 Y Clwbeth nifer 1 gyfnodau yn y dweud, mae'n teulu gweld unrhyw gweithbwyllach gan Kenneth Gibson. To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop an industrial strategy for the river Clyde and its adjacent communities. Cabinet Secretary Derek Mackay. We will work with, with and many, public and private partners to help to realise and connect key opportunities along the river Clyde. The Cabinet Secretary for Transport and the Islands Kenneth Gibson. Cabinet Secretary for Transport and the Islands Felly cyflawni gydag unig, i gweithio wrth gwrs lambda. Felly, dechreu yn anghofod am unrhywr i amddangos wahanol i gydag unrhyw ar gyfer datblygu o adneud hynny. Mae hynny'n gwybod i'ch cyflethau, mae'n i gydag unrhyw gainnol i gydag unrhyw sy'n gwybod i'r amddangos wahanol i gydag unrhyw ac yn gweithgwyr i gydag unrhyw. Fyny'r digwydd i gydag unrhyw gerchwyr ar gyfer ddi-rhyw. Felly, yn adeithu i gydag unrhyw ei fobl ychydag unrhyw. fel oedlaeth. Oes yn hyn yn credu ei clywed oedd iawn. Mae hyn yn cyd-radded i gael i'r brawe iawn, credu i'r brawe iawn i gael i'r brawe iawn, ac mae'n cyflaed i gael i'r brawe iawn, ac mae'n cyflaed i gael i'r brawe iawn, ac mae'n cyflaed i gael i'r brawe iawn. Felly, i weld yn soniwch cysylltiadau i'r ddaeth i thwyntiau, Of course, it has strategic importance in terms of location and the opportunity that there is. The Government's economic agency is considering work in terms of stimulating investment and job creation. I think that there are immense opportunities there. What support will the Government provide through our economic agencies will look very seriously at the requests that come from them? We will also be very proactive in infrastructure spend as well, the work around innovation, the energy policy also. Further opportunities are working in partnership with local authorities and the city deal proposition as well to see what further resources can go to the Ayrshire area. I think that there are many ways in which we can help stimulate investment opportunities, help support job creation, of course mindful of the environmental concerns, but, fundamentally, support the opportunities. Specifically, they are right across the river Clyde, and the many strategies that we have from industrial to tourism maximise the opportunities that exist. I will certainly ensure that Mr Gibson is informed of the work that we are undertaking in that regard. The cabinet secretary will be aware that the Huntesson nuclear site in North Ayrshire is one of the largest employers in the area. Can he confirm if the Scottish Government's current moratorium on new nuclear development in Scotland will help or hinder the economy of North Ayrshire? That is a little bit adjacent, but it might be a very brief comment, minister. I am happy to refer the matter to the energy minister who can revert back to Mr Greene in terms of the specifics of energy policy as it relates to Huntesson. The point is that there are other economic opportunities that the Government is aware of, and we are currently looking at that case right now. Jackie Baillie I add my support to the need for a river Clyde industrial strategy, and in particular raised the opportunity of servicing the Scottish Government's own ferry fleet on the Clyde. It used to be serviced at Greenock, but now I understand it is serviced in Liverpool. Will he return that work to Scotland as part of a river Clyde strategy? I have a great deal of sympathy with the aspiration to simply select where work is carried out. In terms of procurement, we have to operate within the law, but I am very attracted to ensuring as much work. In terms of the industrial supply chain that can stay in Scotland as possible, maintenance and servicing without encroaching unfairly into the procurement processes of other organisations but I will look very closely at those opportunities to see what else we can do to achieve the outcome that Jackie Baillie has expressed. Stuart McMillan I will be aware of the petition that was handed in regarding the safety and green dry dock, but can the cabinet secretary inform me of what discussions he and the Scottish Government have had with the Inverclyde Council about the city deal project at Innsgreen in Greenock? We are trying to ensure that the city deal process and the benefits of the city deal covers every part of Scotland, including the opportunities at Inverclyde. I am happy to refer the matter to the lead minister on the city deals, Michael Matheson, who can revert back to Mr McMillan with a more detailed answer, but the point of the city deals is to maximise the economic opportunities in partnership with key local stakeholders, the private sector as well, and of course that is important. Specifically in relation to the dry dock, I was well aware of the coverage that was received and the cross-party approach that has been made in that regard. I am very interested in making sure that industrial opportunities are delivered right along the Clyde, and we will do everything that we can to support that. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation plan in the national missing persons framework for Scotland. The national missing persons framework, the first of its kind in Scotland, was launched in May 2017 and we reported on progress earlier this year. The framework has been backed by an investment of £60,000 to develop and deliver return discussion training, which is central to ensuring that people do not fall into the pattern of going missing repeatedly. Additionally, we have committed £142,000 to the missing people charity to enhance awareness and use of their 24-hour helpline and tech safe facilities in Scotland. I have also recently written to all local authority chief executives to continue to actively support the implementation of the framework. I thank the minister for that response. Alan Bryant was last seen outside Sticks nightclub on Caskybeirham road in Glenothus just after 2 am on 3 November 2013. Five years on, his family are no closer to finding out what happened to their son. Although I welcome the missing persons framework in principle, can the minister outline what support is available for families of the long-term missing and will she commit to look again at how the strategy is implemented in practice to assist those family members, such as the Bryant's, who live with the daily torture of having a loved one go missing? I thank the member for raising that point and I join her in extending my thoughts to Alan Bryant's family and indeed all families who are missing a loved one. I would like to reassure the member that Police Scotland do not close missing person cases and Mr Bryant's case remains open. Police Scotland will continue to investigate any new information that they receive. The national missing persons framework recognises the need to support the families of missing people I believe that we are moving in the right direction on this but there is more work to do. I'd be happy to meet with Jenny Gilruth to discuss this important issue further if she would like that. Do you ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider establishing a victims commissioner and, if not, how it plans to learn from the experiences of victims and witnesses in the shaping of public policy? The issue was considered during the passage of the Victims and Witnesses Scotland Act 2014. We remain of the view that funding for victim support organisations is a more effective use of resources and we are providing £17.9 million in 2018-19. Those organisations obviously represent the interests of victims and provide robust input to government consultation and indeed the development of policy. For example, the development of the new homicide service, which will be operational by spring next year, will be directly informed by the views of victims organisations and the experiences of victims families. In addition, we are funding research to better understand the experiences of rape and sexual assault victim survivors, which will help to ensure that the interests of victims are at the heart of a criminal justice system. In my new role, I have met a number of families of victims of homicide and victims of other crimes as well. They have directly influenced my own thinking and certainly influenced the programme for government commitments in relation to the victim's package. We are learning from their experiences to better inform and design support services and to ensure that their voices will be heard. Thank you. We help you to know your rights, we help to protect your rights and we help to influence change. That is how the Children's Commissioner describes his job. My constituent Kevin Woodburn lost his son in a violent attack on New Year's Day 2017. He did not know his rights, no one gave him a copy of the victim's code and he feels let down at every turn by a justice system he believes is stacked in favour of the accused. Will the cabinet secretary agree to meet Kevin and myself to hear first hand why we believe that a victims commissioner is long overdue? Can I first of all recognise the work that Kezia Dugdale has done on this, and particularly can I put on record once again the Scottish Government's condolences for the loss of Sean Woodburn? I know that the First Minister has met the family previously. Of course, I would be willing to meet Kezia Dugdale and, indeed, with the Woodburn family. I have had correspondence with Sean's grandfather, Oliver Woodburn, myself as well. Kezia Dugdale will be aware of the variety of measures in the programme for government. Having met a number of families of victims of homicide myself, it is fair to say that we recognise throughout that family's journey. From the time of terrible tragedy that happens right the way through the process, there are some gaps there that we are very keen through the victim's package announced to try to make sure that we fill those gaps. Certainly, a meeting with a family is something that I would welcome to help better inform our development of this policy as we move forward. Angela Constance Thank you. I know that the cabinet secretary is aware of my constituent, Kirstie Maxwell, who died 17 months ago in Benidorm in circumstances that remain unclear and that he is well aware of the plight of our family. Following the programme for government commitment to improve services to victims, will that specifically include better support to families who have lost a loved one abroad, given that there is a role for Police Scotland and victim support services, as well as the foreign and commonwealth office? Cabinet Secretary I thank Angela Constance for raising the issue and once again expressed my sympathies to the Maxwell family. I recognise how much Angela Constance has been advocating on her behalf. As she rightly mentions, when it comes to the process, the foreign and commonwealth office will take the lead in that. She is absolutely right to mention the fact that there could be some support services put in place for the family here in Scotland. Certainly, when it comes to the victim's package, we are still thinking about how we further develop some of those programme for government commitments. I would be happy to discuss that with Angela Constance. As I said, it is the lead in the role of the processes for the foreign and commonwealth office, but, certainly, let me reflect on what support we can put in place for the family in Scotland through the measures that were announced in the programme for government. Liam Kerr Thank you, Presiding Officer. In England and Wales, certain prisoners contribute a portion of any salary that they earn from paid work outwith the prison gates to a fund for victims of crime, which is a good way to compensate those who suffer the most and can help to deliver meaningful rehabilitation. Will the cabinet secretary consider introducing such a scheme in Scotland? Liam Kerr We are currently waiting for Westminster when it comes to our victim's surcharge, which we are keen to take forward. I will keep the member updated in that conversation, where we can learn from best practice across the UK, across Europe or anywhere else. I will be open minded to that. Of course, he will know that our plans for a victim's surcharge and, as I said, we are still waiting for conversations to progress with the UK Government in that respect, and I will keep him updated on that. Tom Arthur To ask the Scottish Government how it supports partnership working between colleges and industry. Richard Lochhead Partnership working with the industry must, of course, be at the heart of what our colleges do. Of course, our colleges play a key role in delivering educational opportunities that support individuals into the workplace and on to higher learning. We continue to ensure that every college in Scotland is in a strong position to meet both the needs of learners and employers. Tom Arthur Can I thank Richard Lochhead for that answer and welcome him to his new position? Last week, I had the pleasure of joining my colleagues Derek Mackay and Stuart McMillan for the launch of the AC White Skills Academy at West College Scotland in Greenock. That is a partnership between West College Scotland and Barhead-based AC White, which is a business for one of the main contractors for the refurbishments of homes across the UK and specialist in external wall insulation. Having identified a skill shortage in the sector, it is managing director Jennifer Finn and her team work collaboratively with West College Scotland to develop the course, which offers a guaranteed job at the end of it. Does the minister agree with me that this is a fantastic example of partnership working, that West College Scotland and AC White should be commended for their endeavours? Will he join me in wishing all the students on the course the very best for the coming year? I thank the member for his question and, of course, I thank him for his kind words as well, and he is quite right that partnership between West College Scotland and AC White, with her new skills academy, is the perfect example of colleges and employers working together and sets a really fine example for the rest of the country to follow. It is certainly an issue that I intend to take very seriously, is to ensure that we can foster those relationships with cleaner colleges and employers to address skills gaps. I join Tom Arthur in wishing all the students and employer AC White all the best. Obviously, it is important that courses are linked to the needs of industry and the wider labour market. Can I ask the minister if any assessment is made of whether college leavers enter employment relevant to their qualifications and how long any assessments may continue after they have entered the workplace? That is also an issue that I am keen to pursue as well. There are, indeed, many tracking assessments of the destinations of students at colleges and their universities. I would be more than happy to look into that specific issue for the member and drop him a note, but it is very important that we track the final destinations into the workplace of our students. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS 4th valley regarding funding for GP services at the Aberfoil Medical Centre. Cabinet Secretary, Jeane Freeman. The Scottish Government is engaging with NHS 4th valley and its constituent integration joint boards about their primary care improvement plans. I understand that NHS 4th valley provided discretionary funding to Aberfoil and Bucleivie medical practice under the historical associate GP scheme funding, which was tied to a particular post holder who has since retired. The health board is committed to retaining that funding to support all practices in the West Stirlingshire area, including the Aberfoil and Bucleivie practice. I thank the cabinet secretary for that response. The Aberfoil and Bucleivie practice in my region is faced with diminished GP capacity due to the decision to withdraw funding for a GP. That has resulted in GP availability falling below the level that is needed to maintain an acceptable service to the local community and it also is putting the GP surgery at risk. Does the cabinet secretary agree that in rural locations, a higher proportion of GP availability is essential? Will she commit to reviewing the national guidance given for GP provision to reflect the specific needs of individual rural practices? I need to start by disagreeing with Mr Lockhart's premise on his supplementary question. Funding was not withdrawn. The funding was linked to a particular practice that, in 2004, was no longer appropriate given the new GP contract at that time, but 4th Valley continued that funding, making it perfectly clear, as the practice knew, that it was linked to a particular individual and would end when that individual retired, as is now the case. Nonetheless, 4th Valley has committed to retaining the funding as a whole and making sure that it is more equitably distributed across all the practices in the area. I need to also point out that that new investment will be made in the wider multidisciplinary teams to support the new GP contract, which, of course, as members know, we negotiated with the full support of the BMA and, indeed, secured the support of majority of their members. Finally, let me say that the Scottish Government announced not only an increase in terms of that GP contract but a 3 per cent increase for independent contractor GPs in this year and an additional increase on their expenses. As I am sure that the member knows, the rural short-life working group chaired by Sir Lewis Ritchie is looking at any particular issues that may apply to rural practices, and I look forward to receiving his recommendations. Finally, no GP practice in Scotland loses funding as a consequence of the well-supported and much-welcomed GP contract. Bruce Crawford Thank you, Presiding Officer. Can the secretary agree with me that the most appropriate way to represent the good folk of the Aberfoil and wider, the Calave area, is to engage in a serious discussion with local people, with the local GPs, with local health board and attend public meetings representing the people in your area? Yes, I agree with Mr Crawford. Fundamental to how we will reform and improve our primary healthcare services is local engagement. Of course, elected members in this chamber have an important role to play, but I would also argue that there is an important responsibility to ensure that that engagement is genuine, reaches all parts of the communities that they represent and participates in that. In that way, they can then represent the issues that are genuinely raised locally in this chamber and with his Government. How many STEM apprentices there are and how many of those are in North and South Lanarkshire? There are currently 21,050 STEM apprentices in Scotland, based on published modern apprenticeship data for quarter one of 2018-19. Of those, 1,725 are North Lanarkshire and 1,395 are in South Lanarkshire. Graham Simpson. According to Equate Scotland, only 16 per cent of higher education students in engineering and technology are women, and only 27 per cent of women with a science technology engineering and maths university qualification remain in the sector. Can the minister say what the Scottish Government is doing to encourage women on to STEM courses and into careers? I recognise the issues that Graham Simpson has laid out. That is why, through the Skills Development Scotland's Equality Action Plan, we are taking activity to ensure that much more is done to ensure that more women take part in the various STEM frameworks that we have from modern apprenticeships. That is why we have laid out a STEM strategy to encourage more young women to study STEM subjects at school. That is activity that is under way, and its activity will continue.