 Mae'r cwestiwn niweth teimlo wieg iawn,Floryn. Fyddweithio rhaglen ar hynry тыch Share Won OClures siarad maen nhw sy'noux jaol ddiogel ar hwnnteg isceenderlog akaolaeth, 36 pan, judgingiol y wardyr gennymau fe ddychiwn a wedi'igangi yi edrych mewn hwn ddiogel am hyfforddi.iliation sefydlu ar gyfer o'i closiwn ar eu closiaith? Mary Faye, for his response. The closure of the Winchborough tunnel coincides with the Scottish Open Championships in St Andrews. If the remaining cord had been electrified first before the closure of the Winchborough tunnel, as was planned before 2012, trains would have been able to run via Delmeni without reversing and therefore disruption could have been avoided. Does the minister agree that disruption on the railways during the summer could have ddodd gyda'r ddeithasid yng Nghaerthog, dda'r Gwfair yw ddysgu allan gofyn daddiwch gyda'rfleidfa GwFdd? Nid oeddwn i ddim o gwneud sgwrs-toffydd. Felly tydd yn iawn i ddeithasgwrs-toffydd yn byw. Rydym ni'n grôl ar gyfer rwg mewn ddysgwar iawn i gweithio'r argynnyddiaethau. Mewn ddysgwar iawn i'n mynd i ddydd, ond rwy'n gweithredu i rhai gwanfaethau, gyda'r dyfodol, ond we will keep it to a minimum, and we will ensure that the information is in the public domain to support the travelling public in making the right travel journeys. I accept that that will cause some difficulty, but the overall project surely has to be welcomed along Egypt, which will lead to improved journey times, better trains and a much more efficient service, so the disruption will be worth it, but we will do our best to keep it to a minimum. I can advise Mary Fee as of this morning that I have set up the briefing for all MSPs who may be interested to come along and hear about the full scale of the Egypt project and the benefits that it will bring to Scotland. To ask the Scottish Government what provisions there are for parents to access the medical records of their children. A person who has parental responsibility for a young child can request access to the child's medical records. A young person in Scotland aged 12 or above is generally considered mature enough to understand what a subject access request is. They can make their own request and will need to provide their consent to allow their parents to make their request for them. I ask the question on behalf of a constituent who, along with her husband, waited eight weeks and paid £60 to access her daughter's medical records. She and her husband were told that the communications regarding her daughter's diagnosis and treatment would be shared with health professionals, but no names or titles were given. The constituent makes the point that, as a teacher and named person, she is entitled to see the medical records of other children and know who else is receiving them, but the case for her own daughter is not the same. Does the minister believe that that is acceptable? Liz Smith will, of course, appreciate it. It is difficult for me to comment on the specific circumstances of a specific case without knowing the full details. I would go back to the initial answer that I gave and it was not clear from Liz Smith's question whether or not the youngster was aged 12 or less, but, if a person has parental responsibility for a young child, they should be able to request those records, and I would certainly expect that that request would be fulfilled. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the senior management of National Museums Scotland and what issues were discussed. Cabinet Secretary, Fiona Hyslop. I met with the chair and director of National Museums Scotland on 4 December, 2014, to discuss strategic priorities for the next few years. Is the cabinet secretary aware of the growing anger among staff over the changes to the weekend working allowance, which has created a two-tier workforce at the National Museums of Scotland? Can I tell her with regret that the approach of the management is widely viewed by the workforce as being arrogant and dictatorial, given that those changes were introduced without any prior engagement with the trade unions? Can I very much welcome the interests that she has taken in this matter and her on-going willingness to engage in a constructive fashion with the staff and the employer, and can I urge her to continue to encourage the museum to reach a resolution to this dispute? We will be aware that it is not the job of ministers to interfere with employer relations, however, there are real concerns about the issue and the MSP concerns, which Amidie has raised with me on a number of occasions. When I met with the management and the chair in both March last year and December, I made quite clear what the Government's expectations were of the standard style and tenor of negotiations that took place. I can say that there has been progress. I have met with PCS and other trade union members over the period of October and November. Indeed, my understanding from the most recent dialogue between the union and the management is that there has been progress made on a number of issues, including bringing forward, for example, the living wage from August to April. The discussions on no compulsory dunces have been extended between 14.15 and 15.16. However, there are issues around the weekend allowance, which was changed in 2011. Those staff that already have the allowance will continue to have it, but in terms of the discussions that are on going on, as recently as December, there were discussions about looking at issues around rotas, time off leave and so on. I absolutely value the contribution that both the staff and the management make. This week, alone, it was announced that, for the fourth year in a role, the National Museums of Scotland was the most visited tourist attraction in Scotland. We should all put on record our thanks to the staff particularly, but also to the management for contributing to that success. There still appears to be a challenge between the minister's general aspirations and support for our magnificent museum service and the reality of the staff experience on a day-to-day basis. The issues of part-time working and increasing in the museums are something that I raised with the minister last year. She said that she couldn't take a prescriptive interest in the conditions of staff, but the point about having well-trained, committed staff, given the cost of living in Edinburgh—there are clearly major concerns among PCF staff—that their terms and conditions have been limited and that that is causing major hardship for many of the staff. Quite clearly, as I set out, nobody has had their pay reduced as a result of the decision that was taken back in 2011. I agree with her that it is important that we have good and constructive management and trade union relations and on-going dialogue. That is what I have facilitated and encouraged. As part of the progress, which I did not perhaps relay in my answer to the first question, is that the National Museum's shop staff, who are not party to Government pay policy, are now receiving the living wage because the management recognised that that was the right thing to do. Across the board, progress is being made. I know that there are frustrations and some of it is historic, but I am absolutely certain that the commitment that has been given to me by the management to engage in a constructive manner, particularly with the local members, of the PCS, will be taken forward. I will be monitoring this very closely. Thank you. To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the First Minister's comment that there should be zero tolerance on tax avoidance, what policy changes it plans to make? The Scottish Government has determined decisively on tax avoidance where we have powers to do so. Tax avoidance is not welcome in Scotland. We have legislated for a general anti-avoidance rule for the devolved taxes, which is significantly wider than the UK's general anti-abuse rule, and that will enable Revenue Scotland to take robust action to counteract tax avoidance. As I have said previously to this Parliament, the Scottish Government is always open to considering ways in which we can strengthen our already robust approach to tackling tax avoidance in relation to devolved taxes. I am grateful to the Deputy First Minister for his answer, and he was quite right to put a general anti-avoidance rule into the heart of Revenue Scotland's approach to its work from day one, a commendant for that decision. However, there are other things that we could do, even with devolved powers, to show a zero tolerance approach. Does he agree, for example, that individuals or companies that engage in tax avoidance, for example, through the use of tax havens, should be debarred from public appointments or from taxpayer-funded grant schemes such as RSA? Would that not send the right signal that there is a zero tolerance approach for tax avoidance in Scotland? When I look at the issue, there is a commentary that generally says that the Scottish Government has, as Mr Harvey has complimented, taken a very strong approach on the earliest decisions that we have had to take in relation to tax collection to make it absolutely clear that we will tackle tax avoidance wherever we can identify that. By setting the bar as high as we have set it with the general anti-avoidance rule, we aim to do that. As I said in my opening answer, I am certainly prepared to consider other measures to ensure that we properly tackle tax avoidance. If Mr Harvey has particular suggestions to make, I will consider those, as I have made through to Parliament on all occasions. Does the cabinet secretary further agree with Dave Watson of Unison, who has suggested that the tax practices of potential contractors should be taken into account in Scottish Government decisions on procurement? As Mr MacDonald will know, the Government has to observe a wide variety of particular considerations in relation to procurement decisions, principally informed by the obligations of our participation within the European Union, but, as I make clear, we are able to legislate to establish the highest degree of intolerance of tax avoidance. We have done that in the general anti-avoidance rule, and we will seek to apply that in whichever circumstances we can. 5. James Dornan Will the cabinet secretary provide an update on the work that is supporting in Malawi? Signing of the co-operation agreement in 2005, the Scottish Government has provided over £53 million to development work in Malawi. On January 28, I announced £9.2 million of new funding for 20 development projects in Malawi. The member will also be aware, I know from his recent visit, that torrential rain has caused terrible impact on flooding. In many parts of Malawi, the Scottish Government contributed £150,000 towards the initial relief effort. Of course, we are considering what other contributions we can continue to make. If he keeps his eye open after the FNQs, he will also see that we have given some funding towards some smaller grant—smaller Scottish NGOs for some smaller grants—some of those are also in Malawi, too. James Dornan I thank the minister for that answer. As he mentioned, I have just recently visited Malawi and have been lucky enough to see a fantastic example of what Mary's meals do throughout the country at Matinde primary school, a project that is supported by both my old school, Holyrood, and one of the schools in my constituency, Langside primary school. Can the minister tell me how the Government is ensuring that those links continue to flourish, and does he agree with me that those links, which benefit primarily the children of Malawi, are also of huge importance to the pupils from Scotland who have the privilege to assist in those projects? I agree with everything that the member says. Mary's meals have a collective universal appeal across the chamber. Because of the simplicity of what it does, and the great impact that it manages to do on the ground, successive Scottish Governments—including our own, of course—have provided support to Mary's meals, and I am pleased about that. I also accept his point very much that it is two-way. The development is two-way, and we have to ensure that we are teaching our children, as the current curriculum does, about being a good global citizen and global citizenship through the funding that the Scottish Government has given to the development education centres across Scotland. We hope to do that. It is important because we want Scotland to be known as a good global citizen, and although there will always be those who will have negative comment on giving aid overseas to the poorest, if we embed being a good global citizen of children now in future generations, when they have children and grandchildren and so on and so forth, I hope that that will continue for future generations to come. Thank you. Can the minister please give an update on the success of the Malawi Renewable Acceleration programme, which is funded by the Scottish Government, and whether or not it has met the aim of empowering the targeted communities? Yes, I am delighted. I will send the full brief on the outcomes and what they have managed to achieve, but it has been one of our most successful programmes in Malawi. I got to see it myself when I went to Blantyre Polytechnic and saw the range of renewable solutions through our innovation in Scotland that were helping the poorest in the ground. Those were some real-life stories, which are excellent. From the Emirate programme, for example, a woman in town just near the Malangie mountain became the first ever person in that town to give birth in a room with a light in it. That is the kind of thing that the Emirate project is doing, not just strategies, not just documents, not just funding programmes but changing lives on the ground. However, in terms of his wider question, I will send him the full detail of how the Emirate programme has progressed successfully. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Burnt Island Fabrications Ltd regarding reports of potential job losses. Presiding Officer, the Scottish Government is concerned to hear of potential redundancies at Burnt Island Fabrications, and I appreciate that this will be a difficult time for the company's employees and their families. Scottish Enterprise met with the BiFab management on the 13th of this month, and the proposed job losses were raised at that meeting. The local PACE chair has also met with the company and has provided information on the tailored support that can be made available to any employees facing redundancy. I thank the minister for that answer. Would he be happy to meet me and BiFab to support the company during this difficult time? As the minister recognises, they are facing a number of redundancies, and it is causing great concern for the current workforce. No one wants to see job losses, and we must do all we can to ensure that BiFab is able to have the skills and capacity to deliver on new contracts. Can I ask the minister to say what action the Government will be taking to support BiFab in those efforts, particularly in securing some of the forthcoming debt contracts and also help to grow the energy park? Yes, I can provide information to the member. First of all, Scottish Enterprise has invested £24 million in the energy park alongside Fife Council. Secondly, Adrian Gillespie met John Robertson at BiFab on 13 February. A number of positive actions have been discussed at that meeting will be taken forward. Thirdly, I am in virtual constant contact with companies that are involved in the offshore wind and oil and gas sector markets, which BiFab has already succeeded in winning and will continue so to do. Fourthly, I have been involved in visiting BiFab both in Burnt Island and Arnish in the western isles, where Highlands and Islands Enterprise has also supported the company. Fifthly, we have put in place an apprenticeship scheme to ensure that any apprentice in the only gas sector made redundant is able to complete their job training and with a financial incentive of £5,000 to encourage another employer to recruit the apprentice, we are doing as much as we possibly can. We value the work that BiFab does. We will continue to work very, very closely with them and their team to do everything possible so that they will continue to provide a very successful business for Scotland. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the establishment of the Scottish Business Development Bank. We aim to make an official announcement on the establishment of a Scottish Business Development Bank later in the autumn. The aim of the Business Development Bank is to help to address the needs of those 100,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in Scotland who employ staff and to grow the number of high-growth businesses that Scotland needs. The bank was announced for the first time almost two years ago. Given that the Scottish Government said that it could start a new country in 18 months, can it please tell us how big will this bank be and when will it actually be open for business? I would have thought that Mr Brown might have welcomed the progress that I set out to. He is always keen to hear about the progress that I set out to Parliament, so I told him that we planned to make an official announcement in the autumn. As Mr Brown well knows, there are challenging issues around the interaction of our Business Development Bank with the public finances under which the rules under which we have to operate within the precious United Kingdom. As a consequence of that, we have to tread with great care to make sure that we take decisions and take actions that are consistent with the accounting framework in which we have to operate. Those are the issues with which I have been wrestling for some time and continue to wrestle. However, as soon as I have some answers, I will share them with Mr Brown. He will be one of the first to know. Cresne, Colin Keogh. To ask the Scottish Government whether there is an up-to-date estimate of PFI and PPP costs in the Edinburgh Western parliamentary constituency. Information on the cost of PFI and PPP projects is updated annually and made available through the Scottish Government website. Within West Edinburgh, the Edinburgh schools' PPP bundles 1 and 2 include provision for schools within the Edinburgh West parliamentary constituency. The revenue cost of both bundles in 2014-15 is anticipated to be £39.2 million. Colin Keogh. I thank the Deputy First Minister for his answer. Would he agree with me that local authorities like Edinburgh would today have far more money to spend in local services if they were not saddled with the billions of pounds of debt by the failed PFI agenda of the previous Labour and Liberal executive? Is it not about time that those parties owned up to their part in creating this mess? As I shared with Parliament in the budget process, the total repayment on PFI contracts in 2014-15 for the whole of Scotland is £952 million in 2014-15. It will breach the £1 billion level in 2017-18. I cannot understand why my predecessors in office decided to saddle the country with PFI debts when they were leaving budgets unspent in the possession of Her Majesty's Treasury at exactly the same time. When we came to office, £1.5 billion of expenditure was unspent by our predecessors. It demonstrates a lack of financial competence by our predecessors, and it shows the lack of interest in investing sustainably in the infrastructure of our country.