 I roles, convener. First Questions, I remind members that Questions 1 and 7 are grouped together. Questions 1, James Kelly. Thank you, to ask the Scottish Government what funding has been made available to Glasgow City Council in preparations for a no-deal Brexit. Cabinet Secretary Michael Russell. I'm aware that Glasgow City Council and other local authorities have expressed concerns about possible costs of the UK leaving the EU. The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has written to the Scottish Government seeking an additional £1.6 million funding for councils to help to meet Brexit-related costs, and we will respond in due course after the European election period. James Kelly I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer, but I would point out to him that with interest in the Conservative Party around Boris Johnson's candidature for leader, and therefore, Prime Minister, we are ready to be successful. The prospect of a no-deal Brexit that none of us want is increasing. Therefore, it's unacceptable that the £92 million that is made available to the Scottish Government has not been available to Scotland's largest city, Glasgow, to deal with a potential no-deal Brexit. Can I urge and ask the cabinet secretary to review that funding allocation and fairly allocate money to Glasgow in order that Glasgow's and Scotland's largest city can prepare for the potential of a no-deal Brexit? I entirely agree that the issue of funding for a no-deal preparation is a live one. That's why I'm indicated to Mr Kelly, as I did my first answer, that a proposal has been made by COSLA, and we will respond to that proposal. I also agree with him that the prospect of a no-deal Brexit is continuing to grow, and it is quite obvious that there are individuals within the UK cabinet who wish a no-deal Brexit. Obviously, that will also be something as Mr Kelly has indicated, which will be in the minds of those candidates who are bidding to be the leader of the Tory party. We are aware of all that. We will continue to work closely with all stakeholders across Scotland, first of all, to resist a no-deal Brexit, to resist Brexit, but also to make sure that we have the maximum preparedness that we cannot be prepared for everything. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Glasgow City Council regarding resilience planning in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The Scottish Government believes that the best future for Scotland is the one that 62 per cent of Scottish voters chose to remain in the European Union. However, as a responsible Government, we are preparing for all EU exit possibilities. As part of that work, we continue to work closely with our partners in local government, including COSLA and individual councils such as Glasgow, to help them to prepare for the potential impact of EU exit, including the possible impacts of a no-deal. I am sure that the member will be interested to know that I have just come from a meeting with the Scottish Cities Alliance, which includes Glasgow City Council, and which we have discussed a range of issues, including no-deal Brexit. 2016, Glasgow City Council, the Glasgow Economic Leadership Board and the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, produced a joint report outlining action to deal with Brexit and emphasising joint working between Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government. Can the cabinet secretary outline how that joint work has been progressed? Can he explain why, despite getting £92 million extra to deal specifically with Brexit, none of that money has gone to Glasgow and other local authorities, which are in the front line of dealing with the economic consequences of Brexit, consequences that will come very shortly and ought to be addressed immediately, rather at some point in the future, as the cabinet secretary has already suggested? I have just indicated to Mr Kelly and I am happy to do so again that we are in discussion with COSLA. I have just indicated—I do not know if the record will show it, but Johann Lamont keeps shouting during this. If she would expend her energy in attacking the Tories over Brexit, with as much energy as she shows attacking the Government, perhaps we would make more progress. The reality of the situation is that we are in discussion with COSLA and with the Scottish Cities Alliance. I have just had a very positive and constructive meeting with the Scottish Cities Alliance, including Glasgow City Council. We have looked at a range of issues and we have agreed to continue to work together. That should be a matter that would have the support of the Labour benches, not the shrill continued. I will draw attention again to the record. The shrill continued shouting from Johann Lamont. Let us try and work together to defeat Brexit rather than have that type of approach. The cabinet secretary must be in a very sensitive mood this morning. I do not think that the member is shouting exactly. However, if all members, from all parties, would take a leaf out of the cabinet secretary's book and keep their comments to themselves, that would be good. Joan McAlpine Thank you. Could the Scottish Government confirm whether or not the consequentials received due to UK Government Brexit spending will come anywhere close to meeting the predicted economic and social costs of Scotland from being taken out of the EU against our will and that the best future for Scotland is one in Europe? Capricent. The point is a key one. The vast amounts of money, time and resources that have been spent on no-deal Brexit will not be compensated for by any of the resources that we have had. However, we have tried to have a broad front against Brexit to work closely with organisations and individuals, as we have done with COSLA, as we are doing with the cities, as we have done with a range of stakeholders, and this is work that unifies us. Voices shouting or not contradict that and are unhelpful voices and are not achieving the best for either Glasgow or Scotland. Mark Griffin To ask the Scottish Government whether it will integrate the principle of non-aggression into provisions on keeping pace with EU laws to ensure that no new measures inadvertently lead to lowering of consumer and environmental standards. I thank the member for his constructive question. As I outlined in my letter to the Presiding Officer of 5 April, the Scottish Government is determined to respect the choices that the Scottish Parliament made when passing the Scottish continuity bill to the maximum extent possible. We therefore plan new legislation to allow devolved law to keep pace with developments in EU law. I also confirmed that the Scottish Government is, and I quote, committed to no regression in standards or protections should EU exit take place and the replacement of regulatory powers lost in consequence of EU exit will be essential to ensure that. I also made specific commitments on environmental principles in the charter of fundamental rights. I am grateful to colleagues across the chamber for the constructive discussions that all the parties have had in those matters, and we will take the issue forward in that way. Mark Griffin I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. The Government supports the new legal duty on Scottish ministers to have regard to the four EU environmental principles in the development of policies and legislation. I am not sure whether I picked up correctly, but having regard to the environmental principles is not a substitute for protectors from backward changes in environmental legislation practices, even if those happen inadvertently. Does the cabinet secretary agree with the principle of non-regression? If so, will he build that into a statutory duty? Mark Griffin Yes, I do. That is why I said in my letter to the Presiding Officer which the parties have seen that I, and I quote, am committed to no regression in standards or protections, and that applies to environment as to other areas. The issue of the keeping pace power, which includes no regression, was a significant one during the passage of the continuity bill. I have to say that the Parliament decided to narrow that from the original proposal. I am very happy to see that expanded again. Of course, I believe that no regression on all the principles, including the environmental principles, we will do our very best to make sure that it is achieved. I hope that we will have the support of the Labour benches when that legislation comes to the Parliament, because, to be fair, we had that support with the continuity bill. Adam Tomkins Thank you, Presiding Officer. The keeping pace power is contained in the continuity bill. The cabinet secretary announced during the recess that there was not going to be an opportunity to reconsider the continuity bill after the Supreme Court judgments verdict on that bill, holding most of it to be unlawful. When, therefore, does the cabinet secretary think that this Parliament is going to be given the chance to repeal that illegal legislation? Michael Matheson I dispute the characterisation of the Supreme Court's judgment, I have to say. It misses out a very significant issue, which is the fact that the UK Government changed the law. I am trying to have a rational input to this without people trying to interrupt. The situation is that the UK Government changed the law when we put the bill into the Parliament after we passed the bill in this chamber. If people think that that is a good idea, then they certainly have a great deal to learn about democracy. We will take forward the keeping pace power. We will do so in a way that the Parliament can legislate on. We had the support of this chamber on that by and large, and I hope that we will have that again. We will tidy up other matters as we see fit. Question 3, Stuart Stevenson. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact that Brexit could have on immigration to Scotland. I have met twice with the UK immigration minister, Kylan Noakes, to discuss the profoundly positive impact that migration has on Scotland's economy and society. There have been several other meetings between Scottish Government ministers and UK ministers that emphasise that, including between the First Minister and the Prime Minister. Migration is crucial to Scotland's future prosperity, and any reduction would damage our labour market, economic growth, demographic profile and local communities. The independent report from the expert advisory group on migration and population published in February this year stated that the UK Government's immigration proposals could lead to a 30 to 50 per cent reduction in net migration to Scotland over the next two decades, which would lead to a decline in our working-age population of up to 5 per cent. Therefore, in all relevant meetings and correspondence, the Scottish Government has emphasised and will keep emphasising the deep concerns that there are across Scotland about the proposals in the UK Government's white paper on immigration after Brexit. Stuart Stevenson. It is not often that I join with the CBI in criticising the plans for the immigration system in Scotland, but I ask, in particular, if people come to Scotland to work to contribute economically in my constituency in fishing, elsewhere in farming but throughout our economy, is it not important that we have devolved powers so that we can fine-tune immigration to meet our particular specific needs? As Stuart Stevenson and the CBI and other business organisations have emphasised, the UK Government's proposals in their immigration white paper would be catastrophic for Scotland. They would send our working-age population into decline and would have a significantly negative effect on many sectors, including those that Stuart Stevenson mentioned, but also social care, tourism, construction, financial services and several others. In opposing many of the proposals in the UK Government's white paper on immigration and considering Scotland's distinct demographic challenges, there is growing support for the Scottish Parliament to obtain additional powers within a UK framework in order to tailor migration policy to meet Scotland's needs, remain attractive to migrants and deliver new solutions. 4. Patrick Harvie Thank you to ask the Scottish Government what role it considers the Scottish Parliament should have in developing and approving international treaties that impact on devolved matters. This is a crucial issue. Scotland's devolved institutions have an important role to play in the negotiation and ratification of international treaties. The Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament should be recognised as equals with the UK Government and Parliament in their respective areas of competence, with the presumption of interest and full, formal and early involvement in the process of making international agreements. Formal mechanisms must be established to ensure that this Parliament can carry out its role in scrutinising the mandate, negotiation and implementation of treaties. The consent of the Scottish Parliament should be secured before international agreements that impact on devolved matters are ratified. Patrick Harvie When people cast their votes to elect this Parliament and choose the people they sent here, they have a right to know that the people sitting in this chamber will be able to make decisions on all devolved matters and will be able to hold the Scottish Government to account for its actions on devolved matters as well. Is it not clear, therefore, that three things are required in respect of treaties such as trade deals that impact on devolved areas? That the negotiating mandate may not proceed without the consent of this Parliament, explicit in a resolution, that a final text may not be adopted without the similar consent in respect of devolved matters in a resolution of this Parliament and, thirdly, equally importantly, that this Parliament will have the ability, legally, to change its mind and withdraw consent if the political balance in the Parliament changes otherwise, we will have a Parliament and a Government that is fettered by its predecessors in respect of matters that the people of Scotland have the right to cast their votes on to change policy. Michael Russell I do not find anything difficult or objectionable in those definitions, indeed, I agree with them. There are many problems in the UK Government, but there is a problem in the UK Government in how particularly it looks at the issue of trade. Trade has changed greatly in the years since the UK joined the EU. The lesson that the UK Government has attempted to draw, for example, from the CETA treaty, is that it should keep the devolved Administrations as far away as possible, given the experience of the CETA treaty and its final ratification. The lesson that should take is the opposite lesson, which is ensuring that the Canadian provinces were in the room when the CETA treaty was negotiated and were able to negotiate on the areas of competence that they had was absolutely crucial to the successful conclusion of that process. In actual fact, the UK Government in trying to exclude the devolved Administrations in these matters is cutting off its nose despite its face. It will make it harder for it to take those issues forward, but that is the practical issue. The political and democratic and constitutional issues are, as Mr Harvey has outlined, and I made that point in my answer. It is essential that that is recognised by the UK Government. Presently, they appear to wish to ignore that, and that will be an utterly unacceptable. Question 5 and question 8 are grouped together. I want to try and squeeze them both in. Question 5, Alison Johnstone. To ask the Scottish Government what it considers citizens assemblies, what scope it considers citizens assemblies could have in the governance of Scotland. As the First Minister set out in her statement to Parliament on 24 April, the EU exit experience has shown the weakness in the current evolution settlement and the UK's constitutional arrangements more widely. We must consider the best way forward for Scotland the light of that experience. Doing so, we want to avoid the division created over EU exit. That is why the First Minister announced that we would establish assistance assembly to consider the best way forward for Scotland. I will update Parliament on further development shortly. Last week, I went to Ireland, where I met the chair and secretary of the constitutional convention and members of the secretariat of the citizens assembly among others. I was very impressed with what I learned. I have invited both secretaries of the Irish models to Scotland in the next few weeks to inform our plan. I hope that the parties across the chamber will welcome and be involved in the initiative and those discussions in particular, and I will be writing to party leaders to invite them to do so this afternoon. Alison Johnstone Thank you. A citizens assembly should represent the demographics of the whole population in a way that, as yet, this Parliament has failed to do. Will the cabinet secretary be considering ensuring a diversity of assembly that can properly consider all perspectives and help to deliver a real meaningful outcome? The member raises an important issue. The establishment of a citizens assembly should endeavour to establish a body for a particular purpose. That purpose must not be too wide, but it must be representative of society. There are a number of ways in which that can be done. It was an issue in both the constitutional convention in Ireland and in the citizens assembly in Ireland. How do you do so? It is a very hard thing to do because you are trying to balance demography, you are trying to balance geography, you are trying to balance sexual interests and a variety of minorities and majorities. It will require a lot of work by us. I hope that all the parties will find themselves involved in doing so, but I am determined that the citizens assembly that we will establish and I hope that we will be meeting by the autumn of this year, I am determined that it should represent in that way and there are a number of ways to do so. I will be happy to discuss with other parties, Alison Johnstone and others, about how we are trying to do that and to seek the input of other parties in their views about how we should do that. 8. Adam Tomkins Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what the costs will be of establishing a citizens assembly. Cabinet Secretary. As I have tried to indicate, that will depend on the design of the assembly, which I wish to discuss with party representatives and to get their views. We certainly have learned from the Irish experience that it should be an open and transparent process. All details, including costs, will be published in full as the process goes forward. Adam Tomkins Given that this is already per head of population the most expensive Parliament in the United Kingdom, more expensive per head of population than the House of Commons, the House of Lords or the Welsh Assembly, according to the recently published report of the Institute for Government looking at devolution after 20 years, what is the justification for any additional expenditure given that this Parliament is already open, transparent and representative of the people of Scotland? John Swinney Interestingly, one of the things that we learned in Ireland that was at the start of the process, both at the Constitutional Convention on the Citizens Assembly, that view expressed by a number of individuals that said, we've got a Parliament, why do we need a Citizens Assembly or a Constitutional Convention? What happened as the process went through is that people realised the difference between them. For example, the Citizens Assembly and considering the amendment 8 in the Constitution, the matter of abortion, had five separate meetings in which they heard from experts, but they also heard from advocacy groups, but it was entirely factually based. That was a very important development. What happened is that they did away with the noise and the confusions around politics. They looked at the facts of the matter and tried to reconcile the views that existed across society. I stand in no way critical of this Parliament or any Parliament, but it is not exactly a place that specialises in reconciling diverse views. There is a way by listening to people and creating the circumstances in which there can be a genuine dialogue that you can make progress. That is what we wish to do. The Brexit process indicates to us why it should happen, because what we have actually seen in the Brexit process is real division created by the inability to consider all views and to do it on a factual basis. I urge Mr Tomkins to come along to meet the people involved to have these conversations and to see whether we can jointly author something that will take our nation forward. Thank you very much. That concludes Government, business and constitutional relations questions. We will move on shortly to culture, tourism and external affairs. I will take a few moments for ministers to change seats. We now move on to culture, tourism and external affairs. Question 1 is from Rona Mackay. To ask the Scottish Government how it supports communities in celebrating their heritage. I recognise the hard work carried out by local communities to protect the historic environment and to secure the future of their local heritage. Scottish Government support for heritage is channeled through our various sponsored bodies who work in the area of heritage with communities. The Scottish Government has maintained Historic Environment Scotland's external grants funding at £14.5 million per year, which is channeled into local heritage projects. For example, it bears down Baptist Church in the member's constituency, who are working to create interpretation and learning spaces in their gardens on the site of a Roman fort on the Antonine wall world heritage site. Thomas Muir of Hunters Hill, who lived in Bishop Riggs in my constituency, is known as the father of Scottish democracy. His memory is kept alive by a local group called the Friends of Thomas Muir. Does the cabinet secretary believe that more could be done by Visit Scotland or perhaps the Scottish Government to promote figures of such historical importance? Visit Scotland, which receives around £48 million in grant and aid, promotes different places, events, activities and historical figures. I have also referred to Historic Environment Scotland in my previous answer, and the Friends of Thomas Muir might be interested to know that Historic Environment Scotland has a commemorative plaque scheme introduced in recent years, celebrating significant people by erecting plaques on the buildings where they lived or worked. Sessionally, Thomas Muir of Hunters Hill is certainly deserving of that, and people are interested in wider promotion in places, but also in the people who have shaped our society. Thomas Muir, in his pursuit of democracy, has certainly done that. I am sure that the cabinet secretary would agree with me that a hugely important part of Glasgow's heritage is its international contribution to live music and to the live music business and that aspect of the night-time economy. Given the serial disasters that have hit Socky Hill Street in Glasgow over the course of the last year, what support is the Scottish Government giving to Glasgow to support its live music heritage? Fiona Hyslif. Clearly, Creative Scotland is the responsible, sponsored body in promoting contemporary art projects, particularly in relation to a number of areas, but in relation to music, I do believe that, as a UNESCO City of Music, Glasgow itself has to promote music and to look after the venues that exist there. However, in terms of grants or applications, in terms of what can be done to different sites, there are a number of different things that can be done. Creative Scotland, in particular, has been promoting contemporary music more in relation to artists rather than venues. However, if there are any specific projects that are coming forward from Glasgow City Council or any promoters, we will certainly provide advice and support as to where they can go to ensure that any projects can be taken forward. It is really important that we recognise the importance of our music, not just for artists but for audiences, but that I have yet to see any proposals coming forward. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Do you ask the Scottish Government when it last met with representatives of the Edinburgh international festival? Scottish Government officials regularly meet representatives of the Edinburgh international festival and the last time that they met was earlier this month on 3 May. On 30 May, I am meeting with Fergus Lennon's festival director and Frank Higgy, the Edinburgh international festival's new executive director after the departure of Joanna Beaker. Alex Cole-Hamilton, I am very grateful to the cabinet secretary for that reply. Many cultural organisations, including the fringe and international festivals, are likely to be impacted by the uncertainty of Brexit. Can the minister provide an update as to how much money has been allocated through its international creative ambition programme, announced as part of the Scottish Government's 2018-19 programme last September and used to be in place by May of this year? Fiona Hyslach. I am not quite sure where the minister got his information from. Can I say that the international creative ambition is more wide than the necessary festivals? We have already extensively supported the festivals to remain competitive by maintaining their Edinburgh expo fund. The member asked about the Edinburgh international festival itself. It is receiving £190,000 of expo funding for the five concert series celebrating the achievements of composer James McMillan. The place programme, which was funded as part of the discussions around the city deal, has also given additional funding this year and on going to the different festivals to make sure that they remain competitive. The international creatives ambition fund will be used for other means rather than necessary festivals, but it is absolutely vital that we recognise the threat of Brexit to our cultural life in Scotland as one that we have to recognise. We should not have to compensate people for it in terms of our festivals or other areas, but we certainly have to stop it to make sure that we can maintain the cultural, vibrant international aspects of all our festivals. The festivals are indeed a wonderful time of the year, but staff working in those festivals are often vulnerable for exploitation. What works you have done in the past 12 months to promote the fair fringe charter? Clearly, the festivals are independent organisations from government, but I think that it is important that we promote fair work. I had a meeting just last week with the SDC in relation to fair work in the cultural sector and the work of the fringe in terms of what they do. It is something that we can all be involved in in trying to support their charter. It is a matter for them, their artists and the venues that they use. It is important that we recognise that, but clearly fair work during the festival is something that I would want to promote. As I said, I had a meeting on this issue just last week with the SDC. Cabinet Secretary, we will be aware of the director of the Edinburgh International Festival's comments last year that a no-deal Brexit would have a disastrous and horrible impact on Edinburgh's festival. For 2019, he was having to prepare a scale back event, which in itself is a scandal. Can the cabinet secretary confirm the very real threat that, especially a boarish-led no-deal Brexit poses to our festivals and cultural events to the length and breadth of Scotland? Indeed, when those remarks were made, the UK was meant to have left in October and then it was meant to have left in March. Clearly, not just a no-deal Brexit, but any deal Brexit will cause severe difficulties. We know in terms of immigration that non-EU artists struggle in getting access to our festivals, and quite often in terms of cancellations that last minute, even when we can appeal some of those issues. If you then apply that to all EU artists, the disaster that awaits in the Brexit immigration policy for the UK will severely damage our festivals, and that is why it has to be resisted. Question 3, Willie Coffey. Scottish Government, how it sees tourism between Scotland and the EU countries developing in the future? Fiona Hyslop. The EU will remain a key market for Scotland's tourism industry. Six of Scotland's top 10 markets for overseas visitors are in the European Union, accounting for 34 per cent of overseas overnight visitors and 31 per cent of overseas tourist expenditure in 2017. Visit Scotland is actively promoting Scotland as an open and welcoming nation in the face of an EU exit. The latest Scotland is now activity for Europe. Scotland is open. Launched on 29 March is our best performing campaign to date, with record levels of engagement, with over 79 million people reached with adverts. Willie Coffey. I thank the cabinet secretary for that very detailed answer. I shall be aware that the volumes of travellers from Scotland to Dublin each year travelling by air is well over a million and exceeds, by far, the numbers travelling to Paris or, indeed, any of the regional Spanish airports. Does the cabinet secretary see an opportunity here, perhaps, to support the development of Scotland's ferry services to and from Dublin to take advantage of a route that seems increasingly popular with Scottish as well as Irish tourists? Fiona Hyslop. Increasingly sustainable travel routes will be important to our tourism sector. I am very interested in the increasing travel between Scotland and Dublin, something that we are trying to promote, particularly with our Scottish innovation investment hub, based in Dublin. I understand from transport officials that there have been discussions on possible new routes with a number of operators and business consortiums over the years on a number of different European ferry services. They have not yet been able to develop viable services, but any service would need to be commercially viable. We remain open and interested in different routes to maintain those contacts and promote sustainable tourism. To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the Dance School of Scotland's MTC showcase 2019. Fiona Hyslop. The Scottish Government welcomes the MTC showcase 2019 by the Dance School of Scotland at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall from 12 to 15 June. It provides the opportunity for young talent from one of Scotland's six national centres of excellence to perform to large audiences. Those world-class facilities make a significant contribution to cultural life in Scotland and internationally. The Scottish Government supports those centres through the local government funding settlement to the five councils that host them. Bill Kidd. I thank the minister for that reply. Scotland's School of Dance is based at Knightswood secondary school, which is in my constituency in Glasgow, Anni's land. The school admits pupils through audition and is completely free. Does the minister agree, and I think that she does, from her previous answer, that this type of specialised schooling provides the opportunity for children from any background to reach their full potential and enriches the cultural life of Scotland? Fiona Hyslop. I think that this is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the work of all of our six centres. We have Douglas academy, which specialises in music, Broughton high school music, Dice academy and Aberdeen music, Pluckton high school and Highland traditional music, Bella Houston academy, Glasgow sport and of course Knightswood high school, referred to by the member. Those are open to young people from from any background. They work as a pipeline to identify talent for our national performance companies going forward in their careers and are a great asset to the cultural life of Scotland. To ask the Scottish Government how it will assist the tourism sector to attract workers in the event that Scotland has been impacted by an end to freedom of movement following Brexit. Fiona Hyslop. I will continue to make the case to the UK Government that moves to limit migration will harm our tourism sector. We are also engaged with industry to address those risks. Our tourism skills investment plan and the potential tourism sector will focus on addressing skills gaps and promoting tourism as a career of choice for those joining in the industry at whatever stage. Skills developed in Scotland are also proactively encouraging tourism as a career for the domestic population and we are also working to build attractiveness by ensuring that fair work principles underpin the sector. Gillian Martin. Thank you, cabinet secretary, for that answer. According to Visit Scotland last year, the Scottish tourism sector employed 21,000 EU nationals from other countries. Given that the UK Home Office's white paper, the UK's future skills-based immigration system, has said that work visas will only be available to people with salaries over 30,000 per annum, can the cabinet secretary outline how that kind of system would impact tourism worker numbers? Fiona Hyslop. UK Government's immigration white paper shows a shocking disregard to the needs of our tourism and indeed other sectors in Scotland. If there is a salary limit of £30,000 per annum on workers in the tourism sector, that could result in an 85 per cent reduction of inflow of long-term workers from European countries in Scotland. If you have a reduction in workers coming to work in our tourism and hospitality sector, you have skills shortages. That impacts on quality, that impacts on experience and that can damage our sector. I think that it is one of the areas that I appeal to the chamber across all parties to get behind. We have to stop this because the detriment effect that will have on our tourism sector and on our economy will be one that is long lasting. I think that it is something that is very, very sincere indeed and it is why we have really got to stop the Brexit process itself and certainly stop the immigration white paper. At the Scottish Affairs Committee, we heard evidence from Stephanie Morrell that said that agencies such as hers struggle to get people to go to Scotland from the EU to work. Moreover, there are now record numbers of EU nationals, £2.38 million living and working in the UK despite Brexit. Clearly, it is one of the roles of the Scottish Government to make Scotland an attractive place of work. To support more Scots into the hospitality industry, particularly in remote and rural areas, we have heard of some of the ideas that the cabinet secretary has. Will the cabinet secretary highlight how she can help young people to get into hospitality in rural and remote areas, please? Fiona Hyslop. A lot of that work, as I said, is from the tourism investment skills plan. That is also working with the network of colleges that we have in terms of supply of those skills. However, it is not just in terms of remote areas. The pool of young people that are available will also be subject to competition from other sectors wanting them to be entered their areas. As I said at all life stages, we are also seeing an impact to try to encourage people perhaps of our older ages to come back into the workforce by working on tourism. The accessibility of those networks, the number of apprenticeships that we have in those areas, is something that we are promoting very heavily. As part of a wider skills plan, we are also working with the rest of the UK in terms of that promotion. I will be speaking to other tourism ministers about when I meet them shortly. Question 6, Alexander Burnett. To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop resources to support the expansion of tourism and culture. Fiona Hyslop. Scotland's cultural life, our economy, our international reputation are influenced by the success of our tourism and culture sectors. Against the backdrop of public spending constraints, we remain committed to supporting the growth of both sectors in a sustainable and inclusive way that will benefit all of our communities. Following the original tourism 2020 strategy, Scotland's new tourism strategy is being developed, which will help the industry and the Scottish Government to address our current and future challenges, including pressures on infrastructure, rising costs and EU exit, and to become a world-class visitor destination. In the 2019-20 budget, we are investing £269.6 million in Scotland's culture, tourism and heritage sector. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. In the last four years of published statistics, all 114 jobs advertised by Creative Scotland were in the central belt. Can the cabinet secretary inform me as to whether there have been any advertised in the north-east more recently, given the considerable contribution of the north-east to Scottish culture? Fiona Hyslop. I am not the personal manager for Creative Scotland. I think that the member has made his point in terms of advertising, but in terms of recruitment, NMD across Scotland are eligible to and indeed beyond Scotland are eligible to apply for these posts. Location of these posts tend to be based where the headquarters are. The headquarters of Creative Scotland is in Glasgow—in Edinburgh, but they also have offices in Glasgow—in terms of suggesting that there should be relocation of offices elsewhere. That is something that he can make personally to Creative Scotland. Of course, I expect, as Minister, that Creative Scotland and all their staff, not just the ones that are being recruited, to serve all of Scotland and serve them geographically. I expect that to happen in the north-east as it is anywhere else in Scotland. 7. Jackie Baillie To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to help the Waverly paddle steamer return to sailing on the Clyde. Fiona Hyslop. The Waverly is an iconic part of the Clyde's history and its trips provide a unique experience for visitors to the area. Although we have not been approached by its operators, the Scottish Government through its agencies would be happy to provide appropriate advice and support. Jackie Baillie I thank the cabinet secretary for that response. She will be aware, of course, that the cost of repairs to the boiler on the Waverly could be as much as £2 million. Given that we all want to see the iconic Waverly sailing again next year, will the cabinet secretary also consider providing financial assistance to help them? Will she agree to meet with me and representatives of the Waverly to discuss that further? Fiona Hyslop Clearly, the Waverly's current situation is of serious concern. We understand that it was about repairing boilerworks originally, but I understand from their own statements that they require full replacement, which is why there is the extent of the cost. I am more than happy to arrange appropriate meetings, but perhaps we have to identify the appropriate bodies who could support the Waverly in any applications. As I said, there has been no contact made to date. However, as someone who celebrated her 21st birthday sailing on the Clyde from Ayr to Largs, I certainly have a great fondness for the Waverly, as I think the rest of Scotland does. I think that everybody wishes that they save the Waverly campaign well. If the public can get behind the scheme as well and donate, then I am sure that we can see the Waverly sailing again. Supplementary Jamie Greene Thanks, Presiding Officer. It is heartbreaking that the Waverly will not be sailing the Clyde this year, at least past my office in Largs, as I see it so regularly. Can I ask the cabinet secretary? Does she think that organisations such as Historic Environment Scotland, which plays such a vital role in preserving buildings, castles and settlements, might have a role to play to also help preserving RC vessels? Fiona Hyslop I think that the member makes an important point. Maritime vessels are very expensive to support, as we have just heard, but they are also a very much important part of our heritage. For example, the Scottish Government has helped the Maritime Museum and the support of the Reaper, but that is because it is associated with that museum in particular. I think that there are challenges. I know that Historic Environment Scotland has a responsibility for marine heritage in relation to some of the maritime planning zones, but it is a challenge in terms of what can be given in terms of grant. I am happy to investigate further what is possible, but I suspect that he is hinting at something where we have to recognise that there is a real demand there. I am not sure that we can meet all the demands that there are and the frequent letters that I receive in relation to maritime heritage, but I am happy to take that matter further. Apologies to Gordon MacDonald for being unable to reach his question, and we will move on to the next portfolio. We now move on to education and skills portfolio question number one, Dean Lockhart. Thank you very much. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase access to funding for apprenticeships in the construction sector. Jamie Hepburn We are delivering more apprenticeships in Scotland than ever before, during 2017-18. The Scottish Government supported 6,140 people into modern apprenticeships in the construction sector. Construction has to be the largest sector, with 22.5 per cent of all modern apprenticeship starts being in this sector. Work is already underway to deliver even more apprenticeships this year. We have set an ambitious target by 29,000 new starts in 2019-20, including up to 1,300 graduate apprenticeships. Construction is a priority sector, with a 38 per cent rise in modern apprenticeship starts in this sector over the past five years. Dean Lockhart I thank the minister for that response. At a recent economy committee inquiry into the construction sector, we heard the following evidence from a sector association. Funding is difficult to access. For example, in relation to the flexible workforce development fund, the college courses on offer do not meet the needs of employers. Given that evidence, how will the minister ensure that the delivery of courses available through the apprenticeship levy can be better tailored to the needs of the construction sector? Jamie Hepburn I am always keen to make sure that anything that we offer through our skill system is responsive to the needs of industry. In relation to the flexible workforce development fund, my expectation is that colleges should be responding to individual employer demand. If there is a specific employer that has felt that that has not been the case, I will always be willing to hear up in relation to apprenticeships that I am inclined to be led by the evidence that shows, as I have said, a 38 per cent increase in the number of construction modern apprentices over the past five years, a year-in-year increase. We have gone from 4,435 in 2013 to 1314, a year-in-year increase to 1718 in the last year. Last year, we have full focus for 6,104, which suggests to me that the sector is well able to access the funding on offer. Michelle Ballantyne To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that our primary school system is fit for purpose. Our national improvement framework for education contains a wide range of actions to ensure that children leave primary school with the knowledge, skills, attributes and capabilities necessary for their next phase of learning. That includes our investment in leadership and professional learning for primary teachers, robust arrangements for inspection and improvement, support for regional improvement collaboratives, investment in the primary school estate and our continued support for Scottish national standardised assessments in the primary sector. Michelle Ballantyne Thank you for that answer. Last September, this Parliament voted 63 to 61 to halt the Scottish national standardised assessment for P1 pupils. As a result, an independent review of P1 testing is due to report this month. Can I ask the cabinet secretary if he is committed to implementing the findings of that review, and can the parents of children, due to start P1 in August, expect the evidence-based approach that he promised in October? John Swinney Yes, I am committed to the implementation of the conclusions of the review. As Michelle Ballantyne will be aware, we said that we would listen carefully first of all to the P1 practitioner forum that I established and they set out a number of recommendations that we are now taking forward for implementation. I expect to receive the report from the independent assessment of P1 assessments from David Reedy very shortly. Obviously, the Government will reflect carefully on the evidence that that demonstrates. As I have maintained throughout this whole discussion that Parliament has been involved in, I am interested in the evidence on this question, and I certainly will follow the evidence. supplementary Ian Gray Thank you, Presiding Officer. Figures released by the Government last week in response to a freedom of information request show that almost 80 per cent of SNSA tests by primary one pupils were conducted in a single month, March. Those figures surely make a mockery of the cabinet secretary's claim that those tests are diagnostic and should be taken when the teacher believes that it is right for the child, do they not? John Swinney No, because I do not think that the assessment period that Mr Gray refers to will be the only assessment period in which those tests are carried out. He cites the information about a limited time period. I would expect there to be further assessments carried out throughout the month of April and into May and into June. What we will be making a judgment about is the effectiveness of the standardised assessments in making an impact on teacher judgment to enable teachers to undertake the diagnostic assessment that I believe is essential in all of the analysis to make sure that they are supporting young people in enhancing and developing their learning. Question 3, Kezia Dugdale As the Scottish Government, what is its response to the recently released NASWAX survey on teachers' mental health? John Swinney Minister, no teacher should feel that their job adversity affects their mental health, wellbeing both mental and physical, affects us all and should be rightly taken seriously. Those survey findings are therefore extremely worrying. Local authorities, as employers, have a duty of care for all of their staff, including teachers. The Scottish Government, along with local authorities, is already taking action to address conditions that affect wellbeing by putting in place additional support for teachers to tackle workload issues and improve recruitment and retention rates. The recent pay deal provides certainty and pay and sets a shared agenda on addressing workload, additional support for learning and empowering schools for the next two years, which I hope contributes to strengthening the working environment for teachers. The survey is full of grim statistics for the Government, so I am grateful to the cabinet secretary for acknowledging that it is worrying, because it says that 54 per cent of teachers say that job satisfaction is in decline. 55 per cent have considered leaving the profession altogether. How will John Swinney ensure that teachers stay on, and what is he going to do if they leave? The first thing that I have done is recognise the importance and significance of issues about the mental health and wellbeing of members of staff. I want to work with the professional associations. It is the foundation of the pay and workload deal that we have just agreed. I want to work with the professional associations to make sure that we enhance the working environment for teachers, to enable them to concentrate on what has motivated them to enter the teaching profession in the first place, which is to share and to lead learning and teaching. Part of that effort must involve tackling unnecessary tasks and work that teachers are involved in. I have made it very clear in the pay and workload deal that I look to work closely with teachers and the professional associations to identify, by creating a sense of teacher agency and teacher autonomy, the capacity within the teaching profession to make choices about how they spend their time so that they can spend their time on the productive and valuable aspects of learning and teaching, and not on the unproductive and unnecessary tasks and bureaucracy. I cannot mandate that from St Andrew's house. I need to engage the profession to enable the profession to deliver that, and that is exactly what I am concentrating on. Question 4, Angela Constance. To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting youth employment in the Amond Valley constituency. Jamie Hepburn. We have seen good progress in supporting youth employment through the delivery of the young workforce in Amond Valley. Collaboration between West Lothian College and the area's 11 secondary schools ensures career education central to the curriculum offer as a result of joint planning exercises for each academic year. A forum comprised of schools and the college creates a strong focus on the work readiness and training aspects of education. In addition, the developing young workforce renewal group has been working in partnership with schools, colleges, local authorities and employers in the area to develop innovative approaches to education. In West Coddor, for example, employers have supported the school to develop a six-week employment ready programme for S4 pupils who face additional barriers to employment. Angela Constance. I thank the minister for his answer and will he join me in congratulating Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning Systems and the West Lothian Chamber of Commerce, who, for the fifth year running, will host the finals of the Pump It Up Schools challenge. A fantastic example of partnership between industry and schools helping young people to develop a very wide range of skills. Would he meet West Lothian's DYW group to discuss what more can be done to connect the world of education with the world of work in West Lothian and beyond? Jamie Hepburn. I thank the minister for his answer and will he join me in congratulating Mitsubishi and young people in West Lothian. I am always very delighted. It is very important for me to engage and interact with the developing young workforce regional groups across the country. On that basis, I would be very happy to meet the DYW regional group in West Lothian, who I already know are undertaking a range of activities in the area. I would be very delighted to meet them, along with Ms Constance, to learn more about what they are doing and what more we can do together. To ask the Scottish Government whether the number of pupils with additional support needs to have a co-ordinated support plan in place is increasing. John Swinney. Education authorities use a range of planning mechanisms to meet the needs of children and young people. Co-ordinated support plans are used to have children have complex or multiple needs, which require significant support from education and other agencies. In 2018, there were 199,065 children and young people who were recorded as having additional support needs. Of that, 1,986 pupils were recorded as having a CSP. That represents 1 per cent of the total number of children recorded as having an additional support need, a small decrease from the previous year, when the total stood at 2,182. Annie Wells. Thank you for that answer. We are seeing record highs in the number of pupils and Scottish skills who have additional support needs. It seems obvious that we should have seen a huge increase in the number of co-ordinated support plans in place, but that has not happened. Unbelievably, the numbers are falling. The onus should not just be on local authorities, so can the cabinet secretary say that what his SNP Government is doing enough to ensure councils can help every young person who needs a plan to have one in place? John Swinney. The first point is that, because there has been an increase in the number of young people and children who are defined as having additional support needs, that that should have related to an increase in those who have co-ordinated support plans. As Annie Wells will know, there has been a very significant broadening of the definition of additional support needs. That reflects the fact that a much wider cohort of young people are affected. In my original answer, it made clear that a whole range of different supports are put in place to meet the needs of children and young people. The judgment about co-ordinated support plans is where a young person requires complex or multiple support from a range of different agencies. That is the key test. Annie Wells said that this should not be a matter for local authorities. That is what the law says. That is what the statute that this Parliament has passed says, that it is a matter for local authorities to determine the appropriateness of designating an individual child or young person requiring a co-ordinated support plan. Of course, if a family disagrees with a judgment made by a local authority, they have recourse to a tribunal to challenge the judgment of the local authority in that respect. I can say to Annie Wells that, as I made clear in the debate last week, the Government will review the implementation and application of co-ordinated support plans to ensure that the statutory force that Parliament expected to be applied in that respect is being applied. Obviously, I will report to Parliament on that point in due course. Scottish Government, how many people achieve vocational qualifications at stage 4 as part of the Skills Development Scotland Employability Fund for 2018-19? Skills Development Scotland will publish full-year statistics for the employer fund in 2018-19 next month. I thank the minister for that response. The employability fund has a strong focus on work experience, but in its report, there was no stage 4 fund recipients for Dundee City in the first three quarters of 2018-19. That is because most of its fund recipients are aged 16-24 and lack the work experience to get stage 4 reskilling. What is the minister doing to help Dundee people now stuck in this bottleneck to employment and to address the potential skills drought? Jamie Hepburn? Of course, what we seek to do is work with a range of organisations in any area to respond to specific demand. If there is a particular area of bottleneck, as the member puts it in Dundee City, it is incumbent on us to look at that. Having heard what Mr Bowman has said, I will gladly take it away and consider what more we may need to do in Dundee City. Of course, we continue to fund the employability fund this year, as we have done last year. It supports many thousands of people across the country, including in Dundee City. That will continue to be the case this year, but I will take on board the issue that he has raised and come back to me. Question 7 has been withdrawn. Question 8, Elaine Smith. Thank you, Presiding Officer, to ask the Scottish Government how they are supporting Scotland's colleges. Richard Lochhead? Since 2007, we have invested more than £7 billion into Scotland's colleges. We have now set against a £2 billion real-terms cut to our resource block grant over the last decade by the UK Government. We have still managed to increase our investment in colleges' real-terms to more than £600 million in the 2019-2020 budget. Elaine Smith. In terms of supporting colleges, ministers intervened to resolve the college dispute over payharmonisation and to ensure that national pay scales were introduced. However, now, colleges Scotland's failure to provide a fair cost of living increased threats to unravel that very agreement, even as it is being implemented. Why will ministers not intervene now to ensure that lecturers are made a fair pay offer in the interests of staff and students? Richard Lochhead. I am sure that, like most members, I very much regret the current dispute that is on-going and the fact that there was strike action just last week. As the member will be aware, national bargaining was hard won and is a joint voluntary arrangement between the employers and the trade unions. Therefore, I hope that she will accept that it is therefore the responsibility of the employers and the trade unions to resolve the dispute. I am meeting both sides next week, and I will reiterate as hard as I can the absolute urgency in getting an agreement over the line, because it is very disappointing that we are so close to having an agreement just in the last days before the recent strike action that you surely now we can get over the line. I will be putting as much argument behind that case as possible when I meet them next week. I understand that Richard Hamilton has something that she would like to say. I would like to declare an interest to my register of interests on the supplementary that I made in the culture and tourism questions to question 5. Thank you, Ms Hampton. That concludes the portfolio questions, and we will move on to the next item of business.