 Yn ystod, y cyfnod i'r ysgol yng Nghymru yw Llywodraeth Yn Ymwyllgor yng Nghymru, ddim yn gweld yndyn nhw Douglas Ross. Rwy'r cyfnod, ydyn ni, mae 35 ymddir ynghylch ar gyfer pan Amplai 103, ond mae'n gilydd 270 oes cyfnod i'r cyfnod. Dim rhoi, wrth gwrs, y cyfnodau ei fod yn jagith yr ac mawr. Yn ystod, ond mae'n gypo yw gyffredin Mengell Government margin, ond mae'n gweld yn cymryd ar gael gyda Douglas Ross. Those are not values that I believe in, they are not the values that I believe in, either for us or for Scotland. Of course, ar its heart, this was a budget from the SNP, which was about Scots paying more and getting less. That is what is going to happen as a result of this budget. y gwrs fwyaf o'r economiau i'w wneud i gwyllprosig iawn i, i gweithio'r ystafellau wrth Sgoledyn. Ian Kennedy, mae y First Minister yw yn ei wneud. Rwy'n adeiladau bod yw'n ei wneud. Felly, rydw i'n meddwl i'r First Minister, rydw i'n meddwl i'r First Minister yw i'n meddwl i'r CEO yng Nghymru, yng nghymru yw'r Sgoledyn. Mae'r hyn o'r cael ei wneud i'r meisio'r prysgwysig ynghyrch ar gyfer ynghyrch more of the doctors out of the NHS, to jobs elsewhere or retirement or force them to cut over time? We could lose those nurses, doctors and specialist NHS staff for good." Does Humza Yousaf accept that his hatrises could force key workers out of Scotland's NHS? It is awfully brave, and that is one word for Douglas Ross to talk about the NHS. i'r ystyried gynhyrch yn ei ddodgol, yn Gwyliannolol NHS England? Ond mae'n gwybod i'r Gwyliannol NHS inni i Scotland. Felly mae gennych nhw, ac mae'n gallu ar sicr wrth gwybod i'r tyfnogi, mae'n gwybod i'r tyfnogi i Gwyliannol NHS inni i Scotland, ac mae'n gwybod i'r tyfnogi i Gwyliannol NHS i England i gyd, ac mae'n gwybod i'r tyfnogi i Gwyliannol Conservatives. Ieithgolwch Ros, mae'n ddegwyd yn cyfnodol i'r tyfnogi i Siogledd Pogressif Tabith. n opacity om tlifawr, maen nhw'n fawr, i'w ddweud eich eich mor masyddu o'ch Scotland. The statistics simply don't bear that out. The national records of Scotland statistics from 2021 show that 56,000 people came to Scotland from the rest of the UK. A net in migration of almost 10,000 people. Then why are they coming here? They are coming here because when wrth gael hyn, that is free university education, free school meals for free nursing and personal care for gay people. That is the best paid nurses here in Scotland anywhere else in the UK compared to anywhere else in the UK. I was simply quoting the chairman of the BMA in Scotland and we get a rant from the First Minister? Let's be very clear, the UK government is providing the highlight ever level of funding to the Scottish government. tigt budgets are purely the SNP's fault for wasting taxpayers' money. Well they laugh. Will it be funny if it wasn't so serious? The way that the SNP Government- …lai'r bhr ending on unfair innocent quote, on doomed court cases, on Ivy League degrees for what are exectives before we even start on the bar bill? As a consequence of SNP decisions, shops, pubs and hotels here in Scotland won't get the same rates relief as businesses in England and Wales. The Deputy First Minister is trying to shout down my question about hospitality. Mr Ross, I'd be very grateful if all members could resist the temptation to contribute, while they've not been called to speak. I would say too that I think I'm from Benchys of a particular responsibility to lead by example, but of course each and every member of the Parliament has a role to play in that good behaviour. I've got to say that the smug smirk from Michael Matheson and others on the front bench is really disappointing, because what I'm speaking about is as a consequence of SNP decisions this week, shops, pubs and hotels here in Scotland won't get the same rates relief as businesses in England and Wales. This is what the Scottish hospitality group said. Many Scottish hospitality businesses will struggle to survive, and customers will see prices increase because of this. And the Scottish Grocers Federation said this. It beggars belief that the Scottish Government has once again failed to pass on the 75 per cent relief for retail seen elsewhere in the UK. So First Minister, why are the SNP putting Scottish businesses at a disadvantage? First Minister. And this is why, Presiding Officer, Douglas Ross has no credibility when it comes to economic matters whatsoever. Not only did he demand, of course, that we previously imitate and copy Tory tax cuts, which would have meant we'd have £1.5 billion less to spend on vital public services. He demands we spend every single penny of UK Government consequentials on business relief and tax cuts. If we had done that, we would have seen real terms cuts to the NHS, real term cuts to education, real term cuts to the police service, real term cuts to the fire service. We simply won't choose to do that. And if we had spent the paltry £10.8 million that the UK Government in their autumn statement gave to health consequentials, that would have funded five hours of NHS Scotland activity. We make different choices here, as Scotland, Presiding Officer. Why? Because our policies mean that, yes, while we ask the top 5 per cent to pay a little more in tax, they get more for it. And what we simply won't do is copy Tory tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of our public services. Douglas Ross. Last week, we heard a bold claim from an SNP cabinet secretary that world leaders were lining up to get advice from this SNP Government. Now, it got me wondering, who is this that's been calling for the advice? Has Justin Trudeau been on the phone looking for a camper van? Maybe it's Emmanuel Macron calling the health secretary to hear how to stream the Celtic match from Morocco. Maybe it's Joe Biden asking for advice how to deal with a disastrous predecessor at the heart of a criminal investigation. I don't know. It could have been any of those things. Of course, it would not have been asking the Nats how to build ferries or how to run an education system. And they definitely won't have been asking Humza Yousaf for economic advice because he's making hard-working Scots pick up the bill for his mistakes. He's putting Scottish businesses at a competitive disadvantage. He's driving key NHS staff away and his decisions mean 1.5 million Scots will pay more than people south of the border. Really, First Minister, is this all Scotland can expect from high-tax Humza? Mr Ross. No, First Minister, sorry. It's very important that members address one another courtesy and that is using first names and surnames and avoiding other such names. First Minister. You see, this is the difference between us, Presiding Officer, that Douglas Ross is standing here advocating for himself as one of the 5% top-highest earners in the country to get £754 extra in a tax cut from his Conservative colleagues. The difference is that I'm advocating to make sure that we get a real-terms increase to our NHS. That's the difference between us, Presiding Officer. I believe in an increase to our NHS, an increase to our education budget, an increase to police officers, an increase to fire service as well. And what do you get for our progressive taxation system here in Scotland? You get, of course, the best-paid NHS staff here anywhere in the UK. You get the baby box. You get free prescriptions. You, of course, get free nursing and personal care. You get childcare, the most generous offer of childcare anywhere in the UK. Under the Tories, you get a Brexit that we didn't vote for. You get a mini-budget that tanked the economy. You get a Westminster cost of living crisis that's harming millions of households across Scotland. No wonder, Presiding Officer, that the Tories haven't won an election in Scotland in almost 70 years and under Douglas sources leadership that ain't changing anytime soon, Presiding Officer. Question number two, Anna Sarwar. Thank you, members. Members, I do not want to be shouting into a void, and I would be grateful that you carry yourselves with courtesy and respect. We have many members who wish to put a question today. Question number two at Call Anna Sarwar. Presiding Officer, I'd like to extend my deepest sympathies to the families of those who lost loved ones in the Lockaberry tragedy 35 years ago. My thoughts are with all those, both in the emergency services and the local community, whose bravery and resilience after the event touched us all. Today we take time to remember everyone affected by this tragedy. As we break for the Christmas recess, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff of the Parliament for their hard work throughout the year and to wish you, all members across the chamber, all the staff across the Parliament and, of course, the people of Scotland, a very merry Christmas. Presiding Officer, this year started with Humza Yousaf as health secretary. Throughout the year, things in our NHS have got worse, not better. Over 425,000 patients waited more than four hours at A&E this year. Almost 55,000 of them were there for over 12 hours. At the start of the year, 767,938 people were on an NHS waiting list. Now that stands at 828,398. First Minister, why is it that everything you touch breaks? First Minister. Presiding Officer, you know that Anasawar loses the argument when he goes for the personal attacks, which is what he does regularly and very often. Let me give Anasawar some of the statistics, of course, in the budget that we have brought forward, which Anasawar and his Labour colleagues have, of course, opposed. We are giving a record investment of over £19.5 billion to the NHS. That is a budget, of course, that is ensuring we have the best NHS-paid staff compared to anywhere in the UK. It's a budget that gives, of course, a pay-up lift to our care workers. As for the NHS waiting lists, of course, there are challenges. The global pandemic has impacted health services in Scotland, in Wales, in Northern Ireland and, indeed, in England and right across the world, but we are making progress. If we look at outpatients, long waits and outpatients, I can hear the Labour-Bentley shouting, we're not. Let me give you the statistics. When it comes to outpatients, the longest waits, those two-year targets, the numbers waiting over two years for a new outpatient appointment is down 69 per cent. When it comes to inpatients, numbers waiting longer than two years for inpatients was reduced by 26 per cent. We'll continue to invest in our NHS. Wouldn't it be good if Labour supported a budget that is giving record investment to our NHS? Annas Sarwar. I was quoting Humza Yousaf's record, and let me quote it again. You were the transport minister when the trains were never on time. When you were justice secretary, the police were stretched to breaking point. And as health minister, we've got record high waiting times. No, I'm not quoting Jackie Baillie. I'm sure even she was struggling to be that harsh. I'm actually quoting Kate Forbes, who sat round the cabinet table with Humza Yousaf. And on Tuesday, we saw the consequences of SNP incompetence, waste and a failure to grow our economy. Affordable housing funding cut by £200 million in the middle of a homelessness crisis. Mental health services cut in real terms in the middle of a mental health crisis. And the fuel and security fund scrapped all together in the middle of a cost of living crisis. This is the most devastating budget in the history of devolution. So why is it on his watch that Scots pay more and get less? First Minister. On my watch, of course, because of the actions that the Scottish Government has taken, it's estimated 90,000 children will be lifted out of poverty this year in Scotland. And you know what won't help with tackling child poverty is a true child limit that Anasawa now supports retaining. What won't help, of course, is a bedroom tax that Keir Starmer and Anasawa now, of course, support retaining. And on my watch, of course, in this Government's watch, we have more young people from areas of higher deprivation going to university than ever before. And yes, yes, there was challenges in the budget. I'm not going to pretend otherwise. Let's look at why there's challenges. There's challenges because we've had over 13 years of conservative austerity. Let me read what the Welsh Labour Finance Secretary said. Briefly, First Minister. He said, this is the toughest financial situation Wales has faced since the start of devolution. Our funding settlement, which comes largely from the UK Government, is not enough to reflect the extreme pressure Wales faces. So why is it that Labour and Wales have the backbone to challenge Tory austerity but Anasawa and Scottish Labour don't? Anasawa. Presiding Officer, don't worry. In 2024 we're getting rid of them. What we need to do is get rid of the SNP in competence at the same time as well. Because I'm surprised he didn't talk about his so-called progressive tax rise, which is going to raise £82 million. That would buy you a fifth of an SNP ferry that hasn't even sailed yet. He is simply not a serious politician. And this First Minister is so out of touch. Members? This First Minister is so out of touch. He thinks if you earn almost £29,000 you should pay more tax in Scotland than in the rest of the UK. These are not the people with the broadest shoulders, but they're being forced to pay the price for his failures in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. Presiding Officer, 2023 will be remembered as the year when the SNP were found out. They have broken the NHS, they have broken the justice system, they have broken the housing system, they have broken the public finances, they have broken the public's trust and they seem to have broken their party in the process. 2023 was a bad year for the SNP. There's times I used to think 2024 is going to be any better. First Minister. Talking about broken, all Anna Sauer does is sound like a broken record, Presiding Officer. Time and time again he comes here demanding more money for public services but opposes every single revenue, raising power and policy that we bring to this Parliament. And of course that's the Anna Sauer of 2023. The Anna Sauer who is touting for the Labour Party put out a letter demanding a 50p rate for those who earn 100,000. What happened? What happened? That was before. Presiding Officer, he moused. That was before. Members. The one thing that absolutely won't change in 2024 is that Anna Sauer will say one thing, one day and then another thing, another day because we know, Presiding Officer, we know that Anna Sauer is not a serious politician. He doesn't think for himself, he waits until he gets the memo from head office and I don't know if Anna Sauer has sent his letter to Santa but if not she should ask for a backbone Presiding Officer because if he finds that backbone he'll stand up for Scotland as opposed to standing up for Ciar Sarmer. Thank you. We move to question number three and I call Mark Ruskell. Thank you very much. To ask the First Minister how the budget will support... I think Mr Ruskell, I'm going to ask that you begin again. Let's hear Mr Ruskell. Thank you Presiding Officer. To ask the First Minister how the budget will support climate action. First Minister. Tackling the climate emergency is key to my Government's three defining missions lies at the very heart of our draft budget. Our capital and resource programmes that we have committed total £4.7 billion to climate positive activities they include £2.5 billion investment in public transport almost £360 million for warmer greener homes a record £220 million for active travel £158 million for nature and woodland restoration and over £60 million to anchor a new offshore wind supply chain. We've made these choices at the same time of course as being faced with a 10% cut real terms cut in our capital budget over the next five years. This is not just because investing in climate action is the right thing, that of course it is. But it's also where the huge economic opportunity lies for Scotland. More jobs, more successful businesses and greater opportunity for the country. Mark Ruskell. Can I thank the First Minister for that answer? That budget commitment to climate and nature is also a commitment to people. Record funding for active travel creates safer neighbourhoods. Investment in nature means more rural jobs and funding for warm homes lifts people out of fuel poverty. Can the First Minister outline how the Government will ensure that the economic benefits of this Government's record investment in climate will reach the very people who need it the most? We are committed to a just transition to net zero and that just transition is of course good for our planet but fundamentally it's good for our people too. The very heart of that just transition is in our people. It's already happening. The renewable energy sector supported more than 42,000 jobs across the Scottish economy according to the Fraser of Allander analysis but we are also taking action to make sure those who need the most help get the most help. Free bus travel, which we will spend almost £430 million on next year is cutting emissions while making the lives of our 2 million people easier in access to public transport. Our warmer home Scotland programme which has already cut the bills and carbon for 35,000 low-income households with up to £700 million of funding made available over the next contract period and we are investing a record £220 million in making our streets better and safer for cycling and walking the cheapest and of course the most sustainable form of transport. Mark Ruskell is absolutely right. At the heart of our climate action we are investing the billions that we are in climate positive actions. Sarah Boyack. First Minister, the Scottish Government is failing to meet climate targets in homes and buildings, transport and land. It still doesn't have a climate delivery plan or a green industrial strategy and they are cut to the energy transition. The just transition fund has been significantly cut, the green jobs fund has gone all together and the 67 million offshore supply chain announcement was just a reduced and reheated figure from before at a time when we need major investment in our supply chains to deliver our green jobs potential. So how can the First Minister say that his Government is tackling the climate emergency when it is failing in so many ways? No, we of course all voted in this Parliament for those world-leading climate change targets but what's most gallant is that every time we bring proposals forward they seem to be opposed by the opposition time and time again and when it comes to a climate change plan of course we will still publish that within the statutory time scale and timelines upon us and of course where the difficulty for Sarah Boyack comes is she's demanding that we spend more and more and more money all the while the Conservatives have car budget and all the while her leader has literally just stood up minutes ago opposing any revenue raising proposals that we bring forward. So I'm afraid Sarah Boyack has no climate credibility she certainly has no economic credibility in this area either. Question number four, Evelyn Tweed. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that Creative Scotland's national lottery extended programme fund has received applications equating to double the available budget leaving some organisations and charities without funding. The Scottish Government is committed to its continued support for the arts as announced in the budget this week we will reinstate the 6.6 million to Creative Scotland for their national lottery shortfall funding for 2324 along with a further 6.6 million for 2425 all Creative Scotland's funds whether funded by the Scottish Government grant and aid or by UK national lottery budgets they receive far more eligible applications than there is funding available to support them due to this competitive process for funding of course difficult decisions do have to be made by Creative Scotland. In the event of an unsuccessful application it is my understanding that Creative Scotland will offer advice to organisations on other potential sources of funding that may be available if those organisations contact their inquiry service. Evelyn Tweed. I welcome the significant investment the budget offers to the culture sector while Labour controls has cut their budget by 10%. As we know culture organisations across Scotland are facing substantial rising costs. Can the First Minister say any more about how the Scottish budget will support the culture sector? Can I ask what support the Scottish Government is offering to organisations like Creative Stirling in my constituency which did lose out on Creative Scotland funding with significant challenges to stay afloat in the year ahead? On Creative Stirling first and foremost an organisation I know and have been introduced to by Evelyn Tweed. I would encourage them to absolutely make contact with Creative Scotland about potential other avenues of funding and of course I will ask the appropriate cabinet secretary to be in touch with Evelyn Tweed in order to see if there is any further support that we can direct Creative Stirling towards. In the budget earlier this week we are increasing culture funding by £15.8 million next year. That commitment to additional funding despite the very significant challenges our budget absolutely faces. Let's put that into some context. In the Welsh budget on Tuesday their funding for support for the culture and the arts was cut by 6.5%. The UK Government has cut its funding to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport by 30% in real terms between 2022-23 and the coming year as well. We will continue to work with our arts and culture sector to ensure that we invest in them but where we can, those that miss out on funding we are always happy to provide feedback assistance in order to see how better we can support them. Question 5, Jamie Greene. To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government can promote and assist organisations that tackle loneliness, isolation and self-harm over the festive period. Christmas, as we all know, can be an exceptionally difficult time. People can have money worries, loneliness, grief, just a few of the issues that people are confronted with during the festive season. That's why we have launched new content on our mental wellbeing website Mind to Mind to support people who may well be struggling at this time of year. This will be supported by a public campaign over the festive period online and in community settings including restaurants and supermarkets. Since 2021, we have invested £51 million in our community's mental health and wellbeing fund for adults, with 3,300 grants being made to local organisations across Scotland to tackle social isolation. This very much complements action under way funding 53 community organisations who are delivering befriending services and providing opportunities for people to connect. Social isolation, loneliness, mental health and inequalities have been made worse by the pandemic and indeed by the cost of living crisis and this Government continues to respond to these public health issues. Jamie Greene. For most of us Christmas in a year obviously is a time to look forward to but many people dread it. Grief, loss, depression, domestic abuse and indeed loneliness are the unwelcome gifts that this season too often offers them. Sadly last year 762 of our fellow Scots completed suicide and this year over 100,000 will be eating their Christmas dinner alone. On that, can I commend the work of Marion Scott at the Sunday Post and Age Scotland for their incredible campaigning on the issue of loneliness? Can I also say directly to those watching this who may have feelings of despair this festive season that you are not alone? You can call the Samaritans on 116, 123 at any time of the day or night for free if you need to talk to someone. Can I ask the First Minister what more support can the Government offer particularly those charities and volunteers who are always there at the other end of the phone when far too often no one else is? First Minister. A very good question from Jamie Greene. Can I commend him for often at this time of year raising these issues because as we all know everybody in any demographic can be impacted by mental health challenges can be impacted by loneliness can be impacted by isolation and I also want to add my tributes and thanks to Age Scotland and indeed the Sunday Post and others who have done some excellent work in highlighting the issues of isolation, loneliness and mental health challenges that people face at this time of year. To answer Jamie Greene's question directly, that is why the Government continues to invest in local community organisations that provide support from social isolation and we do that through our social isolation and loneliness fund to deliver 53 local projects supporting people and 70 per cent of that fund will be distributed to smaller organisations 30 per cent to larger organisations and that funding supports a whole range of activities many of us will have seen examples of that activity in our own local constituencies such as lunch clubs, social group activities community development, digital connections creative arts, befriending services and I want to pay tribute to every single organisation right up and down the length and breadth of this country for the excellent work that they do especially at this time of year in order to tackle loneliness and isolation. Thank you. To ask the First Minister whether and how the Scottish Government plans to increase awareness of spiking ahead of Christmas and new year. First Minister. I also thank Pauline McNeill for an important question and recognise that she has raised issues in this regard in particular in violence against women and girls on a very regular occasion. Spiking is an abhorrent act of violence and the run-up to Christmas Police Scotland is working with partners to ensure that licence premises are safe spaces for all including through a spiking toolkit to relevant partners. We continue to support the best bar none scheme in delivering bystander intervention training to empower people to address and prevent harassment and indeed provide advice on providing anti-drink spiking measures. Police Scotland is also working in partnership with other emergency services with student bodies, with universities, with colleges and crucially our partners in the third sector to raise awareness and provide support for anybody who is affected. We remain absolutely committed to tackle all forms of violence against women and we encourage anyone who believes that a victim to come forward and report it to the police. Pauline McNeill. Women across the country are being alerted to an increase in spiking and in 2021, worryingly we started seeing cases of spiking by injection. The most commonly used drugs being GHB, rehypnal and ketamine constitutes the crime of drugging in Scotland or can be a statutory crime under the sexual offences act. As the First Minister has already identified it's mainly women who are targeted but not exclusively. The key characteristics of the drugs are that they are orderless, tasteless and colourless and can affect their memory. It can make it difficult to report those crimes. There are great campaigns as the First Minister has already outlined of your spite but I believe prevention must be central to the strategy. Does the First Minister agree that it's very important to continue to have discussions with the night time industry who are already alert to this? It's currently not recorded as a category of crime under the Scottish Government's statistics. The First Minister thought that we should do that but does he agree with Don Fife of Glasgow-based wisewomen who ask that women remain vigilant especially over the Christmas period? First Minister. I do agree with all of that and I'm more than happy for the justice secretary to look at the issue around how that crime is recorded and to have that conversation with Police Scotland. The heart of Pauline Neill's question is absolutely right. Prevention is far better than cure. It's so important that we recognise that the majority of the disproportionate impact of spiking does, I'm afraid, impact and affect women. Therefore, the work that we are doing to address violence against women and girls that preventative work we are doing with boys, to not just change their behaviour but call out unacceptable behaviours is something that I'm absolutely committed to. I'm more than happy to ensure that we work closely with Pauline Neill on those issues but I agree with her wholeheartedly that we should do more to ensure that there's a greater awareness of spiking particularly at this time over here. Russell Findlay. The First Minister says that he takes spiking seriously. His spiking round table was due to meet in October ahead of this year's crucial festive party season but to the dismay of campaigners and victims it was cancelled. So while UK ministers are taking action to protect victims complacent SNP ministers are doing precisely nothing. So can the First Minister tell spiking victims and campaigners when the round table will next meet? I have to say I will not be the only one that will be extremely disappointed in the tone of Russell Findlay's question because there should be a genuine understanding here that for all of our political differences and I have many political differences with Russell Findlay he should not be suggesting that anybody in this chamber does not take spiking seriously. We all take spiking seriously. That's why we have taken a number of actions worked with a number of partners and a number of initiatives in this regard. We will of course continue to work with anybody, not just Conservative members in this chamber but of course with the UK Government on any criminal offence that they are looking to bring forward. We don't believe that there is a need necessarily to create a separate criminal offence of spiking because it is covered as Pauline McNeill said through statutory offences at the moment. But I would say to Russell Findlay to write to him in detail about the actions that we are taking to tackle spiking. We move to constituency and general supplementaries and I call Bob Doris. Presiding Officer, best start food provides support to families with young children under three and is more generous and has a higher uptake than its equivalent scheme in England. However, the Scottish Government recently deported at some families of unused credits of over £600 on their accounts or had not acted with the best start food cards. Does the First Minister agree with me that, with the scheme opening to an additional 20,000 people in 2024, it is vital that that support is fully used and will meet me to discuss myself and the Scottish Pantry Network to discuss a potential pilot project that could see food pantries including those in my constituency becoming strategic partners to support uptake and ensure healthy food is accessible and affordable to low-income families? First Minister. Of course, the Scottish Government will be more than happy to meet Bob Doris' Scottish Pantry Network because the points that are made by Bob Doris are incredibly important and I am very pleased that we are expanding eligibility for best start foods in February so that a further 20,000 people will benefit as pleased to be able to make that announcement earlier this year. While estimated take-up for 2223 is 92 per cent some people have not activated or indeed have stopped using their card, Social Security Scotland or contacted them to remind them that the money is theirs and encouraged them to use it. The card can be used at food pantries and in addition to funding being provided to the network by the Scottish Government Social Security Scotland works closely with the Scottish Pantry Network offering drop-in services and appointments to support people to apply for benefits. The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice would be more than interested to hear about what the network could do to promote best start foods. Graham Simpson The First Minister's gift to hard-pressed rail passengers was the announcement of a near 9 per cent increase in fares and that is way above the current level of inflation. At a time when we should be doing all we can to encourage more people to use the trains why is the First Minister doing the opposite? The First Minister Of course this is the Government that has abolished and scrapped peak rail fares in terms of our pilot at the moment. This is the Government that made sure that we froze fares for a number of years. Again, we get to the contradiction at the heart of every single Conservative contribution and that is that they are demanding money in this case on rail services but oppose every single revenue-raising option. In fact, they go further. They demand tax cuts for the wealthiest in this country. If we'd listened to Graham Simpson, if we'd listened to Douglas Ross, if we'd listened to Liz Smith, we'd have 1.5 billion pounds less to spend on revenue. Thank goodness we don't listen to the Conservative Party. Jackie Baillie This Parliament passed the Christmas New Year's Day Trading Scotland Act in 2007. Provision was made for Scottish ministers to stop large stalls from trading on New Year's Day subject of course to consultation. The First Minister knows, as we all do, that retail staff work very hard especially at this time of year with longer hours and indeed more demanding customers. They deserve a break. The SNP say that they believe in fair work yet they have rejected calls from our store, the Worker's Union, to fully implement the bill. Why is the First Minister opposed to giving staff in large stalls the day off on New Year's Day? The First Minister We're not saying that that is a mis-characterisation of our position. We do, of course, believe in fair work. We are the party that is proud of the work that we've done in relation to fair work principles that we expect everybody, including the Government, to abide by. I will examine what more we can do more than happy to work with Azdagh, who we have the most respect for, but also retail staff. I think that it's important that Jackie Baillie raises this point at this time of year in particular that our retail staff do an incredible job often in very difficult circumstances as well. I will see what more we can do in relation to the Trading Scotland Act because we are the party, proud that we are the party in a fair work principle that comes in our farreith, and, whether it is fair or not, the industry is doing. It will be the money that we need in this area for future work. It is an opportunity to talk about how we are in a fair work principle ddymiastic abuse. It is abhorrent. I want people to know that the support is available to them no matter what time of year it is. I encourage anyone experiencing domestic abuse to report it to the police, to reach out to services for advice and support as soon as they safely can. Agencies and service providers will be raising awareness of the availability of support throughout the festival period. You can also call the Scottish Government-funded Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 027ASV the minister is a former cabinet secretary, the first minister will know that in the past to week refit period saw a role کs and more decently he freight vessel providing cover on the stromen's deskerabster route. This year there will be no vessel at all in the route. What does the first minister think this says about the government's commitment to life line ferry services in Canada off four врangers by internet centimetres in amser lleoligfyrr. Is that a guarantee to my constituents that there will be no repeat of this abandonment in years to come? Of course we take our obligations seriously to our island communities in the budget, and the budget is undoubtedly a demonstration of that. I am more than happy to have a discussion with the cabinet secretary and the minister for transport, to write to Liam McArthur about what options there are potentially around the strongness to a scrap stour route. It is an incredibly important lifeline route and any mitigations that we can feasibly put in place, we absolutely will put in place when the Hamn of Oaks goes for its two week refit. I welcome the significant investment of £66.9 million that the Scottish Government has announced in the offshore wind supply chain as part of this week's budget. In the light of the recent Fraser of Allander institute report on renewable jobs? Can the First Minister outline his Government's commitment to growing the green sector in Scotland as part of our journey to next year? I warmly welcome the study from the Fraser of Allander institute that shows that the renewable energy sector supported more than 42,000 jobs across the Scottish economy and generated over £10.1 billion of output in 2021. That report provides further evidence that Scotland is leading the way in delivering a green jobs revolution and unlocking the huge potential that our energy transition presents. As I have already mentioned in response to Mark Ruskell, it is worth putting again on record that the just transition to net zero is not just a moral imperative of that of course, it absolutely is. It is a huge economic opportunity for Scotland and one that we are absolutely ready to capitalise on. That is why the budget of course was so important in terms of increased investment to ensure that we have supply chains anchored here in Scotland. It was reported yesterday that anti-power, a battery manufacturer, has entered administration. Plans for a £190 million mega-factory in Dundee, which could create 215 jobs on-site and 800 more in the supply train, have been scrapped. It is a huge blow to our economy and our just transition to net zero ambitions. What can the First Minister do to provide assurances to current employees and how can we ensure that we get the manufacturing facilities for the just transition that we need in the north-east? I was very concerned to learn recently that anti-power has entered into administration. That will be a very difficult time for the company's staff, their families particularly at this time of year that people affected by the decisions are our immediate priority. The Scottish Government will do everything in our power to help those who have been affected through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations, partnership action, for continuing employment pace. I understand that the appointed administrator FRP will continue to look for a positive outcome for the Thursday operation in particular. The region has a track record in innovative battery research development in manufacturing, spanning 20 years, and every step will be taken to build on the existing capabilities and associated supply chain. That concludes First Minister's questions. There will be a short suspension now to allow those leaving. This week, both the First Minister and Deputy First Minister have repeatedly said that the UK Government will cut Scotland's capital budget by 10 per cent over the next five years. However, the Scottish Fiscal Commission in evidence to the finance committee has made it clear that that cut will be 20 per cent to Scotland's budget over the next five years. Will the Deputy First Minister and the Deputy First Minister now confirm that the cuts to Scotland's capital budget imposed by the UK Tories will, in fact, be much deeper than they have indicated? Mr Gibson, I am sure that, at this point in your parliamentary career, you are aware that that is not a point of order. Therefore, we will be moving on momentarily to the next item of business.