 The first item of business this morning is general questions. As ever, and as many people as possible, short and succinct questions and answers to match would be appreciated. Question 1, Mrdel Fraser. To ask the Scottish Government whether it is on track to meet its fuel poverty eradication target. Minister Margaret Burgess. This government remains committed to eradicating fuel poverty. Unfortunately, we only have the the powers to influence one of the levers to tackle fuel poverty, the energy efficiency of the house. As the most recent Scottish house conditions survey results show, our investment to improve domestic energy efficiency has helped mitigate against the 7 per cent rise in fuel prices in the past year. We continue to focus on increasing the energy efficiency of homes in Scotland and last week I urged the UK government to use its powers to increase the level of warm home discount and fund that through central resources. Today, we are publishing a progress report on the Scottish Government's fuel poverty statement. Murdo Fraser. I thank the minister for her response. We are, of course, going backwards in relation to this target, which will now need to be met within two years. What assessment has the Scottish Government made of the cost of meeting this target? Minister. As I said in my earlier answer, we published the progress report today, and that will be available for all members to see. We are currently spending unprecedented amounts of money in energy efficiency of homes. We spent £94 million this year and £94 million next year, leaving in money from the energy companies of over £260 million. We are doing everything that we can for energy efficiency measures in homes. What we can't do is control the prices or the minimum income to improve people's standard of living. Question 2, John McAlpine. To ask the Scottish Government whether the recruitment of consultants in Scotland could be affected by any move to privatise NHS services in England. NHS Scotland offers consultant staff the opportunity to work in our world-class health care system in modern and well-equipped hospitals on competitive terms and conditions that offer a good work-life balance. We will continue to look at ways on how we can attract the best talent to NHS Scotland. We will monitor to see if there is any impact from the direction of travel in England on our ability to recruit to vacant posts. John McAlpine. The minister may be aware that Dumfries and Galloway has one of the highest levels of consultant vacancies in Scotland, if not the highest. While many factors feed into that, I was alarmed to be told recently by health board contacts that the increase in the amount of private work that consultants in England can undertake was affecting Dumfries and Galloway health boards' ability to recruit. Does the minister agree with me that this illustrates very clearly that changes to the NHS in England can have a detrimental effect on our independent NHS here in Scotland? The board has advised us that there may be a recent case whereby a consultant resigned due to the inability to undertake private work. However, in addition, the board has advised that it has just started a new piece of work to measure and improve knowledge around its own workforce. That work started approximately two months ago, and the board has undertaken to keep us up-to-date on progress. To say to the member, we are undertaking a large amount of work, particularly around those key specialities that have the highest vacancy levels that are the least attractive posts, because we recognise that we need to do more to make sure that those posts, particularly in more remote and rural areas, are more attractive. I can write to the member to make her aware of some of the detail on that. Can I suggest that the private practice element is a total distraction? What the new cabinet secretary might like to look at is the freedom of information response that I received from boards, which indicated that far from providing consultants with a 7.5 to 2.5 sessional contract, which is the national contract, 60 per cent of all new consultant contracts in Scotland have been offered on a 9-1 basis. That is unsustainable, untenable and, frankly, any consultant that actually accepts the job on that basis. In comparison to the national contract that is offered in England is brilliant from our point of view, but it is making a big sacrifice. I hope that Richard Simpson is not trying to deter consultants from taking up posts within the Scottish health service, because that would be a very negative thing to do indeed. We are looking absolutely across the whole of the NHS in Scotland about how we fill the consultant vacancies. Of course, one of the reasons that we have consultant vacancies is that we have more consultant posts to fill, because of the massive expansion in posts across the health service, including consultant posts. The consultant establishment in Scotland has grown massively. There are absolutely record numbers of consultants, but there are harder to fill specialities, particularly in emergency medicine. We have responded to that in a number of ways. A number of NHS boards have established local medical bank services, for example, which have been very good indeed. However, we are looking at the ways of improving working lives and the work-life balance, the working hours of junior doctors with the recent announcements about limiting the amount of days and nights that they can work. I will indeed be looking at how else we can make sure that we can fill those vacancies, but, of course, it is with a background of having more posts than ever before. Question 3, Adam Ingram. To ask the Scottish Government what information it has about trends in the use of food banks in Scotland. There is no comprehensive national level data collection on those accessing emergency food in Scotland. However, on 24 November, the Trussell Trust reported that a total of 51,647 people picked up a three-day supply of groceries from their Scottish food banks between April and September 2014. Of those, 15,424 were children. The total number had risen 124 per cent since the previous year. The trust highlighted welfare problems as the biggest contributor to those numbers, stating that benefit changes and benefit delays have had a real impact this year. Adam Ingram. I thank the minister for her answer, a very disappointing answer. Can I ask her, will the welfare powers coming to the Parliament from the Smith commission process allow us to turn back and eradicate the shameful growth of food poverty in this country created by UK austerity policies? I would certainly agree with the member. Can we do something about the minister's microphone? As we have made clear repeatedly, we welcome the new powers that will be coming to this Parliament. We will always use those powers to act in the best interests of the people of Scotland, but research shows that the UK Government's welfare reforms are a major cause of some of the big issues that our country faces, such as addressing the worrying rise of people visiting food banks. The Smith commission proposals, sadly, do not give us the powers to tackle those issues effectively and coherently. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on NHS Lanarkshire out-of-house service. All territorial NHS boards are responsible for the design, delivery and management of out-of-house services to their population. NHS boards are responsible for ensuring an accessible process of public consultation. It is deployed for any proposed service change that may affect users. NHS Lanarkshire has informed us of their plans for public consultation on changes to their out-of-house services. It has also informed the Scottish Health Council, whose role it is to ensure that its patient engagement responsibility is being honoured. Clearly, the service is under pressure in NHS Lanarkshire, and the two options that the minister mentioned are consulting on are having either a centre in both Hamilton and Airdrie or only one in Hamilton. Would the cabinet secretary agree with me that it would be unacceptable for my constituents to lose their local service in Airdrie, and if so, would she take steps to ensure that the board declared that that is not really an option at all? As Elaine Smith will be aware, there has already been extensive consultation with stakeholders. During the three-month consultation, we expect NHS Lanarkshire to ensure that potentially affected people in communities have the information and support that they need to play a full part in the process. I am sure that Elaine Smith's constituents and herself will do just that. They also have to demonstrate that there has been a wide ranging consultation that has taken all reasonable steps to take account of any differences of view, which Elaine Smith has obviously highlighted. The Scottish Health Council will work closely with the board throughout the process to make sure that it adheres to the proper engagement process. If the board wishes to proceed with a proposal to change services following the consultation process, it should enclose the Scottish Health Council's assessment report when submitting its proposal to the Scottish ministers for approval in due course. I am sure that Elaine Smith will find her way of influencing that consultation process. Of course, it will come to me at some stage in the process should it proceed, but I am very happy to continue a dialogue with Elaine Smith if she would find that helpful. To ask the Scottish Government what road improvements in North Ayrshire are planned over the next five years. The Scottish Government is currently progressing schemes in North Ayrshire at Dalrai and Beath, and those will be taken forward to construction subject to satisfactory completion of the statutory process. Some £7.3 million worth of structural maintenance works is also included in the current three-year rolling maintenance programme. One more man, Ms McDougall. Whoever has got the phone on, can they just switch it off, Ms McDougall? I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. The minister will know that the A78 is defined as a strategic route by North Ayrshire council for heavy goods vehicles. Furthermore, that would be the key route for the transportation of radioactive waste to Hunterston if CPAC accepts EDF's application. Given that there has been numerous accidents on this road and the road passes very close to the front of houses with no footpath between them, what assurances can the minister or the cabinet secretary give that the Scottish Government is considering upgrading this road to improve safety for residents, pedestrians and other road users, particularly if CPAC accepts EDF's application? We are concerned, of course, with safety on the A78. For that reason, the range of measures has been put in place to manage vehicle speeds at points, for example at Fairleigh, where we have included new signs and markings, improved road markings and new vehicle-activated signs. We are also investigating whether a speed reduction measure can be installed at Fairleigh that will see the traffic signals activated to red when vehicles approach them. However, I take the point that has been made about the wider issue of the transportation of radioactive waste. If the member would wish to have a meeting with the transport minister on that issue, I am sure that that can be arranged if she is looking for further information on that. However, she should be assured that we are taking measures across A78 in terms of safety, not so much in relation to the radioactive waste transportation that may happen, but generally in relation to large heavy vehicles going through some of the areas that she has described. I look forward to the conclusion of the public local inquiry into Dorae bypass in January of next year. Will the cabinet secretary continue, along with his predecessor, to meet with local community representatives in Cunningham North to discuss safety improvements to the A78, over which his transport minister had responsibility and, indeed, which he did on a number of occasions in recent months? If I may be my own predecessor, I am more than happy to ensure that the transport minister carries on that engagement, which is very important to the local communities on that route, and I will make sure that that is passed on to the transport minister. I am still trying to work that one out. To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce initiatives to encourage cycling beyond its present commitments. Yes, we are committed to delivering the shared vision set out in the cycling action plan for Scotland of ensuring that 10 per cent of everyday journeys are made by bike by 2020, and to do so we will continue to invest in both new and improved on-road and off-road cycle routes and behaviour change initiatives that encourage people to choose cycling for shorter journeys. The Scottish Government will receive an additional £213 million in Barnett consequentials as a result of the autumn statement. Will the Government spend any of that money on the cycling infrastructure? Will the member be aware that the Deputy First Minister has already announced, subsequent to his budget announcement, an additional £10 million for active travel and sustainable travel in that area? Additional resources are certainly being looked at in relation to that. However, the consequentials that are mentioned by Cameron Buchanan really should be subject to further scrutiny by the Conservative Party, because I think they have nominated it the use of that for all sorts of different purposes, including health, including an upgrade to the A1, including upgrades to roads in the north-east of Scotland. It cannot be spent more than once, but I think that in relation to the basic point of his question he should be assured that the Deputy First Minister has already made a commitment for an additional £10 million of funding in 2015-16, allocated for support for sustainable and active travel. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Falkirk Council and Westlorien Council regarding the upgrading of the A801 River Avangorge crossing. Since Mr MacDonald and I met to discuss this matter in April, Transport Scotland officials have met with both councils to discuss the A801 project on several occasions. Angus MacDonald I thank the cabinet secretary for his reply. As he will know, the A801 forms a key strategic link between the M8 and the M9 corridors and provides a strategic freight route between Grangemouth Docks and various distribution centres in Westlorien. Clearly the business communities in both council areas are keen to see the project move forward with an agreement to proceed. On the basis of a 25-25-50 split in funding and in the spirit of Christmas, can the cabinet secretary give any indication as to when funding might be available to ensure that this long-overdue project proceeds? In the spirit of Christmas, I can say that the Scottish Government has already approved the tax incremental financing business case from Falkirk Council. In that case, envisages a £6.67 million contribution from the TIF towards the A801 Avangorge upgrade, with further contributions assumed both from Westlorien Council and the Scottish Government. The business case itself notes that in due course a review will be required to confirm that the upgrade is viable to commence. Any potential allocation of funding to this project by the Scottish Government will be determined by its fit with other ministerial priorities and the availability of resources in future spending reviews. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how local government services impact on various social groups. The Scottish Government is strongly committed to reducing inequality and poverty across Scotland. The national performance framework sets out in the purpose and the national outcomes a clear and unified vision for the kind of Scotland we want to see and how our actions will improve the quality of life for the people of Scotland. It uses a wide range of indicators that provide a broad measure of national and societal well-being incorporating a range of economic, social and environmental indicators and targets. Local authorities and their partner bodies in community planning partnerships are expected to ensure that each of their local priorities aligns with one or more of the national outcomes. Neil Findlay. Unlike his predecessor, will the new minister acknowledge that his Government's local government budget cuts and the shackling of our councils has impacted most on the services for the young, the elderly, the disabled and the vulnerable? Is he proud of that? The face may have changed as Minister for Local Government, but the questions from Mr Findlay are still the same. As my predecessor said, the share of expenditure going to local government is higher now than it was in 2006-07, when Mr Findlay's party was in power. The council tax freeze has ensured that there is a broad benefit to households across Scotland, which has actually helped the bottom 10 per cent by income twice as much proportionally as the top 10 per cent. It is up to local councils to set their own priorities, having fulfilled their statutory obligations, and we are very happy to continue that dialogue, that process, to ensure that councils deliver for the people in their areas. To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that Glasgow City Council provision in the west of the city is meeting the Government's aim of providing expanded funding, early learning and childcare. Minister Aileen Campbell, Glasgow City Council, like all local authorities, has a statutory duty to secure early learning and childcare for eligible children whose parents wish it. When a child becomes eligible, local authorities will do their best to meet the needs of each parent and can offer places through their own settings or through private and third sector providers, and we would expect local authorities to do their best to meet the needs of parents. The Children and Young People Act puts flexibility on a statutory footing for the first time. Local authorities are now required to consult with groups of parents at least once every two years on patterns of early learning and childcare provision. That will increase parental choice and better meet the needs of families. I thank the minister and her expected progeny for that response. I have received a number of contacts from concerned constituents to tell me that they continue to have problems with flexibility and responsiveness of local circumstances. Is there a route for addressing the inefficient system in Glasgow, where some parents must pay for their child's nursery place in partnership nurseries up front and then have to claim the money back? Minister, I think that it is you who we want the answer from. Thank you and I would not blame any answer on any baby brain. Glasgow, like all local authorities, is under a duty to consult with parents on the patterns of provisions that would best meet their needs. We recognise that the move away from what has been a default model of two and a half hours a day towards a more flexible model will take time and additional funding has been provided for that. It is for private partner nurseries as independent businesses to make chain charging arrangements. That partnership contract between the council and partners asks that they are transparent and communicate with parents regarding how the funding will be applied, but the detail is left to the individual partner provider to decide what suits their business model. I am happy to meet the member to discuss some of the specifics, although that might have to be Fiona McLeod, who will take up that meeting for Bill Kidd. We now move to First Minister's