 Everybody, good morning, everyone. I would now invite you to stand to observe, a minute, silence as a mark of respect to those affected by the attack in Brussels yesterday. Now, I will move to portfolio questions. I call question one. It has been withdrawn, and the explanation has been provided in the name of Neil Findlay. We will call question two. The name of Jamie MacGregor. Is that, particularly in west Scotland, you would most often think that your advice for a mum and a child is of the future? i ddweud i ddweud rwy'r cymryd i ddweud 30,000 o diwethefn gwirioneddau modernu ariadau i ymwnghysgwyr o'r ddechrau, ac yn fwyaf o'r ddiddordeb yng ngyraer, ysbryd, ddwy ar gyfer rwyfyrwyr o'r ddechrau. A oedd y targed o'r 2016-17 oedd 26,000 o ddweud o ddweud o ddweud. Thank you, Presiding Officer. One of my representatives, Ardfarn Jotset Centrion ar Gaill, have been contacted by partners who are keen to take on an apprentice boat builder to train with their experienced team. They have identified the young person who is keen to fulfil the rule, and they are experiencing real problems by accessing funding support from SDS. As a formal theory parts nesaf . O'r ddisgynno i'r blaenau Lleis-Dудd yn ddefnyddio eu llawr Alyw kindergarten yng Nghymru. Mae Llyfrgell Llyfrgell yn ddefnyddio dîm ac yn fflexibledu i ddigon ni'n gwneud escetedaeth gyda gennymau i ddweud gan unrhyw pwynt o'r boitiau. Rym ni'n gwybodaeth o'r bach o'r boitiau mwyaf cael y llai, ond mae'n gweithio'r boitiau bydd i'r bywch i'ch besideio. I would also thank Mr McGregor, who I know it's his last question time, or perhaps not quite, maybe there's a few more to come this morning, but for helpfully providing a copy of his supplementary which he tweeted yesterday, so that was very helpful indeed. On the serious question that Mr McGregor raises, I will of course be happy to look into the specific case, that is the first thing to say. SDSR is always available to discuss options and that would apply to the member's constituent as it would apply to anybody else, seeking to do their best to make young people their business, but I do undertake that we will look into the matter to see where matters stand. On the last point that Mr McGregor raised about Clyde build, I would of course hope that he would be aware that just a couple of weeks ago the announcement by Ferguson's at Port Glasgow of the taking on of 150 new apprentices was very, very good news indeed, and I'm sure that Mr McGregor wished to welcome that. As ever, short questions and answers will be appreciated. Question 3, Christiane Allard. To ask the Scottish Government what training and support it provides to people no longer working in the oil and gas sector. The Scottish Government fully recognises the severe challenges facing the oil and gas sector at this time, and we're doing all we can to support oil and gas workers. The First Minister established the energy jobs task force, which has achieved a great deal since January 2015, including three large pace events, which provided direct redundancy support for over 2,500 people. We also recently announced a £12 million transition training fund, which will offer grants to individuals to support their redeployment and help people with the costs of maintaining licences. We're also providing an extensive network of support through our economic development and skills agencies. Thanks, Christiane Allard. Thank you, cabinet secretary, for your answer, but could you give us more detail of how the training to work in tourism, food and drink and life sciences is accessible for people in order to create a sustainable, diverse economy future for the north-east? The Aberdeen and the North-East are essential to driving future growth and prosperity in Scotland, which, of course, is why we've invested so much money in the Aberdeen City Region deal—£125 million—from the Government. SDS is working with industry on the development and refresh of the skills investment plans, the aim of attracting new entrants into the areas of life science, tourism and food and drink. SDS is extending its approach to include regional skills investment plans, which will recognise the diverse needs of the regional areas across Scotland, particularly such as the north-east. Of course, the successful MA programme also offers young people the opportunity to start a new career and to earn a wage while learning the skills that they will need throughout their chosen career. If the member wants a specific example of some of the work that is happening, I could direct him to the charity springboard, which is currently working with SDS to deliver range of initiatives to encourage and support more young people and adults into the hospitality sector and equip them with the skills that they need to sustain employment and thrive within it. Springboard is engaged with eight schools in the area with regard to future chef, where all schools have been paired with a mentor chef from industry. Lewis MacDonald briefly, please. The cabinet secretary mentioned 2,500 people supported through the three very welcome pace events held so far under the auspices of the energy jobs task force. Can the cabinet secretary tell us how many of those 2,500 people have since secured employment? I do not have the information about how many who have gone on to secure employment out of that particular 2,500, but many will have. The fact that not everybody has been able to do that is why we have also introduced the transition training fund, which is a further specific £12 million, which will give direct grants to individuals to support their redeployment. There are opportunities available for people to redeploy, and we hope that they are able to take them up where possible. Thank you. Question 4, Mike McKenzie. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the developing the young workforce programme. Minister, Annabelle Ewing. In fact, the first developing the young workforce annual report was published in December of 2015. In terms of the report, it showed that we are making good progress in better repairing young people for the world of work. Key developments to date include expanding work-related skills and qualifications such as the new foundation apprenticeship, introducing new national standards and guidance for work placements and careers education, offering careers advice earlier in school and developing closer partnerships between employers and education with 14 new regional employee groups set up across Scotland. Thank you, Mike McKenzie. I thank the minister for that answer. I wonder if she can outline what role businesses in the Highlands and Islands and indeed across the rest of Scotland should play in supporting this programme. Minister? I referred in my first answer to one of the action points that was the development of the regional developing young workforce groups. They are industry-led. They provide a fundamental bridge between education and business. They involve local businesses. They build on what was already there. We will be supporting the setting up of we aim for 21 regional groups across Scotland. There are 14 to date, including in North Highland, in Murray, in Inverness, in Central Highland and in West Highland. We hope that all members will rally round the regional groups as they are rolled out across Scotland so that we can all do our best to ensure that we bring on young people and ensure that they are ready for the world of work. Thank you. Cameron McCannon, question 5. To ask the Scottish Government what training opportunities it offers for people over 25. Minister? We view Scotland's people as, indeed, our greatest asset. The Government therefore recognises that responding to the skills and training needs of individuals enables them to meet their full potential and is, indeed, a prerequisite of inclusive economic growth. In terms of training support for adults, there is a range of provision available in colleges and universities, in communities and workplaces. Through Skills Development Scotland, our national skills agency, which provides professional careers advice and training support for individuals of all ages. Specific initiatives include modern apprenticeships for those over aged 25 in key growth sectors, direct support from the STS Individual Learning Account programme for low-paid, low-skilled and unemployed individuals and in-work support via the STUC Scottish Union Learning programme. Cameron McCannon? I thank the cabinet secretary for her reply, but she should be aware that 152,000 college places that are cut by the Scottish Government have disproportionately affected older learners. The 2015 Audit Scotland Colleges report shows that there are 41 per cent fewer students over the age of 25 in our colleges than there were in 2008 and 2009. Given that those learners are often the furthest removed from the labour market and other training opportunities, could she outline what steps the Scottish Government has taken to help people over the age of 25 to access training in Scotland? On the issue of colleges, we have exceeded our undertaking to maintain full-time equivalent places. Indeed, we have seen more than 119,000 full-time equivalent places. We make no bones about focusing on those courses that will lead to progression to work to further educational opportunities, that is to the benefit of the individuals themselves. In terms of opportunities for the over 25s, I mentioned in my first response, that the MA programme is available to provide some support for over 25s in key growth sectors such as the food and drink sector. 63 per cent of MAs in the food and drink sector are with respect to individuals aged 25 plus in digital technologies transition training, where we expect to see a transition training programme to support key skills challenges for ICT digital technologies in the Highlands and Islands. We expect to see some 40 per cent of those individuals will be over the age of 25 in the transition training fund in the oil and gas sector, to which the Cabinet Secretary already referred. That will also, of course, be available to the over 25s. We are determined to ensure that we do the best that we can across the piece for those seeking work. I would say finally to Cameron Buchanan that, of course, in terms of the devolution of employment support services, which we will see shortly, sadly, those new powers came with, effectively, an 87 per cent cut from Westminster, but we will do our best to ensure, nonetheless, that we continue to help those who need a bit of help to get into work. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations in the final report of the commission on widening access regarding improving skills among the workforce. The commission highlights the importance of teachers in early years' practitioners equipped with an understanding of the challenges faced by those from deprived communities and how that impacts on their learning. However, the report does not contain a formal recommendation on that. We have warmly welcomed the report and have moved swiftly to accept a number of key recommendations. We will give careful consideration to the remainder of the report and, if re-elected, we will publish a formal response early in the new Parliament. Thank you, cabinet secretary. We will be aware that, in recommendation 29, the silver report is very clear that it does not think that nearly enough is being done to make best use of the relevant data to track learners at colleges and universities and their progression into the workplace data that the report has said could provide much more insightful analysis for upskilling the labour force right across all sectors. Could I ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to address this issue on data? I will raise this matter directly to my colleague Angela Constance. We would always want to ensure that data that was available was being used in the best possible way. If that is something that comes out of the commission that we discover has not been happening to best effect, then it is likely to be a key issue that will be looked at, as I said, if we are re-elected and are looking to deliver a formal response. Many thanks. Does George Adam want the likes? Question 7, Mark McDonald. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Fair Work Convention. Secretary Rosanna Cunningham. The Fair Work Convention developed and published its framework on 21 March. The framework sets out the convention's vision that by 2025 people in Scotland will have a world-leading working life where fair work drives success, wellbeing and prosperity for individuals, businesses, organisations and society. The framework then sets out what it means by fair work, why it is important, who the main players are in taking this forward and what the challenges are as well. It describes fair work as work that offers effective voice opportunities, security, fulfilment and respect. Mark McDonald. I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer and I welcome the recommendation by the Fair Work Convention. Can she highlight how this will now be taken forward in promoting fair work across public and private sector employers to ensure that the recommendation is taken forward and that workers across Scotland can benefit from fair work in future? The convention has recognised that real progress will only come through businesses, organisations and trade unions working together to deliver change. It invites everyone in the workplace to become involved and has challenged itself to proactively support the implementation and evolution of the framework. It will take this forward over the coming weeks and months by engaging with and bringing together stakeholders who have an important role to play in the fair work landscape. As with the commission that we discussed in the earlier question if re-elected to government we will be providing a formal response in due course. To ask the Scottish Government to invest employers in the care sector to help them pay the living wage. As part of the 2016-17 budget we have taken action to protect and grow our social care services and deliver our shared priorities by investing a further £250 million in health and social care partnerships. Part of this investment is to enable local authorities to pay a living wage to care workers supporting vulnerable adults, including in the independent and third sector. It is an ambitious commitment that we are currently working through with providers and councils. There has been a series of meetings to discuss this investment and we will continue to work in partnership with stakeholders between now and October to ensure effective implementation. I thank the cabinet secretary for her response. I know that the additional money that she talked about has been welcomed by many in the sector but there are still concerns that, for example, the issue of differentials in the sector is perhaps unusual in that so much of its income comes directly from public funds and therefore there is very little scope to raise additional funds from other sources. Therefore, the living wage of its paid has to come really from that source. Will the Scottish Government whoever might be in the Scottish Government after the election agree that it needs to sit down and continue to work with employers to make sure that the funds coming in are sufficient to meet the ambition of the Scottish Government? Murdo Fraser is correct to say that the partnership working has to continue and is absolutely vital if that is going to work. I would direct him to the fact that there are actually five care companies who are accredited living wage employers and working in the adult care sector so it is worth flagging up that it is possible for care companies to be already paying the living wage. The integration authorities, the integration joint boards to taking that forward will direct local authorities to commission care from the independent and voluntary sectors on the basis that people will be paid £8.25 and are giving thousands of care workers a pay rise. We would have preferred implementation earlier than 1 October but we have allowed that extra time to allow COSLA to do the preparatory work that is going to be required and precisely the kind of work that Murdo Fraser is referring to. The beneficiaries of this will be care workers in both care homes and home care services provided by independent and voluntary sector providers and I would hope that everybody in this chamber will welcome that. Question 9 James Kelly To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the pay of workers in the hospitality sector. Although the Scottish Government is not able to set pay levels in the third and private sectors or indeed the wider public sector in Scotland where employees are not covered by our pay policy we do encourage every organisation regardless of size or sector to ensure that all staff receive a fair level of pay and where possible to pay the living wage. Indeed research suggests that the living wage can enhance productivity, reduce absenteeism and improve staff morale and those are key advantages for an industry such as hospitality that recognises excellent customer service impacts favourably on the bottom line. James Kelly I thank the minister for the answer. Does the minister agree that it remains a challenged payment of the living wage in the hospitality and retail sectors? Indeed, Greg Silver, who has a base in my constituency, has expressed opposition to payment of the living wage and I therefore ask what action the Scottish Government is taking to enforce payment of the living wage in the hospitality and retail sectors with companies with whom they have contractual arrangements. Briefly, please minister. I hear what the member says and I encourage every member to take the opportunity in their constituencies to work with local employers of whatever kind to encourage them to pay the living wage. In terms of the example that the member raises I am not aware of the particular circumstances but I am not also aware that the Government has any particular contractual relationship with that particular company. In broad brush, if the Parliament had powers over the minimum wage which the member's party did not seek in the Smith commission we would be in a much better position to enforce payment of a decent wage for our workers in Scotland. Many thanks. That concludes portfolio questions on fair work, skills and training and we now move to portfolio questions on social justice, communities and pensioners rights. Question 1, Linda Fabiani. Thank you. To ask the Scottish Government how it will increase affordable housing supply in East Kilbride. Minister, Margaret Burgess. The Scottish Government works closely with the housing providers throughout South Lanarkshire to increase the supply of affordable housing. In East Kilbride, 238 new affordable homes were built between 2011-12 and 2014-15. We expect to see a further 72 new homes completed in the town by 31 March 2016. Another 191 new homes are currently on site and due to complete by 31 March 2017. Land has recently been acquired by a housing association with the Scottish Government grant to provide a further 34 new affordable homes. Linda Fabiani. I thank the minister for that answer and the minister will be aware that East Kilbride suffers a particularly acute social housing shortage and some measure due to the aggressive right to buy policy that was historically applied when it was a new town. The current Government's record in affordable housing is certainly way beyond that of the previous administration but will the minister confirm that if this Government takes action, particular discussion will take place on East Kilbride's social housing provision? I can certainly say to the member that the Government would be willing to, if re-elected, willing to discuss with her and with South Lanarkshire council their plans for affordable housing in East Kilbride but I can say that we have increased the resource planning assumption at £1.6 million in 2015-16 to £16.938 million to 2016-17 and that's a 66% increase in committed funding and that's in spite of the constraints of the UK budget cuts. Question 2, Drew Smith. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I ask the Scottish Government what policies it has instigated to achieve greater equity between the most and least wealthy parts of Scotland? Presiding Officer, our commitment to tackling inequality and poverty across Scotland is made clear in the 2015 programme for Government and we have instigated a number of policies to achieve a greater degree of equality across the country in our time in office including a commitment to support people in Scotland affected by the UK Government's welfare cuts. The First Minister appointed an independent adviser in poverty and inequality who has published a series of recommendations about shifting the curve. We also launched a nationwide discussion last year asking people across the country what a fairer Scotland means to them and a report on the findings that was published recently. Thanks, Drew Smith. I'm grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for his response and I would welcome many of the initiatives particularly in welfare that he highlights. However, I must congratulate him on getting through that answer without once mentioning the word redistribution. Is it becoming the best place in the world to be middle class? Does he not agree with me that when COSLA yesterday produced a manifesto claiming that Scotland's inequalities are in danger of overtaking countries with which we would not want to be compared? I think that the poverty adviser who advises the First Minister has said something similar too. Isn't the real challenge in the next Scottish Parliament for the rhetoric on inequality to actually turn into action? Presiding Officer, this Government is taking action across a range of fronts. First of all, we have the highest level of employment in any part of the United Kingdom. Secondly, we are extending the living wage as much as we can. Thirdly, we have improved the social wage. Fourthly, we will use our new powers on social security to maximise equality and reduce poverty in Scotland. Finally, Presiding Officer, I wish the member all the best as he is not returning to the Parliament and I look forward to working with him on the capacity in the near future. Many thanks. Alex Johnson, brief supplementary please. Would the minister undertake to assure us that rather than concentrate exclusively on the redistribution of wealth through taxation, that he will actually do something to improve labour mobility in Scotland so that Scotland's unemployed can actually move to the areas where the new jobs are created and take up the opportunities that George Osborne has generated through his economic growth? Cabinet Secretary. I think that in the next six weeks what the Scottish electorate will be saying to the Scottish Tories is get on your bike because this Government is doing everything it possibly can, which is why we've got the highest level of employment ratio of any part of the United Kingdom. If we weren't burdened by the UK Government's rather hideous policies, we could do much, much more for the people of Scotland. Question 3, Bob Doris. To ask the Scottish Government how it supports anti-poverty initiatives in Glasgow. Cabinet Secretary. Presiding Officer, we fund a number of organisations to deliver anti-poverty initiatives in Glasgow. This includes advice services delivered by Macmillan, the Citizens Advice Network and One Parent Family Scotland. A range of initiatives with the likes of Glasgow Disability Alliance, the Alliance, fair shares, Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector aimed at helping those affected by poverty and welfare reform. Thanks, Bob Doris. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer and I say that I very much hope that the new maternity and early years allowance being rolled out by the Scottish Government will help some of the poorest families in the communities that I represent in Glasgow region. Can I ask the cabinet secretary for some more details in relation to the roll-out of that new allowance in the city of Glasgow? For a family with two children, the maternity and early years allowance means £1,900 worth of support over the period of their early years compared to £500 that is available now. The payment at birth for a first child will increase from £500 until a sure start maternity grant to £600 and reversing the UK coalition Government decision to restrict payments to the first child we will introduce a £300 payment for second and subsequent children but we also recognise that the disadvantages of poverty affect children not just at birth but at other key stages of their young lives. We will therefore make payments of £250 to support families through the transition when children start nursery and again at the start of school. This is an example of the fairer social security system that we want to achieve in Scotland and whereby we are redistributing resources in favour of the most vulnerable members of our society. I thought that Mr Dorris might declare an interest given the recent happy birth of his young son Cameron so congratulations to Mr and Mrs Dorris on that. I wonder if the cabinet secretary would acknowledge that the good work that Glasgow City Council does in tackling poverty in the city is going to be vastly affected by the cut of some £130 million as a result of his Government's funding settlement to that city. The overall cut to the local government budget is less than 1 per cent of the total revenue expenditure after taking account of the additional money being put into social care so there will be no excuse for Labour-controlled Glasgow City Council to make Glasgow a less fair city than it is. Thank you. To ask the Scottish Government whether it complies with its social justice policy objectives for self-funding older people in residential care to pay more than local authorities for the same care. Presiding Officer free personal care is available for everyone aged 65 and over in Scotland to have been assessed by the local authority is needing it. Free nursing care is available for people of any age assessed as requiring nursing care services. We are committed to ensuring those in the lowest incomes or with the lowest asset wealth continue to receive financial support from their local authorities for the residential care. Two thirds of people in residential care around 24,000 people are supported in this way in Scotland. The Scottish Government and the Royal Commission in long-term care have been clear that those who can afford to pay for their care should continue to do so for those who cannot afford to pay for theirs. Thank you. I thank David McLaren in the chamber desk for randomly selecting me for this question given that I've been complaining about not being selected for the past year. Question is... Can I ask the cabinet secretary how it can be socially just when councils pay about £470 a week for a placement in a care home but a self-funding placement costs well over £1,000? Can I just in my final question say that I've been asking this question since 1999 the Labour Party's response used to refer to a 1951 act of Parliament which forbade them from applying charges equally. With the huge raft of powers being devolved to this Parliament can I ask if the Government will commit to reviewing this situation to bring fairness and social justice for all elderly people? Having heard the supplementary I'm absolutely sure that it was not a random pick for Mary Scanlon to ask that question because she's campaigned in this issue vigorously ever since 1999 and I draw her attention to the joint review of residential care services between the Scottish Government and COSLA published about 18 months ago where that was amongst a number of issues that we intend to try to address. Can I finally, Presiding Officer, since this is Mary Scanlon's last question just pay tribute to Mary's tremendous service to this Parliament and to the country and particularly to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, she will be sorely missed from this Parliament. Many thanks. Question 5, David Stewart. To ask the Scottish Government what support it's providing to communities in the Highlands and Islands. The Scottish Government and its public sector partners continue to make significant investment in our communities including the Highlands and Islands. For example, yesterday we announced a £315 million inverness in a Highlands City region deal including a Scottish Government commitment of up to £135 million over 10 years. The deal which also includes up to £53 million from UK Government and £127 million from the Highlands Council and its regional partners contains a package of measures aimed at improving the regional economy. Those include better transport connectivity and digital networks, increases in innovation, more local housing and assisted living schemes. Many thanks, David Stewart. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Communities across the hands and islands are on the front line of council cuts. In my home area, the Highlands Council has made cuts of £30 million with 341 staff facing redundancy. Is the minister aware that in the Highlands bereaved families face rocketing burial charges with over 50% increase, bringing funeral poverty to the most vulnerable at the time of acute grief? The council leader places responsibility for the cuts squaly a door of the Scottish Government settlement. Does the minister agree? The Highlands Council is receiving £439 million from the Scottish Government and, as my colleague the cabinet secretary has already said, the overall reduction nationally for local government is 1 per cent when the figures for health and social care are taken into account. That money is going to achieve the living wage for health and social care staff a further freeze on council tax bills. It is going to deliver great advantages for the whole of the country. There are clearly challenges that each local authority is going to have to address to decide how they want to deal with financial circumstances. Those are the same financial circumstances and the same challenges that have been striking the entire public sector. On the issue of funeral poverty in particular, the member will be aware of the work that has been done between the Scottish Government and Citizens Advice, which was launched by the cabinet secretary relatively recently. We will be taking action forward from that. Question 6, Graham Day. To ask the Scottish Government how many homes have been built since 2007. Under the Government over the 2007-08 to 2014-15 period an average of 336 new homes per 100,000 population have been built in Scotland per year across all tenures. I thank the minister for that response. I wonder if she can ask her how that figure compares to England and Wales. I can say to the member that house building and I have said it in a number of occasions here that house building in Scotland has been consistently higher in each and every year since 2007. The 336 homes built per 100,000 population in Scotland compare with 237 built per 100,000 population in England and 2007 homes per 100,000 population in Wales. In percentage terms it means that over the 2007-08 period building in Scotland is 42 per cent higher than in England and 62 per cent higher than in Wales. Question 7 Richard Lyle To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the people and community fund and how it supports community organisations. On Monday I announced a budget of £10.755 million for the people and communities fund in 2016-17 which will support nearly 190 continuing community-led people and community funds projects throughout Scotland with a further year of funding. An evaluation of the people and communities fund will be conducted in 2016 to explore its impact and to understand better how this type of funding supports and empowers communities. Richard Lyle I thank the minister for her answer and can I welcome the update Minister, what advice could be given to possibly help a local Belsil group in my region who require funding for a traffic report requested by North Lancer Council to establish a sports hub therefore ensuring that this project can gain the best for their local area. Minister What I can say to member is that this Government recognises the importance of funding for our community groups to help to empower them to deliver the local priorities to them most. That's why despite a tight spending review we maintained a £20 million commitment to the family of empowering community funds in 2016-17. Local authorities also have a key role to play as a partner in community groups to help them realise their local ambitions. I would encourage all community groups to use the Scottish Council for voluntary organisations helpful funding portal that can be accessed at www.scotland.com to help to identify funds available in Scotland for their activities and wish the local group and the member's constituency luck in facilitating this new enterprise in Belsil. Question 8 To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing a time limit for temporary accommodation. Minister of Market Burgers Time limits already exist for the use of unsuitable accommodation for families with children and pregnant women. The provision of temporary accommodation is an important part of the local authorities duties for homeless households in Scotland and provides a vital safety net for those that require it. Time spent in temporary accommodation should be as short as possible while suitable, sustainable settled accommodation is found. Moving households through temporary accommodation as quickly as possible is a person-centred approach that considers the particular needs and housing options of individual households. Local authorities report significant increases in the length of time spent in temporary accommodation. Typical stays in temporary accommodation are now over seven months and some people can be up to two years. Will the cabinet secretary support a reduction in the length of time homeless people have to spend unsuitable temporary accommodation to 14 days and extend provisions on standards in the homeless persons order 2004 to include single homeless people and families without children? Minister? What I was saying to the member is that we are continually reviewing temporary accommodation and the use of temporary accommodation for all homeless people and from the end of this month, March 2016, local authorities will begin a mandatory collection of information on length of time spent in temporary accommodation and this will help inform the Scottish Government in consultation with our stakeholders about any further steps that it may need to take. What I said at the beginning is that the length of temporary accommodation for anyone should be as short as possible. To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to strengthening community councils. Minister? Although local authorities have statutory oversight of community councils, the Government has been working with COSLA, the Improvement Service and Edinburgh Napier University to further enhance their role. I wonder if he shares my concern that as we want to push power down to local communities below the city council level, it is difficult when many community councils are not active or if they are active, they really are only kept going by a small band of people. Minister? I do share that concern and community councils that don't feel listened to will not attract people, they will struggle to recruit. Our work includes a website to support community councils digital engagement workshops to support them in recruiting new people and hosting a fairer Scotland community council event to which all community councils were invited. Last year I also met the national body for English parish and town councils about their system. I would describe myself as actively interested but any further work would be for the next administration to take forward of which I will clearly not be a part. Thank you. We now move to general questions. Question number one, Gordon MacDonald.