 We will start this morning with general questions, and our first question is from Mark MacDonald. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that children with complex needs and medical conditions are appropriately supported in their education. John Swinney We want all children and young people to be able to make the most of their educational opportunities. Education authorities have duties under the additional support for learning 2001 counted to identify, provide for, and review the additional support needs of all its pupils. That includes ensuring that there is appropriate resources in place to the support pupils in their learning. That is supplemented by specific guidance on meeting the healthcare needs of pupils while they are attending schools and supporting children who are unable to attend schools due to ill health. Mark MacDonald Thank you, the cabinet secretary. The prevalence of children with life-limiting conditions in Scotland is increasing and byddai'n gwybod nhw, ac mae'n meddwl arwyf yn gweithio'r wathun o'r meddwl. Felly, mae'n gweithio'r newidau sydd gyda'r cyffredinol yn cael y byddai'n gyffredinol sydd yn cael y byddai'r cyffredinol, felly mae'n gweithio'r gweld ffawr o'r staff yn gallu gweld o'r hefyd i'r newidau yn cyfgareddol i'w meddwl i'r cyffredinol. Felly, wrth fynd i'r gweld o'r meddwl i'u cyffredinol, mae'n credu i'r cyffredinol maen nhw'n credu yn ffutur? Is the cabinet secretary willing to explore whether more specific guidance may be required and would he be willing to meet with me to discuss this further? Cabinet secretary? I am very happy to explore that issue further. It is a very specialist set of circumstances that I understand. I have visited a number of educational facilities that are providing support to young people who require feeding through a tube of the complexities and the challenges that that presents. In a mainstream school environment, that could be a particularly acute challenge. I am very happy to meet Mr MacDonald and to hear his views on how we might have more focused guidance that might help education practitioners in that respect. Clare Adamson Thank you. The cabinet secretary will be aware of press reports regarding inappropriate restraint at Clyde View School in my constituency. Can I have assurance from the cabinet secretary that concerns regarding restraint, as highlighted by the Children's Commissioner of Bruce Adamson, in the report for restraint and seclusion in Scotland's schools, are being addressed? Cabinet secretary? I am aware of the reports to which Clare Adamson refers. Those are issues that have been drawn to the attention of North Lancer Council, which I would say have been very open in supplying information to the Government in that respect. North Lancer Council are investigating this incident and it is also the subject of a Police Scotland investigation, so it would be inappropriate for me to comment any further on the circumstances of the Clyde View case. In general, however, I would say that the Government's guidance on the use of restraint is absolutely crystal clear that the use of restraint should only ever be used as a last resort after all other interventions have been exhausted and only in circumstances where the safety of members of staff or the child concerned would be supported as a consequence of restraint. However, I stress that that is only in the most limited set of circumstances when all other avenues of positive intervention have been exhausted. 2. Ross Greer To ask the Scottish Government, in light of further delays in reopening Hunterston nuclear power station, what discussions it has had with the Office for Nuclear Regulation to ensure that it will not be allowed to reopen unless safety standards are met? I met with senior representatives from the Office for Nuclear Regulation, O&R, on 21 February 2019. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the current situation at Hunterston B and the processes that O&R will use to make a decision regarding a possible restart of the reactors. Although the O&R is not directly accountable to Scottish ministers, the O&R representative has provided assurance that it is willing only to allow for the reactors to restart if it is satisfied that it is safe to do so and that it is functioning in an independent and transparent manner. 2. Ross Greer I thank that minister for that answer. As he will be aware, there are 370 cracks in the reactor core at Hunterston B. That is a significant safety concern for the community and for workers. That is a nuclear power plant that has been repeatedly closed due to safety concerns. Its reopening has been repeatedly delayed. Regardless of all that, it is one whose lifespan will not go beyond 2023. For the workers in the community, that is a huge concern. Will the minister and the Scottish Government commit to ensuring that there is a just transition for every single worker that is currently employed or connected to nuclear power at Hunterston? 3. Ross Greer Certainly, in regards to Ross Greer's question, I can just clarify that the checks have found 100 cracks, but there is an estimate that there are 370s. We do not know precisely how many cracks there are in the reactor, and that is just a point of fact to put across. It is worth stating that, clearly, as I said in my original answer, the future of the reactors themselves are a matter for the O&R to engage on with EDF, the operator. Of course, we are not directly accountable to the Scottish Parliament or the Scottish Government on those matters. We have an interest in the wellbeing of the community in North Ayrshire. Obviously, the plant employs many people in that community, and we will do everything that we can to support them, but I do not want to prejudge the outcome of the exercise. We have to let the O&R do its work and I trust its judgment on the matter, but it has given us every assurance that health and safety is our primary concern. Of course, we will help if there is any implications for the plant itself. 4. Kenneth Gibson Does the minister agree that Hunterston B operates within stringent safety limits and that EDF is regularly in contact with the Office for Nuclear Regulation, regarding graphite cracks and other safety-related matters? Having visited Hunterston B last week and spoken to EDF, it is clear that safety is an absolute overriding concern of all who work there. Their own lives and those of their families living in nearby communities depends on it. 5. Kenneth Gibson I certainly agree with Kenneth Gibson in respect of the workforce. I have to say that public safety is obviously the Scottish Government's absolute priority, and our position on the future of nuclear energy is well known that we are not minded to support that. From the interaction I and my officials have had with the Office for Nuclear Regulation themselves and the DDS staff at Hunterston B as the plant, it is clear that health and safety is absolutely their priority. It is worth stating also at the O&R when I did meet them that we are keen to stress that, in their view, the workforce at Hunterston is one of the best they have ever come across in terms of the quality of the work that they do, and they have absolutely no concerns about their skills or abilities. If there are problems at Hunterston B, it is around the technology itself, not the workforce. 3. Michelle Ballantyne To ask the cabinet secretary what the Scottish Government's position is regarding whether schools should have a zero tolerance policy towards violent behaviour. Cabinet Secretary John Swinney Because of the violence towards anyone, it is unacceptable and the safety of our children, young people and staff at school is paramount. We and our partners across the education sector advocate in the approach for schools and local authorities to work with pupils on the underlying reasons behind inappropriate behaviour to enable them to re-engage with learning and personal development. We have published guidance for schools and local authorities that have a renewed focus on prevention, early intervention and response to individual need, in line with the principles of getting it right for every child. Michelle Ballantyne I have recently been contacted by a teacher who has 30 years experience and is currently working as a supply teacher who was hospitalised after a metal implement was thrown and damaged her eye. Violence in schools is causing teachers to think twice about their careers, and certainly we are struggling now when we learn at Christmas that over £60 million has now been spent to recruit supply teachers. Does the cabinet secretary recognise that violence in schools is deterring some teachers from pursuing their chosen profession? I want to assure Michelle Ballantyne that I take the issues of violence in schools extremely seriously, but I think that we have to look at the evidence on all of this. There are unacceptable incidents, but the overwhelming evidence that was demonstrated in the behaviour in Scottish schools 2016 report, published in December 2017, indicated that teachers find pupils generally well behaved and that violence towards teachers is very rare. We have to be very careful about the narrative that is painted about Scottish education. If there are unacceptable instances of violence, they will be dealt with, but the overwhelming behaviour of our young people is good in our schools. They are a credit to our country, and we should celebrate that whilst tackling unacceptable behaviour where it arises. That is undoubtedly the case. It certainly was my experience when I worked in schools. However, I have constituents who have approached me who work in our schools and who are assaulted by pupils on a daily basis, and I do not exaggerate that point. Can the cabinet secretary give us some advice about how people in that situation should deal with that violence? The first thing that I will say is that I am going to reiterate what I have just said to Michelle Ballantyne, that there are unacceptable instances of violence in our schools, and they must be tackled immediately by school leadership. However, overwhelmingly, the evidence demonstrates that teachers generally find pupils to be well behaved and that violence towards teachers is rare. Where there is unacceptable behaviour in my answer to Michelle Ballantyne a moment ago, I said that we should be tackling the underlying reasons for that behaviour. That should be as part of a programme of early intervention to address the behaviour of young people and to make sure that staff can come to their work safe and secure in the participation that they can undertake at their work, and that other pupils are safe into the bargain. That is the approach that should be taken in all schools in the country, and I am confident that that is the approach that is taken around the country. To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that enough has been done to address workforce concerns regarding helicopter safety in the North Sea since the disaster 10 years ago this week. Minister Paul Wheelhouse, April 1 marks 10 years since the tragic Super Puma accident off the Peterhead coast with the loss of 16 lives. Our thoughts, I am sure those of colleagues in the chamber, are with all those who lost a loved one in that tragic event. A range of work has been undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority, trade unions and industry, developing and implementing a range of safety measures since this tragedy, including workforce engagement review, led by all in gas UK, involving unions and industry. The CAE will also carry out a post-implementation review of its safety review of offshore helicopter operations, the CAP-1145, undertaken by an independent CAE team with engagement with key stakeholders, including trade unions. Lewis Macdonald Thank you very much. The minister will know that, since that disaster 10 years ago, another four offshore workers lost their lives off Shetland in 2013, and another 13 lives were lost in the Norwegian sector in 2016. The fatal accident inquiry on the Peterhead clash found that it was preventable, and at much the same time, the Transport Select Committee of the House of Commons acknowledged the case for an inquiry looking at the commercial pressures that affect helicopter operations. Given that the view of the offshore workforce, the trade unions and many families is very clear, will the Scottish Government not now get behind the calls for a full public inquiry before any more lives are lost offshore? The minister will certainly recognise the sincere concerns that Mr Macdonald has expressed. I know that he has a very strong and long-standing interest in safety in the oil and gas industry, so I very much respect his view on that, and I continue to engage with him on the matter. In terms of the issues around the commercial pressures that the member referred to, I just want to say that the issue of aviation safety is obviously one that is reserved to UK Government and Parliament under the Scotland Act, but we continue to engage very strongly with the regulators in terms of OGA in particular, and with all in gas UK and operators that are present in the oil and gas industry leadership group that I co-chair with Melford Campbell. We will continue to raise and prioritise the issue of health and safety in the industry, so it is not that we are ignoring the issue far from it, we are taking it very seriously. Obviously, the FEI that Mr Macdonald referred to has come forward with conclusions, but just to point out that measures are already being implemented around prohibiting helicopter flights in the most severe sea conditions, and I can write to the member about other steps that have been taken subsequently to the inquiry. Tavish Scott, to be followed by Liam Kerr. May I associate myself with Lewis Macdonald's sensible question and ask the minister to reflect that the sunbird crash that Lewis Macdonald mentioned has now six years past, and there still has not been a fatal accident inquiry. Would the minister at least undertake to speak with the Crown Office to press the case for that fatal accident inquiry to begin, given that the families of those who lost loved ones still have no answers to what actually happened? I very much recognise the strong interest of Mr Scott and Alistair Carmichael local MP as well in the role of an FEI. Investigations of deaths and decisions on fatal accident inquiries are, I am just sure that the member is aware, matters for the Lord Advocate acting independently. The Scottish Government is providing an additional £5 million in the Crown Office budget for 2019-20 to allow it to continue to increase staffing in response to increasingly complex caseload. I cannot intervene in the direct decision-making of the Lord Advocate, but we are making resources available to hold more fatal accident inquiries. Tavish Scott makes a good point. I think that what angers the colleagues and families of victims is that accident inquiries can take years, I think that one-third of fatal accident inquiries take over three years. In 2016, the inspectorate of prosecution made 12 recommendations to speed up and streamline accident inquiries. How many have been implemented of those recommendations? As the member may know, I appreciate that he was not in the previous session of Parliament, we moved fatal accident inquiry legislation, I was the minister responsible for taking that through the Parliament and we made a number of measures to improve the performance in terms of delivery of fatal accident inquiries, greater engagement with the families involved, which we recognised was a failing in the previous regime and also to make sure that there was a charter in place to try and improve performance. I happily reflect on the points that were made with justice colleagues and come back to them with any answers about steps that have been implemented since. Question 5, Gil Paterson. Many thanks, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings it has had with ScotRail and Network Rail regarding the efficiency of services using MoGuy station. Cabinet Secretary Michael Matheson. I last met the managing director of ScotRail Alliance, Alex Hines, in January, and I am expecting to meet him again on 24 April this year. We will discuss a range of issues, including ScotRail's performance across the network. My officials transport Scotland meeting a monthly basis with Network Rail and ScotRail to discuss performance issues and improvement initiatives. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. The cabinet secretary will be aware of the extremely poor record held by the performances of services to MoGuy, which were the worst-rated in Scotland. That and that works were progressed in order to make improvements. Can the cabinet secretary say if those works have been completed and what is the outcome? I can confirm the ScotRail Alliance's implementation of the recommendations from the Donovan report for MoGuy services. That has resulted in a significant improvement in right-time departures at MoGuy by 17.5 per cent. Recommendations include timetable changes, platform extension work and additional train and crew to allow departure services from MoGuy to depart on time. Those recommendations were delivered along with similar ones in the Strathclyde area, which has seen performance improvement in the wider Strathclyde network. I can also confirm to the member that more work is under way to implement further timetable changes to ensure that sustained improvement is achieved. The cabinet secretary might be aware of some calls that dualling the track between MoGuy station and Heinland might be a solution to improve some of the blockages in that line. Has the Government given any consideration to that as a viable or worthwhile concept? If so, could we outline next steps in a timescale for doing so? Network Rail is currently assessing what further actions it can take on the line to improve performance, and that includes looking at how it can enhance existing infrastructure arrangements on that particular line, and they will be reporting in due course on that issue. Thank you, Presiding Officer, to ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Ayrshire and Arran and South Ayrshire Council regarding the reported shortage of funded packages of care in South Ayrshire. Officials are engaging with senior officers in South Ayrshire regarding local plans to address current difficulties in the provision of appropriate care. That includes the partnership's longer-term plans for service redesign and our part of our joint work with all three integration joint boards in partnership with NHS Ayrshire and Arran on making the best use of the totality of their budgets to shift the balance of care into community settings. I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer, but she will be aware that NHS Ayrshire and Arran is expected to have a £20 million deficit or thereby this year, while South Ayrshire Council has already overspent their social care budget for this year as well. What advice and help can the Scottish Government give to the two organisations that, between them, are sustaining around 60 people in a hospital environment when people are ready and waiting to be discharged into the community? Of course. I am sure that Mr Scott appreciates and knows that there are many reasons for delayed discharge, some of which may be what are called code 9 reasons that are to do with powers of attorney and guardianship and can take quite a long time, some of which are in fact to do with the patient's own requirements, but even so I take very seriously delayed discharge, which is there because care in the community is not available or not appropriate to the individual needs. He will of course also be aware of the significant increase in the baseline budgets to health boards, thanks to our budget passed not that long ago, of the brokerage arrangements that I have made as part of our medium-term financial planning framework, which also allows our NHS boards the flexibility of a three-year planning framework, and of the additional £160 million that has gone from the health budget to health and social care partnerships through local authorities in order to provide additional care. All of that said, we are actively engaging with COSLA, which is a very important partnership in this matter, with individual health and social care partnerships to help them to understand the totality of the funding arrangements that are there. The point of integration is not to worry about whose particular budget something comes from, but to make sure that the care is provided that people need. We are individually working with areas that have particular difficulties, including South Ayrshire, where significant redesign and improvement of care at home and social care packages is required to bring them to a comparable footing of their colleagues elsewhere in Ayrshire and elsewhere in Scotland.