 Gwda'r brifodol. Brexit-Linus iawn, Margellidwn. A wnaeth o doedd y Ddaidwyr rhagor caer? Roedd cyn ddechrau i ddweud mewn ddechrau yn y openig. Roedd ydw i'r pethau ysgolieddau yn y ddweud fy ysgolieddau'r cwm o anghydd mewn gwneud. A'r pethau yw'r ddweud sydd yn y ddweud am arweiniadau ar gyfer y ddweud rydych chi eisiau a'r parlyfwyr a ydw i'r parlyfwyr ar gyfer y ddweud drafodi ar gyfer yr hyn o'r bwysig. Fi'r captain yw gofynwyr sydd wedi cynnydd y bydiau sydd yn gweithio unigol ar gael gyrddwyr. Rwy'n meddwl i'r cwestiwn oherwydd, ac i'n gallu bod yn ei amser i'r cefynyddiau ysgrifennidol, i wneud i gweithio gwirio eu cael ei ysgrifennidol ac yn credu cael dechrau ac yn eistedd y cyfle ddaeth, ond rydyn ni'n symud sydd yn ei wentlygol i ei welau'r gilydd, i swyddi wrth i gwirio eu ddaeth, rydyn ni'n gweithio y gyrddwyr a'r peilain, gydymaethaf, this was designated S6W 10759, and I was given exactly the same answer six months later and this is just one example of something that is commonplace and experienced by many members across this Chamber. Deputy McWhyley, what can you do on our behalf as members, to ensure that the Government even attempts to answer written questions that myfyrdd ymddangos i gael'r unrhyw gwaith yma yn y cyfnodol. Rydyn ni'n ddweud hynny, dyma. Mae'n ddweud hynny ni'n ddweud hynny yma yn y cyfnodol. Rydyn ni'n ddweud hynny'n ddweud hynny'n gweithio ei bod gennych gwaith yma, a gallwn ei ddweud hynny yn ei ddweud hynny i gael'i gael. Dwi'n meddwl, gwnaethwch i'r gwaith. Mae'n gweithio i'n meddwl yma'r ysgolfaeth yma'r cwmhiliol. Mae unrhyw ychydig yn ei gaelio gyntaf, ar ddweud yn cymdeithasol, ac eich cyfnodd ddweud yn gorau y gwyllgor ymddydd, a'i ddigonod o'i ei hwn i'r amgylch yn y cyfnod periodically ar gyfer y cyfnod periodau ar y cyfnod i weithiant? Felly, dwi yn dangos unrhyw y cwestiynau yn cofio ar gyfer cyfnod, ac yn ddigonod ar gyfer cyfnod periodau arcyf yn cofio ar gyfer cyfnod, ac mae'n gaelio i'n cael ei gaelio'r cyfnod, Ie ddim gwsgawr, celais gwrs, y cyfnoddau o'r rhagleniadau cyfnoddau gy satisfies the Cymru? Ie ddim gwsgawr, ac yn mynd i seithio yn ddymiadwadau ffordd honno ar gyfer poblyniadau, ohyniadau a rathfawr i gyfnoddau gyfnoddau, zwad worlden nhw, ac yn mynd i automated heddiw i Cymru. Ysgolau Indexing Dŵr Cymru hwnnau i gyd gan y cyfnoddau i gyfrifonfa rhagleniadau yn gwybodaeth a gael, felly'r cysylltu chi'n gwneud hyn i'r cyflymus i gydweithio pergynniadau, gwheil iawn i'r wychion hyn ar gyfer ganwethaf rhywunfaeth i gael a yn gараe i'r ddweud o'i ddim yn ambrangogi i ddyn nhw i unrhyw dillonio cymdeilig maes i'r ffordd agol. Roller MacRythgo? A gael i ni'n gael i ddim, mae'r garwun iddyn nhw gyda ei gyfrifio cyfrifio gyda i 사용 i maes i gyfrifio gyfrifio gyda'u ddorog, ac yn sicrhau i ddym ni'n sgolfaith gwyllt y bydd iddyn nhw i ddim i dd Gymru. The cost of living crisis is an important issue for public deliberation to help to identify equitable ways to move through this crisis that has public support. At present, we are not in a place to run a short notice citizens assembly on this issue. However, we have set up a people's panel on wellbeing 2022 and beyond. That has met three times so far, and the cost of living crisis has been discussed with panellists. That provides us with an in-depth understanding of people's views on the cost of living crisis and of the current and anticipated impact of crisis on people's lives. I would like to ask the Scottish Government how measures set out in its programme for government in 2022-23 will support Scotland's Covid-19 recovery. Recovery from Covid-19 is a key priority for the Scottish Government, and the 2022-23 programme for government outlines the range of actions that we are taking to support this. It addresses the impacts of the pandemic across our society, economy and health services. It sets out our investment for the next year through the Covid support fund, which assists those living with long-term effects of infection, outlines financial support available for local economies, dealing with the impacts of the pandemic and undertakes to eradicate healthcare rates of over 18 months in most specialities. In terms of pandemic or disease resilience, in the Scottish Parliament's Covid-19 recovery evidence session on 8 September, it was made clear by Caroline Lowe, the director of finance at NHS national services Scotland, that in the event of future pandemic or crisis affecting only Scotland, that this would have to be funded from existing Scottish funding sources. Does the Scottish Government have the fiscal flexibility as it requires to respond to such a crisis? Mr Fairlie will be familiar with the range of powers and responsibilities that the Government has within the parliamentary system. Of course, one of the key limitations is that we do not have the capacity to borrow for resource spending purposes other than for very limited purposes in relation to financial management. The scenario that Mr Fairlie puts to me of an emergence of an issue that requires additional public expenditure within a financial year can really essentially only be supported by the Government by taking resources that are allocated to other areas of expenditure to prioritise dealing with a pandemic. Obviously, if there was to be an event that happened at a United Kingdom level, then the wider workings that we saw during the Covid pandemic would be relevant and would be applied. Obviously, the Government would co-operate on such a basis in any future scenario. One sector that needs help to recover from the pressures of Covid is the social housing sector. The Scottish Government's programme for government is proposing a bill to freeze rents, although we have not yet seen that bill and we are not to see it, I believe, until shortly before we are due to debate it on Tuesday. This week, I received a letter from the Kingdom Housing Association in my region expressing serious concerns about a rent freeze. It says that the rent freeze in the social sector is a serious threat to the Scottish Government's targets on decarbonisation and affordable housing. It will lead to a reduction in the provision of new homes, the deferral of planned maintenance works and a potential reduction in service delivery standards to tenants. How does the Scottish Government respond to the very serious concerns from social housing providers? Although it is not directly relevant, Deputy Presiding Officer, I should remind the chamber of my register of interests in relation to private rented property. The issue that Mr Fraser raises on behalf of the Kingdom Housing Association, those are all legitimate questions that the Parliament will have to consider when it considers the legislation, so it would be premature for me to give a specific response until the provisions are published, and there will be adequate opportunity, which has been made available for Parliament to consider the legislation. The other point is that the letter that Mr Fraser has quoted from essentially highlights the fact that, in this cost of living crisis, there are really difficult choices to be made. I suspect that we will have a lot of talk about that in the course of the questions that I respond to this afternoon. There are very difficult choices that come about from the fact that inflation is putting enormous pressure on our budgets. There are cost of living challenges that individual householders face, and the Government has taken the step that we need to protect people from rent increases for a limited period, given the fact that that will exacerbate the effects of the cost of living. Within all of that, we will engage constructively with the social housing sector, but the idea that we can navigate our way through this cost of living crisis without difficult decisions having to be confronted, I have been completely open with Parliament about the difficulties. I gave a statement here three weeks ago on the difficulties in our budget and we will have more of those issues to wrestle with in the period to come. To ask the Scottish Government what anticipates the impact will be on its Covid recovery strategy of the reduction to the Covid recovery budget. Announced on 7 September as part of the emergency budget review. The current fiscal environment presents real and significant pressures. Within the constraints of a fixed budget and limited powers, the Scottish Government is managing the nation's finances while maximising the support that is available to those most affected by the pandemic and the on-going cost crisis. The emergency budget review is on-going, and that will assess all opportunities to redirect additional resources to those most in need, as well as to reduce the burdens on businesses, stimulate the economy and support our wider recovery from the pandemic. Any changes to budgets that result from this will be formally set out to Parliament in the standard budget revision process. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. With the reduction in the budget, can the cabinet secretary give an update on ventilation in classrooms? Have the classroom doors been cut along with the budget? I think, frankly, that is a question that trivialises the difficulties that we face. I think that it just demonstrates where the Conservative Party is just now. Today, of all days, as the public finances of the United Kingdom face absolute peril, Douglas Lumsden believes that he should use parliamentary time in a flippant fashion as that. He tells us that Mr Kerr has just been on his feet complaining about the quality of answers, while I am on my feet complaining about the quality of the questions from Mr Lumsden, who needs to up his game. Is the reality not that he needs to tell Douglas Lumsden that the problem here with the pressure on Covid recovery and all other budgets is because we have a crazy UK Westminster Government which is cutting taxes, allowing the pound to collapse and pushing up energy, imported costs and everything else? I agree unreservedly with John Mason's analysis of the current situation and his characterisation of the United Kingdom Government's behaviour as crazy because I have never... If the United Kingdom Government brought forward a fiscal event on Friday, it has recklessly undermined confidence in the public finances, recklessly undermined confidence in the economy and it has done absolutely nothing to alleviate the suffering of individuals in our society, many of whom will be Mr Mason's constituents. I think that what the United Kingdom Government needs to do is to concentrate on how it stabilises the public finances, removes the ridiculous budget provisions that they put in place on Friday and address the serious issue that I have put to them, which is that our budget is now worth £1.7 billion less than it was when we set it because of raging inflation in our economy. That is the real challenge that we face. Earlier this month, the Scottish Government wrote to integrated joint boards informing them that they would have to return unspent Covid reserves. That is an extraordinary decision given that this deadly virus has not gone away and clinicians are warning of a really challenging period ahead for the NHS and social care. Can the minister explain why he is raiding the coffers of IJBs at the very time that they need support to deliver vital health and social care services? Would he agree with me that if this was the UK Government clawing back money from Scotland, he would be enraged and rightly so? The reason why this has got to be done is that we have got to use all means available to us to support public servants, many of whom work for integrated joint boards to deliver healthcare in our society through increased pay deals to deal with the consequences of inflation. If the UK Government is not going to expand the size of the resources available to us—I do not need to explain to Jackie Baillie, but I will just for completeness—the Government cannot borrow for resource purposes. We cannot change the tax rates during the financial year, so unless the UK Government changes the spending envelope, there are no extra resources available to us. I took the opportunity of my conversation with the chief secretary to the Treasury on Friday to press the case for increases in public spending. He was entirely unsympathetic to my appeals for that step, so the Government has got to look at the various ways in which we can utilise resources to afford increased pay claims and other pressures within the financial year when we do not have access to flexibilities. The example that Jackie Baillie cites is one example of the steps that the Government has got to take. To ask the Scottish Government how the cost of living crisis is impacting its Covid recovery strategy. The Covid recovery strategy commits us to actions supporting financial security for low-income households. The cost of living crisis represents an unprecedented challenge that is impacting people across Scotland, and we are providing significant additional support to help mitigate that. By March, we will have invested almost £3 billion in a range of measures for households, supporting energy bills, childcare, health and travel, as well as social security payments. In our programme for government, we also announced several further responses to maximise support for those in need, including a new winter heating payment, doubling of our fuel and security fund of £20 million, £5 million additional funding for discretionary housing payments and further action to reduce the cost of the school day for families. I thank the Deputy First Minister for that answer. Last week, I met Matthew Cole, head of the Fuel Bank Foundation, an organisation mainly providing help for customers and prepayment metres, who are at real risk of having their energy supply cut off. Given that the Tory UK Government has decided to prioritise the wealthy at the expense of ordinary families, what powers does the Scottish Government need in order to realise Scotland's energy potential and to ensure that nobody has their lights and heating cut off when they don't have the cash to top up on fuel? The type of powers and responsibilities would be the powers to reform the energy market and the powers to apply a windfall tax to energy companies who are going to profit enormously from the rising energy costs. Under the current United Kingdom Government proposals, the burden of paying for all of that support will be added to the borrowing stock and the borrowing obligations of future generations. Those are some of the examples of how wider powers for the Scottish Parliament will make a difference in that respect. Scotland's economy recovers from the Covid crisis. What can the cabinet secretary say to people that are facing a tough winter of skyrocketing energy costs, especially those like many of my constituents who are reliant on heating oil for which there is no cap? I have every sympathy with the point that is raised by Beatrice Wishart. Indeed, I had the pleasure of meeting with the leader of Shetland Islands Council, Councillor Emma McDonald, just the other week there, just after she had published the analysis of the expected increases in costs for people in Shetland and also in the Orklands, if I might add, which will be at an even greater level because of temperature and limited daylight over the winter period. I have every sympathy with the issues that are raised and I assure her that we will continue to make representations to the United Kingdom Government to try to provide direct intervention. If there are other ways in which we can try to offer support through some of the financial schemes that the Scottish Government has available, I will ensure that the information is available to Beatrice Wishart's constituents in order that they may access such funds. To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided to Dundee to support the city's recovery from the pandemic. The Covid recovery strategy brings together over 70 actions that will support people across Scotland by increasing the financial security for low-income households, by enhancing the wellbeing of children and young people, and by creating good-green jobs and fair work. The strategy also focuses on renewing public services to ensure that they meet the specific needs of people and communities. For example, in Dundee, our best start-break futures delivery plan will help to tackle direct child poverty is testing holistic support to help parents access work and increase their incomes. Furthermore, Dundee City Council will receive £353.4 million to fund local services equating to an extra £27.8 million compared to the last financial year. That is in addition to Covid-19 funding of £50 million to the local government settlement over and above regular grant payments. I thank the Deputy First Minister for his response and welcome the additional funding that has enabled the city's S&P council to implement an £800,000 fuel well scheme providing targeted support with energy bills of £400,000 food for insecurity, £200,000 for money and energy advice and £500,000 for business recovery. Does the cabinet secretary agree that, although those schemes are very welcome and are providing crucial support for my constituents, it is unfortunate that the lack of sufficient actions from the Westminster Government on areas such as those that are reserved responsibilities or indeed in pursuing deliberately damaging policies has required the Scottish Government and Dundee's S&P council to step in to support local people? I welcome the steps that are being taken by the city council administration in Dundee to support people who are facing challenges at this time. I agree very much with Mr Fitzpatrick that those interventions will assist individuals. I regret the fact that they are necessary because of the lack of action of the United Kingdom Government, but it demonstrates the benefit of Dundee City Council acting on behalf of the people of Dundee as I would expect them to do so. The money allocated to councils through the local authority Covid economic recovery fund is welcome. It does little to reverse the damage to local services caused by a decade of cuts. The Scottish Government has cut real-term cumulative funding for councils by 4.2 per cent. We have heard that they are clawing back funding from the IJBs. Will the minister provide assurance that councils will be able to use all funding allocated to them through the economic recovery fund, without fear of that being clawed back to— Cabinet Secretary? In my answer to Mr Fitzpatrick, I pointed out that Dundee City Council had received £27.8 million more in funding from the Government compared to 2021-22, which is in addition to the £50 million of Covid funding, 19 funding through the local government settlement. The Government has been providing really substantial support to local government. Of course, in recent weeks, we have provided additional in-year support to enable the local government pay deal to be settled, and that has obviously required new additional resources to be made available to local governments. The Government is doing its level best by local authorities in Scotland. Bill Kidd Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place with ministers across government regarding the impact of the UK Government's fiscal statement on Scotland's Covid recovery strategy. Since the Covid recovery strategy was published, and particularly in recent months, rising inflation, the worsening cost of living crisis and the inaction by the UK Government has made it even more critical for the Scottish ministers to focus our efforts on supporting those who are most in need. We are undertaking an emergency budget review to assess any and all opportunities to redirect additional resources to those who are most in need, to reduce the burdens on businesses and to stimulate the Scottish economy. Bill Kidd Thank you very much, Deputy First Minister. The mini-budget, announced by Quasiquarting, prioritises lining the pockets of the rich through cutting corporation tax and cutting the 45 per cent tax rate paid by the wealthiest individuals in the UK. Does the Deputy First Minister agree that we need to focus on rebuilding our economy post-Covid Brexit and in the context of international uncertainty, rather than take unnecessary risks that are not going to protect people on low to average incomes? I set out yesterday to Parliament the very significant concerns that the Scottish Government has about the measures announced by the Chancellor on Friday. I think that the concerns that were set out to Parliament yesterday by ministers have been amplified by the intervention of the international monetary fund yesterday and the commentary from ratings agencies and the intervention today of the Bank of England demonstrating that the announcements made on Friday were foolish. They were very damaging and they are causing significant financial volatility for the United Kingdom and that will have an effect on householders and it will have an effect on the public finances into the bargain. 7. Jamie Halcro Johnston To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how the work of the Covid business resilience and support directorate is supporting its Covid recovery strategy. Presiding Officer, the Covid recovery strategy is focused on reducing systemic inequalities and includes commitments to support the creation of good green jobs and fair work in Scotland. Businesses play an important role in this aspect of recovery and the Scottish Government has prioritised support for business. For example, the Scottish Government launched the £80 million local authority Covid economic recovery fund in February 2022. It empowered local authorities to consider how best to support local businesses, communities and households with the focus on targeting support to maximise economic recovery in their areas. All of those steps have been assisted by the work delivered by the Covid business resilience and support directorate. 7. Jamie Halcro Johnston Thank you. The Audit Scotland noted in June that it had taken too long to establish internal governance arrangements within the Scottish Government, noting that the business resilience and support directorate took until March 2021, almost a year after the start of the pandemic to be formed. All the while, there were significant delays in getting some of the support out to businesses and there remains concerns about significant funds allocated for Covid support remaining unspent. As the Cabinet Secretary outlined, what lessons have been learned from its response and what action has been taken to ensure that any underspend in budget is targeted to continue to support Scottish businesses. 8. Michael Matheson There are a number of interesting points in here. The Government acted with great urgency and speed to try to distribute funding support to businesses because we recognised in Covid the gravity of the crisis that was faced. I have read the Audit Scotland report on the funding, which is, on the one hand, complementary about how swiftly the Government moved. That is certainly the feedback that I have had from many businesses in my constituency who have told me that they would not be in business today had the Government not acted so quickly and then contrasted by the understandable demand for there to be proper governance around these arrangements. There is a challenge, which I think we have to be open about, about the necessity to act with speed to save businesses and the necessity to have in place absolutely every check and balance that we would require to have. In the assessment by Audit Scotland about any inappropriateness about the finances distributed in Covid business support, essentially it was of a minimal level. That cannot be said for all funding across the United Kingdom and there is huge concerns in the Public Audit Committee, the Public Accounts Committee and the House of Commons about these issues in the Westminster Government. I think that there is a difficult balance to be struck there, but I assure Mr Halcro Johnston that the Government has approached the issue with the imperative of supporting businesses when they needed that assistance and to do it as quickly as possible. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to consult further on electoral reform in Scotland. Work has been under way over the summer to prepare a public consultation and my officials and I have had helpful initial discussions with several interested stakeholders. Can I thank minister for that very welcome news? Greens have campaigned for a long time for a truly residence-based franchise in Scotland where everybody who lives here has the right to vote and stand in elections, including 16-year-olds. This new consultation will hopefully go some way to fixing the inequalities in our electoral franchise in relation to candidacy rights, although I want to see it go further with an extension of voting rights to people seeking asylum. Can the minister confirm how the consultation will encourage particularly disenfranchised communities to respond? I can say to the member that the consultation paper will be published by the end of this year. I have already met a number of key stakeholders in relation to possible consultation topics and I plan to continue that approach. I would be happy to consider any suggestions from the member and discuss things further in some of the issues that he has already mentioned or any other ideas that others in the chamber may have for this whole process. Two brief supplementaries for Stephen Kerr. Doesn't the minister agree that the current modified Da Haunt system that we are using disproportionately rewards parties that don't stand candidates in constituencies? Shouldn't parties, with candidates on the regional list ranking, have to stand candidates in constituencies for the system to be anything like fair and reasonable, rather than parties gaming the system? I think that, as always, Mr Kerr is quite entertaining and has plenty of ideas on this issue. I would say that possibly today is not the time to start talking about rewriting the Scotland Act at this stage, but possibly it is a discussion for us all to have in the future. I will spare the minister my full slideshow from my recent visit to observe the Swedish elections, but, since we are on the subject of gaming, would he look at the Swedish system, which is the ultra-proportional open-list system with 28 regions with a national rebalance in mechanism as a means to avoid this gaming of the electoral system in Scotland? Not to commit myself to anything at this stage, Mr Rennie. I am quite willing to discuss with you that said plan and have a look at it, and we could possibly take it from there. Delphically done. That ends portfolio questions on Covid recovery. We now move to the second portfolio, which is finance in the economy. Again, should members wish to ask a supplementary question, I encourage them to press the request-to-speak buttons. During the relevant question, I call question number one, Paul MacLennan. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken of the cumulative impact on business of the pressures of a weak currency, high inflation, rising energy costs and Brexit. The impacts of inflation are affecting businesses across Scotland, exacerbated by the UK Government's recent announcements such as seeing the pound fall to record lows and the additional uncertainty that we have seen today. This comes on top of Brexit. In the latest business insights and conditions survey, 46 per cent of businesses experiencing exporting challenges said the end of the EU transition period was the main cause. The Scottish Government has engaged extensively with business and support their calls on the UK Government for action. However, last week's mini-budget gives tax cuts for the rich and little for households and businesses struggling to pay bills. Paul MacLennan. Thank you. We have had six chancellers since 2014. The pound was £1.64 in 2014. It is now $1.6 and probably falling. Annual inflation was 2.3 per cent. It is now 9.9 per cent with forecasts of 22 per cent. The UK was in the euro in 2014. Since leaving the EU, Scottish exports have decreased by 14 per cent. The energy price cap in 2019 was £1100. It is now £2,500. Add in the IMF and credit agency's comments today. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that the so-called stability of the UK economy, often quoted by unionist politicians, is no longer credible in any way and is damaging our businesses? We are experiencing an acute period of volatility and uncertainty, started by Brexit and exacerbated by the crisis around Covid, the war in Ukraine and now the recklessness of the new Conservative Government. The idea that, somehow, the UK can be described as a stable economy in the light of all that chaos and damage that has been done to business is a fallacy of the past. To brief supplementaries, first, Michelle Thompson. The Bank of England can only hope that its emergency and unlimited guilt-buying operation will be a temporary measure in the defences required against an incompetent Tory budget, described by the former NPC member, Professor Blanchfair, who stated that quasi-quartine has crashed the markets. I have never seen such raging incompetence ever. Does the cabinet secretary agree that the Scottish people can simply no longer afford to pay the price of being attached to this failing UK state and that the UK Government must not impose swinging cuts to Scotland's budget? There are three points that I would make there. The first is that one of the consequences of the Chancellor's recklessness on Friday is the risk of very significant reductions in public expenditure to try to restore market confidence. That will be a disaster for Scotland. Secondly, the cost of remaining part of the United Kingdom is now acute for people in Scotland when we see the damage of Brexit and this fiscal mismanagement. Thirdly, I am struck at the ridiculousness of the Conservative party demanding that I replicate the changes that were made by the Chancellor on Friday when we look at the chaos that has been inflicted on all of us as a consequence. What can the Scottish Government say to business in island areas who already face higher costs in their mainland counterparts and fear for the very viability of their businesses as economic confidence falls and overheads and inflation continue to rise? One of the issues that I am most concerned about is the actual scale of energy price rises, even with some of the tempering measures that are now in place for entirely profitable and sustainable businesses. If I give Bruce Swisher an example, which I shared openly, of a farmer in my constituency who explained to me that his energy costs are currently £50,000 a year and he was being quoted £250,000. A difference of £200,000 is just impossible for that farming venture to find. What would happen is that an individual who is producing food for our domestic market would face the potential of not being able to continue to do so. Bruce Swisher will have examples like that in her constituency. We have to recognise the enormity of the risk that is faced and the scale of intervention has to be acute to ensure that perfectly viable businesses in every other normal circumstance should be able to be assisted through this difficulty, as we did in Covid, but we should do that not by saddling future generations with the level of borrowing that is proposed by the United Kingdom Government. I need to alert the chamber that we are tight for time across the afternoon, so I will have to encourage and succinct our questions and also succinct our answers, ministers. Question 2, orgy Nicolle. To ask the Scottish Government how the national planning framework for will be equipped to attract investment to North East Scotland. NPF4 will set out clear national policy and spatial priorities for every area, including when our feast. Once adopted, NPF4 will form part of the statutory development plan reviewed every 10 years and will be central to planning decisions making locally. The increase in local application combined with a long-term vision for Scotland in 2045 means that NPF4 will give greater clarity and confidence to people, communities and investors, for example in actively planning and delivering the just transition from oil and gas to a net zero future for the North East. NPF4 will be closely aligned with our Government strategies and be accompanied by a delivery programme to support better alignment and co-ordination of delivery partners and their funding sources. It is for all stakeholders and sectors to help to deliver NPF4. Research by Scottish Renewable shows that the average planning decision for renewable energy can take around 772 days from submission, which is not compatible with meeting net zero by 2045. Renewable energy is key to tackling the climate emergency, securing Scotland's energy supply and dealing with the cost of living crisis. Can the minister outline how that will be delivered, given the timescales referred to above? We recognise the critical role of planning in helping to meet our net zero targets. Our package of planning reforms is focused on delivering clear and quicker decisions, giving greater confidence and predictability to those who are planning to develop. NPF4 will signal a turning point for planning, and we have been clear that responding to global climate emergency and a nature crisis will be central to that, including by actively enabling appropriately located renewable energy developments. I am also working with a high-level group on planning performance to drive forward a programme to enhance resources and skills. We have recently increased planning fees to enable additional resources for planning services, and we are currently preparing to recruit Scotland's first national planning improvement co-ordinator to support good practice amongst authorities and users of the planning system. A number of supplementaries are here, but I would impress upon both the questioners and the minister that everything needs to be brief from this point on. Maggie Chapman, first of all. The minister will be acutely aware of the importance of genuine community engagement for local and regional economic development. Indeed, this is a vital part of the Scottish Government's commitment to a just transition. Without listening to local voices, economic development cannot be just. How can we ensure that decisions around inward investment to the north-east of Scotland do not ride roughshod of the wishes and needs of local communities? Rightly, we want to be involved and we want them to be involved in the decisions that shape the places that they love, work and play. Effective public engagement can lead to better plans, decisions and more satisfactory outcomes. Our planning system includes statutory and non-statutory opportunities for engagement, including in the preparation of local development plans that set out the future use of land in the area and the new place plans introduced by the 2019 planning act. Will MPF4 provide greater flexibility for local authorities so that community focus approach to planning can be made, for example, to tackle vacant and derelict buildings, such as the interfloor factory in Dumfries, which I now have a petition for for the council to take action? The member will appreciate the comment on specific cases, but there are policies in draft MPF4 on vacant and derelict land, which we are carefully considering. There is the consultation that we undertook in new style LDPs. New style LDP regulations will be laid shortly after the new MPF4 comes into effect. Last month, the Bonacord Centre in Aberdeen plunged into administration sparking concerns about its future. Business rates are cooling our high streets, so how will MPF4 not so much attract new investment but allow us to keep what we have? The draft MPF4 recognises that we need to preserve and reuse existing assets, both from net zero ambitions but also recognising the importance in place and having thriving centres and their specific policies on centres within draft MPF4. We will bring back a finalised MPF4 to Parliament later in the autumn. 3. Brian Whittle To ask the Scottish Government how many projects and what total value of loans the Scottish National Investment Bank has supported. The bank has made loan commitments of £103 million and made funding equity investments of £155 million across 20 companies and projects. Those investments have seen £482 million of co-investment of third party capital. The investments have supported all three of the bank's missions in net zero place and innovation in people. 3. Brian Whittle I thank the cabinet minister for that reply, but businesses are reporting to me that, especially businesses in the green economy and the renewable sector that accessing potential funding from SNP is problematic, is wrapped in red tape, they seem to look for reasons not to invest and are risk averse. Surely investing in innovation within the renewable sector is what SNP is for, so can I ask the cabinet secretary to agree to review the way in which SNP lends money and ensure that Scotland does not miss out on the significant opportunities that the renewable sector brings to our economy? I am very happy to engage in this question because one of the priorities of the Scottish National Investment Bank is to lend to sustainable projects with growth potential in the net zero environment. I have a list of projects that have been supported to assist that objective. If there are particular examples that Mr Whittle is concerned about, I will happily look at them and explore them with the Scottish National Investment Bank. Over time, we will look at the performance of the bank and determine if there are any obstacles, but I can assure Mr Whittle and the chamber that the bank is keen to lend to projects in these key areas. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the Scottish Retail Consortium's recommendation to accelerate the process of lowering the higher property rate. Decisions on non-domestic rates, including the poundage and any reliefs or supplements, are considered in the context of the Scottish budget and in line with other Government priorities. Scottish budget 2022-23 delivers the lowest poundage in the UK for the fourth year in a row, ensuring that over 95 per cent of non-domestic properties continue to be liable for a lower property tax rate than anywhere else in the UK. I did not quite hear an answer to what assessment it has made of the SRC's calls, but, back in 2017, the Barclay review, commissioned by the Scottish Government, called for the large business supplement to be reduced in order to make Scotland the best place to do business in the UK. Does the minister agree with the SRC specifically that retaining a higher rate in Scotland is not a competitive approach, and will they look again at the policy in its forthcoming budget? I am very grateful to the SRC for its submissions. The point that I was making to the member in my original answer is that it would be premature of me to set out what the non-domestic rates policy will be ahead of the budget being delivered later this year. Of course, we very much welcome the submission from the SRC and will, of course, give careful consideration to it. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the survey of participants in 4-day week globals pilot. The Scottish Government is taking a keen interest in the trial and, at the halfway point, indicative results demonstrate positive experiences for workers and employers. There is no doubt that a 4-day working week could bring environmental, health, wellbeing and productivity benefits, which is why ministers are committed to exploring the benefits further. Indeed, the programme for government restated our commitment to support research and advice to improve workplace productivity and wellbeing, including on the delivery of a 4-day working week pilot. We will bring forward specific proposals soon. A 4-day working week could save workers thousands of pounds in both childcare and commuting costs. The Labour MP Peter Dowd has introduced a 4-day working week bill to Westminster. Will the Scottish Government publicly back this bill? Minister. Thank you very much to the member for the question. I like the member herself. I am a very keen supporter of the 4-day working week, and I am really enthusiastic about the work that the Scottish Government is doing in this area. For example, at a new centre for workplace transformation, which will complement the existing pilot trials under way, for example, by analysing where there may be gaps in the existing literature or analysis to explore the possibilities for an alternative working practice that delivers more inclusive balance between work and personal lives. My direct declaration of interest records my attendance at the 4-day week conference in Valencia in May, and I shared insights with ministers on it. Does the minister agree that, as productivity is a persistent challenge for Scotland and the UK, and as productivity gains are proving to be a key benefit of 4-day week pilots, as has been recruitment and retention of talented and valuable staff important in a tight labour market, can the minister reiterate their commitment to a pilot? As the Portuguese Government has also just announced that it will conduct 4-day week pilots that are keen to learn from Scotland's work, will the Scottish Government also commit to engage with other Governments on this agenda? Ministers remain committed to exploring the benefits of a 4-day working week, which is why the 2022-23 programme for government includes a commitment to undertake research and advice to improve workplace productivity and wellbeing, including on the delivery of a 4-day working week pilot. Our work will be informed by experience drawn from similar projects in other countries and elsewhere in the UK. Officials have already made plans to meet with the Valencian and Portuguese Governments next month. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with Sanjif Gupta. The Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise last met with Mr Gupta on 15 August 2022. I am very grateful to the cabinet secretary for that reply. That auditors have resigned. There is an investigation by the serious fraud office and the promised 2,000 jobs are nowhere to be seen. Its owners have warned that the plant may in fact shut. Does the Government regret ignoring warnings from its own economic advisers about doing deals with the GFG alliance, the owners of the Lochaber smelter and the Lanarkshire steel mills? The Government's intentions were clear. We were taking the steps that we were taking to try to protect employment. There are families today who are employed in the DL's steelworks and at the Lochaber smelter, who would not be employed today if the Government had not helped in the way that we helped. We are trying to ensure that we support employment within our society. There are commitments that GFG has got to make to the Government. They are being delivered in relation to the payments that are required as part of the financial arrangements that are in place and the Government will continue to monitor those issues and respond to any issues that are raised in Parliament. Can I ask the cabinet secretary whether the Scottish Government has had a contact with the serious fraud office regarding their investigation into GFG's activities? I do not think that I am at liberty to respond in detail to that question, but I will take advice on that question and, if I am, I will respond further in writing to Mr Halcro Johnston. Thank you. With everything that has happened recently, there is a clear risk that GFG and Gupta's financial empire will collapse. What is the total liability to the public purse if that were to come to pass? That is a difficult factor to calculate, given the various scenarios that could take place. I assure Mr Johnston that the Government has in place arrangements that ensure that all the payments that are required to the Government are up-to-date, and the asset value of the Lochaber venture is in excess of any liability that could be created in the scenario on that individual site that Mr Johnston raises with me today. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government how it will address any concerns over cost pressures affecting the retail sector. As I outlined in our programme for government, we will work with the business community to identify further measures that can assist in addressing increased costs and economic disruption. However, as the member will appreciate, the powers and resources needed to tackle this emergency on the scale required access to borrowing, welfare, vat on fuel, taxation that one of the windfall profits, regulation of the energy market are all lying with the UK Government. We have continually urged the UK Government to use all the powers and fiscal headroom at its disposal, and we will continue to do everything within our resources and powers to help those most affected. We have been calling for the UK Government to introduce a business energy cap for some time, a welcome, but it has now done so. Without substantial reform to the energy market, there is a real risk that this temporary measure will prove to be inadequate. Let's look at what the Scottish Government could do. Potentially thousands of businesses face closure next year. That's the warning from the Scottish Grocer's Federation over their proposed deposit return handling fees, which they warn won't cover retailer costs. Does the minister agree that it is worth at least a review now, a year ahead of the launch, to ensure retailers will not face serious losses? I'm very much looking forward to speaking at the Scottish Grocer's Federation conference next week and what it says is that we are committed to the launch of DRS next year. This is an industrial-led scheme, but we have been and we will continue to engage with business, including the retail sector. The retail sector is facing substantial pressures as a result of the cost of living, not to mention Brexit. Can the minister provide any further information regarding the Scottish Government's latest engagement with the sector, regarding meeting current challenges and building resilience for the future? We can have regular engagement with the retail sector and wider business community. I co-chaired the first meeting of the newly inaugurated retail industry leadership group on August 25. We discussed a variety of issues, including the implementation of our retail strategy, particularly the priority of developing a fair work agreement and commencing a skills audit, which are both identified as key priorities in the strategy. The next meeting of the group will be in early November, and I'm happy to keep the chamber updated on its progress. Thank you very much, minister. That concludes portfolio questions. There will be a brief pause before we move to the next item of business.