 Rwy'n meddwl i'r next item of business, which is topical questions, and question number one is from George Adam. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the results of the European elections. Cabinet Secretary, Fiona Hyslop. The Scottish Government welcomes the results of the European Parliament elections. It was a stunning success for the Scottish National Party. The European Parliament's elections also confirmed that there is an overwhelming support in Scotland for remaining in the EU. It is clear that the results across the UK show a tale of two countries with different political views, values and visions for the future. I would like to congratulate all the Scottish MEPs that have been elected, particularly the new elected MEPs Christian Allard and Eileen McLeod. You will be aware that they were members of this Parliament and with the election of the Ritchie from the Liberal Democrats, there is now gender balance in the Scottish contingent. However, I would also like to take this opportunity, in the absence of any Labour members in this chamber, to pay tribute and extend our gratitude to the service of David Martin, who has provided a distinctive wisdom and commitment and advice on Scottish matters in the European Parliament for many decades. I think that it is fitting that we pay tribute to him at this time. George Adam I would like to thank the cabinet secretary for her answer. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that the results were an astounding rejection of Brexit here in Scotland, with the SNP 23 per cent ahead of the Brexit party in taking the highest share of the vote of any party in Western Europe? Does the cabinet secretary think that Scotland has again made itself clear that it is not for Brexit and that this issue should go back to the people in a vote that I am confident that, once again, the people of Scotland will make their decision that their future lies in Europe? The cabinet secretary's voice has been heard. The Scottish Government has consistently made clear that the best option for the future of Scotland and the UK as a whole is to stay in the European Union. The results demonstrate that the UK political system has failed, and it has failed Scotland utterly. We are clear that Brexit ignores our views, the views of this Parliament and the people of Scotland. That is why the Scottish Government will continue our efforts for another referendum on any deal agreed by Parliament. If Parliament cannot support this, the default should be revoking article 50, not a no deal Brexit. We will continue to do everything that we can to stop Brexit and all the uncewing economic damage to Scotland that would entail it. George Adam. The cabinet secretary will be aware of the shocking reports of EU citizens across Scotland and the rest of the UK being denied their vote on polling day. Can I ask the Scottish Government what pressure it has put on the UK Government to investigate the scandal and can it confirm that the UK Government was aware of the risks months ago and still made no preparations until the last possible moment for those EU elections, causing the confusion that we saw on Ravel on polling day? Participation in the European Parliament elections in whichever member state they have chosen to live is a fundamental right of all EU citizens. The Scottish Government is therefore deeply concerned about the difficulties encountered by some EU citizens who were denied their right to vote. It is important that we understand that there was different experience in different parts of the country, but the member is absolutely right. The challenge was foreseen. The UK Government could and should have done something to ensure that no EU citizens were disadvantaged in that fundamental right to vote. The Scottish Government has written to the UK Government to call for a full investigation and will share, obviously, in response to permanent and appropriate time. Adam Tomkins will be full by Patrick Harvie. Adam Tomkins. Thank you, Presiding Officer. It's symbolic, isn't it, that at a time when there are no longer any Labour MEPs representing Scotland, there are no Labour MSPs in this chamber to ask questions of the cabinet secretary on these elections? Can I ask the cabinet secretary this? Given that Europe is the dominant political issue of our times, whether we like that or not, it is. What is the Scottish Government's reaction to the fact that only two-fifths of the Scottish electorate voted at all on Thursday last week? Three-fifths of the Scottish electorate chose to stay at home and not to vote at all. Is the Scottish Government content with that level of vote turnout? If the Scottish Government shares my concern that that level of turnout is too low for a healthy democracy, what does the Scottish Government propose, if anything, to do about it? I understand why the Labour Party and the Conservatives want to airbrush the European Parliament election results aside. However, let's be clear, this was one of the biggest turn-outs at the European elections ever—I think that it's the highest since 1994—so rather than people staying away, they deliberately went out to vote to make sure that their voices were heard. I think that that's to be welcomed. Indeed, across the European Union, there was a high turnout in response. I don't think that it's good enough for the Conservatives to come here and somehow blame the Scottish people. What they should be doing is reassessing the situation and making sure that Scotland's needs are protected. The best thing that the Conservatives could do in this Parliament is to join the rest of us in making sure that there is no deal off the table and that we make sure that there can be another opportunity for the Scottish people, and indeed the rest of the UK, to vote to ensure that we remain in Britain. We can stop Brexit if we act together. I offer my sincere congratulations to those who were elected. My sincere hope that they will have the opportunity to represent Scotland throughout the entire term of this European Parliament. I also offer my commiserations to David Martin, who, as the cabinet secretary has said, has earned the sincere respect of colleagues from across the political spectrum. Is the Scottish Government still committed to legislation to ensure that the right to vote is based on residency, not citizenship? That seems to me to be one of the most important things that we can do to address the shared concerns that Mr Adam has raised about EU citizens being disenfranchised. Would it not be the simplest thing to make sure that that devolved legislation controls the franchise for all elections that take place in Scotland so that we are never in this mess again? I think that the member is right to raise this issue. It is a fundamental one. I talked about rights of citizens and indeed the legislation that we plan to bring forward recognises the importance of residency in terms of the franchise. I would reiterate that it is important that we gather the information of the different experiences that we particularly looked at at different parts of the country. I know that, in my own county area, there were not the same issues as there were elsewhere. That also underlines the fact that that could and should have been tackled, and I think that it is an absolute disgrace and a scandal that many of our fellow citizens here in Scotland were not able to exercise their fundamental rights. 2. Fulton MacGregor Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what advice it is providing to North Lanarkshire Council in lights of reports that blue water that we can in high school may have been linked to health concerns among staff. The distribution and storage of water on school property is a matter for the local authority. I understand that Scottish Water, SEPA and NHS Lanarkshire have been working with North Lanarkshire Council on the matter. 2. Fulton MacGregor I thank the minister for that response. I would like to take this opportunity to put on record my thanks to the headteachers and all staff at Buchanan and neighbouring St Ambrose high schools who have continued to act professionally throughout their speculation and, like all schools in the area, deliver excellent outcomes for pupils against a backdrop of challenging demographic circumstances. The minister will be aware of comments from Professor Andrew Warterson of Stirling University's occupational environmental health research group. The reported ill health cases do not merit serious investigation and it is understandable that staff, pupils and others who work on the site are anxious. Does the minister agree that North Lanarkshire Council should properly investigate concerns and that parents, pupils and staff should be kept properly informed about by the council to help to go in some way to mediate the anxiety some might have? I think that the concern and anxiety that there is is understandable. I absolutely agree that North Lanarkshire Council should take the concerns of parents, pupils and staff very seriously when it comes to this matter. Ensuring that there is a thorough investigation into what can be done to mitigate any potential risks is a sensible and pragmatic approach. 3. Fulton MacGregor The minister may be aware that I am holding a public meeting next month on the matter 6 of June, which is in conjunction with local councillors and which North Lanarkshire Council has assured me will be attended by officials. I will also ensure that the local MP and other ward councillors are invited. Will the minister consider the possibility that a Scottish Government official may attend this meeting also? I am pleased that North Lanarkshire Council is attending as it has the statutory responsibility for the school estate, but I agree with the member that the Scottish Government being attended would be a good thing, too. My office will make sure that that happens. If you could send us the details of when the meeting is happening, in addition, I would expect the local health board, NHS Lanarkshire, to be represented at that meeting, too. Given that the school is built on a toxic waste done, is the minister satisfied that the appropriate environment impact assessment was carried out, and is he aware of any related conditions attached to the granting of that planning permission? Obviously, that would predate my position in this office and almost certainly any previous position. Those are questions that people want answers to. I am not aware of any direct link between copper, which is suggested to be the issue here, and the particular types of cancer. However, clearly there is something going on, and we need to understand it. That is why I think that the point that Fulton made about the local authority having a full investigation and working with the likes of SEPA in order to make sure that that is as robust as possible to give people in the local area, particularly parents, children and the staff at the school, confidence and safety. I ask the minister and, first of all, to point out that, in addition to the four teachers at the school that was built on toxic landfill, four teachers have developed the same rare cancer. There is also a constituent of mine whose son has become blind. There is a medical suspicion that the blue water might have contributed to that or some other toxic ingredient on the site. In the light of the public concern, if the council does not carry out a satisfactory and robust independent inquiry into this to allay public fears and to inform people, will the minister then consider intervening? Clearly, public health is a statutory requirement for the Scottish Government as well as for the council, Scottish Water and the health board. The member is absolutely right about the statutory responsibility. Education Scotland Act 1980 places a statutory responsibility on all local authorities to manage and maintain their school estate. I sincerely hope that the local authority takes that responsibility seriously. The kind of investigation that we have talked about should go ahead in order to give people confidence. Clearly, part of the discussions around what that should look like needs to be with other agencies such as SEPA, Scottish Water and Public Health officials within NHS Lanarkshire. The next item of business is a debate on motion 17342, in the name of John Finnie, on stage 1 of the Children's Equal Protection from Assault Scotland Bill. We'll just take a few moments for the members and the minister to change seats.