 Fy enw, dweud y ddemotol o'r cyffeaith ymraeg o'r ddechrau i ddafodol, jaethen o'r ddechrau i ddewid i ddim yn unig o gwaith ar gyfer y cyffeaith ymraeg, ac eylunio'n cyffeaith cwmwy, a wrth gwrs nesaf, feddwl am ddiw i'r ddechrau, ac mae'n ddatblygu sicrhau cymddiadau ramhapawdd i gymraegach yr hyn o'r ddeghau cyffeaith cyfwyr ymrwyllt, fe gynnwyser Easyglydydd oedd y cwmwyllt oedd yn maen nhw. Nid oedd hwn ynser ei hunain i gyrraethwyddon y prifysgol. Cysm Date 1. Emma Harper. For reference, to ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the role of its international offices in promoting Scotland internationally. Cabinet Secretary, Angus Robertson. I invite Ian Little Grainger of The Commonwealth Parliamentary Assembly to our proceedings this afternoon. In answer to Emma Harper, our international network provides a range of benefits to the people of Scotland, working alongside Scottish Development International. Our offices are focused on attracting overseas investment, on helping business trade internationally, and protecting Scotland's interests in the European Union and beyond. The hard work and dedication of our civil servants deployed overseas, working collaboratively with their excellent counterparts and SDI, helps to ensure that Scotland is the most attractive location in the United Kingdom for foreign direct investment outside London, securing and creating thousands of real living wage jobs. Our offices also work with officials in the FCDO and other UK bodies to deliver impact on behalf of Scotland, and I'm pleased that this effective joint working was recognised by the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster in their report on promoting Scotland internationally published last week to which I was happy to have provided evidence. I welcome that the Scottish Government continues to do excellent work to foster relationships with our friends across Europe, the United States and across the globe. However, the House of Commons library report that the UK Government foreign office spending, including on consular services, has fallen from its peak of £15.1 billion in 2019 to £14.5 billion in 2020 and £11.5 billion in 2021, and most recently that a third of UK foreign office spending was used on housing refugees in the UK. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that this degradation of UK foreign office spending shows that the UK Government is intent on becoming more insular and that it is only with independence that Scotland can truly play our part as a progressive outward looking international nation? I certainly agree that the UK Government is overseeing a significant degradation of this great office of state. The Scottish Affairs Committee of which Douglas Ross is part recognises that the foreign office and the Scottish Government share a responsibility to promote Scotland's interests internationally and that the UK Government could and should be doing more. The UK Government must reflect on that as they consider the resources and priorities given to the foreign office, but it does demonstrate in itself that to secure Scotland's interests internationally, trade and investment jobs in Scotland are just transitioned to net zero. We must take our place as an independent member of the international community. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of its international offices. As I have already mentioned in my previous answer, international offices provide a range of benefits to the people of Scotland. International offices, which in 23-24 will account for around 0.02 per cent of our overall spending plans, deliver real impact for our nation, our economy, inward investment jobs, market, tourism, culture and much more. I welcome that a growing number of Tess White's colleagues on the Conservative benches have taken part in visits that have involved Scottish Government international offices. I do not think that Tess White has yet had that experience, but we would commend her to do so in the future. The Scottish Government, Cabinet Secretary, has announced that the annual report on the contribution of Scotland's international offices will be published in December 2023. Given the enormous pressures on the public purse and that ministerial portfolios are crying out for more funding, can the minister explain what metrics will be used to justify the activities and output of those offices? It sounded like a bit of a critical tone, so it would be interesting to hear from the Conservative front bench if that is indeed the position of the Scottish Conservative Party, but the Scottish Government's international offices measure activities, output and successes using a range of qualitative data such as feedback provided by our stakeholders, media articles, case studies and quantitative data such as social media performance and event statistics. Each Scottish Government international office submits a monitoring and evaluation report for each financial year in order to monitor the office's effectiveness, which helps to ensure that each office is achieving their objectives and providing value money. Tess White is absolutely right to say that a report will be produced later this year. The location of the Scottish Government's international offices has been the subject of much debate, in particular a noted absence in certain parts of the world, such as the Global South, which has come up in the Constitution Committee. There have been calls for a Scottish presence in South America, a rapidly growing market for Scotch whisky, and an area that saw a 66 per cent increase in exports in 2022. Does the cabinet secretary agree that the international office network as a whole would benefit from a wholesale review of locations, staffing and funding, and will he implement such a review? We remain committed to opening a new office in Warsaw during this parliamentary term. Of course, there is a rich history of education, trade and cultural links between Scotland and Poland that we are keen to build on. There are currently no plans to open any further Scottish Government international offices during this parliamentary term, but I very much welcome the tone and approach from the Conservative front bench, and I contrast that with the earlier contribution from his colleague behind. I think that there are very strong reasons to actively consider expanding the network. I think that he is right to point to different parts of the world where, as yet, there is no Scottish Government office. I would be delighted for him to make his case further. I would very much welcome contributions from his, indeed from any other political party in the chamber that would wish us to expand the international network, given that I think that I am right in saying that there is all-party consensus that they provide excellent value for money and do a tremendous service for Scotland internationally. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the 2023 Edinburgh Festival fringe. The Edinburgh Festival fringe society and the fringe festival that the society operates are independent organisations. Therefore, it is not the role of the Scottish Government to assess their activity. However, following the support of the Scottish Government, especially during the pandemic, I am pleased to see the fringe return and force this year, with just under 2.5 million tickets issued across the festival to approximately 250,000 visitors for over 3,500 shows. The member may also wish to note that the Edinburgh Festival fringe society produces an annual report of their activities for the public domain. An initial closing statement on the 2023 fringe was published on 28 August, and the 2023 annual report will then be published in due course once the relevant data has been collated. I thank the minister for that response. Research carried out by the stage showed that the average cost for an adult to stay at the festival for its duration this year was over £2,000 in Airbnb, and in others about £5,000 had to be spent for accommodation. That situation is only set to get worse next year once the SNP green short-term licensing scheme comes into effect. The scheme puts at risk accommodation during next year's festival and puts it out of the reach of many people. Therefore, can I ask the Scottish Government what it intends to do to support that sector? Our proposals give licensing authorities powers to strike a balance, and that balance needs to be struck between the needs and concerns of local communities and the wider economic and tourism benefits of short-term lets. Licence authorities may consider applications for temporary exemptions for a single continuous period of up to six weeks and each period of 12 months, which would allow them to be used for events such as the Edinburgh Festival that lasted a number of weeks. Licence authorities can also make the temporary exemptions process like touch by offering a reduced fee, a shorter application form and not applying some of the mandatory licence conditions. The balance has to be made in this, and we have to take the balance into account when both having festivals and making sure that the people who want to access and use and perform at those festivals can have the opportunity to do so. Will the minister be meeting with the fringe society soon to discuss the successes and challenges of the most recent festival, including regarding accommodation issues and the short-term let regulations and working with City of Edinburgh Council to make that temporary six-week exemption as practical and effective as possible, particularly for those who are home-letting and home-sharing, and I know that the housing minister has committed to meeting the festival about that? Will the minister advise what work is being done from the Scottish Government's perspective to support artists who are working and touring rather, with regard to working and touring visas, post-Brexit in order to maintain Scotland's thriving cultural sector? Yes, the First Minister met with the Edinburgh Festival fringe society on 11 August 2023, and both myself and the cabinet secretary for constitution, external affairs and culture are scheduled to meet the festivals Edinburgh, the umbrella organisation for all 11 festivals, including Edinburgh Festival fringe society, in early November. On the point that Ben Macpherson raises about visas, we will continue to push the UK Government to improve visa arrangements for creative professionals. Touring and other international activity is essential to the business models of many parts of the sector and enriches the diversity of our own cultural scene. For access to and from the EU, that simply wasn't an issue and has been brought about by the disaster that is Brexit. Long-term solution lies in Scotland being an independent member of the European Union. The arts and cultural sector suffered immensely during the pandemic and is now suffering once more due to economic pressure. That has seen the start closure of institutions like the Edinburgh film house. While it is now hoped that the film house will reopen, that might not be the case for other venues. Can the Scottish Government outline the support it plans to give the arts and culture sector ahead of next year's fringe festival and how it will protect Edinburgh's other iconic venues? We will work very closely with all the festivals. The cabinet secretary and I have said that we are meeting with the festivals, organisations and November, to pick up all the points that Faisal Chowdhury raises. We support all the festivals, but, for example, one of the events that I visited during the fringe was the Made in Scotland programme, which we have funded through our expo fund since 2008. An annual average of £513,000 and an additional £550,000 just this year. We support the sector, we are meeting with the sector and we are happy to give an update when we have all that information collected. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support creative writers. Scotland's literary culture is a notable part of our identity and must be nurtured. Our support for creative writers flows through our sponsorship of Creative Scotland. Their regularly funded network and open project funding routes support a number of literature and publishing organisations such as the Money Act more, the Scottish Book Trust and the Scottish Poetry Library. We are working very closely with stakeholders to explore what can be done to overcome the challenges faced by creatives and ensure that they earn a fair living from cultural professional work. Marie McNeir. I thank the minister for that answer. Local writers Thomas Cox and Linda Jane Paterson in the Clifant Writers Group do so much for creative writing in my constituency. Will the minister join me in praising their commitment? In addition, can you advise what funding is specifically available to support this kind of locally based talent? I would be delighted to join Marie McNeir in praising the commitment of Thomas Cox, Linda Jane Paterson and the Clifant Writers Group for their dedication to the art of creative writing. Funding for writers is available through the Creative Scotland Open Fund for individuals who can support a period of research, development and or delivery of a creative activity for up to 24 months. Writers can ask for financial support towards writing time or research costs relating to their work. Numerous writers are supported in this way across all literary forms. Project funding also supports organisations that platform and develop writers to. A key example of that is the literary festivals supporting writers to build readerships and connect them and their work in a live setting. Will the minister join me in congratulating the winners of the Young Shetland writer competition, which attracted 316 entries from across all areas of Shetland? How can the Scottish Government support those young writers to continue to develop their creative writing? It is hugely encouraging to hear the work of the young writers in Shetland and the work that they are doing. I am keen to hear more of it, and I know that Beatrice Wishart knows how to find me if she wants to do that. However, one of the big pieces of work that we are doing through widening access and creating opportunities for people is our culture collective programme, which has been supported with more than £10 million of Scottish Government funding to date. It includes a range of projects that deliver creative writing workshops for under-representative groups. The north-east culture collective project Stories to Tell works in partnership with alcohol and drugs action to deliver creative writing workshops for people with lived experience of addiction in Aberdeen. There are many areas in which we are supporting people to have access to those funds and to develop their creativity, but I think that the Shetland Young Writers group sounds very exciting indeed. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to support Glasgow's museums and galleries. Ministers recognise the unprecedented challenges that we all face by Glasgow City Council's cultural sector. We continue to provide extensive support to the culture sector in Glasgow through the Scottish Government's funding of the national performing companies and with substantial capital investment put towards the city's cultural infrastructure, such as the borough, for example. We will continue to work with the sector and causally to identify barriers to immediate and long-term recovery and to ascertain how to continue within our powers and resources to help those museums and galleries most affected by current economic challenges. The minister may recall comments made by her former colleague David McDonald to until recently he was SNP deputy leader of Glasgow City Council and chair of Glasgow Life. He said that unlike Edinburgh, London, Liverpool, Manchester, York, Bradford, Leeds and Cardiff, Glasgow gets no national revenue funding for its museums from the Scottish or UK Governments before going on to say, this can't go on, can it? He's right, isn't he? As I explained in my earlier answer, we all very aware and mindful of the challenges that everyone is facing right now. Glasgow has a long history of ensuring access to museums and galleries. I grew up and most of them myself and learned most of the things that I know about Scottish history in those galleries and not actually in school. We will work very closely, as I said, with COSLA, Glasgow City Council and met with them at the borough just a few months ago to discuss those issues. I'm happy to keep doing that and I'm happy to work with Paul Speedy on that. That's not an issue where we disagree on, it's an issue where we know we have a challenge and we can work together to resolve it. Ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further details regarding its programme for government 2023-2024 commitment to develop a long-term strategic approach to skills and careers in the culture and major events sector? Our culture strategy action plan refreshed due to be published later this year will provide further details on our commitment to developing our strategic approach to skills and to careers in the culture sector. Furthermore, responses to the recent event strategy consultation highlighted that maximising skills development opportunities should be a priority when delivering mega events. An independent analysis of responses and update on next steps on our refresh national event strategy will be published soon. I'd also like to draw attention to work being undertaken in relation to skills and careers in Scotland's burgeoning screen sector, and I look forward to updating the chamber on that in due course. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer, but he knows that in a report to the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Committee, Creative Scotland described the Scottish Government's support for the sector as an, I quote, short term in nature and procures in reality and warned that one in three arts organisations is at risk of insolvency with the possible job losses of 900. Given that the First Minister recently said that the sector could be assured that this Government values the role of culture, if those 900 jobs will be secure. I recognise the importance of ensuring that we have the right traditional skills to sustain our historic environment and progress our journey to net. Zero often questions are raised specifically in terms of the heritage sector and historic environment Scotland and skills, and that's an area where there's a great deal of focus at the present time. I acknowledge the pressures that Liz Smith is highlighting to the chamber. It's something that I am extremely focused on. She will appreciate the budgetary constraints that the Scottish Government operates under, not least because of the policies of the UK Government that she supports, but we will do absolutely everything that we can to make sure that we are able to fund the sector as well as we can, that we can support emerging sectors, which is why I specifically raised the screen sector, which has now reached a half a billion pounds GVA to the Scottish economy and is still on a trajectory to reach one billion. We need to make sure that we have people with the right skills to take. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how its EU alignment policy could be impacted by potential EU expansion in light of the remarks of the President of the European Commission and our State of the European Union Address. The Scottish Government noted with great interest President von der Leyen's State of the Union Address, which begins the process of the European Union considering its strategic priorities for the year ahead. The Scottish Government will continue to follow the EU's dialogue on the issues raised and consider what implications it might have for Scotland's EU priorities and our commitment to align with EU legislation where that is possible and meaningful for Scotland to do so. EU alignment will play an important role in ensuring that Scotland is best placed to rejoin the European Union in the near future, as we know that Scotland overwhelmingly voted to remain in the EU and was dragged down against its will. It was disappointing to see Care Starmer this week once again disregarding the voices of voters in Scotland and ruling out the possibility of the UK rejoining the single market, the customs union or re-implementing the policy of free movement. Does the cabinet secretary share my concern that this will inhibit economic growth and does he agree with me that this is becoming increasingly clear that the only route to rejoining the EU is an independent country? We are all indeed paying a very high price for a Brexit that Scotland did not vote for. It is clear that the costs of Brexit outweigh any costs of EU membership. For example, 32 per cent of the UK's SME employers named EU exit as a major obstacle to growth. The officer budget responsibility expects the UK's GDP to be 4 per cent lower in the long run due to Brexit. Every year, that equates to around £100 billion in lost output and around £40 billion in lost public revenues. The Scottish Government agrees that rejoining the European Union at the earliest opportunity as an independent country represents the best future for Scotland. Meanwhile, we remain committed to aligning with EU laws and standards where we can. To ask the Scottish Government what additional support it will provide to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and other stakeholders to assist with hosting the Nordic Music Days Festival, which is being held in Scotland for the first time in 2024. I welcome the Nordic Music Days Festival taking place in Glasgow next year and recognise the important long-term partnerships that this could nurture. Officials have been working with Nordic Music Days and the RSNO on their plans for the festival. Due to budget constraints, the Scottish Government is not able to provide any additional funding for this event. Creative Scotland has awarded three national lottery-targeted grants towards the development of Nordic Music Days. The support, given thus far, is noted and appreciated. The benefit of this year-long festival and the involvement of a multitude of stakeholders will bring significant GVA to Scotland. However, to get that benefit, funding has to be at scale, and I concede come from a variety of sources, including support from the Scottish Government. Will the minister meet with me to explore further avenues, including what might be suitable Scottish Government funds? Creative Scotland has awarded Nordic Music Days three targeted grants, as I said earlier, through lottery funds. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the RSNO have also agreed to look at contributing towards this festival. Officials based in the Scottish Government's Nordic Office in Copenhagen, a great use of our overseas offices are also liaising directly with Nordic Music Days festival organisers to explore how to increase the reach of the festival when it comes to Glasgow in 2024, including plans for a Scottish Government-hosted launch event in London with the diplomatic and cultural communities based there. Although the Scottish Government is not in a position to provide any additional funding, I would welcome the invitation to have a meeting with Michelle Thomson to discuss how we further support that. I look forward to that meeting. That concludes portfolio questions on constitution, external affairs and culture. We will now move to portfolio questions on justice and home affairs. I call James Dornan, who is joining us remotely. To ask the Scottish Government how the measure set out in its programme for government will help to create safer communities, including in Glasgow with CART, in 2023-24. Presiding Officer, the safety and security of the public is my top priority. I am pleased that the latest recorded crime statistics indicate crime remaining at one of the lowest levels seen since 1974. The Government's commitment to creating safer communities as set out in the programme for government includes the hate crime strategy and delivery plan, implementation of our violence prevention programme, a commitment to refresh the equally safe fund and the development of Scotland's first multi-agency domestic homicide review model. I recently visited Cathcart police station to speak with officers about the collective emergent services role and was impressed with the commitment to partnership working there. I also learned about the vital work of our cashback partners. Currently, 14 of the 29 cashback partners are delivering services for young people in the Cathcart constituency area. Thank you, cabinet secretary, very much for that answer. Alongside creating safer communities, a key focus in the programme for government is to reduce re-offending. Can the cabinet secretary like some of the key actions that this Government is taking to achieve that aim? Reducing re-offending will require continued work with our partners to change how custody is used, recognising the clear evidence that community-based interventions can be more effective than short custodial sentences, as highlighted in our national strategy for community justice. It will also require supporting those who are given a sentence of imprisonment. Our work in that area will include continued investment in community justice services, as well as in the prison estate. In the coming months, we will also be implementing the provisions of the Bail and Release from Custody Scotland act, which will ensure that remand is focused on those who pose the greatest risk to public safety, and that improved support is available for people leaving prison custody. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the justice secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding improving mental health services in prisons. In June, I chaired the first cross-portfolio ministerial group on prisoner health and social care, which has been established to provide collective ministerial leadership across health, social care and justice. The group will support the delivery of improved health and care, including mental health care for our prison population, with an integrated approach to prisoner health. A short-life strategic leadership group consisting of senior cross-policy officials and key stakeholders has been established to drive forward improvements in prisoner health care and reports to the cross-portfolio ministerial group. I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer. I know that she has a great interest in that particular area. I ask the cabinet secretary to give us an indication of what is being done to improve processes to move folk from prison to secure hospital accommodation when the prison environment is not able to meet their support and treatment needs. I want to assure the member that the Scottish Government takes very seriously the responsibility to ensure that everyone going through the criminal justice system with mental health issues are appropriately supported, treated and cared for while ensuring that their rights are being maintained. The forensic network, together with justice and forensic mental health team stakeholders, are process mapping the pathway from prison to hospital, including where beds are not immediately available. The proposed programme of work in relation to that is due to be concluded soon, and officials are developing protocols in relation to prison to hospital transfers together with guidance for health boards on their responsibilities for persons in prison who need inpatient mental health care and treatment. I call a supplementary Russell Findlay. The vehicles belonging to prison officers have been destroyed in at least 10 firebombings outside Scottish prisons. In light of the cowardly attacks, what can the SNP Government do to protect prison officers physically but also their mental health? The question relates to improving mental health services in prisons and perhaps the cabinet secretary could extract any relevant bit that is related to the question on the business bulletin. Of course, Presiding Officer, and I'm more than happy to answer Mr Findlay's question, because I think that the importance of mental health and wellbeing for prison officers is indeed very important. We have to look after the care and treatment of prisoners, but it is a particularly demanding and difficult job that prison officers do. I would like to assure Mr Findlay that via the capital budget there are measures that the Scottish Prison Service takes to ensure and to try to reduce any threat or danger towards prison staff, but there isn't one solution, there are many solutions to ensuring both the safety and wellbeing of prison officers, which is indeed a matter that I take seriously. Since the introduction of Talk to Me, the Prison Service's mental health strategy in 2016 suicides among prisoners have increased by 42 per cent. Staff testifying at FAIs have said they're reluctant to implement it because it actually worsens prisoner wellbeing. Sorry to interrupt, but I must recall that your microphone, I think, is in the wrong. Yes, could you perhaps start again, please? Since the introduction in 2016 of the Prison Service mental health strategy Talk to Me, suicides among prisoners has increased 42 per cent and staff testifying at FAIs have said they're reluctant to implement it because it actually worsens prisoner wellbeing in practice. Can the cabinet secretary confirm that those concerns will be taken into account in the revised strategy and when that strategy will actually be published? I was struggling to hear Mr MacArthur, but I'm pretty confident in saying that we will indeed look at those matters very carefully. It is imperative whether it's the Talk to Me scheme that we have the right interventions in place at the right time. There is a queen of work, a great breadth and depth of work that is focused on addressing issues of deaths and custody, and I'm happy to write to Mr MacArthur about the detail of that. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Prison Service regarding supporting and enabling families of prisoners to have better access to visiting their loved ones while they are in prison. Strong family and social relationships are known to help to reduce re-offending. That's why we support those in custody to maintain and enhance links with their families. That includes support for face-to-face visits through funding of prison visitor centres, the roll-out of in-cell technology and the availability of virtual visits. While decisions on timing of visits, for example, are of course an operational matter for the Scottish Prison Service, I have regular engagement with SPS and partners on a range of issues, as do my officials. I thank the cabinet secretary for that response. As she said, the times that some prisons have for visits, especially children's visits, make it very expensive or impossible for some families to visit their loved ones. For example, having to get to shots from any distance, particularly on public transport, for 9.30 on a weekend morning, is just not possible. Perth has no weekend family visits at all. That means visiting is expensive, overnight accommodation may be needed or children have to be taken out of school, and if they can't do that, they barely see their relative. None of that is good for rehabilitation, maintaining family ties or the wellbeing of the children involved. What more can the Scottish Government do to ensure that families of prisoners are not punished in those ways? I very much recognise that prison can be a very daunting place for children, and I know that the Scottish Prison Service works very hard to provide child-friendly visiting spaces. All prisons offer visits specifically for families and children. However, I know that there are challenges, as the member has outlined, around timing costs and accessibility. I had the pleasure earlier this year of attending the parliamentary reception on paying the price research report and how the burden of care and how that disproportionately falls to women. Of course, the cost of living crisis has increased these challenges. The Scottish Government continues to invest £800,000 in prison visitor centres. There is, of course, the assisted prison visit scheme with assistance for travel costs, and, of course, there is the SACRO service as well. However, I know that the Scottish Prison Service is working hard to make other assistance and other schemes available. Transport is a significant barrier for families from the islands trying to visit loved ones in prison hundreds of miles high costs and multiple days to travel for visits of only 30 minutes. We know that family contact is important in the rehabilitation process and for mental health, so what support can the Scottish Government provide to families in rural and island areas trying to maintain that in-person contact with loved ones in prison? That makes a very good point. There is an importance in virtual contact, whether it is in cell, telephone or access to face-to-face online contact that really grew during the pandemic. All of that is important, but nonetheless it does not replace face-to-face contact. Can I say that, if she has any case studies or details from constituents of hers who have—and, of course, there will be additional costs travelling from islands to the mainland—if she wants to give me some examples about where those costs have not been met, I would be happy to look into that matter further? Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Jilly Mackayra is right to mention how crucial visits are to rehabilitation and wellbeing, but it is also crucial that that support network has continued when prisoners are approaching release. The Dict's duart service in Glasgow has provided support for an accommodation to male ex-offenders and their families for over 20 years, but it is now set to close in December due to council cuts. I know that the cabinet secretary believes in the importance of community-based support and rehabilitation, so she personally commit to exploring all available options to prevent the closure of the Dict's duart service in Glasgow. Before I ask the cabinet secretary to respond, I would point to the fact that the question on the business bulletin relates to enabling families of prisoners to have better access to visiting their loved ones, although they are in prison. On that basis, please respond to that part of the question that you feel is appropriate. I am well familiar with the Dict's duart hostel being a former prison social worker myself. The purpose of our bail and release bill was to start release planning early. That is very important in preparing families to be reunited, reducing the risk of re-offending and making vital accommodation arrangements for release. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Fire Brigades Union to discuss the impact of any reduction in budget and services on communities, including those in the south Scotland region. The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Fire Brigades Union, and those discussions will include how the service is provided to ensure that it is delivering value for the public post while maintaining community and firefighter safety. I met with the SFRS board just last week and with FBU in June, and officials met with them at the end of August. The reality is that our communities are being seriously let down by the major cuts to fire service budgets, and they are putting lives at risk. Reports in local airship papers last week suggest that, on at least two days last week, appliances from larger and smaller stations alike across the area were noted on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's own system as being unavailable for service because they are insufficient staff to operate them safely. Those cuts are reducing firefighters' ability to provide high-quality services. Our firefighters are standing against those cuts, as are the FBU and our communities. When will the Scottish Government listen and reverse these dangerous and damaging cuts? I want to reiterate my commitment to ensure that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service continues to deliver high standards of services that are required to keep our communities safe, and to acknowledge that, thanks to all the firefighters that play a vital part in that role. I am sure that every single member that sits in this chamber can appreciate the financial pressure that the Scottish fixed annual budget finds itself in, and that not one of us could have envisaged 18 months ago the current financial challenges that we face with record inflation and public sector pay rise. Despite that, the Scottish Government increased the budget by £14.4 million this year, totaling £368 million in this financial year. Decisions on how SFRS allocates their budget is an operational matter. The Scottish Government are in regular contact with SFRS and plans to deliver service ensuring value for the public purse whilst maintaining community and fire fighter safety. As the minister rightly said, all budgets are under severe pressure. Can the minister advise the chamber if the Labour Party said how much additional funding should be allocated to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the source of that funding, given its recent reluctance, no doubt under pressure from its Westminster bosses to support the raising of increased tax revenue? I think that if the minister responds in terms of being a Scottish Government minister from that perspective, that would be helpful. I look forward to all members taking part in the forthcoming budget process and doing just that and recognising the constraints the budget of the Scottish Government has due to continuing UK Government austerity and the sustained impact on high inflation due to the disastrous Tory budget of less trust this time last year. We have limited levers available to us to increase our spending power in the face of the UK Government's failure to ensure public spending response to the real challenges facing people's lives. It's a reality. I hope that the UK Government's autumn statement realises the situation that the UK cost of living crisis is having on people with the increases in the Scottish Government's budget, but I'm not going to hold my breath. Slashing £11 million from the fire service led to a terrifying situation last week. When Aberdeen's height appliance was off the run and Dundee's was faulty, crews had to travel to Falkirk, a 230-mile round-trip, to get cover. Minister, how often will this Government gamble that brave, under-resourced fire crews will make things right operating on the slashed budgets before it can't? This is why it is really imperative that the UK Government's autumn statement must make more substantive action to increase the Scottish Government's budget so that we can better align spending and deliver for the people and the organisations all across Scotland. Everyone supports our firefighters who play a vital role in keeping our communities safe. Can the minister tell the chamber how many firefighters would have per head of population in Scotland if we were to match the current situation in England? We are maintaining front-line services with a higher number of firefighters than in other parts of the UK. As of 31 March 2022, the latest statistics show that there were 6.1 firefighters per 10,000 population in England. That was replicated in Scotland. We have just over 3,342 firefighters and that compares to 6,225 in place at the end of March 2023, which is 11.3 firefighters per 10,000 population. I am also pleased to say that in February firefighters accepted a two-year pay offer to run from July 2022 to the end of June 2024. To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that body-worn cameras will be delivered to over 14,000 police officers in light of its 2023-24 programme for government commitment to support Police Scotland to achieve this. We are fully supportive of Police Scotland's plans to introduce body-worn video. That has a significant potential to reduce crime and offers greater safety and security to officers and to members of the public. Police Scotland is currently undertaking a full procurement exercise for body-worn cameras and following an initial pilot phase, it will commence the roll-out of this technology from summer 2024. The precise pace of the roll-out is for Police Scotland and will be determined by the need to provide full training for officers and staff. Last week, at the Justice Committee meeting, David Page of Police Scotland was unable to confirm if body-worn cameras will be rolled out from next year. Can you guarantee that the roll-out of body-worn cameras will still go ahead as planned next year? I think that we are all at risk of violently agreeing with each other. The Scottish Government, the SPA and Police Scotland have been very clear about their priorities, particularly about the priority around body-worn cameras. The Scottish Government, as I have said, as reflected in the programme for government, will support Police Scotland in its plans to roll out body-worn videos to more than 14,000 officers and staff from 2024. There are plans ahead. The initial business case has been completed and there will be a full procurement exercise, which has currently been undertaken. I was very pleased that, in terms of the evidence that was at committee, members of Police Scotland and SPA spoke in detail about the plans ahead. Can the cabinet secretary confirm how much the Scottish Government has invested in policing this year and how much has been allocated to the body-worn camera programme? As I indicated to the previous member, the operational decisions are for policing in terms of the specifics in and around budget prioritisation. The full cost of the implementation of this very important and effective save programme will be available when the full procurement exercise is complete. In terms of this year's direct question, the Government will invest £1.45 billion in policing, which is £80 million in addition to the year before. It is a 6.3 per cent increase. Crucially, in terms of body-worn cameras, we have more than doubled the policing capital budget since 2017-18. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Vibrates Union about the FBU's DECON campaign to mitigate the carcinogenic nature of firefighting. In August this year, we provided the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service with £56,000 additional funding to enable firefighters to participate in a UK wide health screening programme, which is being facilitated by the Fire Brigades Union and the University of Central Lancashire. I am pleased to say that last week, 175 Scottish Fire and Rescue Service firefighters took part in this trial, where over 1,000 firefighters across the UK will be screened for early signs of cancer, and other health problems that could be related to contaminants and will help to inform next steps on health monitoring of firefighters. In addition, SFRS is taking action across all aspects of operations and working practices to reduce exposure to contaminants, including investment in new fire appliances and facilities. I thank the minister for that response and for the funding that made last week's screening possible. This is a good first step to improving how we support firefighters to keep safe, but it must be followed by concerted investment, planning and action for healthcare, for facilities and infrastructure, for basic necessities such as showers and soap, for justice at work. How will the minister engage with the SFRS on the programme for government commitment to progress decontamination requirements, and does she recognise that only by protecting our firefighters' wellbeing with proper facilities and investment will we have a sustainable service fit for the 21st century? I do agree with your last point to the member. SFRS is taking action across all aspects of operations and working practices to reduce exposure to contaminants, including investment in new fire appliances and facilities and the additional funding that we have provided to support this work. The programme for government commitment on the wellbeing of firefighters shows that we are committed to making progress in this area. I will continue to work closely with both SFRS and the FBU and will carefully consider any proposals coming forward that would increase the safety and wellbeing of firefighters. To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on how it plans to regularly monitor and evaluate the implementation of a hate crime strategy for Scotland. In the lead-up to the review that is planned for 2028. We will shortly publish our delivery plan to set out our activity over the next two years. One of the key priorities will be to improve the hate crime data, and we are also committed to on-going lived experience engagement to help us to understand if our interventions are working. The hate crime strategic partnership group will oversee the progress of this delivery plan. Last week, I asked the First Minister how the Scottish Government ensures that demand for police officers is being suitably met after the number of police officers in Scotland was reduced due to the funding cut, yet calls to Police Scotland are only increasing. Can the Scottish Government advise what talks it is having with Police Scotland to ensure that they will be able to fully investigate all reported hate crimes, given the reduction in the number of police officers? I assure the member that we are in constant talks with Police Scotland in relation to the delivery plan of the hate crime strategy. Our hate crime strategy will set out the strategic priorities for tackling and preventing hate crime and has been followed by individuals with lived experience of the hate crime, and we engage every single meeting that Police Scotland is on board at our meetings moving forward. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of significant issues in transporting prisoners from custody to court. Presiding Officer, it is clear that the current performance of the GOAME contract is not working how it should and is causing disruption for courts, the Scottish Prison Service and others. We are working with justice partners and GOAME to agree a range of measures to minimise disruption and reduce the pressures on justice services, including cutting the number of people travelling between prison courts and police custody. The Scottish Prison Service leads the management of the contract and is supporting GOAME to improve its staff recruitment and retention to meet the current and future demand for service. Not working is an understatement. Court delays caused by late prison transfers exacerbate misery for victims who have already got a long wait to see their case brought to trial. The cabinet secretary will be aware that the Scottish Prison Service receives penalty payments from GOAME every time court proceedings are delayed due to their failures, so will she agree with my call today for victims to be compensated through receipt of these payments as they are the ones most affected by the shocking incompetence? The member will appreciate that, when I am in this place, I have to choose my words somewhat carefully. He is, of course, correct to point to the issues and the impact on the court service, but there is another aspect of the contract that is vitally important, and that is as important as supporting our court service. That is, for example, ensuring that prisoners can access their hospital appointments because, believe you me, prisoners have the same rights as you and I to access healthcare. There are many aspects of how the contract has been implemented that I am far from content with, but, in terms of action and action that we are taking, Mr Gohani, we are in and around the details and the guts of the contract because it is clear that the Scottish Prison Service and GOAME will have to work together to amend this and to sort this out, yes, for our court system, who are, after all, doing very well in the recovery programme and getting through the backlog of cases as a result of the pandemic. That concludes portfolio questions on justice and home affairs, and there will be a short pause before we move on to the next night of business to allow front bench teams to change positions should they wish.