 Mae'r cwestiynau y cwestiynau yma i'r cwestiynau yma i'r cyfnodau yng nghymru, ac yn cwestiynau ym mwynt, rwy'n gweithio, Douglas Ross. Rwy'n gweithio, mae'n gweithio i'r cyfnodau sydd yn cyfnodol yn Cysylltu Cymru. Rwy'n gweithio i'n gweithio i'r cyfnodol, mae'r cyfnodol yn cyfnodol yn cyfnodol yn cyfnodol yn cyfnodol. Mae'r cyfnodol yn hyd yn cymryd, worlodau, sylfaen, hanfod a'r gyfnodol ar y cyfnodol yn gyffredinol. Mae'r cyfnodol yn cyfnodol yn cyfnodol yn cyfnodol yn cyfnodol. Douglas Ross. Mae cif cysylltau rwy'n chweithio ar gwaith yw. Roedd hyn yn gweithio allanol yn cael ei w té, proses i, i'n gweithio i gymuned rhywun i'n gweithio a chael y cysylltu cyfan. Mae ein cyfnodol yn cyfnodol yn cyfnodol. The SPA report found significant concerns about the absence of effective performance management systems during the first decade of Police Scotland's existence. The problem here is wider and systemic. It starts far away from the front line with the management and the leadership. Does the First Minister agree that, given that he has just rededicated himself to tackling the issue, what urgent action will his Government take in response to the SPA report and the chief council statement today? Of course, those in management and leadership positions absolutely have to bear responsibility, particularly when it is organisations that we lead. It is our responsibility to ensure that we examine the evidence, we collate the data and we come to the conclusion around those structural barriers that exist. That is true for me as First Minister. I am certain that Douglas Ross will reflect on the organisation of the political party that he leads as well. There is an important point for those who are in management or leadership. There is one phrase that is often used by Anna Sauer. For all our disagreements, there is one phrase that I have always found that he has used that captures the issue very well. That is that this is a fight for us all. Although management and leadership absolutely have a role to play, all of us have a role to play in our organisations in order to confront those barriers and reflect on what more we can do to undermine them. I am committed to working with Police Scotland, but above and beyond that, I want to make sure that all those organisations that are particularly within the public sector, I want to make sure that we are collecting the data, that we have a view on those structural barriers that exist. Then, of course, we will work with senior management and leadership right across particularly the public sector, but I would also challenge the private sector in this regard too, as I said, to dismantle those barriers that we know have existed and do exist right across our society. The SPA review also found outright fear among officers about bringing forward complaints. The report notes at paragraph 5.8, we heard of people being punished for raising issues or concerns. That is so clearly unacceptable that police officers who are raising these concerns internally were being punished. We must surely all agree that officers should be able to raise legitimate concerns without suffering any consequences. My party has raised these officers' concerns about the broken police complaint system for some time. It is clearly not fit for purpose. Given the severity of the report to the police authority and the chief constable's statement, will the First Minister vow to change the current complaint system and the process within the force that has clearly in the past and continues to let down front-line officers who are raising legitimate concerns? I think that it is a very fair point from Douglas Ross. We are already taking forward work from the Dame Alicia Angelini review and indeed various HMICS reports in this regard. If there is more work that we can do, I absolutely commit to responding to Douglas Ross' challenge and the challenge that others have raised to look at the complaints process. Process is one thing. It is, of course, important, so important that we look at having the correct process, but culture is equally, if not sometimes, even more important. That is why I think that the chief constable's statement was so monumental, because what is demonstrating from the very top of the organisation that that culture simply is not acceptable. Of course, it is important that that permeates down right through the ranks, but I go back to the point that Douglas Ross makes. Of course, what more we can do in terms of the process in place, I will absolutely look and seek to do. We are, as I say, taking forward the recommendations of the Dame Alicia Angelini review and various HMICS reports in this regard, but I do welcome the statement from the chief constable. It is more than just process, process being important of course, but of course culture is vital too. The Dame Angelini report published in 2020. Three years on, officers are still commenting about a system that is broken. We have been raising that in this chamber for some time, and I think that this further report to the SPA and the chief constable's statement today makes that an absolutely crucial issue that must be dealt with with the utmost urgency. The SPA report also found that front-line pressures have left officers without the time to take part in vital training exercise. It found that officers did not feel that they had time to deal with legitimate complaints and grievances because they were so stretched with their responsibility to maintain public order. The SPA report found, and I quote, the greatest challenge we heard and observed to driving cultural change within the service was the pressures on front-line resourcing. Unison have said that there is a 74 million pound shortfall in the policing budget. Absolutely none of that excuses discrimination, but it is a serious problem limiting Police Scotland's ability to change its culture and leaving thousands of first-class officers without the resources they need to do their job. Does the First Minister accept that Scotland's police officers are being asked to do too much with too little? I do not agree with that characterisation and I emphasise and re-emphasise a point that Douglas Ross just made. Of course funding in Douglas Ross is absolutely within his rights to question us in relation to our funding. That can never be an excuse for institutional racism, institutional discrimination and whatever it exists. That is a point, in fairness, that Douglas Ross has made, but I just want to re-emphasise it. In terms of the funding that we provide for Police Scotland, despite UK Government austerity over the years, we have increased police funding year on year since 2016. We have invested more than £11.6 billion in policing since the creation of Police Scotland in 2013. In terms of police officer numbers, of course, those are matters operational for the chief constable, but the latest comparable data that we have shows that 30 police officers per 10,000 in Scotland compares favourably to 24 officers per 10,000 in other parts of the UK, England and Wales. What more we can do to reduce the burden on police officers, which again is a very fair and legitimate point for Douglas Ross to raise. We are doing a fair bit of work in relation to the call-outs in terms of mental health that police officers often have to tend, which we know takes up a significant amount of their time. I am happy to write to Douglas Ross with detail of the work that we are progressing. In terms of going back to the crux of the questions that Douglas Ross is asking, we have been working alongside policing partners to deliver Dame Alicia Angiolini's recommendations. To date, 58 of those recommendations have been delivered. Given the urgency of the issue, the Government will introduce later this year the police complaints and misconduct handling bill to deliver on those recommendations. I go back to the central point that I think everybody will agree with. It is so important that the acknowledgement of institutional racism and other discriminatory behaviours is recognised. What is really important is to then work together to ensure that we dismantle those barriers. I am certainly committed to doing that. I have no doubt that chief constable is, and I am certain that whoever succeeds him in his role will also look to do that too. I thank the First Minister and many others for campaigning on the issue of racism, prejudice and hate for many, many years. I do not think that we can downplay the significance of the bold statement from the chief constable today. It is important to emphasise that it is not a single organisation or institution that is immune to prejudice. What we must see is not just the words, although they are important, but it must inspire action. As the First Minister has said, that is a responsibility for each and every single one of us. There is a culture of secrecy and cover-up at the heart of this dysfunctional and incompetent SNP Government. The dodgy deal with liberty steal, the ferry fiasco, the symbolic deposit return scheme and even heartbreaking tragedies at the Queen Elizabeth all shrouded in secrecy. Incompetence has consequences whether it is hidden from view or not. Freedom of information laws are one of the last defences against SNP cover-up, but ministers are riding roughshod over those laws. New data that we are publishing today shows the number of FOI requests that the Scottish Government has passed on to ministers for approval has risen fivefold. Once a case goes to ministers to sign off or to cover-up, waiting times double with one in every six FOI breaching legally binding response times. What has the First Minister got to hide? There is nothing to hide. It is a sign of increasing desperation that Anna Sauer is relying on insinuation, relying on trying to throw as much mud as he possibly can to hope that things stick. Taking that scatter-gun approach, this Government has a very good record when it comes to responding to freedom of information. We are one of the Governments that has the most ambitious targets on these islands when it comes to responding to FOI legislation. Yes, there have undoubtedly been challenges. I was questioned on this issue at the last convener's group committee meeting yesterday. I responded by saying that I am more than happy to review and to look at to investigate what further the Scottish Government can do to ensure that we are the most transparent Government on these islands. That is what we will seek to do. There is, of course, a legitimate reason why ministers may have to sign off on freedom of information requests. I have made it very clear to our cabinet secretaries and ministers that, when those approvals come up, they should be signed off with urgency and pace. Anna Sauer mentioned Ferguson's shipyard. In relation to transparency, the cabinet secretary came at the earliest opportunity. As soon as that written authority was provided, he came at the first opportunity to make sure that he answered those questions, that, not hiding away, is transparency in action. He says that he is transparent—transparently hopeless—as what people will see right across the country. What we pointed to was facts, and what he should do is listen to his own information commissioner. The SNP despises transparency. At every turn, they cover up failure and instead of confronting it. No answers on what is going to happen to their shambolic deposit return scheme. No answers on the ferry fiasco, despite years of delays and millions of pounds overspent. No answers for families bereaved by the scandal at the Cwunilisabeth university hospital, and bullying investigations kept secret. I asked the last First Minister to share the outcome of Fergus Ewing's bullying investigation, and she said that it was legally impossible, but Humza Yousaf has now suggested that he has had a change of heart. Why? Because the politician in question has the audacity to question the SNP leadership. Does he believe in transparency every day, or just when he desperately needs it, to try to intimidate his critics? Desperate stuff, Presiding Officer. As I said, when Anna Sauer, somebody who has lots of style but no substance, comes to this chamber and demands we take action, when he demands we take action, but has no facts to back it up, that's when you know how desperate Anna Sauer really is. Let me give him some of the facts that we're missing, of course, from his question. Here are some of the facts. Scotland has been a member of the open government partnership since 2016. In 2022 last year, we handled more than four and a half thousand freedom of information requests, and 86 per cent more than eight out of ten of those responses came within 20 working days. We want to do more. I think we should try to see if we can improve that rate of response where we can. On DRS, which is incredible, it now seems that Anna Sauer is taking the side of the cabinet's man in Scotland. He is taking the side of the party that is determined to undermine devolution. Anna Sauer is so desperate to take the SNP. He is siding with the party that opposed the creation of the Scottish Parliament in the first place. When it comes to the question that he asked in relation to ministerial complaints, my view has not changed from my previous question. He was absolutely right. We have an obligation in government to, of course, ensure that we take legal advice at where appropriate and to make sure that we adhere to that legal advice when it comes to any issue, including complaints around former ministers. I will continue to make sure that I take that responsible approach, but I will also continue to make sure that we do everything that we can as a Government to be as open and transparent as we possibly can. We now have a first and no-style and no-substance First Minister and leader of the SNP. We are taking the side of Scottish businesses and Scottish jobs, and perhaps he should listen to the consequences that he is imposing on people. I can hardly hear here. Those who are gathered here to witness this session in action, I am sure that they would like to hear too, so let us just keep the noise down, shall we, while members are on their feet? The strategy is going really well. The SNP is taking Scots for a ride, and we do not even get the luxury of enjoying the campervan. FOI laws are flouted, dissent is suppressed and problems are swept under the carpet. This is a dysfunctional, incompetent and sleaze-winning Government failing on the basics. This has consequences, an NHS a breaking point and a cost-alive crisis spiralling out of control, a party in chaos distracted from the day job, finances under police investigation, a former council leader under police investigation, the last chief executive arrested, the last treasurer arrested, officers raided and police tents in gardens. I have two questions for the First Minister. He says that he is transparent, so can he tell us how many police investigations are on-going into the activities of his party and his Government? Secondly, when will he finally end the rotten culture of secrecy and incompetence at the heart of this SNP Government? I tend to think that it is best for politicians to leave these verdicts to the people of Scotland, and of course they have chosen the SNP time and time again to leave this Scottish Government. I saw Anna Sawa celebrating polls that once again put the Labour Party in second place, celebrating being a loser. That sums up Anna Sawa and the Scottish Labour Party. Anna Sawa said that when it came to DRS, he is on the side of business. Can I remind him that many people in business—many of our business organisations—want the DRS progress, nonetheless, of course, than AG Barr, the producers of Scotland's national drink, Iron Brew, Coca-Cola. Many business organisations want the DRS to go ahead, because they see the value in protecting our environment, and that is what the DRS will do. However, incredibly, just to take a pop-up at the SNP, Anna Sawa sides with the Tories. It is not the only place, where he sided with the Tories, because if he wants to talk about business, we know that one of the biggest shocks to the economy has been because of that hard Brexit that has been imposed upon us by the Conservative Government. Of course, Keir Starmer's Labour Party has become born again Brexit years. The Labour Party is doing damage and will do damage to our economy, because of the hard Brexit stance. The only way Scotland escapes the born again Brexit years, be they be Tories, be they be the Labour Party, is by having the full powers of an independent nation. To ask the First Minister for what reason consultants have reportedly been hired to advise on the next Clyde and Hebrides ferry contract. We are committed to engaging with our various stakeholders in the development of the next generation of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contracts, including engaging with our island communities. As I said yesterday at the convener's committee, it is routine practice to use specialist advisers for complex high-value projects, such as this one, to help to ensure that we deliver a service that meets our needs and delivers value for money. Our external advisers will assist with commercial and programme management of the project. They will provide a level of technical expertise to ensure that the contract reflects industry best practice to deliver a service that meets both current and indeed future requirements. We will also seek the views of communities and other stakeholders to inform the approach that has been taken. The problem is that the Scottish Government has now spent £5.5 million on consultants to advise them on what to think about how to run the ferry network. We have had Project Neptune that set out a number of options. Then Angus Campbell was tasked with asking islanders what they think, what has been the outcome of that. The current contract with CalMac, which has already been extended, expires in 15 months time. There is no time left to start the procurement process for the next time. The Government's approach has been all dither, delay and incompetence. So, can the First Minister tell us if CalMac will be awarded another extension, and is he now considering a new operating model for how we run and procure ferries? We know that the Tories for a long time have not liked the use of experts. That has been something that they have made clear over the years, but I do think that it is so important that a contract on a project of this size gets in the technical expertise that is required. I will make no apologies at all for the fact that we are engaging with the island communities. The Graham Simpson is absolutely right to mention the work that Angus Campbell has taken forward. That was a key recommendation of the Project Neptune report. Angus Campbell has spent the past few months visiting and engaging with island communities and ferry users. That report should be with ministers very soon. Although there is no specific obligation to inform Parliament to procurement competitions, we will, of course, update Parliament in relation to decisions that are taken, because we understand just how important this matter is. What we are looking to do is, of course, ensure that island communities have the best possible service that they possibly can. We are focused on making sure that the current service is as resilient and reliable as possible. That is why, of course, we made sure that we chartered, or CalMac chartered, DMV Alfred. What I will not do is pre-empt the outcome of the current work that is taking place, but what I can restate unequivocally is that we have no plans to privatise nor, indeed, split up the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network. The problem with the Clyde and Hebrides ferry service is not the contract, but it is the ferry fleet. The First Minister knows that the provision of the fleet is the responsibility of the Scottish Government. A consultant's report cannot cover up their dismal failure to provide working ferries. Will he now apologise for his own and his Government's failure to provide ferries that are up to the job? We have invested in our ferry service, our ferry fleet, but we will continue to invest with six ferries to add to that fleet and to add to the resilience of that fleet. In the meantime, we are not waiting for those ferries to be built, where we can charter additional tonnage. We are doing so, and CalMac has spent a considerable amount of money rightly so in order to ensure that it has the DMV Alfred in place, which is currently providing additional resilience on the Arran route—a very important route for the islanders, of course, but it is very important to Scotland, too. Donald Cameron The island of Mull is currently at the sharp end of Scotland's ferry crisis, with many people simply unable to get on or off the island as a result of the SNP's catastrophic management of our ferry network. Residents are up their wits end, especially with the alternative route for the Coron ferry being out of service. Island communities are rightly calling for a compensation scheme, so will the First Minister commit to this, and what urgent action will he take to sort out the problems that are currently being suffered by islanders on Mull? The Transport Minister communicates directly with Donald Cameron about the actions that we are taking in relation to the issues that are facing the community on Mull. Of course, those issues around compensation have, understandably and rightly been raised many a time with the Government, and I have looked into the issue around those penalty deductions that are made in relation to failures on the network. My view is that we should continue to use that money to reinvest into the ferry network. I think that there is a legitimate call around the use of those deductions, but I would say that I think that the best use of that money is reinvesting back into the network. To give just one example, I have mentioned the MV Alfred already. It has been chartered at a cost of £9 million. About £1 million to £3 million of that is coming from the performance deductions and the penalties that Donald Cameron mentioned. I think that it is right that that money is reinvested for the benefit of the entire resilience of the network. To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the role of social media in encouraging violence towards pupils and teachers in schools. Violence is never acceptable. The safety of pupils and staff in our schools is of absolute paramount importance to the Government. I am deeply concerned about the violent content involving bullying and violent attacks in schools, in public transport and other places where young people gather that are being posted online. The Westminster's online safety bill could be a means to ensure that social media companies take seriously their responsibility to contain violent content. I wrote to the UK Government on 9 May urging it to use the bill to tackle the issue. We have produced guidance for local authorities and schools to promote positive relationships, to manage behaviours, including de-escalation of violent behaviour. As the education secretary announced yesterday, in the coming weeks, she will convene a summit focused on tackling violence in schools. Rona Mackay Thank you, First Minister, for that answer. The widespread use of apps like TikTok and Instagram broadcasts violence beyond playground walls and leaves staff vulnerable in ways that they have not been before. However, the Scottish Government is limited in its powers when it comes to online activity. Will the Scottish Government implore the UK Government to call on social media companies to improve their own standards and sanctions when it comes to removing material that promotes violence? I am happy to work as constructively as we possibly can with the UK Government on that matter. I think that all of us in this chamber probably conclude rightly that online social media companies can do a lot more when it comes to violent content and hateful content. Again, I think that members in this chamber have unfortunately been the subject of for many, many years. The regulatory responsibility for social media lies with the UK Government. I am very clear that providers have a responsibility to enforce their policies on harmful online content. We will reflect on what more we can do, even though we do not have the regulatory powers to do so. We can perhaps engage with social media companies at a ministerial level to see what more pressure we can apply so that, as I say, they live up to their own policies on harmful online content. Yesterday, his Government finally accepted the Scottish Conservatives' call for urgent action on violence and disruptive behaviour in schools. His cabinet secretary finally agreed that urgent action, not more talk, was needed to support Scotland's teachers and pupils. So will the First Minister make a commitment today that an action plan to tackle violence and disruption in schools will be in place for the start of the new school year in August? Of course, that is an important point for Stephen Kerr to raise. I do regret the fact that he has managed to turn this into—or tried to attempt to turn this into—a political fight. I have said very clearly in my response, although the powers in relation to online content lie with you, the Government. I am willing to work constructively with them. Anybody here, whether you are a parent or not, can absolutely understand the harm and anxiety that is caused to young people and indeed staff, regardless of what our political persuasion is. There is no hesitancy or reticence from the Government to be as constructive, to be as proactive as we possibly can. That is why, of course, the guidance that we have already issued on top of that, we have provided £2 million of funding to support violence prevention activity within schools and communities. We are obviously, as Stephen Kerr already knows, gathering evidence at the moment that will help us to better understand the extent of violence and behaviour at a national level right through schools in Scotland. That started in February. I will certainly reflect on what more we can do collectively before the school term starts. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports of world leading dementia expert Craig Ritchie leaving the NHS and his comments referring to problems with infrastructure and blockages in the system. I am very grateful to all clinicians and researchers who make a valuable contribution to our NHS. I recognise very much the expertise that Professor Ritchie has built up over his career. We share his ambition to improve interventions and support people with dementia. I take his criticisms very seriously indeed. I have asked the health secretary to review and consider whether there is more that we need to do in those areas. Long waits to access dementia diagnosis in healthcare are not acceptable. That is why we allocated £6 million of ring-fence funding to dementia post-diagnostic support over the last two years. That is, in addition to an estimated £2.2 billion that is spent on dementia across Scotland in 2022-23 by local partnerships. That is a 14 per cent increase since 2014. We will publish our new dementia strategy just later this month. A first two-year delivery plan will be agreed with partners and people with a lived experience of dementia later this year. I thank the First Minister for that response. I am pleased that he is going to take Ritchie's comment seriously because the new delayed strategy will be the fourth iteration, but many of the commitments in the past 12 years have seen so slow delivery or have not been achieved, for example post-diagnostic support. Contributions to the national conversation on the new strategy highlighted a gap between Scotland's commitment on dementia policy and people's experience of care. Can the First Minister advise how the new dementia strategy will address the persistent gaps between rhetoric and reality alongside delivering any new commitments on the strategy? He says that the related strategy delivery plan will be by the end of the year. Can he give that as a firm commitment because we are still waiting on the original strategy, which is now late? I will give a commitment that we will publish our new dementia strategy later this month. That first two-year delivery plan will be agreed with partners and people with a lived experience this year. I will not pre-empt the strategy that is going to come out with me. I am more than happy for the Government to commit to ensuring that there is a full discussion and even a debate on that important strategy. I thought from Professor Ritchie's comments that there were a number of issues that Clare Baker has rightly raised that I think that we need to make sure that we are making even more progress on, particularly in relation to research. I am pleased to be able to say that the Chief Scientist Office has funded dementia and neuro-progressive network. Over 1,000 people were recruited to dementia trials in 2021-22. I want to see what more we can do in order to progress research in relation to dementia. The second issue that I thought Professor Ritchie was absolutely right to raise, and again, Clare Baker is right to challenge the Government on diagnosis rates as well. I have asked the health secretary to look at what more can be done to ensure that we have the data to hand to improve diagnosis rates as early as we possibly can for people with dementia. Thank you very much. Following the sequence of answers to Clare Baker, can I refer to the review that the First Minister raised? Can I ask that it addresses the comments by the Professor that there are tests that can detect amyloid, a major contributor to dementia and drugs, which can clear this but that the Government infrastructure is not in place to deliver either of those? Of course, that is one of the key comments that was made by Professor Ritchie again, which we will absolutely look at. That is where the research side of things, of course, is so important. On top of that, we are also quite keen to see what we can do in relation to increase the availability of medicines. We know that there is not a drug that can cure dementia, unfortunately. We hope that science will continue to make progress in relation to the fight against dementia, but whether there are effective treatments or treatments that can be trialled, I am really hopeful that there is more that we can do within our infrastructure to make them as widely available as they possibly can be. To ask the First Minister what impact the Scottish Government's nature restoration fund is having for communities on Arran. The nature restoration fund will provide £65 million over the course of this parliament to multi-year, multi-partner projects to restore and regenerate nature and address climate change. Today, a total of £430,000 from the fund's competitive scheme has been awarded to three projects on Arran, the Glen Habitat restoration project, the Dugiray estates green network project and the support for the coast marine restoration project, all of which will bring benefits for both nature and local communities. North Ayrshire Council has also been directly allocated £356,000 since the fund's inception. We will shortly be writing to local authorities confirming their allocations for £23.24. Local authorities, of course, make decisions about local diversity priorities in relation to the funding. I thank the First Minister for that answer. Last Friday, I had the privilege of attending the launch of the RV coast explorer at Llanlash Bay, and I am proud that that vessel was partly funded by £200,000 from the nature restoration fund that is established by the Scottish Greens. Llanlash Bay is no take zone, which was demanded and delivered by the local community. It has had astounding success. It is a brilliant example of highly protecting marine area. It has seen a huge recovery in the marine environment, which is great for nature and marine tourism, and it has boosted the local fishing industry. Species such as scallop and lobster in adjacent waters are a bigger and more plentiful. Can I ask the First Minister how the sustained success of Llanlash Bay is no take zone? It will be taken on board in progressing HPMAs elsewhere. I absolutely agree with Ross Greer. Llanlash Bay is a perfect example of exactly what we are looking to achieve throughout Scotland Seas and to engage local community in reaping the benefits from that increased marine protection. Some of those benefits are very well articulated by Ross Greer. It is great to see funding too close to the community of Arran seabed trust from the nature restoration fund, which has helped to support the purchase of the RV coast explorer. There are lots of lessons for us to learn. We have had many discussions and a debate in this chamber, and I suspect that we will have many more on the issue of highly protected marine areas. However, I have made it very clear that we want to engage with communities in the Cabinet Secretary for Red Xero in the just transition. Amongst others, we will travel right across our island communities, our coastal communities, to engage with those individuals that could be affected by highly protected marine areas. Let's get to a place where the communities that want to see that further protection in their marine environment are working with them to ensure marine sustainability for the future. We are going to move to constituency and general supplementaries. I have several requests, so I am keen to get through them. I will be grateful for concise questions and responses, and I call Collette Stevenson. The latest ONS figures show that inflation has dipped slightly to 8.7 per cent, but foot rises continue accelerating at the fastest pace for 45 years. The UK cost of living crisis has been years in the making, with Tory austerity, welfare reforms and Brexit hammering household incomes. Can the First Minister confirm what the Scottish Government is doing within the limited powers and resources that it has to shield people from the harm created in large part by the actions of the Tories in Westminster? It is almost a weekly occurrence that, whenever poverty is mentioned, we hear groans from the Conservative benches. The cost of living is still far too high for too many families, who are already struggling, of course, with the increasingly unaffordable cost of food. The increase in housing, the increase in energy bills, for example, and everyday essentials after years and years of austerity, of a hard Brexit that has been imposed upon Scotland and, of course, complete and utter catastrophic economic mismanagement by the Tory Government in London. We will do everything that we can within our powers, for example, delivering that game-changing Scottish child payment, tripling our fuel and security fund, providing free childcare to all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds, free bus travel to 2 million people. However, we know—we know—that it is only with the full economic and fiscal powers of an independent nation can ministers use all the levers that other Governments have to tackle inequalities. Just to give you one example, Presiding Officer, the reversal of just a few of those regressive welfare decisions that the UK Government has made. If they just reversed a few of them, we could lift 70,000 people, including 30,000 children, out of poverty. It might be in no doubt about it, Presiding Officer. The cost of living crisis that has plunged so many people into poverty is a political choice by the Conservative party, and the only way out of it is by achieving our independence. Mum of two, Jill Barkley, was beaten and raped by a stranger. Rhys Benet set her on fire while she was still alive. The judge described the 23-year-old's crimes as medieval in their barbarity, yet his prison sentence was reduced due to new under-25 sentencing guidelines. So, can Humza Yousaf tell the people of Scotland whether he thinks that they should apply in every single case, no matter how wicked or barbaric the crime? First Minister, can I say to Russell Findlay of course that these are not matters that are decisions for the First Minister, they are rightly left to the independent judiciary, and they must always be thus, even in the most heinious, despicable cases such as the case of Jill Barkley that has just been referenced by Russell Findlay. Of course, I think all of our thoughts will be with Jill Barkley, the family affected by what was a despicable crime. Of course, her family will undoubtedly, her community, her friends be reeling from the barbarity of that sickening and medieval act, as described by Russell Findlay. However, it can never be the case that politicians, let alone Government ministers, interfere in decisions that are made, sentencing decisions, that are made by the judiciary. Of course, sentencing guidelines are taken forward again by the independent sentencing council. What I have said in relation to a previous case that has been raised with me as First Minister is that the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs in her regular engagement with the sentencing council has asked for more information around when those regular reviews of sentencing guidance will take place, and, of course, I'm sure she'll be happy to keep the member informed of those discussions. This is a letter received by my constituent in July 2022 from this SNP Government. It told her that surgery for lower pelvic prolapse should be completed within one year by order of Cabinet Secretary for Health, Humza Yousaf. My constituent has now waited for her surgery for eight and a half years. As a last resort, we spoke to the press about this deeply personal situation. That forced the hand of NHS Tayside, who will now pay for the private surgery. Why should it come to this, First Minister? Eight and a half years, telling the most intimate details of your life to journalists, these were your guarantees. I now have two further cases of women in Tayside waiting years and years for this essential surgery. So how many women are waiting for treatment for lower pelvic prolapse and for how long? Does he know? Is this another Tayside crisis, or are women across Scotland suffering in silence? For raising what is an incredibly important issue and the issue of lower pelvic prolapse, of course, affects many women right up and down the country, there is no doubt that we, of course, had challenges around our waiting times pre-the pandemic, but I don't think that there is any doubt by any objective measure that, of course, the pandemic, which has been the biggest shocker NHS has ever faced in its almost 75-year existence, has undoubtedly had a significant impact. We are focused on trying to help and assist those who have been waiting the longest. Our focus has been on those two-year waits, and the number of patients—outpatients, for example—have been waiting over two years. They have declined and dropped and reduced by over 50 per cent since September, by over 60 per cent since June last year. In patients as well, the numbers waiting over two years for in-patient day cases was down 28 per cent in six months. In fact, 18 out of 30 specialities had fewer than 10 patients waiting more than two years. We are making progress in the specific cases that Michael Marra has. I am more than happy that he forwards them to myself or, indeed, to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Welfare and anything that we can do to assist, of course, we will seek to do. The First Minister will be aware of the latest update from the Competition and Market Authority, indicating that global factors are not solely to blame for high fuel prices, with the evidence indicating that fuel margins have increased across the retail market over the past four years, but particularly for supermarkets. The First Minister will also be aware that I have raised this issue in the chamber before with regard to Morrison's test going to BP ripping off the Gynuconinvercly constituents. Will the First Minister commit to the Scottish Government to making representations to the UK Government and to the CMA when the fuel report is published in July to ensure that the forms are forthcoming to prevent fuel retailers from robbing my constituents? I will make representations as Stuart McMillan has asked me to do. Can I also commend Stuart McMillan for raising the issue consistently in the chamber on behalf of his constituents? There is simply no doubt that high fuel prices have contributed to the cost of living crisis for people and, indeed, for businesses right across Scotland. The Scottish Government has raised inconsistent pricing in between, for example, urban and rural areas, but in particular areas such as Inverclyde. We have raised those issues with the competition and markets authority as a key issue for investigation, but I am happy to re-emphasise those points to the CMA. I welcome the latest update from the CMA and note that, as well as seeking more information from supermarkets on their role in the fuel market, they have indicated that their final report will cover that important issue of geographic variation and pricing. I will make sure that, if there are any further representations, we will make them on this issue. I met the chief superintendent of Lanarkshire police earlier this week, and, if there are many things that we discussed around the increasing pressure on the police force, the fact that, of the more than 15,000 cases that they attended last month, only 19 per cent involved criminal activity was a bit of a surprise. Much of the rest of those cases were around mental health issues. I want to ask the First Minister if there is a recognition that cutting much of the other support services is putting an increased pressure on police time, especially when they are having to cut the numbers in the streets. Over the years, we have increased our spend on mental health quite considerably from this Government. In relation to particularly young people, we are ensuring that we are increasing the number of staff that we have that work in CAMHS and in psychological services. Notwithstanding that, Brian Whittle is absolutely right to raise the issue of the amount of police time that is taken in relation to helping those with mental health challenges and vulnerabilities. That is not great for the police and the police service. It is also, of course, not the best for the individual who is suffering from mental health challenges, too. There is a range of work that we have done through the distressed brief intervention, for example, the enhanced mental health pathway. I am happy to ensure that the health secretary writes to Brian Whittle with the detail and the various interventions that we have under way, but he can be absolutely sure that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice is working closely on that matter. Over a period of 30 years, hundreds, maybe even thousands of little girls sent by the state to Farnethy House residential school for care for nurturing were instead subjected to a catalogue of unimaginable mental, physical and, in some cases, sexual abuse. To date, none of the perpetrators of this abuse have been fully brought to justice. Dozens of those little girls and all women are in Parliament today to listen to my member's debate on justice for the Farnethy survivors. Whilst they do not expect the First Minister to intervene in a police investigation, they do want to be listened to. They have asked me to ask you, First Minister, if you will personally meet them, not necessarily today but soon, to listen to their plight and to give them that unequivocal assurance that what happened to those little girls will be properly acknowledged that it is surely the least that we can do. Yes, I will commit to meeting with the survivors. I have met some of the survivors, some of them are constituents of mine. I have met them in a local MSP capacity. I am afraid that I will not be able to do it today, but I have set in our offices will liais to be able to find a suitable time. Of course, I commend Colin Smyth for bringing the member's debate. I know that it will be taking place after this again. I hope that he will accept my apologies that I will not be able to stay for that, but I know that the Deputy First Minister will respond on behalf of the Government. In terms of his request, he is absolutely right. I think that it is the least that we can do that I can do, and I will be happy to meet with the survivors. We invite Colin Smyth, of course, to assist us in facilitating that meeting. That concludes the First Minister's questions. The next item of business is a member's business debate in the name of Colin Smyth. There will be a short suspension to allow those leaving the chamber and public gallery to do so.