 I remind members of the Covid-related measures that are in place and that face-covering should be worn when moving around the chamber and across the Holyrood campus. The first item of business is consideration of business motion 3554, in the name of George Adam on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau on change to this week's business. Any member who wishes to speak against the motion should press their request-to-speak button now, to press the request-to-speak button. I understand that there is a member who may be wishing to press his request-to-speak button and therefore speak, and I understand that there may be a problem with the member's card. I rise to highlight to Parliament... Mr Mundell, I beg your pardon to please sit down. That has put me off my stride a wee smidgen, and I call, first of all, of course, on the minister to move the motion. I rise to highlight to Parliament education stakeholders and the wider public my concerns about the way in which today's business has unfolded at short notice and without adequate explanation. Are we now really accepting that this SNP Government is so incompetent that it can't even organise the publication of its own so-called landmark education report? It may seem like small fry, but it speaks to the lack of ministerial oversight and incompetence that's defined this SNP Government's time in charge of our education system. Why should parents, teachers and young people trust them to turn things about and restore standards when they can't even get the basics right? This follows the shambles in recent days at the SQA that has seen pupils scoot over for the third year in a row. I note with gratitude the selection of an urgent question this afternoon, but many outside will wonder why an extra half-an-hour statement opens up when it suits the Scottish Government. I accept that the timing of today's statement is unlikely to change, but it is important to put on record that this chaotic approach does nothing to build consensus and trust in Scottish education. Instead of a tired Government pushing the same tired arguments, we need a new approach that asks the difficult questions. We're not going to get that in a half-an-hour slot at the end of the day inserted at short notice. We again see an SNP Government who claims that education is our top priority while at the same time selling our young people's short. Where is the leadership? Where is the so-called priority? I would therefore be grateful if the Minister for Parliamentary Business could explain why we find ourselves in this absurd position and why there has been such urgency in bringing this matter forward when it has long been scheduled. I now call on George Adam, Minister to respond. I would start by saying that I can't be held accountable for the paranoia of the member himself, but this has been discussed in detail with the Bureau. The Bureau has discussed it with all the business managers and we've had a situation where this has been agreed and we will bring it forward now. The question is that motion 3554 be agreed. Are we all agreed? Yes. I'll just ask that one more time. Are we all agreed? Yes. No members are in disagreement and therefore the motion is agreed. The next item of business is portfolio questions. The first portfolio question is health and social care. If a member wishes to request a supplementary question, they should press the request to speak button or indicate so in the chat function by entering the letter R during the relevant question. Question 1, not lodged. Question 2, Michael Marra. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Tayside in light of reports of the closure of GP practices. The Scottish Government is aware of GP contracts and Frecom and Ryhell practices in NHS Tayside area. We'll be handing back their contracts later this year. NHS Tayside is working with the respective health and social care partnerships to consider how best to ensure general medical services continue to be provided to patients registered with those practices once the contracts are handed back. Michael Marra. I wrote to him on 15 February with Councillor Richard McCreery and I have yet to receive any response to address the concerns of local people in regards to the Ryhell health centre. There are 5,400 patients who have been thrown into limbo. Can the cabinet secretary give any clarity on what happens next and where they will get their care and when will they know? The closure flies in the face of the announcement that the health secretary made in Dundee just two months ago about expanding GP provision. What new strategy can the cabinet secretary put in place to tackle declining access to services, because what he has done so far clearly is not working? On the more specific point, of course we'll look into the correspondence that he and the local councillor sent to me. I've also had correspondence out of councillor Bill Campbell on that respect and I'll get him a response officially to that. He asked me about the next steps and he's absolutely right to do that. If he wishes, I will send him after the question time details of who is best of contact in the health and social care partnership, but essentially the health and social care partnership alongside the health board will assess the various different options, so they will look and are having active discussions with other GP practices, neighbouring GP practices to assess whether or not they can take on more patients, but also what they will look to do to see if any practice has a desire and intention to take over Ryhell practice or indeed the frequent practice that I mentioned earlier on as well. When a decision is made on how best to deliver local general medical services, then of course patients will also be informed directly in that respect. On the more general point again, I can elaborate in more detail given the time constraints that we're under, but this SNP Government has an excellent record in investing in our GP services and that's why probably we have more GPs per 100,000 than anywhere else in the UK—95 GPs per 100,000 in Scotland compared to 78 in England and 76 in Wales. We'll continue to invest in GP services, and on the more specifics, I'm always happy to continue discussions with a member, but I will make sure that he gets details of the health and social care partnership that we're taking forward this matter. On the subject of staffing crisis on NHS Tayside, BMA Scotland is highly concerned about consultant vacancies in Tayside. A freedom of information response shows that vacancies are significantly higher than the figures released by the Scottish Government. Despite months of promises to recruit, no improvement has been made. When will the Scottish Government release accurate data and analysis about the extent of the problem in Tayside and how does it intend to address the serious lapses in workforce planning? A few points to make. The first, of course, is that we have record levels of staffing under this Government. In fact, medical and dental consultants have increased considerably under this Government. In terms of the Tayside specificities that I met with Tayside chief executive and chair just a number of weeks ago, we discussed the issue of consultant vacancies, in particular oncology vacancies, where we're looking to set up—and we have set up, in fact, a short-life working group in that regard. In terms of our future plans, we will publish our national workforce strategy later on this week. 3. Sarah Boyack To ask the Scottish Government whether it will meet with the Life After Each Year UK and Ireland support group to discuss its concerns about a lack of awareness and understanding of the reported physical, damaging physical and mental health impacts of each year sterilisation devices. Minister Marie Todd Yes, I would be happy to meet with members of the Life After Each Year support group. I'm in the process of making arrangements. Sarah Boyack I very much welcome the minister's positive response to me today and say that I hope that the meeting is as soon as possible. A key issue that the women have raised with me is the lack of knowledge on the ground with their GPs. They recently met with the Northern Ireland Health Secretary and following that meeting, every GP in Northern Ireland has now been sent a fact sheet and information about the crippling impact of the issue of devices on those women's physical and mental health. As soon as that information can get passed to our GPs, the sooner the better. Could the health minister say whether she would be prepared to consider that issue and see if we can accelerate getting that information out to our GPs across the country so that women can get that support? The member is absolutely correct. It's vitally important that there's a consistent approach and a clear treatment pathway for any woman experiencing complications as a result of this device. Once I've met with the affected women, the Scottish Government will of course consider whether any further action is needed in our part or by the NHS in Scotland and that would include potentially writing out to them or, alternatively, other means of ensuring that there is increased awareness at where women are going to seek help with this device. Although EShore was withdrawn from the UK market in 2017, it is estimated that up to 2,000 women were implanted with this device. Can the health secretary advise which of Scotland's health boards implanted the devices and whether the Scottish Government has considered the merits of writing to the individual and relevant GPs to raise awareness of the crippling and long-term side effects given how busy the GP workload is? Once I've met with the affected women, we will consider all options for ensuring that the appropriate people are informed about the concerns that are being raised. I can give the member assurance that about 700 women in Scotland were implanted with this device before it was withdrawn from the market in September 2017 rather than 2000. I can write to her with details of which health boards were using this. I'm keen to raise awareness of this issue right across the board. I'm keen that women themselves are able to seek support and are able to have an appropriate response from GPs when they do seek support with this issue. It's one of the important things that we've seen at time and time again with women's health. It's one of the reasons that we're introducing the role of the patient safety commissioner. We're very keen that women and all patients are heard when concerns are raised about safety, about devices, and that appropriate action is taken. To ask the Scottish Government how decisions are made regarding the location of dialysis units. It is the responsibility of NHS boards working with their local partners to plan service delivery and treatment in accordance with the needs of patients undergoing dialysis in their particular area. The location of renal services and associated satellite dialysis units are identified based on needs assessments of patients and where they live by the individual health boards. The Scottish Government fund the Scottish renal registry, which assists services to carry out audits in order to support improvements in service delivery and planning. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Last Friday I visited the recently opened dialysis unit in Rothsy, Isle of Bute. I want to pay tribute to my constituent Hamish Kirk, who worked tirelessly with others to ensure that the unit was set up following a donation. Sadly, Hamish died last month, only benefiting from the new unit for a matter of weeks. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that it is important that the health and social care partnerships work with local groups and individuals to ensure that units such as this one on Bute can be established? Can I first join Jenny Minto on paying tribute to her constituent Hamish Kirk? I also want to send my sympathies to his loved ones, his friends and also the local community too. I agree wholeheartedly with what Ms Minto has said. I think that the partnership with the Bute Kidney patients support group locally is an excellent example of NHS boards, the local health and care partnership and local community groups working really closely together. It's important that people undergoing dialysis can access care as close to home as possible, and that's why we continue to fund those satellite units. Can I pay tribute once again to her constituent, but also the great work that Bute Kidney patients support group have done? To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the transvaginal mesh case record review led by Professor Alison Britton. The review was established in February 2021 to look into the concerns that women had about the accuracy of their case records. Since then, Professor Britton has met everyone who wishes to take part, and the panel is now starting to consider each woman's medical records alongside their concerns. A number of factors, including Covid-19, meant that the review has taken longer than we initially thought it would, but we do expect the review to come to light in the future. I hope that this will be a beneficial process for all that is involved. Jackson Carlaw. I thank the minister for her answer. In response to written questions that I submitted on the review in September last year, the cabinet secretary informed me that commissioned contractor Clynco would request appropriate case records from health boards. At that point, data sharing agreements have been reached with some health boards for access to patient records, and I hope that the review will be in place for all relevant boards in the near future at that time. Almost six months on, can the minister please confirm if all data sharing agreements are now agreed and whether every health board has made available all of the required and requested patient information? If not, can she advise what might be holding up this process? Minister. Given the information being shared is so sensitive, we have worked really hard to ensure that there is a robust process in place for transferring patient records to the panel for review, and that has taken some time to finalise. I am sure that we all agree that it is vitally important that patient's private information is kept safe and secure. I am pleased to report that all of these issues now appear to be resolved and that records are being received from the health boards requested. I am very grateful to the panel and particularly to the women and the parents. To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to people at risk of alcohol harm in the most deprived communities. Minister Marie Todd. There is a stark social gradient to alcohol harm. With alcohol specific death rates in the most deprived areas, 4.3 times more than those in the least and seven times more likely to be admitted to hospital in the least deprived areas. We take a whole population approach to reducing alcohol consumption and risk of alcohol-related harms, driving reductions of alcohol harm in our most deprived communities. We are taking action to improve the conditions that drive alcohol harms in reducing poverty and inequalities, providing good-quality affordable housing and enabling the best start in life for our children. I know that this is a particular area that she and I both have a particular interest in and are particularly keen to make progress on. The minister mentioned that the 4.3 times higher death rate in the most deprived areas in Scotland from alcohol-related deaths. The minister will also be aware of the report on alcohol problem management in deep end practices serving the most deprived populations in Scotland launched today by Scottish health action on alcohol problems and that it shows the value and effectiveness of the primary care alcohol nurse outreach service in reducing alcohol harms. I wonder if the minister could say whether the Scottish Government would encourage all deep end practices to adopt a similar model. Minister. Firstly, I would like to commend Joe Fitzpatrick for his work in this area both as minister and as a backbench MSP. I know that it is an area that he cares deeply about and will continue to work hard on. Let me assure Mr Fitzpatrick that the Scottish Government will carefully consider the findings of the report published today, which highlights the need for more research into the effectiveness of those services. We support person-centred approaches such as those provided by primary care alcohol nurse outreach services in deep end practices for alcohol treatment. This is set out in our national strategies. The Scottish Government made a health strategy 2017-22 and the national alcohol and drug strategy rights, respect and recovery. The group Scottish health action on alcohol problem has recently highlighted the so-called multiple disadvantage faced by BME people struggling with alcohol harm where cultural and other barriers only add to the barriers to the people from seeking treatment. What is the Scottish Government doing to ensure that everyone in our society can access the support that they need? That is a really key question and one that I am deeply interested in solving. The work with the deep end practices which today we are talking about their approach to tackling alcohol related harm but actually they do an incredible work at tackling inequalities and reaching those people in our society in Scotland who often find it hard to access healthcare in our society. I think that there is a range of work going on right across the board but I expect that the deep end practice work will feature strongly in what Mr Chowdry describes, which is really intersectionality between different inequalities coming together and making life very difficult for those people who are experiencing it. Question 7. To ask the Scottish Government in light of International Women's Day whether it will provide an update on its action to improve health and reduce inequalities for women in Scotland as outlined in the Women's Health Plan. Minister Marie Todd. Implementation of the Women's Health Plan is under way and in October last year we launched NHS inform menopause information platform. That is the first stage in the development of a comprehensive women's health information platform. Works also under way to develop information and resources for girls and women on starting periods, managing symptoms, choosing contraception, planning for pregnancy which will all be added to the platform. In spring this year we will publish an implementation plan setting out in more detail how the actions will be implemented and our first progress report will be published in autumn this year. Evelyn Tweed. I thank the minister for that answer. One of my constituents contacted me recently to say that her endometriosis pain has resulted in her permanently closing her hair salon in Doon. She welcomes the women's health plan and its specific focus on endometriosis research and reductions in diagnosis time. Can the minister please give an update on the work being done particularly to improve the lives of endometriosis sufferers across Scotland? Minister. Endometriosis is a high priority for government and we have a whole range of work under way to improve the experience for women. We're working with NHS Inform to update the endometriosis pages with accurate up-to-date information and a lived experience video. We're aiming to provide additional resources to school-aged children, to teachers, to parents and carers that are working with the national resource for children and parenthood. We've funded endometriosis UK £15,000 to raise awareness and to support those waiting diagnosis. The Centre for Sustainable Delivery has developed an endometriosis care pathway to individualised treatment, to improve earlier intervention and to streamline referrals to secondary and to tertiary care. We will deliver more opportunities for training in endometriosis for healthcare professionals. We're also developing networks to co-ordinate endometriosis care to help to provide equitable access to support and care for women right across Scotland. We know that endometriosis symptoms can start in puberty and it's a horrible thing for young people to be going through. Minister, menstrual wellbeing education was made compulsory in England in 2020 in Wales at the end of 2021. Scotland is the only place in Great Britain where it is not mandatory. Will the minister commit to introducing compulsory menstrual education in Scottish schools? Ms Hamilton will be aware that the very little in the education system in the curriculum in Scotland is mandatory. We tend not to work that way. We tend to work with local authorities and ensure that there is a broad-ranging curriculum and that children are able to access a broad range of education. However, as I alluded to in my previous answer, we absolutely have worked on resources for RSHP and those additional resources are available to school-aged children, their teachers, their parents and their carers to utilise to improve the level of awareness, and the vital area of improving our work on endometriosis. Pertinent to the women's health plan being a success is the proper functioning of maternity wards across the country. The minister will be aware that there was a failure of telephone systems at Crosshouse hospital and he stares here over the weekend including reports that this impacted the line to the maternity unit. Could the minister update Parliament on how the Government has responded? Before you answer, I appreciate that that is a bit wide of the question and it really is supposed to be a supplementary to the question that is in the business bulletin but if the minister wishes to say a few words in response that would be fine. Certainly I'm more than happy to get an update to the member. I know that the reports that I heard over the weekend on Monday about that particular incident was that there was an extremely rapid response to it and that there was a strong test of the mutual aid systems that are in place at this moment in time when the NHS is under the greatest pressure that it has ever endured and actually the initial reports were that there was really good support from the health boards around the area that experienced that particular critical failure. Question 8, Stephanie Callaghan. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress that it is making to reduce waiting times for children's mental health services. Minister Kevin Stewart. Thank you, Presiding Officer. The Scottish Government has provided record-breaking levels of investment including our £120 million mental health recovery and renewal fund. As part of that work we have made an additional £40 million available to improve child and adolescent mental health services with £4.25 million of that specifically dedicated to clearing waiting list backlogs by March 2023. We are working closely with all the NHS boards particularly those with the most significant performance challenges to develop and implement detailed local improvement plans that will deliver the CAMHS specification clear backlogs and meet targets. Stephanie Callaghan. I thank the minister for that answer. Alternative pathways that provide early interventions for children and young people's mental health at an early stage is becoming more serious in reaching crisis point. What steps is the Scottish Government taking to address the difficulties currently faced by children and families wishing to access alternative mental health services and also to ensure mental health care can be stepped up or down between tiers 2 and 3 without losing the child's place on any waiting lists? We are committed to improving access to community mental health support for our children and young people and their families and carers. In this financial year we have provided local authorities with an additional £15 million to fund over 230 new and enhanced services for children and young people. The funding gives local partnerships the flexibility to implement services on the basis of local priorities with a focus on prevention and early intervention and as an alternative for those for whom CAMHS is not suitable. Local authorities have advised that nearly 18,000 children and young people access the community-based services between July and December last year with more than 800 referrals into the services being made by health professionals, which I'm sure everyone would agree encouraging to note. I have three supplementaries that I intend to take on. I'm at Soaring Cams Waiting Times. Public Health Scotland figures show that antidepressant medication was prescribed to 20,825 children aged up to 19 and 29 and 20. That is an increase of more than 80 per cent in a decade and a trebling of those aged 10 to 14. Can the minister say what assessment the Government is undertaking to look into the root cause of this and to ensure that young people aren't being put on pills when they should be setting out on more positive or preventative pathways? Before the minister responds, I do wish to stress to members that supplementaries are supposed to be supplemental to the question on the business bulletin. I'm just making that point. The minister could perhaps answer briefly in as so far as the question relates to the question that's actually on the business bulletin. I think that we have to all be careful around how we describe these situations because we do not want to stigmatise those young folk. Beyond that, I think that we have to trust our clinicians who will do everything right and proper to ensure that people are treated well. I'm more than happy to have a discussion out with the chamber with Mr Hoy about those issues, but I would plead with everyone in the chamber to be very, very careful about use of language when it comes to prescription of drugs, please. 392 young people were waiting over two years for mental health care. One young person in NHS Grampian was waiting for 2,534 days. That's six years and 11 months for their care to begin. We get endless promises with this Government, but the waits seem to be never-ending. By when can young people expect a decent and timely mental health service? I agree with Mr Rennie that some of those waits are completely and utterly unacceptable. That's why we're making the investment that we are in clearing backlogs and waiting lists. Beyond that, I'm sure Mr Rennie will agree with that, because we've had conversations previously about that. The best way of dealing with that is to try and stop folk from having to use acute services in the first place by getting the community investment right and preventative spend right. Our ambition, as I laid out earlier in my answer to Stephanie Callaghan, is to clear backlogs that, probably well understand, my efforts, the Government's efforts in the main, are targeted at those health boards that have had backlogs that existed prior to the pandemic that have been exacerbated, and we will continue to do that. I can squeeze in a brief supplementary from Jackie Baillie. It was hopefully a brief response. The latest CAMHS workforce data shows that there were 190 whole-time equivalent services at the end of 2021. That's double the vacancy rate in 2019. Does the minister accept that CAMHS waiting times will not be reduced if the Government doesn't get serious about tackling workforce planning? How many more CAMHS staff and when? I would say to Ms Baillie, that we are in the process of workforce expansion at this moment in time. There will be vacancies that we have to fill to ensure that we reach that expanded level. We have provided sufficient funding for a minimum of 320 additional CAMHS staff over the next five years. The Government, with agreement with a number of health boards, to ensure that we get this recruitment right for the first time ever has been recruiting on a national basis to ensure that we can get new workers into our CAMHS services right across the country. That concludes portfolio questions on health and social care. I will allow a very short pause before we move on to the next portfolio, which is social justice housing and local government, in order that front-benchers may change seats if they wish. Thank you. Point of order, Martin Whitfield. I'm very grateful, Deputy Presiding Officer. This afternoon, the Government have approached for a ministerial statement in relation to a report that is due to be published later today, although it was originally due to be published today but came yesterday. On social media, there are elements of this report already circulating and I would seek your advice on how those within this chamber can have the same advantage as those that sit outside to see the report before the minister makes the statement. I thank Mr Whitfield for his point of order. I have not had a chance yet to see the reports of the report and we will reflect and consider the terms of these matters and revert to the chamber later if that is in order. The next portfolio questions is social justice housing and local government. Questions 5 and 7 are grouped together and I will take any supplementary questions on those questions once both have been answered. If a member wishes to request a supplementary question they should press the request-to-speak button or they should enter our chat function during the relevant question. Question 1 Emma Harper. To ask the Scottish Government how its housing strategy will support local authorities to take action in relation to vacant, derelict and abandoned buildings. Our housing to 2040 strategy recognises the importance of tackling vacant properties and highlights a range of actions. Those include support to local authorities through empty homes partnerships, the use of 50 million vacant and derelict land investment programme and supporting the delivery of homes in town centres and at the heart of communities and, of course, our affordable housing supply programme already supports the redevelopment of existing properties and during the second half of our 110,000 affordable homes target we will accelerate funding to bring more existing homes into the programme as well as building new ones. Emma Harper. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Scotland has almost 11,000 hectares of vacant and derelict sites. That's equivalent to 20,556 football pitches. In my south Scotland region we have the George Hotel in Stranraer, Interflore factory in Dumfries and the NPO building in Hoik and many others. The land commission stated that those sites have a detrimental impact on community health and wellbeing. Given that March is land reuse month can the cabinet secretary provide an update on what additional steps the Scottish Government can take to help communities better deal with vacant, derelict and abandoned buildings? Cabinet secretary. I can tell Emma Harper that the draft NPF 4 proposes a stronger planning policy position on tackling vacant and derelict land and buildings, which will play an important role in helping to support improved wellbeing for local communities. In addition, we launched our low-carbon vacant and derelict land investment programme last year, which aims to help tackle persistent vacant and derelict land. The fund is built around four pillars of action, such as community ledger regeneration, low-carbon housing and renewable energy, and the fund will open for stage 1 applications in April, and all local authorities are eligible to apply. Cabinet secretary, the local government and communities committee recommended the introduction of compulsory sale orders back in 2019. Despite being included in the latest SNP manifesto, there appears to be very little movement on that issue. Therefore, cabinet secretary, can you update Parliament on the plans to introduce compulsory sales orders? Cabinet secretary. I can tell the member that we are developing proposals for compulsory sales orders and compulsory purchase orders in the context of the actions and policies set out in housing to 2040. Officials are undertaking a piece of work to scope and clarify the additional benefit of CSOs over and above the CPO process. There are some issues and challenges that need to be worked through to ensure, for example, that the sales process is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. I am sure that the member will appreciate that. The introduction of new powers has to be considered carefully, particularly if existing powers could be used to achieve the same outcome, but that work is on-going and I am happy to keep the member updated. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. With lots of people homeless in Glasgow, there are 2,659 residential properties currently vacant on a long-term basis, plus hundreds of square feet of vacant commercial buildings that could be converted into residential properties if there was a will to do so, but often the VAT arrangements military against that, because VAT on residential conversions and adaptions are charged at 20 per cent, whereas for demolition and new build it is 0 per cent. Would the Government make representations to the Treasury to consider a VAT offsetting scheme for Scotland so that we can move forward and get retrofitting under way at scale? As Paul Sweeney has recognised, VAT is a reserved matter but I am happy to hear more about his suggestion if he wants to write to me with more details, I am always happy to consider suggestions. What I laid out in my initial answers is a determination to look at vacant and derelict land and buildings that need to be repurposed. I am keen that we use our collective resources across Government to do that in recognition of the need to make sure that we have the affordable housing supply programme and that we do everything that we can to enhance that, but also to regenerate some of our town centres. I am happy to hear more details of what Paul Sweeney was suggesting. Question 2. Emma Roddick joins us remotely. To ask the Scottish Government for an update on allocation of discretionary housing payments in Scotland. We estimate spend on discretionary housing payments to be £82 million in 2021-22 up from £71 million budgeted for in 2021. Of that £71 million mitigates the bedroom tax in full, helping over 92,000 households in Scotland to sustain their tenancies and additional £10.9 million mitigates against the damaging impact of other UK Government welfare cuts, including the benefit cap and changes to the local housing allowance rates. We estimate the DHP budget to be £79 million in 2022-23. Of that £68.1 million will be used to continue to mitigate the bedroom tax. Emma Roddick. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Recent figures from the UK Government on equivalent discretionary housing payments in England and Wales show that, remarkably, their total spend on DHPs adds up to only slightly more than payments in Scotland. Will the cabinet secretary join me in expressing frustration that Scotland is forced to spend a proportionately enormous sum in order to offset regressive Tory policies such as the bedroom tax when we could instead be using those funds to actively and progressively build a fairer, greener future? I agree with Emma Roddick that it is frustrating that the UK Government plans to spend £100 million on discretionary housing payments for all of England and Wales in 2022-23, while the Scottish Government will spend £80 million to mitigate the impact of cuts to the welfare system. That we need to spend this money shows that the UK welfare system is not fit for purpose. If we did not have to mitigate UK Government policies imposed on us, in measures to tackle the priorities of this Parliament, including poverty, I would appeal again for the UK Government to get rid of the bedroom tax at source. Supplementary from Paul O'Kane, who is joining us remotely. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I wonder if the cabinet secretary can clarify what has been done to raise awareness of the tenant grant fund and ensure that tenants in need of help with mental rears are able to access that support as soon as possible. Paul O'Kane, we have been working with local authorities and third sector partners to make sure that the awareness of the tenant grant fund is as extensive as it can be. We can continue to do that because it is an important fund particularly in these difficult times of rising living costs so we will continue to raise awareness and encourage people to apply. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comments by the president of COSLA who said that local authorities are at breaking point. Minister Ben Macpherson. We are living through very serious times and no one underestimates the challenges facing public services. It is also important to note for context that when the Scottish Fiscal Commission announced that the overall Scottish budget for 2022-23 reduced by 5.2 per cent in real terms, the Scottish Government increased local government funding by over £1 billion for next year, a real terms increase of 6.3 per cent. However, the Scottish Government will continue to meet and crucially collaborate with COSLA and local authorities on a regular basis to ensure that the people of Scotland continue to receive the high quality public services that they expect. I thank the minister for his answer. The City of Edinburgh Council plans to borrow £1 billion to fund city spending over the next four years. Borrowing during rising interest rates will be a difficult balancing act that will bring with it significant financing risk. Does the Scottish Government agree that it is its own persistent underfunding of local authorities that leads to councils like Edinburgh having to take such high-stake financial risks? Minister. It is again important for context to recognise that in 2022-23 the City of Edinburgh Council will receive £915.4 million to fund local services which equates to an extra £86.7 million to support vital day-to-day services or an additional 10.5 per cent compared to 2021-22. Of course there are considerations as we move forward with local government finance which I am sure the member will wish to speak to finance ministers about. For example considerations around the funding formula. This will of course require engagement with COSLA because the Scottish Government is always open to suggestions to improve the funding formula however proposals must properly come through COSLA in the first instance and of course we continue to collaborate with our colleagues in local government on the development of a fiscal framework. I think that it would be more helpful if Conservative members could come to this chamber of course legitimately with concerns that is their prerogative but perhaps with some solutions for a change would also be helpful. And supplementary from Kenneth Gibson. Thank you. Minister, how credible is it for the Tories to complain about local government funding in Scotland when the UK Government England has cut local authority funding by 37% in real terms over the last decade? Can he ever envisage a situation in Scotland where a local authority would close five children's centres like Labour-run Nottingham City Council did this week due to Tory cuts? I think Mr Gibson as he always does makes very important points in this area and I think he helps to set important context in this regard because while local government funding in Scotland and England is not wholly comparable and we need to be candid and honest about that the local government association set out in their 2021 spending review submission on 5 October that English councils had already dealt with a £15 billion real terms reduction to core government funding between 2010 and 2020 and I think that underlines the answer that I gave in my first answer to Sue Webber that what the Scottish Government has provided in the next financial year is significantly more beneficial than those councils south of the border. To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with local government regarding support that it can provide in order to maintain local authority front line services. Ministers meet with COSLA and also individual local authorities on a regular basis to cover a range of issues including support for front line services and I will meet the COSLA presidential team very soon as part of our monthly engagements. Also following the announcement of the Scottish budget on 9 December the First Minister, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Economy and the Cabinet Secretary for Local Justice on separate occasions met with the COSLA leadership team and council leaders to discuss the impact of the budget on 223 local government settlement. Councils in that process asked for additional £100 million to deal with the particular pressures we heard them, we listened and we went further by providing £120 million at stage 2 of the budget bill. Liam Kerr Point of order. Sorry, I should have declared but prior to my question I am a red councillor at the city of Edinburgh. Thank you. I have slightly lost my place. Liam Kerr has another shot. Yes, thank you. The minister mentions the budget. Aberdeenshire councils budget grant this year is nearly £45 million less than the Scottish average and even with a proposed council tax rise there are nearly £15 million in the red. Across Scotland the impact that the minister refers to of these cuts is on public toilets, tuition in schools, bus services and so much else that directly impacts people's lives and no amount of window dressing and spin from the minister will bring back the countless services people depend on which have had to be axed. Will the minister demand that his government review the non-ring ffenst funding allocation to Aberdeenshire council finally give a fair share to the northeast so that they can support the services that people depend on? Minister. For context in 2022-23 Aberdeenshire council will receive £521.3 million to fund local services which equates to an extra £44 million to support vital day-to-day services or an additional 9.2% compared to 2021-22. Mr Kerr refers to the Aberdeenshire council in particular. If members are looking to see changes for particular local authority areas, then they need to consider that the local government needs best formula used to distribute the quantum of funding available for local government is kept under constant review as he would expect, but it crucially is agreed with COSLA on behalf of all 32 local authorities each year. The Scottish Government is always open to suggestions to improve the funding formula. However, as I've said previously this afternoon, proposals must properly come through COSLA in the first instance. There is an on-going engagement between local government and COSLA in a constructive manner around ring ffencing and flexibilities, and we look forward to continuing that constructive engagement in the period ahead. I refer members to my register of interests. Local Government financial returns for 2020 show Aberdeen has the highest debt per head of population anywhere in Scotland, so for every Aberdeen resident this stands at £4,954 per head. The next highest council being West Dunbartonshire. Local Government funding is vital to ensure the delivery of front-line services and debt is a normal aspect of funding arrangements. However, debt not only has to be serviced but it has to be repaid. Does the minister agree with me that it's absolutely vital that local authorities exercise prudent and responsible management of budgets that prioritise the delivery of key services over tempting, big-spending opportunities? Prudence in the public finances is of course of particular important to all in government and I think Audrey Nicholl makes important points with regard to Aberdeen City Council but also more widely with local authority finance and I will take a note of the points that have been raised today but also I would encourage the member to engage with my colleagues in the finance team on the matters raised. Does the minister accept that local government cannot function well when demoralised staff are being offered a further real terms cut in their pay? Does the minister believe that it is acceptable for those on the lowest wages to be offered £100, while senior officers are offered a cost of living increase in the order of £2,000 and what will the minister do about it? First of all in the answer to this question I would want to put on the record again the Scottish Government ministers' admirations of and gratitude for all of the effort and contributions that have been made by local authority staff members throughout the pandemic in recent periods and having worked for a local authority in one of those roles previously I know how hard they work Ms Bailey will know that those are points of engagement that finance ministers are in conversations with on a regular basis and of course these are matters that we discuss with COSLA and local authorities individually and we will continue to engage on those important points. The Government will provide an update on what support is available, including through local authorities to provide accommodation in communities for people displaced by conflict or climate change. The support available varies depending on the person's status people arriving through the UK refugee resettlement programmes are usually supported by local authorities having been matched with housing identified by the local authority prior to arrival and local authorities have supported refugee resettlement. People arriving in the UK through a visa programme are usually responsible for finding their own accommodation and may be restricted from accessing local authority housing or housing benefit by conditions set out in the UK Government reserved immigration legislation and people seeking asylum are restricted from accessing council housing or housing benefit and must apply for home office support and accommodation if they would otherwise be destitute or have made clear to the UK Government that Scotland stands ready to play our part and we absolutely are committed to continue to support people who may be displaced, providing support from day 1 of arrival. I thank the cabinet secretary for her response. I've asked in this chamber before about the problem of what is becoming by stealth institutional accommodation for single men asylum seekers in hotels across Scotland. Many of these men have been in hotels without proper support or community for many, many months. Today I want to ask what we can learn from the failures of the Afghan evacuation scheme that has seen resettled families end up in bridging hotels for many months. Recent figures suggest 12,000 people are still stuck in limbo, not yet moved into settled accommodation. Once again the dysfunctional home office has let refugees down. We know that institutional accommodation like hotels are not homes they are not places where people can find safety, sanctuary and start to rebuild their lives. As we look to create routes to safety for Ukrainian refugees, how do we ensure that this does not happen for future resettlement schemes, such as what we would want in place for people from the Ukraine? Cabinet secretary. My cabinet secretary makes a number of really important points. The Scottish Government is clear that refugees and people seeking asylum must be treated fairly and with dignity and respect at all times. Integration should be supported from day to day and people should be accommodated in the community with the sport that they need to rebuild their lives. The current situation with thousands of people in hotels across the UK is a reflection of the UK Government's failing asylum and resettlement systems, which will of course become worse under the nationality and borders bill. Unfortunately the UK Government's response so far to the current Ukrainian humanitarian crisis has shown that lessons have not been learned and that the intensive settlement programme that focuses on people's needs and ensures partnership with the Scottish Government, local authorities, the third sector and, importantly, with communities. Alex Cole-Hamilton To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the plans to resettle Ukrainian refugees in Scotland. Scotland has a proud history of welcoming refugees and people seeking asylum. The Scottish Government and Scotland's policies have made clear to the UK Government that they stand ready to offer refuge and sanctuary where necessary for those who may be displaced. The UK Government's current proposals to support Ukrainian refugees via community sponsorship are insufficient and the Scottish Government continues to call on the UK Government to act now and develop a comprehensive resettlement programme. Scottish Government is working with the Home Office, COSLA, local authorities and other partners to provide people with the safety and security to rebuild their lives. Alex Cole-Hamilton Since the beginning of the war two weeks ago, the Home Office has issued fewer than 1,000 visas to Ukrainian refugees under the early schemes that it has announced. Desperate families fleeing for their lives are meeting cruel barriers set by an unwelcoming Government. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that the best way for us in Scotland to convince the UK Government to help those in need of refuge is for Scotland to provide everything people fleeing that conflict may need, including homes, education, translation and trauma services? Will she describe how those offering second homes in room in their own accommodation can do so? Has the Scottish Government completed necessary readiness assessments with this Parliament and the UK Government to help to drive this forward? First of all, the fact that the UK Government has issued fewer than 1,000 visas is embarrassing in the situation. Given the scale of the response from other countries across Europe, many of them are quite a lot poorer than ours in terms of accommodating and opening their doors. As the First Minister has said, we should be allowing people in and then sort the paperwork after. Despite that, we are working a pace to make sure that we are ready and stand ready to receive people on the assumption that the UK Government's position cannot hold. That work is on-going. In terms of the response from the community, work is also on going to try to co-ordinate that because people do want to help. In terms of a place, a single place where people can offer support, some of which can be utilised, some of which may not be able to be utilised for good reasons. The Scottish Refugee Council will need to be a critical agency in terms of that immediate first-place support, and we are working with them to help them to scale up on supplementary illinocrism. The cabinet secretary will recognise the immense outpouring of empathy and willingness from citizens right across Scotland to provide assistance and shelter in response to the humanitarian plight of Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion. In my own constituency, there are several efforts and progress right at the moment to take refugees to their own homes in local areas, but, as we do not have border controls, the cabinet secretary provides an update on discussions that are taking place with the United Kingdom Government to cut the red tape and get folk here. We are in regular discussion with the UK Government about this, as you can imagine, and there is, as I have said already, a need for a sizeable Government-led resettlement programme that is up to the scale of the task, and we continue to urge the UK Government to take that action. The First Minister has written to the Prime Minister urging the UK Government to waive all visa requirements for any Ukrainian national seeking refuge in the UK and to offer immediate refuge and sanctuary for all those who may be displaced. We have to stand in solidarity. We need to be ready, and, as I have said earlier, we stand ready with that practical support aid and sanctuary where necessary for those who need it. I will be able to take questions 6 and 8 if I could get brief questions and answers, please. Who is joining us remotely? To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns expressed by homeowners over the delay to help residents in homes with unsafe cladding. Cabinet Secretary. We appreciate that this is a difficult time for affected homeowners, and my officials are in regular contact as we progress our pilot programme of work. In that programme, there are multiple surveys on going. Those reports will be finalised in the coming weeks and will allow us to understand what actions need to be taken to further support homeowners in those buildings. We have to assess buildings first to ensure that the complex engineering requirements of each building can be addressed appropriately. We continue to urge developers to play their part where construction is found to be unsafe and remain in discussions with the UK Government regarding what their plans are for their £4 billion developers fund. I thank the Cabinet Secretary for her response. In August, the Scottish Government announced a pilot scheme to assess the number of affected buildings with three tests that we carried out on 25 different apartment blocks. However, not one survey has been completed despite this being launched six months ago. Cabinet Secretary, the lack of progress here in Scotland could be putting people who live in those types of buildings on the list. Can the Cabinet Secretary give reassurances today as to when those surveys will be completed and when the findings will finally be published? I reiterate what I have said earlier in my initial answer that there are multiple surveys on going. They are complex given the engineering issues and the specialist skills required. The reports will be finalised in the coming weeks and that will allow us to then look at which buildings can be deemed safe and, importantly, which buildings will require the remedial action to be taken. Of course, £97 million will go some way towards that, but we absolutely need clarity from the UK Government about the consequentials and on the developers levy. My Welsh counterpart and I have written to the Secretary of State for Housing calling for our Governments to be part of any discussions with developers and its impact on our countries because we do not have the powers to institute a developer tax or to compel UK developers to contribute to a fund in Wales or Scotland, so we need the UK Government to clarify whether or not we are going to be part of that and so far we have no clarification. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support ending of homelessness and rough sleeping in Edinburgh. Cabinet Secretary, you have provided £23 million to date to develop and implement its rapid rehousing transition plan including funding for housing first for around 170 people with multiple and complex needs. In addition, we have provided over £600,000 to establish a rapid rehousing welcome centre for people at risk of rough sleeping and over £21,000 of flexible emergency funding to front-line homelessness organisations. That is in addition, of course, to delivering new homes, which is why since 2007 Edinburgh has received £558 million through our affordable housing supply programme funding, and in this Parliament will benefit from nearly £234 million. Miles Briggs. 5147 people registered as homeless in the capital. 1,505 children in temporary accommodation. Edinburgh is facing a homelessness and housing crisis, yet is being shortchanged by £9.3 million due to a bureaucratic anomaly. I have raised this with the cabinet secretary and various SNP ministers and still have not received an answer or a solution. Can I ask the cabinet secretary if she will urgently agree to meet with myself, representatives from across the capital and Edinburgh City Council leaders to fix this situation and to give the capital the resources we need to end homelessness? Cabinet secretary. Let me just say to Miles Briggs that the majority of funding that local authorities receive for tackling homelessness is provided through the annual local government finance settlement. The distribution of the local government settlement for 2223 was discussed and agreed with COSLA, and the City of Edinburgh Council will receive its fair formula share. We remain open to looking at whether or not that needs to change, but in terms of the £9.3 million, he will be aware that that is because of the choices that the City of Edinburgh Council has made in terms of where homelessness services sit, and it is for them to decide whether or not they change that, not for the Scottish Government to decide whether or not they change that. That is a decision for local decision makers. Something Miles Briggs should really discuss with him if he thinks he should be delivering their homelessness services separately and differently. That concludes portfolio questions, and there will be a very short pause before we move to the next item of business. Thank you.