 We turn now to topical questions and we start with question number one from Anas Sawa. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to provide reassurance to communities in the wake of the Christchurch terrorist attack. Our thoughts and condolences are with the victims, their families and communities affected by this dreadful act. The First Minister has sent condolences on behalf of Scotland to the Prime Minister of New Zealand. We stand in solidarity with Muslim communities across the world. The First Minister, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and myself have visited and been in contact with Muslim communities in Scotland, including a visit to Glasgow Central Mosque on Friday to offer reassurance and our heartfelt support. Police Scotland has stepped up reassurance patrols around mosques and increased engagement with all faith communities, giving advice on how people and places can stay safe in these troubling times. We must stand united against Islamophobia and all hate. Everyone should be able to feel safe as they go about their daily lives. Scotland's diversity is our strength and we value and appreciate our relationships with our diverse faith communities and welcome their contribution to our society. Anas Sawa. We send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of those who lost loved ones in Christchurch. We also send a message of solidarity to the millions of people hurting in New Zealand and across the world. This was a devastating and despicable act and let's be clear that it was the act of a terrorist. In the aftermath of this latest tragedy, it is important that we unite and work together to confront hatred in all its forms. This is not someone else's fight. Don't leave it to anyone else. This is a fight for all of us. One of the issues raised with me is the on-growing security concerns at places of worship. No one should have to fear for their own lives, especially when in a mosque, a church, a synagogue, a munder or a goudwara. There is a place of worship security funding scheme available in England and Wales. No such scheme exists in Scotland. Will the minister urgently consider this and commit the Government and agencies to work with all our faith communities to deliver it? Anas Sawa, for his remarks, associated with much of what he said about the act of solidarity that is so necessary at this point of grief and vulnerability for so many. The recent visit to Glasgow Central Mosque by the First Minister and Humza Yousaf committed to exploring further what the Scottish Government could do to provide reassurances to all faith communities and their places of worship, including exploring the issues around safety and security, and touching on the issues around the funding that Anas Sawa mentioned. We are working through that and will continue to keep the Parliament and the member involved as those discussions develop, bearing in mind the real plea and call from the communities around needing that extra reassurance and support from the Parliament and from the Government at this incredibly stressful and vulnerable time. Anas Sawa. For that answer, I stress that this cannot just be an issue that we consider while the issue is still hot as a topic but it needs to be something that needs to be urgently considered in the weeks and months that follow. I am sad to say that this tragic attack did not surprise me and it probably did not surprise Muslims across the UK and across the world. The us versus them rhetoric, the sowing the seeds of hate and the othering of our fellow citizens has become all too common. Security or places of worship is one thing but security and belonging at our homes in our everyday lives is equally, if not more, important. Of social media has opened up our world and I believe that it is a force for good, it has also allowed people with extreme views to amplify, recruit, organise and fundraise. That simply cannot go on. What action will the Scottish Government take to engage with social media platforms and make them understand their responsibilities to help to create a fairer and more equal world? I thank Anas Sawa for raising those points and particularly those issues around social media and the amplification of messages of hate, those toxic messages that do so much damage. I chair an action group that looks to try and establish much more cohesive communities and tackle the prejudice that he talks about and certainly those are the issues that we are looking at and will continue to maybe further investigate what more we can do around the platforms on social media. I think also being elected that we are in a privileged position to be listened to and to be influenced more generally. We can use that privilege in one of two ways. We can show that leadership, the empathy and the resolve to build a tolerant and peaceful and respectful world and communities and to reach out to those who feel threatened and vulnerable and fearful and celebrate the diversity. We can also use that position to choose to stoke up hate and use that toxic language and that practice of othering. That is what we have seen too much of. We cannot remain immune from the consequences of that toxicity of language that many choose to use and that will inevitably bring consequences like we have seen in New Zealand. I stand with an assarwar that we should all resolve to call out hate, promote tolerance and respect, show solidarity with our Muslim communities and friends who need our support at this time and know that we love and cherish what they contribute to our diverse Scotland. We should continue to explore ways in which we can call out hate and make sure that we can use every avenue that is open to us to make sure that we can have that peaceful, tolerant Scotland and make sure that we can cherish our diversity, which preaches tolerance and respect. I associate myself with the cabinet secretary's comments as to the abhorrence of the attack in Christchurch and the comments made thus far. We also extend our deepest sympathies to all victims of this horrific act. The cabinet secretary is right that Governments can and should take steps to reassure communities across Scotland, yet it is often by simple acts of unity and togetherness that we defeat such evil. Annas Sarwar is absolutely right that this is a job for all of us together. What steps does the cabinet secretary suggest that Scotland can take to show minority communities that they are welcome neighbours, colleagues and friends? I think that people can reach out to the Muslim communities in their areas. I think that we saw such a great strength of solidarity through some of the gatherings in Glasgow. I know certainly that the Muslim leaders that I spoke to were really just appreciative of that simple act of a phone call to reassure and stand in solidarity with them, but, more generally, we can call out that hate and that practice of othering. We can call out the toxicity of language that we see too often in political discourse, in the media and social media platforms. That was certainly one of the reasons why I and Humza Yousaf were jointly launched the tackling hate campaign, which showed that we wanted to encourage others to call it out and to use either the police as one way in which we can call out that hate or to use the third party reporting centres as well, if we wanted to do so anonymously. Again, we would underline that message to call it out to report it to the police or to use those third party reporting centres, but also more generally to reach out, not just at the point where there is something bad that happens, but to build cohesive communities that shows that love and respect at all times and not just at the point when that needs to be much more firmly understood. Those would be the ways in which I would urge members to encourage their constituents to reach out but also to ensure that we underline that message of calling it out when it happens. Patrick Harvie is to be followed by Fulton MacGregor. I am grateful that Annas Sarwar's question gives us the opportunity to stand together with a message of love and solidarity for the people of New Zealand, revulsion not only at the violence but at the white supremacist values that underpin that violence, but also to express some inspiration. I have certainly felt that from the responses that have been shown by the people of New Zealand who it seems clear are not going to give ground, not going to seed ground to the ideology of hatred and fear but are going to affirm their embrace of diversity and multiculturalism and respect. The comments that have been made about social media are accurate, but I think that we also need to acknowledge and admit to ourselves that, as a society, we have permitted a situation to develop where our mainstream media is awash with anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiments, sentiments that are all too often taken up by those in positions of power who, frankly, should know better than pandering to those attitudes. We have seen that far too much. What does the Scottish Government have to do in relation not only to the security aspects and the policing aspects of the far-right threat that has been so deliberately cultivated, but also in relation to our education system? What are the opportunities that we have to positively affirm the values of a society that we want to be? That, surely, is absolutely essential, not just to counter the far-right threat with security but to counter it by building the values that we wish to express. I thank Patrick Harvie for raising his points. I absolutely agree that there is a moment in which people have to admit that the toxicity of language that she uses—not just in the mainstream media but in many parliamentary chambers across Europe—has allowed that toxic language far too often and created that culture where, unfortunately, things like that will inevitably happen. I would certainly cite Dani Garavalli's article that she wrote in the Scotsman, which called out some of that behaviour and encouraged members to read that. I would also call out the crocodile tears that often get shed at the point of something traumatic like this happening. Patrick Harvie raised a couple of good points in relation to education. Absolutely, the capacities within curriculum for excellence ensure that people are getting the understanding of the need for tolerance, respect, understanding about being an effective contributor to our society when they emerge into their own adulthood to make sure that our young people are aware of the need to be tolerant and respectful. Of course, there is more that we can always do, and certainly one of the issues that I am looking through through the action group, the tackling prejudice action group, is about what more we can do to link across to other areas of education. Youth work, for instance, is about how we ensure that our young people emerge to become people who are effectively and positively contributing to our society. On that and on any other issue, I am happy to engage with members on what more we can do if there are other things that we should be doing, if there are other ways in which we can work, because that is not something that is just owned by one political party or the Government. It transcends party politics. That is an issue that is about the type of country that we want to create, the type of Scotland that we want to be, and it is about respecting diversity, respecting other cultures and appreciating what that brings to our country and how we can continue to promote that and reject hate and ensure that everyone feels valued and who contributes so much to our country. As the convener of the racial equality group in this Parliament, I would like to associate myself with the words of Anas Sarwar, the cabinet secretary and the First Minister, earlier in the week. We are clearly all agreed that hate crime in any forum cannot be tolerated. How can the Scottish Government promote a sense of collective responsibility that has been talked about already and to promote that it is everyone's job to stand in solidarity with one another and call out hate in all its forums? How can people in communities feel confident and be encouraged to report hate crime when they encounter it? I thank Fulton MacGregor for his question and would use the chance to respond by underlining some of the points that I made to Liam Kerr. In September last year, myself and Humza Yousaf launched a hate crime campaign in partnership with Police Scotland to encourage witnesses to report hate crime. Again, we encourage people to call it out. Either people who experience it or have witnessed it to call out that hate crime or to report it to the police or to use one of the many third party reporting centres across the country. Again, it is the recognition of having strong resilience and supportive communities, the importance of community cohesion, in ensuring that there is one Scotland where people do live in peace and everyone has the opportunity to flourish in our country and feel valued and supported in doing so. Thank you for those contributions. To ask the Scottish Government what support it has given to create jobs at the former pinnys in Annan. Cabinet Secretary, Fergus Ewing. The Scottish Government has provided a £1.7 million regional selective assistance grant to support the creation of up to 120 jobs at the former pinnys plant in Annan. Working with Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International and Dumfries and Galloway Council, the Scottish Government sought to find a new investor. Together we have been successful. On Friday 15 March, at Lantys Pak, purchased the site from Young Seafood and announced a £9 million investment plan. That is fantastic news for the people of Annan and the south of Scotland following a very difficult 12 months since the decision to close pinnys. Attracting a new international investor to the site sends a strong message that Scotland is open for business and that we are determined to work collaboratively at a national and local level to secure investment and jobs for the people of Scotland. Joan McAlpine. Thank you, and I agree that it certainly is fantastic news for the people of Annan. Can I ask how will this venture contribute to inclusive growth in the local economy, and can he also indicate what part, if any, the UK Government played in securing the success? Cabinet Secretary? The UK Government was not involved in the work that we did. The work was driven and carried out in Scotland by our public agencies. I pay particular tribute to all those public servants who were involved. They did a superlative first-rate job, and it is not often enough that they get the credit for the hard work that they do, which in this case resulted quite directly in securing the investment in Annan, which so desperately needed it. Regarding the significance, on 13 March, we announced the proposed investment of £85 million in the Borderlands Inclusive Gross Deal over the next 10 years. That will help to drive forward improvement on skills, digital connectivity, tourism and infrastructure development. We are slightly disappointed that the UK Government has not matched the level of our investment as it is putting in a lower sum of £65 million, compared with our £85 million. I would associate myself with the cabinet secretary's remarks about the hard work of the officials and, indeed, his disappointment at the lack of equivalent investment for the Borderlands deal by the UK Government. He will be aware that the factory has been closed for some time and that the workforce, to some extent, has dispersed. Can the cabinet secretary provide an update on what has happened to the workforce and how successful the Scottish Government has been in finding those employees' alternative employment? Ms McAlpine is absolutely right to raise this, because there were, sadly, over 400 redundancies at the site last summer. Since then, the public sector, working as Team Scotland, has worked tirelessly in order to help individuals to get the support that they need and deserve. First, through paced partnership action for continuing employment, and secondly, through the public sector holding two job opportunity fairs, one in July, one in October, one of which I attended, which, again, was a very well-run event that I saw for me in Annan and provided the opportunity to 200 individuals to meet 19 employers and recruitment agencies, exhibiting over 350 vacancies. That is all solid, valuable work done by public servants who are wholly committed to trying to help those individuals who suffer the hammerblow of redundancy provide other opportunities or employment. I am pleased that a substantial number of those who are made redundant and sought to do so have found new employment training, self-employment or other opportunities. Oliver Mundell, before by Colin Smyth. I think that people living in Annan will be extremely disappointed in what is a universally good news story to see politicians attempting to play petty politics and claim all the credit when they were interested in stepping in immediately at the time to provide the relief that families were looking for. That said, it is fantastic news for Annan and I wonder if the minister can tell me the current number of former employees who are still looking for employment and what the Government will do to ensure that those individuals get first access to those vacancies? There has been a huge amount of work done, as I have described already in my substantive answer to Ms McAlpine's question. In July 2018, the south of Scotland economic partnership announced funding of up to £250,000, £140,000 in 2018 and £110,000 in 2019-20 to create the local solutions team. That team is developing projects and opportunities for economic development, identifying sites for business expansion, for example, clearance of the site at Stapleton road in Annan, next to the Pinnies site. As I say, I have seen the response from Mr Mundell's keeping up a constant sort of barrage sort of voce, but if he wants to listen for a moment, I can assure him that a substantial number of those who were made redundant last year, who have sought employment, have found new employment, training self-employment or other opportunities. I am delighted that that is the case. Yesterday's announcement will now provide the opportunity for up to 100 people to obtain employment over the coming year, when production is hoped to restart and recommence in Pinnies in the autumn. That is a terrifically good news story. We are working hard with the company to see whether, in future, there are other opportunities to build on that further in other ways. I was very pleased to have an initial discussion at my meeting with Mr Baghat and his family yesterday at Annan, which was extremely cordial. Last thing that I would say is that Mr Baghat, in his short speech, actually mentioned the public servants by their Christian name and said that I am able to speak to any of those individuals at any time. He really appreciated that, so I think that it is right to keep praise on those individuals who work in the public service who help to secure this terrific result. I echo the cabinet secretary's thanks to all the council and government agencies staff that are involved in helping to secure a very welcome buyer for Pinnies. The cabinet secretary had the pleasure of meeting the new owner, Keeshaff Baghat, yesterday. I was encouraged by his desire to grow the workforce, hopefully beyond the initial planned 120 posts. Given the welcome financial support through Scottish Enterprise, that workforce will benefit from the Scottish Government's fair work first criteria, including full trade union recognition and collective bargaining. Given the fact that, hopefully, the posts will grow, but it is still below the number that were lost when Pinnies closed. What more will the Government do to support and grow the jobs prospects for the people of Annan and surrounding area? I think that Mr Smith makes a series of very fair points. To answer his first question, I can confirm that the RSA grant funding that has been agreed and will be provided is one of the first under the Scottish Government's fair work first initiative, which is committed to fair work, job security, fair pay and a greater voice for workers. As part of the RSA application, the minimum salary at the plant will be in excess of £18,000 above the £9 per hour living wage, and the majority of salaries are well above that amount. He is quite right to say that a greater number of people lost their jobs than are the new jobs being provided at this stage, or at least in the autumn of this year. A huge amount of work is continuing to be done, both in working with Mr Bagat and his team, but also with other potential employers in the Annan area. I am pleased that the local solutions team is playing an active part from that. I hope that Mr Smith agrees that, if the UK Government were prepared to match the Scottish Government's level of commitment—£85 million instead of their £65 million—it is just a matter of fact to report that that would be an additional £20 million that could be invested in the south of Scotland, which would help Annan and the whole of the rest of the area. Thank you very much, and that concludes topical questions.