 Mae ganddwch â gyda gweithio'r pethau cymryd. Y ddifart yn ymddangos i gyd perthynadau yng Nghymru, yng Nghymru yw bwrdd yng Nghymru. Yn y gweithio, mae gweld Douglas Ross. Dwi'n fawr i gyd yn ymddangosol, ond y byddwch yn ymwneud 20 ymddangosol, y gweithio'r ddifart ddiwethaf o Emma Caldwell yn ymddangosol yn amlwg. Yr ymddangosol i'r byddwch, Ian Packer, yn ymddangosol ymddangosol 30 ymddangosol wedi cyd-22 o'ch cymaint o'r ddechrau drankol. Ar y dryfach o'r barys, ond yn ymddangos. Mae Amor Margrit wedi cael ei fod wedi ei ddau. Mae'r cyfnod ar y gwaith amser Amor Anwar. Mae'r cyfrunio'r cyfrunio ar gyfer 2006, ond mae'n gweithio'r cyfrunio, erioeddai'r cyfrwng a'i gwaith, mae'r cyfrwng yn ôl i Maimau. Margaret had a message for the First Minister. She said this. If Mr Yousif genuinely cares about the victims and my Emma, then he has no other option but to organise an independent public inquiry. She continued, with respect, what are you waiting for? Will him to Yousif take the opportunity today to immediately announce the establishment of a judge-led inquiry? First Minister. I thank Douglas Ross for raising an exceptionally important issue. Let me, first and foremost, give once again my condolences and that of the Government to Emma's family, her friends, loved ones and what will continue to be an extraordinarily difficult time. I want to pay tribute to Margaret Caldwell, Emma's mother and her family who tirelessly fought for justice, not just for Emma but for the many other women who have suffered at the hands of Ian Packer. I recognise the important role that journalists have played in this as well. The Sunday Mail, BBC Scotland, have played in this case the tenacity of the reporters in trying to seek out justice. Yesterday's verdict won't have brought any elation or happiness, I suspect, to Emma's family and to Margaret in particular. However, I hope that it gives a small, tiny comfort that justice, to some extent, has been done. Douglas Ross is right that justice is far too late. There are some serious failings in this case of that, there is no doubt. I have written to the legal representative of Margaret Caldwell, who responded to say that I will, of course, meet Margaret Caldwell alongside the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, if he is willing to meet her. In terms of a public inquiry, I was wanting to hear from Margaret Caldwell and examine and look at the case. Not just in more detail but it is important for me to say that there is still an on-going legal process. Ian Packer has the right, of course, to appeal, so we have to wait to some extent to see what the next stages of that legal process are. However, it may be absolutely clear that a judge-led public inquiry is absolutely something that we are exploring, is absolutely not off the table and is something that we are giving very serious consideration to given the systemic failings of this case. Douglas Ross. I agree with almost everything the First Minister said there, but it needs to be more than explored and not off the table. There are, of course, legal routes that still have to be established and finished, but we know that there are major failings in this case that will not change regardless of an appeal. Margaret Caldwell told us this morning via her legal counsel, Amaranwa. A judge-led public inquiry that acts without fear or favour is the very least that my Emma and the many women who spoke up deserve. For far too long, those in the police or crown who failed us have remained in the shadows. She finished by saying that only a judge-led public inquiry will reveal the corruption, the criminality and the motivation. Emma Caldwell's family and many other women who were attacked need answers now, not in another 20 years. They need a free and fearless public inquiry that victims and their families can fully trust. The First Minister needs to say today that he agrees to that judge-led inquiry, and we are calling for that to be led by a judge from outwith Scotland. Will he agree to that? There is not much difference between Douglas Ross and I at all in this regard. I will repeat that I do not rule out a public inquiry. The reason, of course, I am suggesting that it is important and prudent for me to meet with Margaret Caldwell, to hear directly from her, to hear from her legal representative and, importantly, of course, to also explore and examine what the interaction with any inquiry would be with an on-going legal process. I hear what Douglas Ross is saying, that if there is to be a judge-led public inquiry, should that be with a judge from outside of Scotland, I think that that is worthy of consideration if we get to that position. But let me be absolutely clear, we do not rule out—in fact, it is very firmly on the table—a judge-led public inquiry. As First Minister, it is important that I consider the on-going legal process. I go back to the central point of which there is no disagreement between Douglas Ross and I. Emma and many, many women, at least 21 of which we know of, were subjected to the most horrendous attacks, rape, sexual assault on, of course, Emma's case, tragic murder by Ian Packer. They were ultimately let down by failings in the justice system and clearly failings from the police service at the time. I commend the bravery of the many women who have come forward to speak bravely about their experiences in the pursuit of justice. I go back to my central point, Presiding Officer. I will meet with Margaret Caldwell. I will meet with her legal representative and I am very open to the suggestion, to the idea, to the calls for a judge-led public inquiry. I really feel the First Minister has to go further. He said in his answer there that people have been let down. There are many failings. We know that. Regardless of any appeal that is still to come, the failings by the police and the Crown are absolutely crystal clear. That is why a judge-led inquiry by someone from outwith Scotland is the only option, and it must be the only option on the table. I think that the First Minister just needs to take the opportunity today to agree to that, to announce that, because an inquiry led by a judge from outwith Scotland will get to the bottom of what happened here, because these were not just mere accidents by Police Scotland or the Crown Office. It seems that evidence was deliberately ignored and suppressed. The truth only emerged after years of campaigning by Emma's family when a former detective, Jerry Gallagher, stepped forward as a whistleblower. He publicly identified Ian Packer as a suspect in the media. It is utterly shocking that the response from the police was to launch a surveillance operation targeting the journalists and the whistleblowers. One of the whistleblowers, Jerry Gallagher, says that there must be consequences for those responsible. On that point, does Hamza Yusif agree? I agree that the targeting of not just police officers but the suggestions of targeting of journalists as well is incredibly concerning. I go back to the question that Douglas Ross has asked me from the very beginning about a public inquiry. I think that if the Government is to announce a judge-led public inquiry, which, as I say, is something that we are very seriously considering and exploring, it is important for us if we are to make that announcement, first of all, to speak to Margaret Caldwell. Also, to come to this Parliament with the full detail of what any potential public inquiry could look to explore and examine what any potential terms of reference may well look like as well. I go back to my central point. We are not at all opposing a public inquiry. In fact, very firmly in our consideration in this regard, Douglas Ross is absolutely right. When you look back over the history of this case, it is astonishing some of the allegations that are being made in relation to Police Scotland. Then, of course, the legacy forces prior to Police Scotland's formation. For me, as a Government, let me also just say to give some level of assurance that this is why the work around violence against women and girls is so, so important to this very day. We continue, of course, to ensure that we fund that work. So there are many questions to answer around why Packer, Ian Packer, was able to evade justice, continued to commit many crimes that he did for so long. So we will seriously consider all of the options that are on the table, including, of course, a judge-led public inquiry and take on board the suggestion that Douglas Ross has made that if there is to be a public inquiry, then could we consider a judge outwith us in Scotland? Douglas Ross. Emma Caldwell, her grieving family and Packer's many other victims, were betrayed by what was one of Scotland's worst policing scandals. Many questions remain about how this shameful saga, which can only be answered by a fearless, transparent and independent inquiry. I really think that that is the only option. We need to know why did it take so long to charge Ian Packer? Why was he allowed to remain free to attack more women? And who was responsible for allowing him, after multiple interviews, to continue to walk free? So I hope that the First Minister can take from this to urgently and immediately meet with Margaret Caldwell and her legal representatives to bring an urgent statement back to this Parliament in a matter of date. The First Minister is pleased to finally announce that this Government is launching an independent inquiry and that it will be led by a judge from outside Scotland. Douglas Ross is right. There are lots of questions that demand an answer and the many women who have been failed, Emma Caldwell ultimately failed, but many other women have also been failed by the justice system, by police forces previously. It is important that they get the answers to the questions that they rightly have. Let me also give some assurance to Douglas Ross. We will seek to meet with Margaret Caldwell and her legal representative urgently and we will look at the options in front of us and come back urgently too, because, as Douglas Ross said in his opening question, women have waited far too long for justice given the history of this case. I will perhaps end where I started, which is paying tribute to Margaret Caldwell in particular, but also the many other women who came forward bravely to speak about their experiences, the fearless journalists who first unmasked Ian Packer's activities and were tireless in their pursuit for justice. Let me end once again by saying that we will not just meet with Margaret Caldwell, but are very seriously considering the option of a public inquiry. A toxic culture of misogyny and corruption meant that the police failed so many women and girls who came forward to speak up against Packer. Instead of receiving justice and compassion, they were humiliated, dismissed and in some instances arrested, while the police gifted freedom to an evil predator to rape and rape again. The powerful words of Margaret Caldwell yesterday. We know that, since her daughter Emma's murder in 2005, Ian Packer committed 19 rapes, sexual offences or assaults, victims who could have been protected if Ian Packer had been properly investigated. I want to push the First Minister on the issue of who would lead any potential inquiry. This injustice has spanned 19 years and in that time we have had five Lord Advocates and six chief constables. So does the First Minister agree that for any inquiry or indeed review to be truly independent, it requires it to be led by an individual separate and independent from Scotland's criminal justice system? Much like Douglas Ross makes some very important points in that regard. Let me come to a few of them if I can. First and foremost, Anna Sauer is right that we still in Scotland have a serious problem with misogyny. I know that there is a lot of cross-party consensus around some of the actions that the Scottish Government is taking forward to tackle violence against women and girls. I will hope to bring a debate to this Parliament on the issue of positive masculinity, which in itself is, of course, designed to try to remove and eradicate some of the toxic behaviours that we see from some young men and boys in our society. I think that there is little difference between us on the need to tackle that pervasive issue in our society. In regards to the failure and the timeline of the multiple failures from the justice system in relation to Emma Caldwell's murder, as I said to Douglas Ross, I think that there is a strong argument for whichever type of review or if there is ultimately a judge-led public inquiry, then there is a strong argument that the inquiry is led by somebody out with Scotland. I do not remove that option from the table. It is very firmly on the table, very firmly a part of our consideration. As I said to Douglas Ross, there are a few considerations that we have to give rapidly, urgently, around the on-going legal process that is currently still happening. Hearing from Margaret Caldwell directly herself, I have not had that opportunity to do so waiting for the conclusion of the case in order to meet. We will give that suggestion that Douglas Ross and Anna Sarwar have made some serious consideration. There are many troubling issues with this case, misogyny, prejudice and the failure to listen to women coming forward with evidence. Among those failures is a wider culture where Scottish institutions too often fight for their reputations rather than be on the side of victims and seek to find the truth. That culture still prevails today. Key breakthroughs in this investigation were only possible because of the work and bravery of journalists investigating leads that officers had ignored. Distressingly, the first response of the police to this vital work was not to look at the flaws in their own investigation but instead attempt to intimidate and criminalise those journalists. In this case and today, journalists, victims and campaigners seeking to uncover an injustice in Scotland too often find themselves the victim of intimidation and harassment. Does the First Minister accept that and what steps is he taking to end this culture? That should not be a culture on any of our institutions. Anna Sarwar will be aware, of course, on the back of the work that Dame Alicia Angelini has done for this Government. We have introduced the police ethics conduct in the Scruice in East Scotland bill. We introduced that bill and, of course, it is making its way through the parliamentary process. That will improve the police complaints and misconduct process. Again, there is a lot of cross-party consensus and there will obviously be some challenge from Opposition colleagues, no doubt, for the Government to consider going further. However, it does have important provisions within that bill to ensure that justice can be pursued even after a police officer retires or indeed resigns. As I said, it builds on the significant improvement work that has already been delivered by police and partners since Dame Alicia Angelini's report in November of 2020. There are things that we can do to improve the culture across our institutions. Again, Anna Sarwar has often debated around the NHS and the actions that the Government has taken in relation to ensuring that there are whistleblowing champions, for example. The Government takes seriously the premise of all of our public institutions that should be, of course, to encourage whistleblowing, to encourage any concerns to come forward and not for those individuals who raise those concerns to be the ones who are under scrutiny, under pressure or indeed under any type of intimidation whatsoever. In relation to violence against women and girls, of course, there is always improvement for Police Scotland to make. That goes almost without saying. However, I have seen some comments in the past from organisations that work tirelessly to tackle violence against women and girls. They have noticed since the formation of Police Scotland that the investigation of rate and sexual offences has improved, still room for improvement of that. There is no doubt. Anna Sarwar While any inquiry will look at the failings in this case over the last 19 years, we know there are issues that persist today. The First Minister has referenced some of that already. In 2020, an independent review of the police complaints and disciplinary system found evidence of misogyny, racism and serious discrimination issues in Police Scotland. Last year, the outgoing chief constable Ian Livingstone clearly stated that institutional racism, sexism, misogyny and discrimination exist in Police Scotland. I want to return to the words of Margaret Caldwell. Whatever a woman's job, status, addictions or vulnerabilities, it should never be used as a reason to ignore sexual violence or treat them as a second-class citizen. 19 years ago or today, we know that this culture leaves victims unprotected and costs lives. As a previous justice secretary and now as First Minister, how will he end the culture of prejudice and discrimination that denies so many justice? I thank Anna Sarwar truly for reading out those words. Margaret Caldwell is incredibly powerful. Every single one of us will be moved by her words. She is absolutely right. We are doing a lot of work to write to Anna Sarwar with greater details and a lot of work that we are doing around our equally safe strategy in particular. Also, to frankly challenge men's demand for sex is really important that we all recognise that prostitution is a form of violence against women and girls and is completely unacceptable. Our recent published strategy to challenge men's demand for prostitution in actions to support women who are in prostitution outlines a new pilot programme to improve access to support for those with experience of prostitution. Lessons learned from this pilot, piloting the strategy, will help to inform any legislative consideration, including whether to criminalise or not the purchase of sex. We have an important job to do within government to support women, regardless of any background or vulnerabilities that they may have. I will write to Anna Sarwar in more detail, taking forward a range of work. Again, a lot of it cross-party to improve victims' experiences within the criminal justice system. Just this week, of course, piloting free court transcripts for victims of rape and sexual offences, which we know a number of campaigners have met with all of us cross-party. The Government will continue to make sure that victims are at the very centre of our justice system, but there are plenty of lessons to learn. I go back to my initial response to Douglas Ross and Anna Sarwar, that we will meet with Margaret Caldwell. Of course, as a Government, I will meet with Margaret Caldwell, and there is due consideration being given to a digitally public inquiry. 3. Alex Cole-Hamilton My thoughts today lie with Emma Caldwell's family, and the discussion that we have heard just now underpins that urgent need for a judge-led inquiry to ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet. Tuesday. Alex Cole-Hamilton An international study has shown that Scotland is among the longest waits in poorest access to cancer treatment. I want to tell the chamber about Jill. Her mum, dad, cousin, aunt and two grandparents have all died of cancer. Her sister tested positive for the check-2 cancer gene and was given preventative surgery and reconstruction in Edinburgh. Jill was repeatedly denied genetic testing in NHS Glasgow, despite her family history. She persevered and discovered that she does have that gene. Now, she is being told that the surgery that her sister received in Edinburgh is not available in Glasgow, meaning far longer waits and recovery times. 3. When cancer rips through your family and you know it's coming for you, the last thing you need is to fight for care. All Jill wants to do is to see her young children grow up, something her mother never got to do. Can I ask the First Minister to look into Jill's case and to ensure that all patients, wherever they live, have the highest quality of cancer care? Alex Cole-Hamilton, for raising what is an incredibly important issue, read through the international study that he references. If Alex Cole-Hamilton would, after the First Minister's question, send me the details of Jill's case, I put on record my sympathy for all the losses that she has experienced. Alex Cole-Hamilton is absolutely right. The only thing that many of us want to do is grow up with our children, see our children grow up, spend time with them and have as much time with our loved ones as possible. I'm more than happy to look into this case. I can also make sure that we send Alex Cole-Hamilton some of the detail around the improvements that we're making within cancer care. It's still extremely challenging. There's no getting away from that. There's no denying that post-pandemic. We are seeing more and more people on both the 31-day and 62-day pathways. There has been some recent evaluation of a rapid cancer diagnostic services that might be of interest to Alex Cole-Hamilton, which has shown some really positive results in reducing waiting times for diagnosis for patients in the areas where the rapid cancer diagnostic services operate. I'll wait for Alex Cole-Hamilton to send Jill's details, if he may, and we'll see what we can do from the comments. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's responses to the latest figures highlighting the impact of livestock worrying in Scotland. The worrying of livestock by dogs is completely unacceptable. It's something that the Scottish Government does take very seriously, recognising the very serious welfare and financial impacts that livestock worrying can have. The figures quoted indicate that there are still individuals who do not recognise their responsibilities as dog owners and allow their dogs to chase livestock. Ignorance of the law, of course, is no excuse whatsoever. We welcomed the introduction of Emma Harper's Dogs Protection of Livestock Scotland Bill, which came into force on 5 November 2021. I thank her for her continued efforts in this area. Education is a key factor in the prevention of livestock-wining incidents. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code is clear on the rights and responsibilities of land managers and of those exercising access rights, which is widely published. Emma Harper. I thank the First Minister for that response. My Dogs Protection of Livestock 2021 Act 2021 has proved successful in raising awareness of livestock attacks and worrying and in encouraging farmers to have the confidence to report livestock worrying incidents. However, NFU Mutual's latest report on rural crime shows that livestock worrying reports are increasing. Stakeholders, including the NFUS and Land and Estates, have called for a change to the Outdoor Access Code to mandate that dogs be kept on leads when they are in need. Can the First Minister comment on how the Government can continue to raise awareness of my livestock worrying act and whether it will consider making such an amendment to the Outdoor Access Code as part of the upcoming Land Reform Bill? I think that all those points made by Emma Harper are well worthy of consideration. She is absolutely right to highlight the difference made by the legislation. This Parliament enacted on livestock worrying, thanks mainly to her efforts in bringing the bill forward and guiding it into law. It is interesting to note that only now is the UK Government proposing to legislate similarly to cover England too. We continue to work with partners to increase awareness of dog owners' responsibilities under the livestock worrying act, including through NatureScot's traditional and social media activity on responsible dog walking. I will also ask the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity to consider what more we might do to raise awareness and encourage more responsible ownership and owner behaviour, especially at times like the lambing season. I note that some would wish us to review the access code as Emma Harper references and, of course, will give that consideration. We can be quite rightly proud here in Scotland that we have some of the most open access to our land anywhere. The legislation that we do on that to continue closing off the countryside certainly is not the answer here and is certainly not what Emma Harper is suggesting at all. We want to encourage more people to follow and adhere to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, especially in relation to responsible dog walking. The devastating cost of dog attacks on livestock has doubled in Scotland since 2022. It is causing harm and distress to animals and financial hardship to farmers. The legislation really is not working, is it, First Minister? I think that there are a number of reasons why we have seen some of the incidents rise. What I would say to Rachael Hamilton is that she is suggesting that the legislation is not working. Of course, the UK Government is looking to legislate for England in a very similar manner. Indeed, we are happy to share any information with the UK Government under the legislation that we have brought forward here. I think that we have to make sure that we are doing more to raise awareness of responsible dog walking right across the year, but when it comes to particular seasons such as the lambing season. Rachael Hamilton is right that the impacts of livestock walking are significant. They are traumatic often to farmers, of course, to livestock indeed, but they also cause significant financial hardship. That is why we will do what we can to make sure that we tackle livestock walking wherever it is happening in Scotland. 5. Murdo Fraser To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to prevent convicted sex offenders from changing their identity. First Minister This is a matter of public protection, which we take extremely seriously. All registered sex offenders are subject to sex offender notification requirements and any change of name must, by law, be notified to the police. The management of offenders documents include recording of any aliases. We became aware before Christmas that the UK Government was working on legislative changes, on name changes within its criminal justice bill, and we are very keen to align arrangements where possible. That is why we have made repeated requests at ministerial and official level to see the detail of proposed amendments. I am pleased that we have received those amendments but only this week. We have therefore started the serious and careful consideration needed to examine how they would work in Scotland and to the tight deadlines of the UK legislation. Murdo Fraser I thank the First Minister for his response. He will share my concern about news reports at the weekend about an individual with convictions for sexual assault of children who changed his name and was then appointed president of the World Robert Burns Federation, where he had access to children participating in burns competitions. There are many other similar cases involving individuals whose convictions predated the creation of the sex offender's register. It is clearly a very serious issue that potentially puts at risk children from predatory adults able to conceal their offending history by changing their names. As the First Minister said, the UK Government is proposing changes in the law to protect children in those circumstances. He referred to work that is on-going. Can he give us some assurance as to how quickly the Scottish Government can move to close this loophole in the law that otherwise might be very dangerous? Murdo Fraser I thank Murdo Fraser for raising this issue. I was extremely concerned at pressure reports on the weekend of the particular case that Murdo Fraser references. I can give him an absolute assurance that we are working hard to see how we can work with the UK Government to align some of the changes that they are proposing here in Scotland. I understand the public's concern about the issue. We will always consider what changes we can make to ensure that there are effective safeguards in place where it is within our legislative competence. Murdo Fraser will be more than aware that passport or driver licence and name changes related to them are reserved to the UK Government as we have just referenced. There are other ways in which people can change their names. For example, when marrying, divorcing, making a statutory declaration, using the middle names rather than the first names and so on and so forth. We will have to consider all of those issues in the round. Is there anything that we can do within our gift that we will prepare to work with the UK Government as Murdo Fraser asks with urgency? Can the First Minister provide an update on other measures to manage sex offenders, including licence, behavioural or prevention orders, and how they link with notification conditions and if those have been updated? There will be a lot of concern after the press reports on the weekend of the case that Murdo Fraser referenced in his question, but it is important to try to give some reassurance that new behavioural orders were introduced last year to reinforce what were already stringent checks on individuals who pose a risk of sexual harm. With sexual harm prevention orders, the police can apply to courts for individuals convicted of sexual offending, where it is believed that they pose a risk of sexual harm to the public. Where granted, the individual will automatically become subject to the sex offender notification requirements. The sexual risk orders are civil preventative orders designed to protect the public from sexual harm. There is no need for a previous conviction. Breach of either of those orders can result in imprisonment. Licence conditions can also be put in place to manage behaviour on release from custody. They can be monitored by justice social work and electronically monitored if deemed necessary. We have, of course, as Orginicle will be very aware, a very stringent MAPA requirements placed on offenders as well. The vast majority of registered sex offenders comply with the notification requirements imposed on them, if at 93 per cent, according to the MAPA annual report that was published in October last year. As I said to Murdo Fraser previously, if there is more that we can do, whether it is within our own competence or working with the UK Government to safeguard, particularly our children, but to safeguard individuals from predatory behaviour, then of course we will seek to work with whoever we have to to ensure those safeguards in place. 6. Pam Duncan-Glancy To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that the number of people living in temporary accommodation in Glasgow had increased by 25 per cent. Statistics published on Tuesday show the challenges that we face in tackling homelessness. That only highlights the challenge that we face in tackling homelessness but is compounded undoubtedly by the cost of living crisis, the impact of UK austerity, economic repercussions of the pandemic, which are all driving up homelessness presentations. The Home Office's streamlined asylum process is also impacting local authorities, particularly Glasgow, creating increased demands for homelessness services. The Scottish Government is doing what we can within the powers and, indeed, the financial constraints that we have to mitigate the impact and reduce the number of people in temporary accommodation. The Scottish Government is doing record funding of more than £14 billion to councils in 2014-25, a real-terms increase of 4.3 per cent compared to the current financial year. The Minister for Housing has been meeting with housing conveners to discuss homelessness and housing pressures. Pam Duncan-Glancy The report that he is referring to, which I assume he has read, also says that the Scottish Government reports stated that a lack of affordable housing options is partly to blame for the rise in the number of children seeking temporary accommodation. Why did he vote for a £196 million cut to the affordable housing budget on the same day that the Government published a report blaming a lack of that type of housing as a cause for the hike in the number of children in temporary accommodation? The First Minister The Government has a strong record in building affordable housing, in fact, building record levels of affordable housing. In fact, we have a good record when it comes to tackling the money that we provide for tackling homelessness. In the budget, for example, investing £90 million in discretionary housing payments in 2014-25, that is an increase of over £6 million from this financial year. It also includes, of course, £74 million to mitigate the bedroom tax, something that Sir Keir Starmer wants to retain. Of course, we know if we look at independent analysis from crisis that austerity-driven policies are undoubtedly driving up homelessness right across the country, including, for example, the two-child limit. The reality is, as I would say to Pam Duncan-Glancy, that our budget is facing a conservative cut of £1.6 billion to our capital budget, a £290 million cut to financial transactions, which are crucial for house building. Wouldn't it be so much better, Presiding Officer, that Scotland wasn't at the mercy of cruel Westminster Governments cutting our budget but that we could raise our own revenue, make spending decisions in our own country's interests, as opposed to having to battle 14 years? A cost of living crisis is worse than we have ever seen in our living memories, Presiding Officer. At the very end of last year, the Scottish Housing Regulator published updated engagement plans for Glasgow and Edinburgh councils. The regulator found systemic failure in the delivery of services to people experiencing homelessness. I therefore ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government has done to help to address those failures and prevent them in the future. I go back to independent analysis by stakeholders like crisis, which says that austerity-driven policies of the UK Government are driving homelessness, unfortunately increasing homelessness to the figures that we have seen not just in Glasgow but across the UK. We will continue to invest in discretionary housing payment. We will continue to do what we can to mitigate the worst excesses of the UK Government. We will put £35 million for specific action to end homelessness and rough sleeping where we can. I go back to the point that I was making to Pam Duncan, the Conservatives have cut our capital budget by £1.6 billion over the next five years. They have cut financial transactions by 62 per cent, which are crucial to their affordable housing supply programme. Annie Wells wanted to have any influence whatsoever. Instead of raising those issues here, where she has every right to do, she could use the influence among her own party colleagues to demand that that Tory cut is reversed to our budget. Of course, not only that, the 14 years of austerity that they have imposed upon Scotland is halted and halted immediately. I move to general and constituency supplementaries. If we can be concise, we will have more members contributing. I call John Swinney. The First Minister will be aware that Police Scotland are investigating the suspected murder of Brian Lowe in Aberfeldy in my constituency on 17 February. I take this opportunity to express my sympathy to Mr Lowe's family at this terrible tragedy. Does the First Minister recognise that this awful incident has caused deep unease in the community that I represent and that there is a need for full transparency from Police Scotland over the handling of this case? Does the First Minister also believe that it is vital that all resources are applied to bring to justice anyone involved and that Police Scotland needs to maintain the necessary presence locally to assure the community that I represent of its safety at this incredibly worrying time? I agree with all that. I start by giving my condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Brian Lowe. Can I also ensure that I give as much reassurance as I possibly can to the community of Aberfeldy who are rightly shocked, rocked by this tragic incident? I will, of course, have to be careful what I say, as a live murder investigation is on-going. Let me try to give as much reassurance as I can to the community of Aberfeldy about their safety. I know that Police Scotland will be taking this case, I am taking this case extremely seriously. There are questions that have been asked, given media reports in the last 24-40 hours in terms of the time taken between Mr Lowe's death in the post-mortem and the opening of the murder investigation. I have been absolutely assured and I have sought the assurances that Police Scotland is working around the clock into this murder investigation and will be seeking to reassure the community as it can. I think that the suggestion being made about an increased police presence is a sensible suggestion being made by Mr Swinney, and I will ensure that that is fed back through my office to Police Scotland. While those issues are, of course, at the behest of the operational independence of the chief constable, I think that it is a very sensible suggestion as well. It should be said that Police Scotland has been appealing to any member of the public who may have any information to come forward, anybody who is travelling through that area who may have, for example, dash cam footage to contact the police. That can be done anonymously through Police Scotland's online portal as well. I go back to the point that John Swinney was rightly raising about reassurances from the community. I will raise that with Police Scotland, but I am certain that Police Scotland will do everything in their powers to provide reassurance to the community of Aberfeldy. On Monday, up to half of the north-east ambulance fleet, that is 18 ambulances, was stuck outside Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. A paramedic told the press and journal that they are unable to help those most in need because they are repeatedly tied up. The situation is now so bad that earlier this month a shop worker in Dice who was covered in blood after being attacked and left almost unconscious by robbers had to be driven to hospital by her employer because the ambulance service was too busy. First Minister, what immediate action will the Scottish Government take to address the on-going crisis across the north-east? Tess White is right to raise this issue. The level of ambulance stacking, the weights that are turned around in times at the ARI in particular are simply not acceptable. I am afraid that there is no reason that can justify that level of weight. I have been extremely concerned about the reports that we have heard from paramedics directly. I am more than happy for the Cabinet Secretary for Health to write to Tess White—he does write to Tess White—about the full details of the conversations that we are having with Grampian and about some of the actions that they are taking. We are looking at, for example, doing more to increase discharge planning to maintain patient flow, increase alternative care pathways for ambulance clinicians to support patients in the community as opposed to coming to ARI. NHS Grampian has also ensured that it is expanding the site's acute capacity and has recently opened 32 new acute beds at the Aberdeen royal infirmary. Therefore, increasing the capacity will help with inpatient flow through ARI and hopefully help the issue of ambulance stacking. That is a very serious issue. Indeed, I am not happy at all, I have to say, about the continued long ambulance turnaround times at the ARI in particular. I will ensure that the Cabinet Secretary for Health writes to Tess White with full details of the actions that I have been taking forward. I remind members of my register of voluntary interests. Members of the RMT union are rallying outside Parliament today against a £315 million cut to Scotland's safety-critical rail infrastructure spending. They say rail cuts cost lives. 70 frontline maintenance workers have just been made redundant. Further, 80 jobs are now at risk, so which is correct? The Government's assertion to Parliament that rail infrastructure spending is rising or the view of experienced railway workers out there in the real world on the frontline dweud ar yr eistedd ynglynthu anghylch yn cael ei ddwyngoedd sydd gyda ddod, i ddefnyddio'r ddechrau a'r obroedd, a defnyddio'r ddod, ond hynny sy'n ddysgu'r ystafell ar holl mwy oeddernau o'r ddiemdaniad. Wrs. Felly, yn ffwrdd, rwyf, wasgaf, a gweithio cyddiadau yn byw y gwiriau aredigol, felly mae'r dweud yn fawr, ac mae'r fawr, ond rwyf, yn gweld, yn gweld, wedi ddod, rwyf yn ddysgu'r afodgweithio. Wajon, yn ôl dim, mae'n cael ei ddweud. Felly, mae'n rai i ddweud ffgafodau rydw i'r ddechrau ac mae'n rai i ddweud, dwi'n credu i'r barsgles. Ryfffyrddau hyn yn hynny, mae'n rai i ddweud eich cyfnod. Felly, rydw i'n gweithio i'r rai iechelfadau rydw i'r busbyd ddechrau. Rhyw gweithio i'r brifysgafodau cyfnod i'r bryd, yn cyfrifiadau. gan sefydlu i roi eu cyffredinol i yw y ladd favori. The cabinet secretary recently wrote to the RMT to address some of the assertions that they were making in previous correspondence. On that note, we will continue to engage where we can and of course continue to make sure that rail safety for not just our staff is crucial, but also for those who use the rail network that safety continues to be an utmost priority for this Government. Alexander Stewart. Thank you, First Minister. Disturbances at HMAP and Wyaw Stirling continue almost daily and are having a serious detrimental effect on residents and the local community. The prison service has attempted to consult and rectify the situation, but nothing implemented to date has made any significant or lasting difference. Residents believe that the prison is out of control. Therefore, what further action can the Scottish Government take and the Cabinet Secretary to support the residents and the vulnerable inmates in this prison? The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs continues to engage on this issue both with the prison service, but my understanding is that she is met with Alexander Stewart as well. I would take some exception at the suggestion that the estate is out of control. I would not agree to that assertion whatsoever. We do know that, through the actions that were taken, there was a slightly quieter period over Christmas, but there has been incidents that we know in the last couple of weeks that have rightly and understandably caused concern to residents as well. There is an action plan in place, and I will ensure that the Cabinet Secretary for Justice engages again with Alexander Stewart in order to give him an update on the actions that are being taken forward in this regard. That concludes First Minister's questions. The next item of business is a member's business debate in the name of Paul Sweeney, and there will now be a short suspension to allow those leaving the chamber and public gallery to do so.