 Ann Bill kid, time is up on general questions. We turn now to First Minister's questions. Question number one, Ruth Davidson. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Last week, the education secretary took issue with us raising questions about Scottish education in the chamber, so I'd like to return to the matter. Mr Swinney claimed recently that there has been no narrowing of subject choice for senior pupils in Scotland. Indeed, he said that choice is blossoming and that the options available to young people are colossal. Can I ask the First Minister where the evidence is for that? Perhaps I could quote her own education sportsperson, Liz Smith, who a couple of weeks ago at the relevant committee said that there is more choice for young people. There is some evidence, but I think that the best evidence of how our education system is performing are the results that our young people are achieving. Whether we look at level 5 qualifications, level 6 qualifications and the number of young people getting more than 5 hires, whether we look at the narrowing of the attainment gap, we find improvement in all of those measures. That takes me to the flaw in Ruth Davidson's argument. She wants to tell people that there is something terribly wrong in our education system. Unfortunately, the pupils of Scotland are proving her wrong by doing better each and every year. Ruth Davidson. The First Minister talked about the number of qualifications gained, but she does not say that the number of A to C grades has actually dropped on her watch by 3 per cent. We have asked for the evidence on subject choice, and here is what we have found. We got results from every school in Scotland setting out the average number of qualifications taken by pupils in S4 over the last few years. Not just in S4 and S5, but every single qualification taken. In 2013, when curriculum for excellence was introduced, there were 308 secondary schools where pupils took an average of seven or more qualifications at S4. By 2018, that figure had fallen to just 182, a drop of more than 40 per cent. By contrast, the number of schools where pupils took six subjects or fewer has gone up from just 46 in 2013 to 165. To go back to the education secretary's comments, does that sound like blossoming choice to the First Minister? As we have discussed many times in this chamber, it is not simply a matter of the qualifications that young people take in S4. What matters are the qualifications that young people leave school with, the qualifications that they take over the entirety of the senior phase of education. Let me quote the head of education at Aberdeenshire Council, Tory led Aberdeenshire Council. Young people matured at different rates and having qualifications available to them over a three-year period gives much greater flexibility and allows them to learn at a stage when they are ready. It is the entirety of the senior phase that matters. The facts are these. At level 5, we see the percentage of pupils getting qualifications increasing at level 6. In 2009, 22 per cent of young people left school with five hires or more. That is now more than 30 per cent of pupils, and we are seeing the attainment gap narrow. I come back to the fundamental point. The evidence does not bear out Ruth Davidson's analysis. The evidence is of an education system that is improving and young people that are doing better. To be fair, Presiding Officer, I was not expecting a completely impartial answer from the First Minister. In anticipation, we decided instead to seek one out this morning. We put all of this to Professor Jim Scott, the former head teacher, who has probably spent more time than anyone examining changes of subject choice in Scotland. He says that this data confirms that since the introduction of curriculum for excellence, just over 200 schools have declines or significant declines in the number of entries for SQA qualifications, whereas just over 50 demonstrate an increase. Does the First Minister accept that, or is that all part of some great moan fest conspiracy too? Again, much of the analysis that Professor Scott has done has looked at qualifications at S4. The fundamental point that we are making here is that, while that is important, it is the qualifications that young people leave school with. We are seeing more people at young people leave school with more qualifications. We are seeing the gap between the students and the poor is narrow. We are seeing a report from our commissioner for fair access just this week saying that we are making significant progress in narrowing the attainment gap in terms of young people going on into university. Of course, we have a record number of young people going into positive destinations overall. We will continue to work hard to make this progress in education, but no matter how much Ruth Davidson wants to talk down the performance of Scottish education, in fact, quite frankly, are proving her wrong. Ruth Davidson. Presiding Officer, if we are going to improve education in this country, we need to accept information and evidence, whether that is on combined classes or on subject choice being restricted. The First Minister and the Education Secretary need to listen, because this is not just down to schools exercising choice. It is schools not having enough teachers or support to provide full choice. Its children from disadvantaged areas are suffering the most because they are still the ones most likely to leave school at the end of S4. The Parliament is already conducting an inquiry into this matter, so can I ask the First Minister, will she and her education secretary spend a bit less time attacking the messengers and a bit more time listening to the evidence that they come forward with? First Minister. We will continue to spend time looking at the evidence. Ruth Davidson never quite manages to respond to the actual evidence, so let me set it out for her again. When this Government took office, just over 70 per cent of young people left school with a level 5 qualification. That is now 86 per cent. At level 6, when we took office, it was just over 41 per cent. Now it is 62 per cent. 22 per cent in 2009, leaving school with five hires or more, now over 30 per cent. We see the gap in attainment narrowing. Ruth Davidson does not like them because they do not suit her. Let us get on to teacher numbers. There are more teachers in our schools now than at any time since 2010. There are more primary school teachers in our schools and at any time since I was at primary school. I have to say that Ruth Davidson has got a bit of a cheek talking about numbers of teachers in our schools when she is a leader of the austerity party in Scotland. The leader of the party would give tax cuts to the richest and therefore take money out of our education system. We will get on with the job of improving education and we will leave Ruth Davidson to defend whatever latest Tory ends up imposing austerity on Scotland. Richard Leonard This week our pensioners faced a direct attack on their living standards when the BBC announced it plans to scrap universal free TV licences to the over 75s. The Scottish pensioners forum said that this is a decision and I quote, potentially plunging older people into a solitary existence with no means of contact with the outside world. They are right. Will the First Minister add her name to a letter that I am circulating to all party leaders in this Parliament today, calling on Theresa May in one of her final acts as Prime Minister, to take back responsibility, to honour their 2017 manifesto pledge and reverse this decision because our pensioners deserve so much better than this? The First Minister I am very happy to look at any letter that Richard Leonard wants to send me, but I have to say that the Scottish Government, as far as I understand it, has already written to the Government on this matter, making it clear. We haven't waited until today, we've, I think, gone on and done it, but yes, we will look at any cross-party action. I oppose the decision that's been taken by the BBC, but let me say this and I think that Richard Leonard alluded to this as well. The BBC has been left to take this decision, and the responsibility for the decision lies fairly and squarely with the Tory Government at Westminster. So let's all in this chamber and I would challenge the Tories as well to stand up and back the continuation of free TV licences for all pensioners, not just in Scotland but across the UK. Richard Leonard Our pensioners suffered another blow this week when the Scottish Government voted to slow down and water down its plans to end fuel poverty. Back in 2008, addressing this Parliament, Nicola Sturgeon said and I quote, I reiterate the Scottish Government's continued commitment to tackling fuel poverty and to meet the 2016 target, which is to ensure as far as reasonably practicable that no one is living in fuel poverty by 2016. However, instead of eradicating fuel poverty by 2016, the First Minister now wants to eradicate it by 2040. Instead of a definition of vulnerability that extends to all pensioners, the Scottish Government has now excluded everybody below the age of 75, even though life expectancy in Scotland's most disadvantaged communities is less than 75. First Minister, when will all of Scotland's pensioners finally be lifted out of poverty? First Minister I'm slightly confused because I understand that Labour voted for the fuel poverty bill this week, but it seems a bit strange that Richard Leonard now seems to oppose it. Let me just say to Richard Leonard, if we look at the latest figures published in December last year, they show Scotland's fuel poverty rate at the lowest recorded rates since 2005. However, all of us have worked to do that. That's why we have passed this piece of legislation. Scotland is amongst only a handful of European Governments to define fuel poverty, let alone set targets relating to its eradication. We will continue to work to make sure that we do eradicate fuel poverty. The targets that we've set this week will focus us on doing exactly that. I hope that we've got the support of Scottish Labour not just in passing the targets, but also in taking the action that will make sure that we can meet those targets. Richard Leonard The facts of those are pensioner poverty up, free TV licences under attack, care and support needs unmet, life expectancy in Scotland falling, the promise to end fuel poverty broken. The way we treat our elderly citizens is a mark of the kind of society we are. Those are people who have contributed all of their working lives. Many of them are still contributing today as unpaid carers, yet too many of them are forced to choose between heating and eating. First Minister, your target date to end fuel poverty was 2016, now it's 2040. Does the First Minister appreciate the anger that will be felt by pensioners when they realise not just what the Tories are doing this week, but what this Government has done this week? We will continue to be one of the only Governments across Europe setting targets to eradicate fuel poverty. Let me say to Richard Leonard that the regulation of energy prices in this country is a reserved matter. Pensions are a reserved matter. Television licences are a reserved matter. If Richard Leonard wants this Government to have responsibility over all of these matters, he will find that I am the first to agree with him. Having reverse his position on a second EU referendum at the weekend, maybe he will now see the light and reverse his position on a second independence referendum so that this Parliament can take control of these matters out of the hands of the Tories and serve our pensioners along with the rest of our country as well. We have a number of constituency supplementaries. Clare Adamson to be followed by Brian Whittle. First Minister, you may be aware of reports that the First World War Memorial in the Duchess of Hamilton Park in my constituency has been vandalised. My great-uncle is remembered on this memorial. Do you shame I discussed at this important act, especially in such close proximity to the 75th-day landing commemorations, and will you join me in sending a message that hate crimes, hate behaviours, have no place in a modern Scotland and urge those responsible to reflect on the heart they have caused to my constituents and urge them to come forward and take responsibility for their actions? First Minister. Can I thank Clare Adamson for raising this issue? I was extremely disappointed, indeed disgusted, to hear of the vandalism of the World War One memorial in Motherwell, and I joined with Clare Adamson and others in condemning such a wicked and despicable act. That did happen at a time when we have been commemorating the sacrifices made by our armed forces makes it all the more abhorrent. Obviously, the police are investigating this. I would call on the perpetrators to reflect on their behaviour and to come forward, but I would also agree with Clare Adamson that all of us must join in sending a very clear message that hate crime has no place in Scotland and it will simply not be tolerated. Brian Whittle to be followed by Ross Greer. Thank you, Presiding Officer. A charity in my area waiting for European social fund payments contacting me to say that they are struggling with the costs and only found out that there is an issue with the fund when they read about it in a national newspaper. Given the third sector's limited budget and need to control cash flow, does the First Minister think that this is an acceptable way for the Scottish Government to communicate with the third sector? While they are trying to resolve its ministration issues with the fund, perhaps the Scottish Government would consider paying the upper portion of the grant in advance. First Minister. The Scottish Government met the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations just yesterday, in fact, to update them on the situation and provide further reassurance. The concerns relate to evidence provided by lead partners in those projects. There is a common issue with European social funding. Similar problems have been identified in England, but we are determined to avoid any charity or third sector body suffering as a result of this. We continue to make payments to projects unaffected by those issues. We are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible with the European Commission. We have already sent a list of proposed solutions to the commission and await confirmation that it is content to accept them. Those proposals will ensure that lead partners in the various projects are able to generate the evidence that they need to support their claim for payment. The Government is and will continue to do everything to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. Ross Greer, to be followed by Fulton MacGregor. The First Minister might be aware of proposals by pool ports for a significant development adjacent to the Hunterston nuclear power station in my region. The proposals are varied, some of them are very interesting and could potentially provide much-needed jobs. The one that is providing serious concern for local residents is that for liquefied natural gas for a terminal, a storage facility and a new gas fire power station. Does the First Minister agree that new gas fire power stations in Scotland are not compatible with her declaration of a climate emergency? I certainly appreciate and echo the sentiments of Ross Greer about the climate emergency. We want to make sure that we are doing everything possible to meet that challenge. In terms of proposed developments, as Ross Greer is aware, it will have to go through a whole series of applications and considerations. It would not be correct for me to pre-empt any of that. However, in terms of our energy policy, I think that that is evidenced across our energy policy, the commitment of this Government to tackle climate change and reduce our emissions is very well evidenced. Fulton MacGregor, to be followed by Annie Wells. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I know that the First Minister is aware of the situation at St Ambrose and Buchanan high schools in my constituency. I wholeheartedly welcome the announcement yesterday from John Swinney that there will be an independent and partial review. Given that more than 400 people attended a public meeting that I arranged last week and more than 14,000 folk have now signed an online petition, what assurances can the First Minister give that the review will involve hearing the views of parents and school staff? Will the review's public health lead have the power to order appropriate tests and investigations to get a full understanding of the safety of the site? First Minister. I appreciate the opportunity to address this issue, which I know is causing considerable concern to parents despite the efforts of the council and the health board to assure people of the safety of the school. That is why we announced the independent review yesterday. The review will engage with parents, teachers, staff and, perhaps most importantly, of all pupils in the schools exactly how the review is taken forward is rightly a matter for the review itself, given the importance of ensuring its independence. On the question of testing, the same is true. Let me make clear if the review's experts conclude that there is a need to recommend further tests on the site itself or, with appropriate parental permission, the pupils, then that is exactly what will happen. We must respect the review's independence and allow them to come to their own conclusions. I think that that is a critical point about this work. The review must both be independent and impartial and be seen to be independent and impartial. Nothing less will be acceptable to staff, parents and pupils and nothing less will be acceptable to the Government either. Annie Wells. In my region of Glasgow and in the First Minister's own constituency, a school has been forced to take desperate action to eliminate a four-year longer deal of bedbug infestations. Kids are getting rashes, pest control teams are visiting every few months and staff have had to destroy their home furniture. First Minister, what century is this? First Minister. This is an issue in different parts of Glasgow. I know from my constituency interest in the case that Annie Wells is citing, the intensive work that is being done by the council. I speak to council officials on these matters regularly and the other issues that are raised in this area of my constituency. I know that the work that is going on is very intensive and I think that all of us have to encourage those involved in this to follow all of the guidelines in order that the work that is being done has the best chance of succeeding. Question 3, Alison Johnstone. Thank you. Like me, the First Minister will have received hundreds of females from constituents this week backing calls for 11 per cent of NHS funding to go to general practice, to let our local surgeries employ more doctors and nurses, to provide longer appointments and to tackle the health and equality that continues to blight Scotland. In April, Parliament voted for the green motion to demanding an urgent review of GP recruitment, resources and funding. So when will the Scottish Government respect the will of Parliament and launch such a review? First Minister. We are taking a range of actions to boost recruitment into general practice in terms of funding. The Government is committed to increasing the proportion of funding going to primary care services to 11 per cent. Half of that will go to GPs in particular, but of course GPs do not work in isolation. Increasingly it is the entire primary care team that is important in delivering the services and communities that people need and shifting the balance of care from acute services to primary care. We continue to work to achieve that aim and we continue to work across the different actions that we are taking to ensure that we are recruiting the right numbers of people, not just into general practice but into different professions across our health service. The fact is that the overwhelming majority of patient contacts are made with our GPs, yet they receive less than 8 per cent of the NHS budget. 11 per cent may be going to primary care. The call is that 11 per cent goes to GP practices. They are overstretched and under resourced. A quarter of GPs do not think that they will be in general practice five years from now. The RCGP are warning that this is putting patient safety at risk, this untenable situation. If we want to look after people in their homes and communities, we need more GPs. The RCGP says that surgeries will struggle to deliver the healthcare that we need without at least 11 per cent of NHS funding. Are the GPs wrong? I continue to talk to and work with GPs. I understand that the health secretary will meet with the Royal College shortly to have further discussions about their report. We are taking a range of actions in terms of recruitment. We are taking action by more than 10 per cent since 2007, and the majority of new places are focused on primary care and general practice. The number of trainee GPs in 2018 was at the highest level for over a decade. We will continue to take those actions in terms of funding. We have the commitment to increase the share of funding going to primary care and we will meet that commitment. General practice is a vital part of that. As anybody who understands and knows, general practice does not work in isolation. It is part of a multidisciplinary team so increasing the share of funding going to primary care not just helps the entirety of the primary care team, it also helps general practice because it has tasks that might be done by GPs able to be done by other members of the team. That is an important commitment and we will continue to make progress in meeting it. The First Minister will be aware of the advanced payment scheme for older survivors of in-care child abuse. In a written answer to me, the Cabinet Secretary for Education said that no application to the scheme had been refused. Some survivors, however, are reporting that applications have been refused on the grounds that they do not have the documents to prove where they were in care. Of course, we know that some organisations running children's homes destroyed many of their historical records. My ask the First Minister to have this investigated as a matter of urgency given the distress this may be causing to people who throughout their lives have had their trust betrayed. First Minister. I hope that Johann Lamont will recognise that this is a very important issue that has been taken very seriously by the Government. We owe a debt to these people and we are determined to do what we can to repay that debt. My understanding, although of course we will look into the information that Johann Lamont has just provided to the chamber, but my understanding is that so far no application has been refused for lack of documentation. Johann Lamont is giving me different information and I will make sure that the Deputy First Minister looks into that and will write to Johann Lamont as soon as we are in the position to do so. Sandra White will be filled by Iain Gray. Thank you, Presiding Officer. The First Minister will wear of the announcement that Serco are planning to resume a programme across Glasgow. Can the First Minister tell me what action the Scottish Government will take to prevent this inhumane treatment of asylum seekers by Serco? First Minister. I deeply regret Serco's decision. I think that it is inhumane that people can be evicted from their homes by the locks being changed. The Scottish Government has made its views known on this. We have worked and will continue to protect asylum seekers as much as we possibly can. The root problem here is the inhumane asylum policy pursued by the Home Office and the UK Government. That is what needs to change. Perhaps Ruth Davidson, given her partnership at the moment with the current Home Secretary, will take the opportunity to ask the Home Secretary to end a situation where people can be evicted from their homes in this way and I look forward to hearing from her when she is done so. Iain Gray to be followed by Jenny Gilruth. Iain Gray. Figures today show that Scottish student debt has soared to £5.5 billion. Three times what it was in 2007. Average individual debt is more than double what it was when the SNP came to power. When the First Minister says judge her by her record on education for students and graduates who were promised no student debt at all entitled to judge this a betrayal which grows bigger year by year. First Minister. Let me just focus on what exactly the loan debt figures are. In England, the individual loan debt figures are £35,950. In Labour-run Wales £22,920. In Northern Ireland £23,550. And in Scotland £13,800. Some £9,000 lower than in Wales where Labour are in Government. Average student debt in Scotland did increase in the most recent year by £670. In Labour-run Wales it increased by £1,610. Labour's hypocrisy on this issue knows no bounds. The fact of the matter is we are increasing support for students. We are increasing student bursaries and we are determined to keep education in Scotland free. That's the difference between the SNP, the Tories, Labour and the Liberals. Jenny Gilruth is to be followed by Mark Griffin. Jenny Gilruth. Thank you, Presiding Officer. The Tories want their new Westminster leader to rip up the Scotland Act and to seize control of spending and decision-making in devolved areas. Does the First Minister condemn this latest attempt at a power grab on Scotland's Parliament? First Minister. I think everything the Tories do and say right now and in fact the shrill way in which they say it just demonstrates that they know they are losing the argument on independence so they are reduced to trying to frustrate democracy. The Tories are not interested in more money for Scotland if they were they stood up against the cuts imposed upon this Parliament by the Tory Government. What the Tories are interested in is undermining the Scottish Parliament. We've already had the legislative power grab this week. The petty, though completely unsuccessful attempt to constrain the ability of the Scottish and Welsh Governments to represent our interests overseas and now we have the money grab. I think we're learning two things. Firstly, the Tories cannot be trusted with devolution. The second thing is perhaps more interesting. The Tories the Tories know the Scottish Tories know they are never going to be in Government in Scotland, because if they had any hope of that, they wouldn't be allowing a Tory Government to undermine this Parliament in the way that they are. Mark Griffin will be told by Emma Harper. Thank you, Presiding Officer. The First Minister will be aware of press reports that the GMB union are battling 300 members of staff at Hermeyr's hospital on taking strike action. A payroll system change means collectively the arrowed £72,000 are being paid two weeks wages for three weeks work and are being offered alone instead of wages that are rightfully owed, pushing many into debt. Will the Scottish Government make a public intervention on this in line with the wishes of the workforce to make sure that staff are paid to work the arrowed, avert any strike action and the likely knock-on effect for patients in my region? First Minister. The health secretary has already made public intervention. She's written to the company that she's met with many concerns and continues to encourage the company to adopt an approach that is fair to staff and also avoids any disruption to services. We will continue to do everything we can as a Government to bring about that resolution. Of course, this issue comes from the PFFI contract around Hermeyr's hospital, which I seem to remember came about under the last Labour Administration. This is one of the symptoms of PFI that Labour was so happy to support all these years ago, and now has the nerve to stand up in this Parliament and complain about it, so we will continue to do the work that we can to resolve it. Perhaps Labour should spend a bit more time reflecting on why we find ourselves in this situation. Emma Harper. To ask whether the Scottish Government has had any contact from Dumfries and Galloway Council following the closure of Church Street in Stranrair due to safety concerns of the dilapidated Grade B listed George Hotel and whether assistance could be offered. We will be happy to liaise with the council and do everything we can to help with this situation, which I know is of concern to Emma Harper's constituents. I would be happy to ask the relevant minister to look further into this and get back to Emma Harper as soon as possible. Question 4, Stuart McMillan. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to make people aware of scams in light of reports that nearly half of people in Scotland have been targeted at least once in the last year. First Minister. The number of people targeted by scams is of great concern. The Scottish Government believes that prevention through education and raising awareness is key to reducing the harm caused. We are currently funding Citizens Advice Scotland to deliver an awareness campaign in partnership with trading standards, Police Scotland, Young Scot, Age Scotland and other agencies. The campaign launched this week and aims to make people aware of scams associated with scams, urging people to speak up and report them. We also fund crime stoppers, who have been working with Police Scotland on the shut-out scammers campaign to raise awareness of doorstep crime and protect the most vulnerable in society. We are also currently working with stakeholders to develop a prevention strategy to ensure a more co-ordinated response to tackling this issue across Government. Stuart McMillan. I thank the First Minister for that reply to make people aware of scams are welcome. However, we should all remain vigilant and highlight that whether or not scammers are successful, they are committing a crime. As the First Minister also agreed with me that this is a continual problem and we need to continue that partnership working to both raise people's awareness as well as target these criminals. First Minister. Yes, I agree with all of that. We must be vigilant and report any concerns to the police, regardless of whether or not a scammer is successful. As I have just said, the Scottish Government is working with a range of partners to embed cyber resilience within our education and lifelong learning systems at all levels and that will help to ensure that everyone has a fundamental awareness of cyber risk and how they can take basic but important steps to reduce that risk. I very much agree that this is an on-going problem and partnership working of the type that I spoke about in my initial answer will be key to raising awareness and preventing the crimes of this nature. Maurice Corry. The Scottish Conservatives called for a vulnerable person's aggravator almost exactly a year ago after it was recommended by the Brackardale review. Those who commit crimes targeted at the elderly and disabled punished more harshly by the courts. Why has the SNP Government failed to introduce that? We consulted on changes to hate crime legislation. The results of that are currently being taken forward and Parliament will continue to scrutinise the decisions that the Government makes and ultimately the decisions that Parliament makes. It is important that we consider carefully any aggravations to crime making sure that we have the right evidence based in place and that we are taking the right action to protect vulnerable groups whoever they are and we will continue to take action of that type. Jamie Greene. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to strike action taking place at Aberdeen airports. It is very disappointing that this industrial action is taking place. It is a matter for AGS airports and the trade union, and I would encourage them to work together to reach a resolution to the dispute. I appreciate that the strikes will be concerning for passengers, particularly as we enter the summer holiday season. I know that measures have been put in place to minimise the impact on passengers and no flights have been cancelled at either airport because of the industrial action. I urge AGS airports and Genite to resolve the matter and avoid any disruption to passengers. Jamie Greene. The First Minister will no doubt be aware of the strategic importance of the airport to both the city but the wider west of Scotland region to both business and tourism. I am sure that the same can be said of Aberdeen. Given that there are potential further strikes planned and this is the peak travel season upon us, it is important that this dispute is resolved fairly but quickly. I ask for further information on how the Government, its ministers or its agencies will provide assistance to either party to help settle this dispute quickly. First Minister. The Scottish Government is not a party to this dispute and I am sure that that is appreciated. That said, the Scottish Government always stands ready to help if there is help that we can provide to help resolve disputes like this but this is fundamentally an issue between the airport company and the trade unions. I would, as I did a moment ago, encourage them to work together to reach a resolution that will avoid disruption for passengers but also a resolution that is fair to the workers in the airports. The airport company is a private company so we do not have a direct role in the talks but of course we want to see it resolved as quickly as possible and if there is anything that we can reasonably do to help bring about that outcome we stand ready to do it. Neil Bibby. Hundreds of workers in my region have been forced to strike because their pay and pensions have been attacked in violation of an ACAS agreement making Labour's being used despite serious safety concerns. Unite have repeatedly offered to talk up and to strike action yet the airport which has made over £90 million of profits will not work with the union to end this dispute. Given the airport's vast profits profits that are projected to grow by a further 6%, can the First Minister justify why hundreds of workers in my region should be treated in this way? The Scottish Government is not a party to this dispute. AGS airports is a private company but I was very deliberate in what I said in my previous answer that I want to see a resolution to this that avoids passenger disruption but that is also fair to those who work in the airport because as with any company it cannot function without the work of the employees there so I want to see fairness for workers. I encourage the airport to get round the table with trade unions and come to a resolution and I hope all members will do so but it has to be based on a recognition that this is not a dispute that the Scottish Government is a party to that does not stop us encouraging those who are parties to get round the table and come up with a solution that is fundamentally a fair one. For what reason only £3.2 million on Scottish European Co-Investment Program has been spent on supporting Scottish businesses? Scottish European Growth Co-Investment Program has provided £12 million of investment so far and the £3.2 million referred to is the Scottish Enterprise contribution and refers to deals or includes deals currently being finalised. There have been some challenges to take up of the scheme including on-going uncertainty around Brexit. Scottish Enterprise is continuing to work with investors and companies to secure investment decisions and maximise the number of businesses who benefit from the scheme. The Government is committed to supporting small businesses. Of course, the co-investment programme is just one part of the Scottish growth scheme, which is funding a range of financial interventions aimed at helping SMEs to realise their growth and export ambitions and the growth scheme overall has supported 158 companies with £125 million of investment so far. Jackie Baillie I have to say to the First Minister, £12 million out of £200 million isn't that much better. At a time where the economy appears to be contracting, manufacturing is declining and small business confidence, according to the Clydesdale Bank SME health check index, is at its lowest level since they started recording it. When the fund was announced in the programme for government in 2016, it was welcomed across this chamber. It was designed to help businesses grow in the face of Brexit. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance claimed this week that the very fund to help prepare for Brexit had been affected by Brexit. Can the First Minister tell me whether the Scottish Government completely misread the market, given that there is so little demand, and will the co-investment programme, which is largely financial transaction money, be revised to ensure that the right help is available for businesses in these very difficult times? First Minister. In response to that last part of the question, of course, we will always look at how we make sure that we are providing the kind of help that businesses need and if we need to make changes to the design of programmes, we will certainly do that. I think that most people would understand and appreciate that Brexit has had and is having an impact on investment decisions. That is having a knock-on impact on the number of companies that are coming forward to schemes like this. That is simply a reality that I would have thought Labour, at the very least, would have been able to understand. The growth scheme overall is helping a number of companies, as I said, 158 companies with £125 million of investment so far, and we will continue to do everything we can to make sure that this very helpful funding gets to companies, but we require companies to come forward with investment propositions and we will keep encouraging them to do so. Dean Lockhart. In the 2016 programme for government, the First Minister announced that the Scottish growth scheme would provide £500 million of loans and guarantees to business, but support under this scheme is now largely in the form of equity finance. Can the First Minister explain why Scottish firms now have to sell part of their business often to foreign fund managers in order to get support under the Scottish growth scheme? There's a range of financial interventions that are available and there will be discussions with companies on whether that is loan funding or other forms of funding into businesses, but I would have hoped that Conservative members would also have recognised that these schemes are impacted right now by companies' reluctance to invest because of the Brexit uncertainty and for a Tory in particular to ask a question about this, seemingly oblivious to that, I think just underlines the fact that the Tories have no regard whatsoever for the damage that their policies are doing to the economy of the UK right now. Thank you very much and that concludes First Minister's questions. We're going to move on shortly to members' business in the name of Julian Martin on World Environment Day 2019, but we'll just take, if I will, a short suspension to allow members, the minister and members in the public gallery to change seats. A short suspension.