 R workloads sales service working system in the first steps of going to one industry management system is a portfolio of questions. In order to get as many people in as possible, I will be grateful for short answers and some synced questions and answers. Question 1, Stewart McMillan. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the community safety aspects of the licensing or smartphone booking systems for transport services. There are potential benefits to the use of smartphones apps. It is essential that the legislation enforcement remains fit for purpose to ensure that people are kept safe. Recent developments, including the evidence that is taken by the Local Government and Regeneration Committee in relation to the Air Weapons and Licensing, have further highlighted the need for review. The Scottish Government expects every operator to work within the confines of the existing licensing regime and for all drivers and vehicles to be licensed. Anyone acting as an unlicensed driver or operating outwith the relevant booking office license will be committing an offence and could be liable for prosecution by the Crown. I understand that companies such as the American-based Uber are currently applying for licenses for such operations in Edinburgh and Glasgow, with the possible financial loss to the tax and private hire tax that they will trade and in turn local authorities via licence fees of drivers and cars if those services are introduced in Scotland, as well as the safety aspects of having drivers and cars which will not be regulated and scrutinised in the same manner as traditional taxi services. Can the cabinet secretary advise what the Scottish Government can do to ensure both the safety of passengers and also the protection of jobs in the current taxi trade? The member raises an important point. From the government's perspective, we expect every operator to work within the confines of the existing regime. Along with the relevant stakeholders, we are reviewing the existing legislation to ensure that it means fit for purpose. We are aware of the concerns around the growth of mobile phone apps such as those run by Uber. We recently held an informal meeting with representatives of the trade, Police Scotland, local authorities and relevant academics, to discuss the issue and to explore what options could be taken. Although the tax and private hire car provision is in the current bill, I do not specifically address the technological developments that the member made reference to. The Civic Government Scotland Act 1982 already provides considerable scope for secondary legislation to address such issues. We have an ability to provide clarification on issues such as best practice in this area for local authorities. I can assure the member that we are aware of that particular issue and some of the concerns around the use of those types of apps and organisations such as Uber. We will continue to engage with stakeholders to look at what is the best approach to take that forward in the Civic Government Scotland Act 1982. To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that more could be done to improve the legal rights of fathers in relation to parental custody disputes. We would not propose any change to the law in the area of residence or contact provisions at this time. The key principle in Scots law is that the welfare of the child is paramount. However, the Government is carrying out work in a number of relevant areas. For example, we have chaired a working group on child welfare reporters and are working to refresh the parenting agreement for Scotland, which can help to separate parents and agree on future arrangements for their children. John Mason I thank the minister for his reply. I wonder if he will accept that when one parent has care and does not comply with a contact order, it is often too expensive for the non-resident parent to return to court. Certainly, unlike the administration south of the border, Mr Mason will appreciate that we maintain that legal aid is open to use for family cases. We try to ensure that people have access to the law to protect their interests. There are groups that can help individuals who are needing advice about what their options are in seeking contact with their children. I would be happy to meet Mr Mason if he would find it helpful to explain what more we can do to help. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with trade unions regarding employment-related issues in the justice sector. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring positive engagement with trade unions across the range of sectors. That includes the justice sector. The Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs and I meet on a regular basis with the trade unions representing police staff and the Farbegade. In addition, I have also met unions representing prison officers and prison governors to discuss matters of concern to them and to their members. As members will be aware, employment-related issues for staff are a matter for the relevant organisation in discussion with their respective union. The Scottish Government does not engage directly in those negotiations. Can I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer? I recently met community trade union who raised specific concerns about issues that are faced by private sector employees delivering justice and custodial services. I am sure that the cabinet secretary will agree with me that those staff play a key role on behalf of the Scottish public. It is a difficult job, and although the environment is similar to those who work in the public sector, the mechanism available to staff in the private sector can often be different. Community have raised concerns with me that staffing numbers may be having on the personal safety and security of their members. Would the minister agree to meet representatives of community to hear first hand about the excellent job that they do and the issues that they face on a daily basis? I am aware of the excellent job that those staff do within our private prison estate and the custody transfer services that are provided by private contractors. I am always open to engaging with trade union representatives. I expect employer organisations to engage purposefully and meaningfully with their trade union representatives. If the community union has specific concerns about some of the matters such as contracts that are managed through the Scottish Prison Service, I would expect the trade union to engage directly with the SPA to raise concerns about the operation of any of those contracts. I am always open to engaging with trade union representatives and, if they wish to make representations to me, I would be more than happy to consider that. Roderick Campbell, can the cabinet secretary advise whether there has been any recent dialogue between Scottish Government and representatives of rank and file police officers and, if so, what has been discussed? I meet on a regular basis with the staff association representing police officers to discuss a range of different matters that affect their members. I last met the Scottish Police Federation on 17 February and with the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents on 12 March. Police officers' terms and conditions are one of the issues that were discussed. There are issues that have been taken forward by the police negotiation board. The member will also be aware, and I am very proud of the fact that, unlike the Westminster Government, we have retained independent national collective bargaining for police officers in Scotland. I also met the Prison Officers Association on 18 December, which was an introductory meeting to discuss a range of issues that affect our prison officers in the SPS estate. Does the minister share my disgust at the disgraceful way that Scottish Government contractors G4S have treated their guards with some even-been-handed redundancy notices while handcuffing prisoners? Will he review that contract? The member will be aware that that was a contract that was set up by the last Government in terms of privatising that particular aspect of services that we have inherited. I understand that the SPS, who are engaged with G4S on that particular matter, are in dialogue with them over how they have been handling some of those issues, but the member will recognise that some of the difficulties in that particular contract is the responsibility of his own party colleagues. To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in tackling new cyclap for the substances. First, I thank Graham Dave for his continued interest in the issue and for the work that he has done locally to help tackle those substances. I set out a range of activities being led and funded by the Government in my statement to the chamber on 26 February. I am pleased to confirm that progress is being made in all fronts, including the commissioning of research, developing an agreed definition of NPS, developing the detail of a centre for excellence in forensics and guidance for trading standards and local authorities. Officials are in close contact with the Home Office in respect of what is required to bring those substances under legal control and we will look to engage with our counterparts on this issue as soon as possible following the Westminster election. I have also written to the leaders of each group in this chamber to invite them to nominate a colleague from each party to participate in a ministerial cross-party group to build on the encouraging political consensus in Scotland on tackling those dangerous substances. Thank you for that response. I am sure that the minister will join me in welcoming the recent action taken by the UK Government in introducing a 12-month ban on five different compounds, at least one of which I understand features in up to 60 per cent of the NPS traffic. In Scotland, whilst the ACMD decides whether permanent control measures should be put in place, I wonder how in practice the Scottish Government working with partners such as Police Scotland will raise awareness of the penalties that anyone caught making, supplying or importing those drugs now face and indeed how they will enforce the ban. I welcome the temporary banning order on those substances. Graham Day is quite right that those substances are now controlled under the terms of the Miss Use of Drugs Act 1971. If any intelligence is received that they are being sold, the police will deal with them as they would with any other controlled drug. Police Scotland has hand-delivered letters to premises that are potentially selling those substances. That letter makes owners aware of the banning order, that the conviction of selling those substances could lead up to 14 years in prison and an unlimited fine. Is the minister aware that there are an estimated 14 of those head shops in Edinburgh selling NPS? However, the scale of the problem in other parts of the country is less clear. Can he confirm the number of head shops across the country? If not, what action is being taken to collect this data and to measure the sale of those substances in an effort to properly assess the full extent of the problem and to establish a strategy for dealing with this increasingly worrying problem? I certainly agree with Margaret Mitchell that we face a big challenge in understanding the full extent of NPS use in Scotland. Clearly, that is one of the key tasks that we will hopefully take forward in the ministerial cross-party group in terms of investigating what the statistics show. She is quite right to highlight the number of head shops. Indications are varied in terms of the numbers. I have heard estimates that there are more than 40 in Scotland as a whole, although that may not capture all activity of selling NPS sometimes through shops that are not necessarily identified as head shops, which might be for another purpose, but are also selling NPS to customers. We will try to get a clearer picture on the scale of the problem at a national level and give that assurance to Margaret Mitchell that I will keep her informed of progress in that area. The minister will be aware that I have received a petition from several thousand people in Forfa who are very concerned that there should not be another head shop in Forfa. I wonder whether the minister would agree to meet me so that I can talk through the use issues with him and see what we can do. I am very happy to meet Nigel Dawn to discuss this issue. We are very supportive of the excellent efforts to deal with NPS in the members' local area and have previously commended authorities in Angus for their work. We will be definitely happy to arrange a meeting to discuss the petition and the concerns of the local community. Question 5, Annabelle Golden. As a Scottish Government, what action will it take to reduce reconviction rates among offenders given drug treatment and testing orders? Drug treatment and testing orders, or DTTOs, are a high tariff disposal aimed at individuals with entrenched drug misuse problems who off-offend as a result of their addiction and, but otherwise, face a custodial sentence. The Scottish Government recognises that DTTOs have the highest reconviction rate compared with other court disposals. Over the past decade, there has, however, been consistent progress in reducing those figures since 2002-03. The overall reconviction rate has fallen by nearly 18 per cent from 75 to 62 out of 100. The Scottish Government will continue to work with delivery partners to ensure that DTTOs are targeted at the most suitable offenders who can best benefit from the intensive demands of that regime. The Minister will be aware that recently published figures confirm that almost two-thirds of such offenders were re-offended within a year, and that is an upward trend. That is serving neither justice nor the offender. Does the minister agree that that is profoundly unsatisfactory? Is he prepared to instruct a review of how such offenders can be given more effective disposals on conviction? I just outlined in my original answer the first figure that Annabelle Goldie quoted is in line with what I said in terms of almost two-thirds, but there has, as I indicated, been a reduction since 2002-03. However, taking the more substantive point that Annabelle Goldie raised, we keep those matters under review. There has been a recent evaluation. Over the period 2002-2004, found that DTTOs have a positive and dramatic impact on drug use and offending, which was sustained for at least six months after the end of an order. We are also looking at the importance of the DTTO2 variant, which is for perhaps less, for mainly impacting on women and children. It seems to have had some success in dealing with the re-offending behaviour there. I am happy to deal with the matter in correspondence with Annabelle Goldie. Is there anything specific that she is looking for in detail to help her inform her work? The name of Gavin Brown has been withdrawn for understandable reasons. 7. Adam Ingram To ask the Scottish Government how it assists offenders in tackling drug abuse problems. All offenders receive a healthcare assessment at the reception point in prison. The assessment includes questions on substance misuse. Those identified as having a drug issue and test positive for drugs are offered a continuation of any community-based, opiate replacement therapy or prescribed treatment. Prisoners are offered the opportunity to engage with addiction services while in prison where they can assess harm reduction information, brief interventions for drug misuse and assessment by an addiction's case worker, including onward referral on release. The substance misuse work stream of the national prisoner healthcare network is finalising reports with recommendations to ensure a consistent approach in the management of substance misuse in the prisoner population, based on the recovery-oriented system of care model, and the report is due to be published in September this year. I was going to ask supplementary drug treatment and testing orders, but Annabelle Goldie pre-empted me. It might be a question of great minds, I think alike, or maybe not. The fact that DTTOs appear to be having some impact on reducing reconviction rates, how are you going to build on that? Are there other factors or measures that you can bring into play to help reduce reconviction? Adam Ingram raised an important point. There is a process of evaluation that was published in Gli 2010 that suggested that DTTOs 2 are particularly effective in targeting women offenders, as I said in response to Annabelle Goldie. A further internal evaluation of the pilot scheme in late 2014 found that the service continues to achieve its aims of breaching lower tariff offenders and effectively targeting women and young people who are more likely to complete a DTTOs 2 than a full DTTOs. That continues to enjoy overwhelmingly positive support from sentencers and is associated with reductions in recidivism. There are clearly other measures outside of the conventional DTTOs, which are perhaps more onerous for some people to comply with, but we will continue to keep under review the range of measures that we have to help to reduce re-offending. That is something that the cabinet secretary is particularly keen to tackle. Question 8, Paul Martin. Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken to tackle antisocial behaviour in Glasgow province. The Scottish Government is committed to tackling antisocial behaviour to improve the lives of all our communities. I am pleased to inform that the multi-agency tasking and co-ordinating process that is developed by partners, including Police Scotland, Community Safety Glasgow, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and British Transport Police, has seen combined year-in-year reductions in antisocial behaviour across the province area as a whole. I believe that partnership working is central to tackling antisocial behaviour in robust and meaningful ways. For example, I am aware that the collaborative work between Police Scotland, Housing Associations and Community Safety Glasgow has targeted the issues surrounding gang fighting occurring between rival groups in the traditional schemes, given that those behaviours have been a blight on the area for decades. The importance of this work cannot be underestimated and we must continue to drive it forward. That is why I am pleased to be able to confirm that the multi-agency tasking and co-ordinating process is being reviewed to bring on board more partner agencies and to ensure that the good work that has been achieved today can be sustained and further built upon in the longer time. I recognise a great deal of positive work that has been done in tackling gang fighting in Glasgow. Despite some of the publicity and respect to Easterhouse, Easterhouse is an area that has very positive things going on in that part of my constituency, but it still considers to be the case that antisocial behaviour has been under-reported. I think that a lot of that refers to the fact that it is still a cost associated with calling the one-on-one service. Does the minister agree with me that there should be no cost to anyone, no matter which mobile operator they deal with, when they make a call to the one-on-one service and will the Government fund that to ensure that it is a free service? I certainly welcome Mr Martin's positive comments and I appreciate his constructive tone in terms of his question. The closure is worth pointing out in terms of the one-on-one calls issue that Mr Martin raises that there is a fixed cost indeed of 15 pence, but that is irrespective of the length of the call, the time of the day, the call is made or whether the call is made from a landline phone or indeed a mobile. Police Scotland's website states that the reason for charge being levied in calls is due to their always having been a cost associated with non-emergency calls. Having said that, I appreciate the point that he is making, clearly we obviously tried to make sure that local communities have as much access as possible to report incidents. Clearly, if there is a situation where a crime is in progress or indeed there is a fear for partsum and safety, I would certainly encourage them to phone 999, but we will certainly take on board Mr Martin's points and our negotiations with Bruce Lee, Bruce Crawford. That is the Scottish Government. What progress it is making regarding its consultation on the future of the custodial estate for women? Throughout March, a series of public consultation workshops were held in the eight community justice authorities across Scotland. In addition, separate events were held with SPS staff and women who are currently in custody. The views of the families of women in custody have also been taken into account. My officials are now looking at best practice and other jurisdictions and will be hosting an international symposium for academics and expert practitioners at the end of May. That will ensure that we learn from innovation across the world as we develop a new approach to custody for women. However, whilst we are committed to providing high-quality custodial facilities for women, custody must be seen as part of the sentencing options as a last resort. Our wider aspiration is to reduce the use of custody as a disposal, with as many women as possible being supported in the community. The cabinet secretary has agreed with me that, in regard to the future of Cortenvale prison, we need to see emerging in the future of a facility that is highly regarded as the centre of excellence as part of the custodial estate for women, utilising the expertise and the highly trained staff who currently work at the prison. The member raises a good point. The use of Cortenvale site is being considered as part of the overall plans to reshape our female custodial facilities across Scotland. Any facility that is to be based at Cortenvale would have to be a new fit for purpose facility and not a continued use of the existing facilities. However, developing a youth custodial environment is only part of our overall policy to improve outcomes for women offenders. We will be working to ensure that custody is used as infrequently as possible and is seen as a sentence of last resort. Many thanks. We now move to questions 2 on rural affairs food and the environment. Question 1 has not been lodged and a less than satisfactory answer explanation has been given in the name of Drew Smith. Question 2, Margaret Mitchell. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the review of waste spreading, including sewage sludge. The review of waste spreading is under way. The Scottish Government, in partnership with SEPA, Environment Agency and Scottish Water, has already held a number of meetings with stakeholders to better understand the key issues regarding the spreading of sewage sludge on land. In particular, my officials have met representatives of communities within the member's constituency to hear their concerns. We want to make sure that where sewage sludge is stored or spread to land, it is done safely and does not cause nuisance or inconvenience to the general public. As part of the review, we are looking closely at the legislation, processes and guidance underpinning the practice, and further meetings with key interests will take place in the coming weeks. Given that the cabinet secretary has met constituents in my area, he will be aware of the problems associated with the spreading of sewage sludge in the Falkirk area, in particular Shield Hall, Slamannan, Avonbridge and California, which has created intolerable living conditions for residents and has affected their health, including those suffering with respiratory ailments. It has also resulted in the cancelling of a primary school sports day due to the stench making children physically sick in the playground. Given that unacceptable situation has persisted for several years now, what is the cabinet secretary doing to address those specific problems now? Margaret Mitchell conveys some of the concerns that are expressed by some communities in relation to the issue. Of course, I was listening closely and that is why I gave instructions for the review to begin. I can assure Margaret Mitchell and other members of the chamber that the issues raised will be taken into account by the review and treated seriously. I hope to have a report back from the review group around the summer of this year. I welcome the review and a meeting with Scottish Government officials next week, along with concerned constituents. The inconsistencies in treatment of sewage waste, as explained to me by SEPA, are indeed unacceptable. Some waste is dried only, while some is also treated depending on availability of facilities. In announcing the review, the cabinet secretary stated that he is confident that the review will enable us to strike the right balance between the benefits of using sewage ludge and the controls that protect both the public and the wider environmental interests. Can the cabinet secretary now clarify whether the review will consider the appropriateness of spreading human sewage at all on land, and can he also make available for members of the public and members of his chamber the terms of reference of the review? I would have to remind the chamber that we are talking about activities that have been carried out safely for many years in Scotland. However, there are issues, as members are quite rightly raising, and that is the purpose of the review, is to look at those specific issues and others that anyone wants to bring to their attention. However, there is a remit in place, and I am happy to write to both the members who have raised the subject today or others who may afterwards. With the remit of the review, I am reiterating it right now. It will take quite a while, and also clearly give you the opportunity to feed into the review directly, and it would be helpful to have your comments and experiences in relation to your constituents. The review into the spreading of sewage sludge is welcome. However, I urge the cabinet secretary and the Scottish Government to consider increasing capacity for the incineration of sewage pellets, as is the norm in other northern European countries, which would go some way towards helping residents who suffer regularly from a stench from sewage sludge, which is applied to farmland in Scotland and in the upper braze area of my constituency. As Angus MacDonald will be aware, there are already regulations in place, and there is a waste hierarchy. Incineration of sludge can be part of energy recovery with appropriate, equipped and licensed facilities. However, there is a hierarchy, and it has a certain place in that pecking order. Therefore, there are other options that are perhaps preferred for dealing with sludge, but incineration is certainly one option, and it is available at the moment, so I just want to reassure the member that that is the case. What progress is being made in rolling out access to local authority flooding data sets that have been developed through the use of LiDAR technology? LiDAR technology provides topographical information, which is a valuable tool in flood modelling across large areas. Two phases of data collection have been undertaken since 2010, targeting specific areas that are identified as vulnerable to flooding. That has been a multi-agency project, and it is part of the contribution. SIPA has been in direct contact with individual local authorities to inform them as to its availability and relevant licensing requirements. I thank the minister for that answer. Does she agree that the high level of detail provided by LiDAR data sets is the best defence against flooding risk, as long as councils have the right tools to use that data in full? If so, will the Government do all that it can to ensure that councils have the right tools, and will she support collaborative procurement of the best available software in order to deliver on agreed planning policy objectives in this field? I thank Lewis MacDonald for his supplementary point. We are looking to develop an appropriate mechanism to allow wider sharing of the data amongst agencies that are being picked up as part of the open data initiative. In the meantime, we are providing wider access to public bodies on a case-by-case basis. To receive the data, each public sector organisation must obviously sign a licensing agreement to the terms and conditions of its use. In terms of the data that has been made available more widely, the procurement exercise for these projects recognised the potential wider value that the data has across the public sector and allows wider use that is in the public goods. Public authorities in flood risk management already have access to the information and are able to use it more widely within the terms of the licence, and we are looking at being able to develop practical ways in which the data can be made more widely available. To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for ensuring the water quality in relation to new building developments. Scottish Water is responsible for ensuring that the quality of drinking water supplied to the boundary of properties is wholesome, as defined by the Public Water Supply Scotland Regulations 2014. The duty is regulated by the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland. The developer is responsible for ensuring that infrastructure on a new development is of a satisfactory standard to ensure that water quality is maintained and to enable adoption by Scottish Water. I thank the minister for that answer, and this is an issue that I have highlighted to the minister in terms of my own constituency in new farm veal estate. The problem that residents in this estate are facing appear to run across a number of Government departments with Scottish Water sitting within the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, then we have planning sitting within the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice. My issue is that my constituents have been let down by the failure within the system to ensure that developers are putting the proper water and sewage infrastructure in place. Will the minister agree to meet me and discuss that and possibly look at the fact that it runs across three different departments and how best we can take that forward? I agree that the situation at new farm veal is completely unacceptable. The Government is working with Scottish Water to understand the full scale of the problem. It is important that solutions are found as malfunctioning sewage systems have significant public health implications. Ideally, the infrastructure should be vested in Scottish Water. However, we need to understand the remedial costs for each case and to understand how those can be funded. I understand that Mr Rowley is due to meet with Scottish Water to discuss what options are available in the case of new farm veal. I have also asked that the Government and Scottish Water work together to understand whether there are any further measures that can be implemented to minimise the likelihood of such problems occurring in the future. However, I would be more than happy to meet Alex Rowley to discuss that further. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing in this year of food and drink to encourage local authorities and NHS boards to promote Scottish food. The Scottish Government is working with local authority caterers association and Education Scotland to deliver a year of food and drink activities across schools in Scotland. That includes, for instance, the development of theme days and also a food calendar for school meals. In addition, a school's local providence handbook is being developed to identify and promote local school meal suppliers. We are also in discussion with the NHS on what further steps it can take to further raise the profile of Scottish food, building on the good progress that it is already making to source local healthy produce. For example, the NHS is working closely with the Soil Association to seek the Food for Life Catering Mark award, which signals a commitment to local food and providence. Cabinet Secretary for that answer, does he believe that there is even greater scope for local authorities and NHS boards to lead by example? Whenever possible, procure local food for their own use, making sure that there are no irrational barriers to the purchase of local produce in their procurement processes. Is he aware of any local authorities or health boards who are following good practice in this regard and which could be used as an example for others to follow? There are many local authorities that have been setting good standards of practice such as in Ayrshire and Tayside and elsewhere, and many others are now upping their game. I do believe that there is still lots of scope for improved sourcing of local produce in the public sector, particularly local authorities, the NHS and elsewhere, but I also believe that good progress has been made and this issue has much higher up the agenda than ever before. I think that over the coming months and years we will continue to make good progress and as part of becoming a good food nation we have to ensure that people in our hospitals, care homes, prisons and schools are able to access Scotland's fantastic larder. I am sure that we are all agreed that it would be in the interests of the health of many people in Scotland if we had a much higher percentage of fresh local food used in schools and hospitals. Will the Government undertake in partnership with Food Standards Scotland to promote actively and vigorously appropriate public sector procurement practices to further that objective? As I indicated my answer, there are a number of public agencies that are already involved in taking the agenda forward with their members, such as the local government associations, Education Scotland and so on. The new food standards body has a slightly extended remit compared to the old body and will hopefully be taking more of an interest in those kinds of issues, so I will ensure that they are aware of the members' interests. I think that all Scotland's public sector and all our agencies have to rally round the cause. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I will ensure that we will be funding from Aberdeenshire Council and the Scottish Seafood Partnership in order that there will be a seafood cooking facility at this year's test of Grampian, as it has been in previous years. I have attended virtually every taste of Grampian since I was appointed minister. There are fantastic showcases for local produce in the north-east of Scotland. I recall last year attending the seafood tent, which was a complete sell-out. I remember that some of the local companies had to send for fresh stock by noon because they were so popular. It is certainly an asset to the taste of Grampian, the seafood tent. It has, of course, received a grant from Events Scotland this year to help to celebrate the year of food and drink, so I hope that the showcasing of seafood is part of our plans, and I am sure that it will be, and I will double-check that that is what it has been used for. To ask the Scottish Government how the rural affairs directorate is helping farms and other rural businesses to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the tourism industry. The Scottish Government and its agencies continue to work with the rural businesses to recognise and build on the potential growth opportunities afforded by tourism. Over £28 million was distributed through our last rural development programme to a range of tourism-related businesses to support the rural economy, and our new programme will build on that success and continue to make funding and support available for tourism-related actions across rural Scotland, involving many of our local businesses. Will the cabinet secretary agree that local authorities should do their best to help rural businesses and farms by being less obstructive and cut a bit of red tape? Unlike the City of Edinburgh Council, which has refused a simple request from the owner of Craigies Farm outside Queensferry in my constituency, to have roadside signs erected in order to attract the ever-growing number of tourists and locals who wish to use the new services? In terms of Craigies, just as I said, Edinburgh, the farm shop and restaurant is a fantastic location. I have been there at least two or three times over the past few years, and Johnston Clear, the chap who runs that, does a lot to support local food. I feel that the local authority, like the rest of the public sector, should support his efforts in boosting the tourism potential of that location, because those locations play a crucial role in local food tourism. Yes, sometimes we are too heavy-handed in terms of the brown tourism signs, and perhaps the local authority could do what they can to support his efforts to make an even bigger contribution to local tourism. Many thanks. Question 7, and the name of Neil Findlay has been withdrawn, and the satisfactory explanation has been provided. Question 8, in the name of Rhoda Grant, is not lodged, and a less than satisfactory explanation has been provided. 9. Richard Lyle Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the potato industry. The Scottish Government provides scientific and technical advice to the industry and conducts diagnostic surveillance and scientific research on a number of plant health-related issues. At the present time, we fund around £4 million per year on potato-related scientific research in Scotland. We also facilitate worldwide trade and seed potatoes by hosting inward missions with the Potato Council to improve contact with foreign officials, with aim, of course, of influencing import conditions in the visitors' countries. That demonstrates to potential export markets the quality benefits of Scotland's high health status and worldwide reputation as a producer of quality seed. 9. Richard Lyle Thank you, cabinet secretary, for that answer. The potato industry is worth a total of £4.7 billion to the UK economy, with seed exports alone contributing £209 million to the Scottish economy, and retail sales value at £117 million. Average yields have increased by 18 per cent in the last 20 years. What further action can the Scottish Government take to ensure that the humble potato is promoted across Scottish Government policy documents to highlight the inexpensive source of nutrition? 9. Richard Lyle There is a lot of work undergoing at the moment, and the member rightly highlights the important role that our Tati sector plays in terms of Scottish agriculture, and our food sector is a particularly valuable sector to Scotland, worth about £170 million a year. Of course, Scotland is a world leader, as I am sure many members are aware of producing seed potatoes. There is a lot of thought going on just now to promote more than ever before the health benefits of potatoes, and I think that there is cross-party support for that. There have recently been events held in the chamber, and the Scottish Government certainly supports that. I know that the National Farmers Union has also encouraged the potato council to use a much higher proportion of the statutory levies to fund promotional work highlighting the health benefits of potatoes, and that is perhaps one way that we can address the decline in consumption that has been experienced in recent years, because our Tati's are fantastic quality in Scotland. They are very tasty, and they are good for you as well. The Scottish Government will seek an extension to the deadline for the registration of single application forms for rural payments and services. I am sure that the member will be pleased to know that I announced on Wednesday 15 April that Scotland will extend the application period for farmers and crofters to submit its single application form by a month, giving a new deadline of June 15 this year. I thank the cabinet secretary, and I am sure that it is a huge relief to the whole rural sector that the deadline has now been extended, because it has been very clear indeed from the printed farming press that farmers have been very angry that their concerns, which were expressed as early as December last year, were not addressed when the problem first arose. What assurances can the cabinet secretary give that lessons have been learnt from this regrettable situation, which has actually cost £130 million of taxpayers' money? Can he provide a categorical assurance that it will not have an adverse impact on the timing of farm payments next December, or delay the SRDP application process? Firstly, the investment that the member refers to is an investment in the new common agricultural policy that has to be delivered over the next five years, and not simply as a result of some of the difficulties that we have encountered over the past few weeks, which I readily accept have caused enormous frustration for some farmers and some agents in Scotland. I think that the chamber will recognise that the UKAP is very complex, and this is a transition year. In the first few weeks, we are always going to be challenging, and we have to learn lessons from those challenges. I very much accept that. However, we are making progress, and many farmers are determined to submit their applications online. I would also remind the chamber, of course, that since day one, farmers and agents have been able to submit using paper as well, and many have done so. We are working flat out to fix some of the IT issues, because even the agents that I have been speaking to in the farmers, as I said before, who are frustrated—I very well understand by some of those flaws in the computer system—are determined that online is the way forward. Of course, that brings advantages, because errors in the application forms themselves can be fixed straight away, as opposed to having enormous delays, which can sometimes happen from paper submissions. We are working flat out on that. On the impact on the timetable for actual payments, which are normally December under the old policy, and we hope to continue that under the new policy, I will keep the industry up to date. However, we are doing our best to stay on schedule, but clearly, as the months go by, I will keep the chamber and the industry up to date in terms of the payment schedule.