 Gwbod maesaf, y ystafellol iddynt nifer o diwylliant gael ddiweddar nawr periynteil. Felly, yn fawr i gael ddymarc ddweud rhai o ddefnyddio'r ddigyfnol atod o'r ddweud o'r ddigyfnol o'i ddelweddiaeth o projgestiaeth yn byw o'r ddigyfnol o'r ei dderfyniad. Ulystics wedi unig o'r ddigyfnol byd yn dod o'r ddigyfnol o'r ddigyfnol o'r ddigyfnol o'r diwyddoid and invest in Scotland's strategic transport infrastructure for the long term. The 45 recommendations contained in STBR2 include proposals for an improved and more resilient transport network in the south of Scotland. Work is already in progress on five of the eight recommendations that are either specifically relevant to the south of Scotland or which will have particular benefits for the region. That includes how world journeys for passengers and freight can be improved, A75 and A77 improvements and integrated smart ticketing. I am sure that the Minister for Transport is delighted to see Scotland's two Governments working together to bring forward improvements on the A75 in the back of the union connectivity review, which highlighted infrastructure projects that are significant to the whole of the UK. The UK Government's commitment to fund the A75 projects is that, given that infrastructure funding is devolved, the Scottish Government fulfills its obligations to the south of Scotland and step up to the mark and at least match the UK funding and bring forward other essential projects to upgrade the equally neglected A77. In relation to the first part of the question, clearly the A75 has been designated by the UK Government as worthy of union connectivity funding because it benefits primarily Northern Ireland. We have yet to have confirmation of any funding from the UK Government, meantime this year, the £3 million worth of structural maintenance schemes improvements on the A75 are ensuring the safe operation of the route. In the second part of his question, he referred to the A77 and, as I said to his colleague last week, Haxton climbing lane, the Glenat wide single carriageway, the Park End to Benanine, Simonton and Boghend toll, let alone the funding and the delivery of the much needed and much welcomed Mabel bypass. Those are all positive improvements by the Scottish Government in the south of Scotland. The UK Government's own union connectivity review recognised that the only way the A75 is going to be upgraded is by the UK Government providing the Scottish Government with the funding to make STPR2 recommendations happen. I do not know why the Tories are continually blaming the Scottish Government when we have a fixed term budget. Does the minister agree that the member's efforts would be better placed lobby in his UK Government bosses, including the absent DGMP and Scottish Secretary, Alasdair Jack, so that my constituents get the road upgrades that they have been campaigning on for decades? The UK Minister of Roads and Local Transport confirmed last month that funding of £8 million is available, subject to final approvals, which have yet to come. While his commitment is in line with our funding request, that confirmation only came after a face-to-face meeting that I had with him in September, where I had to press for a final decision to be made. My officials continue to engage proactively with their UK account of arts and we await confirmation that the funding that we have requested will be forthcoming. Indeed, we had to submit a second business case only on 17 October following our initial one in April because of the passage of time due to the inaction from the UK Government. To ask the Scottish Government how it will balance the rights of victims with the rights of the accused in the processes developed by the Children, Care and Justice Scotland Bill. I am very conscious of the need to ensure the rights of victims and the rights of referred children are balanced. I am aware of the concerns around this particular issue, as has been reflected in my evidence to the committee and my meetings with individual members. Provisions in the bill seek to reflect the rights, needs and expectations of victims and the parents or carers of child victims with the rights of referred children. I can assure the member that amendments that further improve support for victims are being considered for amendment at stage 2. The bill will ensure that there is scope for referral of all children to the principal reporter, removing the barriers that they had to already be in the hearing system before turning 16 to get support in that system. Importantly, the bill will also allow referrals for children who are themselves victims within their family home. I thank the minister for that reply. Evidence tells us that juggling the rights of distinct groupings can be difficult for government. As she eludes, multiple concerns have been raised by the Education, Children and Young People's Committee over the lack of consideration thus far for child victims through the children's hearing process. Only yesterday, victims support Scotland highlighted a father's concerns around the lack of information, the lack of support and challenges around safety planning for victims. Ian said, and I quote, I would not wish on my worst enemy what we had to go through as a family. I appreciate that she cannot yet at this stage disclose planning amendments to the bill. Will the minister reiterate again that she takes seriously the significant concerns expressed by multiple agencies and the ECYP committee and ensure that child victims' rights are given the same focus as child perpetrators? I am really sorry to hear of the situation that Michelle Thomson has raised, and I thank her for raising what is a really, really important issue. Whether it is the criminal justice system or the children's system that deals with the child's behaviour, we absolutely must ensure that we meet the needs of victims and their families. Again, I really just want to assure the member that I am absolutely alive to the issues that have been raised, and I have met with Victim Support Scotland to discuss the bill and those issues directly. As I noted in my initial answer, further improving support for victims is a key consideration at stage 2, and I am very happy to meet with the member to discuss that in more detail. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the support and services available for children and young people with additional support needs in mainstream education across central Scotland. Our most recent figures show that spending on additional support for learning by authorities has reached a record high of £830 million. We have also invested £15 million a year since 2019-20 to support the recruitment of pupil support assistants and to help them to respond to the individual needs of children and young people. In addition to that, the Scottish Government provided more than £11 million of funding to directly support pupils with complex additional support needs and services to children and families. We work with a number of partners across central Scotland to ensure that advice, support and resources are available to the parents and carers of children and young people with additional support needs, the children and young people themselves and the practitioners who support them. The truth is that many children are in learning settings that do not suit their needs. Parents have contacted me saying that, due to long waiting lists for ASN diagnosis, many children are being refused a transfer to an ASN specialist school or nursery. The fact of the matter is that school and nursery estates are not equipped to deal with the number of young people who have complex additional support needs. ASN parent councils have been raising that issue in my region and their voices are being ignored. What will that Government do to reduce waiting lists for families, waiting on ASN diagnosis? Does the minister agree that a full review of ASN estates is long overdue? I thank the member for her question. I think that she raises a really important point, particularly when we reflect on the number of pupils with now an identified additional support need. Over a third of our young people now have an identified additional support need. That changes the type of learning and teaching that happens in our classroom. It changes, of course, the needs of the young people, their parents and carers. I am sorry to hear about the campaign group in her region. I will be more than happy to engage with them. I have engaged directly with ASN reform on this matter. I think that more broadly she makes a number of points in relation to diagnosis. Under the ASL act, a diagnosis is not required in order for support to be given. However, we very much recognise that having that diagnosis can help young people, but it can also help their families in terms of working with them. We published a guidance around the national neurodevelopmental specification for children and young people back in 2021. The member asked for a further review to that end. I suggest to the member that it may be prudent that, as part of the education reform process, we consider that to a fuller extent, recognising that the reform process needs to reflect the changes that have happened in our classrooms in recent times. I think that ASN is part of that shift and part of that change. I am committed to working with the member and indeed across the chamber, Presiding Officer, on how we can better support teachers in our classrooms and parents and carers in relation to additional support needs. I am very grateful for Presiding Officer and my apologies for being slightly late to general questions. Could I ask the cabinet secretary the discussion about involving parents? Should this not include involving parents and caregivers in the decision making processes regarding their young person rather than just being informed? I agree with the member's suggestion in relation to decision making. We provide support to parents. I alluded to that in some of my responses to Megan Gallacher. If the member has suggestions on how we can help to better influence that again through the education reform process, I would be more than happy to listen to that. Of course, we will launch the consultation on Tuesday of this week surrounding the legislation that will come forward next year. I think that there is an opportunity to strengthen that legislation, particularly in relation to parental rights. I would be more than happy to consider that suggestion through the consultation process. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I remind members of my voluntary register of interests with the GMB Unite and Unison Trade Unions. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that notice of industrial action has been served on Scottish water. The pay negotiations that are on-going are, of course, a matter for Scottish water, as the employer on one hand and the unions on the other. However, I understand that Scottish water has, as Mr Leonard narrates, been notified by three recognised unions of industrial action starting from Friday 10 November. I would encourage all parties to continue negotiations to resolve the dispute. When the three Scottish water trade unions Unite, Unison and the GMB came to Parliament on Tuesday, they were determined. After ACAS talks broke up at 2.30 this morning, they are angry. The Cabinet Secretary simply cannot claim that these negotiations are solely a matter for Scottish water. The Scottish Government wholly owns Scottish water. The plan pay cut to the lowest-paid workers is a flagrant breach of the Scottish Government's fair work principles. The last time we were so close to a Scottish water strike back in 2008, the then finance secretary stepped in, I know because I was there. With 12 hours to go before this strike, will the cabinet secretary come out of hiding, break her silence and get this dispute settled? I repeat contrary to Mr Leonard's characterisation that those pay negotiations are a matter for Scottish water on the one hand and the unions on the other. He is quite right for their talks where they were conducted last night. They did go on to the early hours of the morning. I understand that they were positive although, in conclusive, contingency plans are in place for strike action, and a further meeting is scheduled with ACAS for 15 November. To ask the Scottish Government how it supports small businesses in the Mid Scotland and Fife region. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Businesses in the Mid Scotland and Fife and across Scotland can access advice, guidance and financial support from a wide range of organisations across the public sector. There are over 750 public-funded interventions to support businesses in Scotland, including through grants, loans, consultancy research, training opportunities and self-help guides. Most of that is available to any business anywhere in Scotland, whatever stage of growth it is at. On non-domestic rates, the Scottish budget this year ensures the lowest poundage in the UK for the fifth year in a row and supports a package of reliefs worth an estimated £749 million. That includes the most generous small business bonus scheme relief in the UK, estimated to save rate pairs £250 million this year. Finally, the Scottish Government is working with enterprise agencies, local government and other public bodies to improve the way that we support businesses through the business support partnership. A range of business support is available via Business Gateway and Scottish Enterprise and can be accessed via findbusinesssupport.gov.scot. I will ask a question about something that the cabinet secretary has not mentioned. During the economy and fair work committee inquiry into time centres, we spoke to five small businesses about their bricks-and-clicks model and how important the DigiBoost fund grant funding was. The digital strategy had committed to expanding that fund, and yet the budget was reduced in 2022-23. The Government has made no plans for it this year, instead focusing on piloting digital productivity labs. The labs pilot ended in June, so can I ask what progress is being made in developing an improved digital support programme, and will the popular DigiBoost grant be reinstated as part of this? I thank Clare Baker for her question and I always endeavour to provide as much information as possible and be as comprehensive as I can in answering parliamentary questions such as this. In terms of digital, I am more than happy to provide further information and writing in terms of the work that we are doing to support businesses on the digital front. It is a substantial part of the investment that is made within my portfolio, and I will endeavour to write to her to ensure that she has the full sum of information regarding the support that is available currently. This week, business organisations united in a call for the non-domestic rate to be frozen in the forthcoming budget as a measure that would do more than anything else to support small business. Will they be listened to? Obviously, the Scottish Government's budget process is on-going. The Deputy First Minister has her tax advisory group, which is looking at areas such as this. The new deal for business that I convened and implementation plan that I am now endeavouring to deliver upon includes elements of non-domestic rate reform where that is possible. Of course, we will be looking at what we can do to support businesses through non-domestic rates, but Murdo Fraser will know as I do that the business resilience information that I get and is available through all the enterprise agencies demonstrates that the biggest challenges that businesses face right now are inflation, energy costs and interest rate rises, all of which are at the front of the door of his Government at Westminster. To ask the Scottish Government what funding it is providing through the next phase of the learning estate investment programme for schools in the south of Scotland. The Scottish Government's learning estate investment programme is a £2 billion investment project supported by Scotland's school—supporting rather Scotland's school estate. Phase 3 supports a priority project in those councils who have not thus far benefited from leap funding, and therefore treats councils fairly and equitably. Although it is the duty of councils to manage and maintain their school estate, we are supporting eight projects in the south of Scotland region through phases 1 and 2 of LEAP. Additionally, through the previous Scotland schools for the future programme, we awarded councils with funding of almost £171 million pounds towards 20 priority projects in the south of Scotland region. As a result of investment by this Government, the proportion of schools in goods or satisfactory conditions in Scotland has increased from 61 per cent in April 2007 to almost 91 per cent in April 2023. Cabinet Secretary, the question is about the next phase of the programme, not the one three years ago, and the short answer is none, not a penny for a single school in the south of Scotland. It was bad enough that projects were delayed and cost rose because of the dithering of the Cabinet Secretary making a decision on funding, but now every project in the region has been rejected. What message does the Cabinet Secretary have for parents at schools such as Dumfries academy? Classed as condition and suitability B and C that they are not worthy of funding when schools have found funding that are classed as condition A? Can I just remind the member of the vast improvement in the school estate that I mentioned in my previous answer? A vast improvement that was made necessary by his party's pathetic record on our schools whilst in office, leaving us in a situation whereby almost 40 per cent of our schools were in a substandard condition. I want to work with COSLA to consider how we build on the progress going forward, but if we had gone even further on leap at this stage, as I hear the member suggesting, that money would have had to come from somewhere else. So where is the member suggesting that extra budget come from? What cuts would he make to the education budget to fund extra schools? That is the reality, Presiding Officer, of the situation that we face thanks to an austerity agenda, of course, brought in by the Tories, now supported wholeheartedly by Keir Starmer and the Labour Party. Question number seven, Collette Stevenson. Thank you, Presiding Officer, to ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the Strathclyde pension fund and what was discussed. Minister Tom Arthur. Scottish Government officials attend the Scottish Local Government Pension Scheme Advisory Board as observers and are often present at other events associated with the local government pension scheme at which representatives of the Strathclyde pension fund are also in attendance. Scottish Government officials also regularly communicate with representatives from the fund about administrative matters. Collette Stevenson. I thank the minister for that response. The success of the funds will allow employers to reduce pension contributions for a couple of years while protecting pension payments for current and future beneficiaries. That will unlock additional resources for several local authorities, including South Lanarkshire. Can the minister outline whether useful lessons will be learned from the success of the Strathclyde pension fund for other public sector investments? Strathclyde pension fund may indeed be commended on its performance, and that reflects that the local government pension scheme in Scotland is a success story. There are a number of options for funds reporting the surplus, and approaches may differ from one fund to the next. Clearly, the experience of Strathclyde pension fund in recent years is an example of good practice. However, I understand that the other 10 Scottish funds are also more than 100 per cent funded. Scottish fund authorities meet to discuss investments on a regular basis, and closer collaboration is an approach that may be a viable option for them. More widely, we very much encourage an approach to investment finance that brings together individuals, businesses and organisations with relevant experience and interests to promote investment opportunities in Scotland and support growth. That concludes General Questions. Before we move to First Minister's Questions, I invite members to join me in welcoming to the gallery His Excellency Theodore Loxeyne, ambassador of the Philippines to the United Kingdom.