 Fy่nwch. The first item of business is portfolio questions and the first portfolio this afternoon is wellbeing, economy, fair work and energy. I would say to those members who would wish to seek to ask a supplementary question, to please press the request-to-speak button during the relevant question or enter the letters RTS in the chat function if online. Question number one, I call Keith Brown. To ask to Scottish government what assessment it has made of the potential impact any future dyfiadw yr eich ddweud o'r Llywodraeth ddiwedd yn cyfnod i gwychwyr haf wrth nhw'n dweud o'r fawr cynllunion i gweithio. Fyndwitsch chi yn gweithio'r Llywodraeth o'r fawr cynllunion i gwychwyr haf, yn cyrchu'r Llywodraeth o'r ddweud o'r fawr cynllunion i gwychwyr haf, mae hyn yn groesio yn i gwychcarel iawn i gychwaith o'r swingingai Gŷiaith. Fawrweithiau gweithio'r Llywodraeth o'r ddweud i gwychwyr haf, a help to shift the curve on poverty and deliver upon our shared ambition for a just transition to a net zero, nature positive wellbeing economy that's fair, that's greener and it's a growing economy as well. In building a new Scotland, a stronger economy with independence, we proposed a number of specific labour market measures, including a fair national minimum wage, set at a rate that better reflects the cost of living and applies to all ages and better access to flexible working as well. Can I thank the minister for that response and ask whether he has any idea at all why, given the fact that both the Scottish and UK trade union congresses have come out in support of the devolution of employment law. A number of Labour MSPs in this Parliament have spoken previously in the chamber on support of that. Has he any explanations to why not a single Labour MP signed the motion considered by the Parliament last night in support of the devolution of employment law? The motion that did not mention independence only mentioned devolution, which is meant to have been the settled policy of a Labour party. Is he aware whether the UK Labour party still supports this policy of devolving employment law to the Scottish Parliament? I would suggest to the minister that he answers the points with reference to matters that fall within his jurisdiction. The Scottish Government supports the devolution of employment law and would ask all parties in this chamber, particularly Labour party, to give their past comments on this to support the Scottish Government's position. It seems that, given the issue that was highlighted by Keith Brown, the enthusiasm for the devolution of employment law appears to be waning. That is particularly worrying for Scotland as it seems to be waning because a Westminster election is approaching and that should worry us all in Scotland. I urge the Labour party to clarify its position and to get full-heartedly behind the Scottish Government's position that the devolution of employment law should happen as soon as possible. In the event, there is a Labour Government in Westminster. 2. Maureen Macpherson To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it is doing to tackle gender pay gap and promote equal pay. 2. Maureen Macpherson Our 2023 programme for government outlines the direct action that the Scottish Government is taking to tackle gender pay gaps and promote equal pay in Scotland's labour market. That includes action sectors with historically low pay and job insecurity, where women are disproportionately overrepresented. From April 2024, adult social care workers delivering direct care in commission services will see their pay increase to a minimum of £12 per hour to give an example. Alongside that, we will provide funding to uplift pay in the private, voluntary and independent sector to £12 an hour for those delivering early learning and childcare. 3. Maureen Macpherson I welcome the Scottish Government's efforts to close the gender pay gap with a real determination to make progress. It is clearly that the UK Government is holding progress back and Labour's appalling record on equal pay is a concern. Does the minister agree with me that, if we are to aspire to end the gender pay gap using all tools available, essential employment law is devolved to this Parliament? I think that the member gives yet another reason as to why employment law should be devolved to this Parliament and not only that but as soon as possible. Given that the median gender pay gap for all employees is below the UK gap—12.2 per cent versus 14.9 per cent—and has been since many, many years, and that the median gender pay gap for full-time employees in Scotland is lower in the UK as a whole, it shows that, where we have influence as a Parliament, we are making a real difference to those affected by this issue in Scotland. Therefore, the more powers we have, the more positive difference we can make. 3. Kevin Stewart To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help businesses to take full advantage of Scotland's hydrogen potential. A hydrogen action plan, published in 2022, is supported by a programme of capital funding designed to accelerate the production of renewable hydrogen in Scotland. Funding today includes over £7 million in grants offered to projects via the hydrogen innovation scheme. Those are projects that will drive innovation in renewable hydrogen production, storage and distribution. The next tranche of the hydrogen investment programme, the Green Hydrogen Fund, will launch later this year. The fund will be open to projects that support renewable hydrogen production from Scotland's abundant renewable energy resources. I thank the minister for her answer and I look forward to those announcements in the future. However, I would like to ask the minister how we can build on the successful work on transport, hydrogen-powered transport in Aberdeen. What can we do to increase the amount of hydrogen refueling sites throughout Scotland? Thank you, Kevin Stewart, for that question. I visited the hydrogen hub quite early on in my tenure as minister. It is very impressive. We have invested over £15 million from our energy transition fund towards the development of the Aberdeen hydrogen hub. The hub aims to accelerate that hydrogen economy in Aberdeen. In fact, it is leading the way in that. I know from my visit that it is having visits from other local authorities to look at that model and to establish it throughout local authorities in the whole of the UK. We will continue to work with partners in the public and private sector to understand and stimulate the demand for and the infrastructure needed for hydrogen vehicles. The zero-emission truck task force, which includes Transport Scotland, is exploring the energy infrastructure that is required for HGVs, including consideration of hydrogen refueling, and we will publish an HGV decarbonisation pathway next year. I have obtained requests for a number of supplementaries. I intend to take each of them, so hopefully everybody can be reasonably brief. I call supplementary Brian Whittle. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I think that we all agree that Scotland has uniquely placed to really capitalise on the green hydrogen market. When the minister was at an event last night for the supply chain, I was at a business meeting yesterday morning when they said that it is really important and that it should be demand-led. What is the Scottish Government doing to create a marketplace for those green hydrogen companies that are coming to fruition now? There are two markets available for hydrogen. There is a domestic market and an export market. In the domestic market, the UK Government—I was very pleased that I had a meeting this morning with the Graham Stewart—were an answer to my question around injecting 20 per cent of hydrogen into the gas grid. They said that they were actively looking at that. It is something that we have been calling on for quite a while. That is a use for hydrogen. Also, distilleries are using hydrogen to decarbonise as well, which is going to make a massive sector. I also got the opportunity to say that Mr Gray is in Germany at the moment to promote and further Scotland's hydrogen interests and support Scottish companies to participate and benefit from the development of the international hydrogen market, as Mr Rittle will know. In particular, Germany has already been working to decarbonise its industry using hydrogen, so that is a great market for us. I welcome the minister's reference to renewable hydrogen as it is critical that we produce green hydrogen in Scotland. Would she acknowledge the importance of linking to renewable electricity production and creating jobs and opportunities, not just in the north-east, as she has outlined, but also in Grangemouth? We have got a commitment to that. There is already quite a lot of hydrogen innovation happening throughout the country. If Ms Boyle will be aware of the EMEC project in Orkney, for example, it had a situation in which it could not get its tidal energy into the grid, so it made hydrogen with it. There is quite a lot of micro hydrogen production happening throughout Scotland. However, I have also been having conversations in Grangemouth about the hydrogen that is going to produce very positive recent noises about green hydrogen, in particular. Shetland is well placed as an energy hub at the centre of the energy rich North Sea. The local Orion project aims to produce wind-powered green hydrogen by 2025. What engagement has the Scottish Government had with the Orion project? I have not had the pleasure of going up to Shetland yet, mainly because my Cabinet Secretary went up to the Northern Isles last summer, so it did not make sense for us both to go, but I look forward to engaging perhaps Ms Wishart would like to invite me. In my region, the empty long gannot site in Concardin has huge potential for green jobs. What recent discussions she has had with Scottish Power, who are the owners of the site, about what their plans are for the site and to help advance the Government's hydrogen ambition? I will have to look back at all the engagements that I have had with the owners of that site, just to get back to clear Baker on that. It is entirely possible that Mr Gray has also had engagement with him, so I will get back to Ms Baker and let her know what that has been. 4. Murdo Fraser As the Scottish Government will provide an update on when the next set of export statistics will be published. Export Statistics Scotland provides the official estimates of the value of Scotland's exports. It covers Scotland's exports of goods and services internationally and to the rest of the UK, excluding oil and gas. The next set of statistics will be published on 29 November 2023 and include data up to 2021. That was pre-announced by the chief statistician in August of this year. HMRC, regional trade and goods statistics, which include figures for Scotland, are also released quarterly with the next update for the third quarter of 2023, due to be released on 14 December. The Scottish Government also published quarterly manufacturing exports for Scotland, statistics for Scotland and the most recent data covering the period up to the quarter 2023. 4. Murdo Fraser I thank the minister for that response. The last set of exports statistics were published in December 2021, so it has been a long gap since we have seen the last set. However, what the last set showed was that Scottish exports to the EU accounted for 19 per cent of the total, but we exported three times more, 60 per cent of the total, to the rest of the UK. Does that not just demonstrate the folly of seeking to align ourselves with the EU at the expense of the rest of the UK, which is by far the largest market for Scottish exporters? What the Scottish Government should be doing for the sake of jobs in Scotland and the Scottish economy is increasing our exports to the rest of the UK and the rest of the world and also to the European Union. Exports to the European Union have suffered as a result of Brexit imposed in Scotland by the rest of the UK, which we did not vote for. That has led to decline in many key exports to the European Union, and if Scotland were to be a member of the European Union in their own right, that would open up lots of export opportunities for Scotland. Our exports are performing extremely well just now, and we should congratulate our businesses for doing that and be proud of that. I have received a number of requests for supplementaries. I intend to take each of them. Can the minister provide an update on the continued impact that export barriers caused by Brexit are having on business costs? The latest business insights and conditions survey, which was published in September, shows that of the businesses in Scotland that face challenges with exporting over a third, 36.1 per cent to be precise, named Brexit as the main cause. It also finds that over a quarter of Scottish businesses are facing extra costs as a result of Brexit, with 16.2 per cent seeing higher transportation costs, and 12.5 per cent are facing increased red tape. Furthermore, the latest small business survey, conducted between November 2022 and April 2023, reported that half of Scotland's small and medium-sized employers who predicted a decrease in turnover next year highlighted Brexit as a contributing factor. Those additional barriers and costs continue to weigh on the economy as a whole. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that UK GDP will be 4 per cent lower in the long run due to Brexit. In Scotland, we have experienced a 38 per cent decline in exports of fruit and veg, for instance, and a 45 per cent fall on exports to Europe of animal feed. One side talks down the trade with the United Kingdom and the other side talks down trade with Europe. Instead of seeking and reveling in the prospect of new trade barriers, why do not both Governments just work together to break down those trade barriers? Scotland will continue to do our best to break down trade barriers, and that is why we oppose Brexit. I believe that the member's party also opposed Brexit, albeit it appears to have unfortunately changed its mind because of the views in the rest of the UK irrespective of the damage in Scotland. As I said before, our strategy, and we do a lot of work in London, for instance, promoting Scottish exports, is to increase exports to the rest of the UK, the rest of the world and the European Union as well. That is the best outcome for Scotland's economy. The minister will be aware that, in the period since Brexit, Scottish exports, including oil and gas, have been growing around twice the rate of those from the rest of the UK, but UK export growth as a whole has been lagging behind international competitors. Does the minister agree with me that this demonstrates both the folly of Brexit, but also confirms the approach of the Scottish Government with a coherent strategy to boost exports, agreed with industry, and which is delivering results? I absolutely agree with Ivan McKee, and I thank him for his efforts to help to build up the fantastic track record and exports that Scotland has in its previous role. On the value of Scotland's international goods, exports increased by 13.2 per cent in the year ending in June 2023, compared to the previous year, which is greater in percentage terms than the 12 per cent increase experienced by the UK. Parliament should celebrate and be proud of the fact that Scotland is outperforming the rest of the UK in terms of exports and, indeed, inward investment. That is really good news for the Scottish Government's approach, working in partnership with our business community, our agencies, and good news for jobs in Scotland. To ask the Scottish Government what impact the measures in the programme for government 2023-24 will have on the growth of the economy in North Ayrshire. Our programme for government will increase the quality, create a fairer society and drive opportunity for the people and businesses of North Ayrshire. It will promote inclusion and reduce inequality in the area, benefiting in part from our £70 million investment in community regeneration. It will support the delivery of the Ayrshire growth deal, of course, which we are investing £103 million into transforming North Ayrshire and the wider regional economy. Can the minister outline what a quality job that pays well is one of the primary routes out of poverty? Will the minister outline what action the Scottish Government and partners are taking to ensure that all sizes of companies in my constituency are able to contribute to tackling inequality while growing their businesses? As the member will be aware, the Government's policy is that business is absolutely vital to creating a wellbeing economy and is a key role to play in Cunningham South and beyond, and it is why we support businesses to be a force for good, to put purpose and fair work at their very hearts, and to note that that also benefits productivity and profits as well as people. As part of our £11.5 million investment in the Ayrshire growth deal, communities wealth building and the regional skills and inclusion programmes, we will be supporting local businesses to put fair work first, while also supporting local people to ensure that they get the skills that businesses require. We are also working with other organisations like developing the young workforce in Ayrshire, so the issue raised by the member is central to our economic strategy for the whole of Scotland, including in Ayrshire. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to ensure that seasonal agricultural workers have access to effective worker voice under its fair work commitments. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that agricultural workers have access to having effective voices under its fair work commitments. In March 2023, we provided funding of £123,000 to support the reopening of the worker support centre, and the WSC assists all seasonal agriculture and horticultural workers in Scotland irrespective of nationality to access free, impartial and confidential information on workplace rights. Migrant workers, particularly those on the seasonal worker visa in horticulture, including in the north-east region, are known to be at risk of exploitation and trafficking. They are not unionised. They face significant language barriers, are often housed in poor, unregulated housing and struggle to access healthcare. They are at the mercy of their employers who may, without notice, say that there is no work for them, leaving them stranded without money or options. What further actions will the Scottish Government take to reduce the risks of trafficking and exploitation and ensure that all workers have access to individual and collective workplace representation? As I said in response to the very important issue raised by the member, the Scottish Government has funded the Worker Support Centre to assist all migrant seasonal agricultural workers in Scotland. We have produced seasonal workers' rights information leaflets, which include guidance on human trafficking and exploitation. We have outreach arrangements in place to support workers to speak Ukrainian, Romanian, Russian, Polish and English, and they are available at a range of times to talk to workers and to provide information or support in terms of the outreach workers and the work that they are doing. Where appropriate, the centre can refer workers to legal charities, the Scottish Government's agricultural wages enforcement teams and other advisers for further support with a range of issues that they may face. It may also be a well as independent research published recently that gave recommendations to be pursued by the Scottish Government and the UK Government in this regard as well. There is a lot of work under way to ensure that we treat this issue seriously. To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken any evaluation of the relative economic benefits of small modular nuclear reactors compared with other forms of energy provision. The Scottish Government does not support the building of new nuclear fishing power stations in Scotland under current technologies. Although SMRs are innovative in their size and construction technique, they use the same method of electricity generation as traditional nuclear fishing. That means the same environmental concerns as traditional nuclear power plants while their economic competitive is still to be proven in practice. New nuclear power could take decades to become operational and would be expensive, pushing up household bills. A set-out in our draft energy strategy and just transition plan significant growth in renewables, storage, hydrogen and carbon capture provide the best pathway to net zero and will deliver a climate friendly energy system that delivers affordable, resilient and clean energy for Scotland. France delivers 70 per cent of its electricity from nuclear energy, giving it a great baseload, and is now the world's largest net exporter of electricity. Does the Scottish Government have any estimate of the opportunity cost of Scotland not pursuing a similar strategy? The fact is that existing nuclear is expensive. Under the current contract awarded by the UK Government of Hinkley Point C, for example, the electricity that will be generated will be priced at £92.50 per megawatt hour. That is a comparison to electricity generated from offshore wind, which we have in abundance in Scotland. I think that we are planning to do a lot more. It is currently priced at £37.35 per megawatt hour. He mentions France. However, let's look at a list of all the European countries that have decided to ditch nuclear. I don't need a running commentary from a secondary position, whilst the minister is seeking to respond to the question. Minister, please resume. I can list in April, Germany, shot down the last of its three nuclear power plants, joining other member states that have no nuclear power stations, and remain opposed to nuclear power, including Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta and Portugal. To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its final energy and just transition strategy. The 23-24 programme for government confirmed our commitment to publish and start implementing a new energy strategy and just transition plan. We are fully considering the views that expressed in the consultation that took place earlier this year, and we will provide further details on that shortly. When the Scottish Government published its draft strategy, the Scottish Trade Union Congress said that workers had little faith in the Government's plan. In light of the SUC's submission to the Government's consultation, can the minister set out precisely what policy changes have been incorporated since then into the final strategy? Well, the final strategy, as I have said, has not been published. However, I would recommend that Mercedes Villalba come to the chamber tomorrow to listen to my statement on the vision for Scotland's future energy, and that will give more information about when the energy strategy will be published. Of course, she will understand that she is asking for detail of a final strategy that has not been published yet. As outlined in the draft energy strategy and just transition plan, all the evidence tells us that we can protect and create jobs in Scotland if we ensure that we get our energy transition right. How will the recent Tory net zero U turns impact on this transition moving forward? Does the minister agree that the Tory backtracking and the uncertainty caused could harm hold back the growth in renewable energy jobs and harm our economic future? I thank Kevin Stewart for that question. He will be aware of the recent report from Robert Gordon University, powering up the workforce report that shows that Scotland has got enormous energy potential and we have the natural resources and the skills that are required to lead the global energy transition. Kevin Stewart is right that the UK Government's backtracking is putting green jobs in our investment in economic growth at risk. I would also highlight the failure to secure any offshore wind projects in the recent allocation round five. We have made representation to the UK Government and I believe that the sector has made a great deal of representation to the UK Government about improvements that we want to see ahead of AR6. Thank you minister. That concludes portfolio questions on wellbeing economy, fair work and energy. I would now propose to move to the second portfolio questions this afternoon, which is finance and parliamentary business. Again, if a member wishes to request a supplementary, they should press the request to speak button during the relevant question or enter the letters RTS in the chat function, if online. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the fiscal framework. I am pleased to say that the first review of the Scottish fiscal framework concluded on 2 August, with a joint agreement reached between the Scottish and UK Governments on changes to the 2016 agreement. That review has yielded a fair and pragmatic set of changes providing a sensible and proportionate set of improvements to the fiscal framework. That furnishes the Scottish Government with more effective levers with which to manage the Scottish budget. I welcome the opportunity for a full debate in this chamber in the coming months in addition to a dedicated committee evidence session. I am grateful to the cabinet secretary for that answer. Just as she has done there, the cabinet secretary made clear in her letter to the finance committee on 2 August that she was signing up to this new deal because the arrangements work in Scotland's favour. The changes made, as the cabinet secretary just said, are fair and pragmatic and will strengthen the financial management leaves available to the Scottish Government. Does the cabinet secretary therefore agree that it is exactly this sort of joint working between the Westminster and Holyrood Administrations that the public both wants and deserves rather than endless constitutional bickering that so often characterises our politics? What I would say is that John Glenn, who is the chief secretary to the Treasury, is a bit of an anomaly in the Westminster or Tory UK Government. He does sit down in a sensible, pragmatic and co-operative way, but he is the exception to the rule. That is why we have managed to secure those very pragmatic changes to the fiscal framework because of that arrangement. Again, I had a very co-operative meeting with the chief secretary to the Treasury just last week. It is just a shame that the rest of the UK Government does not operate in that manner. John Mason, you are a supplementary. There was some concern under the previous fiscal framework that we are competing with London and the south-east of England, and that puts us in a difficult position. Does the cabinet secretary have any concerns that that will continue to be the case? Let me say that I am confident that we are well placed to build our fairer greener economy, and of course, per person, our economy has outperformed the UK's since 2018. The latest data shows that our income tax performance per capita is improving and outperforming the rest of the UK in 2022-23. Of course, it is clear that the UK economic model is disproportionately weighted towards London, and that has an impact on Scotland. Of course, I am sure that John Mason would agree with me with the full powers of independence that we would be able to tailor our economic approach to Scotland's needs and emulate the success of our near European neighbours, who all perform more strongly economically than the UK. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations regarding taxation policy in Oxfam GB's analysis, payment overdue and fair ways to make polluters across the UK pay for climate justice? As Oxfam's report recognises, the regulation of fossil fuel industries and the majority of tax powers remain reserved to Westminster. We will keep pressing the UK Government to take the urgent action needed, especially after their recent backsliding on net zero ambitions. Here in Scotland, we are committed to using the powers that we have to meet our world-leading climate targets. We will continue with our progressive approach to tax and working to ensure that we achieve a just transition, all of which will help to meet our climate goals, safeguard jobs and protect those on lowest incomes. Mark Ruskell Can I thank the cabinet secretary for that response? Transport remains Scotland's most polluting and highest-emitting sector. An investigation by the Scotsman revealed that over 1,500 empty or nearly empty commercial passenger flights, also known as ghost flights, passed through Scottish airports last year. That has to change, so can I ask the cabinet secretary whether she agrees with the report's recommendations on taxation for reducing air travel demand? What have you is on implementing a higher tax for more polluting aircraft, such as private jets? We very much recognise the impact of transport on overall carbon emissions. We are committed to reducing emissions across all modes of transport, including air travel. We remain committed to introducing the air departure tax once the solution is found to the Highland and Islands exemption has been identified, which of course is not an easy process. In doing so, we will carry out a review of the rates and bans of the tax to ensure that they are aligned with our world-leading climate ambitions. To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the effectiveness of its current income tax policies in stimulating economic growth and job creation. We have the most progressive tax system in the UK that raises additional revenue to invest in public services and Scotland's economy. Since our five-band system was introduced in 2018, our economy has outperformed the UK with GDP per person taking into account population growth, growing 0.2 per cent compared to falling 0.8 per cent in the UK, while over 45,000 working age people have moved from the rest of the UK to Scotland in 2021 with a net in migration of 5,000 people. That is consistent with findings from our policy evaluation of the 2018-19 income tax reforms, which show no evidence that they were having a negative impact on the economy. Jamie Halcro Johnston Appearing in front of the Finance Committee on 19 September, David Bell, Professor of Economics at the University of Stirling, told my colleague Liz Smith that, where you have differential tax rates between jurisdictions, you will set up incentives that will cause either capital or labour to move. That move might not be instantaneous, but if two distinct tax systems sit close by each other, incentives are created over time. Given that, under the SNP Green coalition, Scotland is now the highest-tax part of the United Kingdom. Can the cabinet secretary tell me how the Scottish Government is monitoring for the long-term any movements of this nature? As I set out in my first answer, there is no evidence of such movement. Of course, people move to Scotland and stay in Scotland because of a range of factors, not least the social contract and the various policies and supports that are available here that are not available elsewhere. I remind the member that, based on the figures of the Scottish Fiscal Commission, the Scottish Government calculates that more than 52 per cent of taxpayers in Scotland pay less than they would if they lived elsewhere in the UK. Those matters will be kept under review. Obviously, that is why I have set up the expert group on taxation to inform me on current and future tax policies. However, what the Tories can't get away from, of course, is that they want tax cuts, but they still come here asking for more public expenditure. There is no system in the world that supports that type of economic model. I have received requests from a number of members seeking a supplementary. I intend to exceed to each request. I call firstly, a supplementary from Kenneth Gibson. Can the Deputy First Minister quantify the damage of UK Tory tax policies announced in the last September's mini-budget and since on Scotland's economic growth and job creation? The disastrous mini-budget is indicative of the on-going economic mismanagement of the Tory Government, which has given us the highest inflation in the G7. That is causing real hardship to families in Scotland, with the UK's high inflation part of the reason that the Office for Budget Responsibility is forecasting the largest fall in living standards on record with real incomes falling by £1,200 by the end of this year. Speaking to the Finance and Committee last week, Professor David Heald warned that we will get into a position whereby national health service consultants will start negotiating with their employers for net pay and stress the need to be very careful. When we need to attract key talent, for example breast cancer oncologists in Dundee, can I ask the Deputy First Minister what assessment has the Scottish Government made of the impact of income tax policies on the recruitment challenges in our NHS workforce? It is hard to work out who is Labour and who is the Tories these days in this chamber. Let me say two things to Michael Marra. NHS consultants in Scotland are not on strike as they are down south. Let me say another thing. NHS consultants get paid more, junior doctors get paid more here in Scotland than they do down south. When doctors come here to Scotland, they will take into a range of factors into account and not least the paying conditions that they get, as well as all the services that they get and the additional elements of the social contract that I explained earlier on. What a strange line of questioning for a Labour member in this chamber. When John Swinney was the long-standing wise and cautious finance secretary, he knew about the balance, the careful balance to avoid behavioural change. The finance secretary or Deputy First Minister seems very bullish about the tax rises. I thought the last set of tax rises were an emergency rise, but now the Government is talking about further rises. Is she sure that she is getting the balance right? Let me say clearly to Willie Rennie that no decisions have been made around taxation in any form until we get into the budget process. What I was describing was the set of tax decisions that have already been taken that leads Scotland to be the most progressive part of the United Kingdom by having those five tax bans that take account of what people earn in terms of the tax that they pay. In terms of going forward, we will, of course, take very careful consideration of all the issues that we should do in coming to the conclusions about what is the right balance between tax, the funding of public services and making sure that we are able to sustain those public services. While Labour comes to this chamber wanting us to not make any additional revenues on taxation or anything else, it seems that that does pose the question of where the money comes from to pay for the public services and the demands that members across the chamber make on a regular basis. The next question will be supplementary from John Swinney. From my careful and long-serving perspective, does the Deputy First Minister agree with me that it is somewhat rich for Jamie Halcro Johnston as a Scottish Conservative to come here and complain about differential taxation when his colleagues supported the concept of this Parliament having the ability to vary those tax powers and responsibilities in accordance with the needs of people in Scotland? Does she agree with me that the judgments individuals will form in the careful behaviour analysis that is undertaken in all those questions, bearing in account all the benefits of living in Scotland in terms of the availability of public services, lower council tax, access to a range of free services and to have the ability to send their children? We will now turn to the cabinet secretary's response. I agree with every word of that, and the important thing is looking at the evidence. The evidence in the round, as John Swinney absolutely correctly pointed out, is that people in Scotland get a range of services that are not available anywhere else in those islands. Those on lower incomes are supported in a way that they are not supported anywhere else in those islands. According to the Scottish Fiscal Commission, 52 per cent of taxpayers in Scotland still pay less than they would elsewhere in those islands. We have to look at those things in the round, and we have to take careful consideration. However, we will not follow the economic catastrophe and the policies that led to that, which seem to be being replicated and articulated in this chamber. We will certainly not do that because we know what the damage it does to households and to businesses. I think that you have a problem with your card. If you take your card out and put it in again, perhaps that might work. Could we have Mr Stewart's microphone, or perhaps Mr Stewart indeed could seek to try again? To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the on-going local governance review, what discussions the Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance has had with ministerial colleagues regarding any potential benefits to public services and assets granting Glasgow metropolitan status. Minister Tom Arthur. The local governance review is a key element of the Verity House agreement and an important opportunity to strengthen local decision making. We are equally committed to delivering regional economic development and will continue to work with regional partnerships as we take forward the recommendations that stemming from the regional economic policy review. We will also continue to work with the Glasgow city region on its ambitions. I will engage with ministerial colleagues on how work in this space can be expanded to further empower all of Scotland's regions. Metropolitan status is given to city regions in other parts of the UK and in many European nations. Like Glasgow, many of those cities are home to nationally significant infrastructures, such as the Clyde Tunnel, where Glasgow City Council is investing £3 million over the next two years, and the upkeep of Glasgow Botanic Gardens, while the Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh is directly funded by the Scottish Government. Does the minister share my view that there is room for a healthy discussion on the long-term funding settlement regarding national assets in Scotland's largest city? There is no doubt that the Glasgow city region is a key engine of the Scottish economy, capitalising on progress made by the Glasgow city region. We will continue to work in partnership with Glasgow city council and the other local authorities in the region. We support the region in attracting inward investment to support the regional economic strategy, which will help to create a sustainable wellbeing economy and tackle inequality. The published regional economic policy review contains a recommendation to explore the aggregation of budgets to increase capacity within regions. Officials are scoping out options for delivery. In regards to the Clyde Tunnel, it is on the local road network, and all local authorities are responsible for their own road networks. The Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh operates a total of four gardens and has a statutory responsibility to safeguard Scotland's national living plant collection and herbarium. It also has a global presence and status in the world of plant-based scientific research and education. It is a very different model from the Glasgow Botanics. Local authorities across the country are facing a combined two-year shortfall of £1 billion. Much of the remainder will be dedicated to immediate needs, essential statutory services and workforce shortages. Does the Scottish Government believe that granting metropolitan status to Glasgow City region offers a solution for service and infrastructure challenges? I thank Ms Gosw for a supplementary question. We have no plans to pursue a mayor or metropolitan model in the style of what has been taking place elsewhere in the UK, but in many respects Glasgow region is very functioning as a metropolitan area. We are committed to working in partnership with all the local partners, the local authorities and the communities to ensure that we can capitalise upon Glasgow's status and look for opportunities through partnership working to generate efficiencies and better more person-centred delivery of public services. To ask the Scottish Government how the measures set out in its programme for government 2023-24 will support community wealth building. Employment of the community wealth building model of economic development has the potential to improve the impact of a wide range of measures set out in the new programme for government. Specifically in the year ahead, we will work to ensure procurement activity continues to contribute to community wealth building in the form of stronger businesses and high quality jobs. The programme for government also confirms that we will collaborate with our partners in the public, private, third and community sectors on legislative proposals informed by the recent community wealth building public consultation. The community wealth building approach is clearly one of our most effective tools if we are to build a sustainable well-being economy where everybody in Scotland can thrive. Would the minister agree that measures this year to support our local economies and supply chains will help lay the groundwork for a comprehensive community wealth building bill later in the parliamentary term? I agree that the community wealth building approach is one of the most effective tools that we have to create a sustainable well-being economy supporting business growth and the creation of fair jobs. We will continue to build on the excellent progress that has been made to date by local authorities working in partnership with communities, businesses, the third sector and wider public sector organisations to support the implementation of the approach. We will publish the findings of the recent consultation on community wealth building legislation later in the autumn. The consultation provided a rich source of ideas and evidence that will help frame the development of legislative proposals to advance community wealth building in Scotland. Question 6, Douglas Lamson. To ask the Scottish Government whether the finance secretary plans to allocate to local authorities any funding from the block grant that has arisen as a result of Barnett consequential funding from the UK Government's swimming pool support fund. Thank you. Local sport and leisure facilities, including swimming pools, are vital in supporting the physical and mental health of the nation. Compared to the less than £6 million of consequentials that the Scottish Government received for swimming pools following the UK Government's budget, the Scottish Government allocated £100 million of additional funding to local government at stage 3 of the budget bill, funded in part by those consequentials. It is immoral of this Government to get funding for swimming pools from the UK treasury but not pass it on for its intended purpose. In Aberdeen, Buxburn swimming pool was closed and has been stripped back to the walls where the local SNP council has been taken to court by its own citizens over the closure. Is the minister happy that swimming pools in our communities are being forced to close? The member knows, because he was a local councillor, that councillors are democratically elected to make decisions on the priorities in their local communities. It is really important that, as elective members, we respect the democratic mandate of councillors across Scotland. The money has all been allocated. The difference here is clearly that Mr Lums is coming to this chamber asking the Scottish— Minister, please, you should receive a second. There are members shouting across all parts of the chamber that it is not acceptable. The minister has been asked a question, and we must listen to the minister's response. As I have said, the money has been allocated. The money was allocated to budgets as part of a £100 million additional funding at stage 3 that went to local government. What Mr Lumsden is coming here asking is that that money should have been ring-fenced. I encourage Mr Lumsden to speak to his local government colleagues, because I know that his local government colleagues are looking for greater flexibility. They are not asking us to come and ring-fence more and more pots of money. In fact, they are asking exactly the opposite for greater flexibility so that they can use their democratic mandates to determine what is best for their local communities. To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to propose a parliamentary debate on the removal of nuclear weapons from Scotland as proposed in its paper on creating a modern constitution for an independent Scotland. As Mr Kidd knows, any proposal for government business and parliament are agreed by the Scottish Cabinet, subject to consideration by the Parliamentary Bureau, and in turn, approved by Parliament. The Scottish Government's fourth paper on building a new Scotland series, creating a modern constitution for an independent Scotland, was published in 19 June. The cabinet secretary then led a debate on the paper on 27 June. I know that time is precious and I may lodge a member's motion on the issue, which I hope those across the chamber will support. For when war is raging on Europe's borders and the spectre of nuclear escalation is ever present, does the minister agree with me that it is not only time to have this debate here, but across Europe, to start the journey to a nuclear weapons-free Europe, as has happened in areas across the globe, and would he be happy to support Scotland taking a lead in this journey? Mr Kidd has been at the front of this debate for many years, and I agree that a nuclear-free world would be most welcome. It is entirely up to the member if he wishes to lodge a member's motion. Our Parliament is made all the richer with the varied debate and discussion that we have in members' debates on what they bring to this place. That concludes portfolio questions on finance and parliamentary business. There will be a short pause before we move on to the next item of business, to allow front-bench teams to change positions should they wish.