relation to what is represented. However, whether the Montrose Basin features in control periods 6 will be a matter for discussion with myself and, of course, the transport minister and with officials. However, that is something that I recognise as a long-standing ambition for people. It is also one of the ways in which we can achieve a substantial difference in terms of the capacity on that line and of journey speeds. Of course, it is something that we wish to do at the earliest opportunity, but it will have to be set beside other priorities at the same time. A decision on that will be taken in due course. As you would expect from a programme developed and championed by Liberal Democrats in the UK Government, city region deals are designed to give local bodies greater control over spending and decision making. After years of centralisation by the SNP Government, does the cabinet secretary consider that this is an opportunity to start to reverse that unwelcome trend and initiate the transfers of powers from the Scottish Government back to local communities? I will certainly remember when I, as a council leader, had to spend a very substantial chunk of our budget on priorities set by the Liberal executive back in between 1989 and 2007. The biggest move towards decentralisation that we have seen is the lifting of a hypothecated expenditure by the Government. That is a substantial move towards decentralisation and undermines her claim to be in favour of decentralisation. I think that we have done a great deal to make sure that councils can spend according to their own priorities. I do accept, of course, that there have been constraints, not least those that have been imposed by the Government that she supports in Westminster. We have a smaller cake to distribute, but we have looked after in my view local government. As I said, we will take a very positive response to what we have been presented to by Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire in relation to the city deal, but we have to take some time to have a look at that first of all. Thank you to ask the Scottish Government what rail investment plans it has for South Scotland. Over the next five years, the Scottish Government is investing £5 billion across the Scottish rail network, including in the south of Scotland service improvements in Dumfries and Galloway, the introduction of the Great Scenic Railways on three lines and investment of £353 million for the Borders railway, which will establish passenger railway services between Edinburgh to Midlothian and Scottish Borders for the first time since 1969. I thank the minister for his answer. Given the support of the board, his real project that he mentioned has received in the recent past from himself, of course, the former First Minister, and Visit Scotland calling it a tourism magnet. Does the transport minister agree with me and local campaigners that the Scottish Government should now take this chance to build on the work of the Lib Dems in coalition in passing that Wavelay railway act and commission a feasibility study into the extension of the line on to Hoik and beyond to Carlyle for the economic benefit that this would bring to even more communities across the Borders? It appears to me that the Liberal Democrats are living in some sort of parallel universe at the moment where they think that their popularity is soaring. We can all work together across the chamber on good projects and the Borders railway. I think that it is a good example where people across the political spectrum have supported that project. We have said before and will say again that we will judge the success of the line and then take any future judgments on how that may be extended in the future. However, if the success of rail is anything to go by, it is exceeded the forecast and therefore rail has a very strong future in the portfolio and transport mix. I am sure that the Borders rail will be a success and will continue to invest in the expansion of railways and make all future judgments based on performance. To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the handover of the ScotRail franchise. Its significant progress continues to be made towards the handover from the ScotRail franchise to Beilio on 1 April. We expect a new franchise to build on the success of ScotRail, adding further quality and efficiency improvements to a rail network for passengers. In addition to the improvement commitments that are secured, we are also encouraged by the progress on the deeper lines with Network Rail, which we believe will improve partnership working on railways to improve passenger experiences. Thank the minister for his answer. He mentioned the benefits to passengers. Can he confirm that the rail fares will not be subject to above inflation increases under the new franchise? Yes, we have secured a fares arrangement that will ensure that peak fares are capped at the level of the retail price index and off-peak capped at RPI less than 1 per cent. We will also have club 50 smart card and reduced travel costs for job seekers and newly employed people as well. That fares policy is in addition to the station improvements, new trains, better digital infrastructure, smart ticketing, integrated transport, the great scenic railway, choopy protection for staff in improved journey times. That seems to me to be the best deal that was possible, secured by this Scottish Government and that Cabinet Secretary. Thank you very much for a huge amount of supplementary questions and requests. I will start with Richard Simpson. One of the attendants told me that they are going to issue clogs on the first of me, for I am sure that that is not true. Although we all hope that that progresses well, I remind the Minister of the current overcrowding at peak time on the Dunblane and Allawa routes from Glasgow and Edinburgh. The record number of fines for reduced coach numbers that were achieved under ScotRail will undertake to provide full information on what I am told is the projected reduction in the number of coaches on the trains to Dunblane and Allawa when the route to the borders opens. I am happy to look further at the detailed information, but overall there is no reduction in capacity. In fact, we want greater capacity in terms of passenger numbers and so on through the procurement of new trains that I will be discussing with the chief executive of a Bello later today. I will also look to assess the new information that we will have. We will be able to assess capacity numbers and overcrowding issues as well, and that will inform further investment and deed management of the rolling stock as well. All of that should quite helpfully provide us with a picture of where further resources need to be deployed in partnership with a Bello, and I am happy to share that with the member in due course. The minister has been extremely helpful in trying to persuade a Bello to improve the train services that the company is offering my constituents in Stranraa and in Wigtonshire. The reintroduction of the early morning direct train is very welcome, but I wonder if he might be able to persuade a Bello to include a direct service between Stranraa and Glasgow on Sundays, which would help to give my constituents the impression that they actually have a really meaningful service geared to their needs rather than being felt as something of an afterthought in those negotiations. I thank Alex Ferguson for recognising the effort that I have put in to try to improve the service to and from Stranraa, and that takes me to a point around consultation between the operator and communities. We should not just consult with the existing travelling public rail passengers, but more widely with transport partnerships, local authorities and potential rail users. If we do that, we can helpfully shape services that people want. I have worked quite hard on the Stranraa-Glasgow issue to improve connections. I think that there will be an improved service, better journey times and improved connections, and that direct service is restored as part of the current-priced model. I am not sure if we can push much further on a cost-neutral basis, but I am happy to look into that in terms of the question on the Sunday option that was raised by the member. I welcome the comments by the minister in relation to the discussions with Abelio, but can the minister give us some assurances that the rolling stock will not be affected? As I am aware, the new rolling stock that Abelio has promised will not be in place until 2017. Can the quality and age of the carriages that passengers are currently being asked to utilise be improved prior to that date? We will work closely with Transport Scotland with Abelio in terms of the new and existing stock. I can give the assurance that, on transition, on handover, there is an adequate amount of trains to provide the service that is proposed. However, it surely has to be welcomed, the multi-million-pound investment that will bring new electric trains to the network, of course, running in our newly electrified lines. That will ensure that there are better journey times, improved service, better passenger experience, and it has massive environmental benefits in terms of emissions. We will welcome the new fleet, which will be deployed from 2017 onwards in a managed way, but that will significantly enhance the rolling stock that we have in Scotland. The way that we have produced the deal as well gives the Scottish Government the option to retain them, which is a novel approach in terms of the procurement of rail stock in Scotland as well. To ask the Scottish Government what investment will be made in active travel using the Future Transport Fund? The budget for the Future Transport Fund in 2015-16 is £20.25 million. Decisions on the allocations, including to active travel, are still to be taken and an announcement will be made in due course. I thank the minister for his response. The minister will be aware of the Borders Railway project that goes through my constituency. Can the minister outline the ways active travel will be promoted through the railway? We will work very closely with Abelio, who has some experience with active travel and cycling, to bring some of that expertise to Scotland. In terms of the new contract, there will be the new franchise, enhanced capacity, more bike schemes at local stations, and better information and integrated transport. Through a range of different funds, as well as including the Future Transport Fund, I hope to be very supportive of cycling and active travel going forward. I will make some spending announcements in due course. To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the Sharet process an effective means of investing in the development of cities and what support accompanies it. Sharets provides opportunities for local people, public and private sector bodies to participate collaboratively in decisions relating to their communities. We believe that the Sharet process is an effective and efficient means of investing in the development of Scotland's cities, towns and rural areas. Since 2011, we have allocated grants and provided advice to support the delivery of 31 Sharets across Scotland, including seven in our cities. I thank the minister for that information and I would agree with him on his assessment of it. He will know that two very well attended and ambitious Sharets have recently been held in my constituency. Local groups and organisations, as well as many individuals and agencies, worked very well together to develop a series of coherent and dynamic ideas that will help to shape the future of Spears Wharf and Hamilton Hill and have the potential to be transformational for those communities. Will the minister advise me if the Scottish Government will invest in the opportunities that are identified through the Sharet process? I thank the member for the question. I was at the Woodside and Hamilton Hall Sharet on its final day. I saw the outputs from the collaborative process and I was very impressed by the level of vision that there was and the connection with some ideas that people sitting in offices behind their desks might not have been able to come up with. The two Sharets were set up as local development plan Sharets, so the aim for those Sharets is to create supplementary guidance for the council as part of the overall regeneration of those areas. That is something that the Scottish Government will be keen to participate in. It is fair to say that the best Sharets are where there is a desire to regenerate, there is some resource behind it and some movement taking place so that the vision can be devised so that people and agencies can then put into place. To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to alter speed limits on trunk roads in the Highlands and Islands. We have recently updated the findings of the speed limit review and remain committed to improving safety in our network by delivering speed limit reductions where these are justified as part of our wider programme of road safety measures. The updated findings of the review support our decision not to progress with the proposed speed limit reductions in five locations across the network, including two in the A87, a further two on the A95 and one on the A84. We will continue to engage with communities in promoting road safety across Scotland and welcome the comments and responses received during the course of this engagement. I have given a fuller response to a parliamentary answer on 6 March as to matters of process. I thank the minister for that answer, but I have been contacted by a number of Argyll constituents, including local business people, who are opposed to Transport Scotland's proposal to reduce the speed limit on the A83 trunk road between Talbot and Ardrishig to 50 MPH. Local businesses have expressed the view that this proposed reduction is not based on concrete evidence and that it will reduce accidents and that instead it will increase driver frustration while slowing down journey times and reducing the area's economic competitiveness. Surely an improvement to and widening of parts of this narrow road would be a more effective solution. Will the minister undertake to look into the issue and address the concerns of Argyll residents and businesses? Yes, of course. I will consider the matter closely. That is exactly why, when other members have raised the speed limit reductions, I have had a look at the data and the case to ensure that it is justified. It just goes to show the level of engagement and consultation that we have had. Sometimes we can change our mind if the case is made, but safety in all of that will be paramount and will have the appropriate speed limit that the circumstances and the geography and the topography allows as well. Finally, on resources, of course we will want to address more of the road network in terms of additionality to the commitments that we have made, but I tell you that from a Conservative it would have been so much better if our capital budgets hadn't been reduced as a consequence of the decisions of the party that Mr MacGregor is a member of. Does the minister share my view that the HDV 50mph pilot on the A9 has been an excellent initiative? Has there been any early feedback from the police, haulers and road safety organisations about how effective the pilot has been in practice? All the evidence that we have today is that the package of measures on the A9 has been a success. That is a mixture of the average speed cameras, the changes to the speed limits, the wider campaign about driver behaviour as well. For those reasons, excessive speeding is down, average speeding is down, and when we look at the number of road incidents as well and the fullness of time, we can make a further judgment. However, in terms of HDV speed limits, as part of that package, it seems to be a success, and it has been welcomed by all the partners involved. As to the wider issue of changes south of the border, we will take an evidence approach whether that is relevant here, but it strikes us that it is part of the package of measures on the A9 that has worked, but that does not necessarily mean that that should be deployed across the country. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with local authorities regarding the Glasgow and Clyde valley city deal. The Scottish Government agreed in August 2014 to contribute £500 million over 20 years to support a deal for Glasgow and the Clyde valley that empowers the Glasgow and Clyde valley partners to identify, manage and deliver projects that will stimulate economic growth and create jobs in their area. The Glasgow and Clyde valley partners are developing an assurance framework that will ensure that their investment decisions are based on sound business cases and that projects will be delivered effectively. The assurance framework will respect local decision making and must be approved by both UK and Scottish Government ministers before any funding is released. Officials are continuing to work closely with Glasgow and Clyde valley and the UK Government to finalise the assurance framework. Can the cabinet secretary confirm how the Glasgow and Clyde valley city deal will ensure that the benefits derived from the economic growth will be spread not just across Glasgow but also across the entire Clyde valley region, including the most deprived areas? In the terms of the deal, the deal empowers the Glasgow and Clyde valley partners to identify, manage and deliver projects that will stimulate economic growth and create jobs in their area. The deal also specifically states that it will spread the benefits of economic growth across Glasgow and the Clyde valley, ensuring the deprived areas benefit from this growth. The Scottish Government and the UK Government have been working with Glasgow city and its partners in the development of the assurance framework, which will ensure that investment decisions taken by Glasgow city and Clyde valley partners are based on sound business cases and that projects will be delivered effectively. That concludes portfolio questions for today and we now move to the next item of business, which is a debate on motion number 12591 in the name of Jackie Baillie.