 The first item of business is portfolio questions. I could ask for questions and answers to be as succinct as possible. First of all, we have culture, tourism and external affairs. Question number one, Jamie Greene. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the culture secretary has had with local authorities regarding their capacity to deal with tourist numbers over the summer. Fiona Hyslop. I've had a number of discussions with local authorities regarding tourism, which have included issues around tourist numbers. The Scottish Government recognises the need to encourage sustainable tourism, and we've taken proactive measures to address the impact of increased visitors, such as through the successful development of our £6 million rural tourism development fund. Jamie Greene. I thank the cabinet secretary for that helpful response. This increase in tourism is very welcome to island communities but also has additional pressures, including islanders' abilities to access the islands themselves, with pressures on ferries, including passengers and vehicles. Can I ask what the current secretary is doing to promote off-season tourism, to perhaps help and relieve and flatten some of those peaks and spikes in summer tourism? Fiona Hyslop. That's a very important part of growing tourism, is to make sure that we can help support tourism throughout the year. I think that recent experience has been that the season has actually been growing. Obviously, in terms of different experiences having winter activities, it's very important, but also indoor facilities. The growth of distilleries and visitor attractions in distilleries, providing inside experiences for tourism tourists during the winter period, has also been very attractive, so trying to make sure that we can have provision right throughout the year is a vital part of spreading tourism. Most important for island economies is making sure that we have a sustainable source of those willing to work in the tourism industry because they have families and they need to have incomes throughout the year. I took part in a tourism summit on isla at the invitation of Brendan O'Hara and Michael Russell as the local MP in MSP. Again, that was one of the issues that they had, was how to extend the season. Isla, for example, is having a food festival in September or October. Again, I think that that is part of trying to extend the season. Kenneth Gibson Thank you, Presiding Officer. Cabinet Secretary will be aware that a road equivalent tariff is reduced car fares by some 57 per cent, leading to record numbers of visits to Arrancumbria, boosting island economies. Additional ferry now sales are drawn into Broerick route for seven months, greatly increasing capacity relative to when this Government came into office. However, reliability is a key issue. Can the cabinet secretary comment on how resilience funds will be used to minimise ferry disruptions, which are happening now and islanders fear may happen throughout the summer season? Fiona Hyslop I understand that, in relation to that last point, funding was provided £4 million as a resilience fund in 2018 to invest in services to ensure future reliability and availability of vessels. I am not the transport minister, I am not responsible for ferries but I absolutely understand their importance to islands economies and to tourism. I think that people will probably forget what a difference a road equivalent tariff made when it was introduced in 2014. Across the piece, we saw an increase in 60 per cent in cars and transport and 40 per cent increase in passenger numbers. That is great in creating demand, but it also causes pressures. I take a keen interest as a tourism secretary in what is happening with the ferries and their operation, but I think that resilience fund and that additional investment to help to invest in our vessels to improve reliability will, I hope, prove helpful particularly for the season ahead. Claire Baker Although some local authorities may be facing capacity pressures, other areas of Scotland would welcome more tourists and the income that comes from that. Can the cabinet secretary outline any work that has planned to better understand the pattern of tourism in Scotland and consider how we can promote other areas and activities that would help support sustainable tourism and to spread the opportunities that there are across the whole of Scotland? Fiona Hyslop That is a hugely important point. The member will be aware of our campaign for the south of Scotland, particularly, which has seen Visit Scotland investing in a new promotional film but also helping in terms of the infrastructure. For example, I have recently announced £200,000 for Glen Tress to improve mountain biking in the border area to help to invest in that attraction. Only this morning, I was in Aberdeen. I was speaking at the Aberdeenshire visa Aberdeenshire conference. It is very important to promote their particular area to make sure that people can find it accessible. I was delighted to hear the news that the New York Times has said that the north-east of Scotland is one of the top 25 places to visit this year. In terms of our promotion from Visit Scotland, we are absolutely making sure that the wider areas are being promoted. A very good example of that, for example, is working with Wildebat or Gile, where our Gile has twinned with Glasgow to ensure that visitors can come into Glasgow but then can visit rural areas in the west coast of Scotland. Those are initiatives to try and encourage people, if they are in the central belt, to go out and to visit more geographically remote, but to absolutely interesting and fascinating places to visit across Scotland. I know that there is a lot of answers to some of those questions, but if you could try and shorten your answers, please, cabinet secretary. Sorry, just as well. Question 2, John Mason. To ask the Scottish Government what support it can give towards the annual running costs of the Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre in Glasgow. Fiona Hyslop. We value our relationships with our Jewish communities and the significant and important contributions that they make to Scottish society. The Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre shares in our ambition to promote interfaith dialogue to strengthen and enhance connections across communities to lower barriers, eliminate fear and increase understanding. I recognise the importance of learning about the Holocaust as well as taking action to tackle religious prejudice, including anti-Semitism. I urge the centre to explore museum accreditation and related support with Museum Gallery Scotland. Additionally, the next wave of the Scottish Government's promoting equality and cohesion fund will be open for application in 2020. I would suggest that the centre considers developing an application in the coming year for relevant projects. John Mason. I thank the cabinet secretary for what I think is an encouraging reply. I would just ask if she could agree with me and I think with the Jewish community that it is not just about the Holocaust but there is an ignorance about Judaism, Jewish history and the Jewish way of life. There has been a considerable Jewish community in Scotland and all of those things can lead to anti-Semitism if people do not understand properly. Fiona Hyslop. I absolutely agree. I think that the more understanding there is, the better the tolerance appreciation and the celebration of the variety of different religions and cultures that we have in Scotland. I think that that is a very important part of promoting the positives and the experiences that other people perhaps do not understand. I think that the point is very well made by John Mason. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of a tourist tax on the tourism sector in Edinburgh and Lothian. Fiona Hyslop. We held a national discussion on tourist taxes involving the industry and local authorities to develop a shared understanding of the evidence, challenges and potential impacts of tourist taxes. We held roundtables across Scotland, including in Edinburgh stakeholders, including UK hospitality and Edinburgh council, provided written evidence and we published it on 7 March. As part of the budget deal with the only party who engaged, we will formally consult on principles of a locally determined tourist tax in 2019 and then introduce legislation. It will be for the individual councils to assess local circumstances before deciding whether to use the power. Miles Briggs. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Leaders of hotel, hospitality and tourism groups in Edinburgh have voiced their opposition and concerns to the plans for tourist tax in the capital. It is fair to say that the cabinet secretary's support for the proposal has been somewhat lukewarm to date. Given those concerns, does she believe that a tourist tax is a good idea for Edinburgh and Scotland's tourism sector? Fiona Hyslop. This is an issue for Edinburgh council working with the Edinburgh community and the Edinburgh businesses to determine. I stand by what we have agreed as part of our budget negotiations had the Conservatives come to the table in any meaningful shape or form, perhaps the budget discussions might have been different, but we have honoured our commitment. We will honour our commitment. There will be an introduction of consultation followed by legislation. One of the things that our previous national discussions showed us was that it was really complex. It is not a simple perspective. Even today, when I was in Aberdeen, the views there were that although some local authorities may want to introduce it, some may not, the read across between different local authorities and what they do would be important. Therefore, a level playing field across Scotland was something that we heard from. That is going to be all part of the discussions that local authorities are going to have to take. However, if people want to present those arguments, I would encourage them to take part in the consultation on the legislation that will follow as part of our budget negotiations. Supplementary from Kezia Dugdale. Thank you. Despite what Miles Briggs said, there is widespread support for a tourist tax across Edinburgh, not least from the SNP and Labour council administration. Last week, the cabinet secretary was reported as saying that it would not be in place until 2021. Is she aware that the council has actually budgeted for it to be in place next year? In light of the delay that she announced last week, she will now have to make a further 10 million pounds worth of cuts to the local council budget. Can she tell us where she thinks those cuts should come from? Fiona Hyslop. The member has been a member of this party for some time. She will know the legislative process and procedure that takes place when introducing new legislation in relation to decisions that Edinburgh council will make. That is the matter for Edinburgh council. However, we will consult, as agreed in 2019. There will be legislation in 2020. This Parliament will consult and take forward the legislation as it normally does. So there is no delay. This is the normal process for a normal piece of legislation going through the Parliament. I thought that the member would understand the processes that she takes part in for any piece of legislation in this Parliament. Question 4, Mike Rumbles. To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet Screen Scotland. Fiona Hyslop. I am meeting with Isabel Davies, the Executive Director of Screen Scotland on the 21st of March. I meet regularly with the chair of Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government officials who attend the meetings of Creative Scotland's Screen Committee. Mike Rumbles. Is the cabinet secretary aware that, apart from the Scottish film Talent Network, mainly funded by lottery funding, there is very little support to help talented young short film makers from Scotland enter the industry? Indeed, the annual closure date for the applications of the very few film talent networks available coming up in just 11 days' time, what financial assistance can the Scottish Government give to aspiring and talented Scottish short film makers after this date? I think that the member makes a very important point about the opportunities for young filmmakers, particularly in the early parts of their careers and the importance of being able to make short films. Short films are a good way of getting into recognition. I am not sure what I can do in the next 11 days, but certainly the issue of how Screen Scotland will be developing and supporting young talent is something that I will raise on the 21st of March. I will raise his concerns with the director when I return on the 21st of March. Supplementary from Rachael Hamilton. Thank you, Presiding Officer. We know that the work of the UK Government to promote the screen sector in this country has really seen the sector thrive. There has been a £632 million tax relief to the industry, which has generated a further £3 billion investment to the production of TV programmes and films across the UK. Does the cabinet secretary agree that the large tax relief from the UK Government has been instrumental to the growth of the screen sector in Scotland? Is she confident that Screen sector Scotland is on target to meet its projected growth targets? Fiona Hyslop. On that latter point, yes, we have seen very strong production growth figures. That is before we see the results of the doubling of film investment from the Scottish Government. I completely agree that the tax measures that the UK Government to introduce have been game changer in many regards. We were very supportive of them and campaigned for tax relief in this area and indeed in other aspects of the creative industries. Funny enough, that argument was something that I used with the tourism industry this morning where, if we could reduce that, for example, currently at 20 per cent, we could make a big difference in terms of helping that industry in particular, but she is absolutely right in terms of the trajectory of the film industry. I am very confident that not only will they meet their targets but the screen leadership board's recommendations are being delivered and delivered well, and there are ambitious targets within that and they are on track to meet them. 5. Richard Lyle Thank you, Presiding Officer, to ask the Scottish Government how it is accommodating ethnic groups that have applied to be included in the census for the first time in 2021. Fiona Hyslop. National Records of Scotland set out proposed questions for inclusion in census 2021. All requests for changes to questions were considered according to user need, data quality, existing data sources and operational considerations. Requests were made for census data on Roma, show people, Sikh and Jewish populations. Testing of the changes being considered for the ethnic group question completed in February. NRS is holding events on 27 March and 28 May to share the findings with stakeholders. The results of the testing will be published on the NRS website prior to these events. The questions for the 2021 census will be considered by Parliament as part of the subordinate legislation process on which engagement will begin shortly and continues through to next year. Richard Lyle I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. I refer members to my register of interests. I am the convener of the showman's guild Scotland cross-party group. Over the past few years, I have been working with the showman's guild to ensure that the section for show people is included in the next census. Show people are not travellers, not gypsies. They are a distinct ethnic group. Census officials have been supportive of the proposal. I seek the assurance of the cabinet secretary that she will help me to ensure that they are added to the census. Fiona Hyslop I understand that the findings from the testing of an alternative ethnic group question showed that the inclusion of a tick box for show people was acceptable. I understand that that may well be recommended for inclusion. I am supportive of my view, but I would also refer the member to my answer to the first question. It is the Parliament through the subordinate legislation that will finally determine what questions will be asked in the census. James Kelly Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, to ask the Scottish Government what its priorities are for the external affairs budget spend in 2019-20. Fiona Hyslop Scotland's international framework sets out how our international work supports the Scottish Government's central purpose of creating a more successful country with opportunities for all to flourish through increasing sustainable economic growth. The external affairs budget supports our commitment to strengthening our European and international relationships, funding our commitment as a good global citizen, facilitating trade and investment actions and ultimately achieving our overarching objective. In 2019-20, the majority of the budget will be focused on delivering our international development programme and deepening and strengthening our network of external offices. James Kelly I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. I understand the importance of having a presence internationally in the Scottish Government having offices in other countries. However, in terms of the spend that has been budgeted for next year, it is increasing from £17.2 million to nearly £24 million and an increase of nearly 40 per cent in cash terms. I ask the cabinet secretary why council budgets have been reduced by £230 million. The priority of protecting communities, saving jobs and services is not a debate. Why has that been given a lower priority than the external affairs budget? Fiona Hyslop My understanding was that James Kelly was the finance spokesperson for the Labour Party. I may be wrong, so I am happy to be corrected. He will understand that local government has not seen the reductions that he said and that, in terms of our support for local authorities, it has been positive. If he is a member of the finance committee—I am not sure if he has served on the finance committee—all of the increase in the external affairs budget of £6.7 million in the 2020 budget is due entirely to a change in the way that running costs of staffing, for example, are presented across the Scottish Government. Those were previously presented separately but are now included within ministerial portfolios at the request of the Scottish Parliament and its finance committee. Mr Kelly, I think that you should do your homework. Alex Rowley To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what support it is providing in response to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Fiona Hyslop The Scottish Government donated £250,000 to the Disasters Emergency Committee deck Yemen Crisis Appeal when it was launched in December 2016. In July 2018, the Scottish Government provided a further £100,000 from the humanitarian emergency fund to support Mercy Corps to provide 6,000 Yemeni households and 42,000 people with safe drinking water. We have also provided 25 Yemeni women with training and capacity building in the areas of mediation, conflict resolution, reconciliation and constitution building through the Scottish Government-funded Women in Conflict 1325 fellowship with Beyond Borders Scotland. Alex Rowley Well done on those commitments. 85,000 children under five have starved to death since 2015, and one child dies every 10 minutes from a preventable cause in Yemen. Oxfam states that the majority of the civilian casualties have resulted from airstrikes carried out by the Saudi-led coalition. Can I ask the cabinet secretary, has the Government made representations to the UK Government with regards to the violation of international law that is taking place right now, the hunger crisis that exists as a result and the armed sales from the UK to Saudi Arabia? Fiona Hyslop Yes, I have previously made representations. The Scottish Government has made representations to the UK Government about their role in relation to Saudi Arabia and also in relation to their ability and capability to end the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia. It must do so, and it must do so now. Export licences, as you will be aware, are a reserved matter, but there is clear evidence that munitions supplied by the United Kingdom have been used in breach of international law in Yemen. I commend the member for continuing to raise the issue of Yemen. That has caused devastation to so many people, particularly children. There is a clear responsibility that the UK Government can take. If it wants to be a global citizen, it needs to behave as a global citizen, and he is absolutely right to raise the issue in this Parliament. Fiona Hyslop I apologise to Mr Beattie for not having reached his question, and we will move on to the next portfolio, which is education and skills. I remind all members that this is question time and not speech making time. If that was adhered to as far as questions and answers were concerned, we would certainly get through all questions and have more supplementaries. The Scottish Government what its response is to the recent survey by Given Time, which found that only 19 per cent of parents knew of the right to defer entry into primary school for children born between September and December. John Swinney Presiding Officer, I am grateful to Given Time for raising awareness of the issue. I reassure parents that implementation of curriculum for excellence early level and good transition arrangements should make the journey from early learning and childcare into primary education seamless and minimise the need for school deferral. However, it is important that parents are able to make informed choices for their child. The Minister for Children and Young People met the representatives of the Given Time campaign in December. The Scottish Government and COSLA are now working together to improve the clarity of information available to parents at a national and local level. I expect all local authorities to provide clear and consistent information on school deferral arrangements. Fulton MacGregor I thank the cabinet secretary for that response. He may be aware that the approval rates for granting discretionary funding for massive provision for children whose parents choose to defer is inconsistent across councils, including 13 per cent and 100 per cent. What is more, at least 13 local authorities do not even permit parents to retain their child's place in a council setting and self-financing. What more does he think that councils can do to support parents who choose to defer their four-year-old children and access an additional year at nursery? John Swinney The issue remains that the local authorities' discretion as to whether or not children with a birthday between August and 31 December are entitled to additional early learning and childcare funding. I would expect local authorities to make this decision based on assessment of wellbeing. I set out in the early learning and childcare statutory guidance that accompanied the Children and Young People Scotland Act 2014. Who would defer Lisbyn, considered that parents should be provided with accurate information and should be fully involved in the decision making process? Does the cabinet secretary not think that there is simply an anomaly here whereby parents have the right to defer entry to school quite correctly, but then find that for many of them that means that they lose their child's right to funded places at nursery? Is the simplest thing not simply to change the law? Why can't we do that? John Swinney I think that the answer is to the point that Mr Gray raises in the first answer that I gave to Mr McGregor, in that what we conceive to be the contents of the early level of curriculum for excellence, which, as Mr Gray will know, is a play-based approach to learning supported by good transition arrangements, should make the journey from early learning and childcare into primary education a straightforward journey. The flexibility is there to accommodate the particular issues that are raised in the question. Equally, the arrangements under the early level curricular approach address many of those questions into the bargain to make sure that we are making judgments about the interests, needs and perspectives of individual children. Question 2, Mary Fee. To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support school pupils on part-time timetables. John Swinney Presiding Officer, support for pupils on part-time timetables is provided through included, engaged and involved parts 1 and 2, which provide guidance on the promotion of attendance and the management of exclusion. Both recognise the importance of continued engagement in order to fulfil pupils' learning potential. Part 2 makes clear that flexible or part-time arrangements, and I quote, should be for a short, agreed period with the aims and conditions around that recorded in any support plan. That is the end of the quote. It is for education authorities to ensure that pupils receive the support that they need to benefit from educational opportunities in line with their responsibilities for the provision of education. Mary Fee Can I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer? The Scottish Government is starting to collect information on the number of children on part-time timetables, and it needs to make clear the level of use and the reason for such actions by schools. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that any pupil on a part-time timetable should be on one for their own benefit and it must be meaningful to their education? John Swinney I agree with that perspective. As I indicated in my answer, the use of part-time timetables should be for a short, agreed period with a clearly defined purpose. That is what the guidance clearly states, and I very much endorse the points raised by Mary Fee. Supplementary Oliver Mundell To ask the cabinet secretary whether he shares my concern that some young people are being excluded from the classroom for large parts of the day, without meaningful educational input, and in some rural areas are being supervised by parents and volunteers. What will the Scottish Government do to address that? John Swinney Fundamentally, the responsibility for tackling those issues lies with the individual local authority. That is the responsibility that carries the responsibility, the statutory responsibility for delivery of education at local level. The local authority has to satisfy itself in all circumstances that a child's education is being fulfilled. That is what the law says. The guidance that is put in place through included, engaged and involved, as I have said to Mary Fee in relation to questions of part-time timetables, should be as part of an agreed process for the improvement of the interests of individual young people. The guidance also is emphatic on the importance of ensuring inclusion in all aspects of learning for young people and for the minimisation of exclusion from learning. The Scottish Government knows what action it is taking to tackle assaults on teachers and classroom assistance. It is not acceptable for anyone working in our schools to be assaulted verbally or physically. We are continually working with local authorities to support schools in developing positive and inclusive learning environments. We have produced guidance on approaches to include and engage pupils in their education. We are funding various violence reduction and preventative approaches, such as the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme and the No-Knives Better Lives initiative. Our aim is to foster positive relationships and behaviour within a school, as well as a longer-term impact on the wider community. Margaret Mitchell Thank you, cabinet secretary, for that answer. Is he aware that in the past three years, teachers have been tacked on more than 16,000 times with these attacks increasing in the last year? According to FOI responses, weapons include knives, a BB gun, a chemical cleaner, a wood watch, so all have been used, resulting in injuries, including torn ligaments, dislocated joints and one case of whip blasts. In view of that, does the cabinet secretary consider the action that he has just outlined—I appreciate that it was quite detailed—is sufficient to ensure that teachers and school staff feel safe in the classroom? John Swinney The first thing that I want to say is that, in no circumstances has any instance of violence in any way acceptable or excusable in any situation and particularly not in a school. Whatever else I say today, I want to make that point absolutely crystal clear. The context for that is important. If we look at the number of police-recorded crimes of handling an offensive weapon, for example, we have seen a fall of 65 per cent in those crimes since 2006-07 to 2017-18. We have seen a huge decline in the number of exclusions from our schools in the periods since 2006-07. We have seen significant reductions in violence in our society and in our schools, but I accept that there are still examples of that. I have set out to Margaret Mitchell and she has said that there are a number of initiatives and approaches that I pointed out. I think that those are effective. I think that the mentors in violence reduction programme is very successful. The No Knives Better Lives campaign has been very successful in changing the culture around knife carrying, and we are seeing much of that learning being looked at by other jurisdictions, particularly the city of London, for what has been achieved. Having said all of that, I am absolutely committed to working with the teaching profession and local authorities to make sure that we make violence in our schools a thing of the past, so that teachers, classroom assistants and any other member's staff or any other pupils should not be subjected to it. Stuart McMillan To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote STEM subjects for pupils across Scotland during 2019-19, which marks the bicentenary of the death of James Watt. Richard Lochhead James Watt's achievements make a significant contribution to Scotland's long and proud history of science, engineering and invention. We are committed to promoting STEM to everyone in Scotland and on 13 March we announced our funding for the fourth Scottish Science Centre's worth over £2.6 million in 2019-20. That funding will support events and activities seen by around 700,000 people next year, making science accessible hopefully for all ages and helping to inspire our future scientists. In addition, we are establishing a new young STEM leaders programme and have introduced Mathsweek Scotland's part of further measures to promote STEM to young people. Stuart McMillan I thank the minister for that reply. As the minister will know, STEM subjects are vital for our economy and also for the Scottish Government that has introduced the range of measures which I generally welcome. With the UK Government's Brexit care already leading to challenges in academic funding and also job security, what can the Scottish Government do to ensure that our school pupils are taught about Scottish inventors and inventions in order to help them to realise that Scotland has always been a contributor to global progress? Richard Lochhead Stuart McMillan highlights a very topical and important issue in that, if we are taken out of Europe against our will, we will lose many of the people with the vital skills that will require for the future of the Scottish economy, and therefore it will be even more important to encourage people to adopt those skills and learn them in their own country, which means inspiring our young people to take part in STEM activities and hopefully consider STEM careers as part of their future. That is why it is so important that we continue to support many initiatives across Scotland that are working with school pupils in particular, and indeed I was at a company just last week where the apprentices who were there are effectively STEM ambassadors for their company and they go out and speak to local schools about their careers. We have to reinforce and support in any way that we can do those kinds of activities, but let us focus on stopping Scotland from taking it out of Europe in the first place. Before I call question 5, can I draw members' attention to the headphones on your desk that can be used for simultaneous translation of Gaelic, if required? Question 5, Alasdair Allan. Rwy'n nhw'ch rheolthus na halupe, na haith i'n ffgwsgru ar y gwrth, ddych chi'n nhw'ch chi'n rhaid ar eich ares yn sy'n nhw'ch chi'n nhw'ch eitgen oigri i cefael i Gaelic yn sy'n heil yn un i'r hyn. The Scottish Government is working with partners to put in place a range of actions to strengthen the Gaelic language in the western isles, with the aim of increasing the proportion of young people who speak Gaelic. That includes close collaboration with Corly Neil and Shear and other bodies that can make a contribution to promoting the use of learning and the speaking of the Gaelic language. Alasdair Allan. Betul yng Nghaerffordd i'r un i'r eich aben nhw ar y rygwrs, beth am biaith chi'n rheolthus i'n mesef bwyd i can yn ochr o chyddoi ar y sy'n polisi yn eik i'n sy'n heil yn ynghymbeithio brosnych nhw'ch i'n gaelic, ac i'n cael ei gaelic i ddafys i'ch gaelic yn y polisi economiol i'r socialtus yn arsyniog. John Swinney. The Gaelic language is a very precious part of Scotland's culture, our identity and our future. For that reason, the Government takes a number of policy interventions to support the development and the nurture of the Gaelic language. We do not have any immediate plans to undertake the type of Gaelic language impact assessment that Dr Allan has raised in his question, but I want to assure him of very specific discussions that we are having with Corlyon and Neal and Sher, which I took part in along with Dr Allan when I was in the Western Isles during the February recess. To look at how we can integrate the experience and the nurturing of the Gaelic language within wider public service provision within the Western Isles and to make sure some of that activity is taken forward by some of the Corlyon's proposals in relation to a community charter or a community offer. Those issues are now under very active consideration by the Government and I will have further discussions with the Corlyon and also with Board of Gaelic as to how we can take forward some of those ideas. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the ongoing dispute between lecturers and management at the city of Glasgow College. Richard Lochhead. In terms of the city of Glasgow College, local industrial relations are, of course, a matter for the college and the trade unions to resolve voluntarily, and therefore the member may wish to speak to those authorities for an update. I can reassure the minister that I have spoken directly to both the EIS and the college for an update, and I hope that minister 2 is taking an active interest in the on-going disputes because, while it is a separate dispute from the wider dispute on pay with colleges Scotland, it feeds into the wider breakdown of relationship between the workforce and management. The First Minister last week said that a 2 per cent increase for police officers in England was a punch... Would you go on with the question, Mr Sarwar? Why does the cabinet secretary believe that this is an acceptable pay increase for our college lecturers? Richard Lochhead. In terms of what is not an acceptable pay increase for college lecturers, it is a matter for negotiations between the employers, the colleges and the representatives of the staff and the unions. I should say that I was disappointed when the talks that took place in terms of the wider dispute that took place on Monday of this week did not reach a successful conclusion, albeit that there have been some signs of movement in recent months. Therefore, there is more industrial action that he will be aware of that is taking place tomorrow, which is highly regrettable, given that it is no one's interest that such action takes place in terms of strike action, at least of all the students who are directly affected as well. I will, however, of course take an interest in those discussions, but the Scottish Government is not a party to those negotiations. That is voluntary arrangements agreed by both the employers and the unions in terms of national bargaining, and any intervention from us, of course, we just undermine that. That should be resolved between the two parties and we hope that it will be. We will continue to speak, of course, to both the unions and the employers, and I am of a mind to invite them in to meet me separately on Tuesday of next week, prior to the next round of formal talks on 29 March. Can I remind members that, while the degree of context is often necessary to ask questions, a small degree is preferable? To ask the Scottish Government how relevant the number of subjects of people who can study in school is to their future career prospects. Offering Scotland's young people the right choices is very relevant to supporting them and meeting their career prospects. Young people should be able to access the range of pathways that meet their needs, abilities and aspirations and should be supported in making the right choices. That is central to the aims of our youth employment strategy. Tom Mason Gemitting evidence and newspaper reports have highlighted the narrowing of the subject choices that are caused by the SNP Government's flawed reforms that hurt pupils' career prospects. It is hampering Scottish children's ability to achieve the best grades possible and limiting their opportunities. What does the Cabinet Secretary have to say to those children who, through no fault of their own, will not receive the same opportunities that their parents had? John Swinney Can I respectfully say to Tom Mason that I do not think that the evidence supports the question that he has just put to me? Two weeks ago, we published the information on the positive destinations of young people leaving education. They are at a record high. 94.4 per cent of young people are leaving school to enter work, training or further and higher education. That is an all-time record, so the premise of Mr Mason's question is completely flawed. In addition to that, we see attainment rising in our schools, we see a broad range of qualifications being secured by young people and we see every single young people experiencing and benefiting from the importance of the broad general education, which was at the heart of the reform of curriculum for excellence. Finally, to Mr Mason, last week I attended the international summit of the teaching profession in Helsinki. The only education systems that are invited to take part in that summit are high-performing education systems in the world. I think that we should be very proud that Scotland's education system was invited to be part of those discussions. John Scott To ask the Scottish Government in light of the education secretary's previous comments that the education bill could still be introduced if sufficient progress is not made, whether it is ruled out doing so in 2019. John Swinney I hope that the local government entered into a joint agreement with us on reform, which has led to the publication of the headteachers charter and wider guidance on empowering schools. We have also reached agreement subject to the defint of formal offer being made and a ballot of members with the EIS, which sees Scotland's largest teaching professional association agree to collaborate with us on the empowerment agenda. I am encouraged about the progress that has been made in implementing our landmark education reforms. John Scott Thank you, Presiding Officer. The education bill was dropped by the SNP last year, despite calling it the flagship piece of legislation. Dropping the bill was supposed to speed up the process of reform, but we are now nine months on and there are very few signs of progress. Will the cabinet secretary tell parents and teachers how much longer they will have to wait to see all the promised reforms fully realised? John Swinney I think that it would have helped if John Scott had listened to my original answer before he gave me his prescripted follow-up question. I announced to him that the headteachers charter is already in place. That would not have been the case if we were waiting for a bill. The empowering school's guidance is in place, working and operating. The agreement with the professional associations on their support and participation in the empowerment agenda is in place and happening quicker than could have been the case with a bill. The approach that I have taken has delivered an intensification of the pace of reform. The education system is benefiting from that. We are seeing real empowerment in our classrooms and schools around the country, and I am encouraged by the direction of travel that has been undertaken in that respect. That concludes portfolio questions, and we will move on to the next item of business. If you would take your seats quickly please.