 Haswn i'r ffrindwyr i ymgyrch i deiligion i gael, i wneud cyfnodd cwestiynau nhw gydag Ilewyr i'r bys yn gallu ei ddweud i gael, a Flef Gairan ystafel sy'n gallu cyfnodd cwestiynau i gael? 1. Sarah Boyack A fedrwch i fynd i gael i'r Gweithredu gyfaniadau gwybod ym Mhyself i eu gwneud. Mae Gweithredu gyfaniadau gwybod ymgyrch i gael i'r Gweithredu gyfaniadau gyfo'r Gwydan Government to discuss EU issues. Cabinet Secretary for Europe for Europe on 11 November this year for discussions on key elements of the UK Government's EU renegotiation and the forthcoming referendum on the UK's membership of the EU. The Scottish Government also attends quarterly GMC, joint ministerial committee on Europe meetings and the next one is on 7 December. The Cabinet Secretary for... Sorry, I thank the minister for that answer. Can he give me the assurance that the Scottish Government will vigorously defend EU environmental legislation as part of the fitness check that the commission is conducting and do everything it can to encourage the UK and other devolved administrations to adopt a consistent approach to this crucial regulation, which is one of the bed rocks of environmental protection? I thank the member for that question. I can certainly give reassurance, also thank her for her promotion as well, which is very kind, but in terms of the refit and the environmental legislation and the directors and the advice that's being taken, I think it's been raised by a number of stakeholders. I want to thank the stakeholders in Scotland, I've had it raised by a number of stakeholders and some of the elements of that, of course, do give us concern, I think they're listening to those stakeholders. I can give an absolute assurance that it has been raised and that we'll continue to raise it and if the member wishes, I'll continue to feed back to how those discussions are going. Question 2, Graham Day. To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages TV companies to provide a region-specific programming across Scotland. The Scottish Government believes that broadcasting should be fully devolved as set out in the proposed amendments to the Scotland Bill. However, we are continuing to engage with all of our public service broadcasters on this issue and I've made it clear through the charter renewal process that there is a need for increased national representation in TV and radio services that the BBC provides for Scotland. We acknowledge the important role that local television services play in strengthening public service broadcasting in Scotland. Note the success of the STV channels in Edinburgh and Glasgow and welcome the services that are due to launch in Aberdeen, Aire and Dundee in the future. Thanks, Graham Day. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. The STV maintains an appropriate resource presence in Dundee, delivers a taste-size specific news slot across the platforms and as the cabinet secretary noted, will launch a dedicated STV Dundee channel in early 2017 to serve the wider taste-size area. The resourcing and level of service to the areas in mark contrast to that of the BBC. Can I ask the cabinet secretary who influences the Scottish Government might bring to bear to ensure the city of discovery and why the region is treated more appropriately by the BBC? I welcome STV's commitment to Dundee and the Angus area. Indeed, it's interesting to note that OFCOM's third public service broadcasting review shows that 81 per cent of those questions said that STV's news programmes provide a wide range of good quality news about my area and, of course, in relation to the BBC, its own reports state that under 50 per cent of people in Scotland thought that the BBC was good at representing their life in news and current affairs content. Clearly, STV has to be established in the area but clearly in terms of the competition aspect that will have pressure on the BBC, but clearly in terms of the service provision for Scotland, the more that we can have produced in Scotland a news agenda that is reflective of Scotland, whether that is on a national basis or indeed locally, that will benefit the audiences of the BBC, but clearly there is a new operator in Dundee and I think that that will have some healthy competition for audience and viewership. The cabinet secretary will know that STV is raising concerns about the accessibility of the city TV and will she make representation to DCMS on reorganising the EPG guide? Where in regular discussions with DCMS a number of issues and clearly the EPG positioning is one of those areas and in relation to possibilities of reconfiguration with some of the other changes that are happening, so very conscious of that issue and obviously the visibility of local television on the first page or are high up in the EPG does make a difference and it's something that we're a supporter of. Question 3, Roderick Campbell. For the question, Scottish ministers regularly meet with representatives of all EU institutions, for example Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop was in Brussels yesterday speaking for the UK at the cultural and audiovisual council where discussions included how Europe can co-operate and prevent the destruction and illicit trafficking of cultural heritage and conflict areas. A number of ministers meet with EU representatives on a wide variety of issues. At a fitness check of the birds and habitats directives and that these directives protect a number of areas in my constituency of North East Fife, can the minister advise what the Scottish Government's position is in relation to the retention of the directives and will the minister commit to pressing the UK government for early confirmation of the UK Government's position? Thank the member for the question. The minister for environment, climate change and land reform has overseen the Scottish Government's contribution to the UK Government's response. They are in the evidence gathering phase of the fitness check of the two nature directives which the member alluded to as the member will be aware that the fitness check is part of an established European commission programme of regulatory fitness and not a change or not a change in the scope or objective of EC law. The UK Government's response to evidence gathering phase has been published by the commission on the Europa website. A commission conference was held last week to consider the draft emerging findings from that phase and the commission has announced that the final outcome will be known in 2016. Post-demonial minister has answered that question for Roger Campbell. Can I ask him what role he will be playing in the EU discussions over the security following the recent events in Europe? I thank the member for the question. In terms of the incident that took place in Paris, it is fair to say that the working between UK Government and then wider European partners has been very strong. We have a link between the justice secretary and the Home Secretary, and we are constantly updated in terms of being involved in co-bored discussions and any other resilience discussions. I can give the member the strongest assurance that co-operation not just in these islands but across the continent and security and safety of our citizens is our number one priority shared across the continent. Does the minister agree with the principle of devolution of power? Does the minister agree with me that this Parliament should support the UK Government in its pursuits to achieve renegotiations of the EU, to achieve a leaner and more competitive EU with the UK at its heart? I believe in lots of all devolution of power. I should say that that would be unsurprising to the member. On the EU's reform, we have made our case known in terms of reform. We have a 28-page document that, if the member has not read, I will happily forward on it. In terms of reform, we believe that reform of Europe should be sought in a positive manner, as opposed to necessarily threatening the EU with a referendum. We have put forward our case for reform. The UK Government has put forward theirs. We would absolutely agree with some of that, in terms of giving national parliaments and devolved parliaments more say over issues in Europe, but somewhere we have a bit of a disagreement, and those will come to play into the forum, I am sure, as and when the EU referendum is announced and the campaign begins in earnest. To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes gender equality in the arts. The Scottish Government supports the arts primarily through Creative Scotland as part of its on-going equalities diversity and inclusion review. It is improving equalities, monitoring data collection and analysis across all protected characteristics. It is gathering more sophisticated data on employment, progression and representation of women in the arts, and Creative Scotland's equalities diversity and inclusion report 2015 was published on 30 April. Within the arts bodies funded by Creative Scotland in 2013-14, women made up 50 per cent of the workforce and 65 per cent of the operational management. Creative Scotland was the first public body to meet the First Ministers 50-50 by 2020 equality target for their board earlier this year. The cabinet secretary will be aware of concerns over underrepresentational women and creative roles. While Creative Scotland is collecting data from organisations that they fund, it is only collecting the employee workforce data, which excludes freelance or other contracts that are directly related to creative roles such as actors or directors. I hope that the cabinet secretary will agree with me that if we are going to address gender equality and creative roles, we need the proper information to direct this policy. Will she commit to raise this matter with Creative Scotland? Yes, I am happy to do so. It is an issue that I have long had to have concerns about. I think that it would be a great shared endeavour if, across party, we could make that one of the priorities to ensure that, not just in the publicly funded organisations, but in the culture of the culture of this country, we ensure that women are represented at all levels, particularly where there is creative direction, particularly in freelancing, which might not be as easy to get in terms of reports. I am happy to share that endeavour. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage films to be made in Scotland to boost local economies. We support and work with Creative Scotland to champion Scotland as a premier location to create high-quality productions for both the large and small screen. Creative Scotland's location service works closely with regional offices across Scotland to bring productions to local areas and benefit from Scotland's superb locations and highly trained crews. Sunset song, which had scenes filmed across various locations in Aberdeenshire in the Merns region, brought a boost to the local economy during filming and fans of Grassley Gibbons novel can avail themselves of a VisitScotland interactive map, which highlights the various locations used, including Fettar Cairn, Glen Tanner Estate and Arborosnod Church. The Cabinet Secretary has astutely pre-empted my question, because I was going to ask her to join me in congratulating VisitScotland and their partner organisations on the production of the film map of the site in Aberdeenshire, where Sunset Song was shot. Indeed, it has been a critically acclaimed film. What further action will be taken by the Scottish Government and, indeed, by VisitScotland and other agencies involved in boosting local economies to ensure more films are shot in those areas with similar impacts, we hope, on those local economies? The member may be aware of recent development funding and production funds that have been made available from Creative Scotland to encourage more filming in Scotland, but in terms of the local economic reach, the idea and the proposal that is showing films will promote the area is a very strong one. A number of people come to Scotland precisely because they have seen the scenery. The initiatives such as VisitScotland and others to promote the location of Scotland and to see our cities and our wonderful scenery. A number of films are already being filmed just now, which have yet to hit our screens, which will further promote Scotland in the future. Like Richard Baker, I very much enjoyed Sunset Song as well and the premiere of Sunset Song, which is going to be on 4 December. Will the cabinet secretary agree with me that locating the Scottish Film Studio in the North East would be fantastic and the city of Discovery, Dundee, could encourage filmmakers in the North East to stay and work here while actively encouraging international filmmakers to discover the best Scotland has both visually and creatively? As the member may be aware, we are currently at a critical stage in commercial and confidential negotiations for a new film studio in Scotland. He should also be aware that we can't progress film studio proposals that require 100 per cent public funding, so therefore a private sector partner is required. We have not been approached by any private sector partner in the North East, and I am sure that that might come as some disappointment, but there are opportunities for private sector partners across Scotland to see the talent that we have and the opportunities to come forward with proposals. It is quite clear that Sunset Song will do a great deal for the Scottish film industry. Those of you who have not got one of the early tickets to try to see one of the early premieres on 30 November, I would encourage you to do so. It is a fantastic film in so many different ways, and it is very emotionally charged as well as visually beautiful. Excellent. Question 6, Bruce Crawford. Crifon for Mr Crawford, please. It is blinked at me, Presiding Officer. I guess that means that it is working. To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in relation to the conservation of the historic built environment. The Scottish Government has established our newest non-departmental public body, Historic Environment Scotland, to provide strong and effective leadership to the sector to ensure that our unique heritage is enjoyed for years to come. The new body came into existence on 1 October 2015, and will lead on the delivery of Scotland's first ever historic environment strategy, our place in time. The strategy was developed in collaboration with partners from across the sector at a recently very successful conference, which was held in Dundee during a wide range of heritage boards together to explore the many ways in which the strategy is currently being delivered, as well as looking at how best to ensure delivery of our shared ambition for Scotland's historic environment going forward. Thank you, Bruce Crawford. The cabinet secretary for her apply, and can the cabinet secretary tell me when it is expected that the national conservation centre in Stirling located at the engine side at the fourth side will be open for business. What its primary purpose will be, what benefits will throw from its activities both for conservation in Scotland and, as you might expect from my own perspective, for employment and the economy in the Stirling constituency. Incidentally, the fourth side area would make a fantastic location for Scotland's new film studio. I am very pleased to confirm that the engine shed a historic environment Scotland's ambitious project to create Scotland's first national centre dedicated to building conservation is on schedule to open at fourth side in summer 2016. I think that it is yet another boost for Stirling and its profile in terms of our heritage. It will focus on raising standards and awareness, it will have education training opportunities, research in different areas and digital documentation and, indeed, climate change adaptation for the built environment. It is already receiving significant international interest, and there are great global opportunities for Scottish expertise to be showcased there, as well as being a boost for Stirling itself. Question 7, Neil Bibby. Phone for Mr Bibby, please. To ask the Scottish Government why action it has taken to promote culture in which Scotland is a part of Scotland. In 2014-15, Creative Scotland invested over £2.6 million through 50 awards to individuals and organisations based in the west Scotland region. In 2015-16, £1.2 million in the six local authorities who make up the west of Scotland parliamentary region through the YMI school-based music making fund. With Creative Scotland investment of £1.4 million between 2015-16 and 2018, three regular funded organisations, Cove Park, the Beacon Arts Centre and Hands Up for Trad, are being supported in the west of Scotland. The Cabinet Secretary will be aware that Paisley has recently launched a bid to become the UK city of culture in 2021. Paisley has a rich cultural heritage and has produced many famous music artists, actors and poets. The bid would also act as a catalyst for job creation and regeneration, with a multimillion pound facelift for the museum as part of the project. Does the minister agree with me that Paisley has a strong bid for the UK city of culture in 2021? Given today that there has never been a Scottish host, can I ask the minister what she will do to help Paisley in the bidding process? I am very aware of the Paisley 2021 bid that I met with Remershire Council leader Mark McMillan, chief executive and the bid director on 27 October to hear more about their ambitious plans. There may be other bids coming from Scotland, but he is quite right to identify that there is a strong case to have a Scottish bid. Obviously, we can learn from the experience of Dundee, who performed extremely well but did not secure in the final regard the actual bid itself. The UK city of culture is an opportunity to showcase cultural heritage. Paisley has a rich heritage in lots of different aspects, including contemporary music and wider heritage, not least in terms of textile and design. It is a strong bid going forward, but, as you might appreciate, there may be other bids coming forward, too, from Scotland. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support and promote the local newspaper and magazine industry. Local newspapers and magazines are a vital part of our healthy democracy. The industry also benefits from business rates policies, which include our decision to cap the business rates poundage below inflation this year and our small business bonus scheme. The small business bonus scheme alone removes or reduces the rates for over an estimated 99,000 properties, the equivalent of two in every five. That provides much welcome support to many small firms such as some local newspapers and the magazine industry. In addition, the Scottish Government and public bodies use local media, including newspapers, to advise advertised campaigns such as preventative health and road safety. I am grateful to the cabinet secretary for that response. She rightly says that local newspapers are and remain an important part of our culture and indeed remain a vital source of information for our individual communities, particularly in rural communities such as mine in Galloway in West Dumfries, which I would add would make an excellent base for Scotland's fledging film industry. However, the UK Government, as I am sure that she is equally aware, is currently undertaking a complete review of business rates for weekly titles, which is expected to look at whether newspapers might have partial exemption from those rates. Despite the measures that she has already indicated, can I ask the minister if she will support a review of business rates for local newspapers? In terms of the Scottish Government's initiative, the small business bonus scheme is certainly a leader in helping small businesses, so there is a competitive benefit for Scotland compared with the rest of the UK currently. In relation to that, we look forward to hearing the response for that review that is undertaking. However, we have yet to hear any initiatives that might come from on the back of that, but we will examine them when they come forward. We now move to questions on infrastructure, investment and cities. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage partnership working to secure growth and investment for cities. Cities and their regions play a central role in driving economic growth. The Scottish Government is committed to working individually and collectively with Scotland's cities to optimise that growth for the benefit of the whole of Scotland. The Scottish cities alliance fosters partnership working between our cities and Scottish Government to secure growth and investment. In addition, our support for the city deals in Scotland is predicated on strong regional partnerships that include the wider public sector. Thank the minister for that answer. Will the minister join with me in welcoming recent news that the number of new business start-ups has surged in Glasgow, including, of course, in my constituency of Glasgow Cath over the last year? Of course, I welcome that news and that very positive national picture as well. In fact, the number of businesses in Scotland as a whole is at a record level of 361,345, as at March 2015, an increase of 7.8 per cent since 2014. That underlines our commitment to ensuring a supportive business environment in partnership with local authorities through the business gateway initiative working to secure businesses, including new businesses across the country. Question 2, in the name of Neil Findlay, has not been lodged. A satisfactory explanation has been provided. To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making toward the ending of the practice of trains discharging effluent onto lines. Working with ScotRail, Transport Scotland has agreed a programme of works to install collection tanks on the only remaining trains operated by ScotRail that still discharge effluent onto the track. That programme commenced at Norsebrem's Workshops in Springburn, Glasgow, with the first trains fitted with tanks and returned to service. The target completion date for those trains to be fitted is 31 December 2017, which is three years earlier than planned. I am grateful to the minister for that reply. It seems to be an ancient technology that we should be spreading effluent online, and I am grateful for his reply. Will the minister confirm that that will mean that the only trains that will continue to discharge in the line after that date are trains that sneak across the border from England? Will he further confirm that, with the replacement programme on those lines, that that will end in 2018? The trains that are responsible to me as transport minister through ScotRail and other franchise have accelerated that programme. I have to pay credit to the trade unions as well, who campaigned on that issue and worked with me. We went through the programme to accelerate it to ensure that the appropriate tanks were fitted. Of course, it is messy to the staff and, of course, unpleasant for everyone working on the railway lines, so those are directly responsible to me. Yes, those lines will be clear, those tanks and those trains will be addressed, and there are some that are still responsible for the Department for Transport, where they have not had that programme accelerated and may still be discharging on Scotland's railways. However, I know that it is a matter that they are still looking at, but certainly I am happy with the actions that this Government has taken. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the HS2 rail project coming to Scotland. The Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities met the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLaughlin, in June of this year to discuss the on-going study of HS2 Ltd, which was jointly commissioned by the UK Government and Scottish Governments into the broad options for expending high-speed railways to the north of England and Scotland to achieve a journey time of not more than three hours between London and Edinburgh Glasgow. The Cabinet Secretary also met Robert Goodwill MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, earlier this month at the HS2 Ltd supply chain conference in Edinburgh. I thank the minister for that response. There are unconfirmed reports that costs for the HS2 project have increased by 30 per cent to £30 billion. If that is the case, can the minister indicate how such a rising cost is likely to affect Scotland's transport budget and the overall viability of the project? The differencing cost, as I understand it, is down to the 2011 prices with actual costs, and then, of course, projected costs that DFT is monitoring. Because of the current expenditure today being built into the Barnett formula, if that president continues, there should be no impact to our transport budget. Of course, we keep a very close eye on that, and it is worth reminding the chamber that we support the extension of high-speed rail physically to Scotland so that we enjoy the actual benefits, rather than simply being made easier to travel more quickly to the north of England. Clearly, we are keeping a very close eye on costs and the necessary expenditure for Scotland. To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out an assessment to determine the average cost of building new railway stations. There have been no assessment carried out to determine an average cost of the building of a new railway station. Many factors, variable factors such as the size and location of a proposed station, associated groundworks and the requirement for additional infrastructure, can impact on the cost of any station. Can I thank the minister for that answer? One of the key criteria for applying to the Scottish stations fund is access to third-party funding and that promoters must be able to demonstrate that alternative funding sources for the proposed improvements have been exhausted. At a time when budgets are tight for local authorities, does the minister believe that scouting for private funding is the best use of council resources? Sometimes, I think, there may be useful and necessary interventions from the private sector, whether it is through planning obligations or so on that may be appropriate and helping to contribute to infrastructure, so they pay their way in transport improvements. There are a number of examples that can be showcased to show how that can be done. I think that in partnership we should continue to focus on investment in the railways. The Government has committed some £5 billion in railways investment, but, of course, if we can leave it in, other sources of funding can do even more for the railways in Scotland. To ask the Scottish Government what upgrades are planned for the A9 north of Inverness. We want the very best for communities and those users of the A9, and that is why we will continue to improve transport infrastructure in the north. In fact, since 2007, on the A9 north of Inverness, the Government has invested £5.5 million in the A9 Helmsdale to order-of-case-ness improvements phase 2 scheme and £13.3 million on the refurbishment programme for the Keswick bridge to deliver a reliable crossing for road users in the next 30 years in addition to routine maintenance. An improvement scheme to remove the hairpin bend on the A9 at Buriedale Braise is also currently in preparation in addition to routine maintenance activities over the next three years and the excess of £1 million of resurfacing is also planned for the A9 north of Inverness. I thank the minister for that answer. What is the likely timescale of the public local inquiry on the Buriedale Braise? The minister ought to know that the travelling public and developers who need changes that will help larger vehicles to get up there want to have some certainty about when we are likely to see a decision on that and when we are likely to see the actual development take place at the Buriedale Braise. I understand the demands for the work at Buriedale Braise. I really do, but the matter for timescales is independent of Government. It rests with the DPEA, a matter that I remember very well from my previous brief within planning. However, a pre-inquiry meeting is scheduled to take place on 2 December and the date and duration of the inquiry will be discussed at that pre-inquiry meeting. I say again that I understand the local demands for that improvement project. A number of Highland farmers have approached me about the lack of labour for fallen vehicles and other slow-moving vehicles on the A9 north. Does the minister accept that allowing opportunities for slow-moving vehicles to pull over is a major contributor to road safety? Would the minister look again at the problem? Of course, we are delivering the dualling of the A9 and we look further at spending plans to see what else can be done around road infrastructure improvement and very mindful of road safety issues. Of course, that is a matter that we will keep in mind, but we must also balance that with our spending commitments and availability of spending, which is a matter that is being discussed right now in the House of Commons as we find out what the spending review means for Scotland. To ask the Scottish Government what action the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities will take to facilitate the creation of low-emission zones in Scotland's major cities. We have a vision, which we set out in our clean air for Scotland strategy for Scotland, to have the cleanest air in Europe. Low-emission zones are a key part of that strategy. Over the next year, we will develop guidance and a new framework to enable local authorities and their partner organisations to work together to deliver the best measures, including low-emission zones for their air quality management areas. Answering what the minister will remember in the debate last week, I highlighted the problems of air pollution in the parts of my constituency. Will the Government commit to introducing low-emission zones in key cities with air pollution problems by 2018? Crucially, will it commit to supporting local authorities' implementation of low-emission zones through full funding? We will certainly be supportive by way of policy and interventions and also around the funding package that exists. Of course, there are necessary arrangements to be put in place in terms of guidelines and monitoring as we go through that programme to 2018. The current programme is indeed described as ambitious but will be supportive as we can with local authorities as we tackle air quality in partnership. To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in ensuring that a may bowl bypass achieves the status of a shovel-ready project. Following consideration of a public local inquiry reporter's recommendations for the A77 may bowl bypass, Scottish ministers have decided that orders should be made without modification. We are now progressing the design work for this important scheme, with a view to publishing made orders early next year, which, subject to no legal challenge, will complete the statutory process. It's good news, minister. Can we now expect a financial commitment for this project from the minister and when this might be forthcoming? The Scottish Government remains committed to commencing construction of the A77 may bowl bypass at the earliest possible opportunity, subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory process and allocation of funding from future spending reviews, which will, of course, be informed by today's announcements. Question 9, Jim Hume. Jim Hume is not in the chamber. Question 10 has been withdrawn, as the satisfactory explanation on Mr Doris's behalf has been provided. We therefore move to the next item of business, which concludes question time. The next item of business is debate on motion number 14942.