 I remind members of the Covid-related measures that are in place and that face coverings should be worn when moving around the chamber and across the Holyrood campus. The first item of business is general questions in order to get in as many people as possible. I would be grateful for short and succinct questions and answers to match. I call it question number one, Emma Roddick. Thank you, Presiding Officer. First of all, can I declare that I am a sitting councillor? To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider local government reform in relation to the redrawing of local authority areas in light of reported issues associated with new boundaries for the Highland Council area. Minister George Adam. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Boundaries Scotland recently conducted a review of world boundaries for Highland Council, as required under the islands act. All of the local authority areas with inhabited islands were reviewed. The proposal for Highland Council was not approved by the Scottish Plarmland. There are currently no plans to review boundaries for local authority areas. Emma Roddick. I thank the minister for his answer. Does he believe that the Highland Council area, given its size, can be described as local government, and would he see the benefits in an Inverness City Council, both for our fastest growing city and the rest of the highlands, which have very different interests? Minister. We currently have no plans to change the council area. I understand the geographic challenges for Highland Council. We are recognised when it was first created. Unfortunately, those challenges did not allow for a practical solution that would have enabled the area to be split up, and those challenges have not changed. Question number two has not launched. Question number three, Donald Cameron. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for colposcopy appointments. Cabinet Secretary, Humza Yousaf. When the cervical screening programmes that we started last year will be invested around £1 million to increase capacity in both sample-taking and colposcopy services, more recently and to coincide with the Scottish Government's national cervical screening awareness campaign, we have provided £660,000 to health boards who are experiencing longer waiting times for our colposcopy, which includes NHS Highlands, to help to reduce those waits. The NHS recovery plan, which is backed by over £1 billion of additional investment, sets out how the Scottish Government will increase NHS capacity by 10 per cent as quickly as possible. We have already invested more than £80 million to support health boards in achieving this. Donald Cameron. Can I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer? Constituent from Argyll and Bute recently contacted me describing her own experience in seeking such an appointment. Following the detection of abnormal cells during cervical screening, she received a letter from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, notifying her that not only would she be unable to get her colposcopy appointment within the eight-week limit, but she would instead have to wait up to 30 or 30 weeks. That was clearly highly distressing. Can the cabinet secretary explain what action can be taken to reduce waiting times, and would he be able to look into this specific case if I provide further details privately? On his last point, of course, I would be happy to look at the individual case if he does pass on the details. I note that, certainly in the summertime, there were claims that some patients were waiting up to 30 weeks for a colposcopy appointment. It is why we decided to invest additional money into some of those health boards who, where the waiting times were far longer than we would like them to be. That included the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, also included the NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Highland, Lothian and NHS Tayside. I was looking at the most recent figures in terms of waiting times for colposcopy. If it is a routine appointment in terms of suspicion of cancer, if it is routine, then the waits nationally have gone down to 10 weeks in Scotland, which is still above the eight-week target that we have. However, I can see there is incredible variation across health boards, and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is still far too high than I would like it to be, so I would be happy to look at the individual case that Mr Cameron raises. Question 4, Collette Stevenson. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage the consumption of locally sourced foods. On 20 August, we published a draft local food strategy that sets out the wealth of actions that we are taking to encourage local food consumption, including launching the Scotland Bring So Much to the Table campaign to drive increased sales and awareness of Scottish produce. We are also taking action to raise the profile of producer and farmers markets around Scotland and promoting access to local produce through butchers, fishmongers, bakers and farm shops through the Food and Drink Recovery Plan. That includes the Food for Life programme, supporting the provision of more locally sourced healthier food being served in schools. In 2021-22, we will target all 32 local authorities to £400,000 worth of funding. We are currently consulting on the draft strategy to ensure that the public and relevant organisations have the chance to shape further government action to encourage local food. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Could she outline how lowland deer managers can get a voice in on-going discussions and how can we ensure that more local produce is available in public sector catering such as schools and hospital canteens? First of all, I encourage lowland deer managers and anyone who is interested in that, which is going to be wide-ranging, to make sure that they share their views through the local food consultation. That is open until 26 November for responses, because there is a chance there to shape further government action to encourage local food. We remain absolutely committed to increasing the local sourcing of food and drink in the public sector. Just recently, Glasgow City Council became the 17th local authority to achieve food for life status in their primary schools. Our support for that programme continues, and we are currently in discussions with the soil association around options for expanding that into other settings in the public sector. I recently met the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association and they emphasised the health benefits and sustainability of locally sourced, high-quality meat and dairy products that they produce. What is the Scottish Government doing to support a culture change when it comes to information regarding locally sourced food, including the health and environmental benefits? The Scottish Government absolutely agrees that locally sourced food has so many benefits, and that is why, in addition to the actions that we have set out in the local food strategy, we also recently introduced the Good Food Nation Bill to the Scottish Parliament, which will place duties on Scottish ministers and other public authorities to produce plans of their policies in relation to food and to set out what they are going to do to ensure that those plans are made real. We are also currently undertaking scoping work on a single marketing brand for all Scottish food and drink produce, sustainably Scottish, which would be available to all Scottish-based producers, manufacturers and suppliers who can satisfy stringent criteria on provenance and low-carbon operations. That will allow many Scottish businesses with a strong story to tell about sustainability to really capitalise on that demand. Public procurement is one of the main levers that the Government has here to ensure that we have to be sport our farmers and our local food producers, but they are continually telling us that red tape is preventing them from accessing the central excel contract. That has been the case for years. I know that I have spoken about that in the chamber many times, so what is the Government doing to ensure that farmers have access to the excel contract? The member is absolutely right, and I know that it is an issue that he has raised a number of times within the chamber, but that is what I would say and where our local food strategy and the consultation that we have out on that is so important, because there are three overarching pillars within that, about how we better connect people with food, and about connecting local producers with buyers, but it is also about how we can better harness the buying power that we have within the public sector for procurement as well. Again, I encourage Mr Whittle and other members across the chamber to out both themselves and encourage others to respond to this consultation, because we know that that is an issue that we want to tackle and really get to grips with. To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for infrastructure investment in the Coatbridge and Chryston constituency. The Coatbridge and Chryston constituency will benefit from Scottish Government-supported national infrastructure programmes, such as the £3.4 billion investment in affordable housing, £600 million in superfast broadband and over £550 million in active travel. Additionally, with NHS Lanarkshire, we have plans to build a new hospital that will replace the existing university hospital munklins, as well as a new national treatment centre project, as it is at the early stage of planning. We are also investing over £500 million in the Glasgow City region deal in which North Lanarkshire is a partner. Fulton MacGregor. I thank the minister for that response. He will be aware of the Gatcosh business interchange in my constituency, which has been developed by Scottish Enterprise and already includes the very impressive police crime campus. He may also be aware that the site was shot last year as one of the proposed sites for the new munklins hospital that he described. The consultation around a new hospital was lengthy and thorough, and, ultimately, an alternative site was chosen in the air-drate. I very much welcome the new hospital, as it will greatly benefit my constituency. However, this process inevitably has stalled further investment in the site in Gatcosh, which is strategically well placed in crying out for future infrastructure development. I have had some helpful discussions with Scottish Enterprise, and I know that they are commissioning work around the site. Would the minister be open to a meeting with Scottish Enterprise and myself to consider what more can be done to bring about development at the site that will benefit Co-bridge and Crescent and, indeed, the wider area? Minister Ivan McKee. Yes, I know the site, and I would be happy to meet Fulton MacGregor and Scottish Enterprise, and you will be aware of that through our investment in the Glasgow City region deal. We have unlocked the development potential at Gatcosh Business Park. In addition, through our vacant and earlick land fund awards to North Lanarkshire Council, we have supported their local property development and regeneration company using assets limited to undertake over nine acres of site preparation works for new business and industrial use. The first 18,000 square foot unit is now completed. That investment will address market failure in the site, attract new businesses to the area and create associated local employment opportunities. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle fly tipping in light of reports that there have been just three prosecutions from 32 reported cases of fly tipping in the 2019-20 financial year. I thank the member for the question, because it gives me the opportunity to restate that fly tipping is a criminal offence and that it has no place in Scotland. We take the matter very seriously and are developing a new litter and fly tipping strategy, which will be ready for consultation by the end of this year and will be published in early 2022. Enforcement, which the member raises, is one of the key themes of this strategy. We will be reviewing current processes and legislation, including where they may need to be strengthened or new legislation required. I absolutely welcome views and encourage participation in the upcoming consultation. I thank the minister for her positive response. I think that she will appreciate the frustration that is felt in local government, that a huge amount of time and effort goes into preparing cases against people who are caught fly tipping. Those cases are sent to the Procurator Fiscal Service, and only a tiny percentage of those cases are taken forward for action. That causes frustration. The minister might know that I am currently working on a member's bill consultation on how we might strengthen the law in this area. Will she agree to meet me to discuss how we might work together to try to resolve that problem? Yes, I understand the frustrations and the frustrations of local authorities, of the police, of the Procurator Fiscal Service and, of course, of those people who are unfortunate enough to have to deal with it on their land. I live in a rural area, and I personally have had experiences of it, so I know how frustrating it is. I am aware of the bill that the member is developing. I have not seen the content of it yet, but I would be glad to meet him to discuss it. Christine Grahame Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. Fly tipping goes way beyond, of course, the ubiquitous street matters. Minister, I understand that it is the case that serious organised crime is involved in commercial fly tipping. Will that be factored into a consultation? Organised crime and criminal activity is a key part of one of the many challenges that we face as regards litter and fly tipping. I mentioned in my answer to the previous question that we are engaging with Police Scotland and the Procurator Fiscal Service and, crucially, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to look at those very issues. To ask the Scottish Government what consultation is being undertaken with communities regarding next-year summer timetable for ferry routes in the CalMac network. Minister Grahame Day Presiding Officer, CalMac is currently consulting with local stakeholders regarding the summer 22 timetable. As a result of the consultation, it will be considered before any decisions are taken. Community abusers are crucial to this process. I would encourage stakeholders to engage constructively with CalMac and for CalMac to reflect carefully on any implementable ask coming out of that process. Alasdair Allan I thank the minister for that very helpful reply. The minister will be aware of concerning my constituency over proposed changes, which would result in an overall reduction in the number of sailings from Luchmadi and Tarbot. Can the minister comment on this question and also on why the consultation period around that issue was apparently so short? Minister Grahame Day Presiding Officer, increasing demand on the route has led to CalMac deploying the messaging decks more frequently, and that has led to challenges with loading and offloading within the current timetable. Any delays to sailings have knock-on effects, often requiring later sailings to be cancelled to ensure crews get the required hours of rest. This option is therefore being deployed—and developed rather—to allow the messaging decks to be fully deployed with some amendments to timetables, resulting in the removal of the shoulder off-peak season and having a consistent timetable for the whole summer period. However, if the community do not want this, the summer 2021 timetable will remain in place, although the MES deck will not be in operation in order to avoid delays in cancellations. CalMac are continuing to engage on the proposals with the council, who are the agreed ferry consultation group for Western Isle services, and what Scotland officials are raising closely with CalMac on those matters. I hope that that offers the member some reassurance. The minister will be aware that one of the services being cut is on a Saturday, which is traditionally a changeover day for the tourism business, meaning that that changeover cannot take place. If the issue is crewing, will he allow CalMac to employ further crew so that the ferry can run more often, allowing changeover to happen? Those are options that are being considered. We are aware that CalMac continues to engage along with the local council on those matters. I encourage the local council to also involve the local transport forum and the discussions to see whether we can arrive at a satisfied conclusion. To ask the Scottish Government how it will support Argyll and Bute to benefit from the transition to net zero. The climate crisis is the greatest long-term challenge that we face, and the risks of anaction are huge. There are also opportunities, and the Scottish Government provides a range of support to ensure that communities and businesses in Argyll and Bute and across Scotland benefit from a just transition to net zero. To give just two examples of that work, Argyll and The Isle's Coast and Countryside Trust have received £52,000 through the climate challenge fund, and we have committed up to £25 million to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth through Argyll and Bute rural growth deal over 10 years. Combined with investment from partners, the deal will be worth at least £78 million. I thank the minister for that answer. Argyll and Bute is central to Scotland's journey to net zero, with onshore and offshore wind and renewable supply chain businesses and marine research at SAMS, as well as being home to Scotland's Celtic rainforests. How will the Scottish Government listen to communities and balance their needs with those of the wider country? The member touches on a really important point about the balance. Just transition is at the heart of our climate action. The transition must be one that delivers on our economic and social, as well as our climate goals. It will only work if it is shaped by communities, businesses and workers alike. We have committed to producing regional just transition plans, and we are identifying where we think they will be best placed act as a facilitator for planning processes, bringing parties together and ensuring that voices are heard. Our draft MPF4 was laid before Parliament yesterday, and we will be carrying an extensive consultation and engagement on that. Just last week, at COP26, on a visit to RSPB with the Glasgow Botanic Gardens and its countries around the world committed to ending deforestation, I was really pleased to make clear our commitment to continue creating up to 80 per cent of the UK's woodland and, crucially, to support and expand our precious rainforests in the west of Scotland.