 Stiwn ôl i chi i gael.breakers and protection agency to ensure high regulatory standards in waste management? Richard Lochheadn. The Scottish Government and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency work closely in all the areas of waste management regulation to ensure that those high standards are in place across the sector. For example, the Regulator Reform Scotland Act 2014 provides SEPA with new powers of investigation, new sentencing options for the courts and the new offence of causing significant environmental harm. We also recently announced a review to be conducted jointly with SEPA of legislation and guidance relating to the use of sewage sludge. Can I ask if he is aware that a round table session hosted by the Justice Committee last year concerns were raised about the increasing presence of illegal operators in the waste management industry and about access to public contracts. The former cabinet secretary for justice noted that the difficulty there was in the absence of formal criminal proceedings intelligence regarding potential links to serious organised crime and that this could not be taken into account in awarding these contracts. Can the cabinet secretary give an update on supporting the sharing of information between agencies and the impact that this is having on prosecution rates for environmental crime? The member raises an important issue in terms of the legal operators and waste management and the huge problems that they cause for the regulators and Scotland's environment. As you will know, tackling environmental crime has been a big priority for all the agencies and the Scottish Government over the last few years. Of course, we set up the environmental crime task force and indeed there was a conference on environmental crime just in November late last year, so there is more sharing of information between the agencies. If there is a specific issue that the member is concerned about, please write to me and I'll pass that to the Lord Advocate to address, because the Lord Advocate, as well as the SEPA, the Environment Agency and the police and others are all working together to tackle environmental crime and clamp down on legal operators. Minister, do you agree that the waste management sector in Scotland is important to the economy and that the vast majority of companies in it are committed to meeting the highest standards in place and that, therefore, a partnership approach between SEPA and business is important to ensure that the standards are met? Yes, I do agree with the point that was made by Jamie McGregor. Again, a lot of effort has been put in with good success to ensure that SEPA is very business friendly, as they have been over the past few years. Many businesses that I speak to in Scotland have noticed the sea change and approach from the environmental regulator over the past seven years. Of course, they have got a job to do, but they should enable economic development, not frustrate it, and that's why they are being very proactive in working with the business community. The partnership approach is very important to accept that. To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to help to prevent flooding in urban areas. SEPA Local Authorities and Scottish Water are co-operating on developing flood risk management strategies and local flood risk management plans. Those will identify priorities for reducing flood risk in vulnerable areas, both urban and rural, throughout Scotland. A consultation on the draft strategies and plans will be launched in March, and publication of the strategies is due in December, later this year, with the local flood risk management plans following in December 2016. I thank the minister for her answer. Paisley has dealt with over 1,400 milliliters of rain in the last few months. That has caused some flooding in the town and caused much concern with constituents. Are there any plans under way to improve drainage systems across the country, but particularly in urban areas such as Paisley? The Scottish Government recognises the challenge posed by surface water flooding, caused by heavy rainfall. That is why the flood risk management Scotland Act 2009 has established a planning process for the sustainable management of all flood risks, including surface water flooding. We have also published guidance to assist responsible authorities in the preparation of surface water management plans to help with the management of surface water flooding. By its nature, surface water flooding is too complex for any single organisation to address the challenge alone. We are also looking at how we can better manage surface water before it enters the sewer system or receiving water courses by allowing for more above-ground storage and routing of surface water, as well as increased absorption through the ground or via innovative solutions. Alex Ferguson will be well aware of the Dumfries and Galloway Council's proposal for flood prevention on the white sands in Dumfries. She will also be aware of the considerable level of local opposition and growing level of opposition to those plans. Can I ask what discussions the Scottish Government has had with the council about that proposal and what has been its outcome? Local authorities are responsible, as Alex Ferguson knows, for developing, designing and promoting flood protection schemes as they see fit within their area, including undertaking public consultation and engagement with stakeholders. The Scottish Government has no direct role in that process. The Dumfries and Galloway Council's decision-making process for determining how best to protect the white sands from flooding are still on-going. Indeed, I know that the council has continued its public engagement efforts recently with model displays of the favoured scheme, which I was fortunate enough to have the chance to view in Dumfries on 26 January. I am also aware—very aware—that the current proposals for the white sands have divided opinion among local residents and have therefore asked my officials to liaise with their counterparts at Dumfries and Galloway Council and to discuss the current proposals for the white sands. I ask the minister for an update on progress with the funding and development of one of the national infrastructure projects, the metropolitan Glasgow strategic drainage system. Scottish Water is investing heavily in improving its drainage and sewerage infrastructure, both to improve services to customers and to reduce flood risk, often in co-operation with local authorities and SEPA. The metropolitan Glasgow strategic drainage partnership is a prime example of the interagency co-operation within an urban environment, and it will result in substantial reductions in flood risk for residents of the greater Glasgow area. However, I am very happy to write to the member with a further update and to provide him with his full of information as I possibly can about that scheme. To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings of its consultation on the future of land reform. A consultation on the future of land reform in Scotland closed on 10 February, approximately 1,200 responses have been received from a range of organisations and a large number of individuals. We are carefully considering all the responses and we look forward to receiving the independent analysis report that we have commissioned in the coming months. In the course of March, consultation responses will be published on the Scottish Government's website where the respondent has indicated that they are content for the response that we made public. I am sure that the minister will be aware of the long-standing commitment to and record on of the Labour Party in addressing the issue of land reform, and I certainly wish the minister every power to her elbow in an area that I think we could really make a difference in Scotland. The minister may also be aware of the view of many who are campaigning for a transformation in land ownership in Scotland of the need for a presumption in favour of a community right to buy a right that the Labour Party supports. Will the minister indicate what the Scottish Government's position is in this? A right that many believe will create significant opportunities for sustaining communities across Scotland? I thank the member for her question and I also want to put on record that I am very open if the member would wish to write to me to have a meeting with me. I am very happy to discuss any proposals that the Labour Party would like to bring forward. I would say around our question that our vision for land reform is for a strong relationship between the people of Scotland and the land of Scotland where ownership and use of the land delivers greater public benefits through a democratically accountable and transparent system of land rights that promotes fairness and social justice and environmental sustainability and economic prosperity. I am very keen to see a fairer and a more equitable distribution of land in Scotland where our communities and our individuals can own and use land to realise their potential. We all know that Scotland's land must be an asset that benefits the many and not the few, so we are keen to have a further discussion with Johann Lamont on those variations around the land reform. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing in Glasgow to mark the year of food and drink Scotland 2015. Scotland's natural lardar will be showcased over the next 12 months at events, length and breadth of the country, including special events that are supported through a dedicated £265,000 fund about raising awareness of the role food and drink plays in our cultural identity and in shaping our country's economic success. There are a range of events in Glasgow throughout the year including a food and drink showcase event at the Draggate craft brewery in Glasgow where around 100 local businesses will hear about the opportunities available throughout the year and hear about our taste, our best quality assurance scheme, which recognises local businesses that are committed to sourcing local. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer and for the information in relation to the event at the Draggate craft brewery. I also noticed from the Scottish Food and Drink website that there was a significant event from the 3rd to 5th of March called Scotland, which would celebrate Scotland's hospitality tourism and food and drink part of six events in March at the SCC at this time. Can I ask the Scottish Government to make an economic analysis of what it expects the economic benefit to businesses based in Glasgow and to the wider Glasgow economy? Although I do not have figures for the benefits directly to Glasgow, clearly in terms of the benefit for Scotland, including all our communities, it is evidenced by the growing economic contribution of food and drink overall to Scotland over the past few years. This is a sector that is now worth £14 billion to the Scottish economy in terms of turnover alone by the sector, so we believe that we are still scratching the surface. The year of food and drink is all about promoting Scotland as a showcase, as the land of food and drink, not only to people visiting Scotland from overseas but people who live here in our own country and of course in terms of Glasgow, the people who live there. I believe that there will be huge economic benefit by sourcing more local, because simply that is good for local producers, local businesses and suppliers, and of course, often given that I just launched the in-season local food campaign this morning, which will run for the next few weeks, it could be healthy nutritious food. We are enjoying when it is in season and we grow that in our own doorstep, so there are many many benefits from the year of food and drink for Glasgow and the whole of Scotland. Question 5 Alex Johnson Scottish Government, what it is doing to deliver sustainable development in those rural areas that are hardest to reach? Scottish Government is working hard to ensure everyone in rural Scotland has the same access to the opportunities and services as urban areas. Our new Scotland rural development programme will provide over £1.3 billion, hopefully, for a range of initiatives across our rural communities and will help to boost our rural economy and all the development that comes with that. We are also investing over £410 million in our digital Scotland superfast broadband programme, which will deliver fibre broadband access in 95 per cent of premises by 2018. Of course, that has been done in parallel with community broadband Scotland, which supports schemes in more rural areas in Scotland, more remote areas. Of course, those initiatives will complement everything else that is happening across Government, which is not a time to go into just now. Alex Johnson I thank the minister for the answers that he has given. The minister will be aware, I am sure, that much of the demand created for that broadband is in agricultural businesses in remote areas, which now require to connect through the internet in order to supply information to his own department. However, some of those areas are extremely hard to reach. What discussions has the minister had with ministerial colleagues in order to create a cross-ministerial effort to ensure that we can deliver to those hardest to reach areas alternative methods of connecting to the internet using available technology, which is becoming affordable, as we speak? As Alex Johnson will be aware, one of the key objectives of the Government that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon launched a few weeks ago is tackling inequality. As part of our conversations on that, I am sure that the member will welcome the fact that we are discussing digital broadband and to ensure that tackling inequality, particularly in rural areas, is very much part of that agenda. However, what I laid out in my opening remarks, I hope, persuades the member that we are taking this seriously. There is years and years of neglect of rolling out broadband across Scotland, but we are now addressing that, and it will make a difference. In terms of farmers accessing the forms that they have to fill in, which they bring us to do online these days, there are alternative methods being made available for those who cannot get online. Facilities have been made available at local agricultural offices, where farmers can visit, and they can submit paper copies if required. However, they can use online facilities at local agricultural offices if they do not have broadband in their own homes and farms. Ask the Scottish Government what is being done to comply with the Habitat's Directive to conserve freshwater pearl mussels in the River Spay? The requirements of the Habitat's Directive with respect to freshwater pearl mussels are delivered largely by three legislative pillars. First, pearl mussels are listed on schedule 5 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in benefit from strict protection. Secondly, the habitat quality of pearl mussels in both protected areas and the wider environment is maintained and improved. Under the provisions of the Water Environment and Water Services Scotland Act 2003, and lastly, competent authorities must execute the procedural requirements of the Conservation and Natural Habitat's regulations 1994 in relation to the assessment of the implication of plans or projects for European sites. Thanks, Mary Scanlon. Well, as the self-styled species champion for the freshwater pearl mussel, I am aware of the 50 per cent decline in their population, which in fact proves that neither the Government or the public agencies have done enough to protect this species and is still not providing adequate protection despite the legislation going back as far as the minister has said. So, just how prepared is the Scottish Government for referral to the EU Court of Justice and subsequent fines for not providing adequate protection for this species? Can I firstly commend Mary Scanlon for her passion and commitment that she has shown to the conservation of the freshwater pearl mussel and all the work that she has been doing in that regard as the Scottish Environment and Land Species Champion for the freshwater pearl mussel? The significance of the decline, I admit, is of grave concern and it only became apparent in the results of recent survey work that was due to report next month. As a result, SEPA has commenced an analysis of environmental data collected over the last 10 years to establish the cause or causes, and that will inform future action, for example, under the SPA catchment initiative. Separate to that, the Scottish Government has asked SEPA and SNH to work together to draw together the appropriate objectives and standards for water bodies within conservation sites. The Scottish Government will consider the need for public consultation on receipt later this year. I am very happy to meet with the member to discuss what further action that can be taken around the conservation of freshwater pearl mussel. Excellent. Question 7, Christina McKelvie. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it does at ad with farmers or their representative on the impact of the trade, so that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership on animal welfare and food standards. As the member knows, the National Farmers Union of Scotland gave written and verbal evidence to the meeting of the European External Relations Committee on 27 November. That outlined their concerns about the possible implications for food standards and geographical indication labelling, among other things. The Government has agreed to maintain a dialogue with NFUS as the proposals develop and will ensure that their views are fed into the negotiations. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. The cabinet secretary will know that farmers in my area of Hamilton, Lark, Collinstone House are extremely anxious about TTIP. Last week at the European External Relations Committee, Lord Livingstone went to gate pains to suggest that all of those standards are currently exempt. Can the cabinet secretary tell me what reassurances he's had from the UK Government to seek the reservations from the commission on those matters, especially in relation to animal health standards, GMO, food standards and protected name status, like Scotch and Jamie McGregor, my colleague Jamie McGregor's great champion of the Stonaway Black Pudding. Richard Lochhead? Well, as a big fan of Stonaway Black Pudding, I will ensure that this trade negotiation does not harm its fantastic status. However, until we see the black and white of the trade agreement, we have to make every effort to make representations to both Europe and the UK Government to heed the views of Scotland's farmers. I should say that the European Commission has repeatedly stated that consumer health and safety and environmental standards will not be lowered and that, for example, there is no prospect of GM crops or hormone-treated beef being allowed into the EU or the UK. However, as I said before, until we see that in black and white, we will keep up the pressure on the authorities to make sure that that is the case. I will make a point of once again raising those issues with UK ministers following Christina McKelvie's raising the subject of the day in Parliament. I very much welcome the cabinet secretary's commitment there and I add to his pressure the fact that I know that Unite members are also very concerned about the impact on our own farming industry, about the pressure to cut costs and the issues that he has mentioned in terms of pesticides, health and safety issues at work in Scotland in terms of processing organisations that take food. It is very much in our interest to make sure that those standards are retained. If I can ask the cabinet secretary if he would also be prepared to meet with the Unite trade union who have expressed reservations about the impact on not just the workforce but the wider environment and the impact on Scottish consumers, given the very high standards that we have in our agricultural industry. I would be happy to meet representatives from Unite to discuss their concerns. I can give that pledge today. On the assurances that we have had so far, albeit that there is still some way to go in the negotiations, we have had assurances repeated to us that there will be no lowering of standards in terms of any trade agreement, but of course it remains a concern. The trade agreement, according to European authorities, is all about coherence of standards and getting rid of duplication, but we must be absolutely certain that it does not lead to a lowering of the very high standards that are maintained by the Scottish agriculture and wider food industry sectors. Many thanks, and we now move to portfolio questions on justice and the law officers. Question 1 has been withdrawn and an explanation has been provided. Question 2, Chick Brody. Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what the actual and contracted expenditure was for ICT systems in the police and fire services in the year 2013-2014. The expenditure by the police and fire services for ICT systems in 2013-14 was £34.87 million and £10.6 million respectively. Given the growth of the availability of real-time developed applications and databases that might be shared by those emergency services, will the cabinet secretary initiate a review of immediately available commercial applications that might be so applicable that even greater efficiencies can be developed in those services as a result of sharing the same data and so lower costs? I'm sure that the member recognises that both Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are being through a significant period of change over the last 18 months to two years in moving to a single service in both police and fire. That has led to a considerable need for renewal within the ICT provision and a consolidation of the various ICT platforms that they have been utilising. A key part of that work has been to ensure that there has been a continued service provided and that the quality of that service was unaffected. Therefore, it has been important to ensure that the integrity of the process has been maintained as best as possible during the change-over period. Having said that, and as that process is still going forward at the present moment, I recognise that there is an opportunity for a greater sharing and co-operation between Police Scotland and Fire and Rescue Service in Scotland. I have no doubt that they will be interested in looking for opportunities as they move forward, where they can share platforms and data as and when they are appropriate. I can give the member an assurance that it is our desire to ensure that we not only have an integrated fire service and an integrated police service, but that we also ensure that our emergency services collectively are working in co-operation and in partnership as and when it is appropriate for that to take place. The Justice Subcommittee on Policing last week heard that 20,086 stop-search records were lost from a Police Scotland computer by somebody operating the computer and pressing the wrong button. Does the cabinet secretary share my concern that Police Scotland has such a clunky IT system that such a large volume of data can apparently be lost without any prompt or backup and that Police Scotland is getting value for money in its IT system? I think that we need to separate out two different things here. The system that is used for the collection of stop-and-search data is separate from the rest of the police system. The stop-and-search system was created specifically in order to capture that data when they were requested to do so, but the rest of the police system that captures information about offences, et cetera, and everything else is a separate part to that system and that works very effectively. As a member will be aware, Police Scotland is presently in the process with the development of I6, which will be rolled out next year within the system that will improve it even further in terms of its capacity. As the member did here last week, there are some issues around the loss of data but, as was explained at the time, a significant amount of that data has been recaptured and re-established. However, at the present time, Her Majesty's inspector of constabulary is also looking at the data collection process and the mechanism that Police Scotland has in place just now at the present time for stop-and-search, and we expect that report to be with us by the end of March as well. It is important not to generalise that it is about the IT system that the police have. That was a specific component part that has been developed specifically for collecting information. It is not the rest of the IT system that the vast majority of the data is collected by Police Scotland that was affected by that problem. Is there anything further that you can add regarding the implementation of the I6 system? Other than to say that the I6 system will increase the capacity that the Police Scotland has in terms of the technical ability of the IT system. For example, it will help to improve the way in which data is collected and also help to improve the way in which information is shared with other agencies as well. As far as I understand, at the present time, it is both on budget and on time, and it will help to improve the capacity of Police Scotland overall. To ask the Scottish Government how many quadbikes have been seized by Police Scotland under the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2004 in the last year. Section 126 of the Antisocial Behaviour, et cetera, Scotland Act 2004 provides powers for the police to seize vehicles being used in a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance. Information in number of vehicle seizures broken down by vehicle type is not currently collated by Police Scotland. We have contacted Police Scotland in order to explore whether we can improve the breakdown of vehicle seizure data to allow a better understanding of the extent of the problem regarding the antisocial use of quadbikes. Presiding Officer, apart from the issue relating to the recording of the incident itself, I would pay tribute to and commend the local police inspector among constituents who I know seized a number of quadbikes that have been related to antisocial behaviour. There is an issue concerning the registration of quadbikes, which I think, in discussions with Police Scotland local representatives among constituents, would find helpful when I know. In other discussions with other agencies, we would find that helpful as well. I wonder if the minister would agree to meet with me and maybe other interested parties to discuss how we could possibly take a registration process forward to ensure that these quadbikes are registered to an owner and a specified address? I very much share Paul Martin's concern about the issue. Clearly, it would be ideal if we could reunite the owner of a quadbike once it is recovered, perhaps as part of an action under section 126, with the original owner. It is very difficult for the police to identify whether a vehicle has been stolen, and to find the original owner of the vehicle that it has been stolen. Clearly, there is a strong interest in making sure that it happens. I have met with Mr Martin's colleague, Claire Baker, to talk about a similar issue. I am more than happy to meet Mr Martin to hear his ideas about what we could do to take that forward and to explain what we might propose to do in terms of working with NFUS, in particular, to try to make sure that farmers register their vehicles and ensure that they get them back when they are lost. I wonder if the ministers were there for the water. It is a smart water system where bike and coca solutions can be sprayed on the quadbike, and that helps them to be traced and returned to the owner. It is something that the NFU has promoted, and would he be in favour of promoting awareness of that as well? A bit of serendipity, as it happens this morning. I was at an event on metal theft and met with the smart water company in the process of that, and I was discussing this very issue because of quad bikes. I certainly would be interested to look at what the potential is using that approach. If it is being supported by NFUS, that is obviously a very welcome measure on their part. I am keen to meet with all members who are having an interest in tackling this problem, because there is a lot of vehicles, a lot of money being lost to the farming industry, to the loss of the vehicles and anything such as smart water that can help with that and be more interested to look at. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will hold an inquiry into the policing and convictions of miners arrested in Scotland during the 1984-85 miners' strike. We have robust procedures in place within our justice system where potential miscarriages of justice may have occurred. Those should be used in the appropriate way by anyone who considers that they have experienced a miscarriage of justice. It may be helpful to confirm that the Scottish Government has no powers to overturn convictions. It is only a court that is able to do so. There are no plans to hold an inquiry either into the conduct of the police or individual criminal convictions. That does not prevent an individual from contacting the chief constable of Police Scotland or contacting the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission to consider complaints. I was hoping that with a new minister we may have had a new attitude, but it appears not, because in a few weeks time we will reach the 30th anniversary of the end of the strike. I was hoping that the new cabinet secretary would give some commitment to some form of inquiry in Scotland, because, 30 years on, many of those people still feel that they have been the victims of a miscarriage of justice. Will the minister not even consider looking at that again? As I have outlined to him and my predecessor, we have a robust mechanism in place in Scotland for anyone who believes that they have been subject to a miscarriage of justice for that issue to be thoroughly investigated. That is through the review commission that we have established. That would be the most appropriate way for that to be taken forward. If the member has any specific individuals who he is aware of who believe that they have been the subject of a miscarriage of justice, their first port of call should be to the commission to ask them to consider their complaint. In considering that, they will then be in a position to make a determination as to whether the matter should then be referred back to the court for consideration. That is a due process that is there, and that is a way for someone who believes that they have been the subject of a miscarriage of justice in order to have the issue considered. To ask the Scottish Government how much compensation was paid out by Police Scotland and its predecessor service in each of the past three years. For 2011-12 and 2012-13, any compensation paid out was a matter for the police joint boards and unitary authorities. For 2013-14, it is the responsibility of the Scottish Police Authority. The Scottish Police Authority's head of legal and compliance has authority to settle claims up to the value of £50,000. Claims above £50,000 require the approval of the SPA board for settlement. I thank the cabinet secretary for that reply. The cabinet secretary will be familiar with the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents Resilience Survey last year, which showed that 87 per cent of them acknowledged that they were in breach of the working time regulations. Those are the most senior front-line individuals who are making important issues about public safety. Are you in a position, cabinet secretary, to reassure me that there are sufficient funds to address the inevitable claims that will come from decisions being made by people who have overcome my sleep in these senior positions? Or, ideally, are you in a position to ensure that the working time regulations are applied and enforced by Police Scotland as they should be? I would not be appropriate for me to pre-empt any claims that may be made against the SPA. That is clearly for individual officers to consider pursuing when they have been provided with appropriate legal advice. We are obviously in regular contact with the staff side, including the Superintendents Association, to look at a whole range of issues that may be affecting their members. However, if there are specific issues about the operation of Police Scotland and the way in which they are taking forward working time arrangements for officers, that is an issue that should be duly pursued through the Scottish Police Authority, who are responsible for scrutinising and also in holding Police Scotland to account for their conduct in the way in which they are operating the service. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Lord President of the Court of Session and what issues were discussed. I met the Lord President on 29 January and the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs met the Lord President on 3 February. A number of matters relating to the judiciary and the business and reform of the courts were discussed. I thank the cabinet secretary for his response. What approach has currently been taken by the Scottish Government with regard to the role and budget of the judicial complaints reviewer and whether there have been any discussions on reviewing the powers and increased independence of the judicial complaints reviewer? At the present time, there has been no review undertaken of the judicial complaints reviewer's role. Are there any plans at the present moment to consider extending the remit and the responsibility of the judicial complaints reviewer as well? I recognise the member's interest in that particular issue. If he has got particular aspects that he would wish to raise with myself or my ministerial colleague on that particular issue, we would be more than happy to explore that further with him, but there are no further areas that have been taken forward at this present moment in the points that he has raised. Does the Scottish Government plan to review its operational method, known as Kettling? As the cabinet secretary stated in his response to Parliament's questions from the member in January, the deployment of police officers and a decision on the use of tactical options for crowd management, including containment, is a matter for Police Scotland. Any decision to utilise containment as a tactical option is one made by the police tactical commander and is fundamentally subject to a variety of legal tests derived from stated cases. Scottish ministers expect that any use of this approach to policing is proportionate to the situation, making the measure necessary and is enforced for no longer than reasonably necessary. The Scottish Police Authority has a statutory responsibility for holding the chief constable to account for the policing of Scotland. Can I thank the minister for his reply? I noticed that he did not give any particular figures about the frequency of the use of Kettling in Scotland. Given the concerns that currently exist about such illiberal practices as stop-and-search and armed policing, is it not another area that Police Scotland could review with a view to improving its relations with the general public and improving confidence in Police Scotland in particular? To Mr McIntosh about his first point, I did not ask for any statistics on the use of containment. I might have been in a position to look at that. On the more substantive point about the relationship between police and the public, Police Scotland works very hard to ensure that good community relations are the important role that the SPA has in holding the chief constable to account for how policing is delivered in operational terms. Scottish ministers do not intervene on operational matters, as I am sure that Mr McIntosh will appreciate for very good reasons, but, if there are concerns about the use of containment, I would, in the first instance, address them to the chief constable if people have specific complaints. Obviously, that can be taken forward in an appropriate manner. To ask the Scottish Government how many people supplying new psychoactive substances have been charged under common law with reckless and culpable conduct, and how many convictions have resulted? The common law offence of culpable and reckless conduct covers a wider range of offending than just the supply of new psychoactive substances in P.S. Figures for the number of people charged are convicted for supplying new psychoactive substances under that offence are not available. The offence of culpable and reckless conduct can be used where a person is supplied with a new psychoactive substance in certain circumstances, and in particular there requires to be evidence that the supplier knew or was reckless to the fact that the NPS was being used for human consumption. Annabelle Goldie Deputy Presiding Officer, with a threat so serious as that posed by new psychoactive substances, it is deeply disappointing that the information that I have requested is not available from the Scottish Government. How does it know what is going on, and in such ignorance, how can it respond to this threat? Will the Solicitor General endeavour to find out the information, and will she and the Lord Advocate liaise with the chief constable about issuing guidance to police officers to clarify when circumstances justify a charge of reckless and culpable conduct being brought against those who supply these dangerous substances? I thank the member for her interest in this difficult area. Firstly Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service issued guidance to the police in relation to an operation last year, specifically covering the use of culpable and reckless and the type of evidence that would be required. Secondly, it is clear from Parliament's business bulletin published today that there will be a ministerial statement tomorrow in relation to new psychoactive substances, and thirdly, I assure the member that the Crown Office, where part of the NPS expert review group and our continuing to work with the police, local authority and trading standards to ensure that, in this difficult area of law, culpable and reckless is used when it is appropriate, and also the other types of offences, in particular under the product safety regulations, are also used when they are appropriate. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the cashback for community scheme. The cashback programme is continuing to enhance and support communities across Scotland, and particularly our young people. Cashback offers young people from all backgrounds the opportunity to be all that they can be. A wide range of projects are supported by the programme and providing young people many from disadvantaged areas with supported opportunities to deliver important life skills through involvement in sport, culture, youth work and youth employability schemes. Cashback will continue to strengthen our communities and to provide positive destinations for our young people. I thank the cabinet secretary for that response. I am sure that the cabinet secretary will agree with me that cashback for community scheme makes a real difference to communities. Can the cabinet secretary update on what funding opportunities my constituency of Midlothian North and Musselborough can anticipate over the forthcoming year? I assure the member that his constituency in the Midlothian area has been a significant financial benefit from cashback. For example, up to 2013-14, more than £790,000 were invested in Midlothian, delivering over 4,000 to 1,000 activities and opportunities for young people. That investment will continue to take place as we continue with phase 3 of the cashback programme. Given the extensive range of different programmes that I have here that his constituency has benefited from, I would be more than happy to write to the member detailing them so that he is fully aware of their detail. That concludes portfolio questions, and we will now move on to the next item of business, which is a debate on motion number 12395, in the name of...