 The next item of business today is portfolio questions, and we'll start with question number one from Emma Harper. Question number one from Emma Harper, if we can... Have you got your card in Emma? There we are. Thank you. To ask the Scottish Government to provide an update on its work to protect the marine environment. Cabinet Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham. The Scottish Government has made considerable progress in its work to protect the marine environment. The national marine plan was adopted in March 2015 and provides a framework for consistent decision making that takes account of the marine environment. Work is now progressing to implement marine planning at a regional scale. Marine protected areas provide additional protection to important locations in our seas. This network now covers around 20 per cent of our marine area. Work to complete the network and deliver necessary and appropriate management measures will continue over the next couple of years. Emma Harper. Thank you for your answer. Coastal communities have always relied on the sea for the livelihoods. What has been done to ensure efforts to protect the marine environment take into account the needs of our coastal communities and eliminate illegal activity which affects the fishing industry? Cabinet Secretary. Work to improve the protection of the marine environment has been underpinned by stakeholder engagement and robust management. The stakeholder engagement has been undertaken at all levels from national and regional stakeholder workshops, meetings with marine industries, environmental NGOs, community groups and consultation events in towns and villages around the coast. The decisions that are made by the Scottish Government to protect the marine environment are based on scientific evidence and take proper account of the wide range of views received in response to public consultations. The current work to devolve the management of the Crown Estate to roll out regional marine planning and to complete the NPA network will ensure that local communities continue to have every opportunity to have their say. Enforcement resources are deployed in Scottish waters using a risk-based intelligence-led system to ensure that illegal activity is deterred or detected. Finlay Carson. Given that Marine Scotland sees protection of electrofishing as a priority, will the cabinet secretary agree with me that he is very concerned that there has only been one conviction in the last three years for illegal electrofishing in Galloway and West Dumfries? Will the cabinet secretary agree with me that to ensure that the razor-clam beds are protected, we should now see an all-out ban on this illegal activity? Electrofishing for razor clams that takes place now is illegal. The Government has sought views in a consultation about whether electrofishing for razor clams should be made legal, so there is currently a consultation on going. It closed on 30 September and our response will be published soon. We did consult about the issue because of some recent scientific evidence that suggested that electrofishing could be a low-impact method of harvesting razor clams, so it turns out not to be quite as straightforward as we might have assumed. Prohibition is in EU law. Obviously, if there were any steps to be taken to approve it, there would have to be a considerable amount of work done around management arrangements, etc. I am happy to deal directly with the member on this very particular issue, if he so wishes. The regional planning is, of course, essential, but so far, as the cabinet secretary knows, there are just the two regional planning partnerships as pilots in operation. Can the cabinet secretary say how the Government is working with local authorities to get other planning partnerships up and running and make sure that they have the resource and the expertise necessary to take this important initiative forward? I have just signed a number of letters today in respect of the Clyde marine plan. The two that are being progressed in Clyde and in Shetland are very important. We have chosen two very deliberately to be quite different so that we can explore some of the issues around how they are to be managed. I think that it is quite important that we take this steadily, that they are not all going to happen in a very short space of time. The roll-out of regional plans will take a number of years, and I would hope that the member would have patience in respect of that, because we have to ensure that what we are doing actually works into the longer term. There are no immediate plans for a third or a fourth, but that is because the first and the second have really got to be worked out carefully before we move on to more. Question 2 has not been lodged. Question 3, Colin Smyth. To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to amend the protection of World Animal Scotland Act 2002 in light of the review by Lord Bonomy. I am aware that the member takes a keen interest in animal welfare issues. We are considering the right honourable Lord Bonomy's findings carefully, and we will respond early next year. Any proposals for legislative change will be subject to the proper consultation processes. Colin Smyth. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Earlier this month, Dumfries and Galloway's standard reported on a horrific case where a Dumfries resident, Daniel Schroberlitz, was looking out of his back door at a fox in a neighbouring field. The fox began running towards him, but before it got to him, a pack of dogs grabbed the fox, shook it around and left it for dead. It is clear that hunting and killing foxes with packs still takes place in Scotland. All the cabinet secretary gave an assurance that, in any future consultation, the Government will not only consider the very welcome recommendations from Lord Bonomy's review in relation to, for example, extended time loops for prosecution, but will also consider further amendments to legislation that would remove the flushing to gun exemption and reduce the number of dogs used in all exemptions to two. I am aware of the specific incident that the member raises. The protection of wild mammals Scotland act makes it an offence to deliberately hunt a wild mammal with a dog. However, there is still some need for vermin control and there have to be available ways in which that happens. In terms of what we choose to do, Lord Bonomy has given us a very detailed outline of what he considers may need to be measures taken into account. I have indicated that we are going to respond to that formally in January. If that requires primary legislation in any way, shape or form, obviously there will be further consultation. In any case, we would come back to discuss any response that we had. I would confidently expect that the member will want to be part of that process. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle air pollution. The Cleaner Air for Scotland strategy sets out a series of actions for Government, Transport Scotland, local authorities and others to further reduce air pollution across Scotland. Financial and other support is provided to local authorities to assist them with monitoring and implementing local actions to improve air quality. The recent budget identified an additional £1 million to support this priority work. I thank the cabinet secretary for that response. She will be aware that we have made quite a lot of progress in cutting carbon emissions with electricity but we have made very little progress in cutting carbon emissions from cars and from transport more generally. What infrastructure is required to make a step change here? For instance, do we need more car charging points or do we need incentives for people to clean up their vehicles? There is quite a lot of activity going on at local authority level, particularly because they are primarily the organisation that will be dealing with local air quality management issues. I am sure that the member has noticed that the transport minister is sitting next to me. He might want to contribute to that, but we work closely with Transport Scotland. At the moment, there are ongoing discussions about the future of any low-emissions zone or zones that might be introduced in Scotland. That would be in partnership with local government, as it would always have to be. I hope that we will be able to fulfil the manifesto commitment to have that in place in 2018. That is best done on a more local level, because at local level there will be requirements for different kinds of management for it to work ideally rather than trying to make it across the whole of Scotland. Joan McAlpine Can the cabinet secretary give any detail on how air pollution in Scotland compares to air pollution in the rest of the UK and Europe? Air quality in Scotland compares relatively well with the rest of the UK and Europe. We are compliant with EU requirements in fine particulate matter other than some issues around Hope Street in Glasgow. That compares with the situation in Paris and other French cities, for example, where emergency measures have been introduced as a result of their levels. Such situations are often replicated in other cities, especially in central and southern Europe. The monitor in Glasgow is intended only to measure the worst case scenario and is not representative of normal public exposure. Both in general terms and in particular terms, we seem to be doing relatively well in comparison with the rest of Europe. To ask the Scottish Government how its proposed new climate change targets will take account of the Paris agreement goal of pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. The Scottish Government's forthcoming climate change bill will reflect the increased global ambition of the Paris agreement by setting new statutory greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, including a more testing 2020 target. The Scottish Government's approach to climate change targets is based on the best available evidence and it has commissioned independent advice from the Committee on Climate Change on the appropriate levels, forms and mechanisms for targets in the bill. The committee has issued a call for evidence in relation to its advice, which will remain open until 1 February 2017. Even before the Paris agreement raised the level of global ambition on limiting temperature increase, it was already clear that the bulk of the world's fossil fuels are unburnable. We have far more existing reserves of fossil fuels than we can afford to burn, even if to restrain warming to 2 degrees. Given that increased ambition, the proportion of burnable fossil fuels will reduce even further. Is it not a strong case that the climate change legislation should not only have direct emission reduction targets but also place clear limits on the extraction of fossil fuels because that is what is going to have to come to an end if we have the remotest chance of achieving that 1.5-degree goal? As I indicated, we are waiting advice from the Committee on climate change in respect of the climate change bill, which has not been introduced into Parliament yet and which is still a matter of considerable discussion. I hear what the member is saying and I will ensure that his views are reflected in any of the discussions that we have. I should add that Scotland is a member of the Under 2 MOU coalition, which covers more than a billion people around the world in states and regions. As a signatory to that coalition, we recognise that global ambition must be increased to meet the Paris agreement goals. Just for additional advice, I want to quote the First Minister at the Arctic Circle Assembly where she said, "...it is essential that the world meets the overall target we set ourselves in Paris of limiting global temperature increases to well below 2 degrees Celsius and making serious efforts to keep them below 1.5 degrees." I hope that the member is happy with that statement of intent. The Paris agreement will require complex and detailed planning to meet the 2020 and 2050 targets. How important is the times accounting model as a tool in achieving the future climate change targets? I thank the member for raising that. The times model for those who are not familiar with it is a relatively recent innovation that is being used within the Scottish Government, which has made working out the proposals that need to be in the climate change plan this time around rather more straightforward than the last time we had to do that, because it is a model that allows us to feed in scenarios and get out from that a clear indication of what will be the result of those scenarios. That is going to be a vital tool as we move forward through the climate change plan, which has still got to be laid before Parliament, and then in the climate change bill when we come to setting much tougher targets for ourselves. The times model will give us clarity on what will be achieved when we take certain actions. I must first declare that I am the parliamentary liaison officer to the cabinet secretary. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that Scotland is a world leader in tackling climate change, with our ambitious targets and success in meeting our 2020 targets six years early? It is important that we continue to show the international community that significant emissions reductions are deliverable. What is interesting when you leave Scotland to have a conversation about climate change is the extent to which people recognise our cognisant of the advances that have been made here. Even the environmental NGOs, who delight in tweaking our tails in Scotland, will nevertheless go out of Scotland and boast quite widely of the successes that have been achieved. I agree with that, but it is worth saying that we are recognised outside Scotland for the work that we have done. It is important that we do not always simply look inside but also consider that there is validation coming from elsewhere. I met Patricia Espinosa, head of UN climate body, who met her at the climate change talks in Morocco. She called Scotland meeting its 2020 target six years early a great achievement. I can advise that the climate group was extremely interested in what we had done because we were making great advances and they hoped to use our example to encourage other states and regions to achieve the same. It is quite right that we understand and recognise that we have international validation for what we do and that it is recognised as being world leading. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to monitor and improve air quality in Glasgow. Under the Environment Act 1995 and associated regulations, all Scottish local authorities are required to regularly review air quality in their areas against climate change. That is one of the most advanced objectives for several pollutants of particular concern for human health. Glasgow City Council has produced an air quality action plan containing a comprehensive range of measures to improve air quality in the city. The Scottish Government is working closely with the council as it implements the measures contained in the plan and is providing practical and financial assistance to both monitor air quality and support delivery of measures. Data from the World Health Organization puts Glasgow among 11 urban areas in the UK and Ireland regularly exceeding safe levels of air pollution. Given that this is bad not only for people's health but also for the wider environment, what action will the Scottish Government take to encourage more people to choose greener ways to travel? The Scottish Government is making considerable progress in persuading people that the use of public transport is a smarter option in many cases than the private car use. If they want to use private cars, it is a growing option of electric vehicles with a much widening range of charging points. The potentially exciting innovation that might come from hydrogen. All of those are things that are there and that we want to encourage everybody to take up if possible. The member will have heard some of the comments that I made about Glasgow earlier that may also pretend to what she is saying. Can I just pick up on the one thing that she said, which I think is very important? That is understanding and accepting the massive health impact that poor air quality has. It is an extraordinary issue of human health and I think that it is one that we need to take much more seriously in that regard as well as its environmental impacts. To ask the Scottish Government how it will compensate for the reported 60,000 tonnes of additional emissions that could be caused by it introducing a 50 per cent reduction in air passenger duty. Our plan to cut air departure tax by 50 per cent by the end of the Parliament and then abolish it when public finances permit is a key to improving Scotland's international connectivity. We think that that is particularly important in light of the economic uncertainty caused by the outcome of the EU referendum. Our approach will be taken forward in the context of the Scottish Government's overall approach to reducing emissions. The Committee on Climate Change's most recent report on Scotland's progress towards meeting the targets advised that any increase in emissions from reducing the tax is likely to be manageable. We will also consult on how a 50 per cent reduction could be delivered as part of the strategic environmental assessment process. In those overall plans, the cabinet secretary must understand that air travel is responsible for 13 per cent of Scotland's transport emissions. It is the highest emitter of carbon dioxide per passenger kilometre of any form of transport and it is the only sector where emissions have risen significantly over the past 20 years. Can the cabinet secretary not see that our Government's plans to abolish APD, drive a coach in horses or perhaps fly a jumbo jet through her Government's credibility on climate change? The short answer to that is that I would suggest that the member take it up directly with the Committee on Climate Change, which is where we get our advice. They have advised us that this is manageable across all of Government emissions and we have chosen to do this because we do believe that there are significant economic benefits to be gotten from the process. Angus MacDonald, the cabinet secretary mentioned the UK Committee on Climate Change. What is her view on its statement that, due to the international nature of the industry, future policy approaches to aviation emissions should be at the global or EU level? Many of the key levers are at this level, so we support the committee's call for international policy approaches to aviation emissions. Recognising the importance of such emissions, we are also showing global leadership by including them in our domestic targets. The cabinet secretary agrees that there are fewer environmental concerns if we decide to reduce air passenger duty on long-haul flights only, because then we will not see the prospect of modal shift from surface travel to short-haul flights. As with the response to Ian Gray, I need to advise the member, as I have done on a number of occasions in respect of climate change, that we take advice from the Committee on Climate Change. They have given us a general answer in respect of emissions. How those emissions in connection with the reduction in air passenger duty are comprised is a matter that we will make a decision on in discussion with others. I hear what the member is having to say, but if he thinks that I'm going to stand here and endorse Conservative party policy without further consultation, he's very wrong. That concludes the question to the environment, I'm afraid. We move on to rural economy and connectivity. To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to provide access to fibre broadband in areas where there is an insufficiency of hardware to meet demand. Our partners are investing more than £400 million in the digital Scotland superfast broadband programme to extend fibre broadband access to at least 95 per cent of homes and businesses across Scotland by the end of 2017. The digital Scotland programme has given around 679,000 homes and businesses access to fibre broadband, over 90 per cent of which are capable of receiving superfast speeds. The programme is delivering new fibre infrastructure in areas where the market would not otherwise have reached. Where demand exceeds capacity in an area connected by the digital Scotland superfast broadband programme, extra equipment can be added to the existing fibre cabinets or a new larger capacity cabinet built to ensure everyone can connect to fibre. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. The village of Kirklesson is a beautiful and welcoming community just eight miles from this chamber. Its citizens pay Edinburgh city council tax rates and Edinburgh property prices, but they're often overlooked in things like affordable public transport links and even up until two weeks ago Christmas lights. On five occasions in the past four years, residents have been told to ready themselves for the arrival of fibre optic broadband, only to be thwarted for a range of reasons around hardware and cabling connections to the nearest exchange. In this summer to a freeson of excitement, some streets did start receiving faster broadband, but again due to hardware issues, this has stalled with many homes making due with near dial-up speeds of two megabytes per second, 90 per cent less than the city average. Can the cabinet secretary advise my constituents in Kirklesson when they can expect to be fully connected and how he plans to work with digital Scotland to better manage expectations for fibre optic rollout? I'm pleased to note that, at the end of quarter one of 21617, Mr Cole Hamilton's constituency, around 3,300 premises have been connected to the fibre network, with at least 3,200 premises able to achieve superfast speeds. His constituency is in the city of Edinburgh local authority area. At the end of the same quarter, around 12,500 premises have been connected to the fibre network by the digital Scotland programme, providing 92.7 per cent coverage, with at least 91.7 per cent capable of receiving superfast speeds. If Mr Cole Hamilton had given me notice beforehand about Kirklesson, of course I would have specifically looked at that. I'm happy to do so if he wishes to write to me, but I'm proud of the fact that because of our £400 million programme, we are proceeding towards 95 per cent coverage by the end of next year and 679,000 homes have already been connected. Had we not had that programme, it would not have been 95 per cent, it would have been 66 per cent. I just put those facts into the equation. The cabinet secretary considered amending procurement regulations to ensure that there should be a presumption to install broadband connectivity when any new buildings either fully or part funded by public money are being constructed. We have been working in respect of digital technology on the aspect of enabling the roll-out of technology as swiftly as possible, more particularly in relation to permitted development rights for mobile telephony and for mobile mass, something that many local authorities are lobby as for, not least in my own part of Scotland. I think that it's a very sensible point that Mr McMillan has made, and I'm happy to look into it as a positive contribution to the debate. The point that Mr Cole Hamilton makes is a very pertinent one. People living in urban areas, towns and even cities such as Cawinning in my region are equally frustrated that whilst fibre has been delivered to local cabinet, there are many who still cannot access high-speed internet. For the record, could I ask the cabinet secretary if he can confirm that every residential or commercial premise that is currently unable to access high-speed broadband has not been counted in the current success statistics, and will he guarantee that every one of them will have access by the end of the term of this Parliament? I can tell the member, and he should know this, because he's heard this before, as have many other members, that there is an audit process that's carried out quarterly, and it audits and analyses the performance under the contract. The figure of 679,000, which I mentioned to the member on the committee this morning, so he's well aware of it, is not yet audited, but once it has been audited, we will be able to say that we are extremely well advanced in our way to meeting our targets. Although the Conservatives don't like to hear it, Audit Scotland, in its independent report, has already said that we are well on track to meeting the performance under our contract. If it's not interested in that, off-com, the independent regulator, the UK regulator, has said that Scotland is making faster progress than the rest of the UK. I will not be satisfied until we have the universal coverage that is in our manifesto, but surely, at this time of the year, we can expect a little bit more from what's supposed to be the main opposition than unremitting negativity. Rhoda Grant The cabinet secretary will be aware that people living in rural areas are often at some distance away from fibre. Can I ask what other technologies will be used in those areas that will be future-proofed and also provide high speeds? Yes, that's a more sensible question, if I may say so. Rhoda Grant, as she raised on the committee this morning, is quite right in saying that we need to examine different approaches for different solutions for different parts of Scotland. Community broadband is working on 77 projects, for example. There is a special project being developed by BT and the Western Isles to provide better coverage. There are a variety of different technologies, and we are open to working with any member that wants to contribute in a positive fashion. Cloddiw Bwysh To our Scottish Government, will it provide an update on the IT system for common agricultural policy payments? During my statement to members on 13 September, I committed to reporting back to Parliament in January 2017 on the progress that was made. Cloddiw Bwysh More specifically, in 2017, the Scottish Government will need to deliver the balance payments for the loan scheme, as well as the remaining balance for the couple beef and cheap schemes, and the vital less favoured area support scheme. No timeline, as I understand it, has been provided for delivery of those payments. Can the cabinet secretary clarify when those payments of balance will begin and when they will be completed? The member refers to the national scheme, the loan scheme, and she is right to say that that has been introduced. My understanding is that nearly 13,000 farmers have chosen to avail themselves of that scheme, and that has injected £260 million into the rural economy around the first fortnight in November. That is a good thing, and I think that most farmers, at least outside the chamber, have welcomed that. As far as the specific point that she makes is concerned, I met the chief executive of CGI, the contractors, just last week. Obviously, we are pressing for the timest delivery of all payments by the deadline next year, which is June. Respective of the loan payments, we expect to have repaid the financial transactions element of which finance the loan repayments by the end of this financial year or thereabouts. I refer members to my register of interest. The cabinet secretary will be aware that there have been significant issues relating to transferring entitlements, with many farmers unable to receive payment for many, many months. Can he confirm by what date the IT system will be able to process entitlement transfers? Obviously, there are a great many different cases, and they are all triggered at different times. Farms are not sold on 1 January. They are sold or transferred throughout the year. There is no cohort called transfer of entitlements, which fall to be dealt with at any particular date. It would be ludicrous to suggest that that is the case. In the spirit of Christmas, I am very happy to write to the member to confirm that we shall be obviously tacking all those payments as swiftly as we possibly can. It is a serious issue for those farmers who have transferred of entitlements. There are complexities involved, as the member knows, but we all want to ensure that those matters are processed as quickly as possible. Stuart Stevenson, I draw members' attention to my registered agricultural holding of a massive three acres. What measures are being taken to address costs of the cap futures system and to ensure that cap payments are put on a better footing in future? I reply to the small holder by stating that we have been working hard to bear down on the costs of the cap futures system. From November, we expect to see savings of over 10 per cent on the costs of the contractors with the supplier taking the risk on delivery of the savings. In addition to that, as a result of the negotiations that I have overseen with the contractor, there will be a new penalty and service credit regime in place that will incentivise timely delivery and impose financial penalties where those timetables are not met. I hope that that commercial discipline will help us to deliver efficaciously our obligations in respect of the cap system. To ask the Scottish Government how it will improve access to rail for residents of Monty Feith. Minister Humza Yousaf. It is the introduction of additional ScotRail services between Monty Feith and Dundee in 2013. The number of passengers using Monty Feith has more than doubled. I am pleased to confirm that plans are currently being developed by ScotRail to further enhance the service by the end of 2018. That will improve rail connections for the residents of Monty Feith and the wider region. The Scottish Government is committed to enhancing rail services and connectivity and the success of Monty Feith is being replicated across Scotland. He is absolutely right to point out that there was an increase of 42 per cent immediately after the introduction of additional services in 2013. An 88 per cent increase and 42 per cent increase since then. However, all told, there are still only seven trains a day maximum serving Monty Feith. Can I ask whether there might be any scope to further meet the clearly evidence demand for rail access in the town ahead of that very welcome introduction of the hourly coastal service in mid to late 2018? The member is right to point out that Monty Feith is certainly part of our investment in the revolution and is right to point out the increase in passenger numbers using that station. As I reiterate, plans are being developed towards the end of 2018. However, I will take that back and flag with ScotRail for consideration. If anything can be done before then, I would caveat that by saying that it can be extremely difficult. He knows additional carriages or additional services. One station or one particular service usually means the diminution of services to others unless we can find more rolling stock that ScotRail is actively looking to do. I will certainly take that back to ScotRail and, of course, I will update the member with that update. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Scotland has good bus services. Yes, but clearly room for improvement. The most important opinion, of course, on the quality of the bus service comes from the passenger. The most recent bus passenger survey reflects an increase over the past three years of passenger satisfaction. The work of bus user Scotland helps us to understand how services are perceived by customers and, of course, importantly, identify areas for improvement that we are committed to doing. If the minister believes that we have good bus services, then I do not know what planet he is living on. Bus services across many areas of Scotland are diabolical, absolutely diabolical, and in many areas, services just do not exist. How on earth did we end up with a £9 million underspend in last year's budget? I would say that the decline in bus patronage is something that has been happening since the 1960s. In fact, between the 1960s and 1985, it was the steepest decline, and buses were regulated. I would point out to the member that the worst decline has been in Glasgow and the west of Scotland, where local authorities have been in charge for many years, but he is right to say that the situation is not where we want it to be. Because of that, he will have noticed from Derek Mackay, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance's budget statement just last week, that the bus service operators grant has increased from £50 million, with an additional few million, as we currently stand. Discussions are taking place with the bus operators about how we can improve services. I would not call it diabolical. I know that he has some issues and we have some differences. I would say to the member that the spirit of Christmas in reaching out to people is that we have a transport bill that we have committed to as a Government. There will be a bus element to that. There are clearly differences between him and I about the approach. However, if he comes with considered proposals and his party comes with considered proposals, I would want them to be part of the solution about how we can work together to improve in reverse that decline in bus patronage. Liam Kerr The minister flags to Graham Day. In the north-east of Scotland, good and reliable rail services are as valuable and important as good bus services. Would the minister agree that it is very disappointing that, according to the annual efficiency and finance assessment of network rail, there has been a slower than expected progress on the Aberdeen to Inverness journey time improvement project? Given the AWPR delays and that the Aberdeen airport receives less funding than any Scottish airport, can we conclude that the Scottish Government pays only lip service to improving connectivity in the north-east of Scotland? The Christmas Grinch has arrived, most certainly. AWPR is a significant investment in the dueling of the A96. The investment that we promised for the Hodigan roundabout improvements is being delivered by this Government when other Governments refuse to do so. We have a great record in the north-east, and I look forward to the continued investment in the north-east. I would say to the member, do not be the Christmas Grinch. It is the time for a good festive spirit. It will be generous in your considerations where there are delays, where there can be improvements to be made. Of course, we will work with local partners. As we have done with Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Council as part of the funding that we are providing to improve rail services and transport services, there will be a £5 million appraisal if he wants to come forward. If he wants to come forward with considered and costed proposals, there will be part of that appraisal consideration. Budget documents in the Scottish Government state that they will constrain payments under the concessionary travel scheme as a result of a negotiated settlement with the bus sector. Yet the bus industry body says that the budget for concessionary travel appears markedly below the current projected cost for the scheme. Can the minister confirm whether negotiated settlement with the bus industry has been reached or not? There was a very positive meeting with the bus industry industry yesterday. There are still continued discussions going on. I thought that the member might have in his answer welcomed the fact that we have promised—and Derek Mackay promised—to extend the concessionary travel scheme to modern apprentices. Of course, those with a job grant for three months, aged between 16 to 24. That was missing from his answer. I am sure that it was just an accidental mission on his behalf. In terms of the concessionary travel scheme, the cabinet secretary—and indeed, again, the cabinet secretary for finance himself—said that there will be a consultation to ensure that we have long-term sustainability. Discussions are going well with the bus operators once we come to a conclusion. I am sure that he will be made well aware of that. Question 5 has not been lodged. Question 6, Clare Baker. To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed transport issues in Fife with ScotRail. Minister. My officials discussed transport issues in Fife with ScotRail last week, on 13 December 2016. The meeting covered ScotRail's progress with delivering the initiatives as outlined in the performance improvement plan. I also met with Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP and Douglas Chapman MP earlier this month to discuss West Fife rail issues. First, I thank the minister for agreeing to my request for a rail infrastructure consultation event to take place in Fife. I am sure that there will be much interest. This month, I have been continually contacted by constituents travelling between Edinburgh and Fife, raising complaints about delays, cancellations and capacity. That has included people being stranded at stations because of limited stops, often with families and young children. Only two carriages are on at Russia, as well as peaker cancellations, not inspiring much festive spirit in Fife. Minister, Fife passengers are being shortchanged. Can you give us any assurances that, as we enter the busy Christmas in New Year period, the train service for Fife will be able to meet passenger demand? As I have said repeatedly in the chamber and indeed in the public outside of the chamber, real performance is not at the acceptable level that I would want to be at. Again, in trying to be constructive, I would note that at the end of period 9, which was the last railway period that just passed, the Fife route performance was 90.5, which is higher than the franchise's roll and over 2 per cent higher than the GB average. Now, it is not at the level that I wanted to be at, and I continue to say that. In terms of skip-stopping, again, she will have noticed the announcement from Phil Vester last month that in the peak times they are looking to reduce that, we want them to keep going further. I recognise what she says. In terms of fares, Fife Council has been mentioned to me by commuters in Fife, and I am pleased to say that with the discounts that we announced last week, for example those travelling from Markins to Edinburgh under our plans will save £78.50 if they are on a monthly season ticket. Indeed, the same amount on an annual season ticket, of course, if the rail fares were frozen, as she had asked, there would only be a £63 saving. So they are getting a considerable saving from the discounts that we have mentioned. Of course, I want to see an improvement in services, I want to see an improvement in performance, I want to see an improvement across the railways. I think that she articulates the points and the frustrations that passengers feel, but I am committed to seeing that improvement. We are seeing that improvement and I will continue to monitor improvement as the time goes on. That brings us to an end of topical questions.