 On 11 January, the First Minister announced the establishment of an internal investigation into the leaking of her parliamentary Covid statement to the press ahead of its delivery to the chamber. At the time, he described the leak as extremely disappointing and disrespectful to this Parliament. He also sought a commitment from the First Minister that such disrespect would not be repeated to which the First Minister agreed. A letter from the First Minister to you dated 7 February confirms the conclusion of the investigation and revealed that the source of the leak could not be identified. It further revealed that the only action taken by the Scottish Government has been to send a reminder to staff on the importance of not leaking. While I, myself, only joined this Parliament last May, my more experienced colleagues tell me that this is par for the course for Scottish Government internal inquiries. I wish to seek your opinion, Presiding Officer, and as one who has now encountered leaks of this nature by the Scottish Government several times, whether you believe that this investigation's conclusion is satisfactory in addressing the disrespect that Parliament suffered from this leak, would it be in order for Parliament to see an anonymised report of the investigations in the Scottish Government? If not, how can we ascertain whether further action may be required from the Scottish Parliament on the earth aspects that may have eluded the Scottish Government? Can I also ask you whether the Scottish Government's singular response of sending staff a reminder is strong enough to convince you that the commitment that you sought from the First Minister to avoid a repeat situation is at all likely to be upheld? I thank Mr Kerr for his advance notice of the point of order. On the date when this incident occurred, I sought and I have subsequently received an apology and assurances from the First Minister off the Scottish Government's respect for this Parliament. I made my views on the leaking of statements on that date very clear. I have done so previously. I cannot emphasise enough how important it is that the place of this Parliament is respected and that all significant announcements are made here in the first instance wherever that is possible. The First Minister and I have discussed the matter and I am content. I have made it quite clear that I do not expect any repetition of such an incident. I am content that the matter before us is closed, but we all wish to be in a position where we are not having this on-going discussion. We will now move to the next item of business, which is consideration of business motion 3297, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the parliamentary bureau on changes to this week's business. Any member who wishes to speak against the motion should press their request-to-speak button now. I call on George Adam to move the motion. No member has asked to speak against the motion. Therefore, the question is that motion 3297 be agreed. Are we all agreed? The motion is therefore agreed. The next item of business is topical questions. In order to get in as many people as possible, shortens the sync questions and answers to match would be appreciated. At question number one, I call Jamie Greene. To us, the Scottish Government, what action it has taken in response to the most recent recorded crime statistics showing a rise in violent crime? Violent crime has fallen significantly in Scotland since 2006-07, including a 15 per cent fallen homicide in 2020-21 to its lowest level since 1976. Surveys of the population also show that adults in Scotland were less likely to experience crime in 2019-20 than those living in England and Wales. As that is encouraging progress, its stability and violent crime levels over recent years highlights that more needs to be done. The Scottish Government is clear that any act of violence has won too many, and we are providing 14 per cent additional funding to the violence reduction unit in 2022-23 to support increased violence prevention activities. We also continue to work with Police Scotland and other partners to prevent violent crime, including through the work of medics against violence and delivery of the hospital navigator service. Since April last year, Liz Ffiggars actually shows that there have been 8,200 such incidents. We are now on track to reach a record high. In fact, violent crime has risen in every single year since Nicola Sturgeon was made First Minister. I have got it all here in black and white, and it is not a record to be proud of, Cabinet Secretary. What substantive work has actually taken place to identify what are the root causes behind a rise in violent crime in Scotland? Given that so many countries often look to us for our efforts against violence, why are things now going in the wrong direction? Jamie Veean completely disrgards the point that I made about the reduction to the lowest level since 1976 in terms of homicides and the reduction that we have seen since 2006-07. The introduction is substantially below those in England and Wales such that people in Scotland are much less likely, feel themselves much less likely to become victims of violent crime. However, as I have acknowledged already, violent crime is a serious issue. We have dealt with it and continue to deal with it through examples such as No Knives Better Lives, which has been deemed to be extremely successful and has now been copied in other parts of the UK, including London, where they have engaged with that initiative as well. The statistics on crime show that—this is the annual statistics, which are the most accurate records—recorded crime remains at one of the lowest levels since 1974. Non-sexual crimes of violence fell by 4 per cent between 2019-20 and 2022-21. The most recent years are affected by the pandemic, as they are in all jurisdictions, so that the fall that we saw in some crimes during the lockdown period has now been followed by an increase in some of those areas as well. We are very conscious of that and are taking in number of initiatives, both in relation to crimes of sexual violence and, more generally, violent crimes, as I have mentioned, through initiatives such as No Knives Better Lives. Jamie Greene The cabinet secretary feels to accept that there is a problem, which itself is a problem, because the reality is that, in 2014-15, there were 6,200 recorded cases of violent crime. In 2020, there were 9,316, a massive increase. Let us be clear about what we are talking about here. Serious assaults, attempted murder, domestic abuse and robbery are life-changing events for the victims of those crimes. Given that the Government is considering proposals to release criminals in prison after serving just a third of their sentence, in light of the shocking statistics today, how can that be justified? If it cannot, we will now rule out that absurd idea. Jamie Greene Jamie Greene, of course, misses the fact that it was the Conservatives that brought in automatic early release. It was the Conservatives that voted against ending automatic early release in this Parliament. We will take no lessons from the Tories in relation to that. It is the case that we will look seriously at the issues that the Conservatives, Jamie Greene, has raised the issue quite rightly of remanding our prisons. That is what the initiatives that we are taking forward, which are subject to consultation, seek to address. I would have hoped that we would have some support. If not support on what we intend to do, at least some ideas from the Conservatives, what they would do in relation to remand. However, it is the case that, whether it is homicide, whether it is handling of offensive weapons, we have seen a massive reduction. The number of emergency admissions to hospital due to assault with a sharp object has fallen 51 per cent until now. It is important to mention that and the fact that I mentioned previously that people in Scotland feel less likely to be victims of crime. We can banday around the figures from here to eternity and we can mention different years or monthly stats versus annual stats. However, the simple fact is that there is less crime in Scotland than when this Government came in. There is less crime in Scotland than in other parts of the UK. It is felt to be that way by individuals themselves. There are more police officers who are better paid and we have a very good track record on tackling crime across Scotland over the past 15 years. The statistics referenced by Mr Greene show only half a picture. There are other forms of crime that are now at lower levels than in January 2020. According to the national statistics recorded crime in Scotland 2021 bulletin, recorded crime remains at one of the lowest levels since 1974. As such, how is the Scottish Government ensuring the continued reduction of crimes of dishonesty, fire-raising and vandalism that have seen an overall reduction since January 2020? Ogi Nicol is right that Jamie Greene's question only raises a very small partial part of the picture. Crimes of dishonesty and vandalism both decreased in the latest year to their lowest levels since the 1970s, not mentioned by Jamie Greene. We are continuing to back that and other reductions in crime with our investment in front-line policing. We have increased police funding year on year since 2016-17 and will invest £1.4 billion in 2022-23, which amounts to more than £10 billion since the creation of Police Scotland in 2013. It has helped to ensure that officer numbers are 5.4 per cent higher than in 2007. Of course, despite the weeks and months that we have had of Tory Sen, there will be massive increases in police budgets and justice budgets. When it came to the budget, it offered no amendment to the budget that was proposed by the Scottish Government. Rhoda Grant, to ask the Scottish Government how it is addressing the disruption to ferry services in the west coast of Scotland that has reportedly resulted in significant supply issues and interruptions to lifeline services. We have experienced a sustained and prolonged period of severe weather, which has caused disruption in ferry services for some island communities, not just in the west of Scotland but elsewhere in the ferry network, including on the commercial strategic route to Northern Ireland. Disruption has also occurred during the annual dry dock period and winter timetable when fewer services are running. I know that that has resulted in challenges for some communities in terms of supplies, which creates difficulties for people and businesses alike. However, I want to assure Rhoda Grant and all MSPs that we have been monitoring the situation very closely throughout each storm through regular score meetings and transport resilience meetings. There has also been regular engagement occurring with CalMac, with local authorities, with food and drink retailers and with community organisations through our resilience arrangements. While we are aware that, on some of our islands, there have been issues with regard to perishable goods, there have been no reported cases where essential supplies are not available. That has partly been helped by CalMac seeking to exploit whether windows where those have arisen, with the option of running amended or additional sailings if needed. They continue to engage with key stakeholders, including hauliers and suppliers, to ensure that essential goods are prioritised on those services where possible. However, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and make clear our expectations of all agencies to ensure that normal service in terms of supplies is resumed at the earliest opportunity. Rhoda Grant, last week, Angus Campbell, the chair of the Ferries Community Board, said that while we are used to living with the effects of weather on ferry services and more recently Covid, the recent extent and duration of mechanical failures on multiple vessels has led to massive disruption right across the network. He was on to say that that represents a real threat to our island's ability to retain and attract people, ensure that services are sufficiently reliable and at prices that permit viable communities, thereby avoiding depopulation. This morning, Donald Joseph McLean of Bary Atlantic, a fish exporter, said that it is now impossible to run a business on the islands due to the unreliable ferry services. That is not just about weather. Disruption has been going on for years, yet things are simply getting worse. Can I ask the minister if her Government is trying to create a situation where communities who stood firm against it would now willingly accept privatisation? Rhoda Grant, on the issue of privatisation, the First Minister has made her view on this very clear, one that I share regarding privatisation. That is not at all on this Government's agenda with regard to our ferry services, but she raises some serious issues. She raises the issue regarding Mr Campbell and the community board chair. I am due to meet him in two weeks' time. I am also due to meet him. She might appreciate this week with CalMac directly, and I will be raising issues regarding resilience, because it is hugely important that we get this right. I will also be meeting with a number of island MSPs if Ms Grant would like to meet me on this issue. I will be more than happy to do so. She raised her question regarding fares. My hope is that the fair fares review will look to alleviate some of the concerns in this space. Again, it is something that I intend to raise directly with CalMac later this week. She spoke regarding long-term investment. I would just like to point out that the Scottish Government has announced investment of £580 million in ports and vessels to support and improve Scotland's ferry services. However, on our wider point regarding the sustainability of island communities, one thing that I have been keen to better understand is the relationship and government between myself and the Cabinet Secretary for Islands, Mary Gougeon. Ms Gougeon and I will be sitting down shortly to discuss that link and, particularly with regard to her point on resilience, there is an opportunity here through the island's connectivity plan, which she will know replaces the current ferries plan from next year. That is the policy that we need to get in place to help to ensure a sustainable future for our island communities. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Let me be clear that we cannot wait until next year. The fault for this chaos lies at the door of the SNP Government, which has shown themselves to be incompetent. It should be protecting our island communities instead of putting them at peril. It failed to provide tonnage. It has also refused to employ an additional crew that would be required due to Covid restrictions to allow CalMac to use its full capacity, which is available. The minister is new in post, but she does not have a period of grace because time has already run out for our island communities. Will she commit to purchase additional tonnage now and also to employ the additional crew that is required to use the ferries to their full capacity? I thank Ms Graff for a supplementary question. She asked me to commit to additional tonnage, and she will understand that I cannot give her that assurance in the chamber this afternoon because I would need to look at the costings associated with it. Notwithstanding, I recognise that we have a challenge here regarding the sustainability of the current fleet, but it is important that I have the opportunity to speak to CalMac about it. She may say that I do not have a grace period, but at least offer me the opportunity to raise it with her directly. However, I am also cognisant of the need for speed on delivery on this point. She spoke to protecting island life. We need to reflect on what has been a very challenging period for our island communities. In the past week alone, we have had three named storms in Unis, Dudley and Franklin. That has never happened since the introduction of the system that we use in terms of naming storms. That is quite important. Climate change is having an impact on the way our island communities experience their ferry services. It is my job as minister to make sure that those ferry services are up to scratch. I recognise some of the challenges that Ms Graff has spoken to today, but I hope that she will understand that my job as minister is also to listen to communities. I am keen to visit our island communities to speak to them directly and to make sure that some of the challenges that she has highlighted today are dealt with adequately. I want to give her an assurance that I will be raising a number of the points that she has made, particularly on tonnage, laterally there, and regarding staffing with CalMac directly. I will see what additional support in Government we may be able to provide in that respect. I know that the minister appreciates the importance of those issues from her recent conversations with me. The lack of resilience in the network exacerbates the serious problems that people experience as a result of weather. I could cite examples of my constituency where food shops have had some serious difficulties. Quite aside, however, from the issue of new tonnage, can the minister provide to the chamber any update on the efforts that the Government has been making to seek the charter vessels to provide more resilience? Seamall and Seamac continue to look for suitable vessels for charter on a temporary basis. Where that would be considered suitable, reliable, and it has to also be affordable, and I think that that was the point that I made to Ms Rattimer's response to her. That includes, of course, the consideration of freight vessels for use on both the CalMac and Northlink services. I know how frustrating it can be for local communities and individuals having to face disruption not just from weather but also because of vessel breakdown and, although any breakdown is really unhelpful, thankfully, they are still relatively rare. However, that does not help a community that loses its ferry service unexpectedly and sometimes without assurance on how quickly normal service can be resumed. The resilience of the fleet that Mr Allen spoke to is something that we are committed to doing and all that we can. More importantly, it is at the forefront of Seamall and Seamac's priorities that they continue to look for suitable vessels for charter on a temporary basis, where that would be considered suitable. That includes the consideration of the freight vessels that I spoke to. Again, I know that Mr Allen and I have discussed that in some detail, but he knows that I will be meeting Seamac later this week. I will be raising with CalMac the issue of replacement services and how the Government might be able to better support any replacement vessels in the future, because he is absolutely right to raise the resilience of the fleet in that respect. Graham Simpson Thank you. The problem here is that we do not have enough ferries. Those ferries that we do have are too old, so they keep breaking down. That lies at the door of Seamall. We have had a report from a previous committee of this Parliament saying that Seamall should be scrapped. When is the minister going to act on that? Minister I thank Mr Simpson for his supplementary advice. He will appreciate that I have not yet had the opportunity to meet with Seamall. I am meeting Seamac this week, but let me first meet with Seamall and I can respond to him in writing in due course. Kenneth Gibson Sir, bad weather and what should be preventable breakdowns are disruptive enough to our island communities. However, Covid protocols, while necessary, have been in our very unhelpful. One crew member testing positive grinds a lifeline ferry service to a halt. Now that the pandemic is receding, how soon will those increasingly unnecessary protocols be reviewed? One hopes that that continues. Minister I think that it is really important that we have measures in place to ensure the safety of crews and passengers. We need to remember that, even though most restrictions have been lifted, the virus is still with us. However, that can also be about the time-taking to mobilise relief crews should an existing crew become ill or need to self-isolate. I recognise some of the frustrations that Mr Gibson spoke to. That has brought, but it is also important to note that the circumstances differ from other settings as there are minimum legal crew requirements that must be adhered to. CalMac has aligned their protocols to the guidance that is provided by the Scottish Government. When guidance is changed, CalMac will review its procedures to maximise its ability to maintain sailings. However, I recognise some of the frustrations that Mr Gibson has raised in this instance. Again, I give him an undertaking that I will be raising this with CalMac when I meet them later this week.