 Fyني maen nhw y gymhreithio i fynd i gwaith y cwysylltiad ddefnyddio'r cwysyllt, ac yw'r qwysyllt i fynd i ddefnyddio'r eraill gwyrddol a'r cultur. Yrfaenwn i fawr, sy'n cyfw殇io i'r cwysylltiad ddefnyddio'r cwysyllt, hen i'r cwysylltiad, mae'n dod arferfyn yn cyfw shieldiad, oedd yn mynd i gwasanaeth i gwn i'ch gweithio'r cwysyllt i'r llwytoedd i'r byddol yn windgaf gwyrddol. 1. Aid comair Eich Mmh俉 i'r edrych fel gårfodol. Aidiwch i'r cyddiwch chi i'w ddechrau, Ac, mae'n cyddiwch i ddim wneud a'u cyllid ei ddweud yn agweliau o maen nhwnd yn ei fewn i. Aidiwch i'w ddim mwy ministeri, Jamie Hepburn, a s weerau i gyd yn ddim enw. Aidiwch i'w ddim mwy ministeri. Maen nhw ein bod yn wedi gyffin imbryd o fynd a'r cyddiwch i ddim i'w ddweud yng Nghymru, Felly, mae'r cyfleidiau yn cyfodus o wneud o gweithio ffasilau, yn gweithio gwaith y cyfleidau, ond mae'r cyfleidiau yn cyfusio ddinsigol, yn cymaint, a'r cyfleidiau yn cyfusio ar gyfer deilogau neu ddinsigolau cyfusio ar gyfer deilogau. Maree MacNeil, dwi'n ei gweithio'r bydau newydd yng nghymru, a oedd oedd y cwbl ysgolwys i'r prinsfod amser yn gyfusio cyffredinol i'r unigwilion i'r unigwilion i'r cyffredinol sydd wedi diwethaf. Mae'r ydych chi'n gwybod i'r adnodd a'r ysgolwgr i'u gwneud agf Gilliannau daripeth ar hyn o'r cyfriforau talog ddi, ac yn gweld yn cael hyn o gidennig 편 o gyfriforau marry â'i ddim yn cael hynny i gydagfyrdd cyffredinolol. Wrath i ddigonwus rydyn ni'n rhywun i ddigonwus i ddweudraethu chi'n gweld i gydagfyrdd gyfrifor. Just yesterday, in favour of that proposition, despite the welcome withdrawal of Swella Braverman from Government, I can't say that the return of David Cameron or her replacement as James Cleaverley fills me with much optimism for the UK Government changing tax. Hopefully they will reflect on today's Supreme Court judgment in respect of their Rwanda policy, which has already cost the taxpayer some £140 million in payments to the Rwandan I adjust accordingly, but I hold out little hope, Presiding Officer. Presiding Officer, the only with independence community create a sensible and humane immigration system. 2. Murdo Fraser Thank you. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the total cost of its building a new Scotland series of papers, including the recently published Migration to Scotland after independence paper. Minister Jimi Hepburn. It was an orbs can I reiterate my apology to Murdo Fraser for not being there and answer his question. 3. The Scottish Government is publishing the publication cost of all the papers in the building a new Scotland series. The permit has been informed, of course, for the first five papers in the series and we are publishing the cost and information for the recent Migration to Scotland after independence paper shortly. Murdo Fraser Thank you to the minister for his response, although I did not hear a number in the response that he gave. The constitution, of course, is a reserved matter. The Scottish Government is spending public money on those papers, but we know that people in Scotland do not want independence. We know that even people in the SNP do not think that independence is likely to happen. We have a budget process coming up. We have huge demands on the Scottish Government budget, not least people who have recently been flooded out of their homes looking in vain for support from the Scottish Government. Wouldn't the money be better spent on them than on those pointless papers? Murdo Fraser First of all, I welcome Mr Fraser's on-going interest in the building a new Scotland series. He complains about giving over a parliamentary time to discussing surface. He is clearly warming to the prospect and asking me this particular question. In respect of the costs of the work that we are undertaking, just to give it some context, on 22-23, the Constitutional Futures Division and the Bands papers that were published, the expenditure constituted 0.0035 per cent of the Scottish Government budget. When you compare that with the massive opportunities of independent looking countries all around us, such as Ireland, Norway, Denmark and Finland, they are all healthier, happier, fairer and welfare countries. I think that that is a price worth paying. I have received two requests for supplementaries from members, so I shall take both. The values of humanity and compassion to those fleeing persecution and conflict should be central to our approach to migration and asylum policy. Can the minister say any more about how the UK Government approach is typified by the Rwanda scheme, which has today been ruled illegal, compares with the Scottish Government approach to asylum and refugee policy as set out in its recent paper, Migration to Scotland After Independence? I think that the UK Government approach speaks for itself. It has overtly said that it wants a hostile approach to migration, which runs totally counter to what we require here in Scotland, meaning people to come here to Scotland. What we have laid out in our paper is a sensible and proportionate approach in terms of encouraging people here for the economic opportunities that we have to help to support our economy and to make sure that we have a humane process for supporting people fleeing torture, war and other challenges in other parts of the world. We have got it right and the UK Government has got it wrong. Given the catastrophic effects of Westminster policies that have had on Scotland's economy, particularly in the trussonomics that Murdoff Razor was demanding, the SNP Government would follow, can Scotland not afford not to be talking about independence? More importantly, can the Scottish Government tell the chamber what the cost of funding the Scotland office is and what does that actually deliver for the people of Scotland? Let me first of all agree with Mr Fairlie's premise that the real question should be can Scotland afford not to be independent if we take Brexit? For example, we know that OBR says that that is going to shrink the UK's gross domestic product by some 4 per cent in the longer term. We do not want to be dragged down in that respect. If we talk about the Scotland office, I cannot provide the full figures, of course, only the UK Government could do that, but we do know that in 2022-23 they spent £1.1 million on communications staff alone. They spent £47,370 on travel and subsistence costs in that same year for just four special advisers. That was £19,034 more than two years just before. Hardly good value for the taxpayer. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Scottish census 2022. National Records of Scotland published the first results from Scotland's census 2022 on 14 September. The publication represented a historic moment for Scotland, with the largest population ever recorded by Scotland's census of 5.4 million. That is an increase of 2.7 per cent since the previous census in 2011. Following September's publication, the NRS will publish further results from Scotland's census from spring 2024 onwards. In the summer of 2024, a series of topic data reports will provide new and unique insights into the characteristics of Scotland's people, including information on ethnicity, on religion, the labour market, education and housing. For the first time, we will also include data on the armed forces veterans, sexual orientation and trans status or history. Thank you for that answer. The SNP completely botched Scotland's census and did so because of their ideological obsession with diverging from the rest of the UK. It will therefore be more difficult to plan for the delivery of public services. National Records of Scotland says that lessons will be learned from this fiasco. Surely there is one main lesson to learn, and that is that in 2031, the census should be UK-wide. Will it be a yes or a no? The NRS is keen to reflect lessons learned, including how the results now, being published, are received by users. It is committed to set these out upon conclusion of the 2022 census programme in an evaluation report laid before Parliament by the end of 2024. However, I am sure that Mr Finlay will be delighted to learn that the Office of Statistics Regulation has awarded Scotland's census output with national statistics designation based on the quality, good practice and comprehensiveness of the statistics. Achieving national statistics designation means that the expert independent UK regulator has confidence in the statistics that NRS has produced and that Scotland's census forms an integral part of the statistical system in the United Kingdom. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to restore a reported £6.6 million reduction in funding to Creative Scotland in 2024-25. The Scottish Government values the importance of the arts, especially its significant contribution to wellbeing and to the cultural, social and economic life in communities across Scotland, and it is for those reasons among many that, over the last five years, the Scottish Government has provided over £33 million to Creative Scotland to compensate for a shortfall in national lottery funding. As a result of rising costs and pressures on budgets across Government, the Scottish Government is unable to make up the £6.6 million in national lottery shortfall funding this financial year. Subject to the usual parliamentary processes, we will provide this shortfall funding of £6.6 million to Creative Scotland in 2024-25, and we hope to be able to provide a further update on funding following publication of the draft budget in December. I thank the cabinet secretary for his answer. We all want extra funding for culture, but it will allow great events, such as the Borders Book Festival in my constituency, to continue to thrive in the future. However, the delivery of the funding has been a fiasco. First, the SNP cut the Creative Scotland budget, then announced to great fanfare that it was reversing that cut, then restored the cut, then restored the funding again. The SNP U turned on a U turn. Does the cabinet secretary accept that the culture of sector needs more certainty than this confusing hokey-cokey? It is important to appreciate the context of the end-year finances, because, unfortunately, Rachel Finlay is not on the culture committee where she would have heard, where she would have Hamilton might forgive me. I do not know whether that is a promotion or a demotion. I will leave others to decide. In terms of end-year finances, it is quite important to understand that we have pressures from the UCI Cycling World Championship amounting to £8 million, £6.6 million for Creative Scotland, and a very significant list of cultural projects right across Scotland that were under threat unless we were able to manage the end-of-year finances differently. We have done that in terms of the Government taking the UCI Cycling World Championship costs out of the portfolio and in ensuring that Creative Scotland uses its reserves, so there is no detriment to regularly funded organisations. If I have an opportunity later in questions, I will be able to confirm the spending that we will be able to go forward. To ask the Scottish Government regarding its humanitarian aid funding, whether it will provide an update on any further action that it can take to help to provide support to those affected by the conflict in Gaza. We unequivocally condemn the abhorrent terrorist attacks committed by Hamas. However, in exercising its right to defend itself, Israel must abide by international humanitarian law, and the civilian populations in both Gaza and the West Bank cannot and must not be held responsible for crimes committed by a terrorist organisation. Last week, we announced a further £250,000 contribution towards the UN's flash appeal in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, in addition to the £0.5 million that we committed last month. Scotland will always be a welcoming place and compassionate sanctuary for refugees, given the harrowing and inhumane conditions that we are witnessing in Gaza, and the immediate and growing need for support, particularly when the UK Government stands in an immediate cease-virus conflict in, can the minister provide an update on what further steps the Scottish Government can take to welcoming Palestinian refugees in Scotland? The First Minister has been clear that we stand ready to welcome refugees in Scotland should that be required. The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice wrote already to the former Home Secretary requesting a meeting to discuss plans. I also reiterated those calls in my recent appearances before the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs and Culture Committee. We await to hear from the new Home Secretary what approach he plans to take. It is estimated that 50,000 pregnant women are trapped in Gaza around 5,000 due to give birth in the next month. Without clean water, medicine and humanitarian aid, those women and other babies will be at risk, which is devastating. Can I ask the cabinet secretary what discussions have been had with relevant aid organisations regarding the specific challenges facing pregnant women, and if, in future discussions regarding humanitarian aid, he will raise the specific needs of this key vulnerable group whenever he has the opportunity? I agree entirely with the question that has been raised. Our main interlocutors in relation to aid in Gaza are the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which deals with the Palestinian authorities. We, of course, believe that a ceasefire is absolutely key to being able to ensure that humanitarian support manages to get in and to deal with the very specific challenges that the member has raised, but many others. Unfortunately, the civilian population is suffering grievously in Gaza, and everything needs to be done to help and support them. Although, of course, acknowledging as I have already, our condemnation is no doubt across the chamber in marking our opposition to the terrorist atrocity that Hamas visited on innocent Israeli people in October. Question 7, co-cabstitute. Thank you. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to increase funding for the arts and culture sector. I am pleased today to report that the Scottish Government has released £6.68 million of funding to the culture sector for the rest of this financial year. This funding will benefit individuals and communities across Scotland through our support to programmes like Culture Collective and demonstrates our continued investment in screen and festivals. In spite of the incredibly challenging picture, we have prioritised our investment in culture to support the sector, acknowledging its vital contribution to our economy, and to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience the transformative and empowering potential of culture. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. He will be aware that several important projects require capital funding in the Glasgow area, many of which are strategically important to the economic development of the city. Glasgow Life is called for funding model that outlines how the Scottish Government will support cultural provision in Scotland while addressing discrepancies between cities and regions. Can the minister assure my constituents that the possibility of direct central government funding to Glasgow's national assets will be taken into serious consideration with his department's increased budget? I will first of all deal with this year. In terms of the £6.6 million funding released to the culture sector that I have just announced, the details of those comprise £1.5 million to the culture collective programme, £2 million to Screen Scotland, £250,000 to the platform for creative excellence, £130,000 to the national performing companies touring fund and £2.8 million to fund public sector pay policy uplifts. In terms of spending decisions for next year, the kind of issues that COCAB has raised will no doubt be considered. I encourage members on all sides of the chamber who have particular views on how the Scottish Government should invest the increase that we have committed to make for culture. I would be very grateful to hear those. Over a month ago, the Scottish Government promised Creative Scotland that they would not be left out of pocket by the reinstatement of a 10 per cent cut in core funding. They are desperate looking for assurances and rightly so, as thousands of jobs are on the line. Cabinet Secretary, will you guarantee today that your funding commitments to Creative Scotland will be met? I am happy to repeat that again. I am sure that the member will appreciate in the announcement that I have just made that he would appreciate that in providing those resources to the culture collective programme, that is via Creative Scotland, £2 million to Screen Scotland is via Creative Scotland and £250,000 to the platform for creative excellence is also via Creative Scotland. Not only are we doing that, but we have given a commitment in terms of the £6.6 million that they are using from their reserves now to be reimbursed next year. I am happy to repeat that now. To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to the creative industries in the Highlands and Islands region. Cabinet Secretary, the creative industry is making important contribution societally, culturally and economically to Scotland and we are proud to support a range of creative organisations in the Highlands and Islands. For example, through our culture collective programme, which I just made mention of, where we are supporting the Creative Islands network, providing opportunities for creative practitioners in the region and via our regular funding to Creative Scotland, we support organisations including Atlas Arts on Sky and the Highland Print Studio in Inverness. The cabinet secretary will be aware that the First Minister pledged 100 million extra funding for Creative Scotland over the next five years. Summer festivals in my region such as Belladrum Tartanheart Festival, Heb Kelt, Junes by the Junes, Under Canvas by Eden Court and indeed many others bring millions of pounds to the area. However, the costs associated with running these events are rising. Can the cabinet secretary provide a timetable as to when this money will become available and whether some of the funding will support smaller or new events that cannot make multi-year funding applications to Creative Scotland? The point that I just made is extremely important because the funding of different cultural organisations and events takes place in different ways, some through Creative Scotland and others directly. We need to make sure that we are reaching the entirety of Scotland's cultural and arts landscape. The point that she makes is a very good one. I encourage her, as I have already said earlier, to encourage her and other members who have very particular regional, local or sectoral areas of concern about funding to please make sure that they are sent on to me. We are going through the standard budgetary procedure at the present time. We are in a positive situation in terms of culture and the arts because we have secured a commitment from the Scottish Government. Yes, I am aware of it because I made the suggestion. I am very keen to make sure that it delivers the kind of changes that I am sure we all want to see the thriving of the culture and arts sector, the length of the breadth of Scotland, including, of course, the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Cabinet Secretary, that concludes portfolio questions on constitution, external affairs and culture. There will be a very brief pause before we move on to the next portfolio to allow front bench teams to change positions should they wish. The next portfolio is justice and home affairs. If any member wishes to request a supplementary question, they should press their request to speak button or enter the letters RTS in the chat function during the relevant question. I call question number one, Annie Wells. To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to introduce whole life orders in light of the UK Government's announcement that it will expand their use in England and Wales. The punishment part of a life sentence is the period that must be served in custody and high court judges set that part when imposing a life sentence. Under long standing law dating back to 2001, judges already have the power to set a punishment part that exceeds the remainder of a prisoner's natural life, which can result in a whole life sentence. The power lies with independent courts to decide when to use their powers and the Scottish Government supports the courts having those powers. Thank you Cabinet Secretary for that answer. Scotland has seen its share of horrific murders in recent years, including the appalling case of Jill Barkley, who was killed in absolutely horrific circumstances. Under the new UK Government plans, it is likely that, had that murder been committed down south, the perpetrator would be receiving a whole life order never walking free. However, Scotland's judges do not have the same power as the UK Government are planning on doing. My question is simple. Will you give judges the power to lock up criminals for good with no chance of parole in sadistic and depraved murder cases? As I hoped to have explained to the member in my original answer, our judges, because our law allows it, have the powers to effectively impose a whole life order on any person convicted of murder. One example of that would be Angus Sinclair, who received a 37-year punishment part when he was convicted of the world ends murder when he himself was 69 years old. It is important that our judges make those decisions and that our law enables them to have the fullest range of decision making. It is also important to acknowledge that the homicide rate in Scotland has reduced, but I appreciate that one life lost to murder is one to too many. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of police station closures on police response times. Police Scotland's approach to responding to incidents is clearly working, with recorded crime being at one of the lowest levels since 1974. When assessing how to respond to an incident, Police Scotland always assesses a reported crime under their Thrive model, which considers threat, harm, risk, investigation, vulnerability and engagement. That places the needs of the individual at the centre of their decisions, while ensuring that effective prioritisation is in place. Police Scotland's estate strategy is working to deliver modern and fit for purpose police buildings that are co-located with partners and which meet the needs of 21st century operational policing. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Police Scotland has warned that it could be forced to shed 2,000 jobs and closed 30 police stations thanks to the SNP funding cuts. MSPs on the criminal justice committee were warned that those cuts would impact incident response times. Does the cabinet secretary accept that, if further police stations were to close, response times would inevitably get worse? No, I do not accept that. I think that there is a very overly simplistic correlation made here between static police stations and police response time. However, I acknowledge that the location of police stations is important, particularly with respect to some rural areas. As a member, I am sure that he knows that there are a number of ways to report a crime, but does not always necessitate turning up in person to a police station. In fact, how people report crimes has of course changed greatly over the preceding decades. In terms of response times, Police Scotland will continue to prioritise emergency incidents and will update and has updated its call handling system also. In terms of police numbers, police numbers were recently reported last week with our quarterly statistical update. We need to move on to the supplementaries. I have received a request from three members and I intend to take all three of the supplementary requests first. Can the cabinet secretary advise what would be the resources taken from front-line police services if the chief constable had decided not to proceed with the closure of police stations? He has deemed surplus to optimum operational requirements. I should say that the chief constable is a she. I am sure that Mr Gibson will not mind me pointing that out to him. In terms of the substance of his question, through the modernisation of the restate and disposing of buildings that are no longer fit for purpose, Police Scotland has secured receipts of around £31 million, which has been reinvested into the police state and to other police initiatives. Can the cabinet secretary outline which 30 police stations Police Scotland is considering for closure? Local authorities, who already have to deal with reduced hours and far less police in communities than in previous decades, still do not know the full list of planned closures. Is that something that the cabinet secretary would be able to share with us today? No, it is not because it is not a matter for me. That would be entirely inappropriate. It is a matter for the chief constable and a matter that I am assured that local commanders are engaged directly with local communities bearing in mind that, as a result of the reform legislation, local authorities have a very active role in approving local priorities for policing. I am quite sure that the member is aware of Police Scotland's very public state strategy, which was published in 2019. I am sure that she is also aware that the Scottish Police Authority has a role in scrutinising decisions made by Police Scotland and that they meet in public. Can the cabinet secretary outline some of the success co-location that partners have had in delivering better outcomes for individuals, communities and Police Scotland? I can indeed. I have often quoted in this chamber that a great example of co-location is found in Livingstone in my constituency, where seven partners, including Police Scotland, are located in the West Lothian Civic Centre. I understand that people can be attached to long-standing buildings, but, of course, public services and the nature of policing has changed very much over the past several decades and, indeed, in this century, with a greater focus on partnership working and co-location and collaboration supports that. Question 3, not large. Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to its wider approach to tackling domestic abuse, including its work to develop Scotland's first national multi-agency domestic homicide review model. Tackling incidents of domestic abuse has been and continues to be a priority for the Scottish Government. It is a fundamental aspect of our equally safe strategy, which is currently being revised in consultation with partners and front-line organisations. The Scottish Government-led task force to develop a multi-agency domestic homicide review model has recently concluded a programme of targeted engagement to seek the views of those with lived experience of domestic abuse, those who have been bereaved due to abuse and those working within the sector when a range of aspects of the model and a report will be published next month. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. My party has welcomed the introduction of a new pilot scheme to support victims of domestic abuse to escape abusive situations. Given that nearly a quarter of homelessness presentations among women in Scotland were due to abuse, can I ask the cabinet secretary when the scheme will commence in south and north Lanarkshire and how that fund can really make a difference to gender-based inequality? On 17 October, the Government did indeed announce a £0.5 million pilot fund to support women and children leaving an abusive relationship. That fund will be delivered by women's aids groups in the five local authority areas. It will enable women to receive up to £1,000. Ms Mackay articulates the barriers—the financial barriers—that can exist to prevent someone leaving an abusive relationship. The pilot fund is expected to run until 31 March next year and should provide support to between 450 and 900 women. Can the cabinet secretary expand on the aims of the domestic homicide review task force and provide an update on its continuing work? The aims of the work are to ensure that the murders of women and children have a visibility. Although we know that there has been a reduction in homicide statistics, they are now at a historic low. That, of course, is no cause for celebration and we have seen a reduction in violence resulting in the deaths of men and young men in particular. What we do know is that in 2022-23 there were 13 women who lost their life due to homicide and six out of those 13 women were killed by a partner or an ex-partner. The core purpose of this very important work is that we learn from each tragedy and we learn how to do more to improve the safety of women and girls. That, at the end of the day, is what those who are left behind wish us to do and to quote someone that, in learning the lessons of past tragedies, we remember the dead but we also fight for the living. As the cabinet secretary has said in 2022-23, nearly half of all female victims of homicide were killed by a partner or ex-partner. The Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research said that those cases are often not being dealt with appropriately. Has the cabinet secretary looked at the research and does she agree with what she is saying? I am aware of that research and it is important that, for the sake of those who are left behind and those who have lost their lives, we routinely and diligently look at each and every tragedy to see what should be learned. We are in agreement that that is the very valuable core purpose of the work that has been undertaken. I will endeavour to keep members informed every step of the way. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding its north-east pilot not to investigate crimes if that is deemed a proportionate response by the service. Let me be clear that Police Scotland will continue to investigate all reports of crime across all parts of Scotland. In the north-east, where cases are assessed as having no risk or threat and where it is clear that there are no proportionate lines of inquiry, callers will be informed that their report has been filed and received a crime reference number. However, should new information emerge, officers will investigate appropriately, and that is how Police Scotland has operated since its establishment. Police Scotland's operational response is, of course, a matter for the chief constable. However, I was updated on that matter by DCC designate Taylor on 14 September. As the pilot will likely inform the Government's view of local policing going forward, to slopey shoulder it as an operational matter, our officers and the victims of crime are a disservice. Given anecdotal evidence of victims feeling abandoned, criminals feeling that there is a free-for-all and general public disquiet, is the Scottish Government minded to see the pilot go nationwide? In any event, what are the measurements and outcomes that determine whether it has been a success? Let me be clear that, despite how the pilot, a matter for Police Scotland, has been narrated, all crime reported will, as has always been the case, will be investigated under the pilot. That was the assurance that I received directly from Police Scotland. Police Scotland ensures that threat, harm, risk, investigation, vulnerability and engagement are all assessed as part of its Thrive model. If it is clear that there are no leads and there is no risk in threat, harm, vulnerability, the measures that are outlined in my original answer will be undertaken. The only difference between what currently happens and what is being trialled in the pilot is a quicker decision in relation to proportionate line of inquiry. The focus to answer Mr Kerr's question in more direct terms is that I can assure him that the focus of this Government will remain on keeping our communities safe from harm and ensuring that our police officers, the length and breadth of this country, have the appropriate support to make their appropriate operations decisions. Whilst I appreciate decisions such as the pilot project in the north-easter for the chief constable, can the cabinet secretary outline how the Scottish Government continues to sport Police Scotland to ensure that local priorities are met and that relationships with local communities that she alluded to a short time ago are maintained? Yes. Communities will remain at the heart of policing and the Scottish Government has highlighted the importance of community relationships within the updated strategic police priorities published earlier this year. The police and fire reform act now ensures that councils have to approve policing plans and the key priorities for their area. Of course, they work alongside Police Scotland's local commanders. Question 6 has been withdrawn. Question 7, Michelle Thomson. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the plans for legal services regulation reform will meet the original objectives of the Roberton review regarding consumer complaints. The regulation of legal services Scotland Bill is designed to deliver the objectives of the Roberton review to provide a modern regulatory framework that will promote competition innovation alongside the public and the consumer interest in an efficient independent legal sector. The Bill seeks to balance and deliver the key priorities of all stakeholders by improving the transparency and accountability of legal services regulation and the legal complaint system and increasing the transparency and accountability of legal regulation. The Bill embeds consumer principles into the regulatory framework and introduces a more flexible and responsive approach to complaints while expanding independent oversight of complaint handling. I thank the minister for that response, but it is not just the Roberton review that concluded the optimum model for regulatory model must be independent of regulatory bodies. The CMA, Consumer Scotland, leading lawyers such as Brian Inkster and others also hold this view and have made that clear in evidence. There is a clear and fundamental conflict of interest in having consumer complaints processed by bodies that exist to protect the interests of their profession. The better regulation principles would suggest that the model that is being proposed, although with some extra provisions, simply cannot square the conflict of interest off. The proposed new processes still have the same complexities and are extraordinarily difficult to navigate as a consumer. Will the minister look again at how we best service consumer complaints about lawyers in line with the better regulation recommendations set out in the Roberton review? The law society will be required to exercise regulatory functions, including complaint handling independently of its other functions. It will be required to delegate regulatory functions of an independent regulatory committee comprised of a minimum of 50 per cent lay members and a lay chair. The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission will retain oversight of complaint handling and continue to have a role in monitoring trends in legal complaints. In addition, the commission will have a role in setting minimum standards as how legal practitioners and legal regulators handle complaints providing independent oversight. I have been watching the evidence sessions very closely of the DPLR and the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, and I am happy to discuss further with the member. One of my constituents has recently faced difficulties with the complex appeals process in the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission. That is why I welcome the review's recommendation that a simple process of appeals be developed. Why, then, is the Scottish Government removing the ability to appeal decisions altogether in turning their backs on complainers? We are in the process of stage 1 of the regulation of legal services, and I will listen to the views of the committee. McClure solicitors, founded in Guinea in 1853, has tens of thousands of clients across Britain, specialising in bills and trusts, but it went into liquidation recently in the Law Society of Scotland and monitoring it. Another firm, Jones and White, took on the files, but they reported the charging of those victims of McClure's collapse £300 plus BAT. It is the Scottish Government reading about this case and learning any lessons. Can the cabinet secretary assure me that she is having discussions with a legal profession to ensure that ordinary Scots are protected from situations like this? Minister. I cannot comment on specific ongoing legal situations, but I encourage anybody who has a complaint to go to the Law Society and make the official complaint. We are learning lessons in the stage 2 of the DPLR yesterday. I highlighted to the committee an amendment that would help a situation like McClure's not happening again, and there will also be legislation moving for the regulation of legal services moving forward to prevent this happening again. 8. Kate Forbes To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to develop a model for Scotland to challenge men's demand for prostitution. Thank you. The Scottish Government continues to develop a framework that effectively tackles and challenges men's demand for prostitution and to support those with experience of it. The framework will be published in the new year and our focus will be to implement it with support from a new stakeholder group. The principles for the framework were published last year and will embed equality, human rights and safety at the heart of the new framework. Those principles have also been adopted across the Scottish Government to inform relevant policy and practice in turning supporting Scotland's collective approach into tackling commercial sexual exploitation. Later this month we will note 16 days of activism against gender based violence. The Scottish Government has accepted that prostitution is violence against women. Can the minister advise when the Scottish Government will bring forward legislation to criminalise men who exploit women in this way? Prostitution cannot be considered in isolation and there are many factors that must be considered within the work of which criminal law is only one aspect. It should be remembered that law already prohibits many activities associated with prostitution, including trading in the prostitution of others, the running of a brothel, procuring for the purposes of prostitution as well as publicly soliciting or loitering for the purpose of purchasing sex. That is why we are focusing on the development and the delivery of the framework to enable women to sustainably exit from prostitution, which will inform any future legislative considerations. Thank you minister. That concludes portfolio questions on justice and home affairs and there will be a short pause before we move on to the next item of business to allow those who wish to change position to do so. Thank you.