 additionalWeather możech. Fe lwsterosian sydd i gwestiwyr aethlinydd anclant, a ddisgron ag i g напositiliau â tar menbyrach a Moedd� cuz dumplings ac bwrw Anyll Talbot yn viacon Horde yw — Rha편장 recipient ddae. Gayun o holl masla inspectoriawydd o y tastynydd cнеiff amioid a fabrydlonionedd rhaid, i gyda ni cyfyкоїn iaith y fllw, hemid, os pob pwyntiam iddo. Argei amdal y marque o bearing sydd i drawr amser i gwestiwyr ar hefford am fathers I have strongly encouraged both the National Museum of Scotland and the Ffase of Galway Council to its agreement on a partnership to securing the long-term future of the Horde and access it to it both for the public in Galway on a long-term basis and for wider audiences in Scotland. I have proposed a summit for all parties involved and look forward to progressing the significant opportunities for this collection of international significance. Colin Smyth. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. She will be aware of the deep disappointment in Dumfries and Galloway at the decision to allocate the Viking Horde to the National Museum of Scotland. Although the cabinet secretary makes reference to the proposals from NMS to lend a portion of the Horde to Dumfries and Galloway Council for display at Curcubriac gallery, she will know that to date that offer is still very vague. It will mean that the full Horde will only ever be displayed in Dumfries and Galloway when NMS don't require it in Edinburgh. There are no details of how long and how far apart those loans might be. It is unclear what NMS means by displaying an undefined quote, significant and representative proportion of the Horde outside those periods. There does not appear to be any real opportunity for the council to derive additional income from the commercial exploitation of the Horde to offset the cost of transporting what will be valuable items to and from Edinburgh. All the cabinet secretary will ensure that the summit that she proposes will ensure that there is a proposal that is not just dictated by NMS but meets the aspirations of Dumfries and Galloway Council and the local community for a permanent world-class exhibition of the Galloway Horde at Curcubriac gallery. I understand the local disappointment in Dumfries and Galloway, but I am determined that we have an opportunity to make sure that the galloway reason does benefit from the display of the Horde. Indeed, the most immediate challenge is to raise the £2 million to secure the Horde for the public and the £300,000 for the conservation. As we speak, I understand that officials from the National Museum of Scotland and the council are working together to put forward a joint proposal of what could make the most opportunity for the display. I think that a significant long-term permanent display of a significant proportion of the Horde is something that I think can be achieved, but we also have to recognise the requirements for the rest of Scotland to have the opportunity to see it as well. I think that there is an opportunity for a way forward. That is why I move very swiftly to establish a summit. I am looking forward to hearing that joint presentation from both the local council and the National Museum of Scotland. The decision taken to award the Galloway Viking Horde to the National Museum of Scotland must not mean that the Horde is lost to Edinburgh. It is vital that we see a large proportion of the Horde return to Galloway. I thank the cabinet secretary for her response to my letter last week in which she set out the details of the summit to discuss a partnership between Dumfries and Galloway council and NMS. I look forward to receiving further details of it. Bringing the Horde back to the area on a long-term, secure basis would bring a great amount of excitement, add to tourism levels and boost the economy and cultural prosperity of the region. What assurances can the cabinet secretary give to my constituents that she will do all that she can do to ensure that the area will enjoy the full range of economic and cultural benefits associated with that significant find? I am committed to supporting the visitor attraction opportunities in the south of Scotland. It is part of our manifesto commitment and our programme for government. In relation to the Horde, I think that there are great opportunities that we can achieve from the Horde. Of course, the preservation and conservation has to take place in order to determine how it can be displayed, but I am committed—he can have my reassurances—to support the Horde. I want to make sure that there is opportunity for the Galloway region. He might want to add congratulations that we have also managed to secure Monarch of the Glen for tour to the Cuckoobury galleries. I hope that that gives you some commitment and understanding of my desire to make sure that the national collections of Scotland are exhibited across the nation of Scotland. 2. Colin Beattie To ask the Scottish Government what recent steps it has taken to promote culture and tourism in Midlothian and Eastlothian. The Scottish Government provides on-going financial support for the National Mining Museum in Midlothian and the National Museum of Flight, part of National Museum Scotland and Eastlothian, both of which are key cultural attractions. As with all areas of Scotland, the fantastic assets of Midlothian and Eastlothian are marketed by VisitScotland using marketing campaigns, social media, trade and press for familiarisation trips through their eye centres, through information partner and local businesses and community groups, VisitScotland visitor guides and dedicated regional microsites feature attractions and activities in Midlothian and Eastlothian, while wider VisitScotland campaigns feature the area as part of themes around food and drink, for example. Two 2017 year of history, heritage and archaeology partner programme events have taken place in Midlothian to date and two have already taken place in Eastlothian with another two scheduled to follow in September. Colin Beattie I thank the cabinet secretary for her response. Would she agree with me that cultural events such as Muscleborough's Riding of the Marches, the Midstock Music Festival in Dalkeith Country Park and the more recent return of the historic Dalkeith station bell to Dalkeith museum all helped to provide substantial financial and cultural benefits to my constituency? I do indeed. If you look at the recent stats on why people visit the Lothians, scenery and landscape account for 60 per cent, but the history and culture account for another 53 per cent. There are two aspects here. One, we want to make sure that our country is open and welcoming to our visitors, so anything in Brexit that would consider visas for visitors would be detrimental. However, more immediately, the issue around those EU nationals that help to support our tourism and culture industries and 10 per cent of the tourism industry is supported in employment by EU nationals. That is an imperative for the negotiations as they are due to start on 19 June to establish the importance and recognition of the status of the EU nationals that are living and contributing to our economy, including tourism and to the member's constituency. Michelle Ballantyn Sustainable tourism has been given a huge boost in East Lothian with the announcement of a proposed £5.5 million national marine centre in North Berwick. That development should be commended. Can I ask what plans the Scottish Government has to support this project? I had the pleasure of visiting the Seabird Centre in North Berwick only a few weeks ago. I was shown the extensive and ambitious plans. In particular, the opportunity for education was very strongly evident in the plans. There are no formal approaches as yet in terms of taking the project forward. They have very ambitious fundraising activity, but they want to make sure that they are equipped and have that established before they might contact ourselves on that matter. However, I think that the quality of that provision is a fantastic tourism project. I think that it showed vision at the outset to be established. As a very good example of the rest of Scotland, what vision and ambition can do in terms of visitor attraction? Stuart McMillan To ask the Scottish Government how National Gallery Scotland helps to promote culture and tourism in Inverclyde. I'm advised by the National Galleries of Scotland at present that they have no active partnerships in Inverclyde. However, the National Galleries are always willing to consider proposals and suggestions from any region across Scotland. National Galleries of Scotland presently has partnerships with Dunin, Clydebank and Paisley in the neighbouring areas, but not currently in Inverclyde. Stuart McMillan On 25 May, the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee held an evidence session with senior representatives from the various national gallery bodies from Scotland. There was that acceptance that the partnership working taking some of the national works to local communities can have the positive effect both culturally and for the tourism offering. Does the cabinet secretary welcome the partnership approach that is taking place in Inverclyde? Does she consider culture and tourism to be of great benefit to the local economy in Inverclyde? I think that culture and tourism is important to all parts of Scotland and I'm keen to see how it can be explored further in Inverclyde. I know for example already that the National Museums of Scotland has a relationship with Inverclyde, particularly the McLean gallery museum, and I understand when it becomes open again after refurbishment that they want to continue that partnership. I heard only this morning when I was in Inverness about the partnership that they have with the national galleries of Scotland, and as I've just said in a previous answer, the Scottish Government has supported the touring of Monarch of the Glen, which is going to four different parts of Scotland, not to Inverclyde as yet. Paisley is the nearest location for that, but I think that opportunities to embrace partnerships from our national collections with different parts of the country should be welcomed. I will draw the attention of the National Gallery of Scotland to your interests, particularly Stuart McMillan to Inverclyde and your constituency. Jamie Greene I echo the comments by Stuart McMillan that if there are opportunities to bring art to Inverclyde, it would be very welcome. Additionally, I note that the National Gallery of Scotland is digitising its 94,000-piece collection. What is the Scottish Government doing to encourage other galleries and museums to reach the widest possible audience through the use of technology and online? Jamie Greene Only this morning, when I was in Inverness at the Expo North Festival, I chaired a session that was precisely about how different museums and galleries across Scotland can engage with digitisation and other technologies. One of the strong messages of that is not just the case of delivering predetermined digitisation of collections, but the involvement of participation of local communities in the type of technology and the type of digitised materials is really important in the curation of any exhibitions locally. The local engagement is as important as the facility of it, but we are very lucky and very blessed with the collections that we have. Indeed, the National Gallery of Scotland has got an organisation digitisation programme, and that brings a whole new area of opportunity for participation in the national cultural life of Scotland. Elaine Smith To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to strengthen relations between Scotland and Cuba. Minister Alasdair Allan We do not have any plans at present to develop further links with Cuba. However, we are always willing to consider opportunities as they arise where they support the Government's priorities. Elaine Smith I thank the minister for that response. In that case, is the minister aware that in Cuba life expectancy for men is 79 years and Glasgow is 73. Cuba has one GP for every 884 people. In Scotland it is one for 1,083. Cuba provides free school meals for all children. In Scotland it is only P1 to P3. Cuba is recognised as having world-leading education, while Scotland has just recorded its worst-ever performance in the international peace and ranking. Given Scotland's increasing crisis in health and falling standards in schools and Cuba's world-renowned excellence in education and health, will the minister consider what lessons could be learned from Cuba? Minister Alasdair Allan Without accepting too many of the many premises behind that question, I can say that the UK level, since the UK, has diplomatic relations with the world. The UK has indeed taken some steps forward in its relationship with Cuba in recent years. There has been a formal declaration between the UK and Cuba signed on 5 July 2011, which has strengthened many of the relationships that we have. Indeed, our relationship with Cuba and other countries means that we can have full and frank discussions about all those and many other issues. However, at the moment, such formal relations do not exist. Richard Lyle To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with UK Government agencies regarding bringing major events to Scotland. The Scottish Government works closely with UK Government agencies, such as UK Sport and the devolved Administrations, to help to deliver the ambitions that are set out in the national event strategies Scotland the perfect stage. The project includes projects such as the forthcoming total world badminton championships being held at the Emirates arena in Glasgow in August this year, the European Gymnastic Championships taking place as part of the Glasgow 2018 European Championships in August 2018 and the European Short Course Swimming at Toulcross pool in 2019. Richard Lyle I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer. The cabinet secretary has made reference to a number of successful events that Scotland has hosted. We know that Scotland has a record in successfully delivering major domestic or international events. I therefore wish to ask the cabinet secretary what role she considers UK Government to have in its responsibilities to help to promote Scotland on the international stage and what actions the Scottish Government undertakes regularly to promote Scotland as an attractive place to host major events. Richard Lyle Scotland's reputation, most as a welcoming nation but also in delivering and competently delivering major events, is gathering international reputation. As we go forward we want to exploit that and use our experience. We are continuously trying to attract major events. Some of them might be major associations or business conferences or conventions. Some of them might be sports. We need to continue working with the UK in terms of their international reach and their networks. Our reputation as a welcoming nation and our reputation as being a country of first choice to do business with is very important. As we go forward and particularly through Brexit's positioning, it is vitally important that the UK and its networks make sure that they do not undermine that in any way. Scotland is progressing and advancing on our event strategy. We are ambitious and we are working with partners to do that and we want that to continue. Richard Leonard To ask the Scottish Government what issues were discussed during its recent meeting with the ambassador of Israel to the United Kingdom. Our discussions included Scotland's relationship with Israel, the Israel-Palestine conflict and issues relating to the Jewish community in Scotland. I expressed the Scottish Government's concerns about the continued construction of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land and the restrictions on Gaza. I also raised a number of issues that have been brought to my attention through ministerial constituency correspondence such as the rights of Christians, the restrictions on the gathering of the olive harvest in Palestine and other limitations in freedom of movement and other rights. The Scottish Government will continue to encourage Israel and Palestine to work together to achieve a negotiated two-state solution to the conflict that respects the rights of all communities. Richard Leonard I thank the cabinet secretary for her response. In view of the Scottish Government's open government partnership Scottish national action plan in which the First Minister claims that she wants an outward-looking government that is more open and accessible to Scotland's people than ever before, will the cabinet secretary now publish the agenda and minutes of her meeting with the ambassador of Israel on 18 May this year? For the same reasons of openness and transparency, will she publish any preceding or subsequent related correspondence? I think that I was fairly open and transparent in my answer as to what exactly was discussed in relation to our discussions with ministers and ambassadors from other countries. We have to respect the diplomatic space that they have to share their views with us and us with them. We will respect our treatment of that, but I have been quite clear in my openness, because I know that the interests in that issue. I have been quite clear in terms of the agenda and the content of that discussion, which I have just relayed to you in my initial questions. To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the Scottish event campus to increase business tourism in Glasgow. It recognises that business events are an excellent means to showcase Scotland as a place to invest, study, live, work and visit, as well as delivering direct economic impact through delegate expenditure to business events. It also gives us an excellent platform to work with organisers to demonstrate Scotland's strength and innovation in our key sectors, especially linkages to further and higher education. Visit Scotland business events continue to encourage at the highest level strategic partnership working with clients that keep Scotland and also gateway destinations, such as Glasgow and Scotland's largest venue, the SEC at the heart of the global business events industry. Scottish Enterprise has been working with Scottish event campus since May 2015 around any future support for this development. There are a number of events that are held that are supported by the Scottish Government, including the Visit Scotland Expo held in the SEC in 2013, 2014 and 2017. There is a whole variety of other events that I will not go into at this stage. Adam Tomkins Thank you and I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Some £411 million is spent in the Glasgow economy every year as a result of the conferences, concerts, exhibitions and events held at the SEC. In 2014, the opening of the hydro boosted the SEC's concert business, and similar investment is now required at the west end of the SEC site to make a comparable contribution to boosting the SEC's exhibition business. What assistance can the Scottish Government offer to make this investment a reality, an investment that would pay for itself in terms of the additional GVA in Glasgow's economy that it would trigger? I understand that that expansion, which is integral to the development of the tourist opportunities in Glasgow, was not part of the original Glasgow city deal. He may want to make representations also to the UK Government as part of that. In terms of my discussions, I have met the SEC to hear about their plans. Only last week I met Bridget McConnell, who is the chair of Glasgow Life and now has the tourism responsibilities for Glasgow. I have a keen interest in that. In terms of our budgets and opportunities, he will be aware of the restrictions and limitations that are there. I think that we have to think big and ambitious about what is next for Scotland. We had a question about events. We have had the Commonwealth Games seeking future events and different conventions to come to the city. It may mean that we may need to look a bit more wider to engage on a long-term basis. I am very interested in the project, but I cannot give you any detail at this stage, but I am actively interested in it. That concludes our questions on culture, tourism and external affairs. We turn now to questions for justice and the law officers. Question 1 is from Linda Fabiani. To ask the Scottish Government what recourse there is for people who are dissatisfied with the police investigations and review commissioner's response to a complaint. Any complaint about the service provided or about a member of the police investigations and review commissioner's staff should initially be directed to them as they have their own complaint handling process. If a complainer remains dissatisfied, they can contact the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, who is responsible for considering complaints about organisations providing public services in Scotland. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer and say that I have concerns that have come from a couple of constituency cases that perhaps the PIRC service is not working as well as it should in terms of the relationship between the complainant, the police service about whom the complaint was and the way that it is dealt with and indeed followed up by PIRC. If I put some of those concerns in writing, he will give them some consideration and perhaps raise them at his next meeting with the appropriate commissioner. If the member wishes to write to me with some of the details on those matters, I can ensure that the commissioner gives her consideration. Last week, I visited the PIRC and met a range of the staff who are responsible for conducting those investigations, whether they be into complaints that have already been investigated by the police and are being reviewed by the PIRC, or cases that have been referred directly to the PIRC by the Crown Office. I know that the staff there give a tremendous amount of thought on how they can make sure that those cases are managed as effectively as possible, including engaging with those who are the complainers in how they are taking those matters forward. I know that the commissioner is also keen to make sure that the service that individuals receive from the PIRC is of the highest standard. I am conscious that the member has raised a number of issues relating to that in the past couple of years, relating to constituents. One of them was in relation to the way in which data protection matters were being taken forward, an issue that was picked up on by the head manage inspector of constabulary in Scotland when looking at the current and assurance review of the counter-corruption unit. As a result of that, Police Scotland has now worked with the criminal allegations against the police service division of the Crown Office to introduce a new process for considering data protection cases that involve police officers, which expedites that process and makes it much quicker. If the member wants to set more of those issues out in writing to me, I will ensure that she receives a full response from the commissioner. Oliver Mundell. I have too had a number of constituents raise concerns about some aspects of PIRC's work. In that context, I wonder if I could ask the cabinet secretary what consideration he has given to expanding the remit of PIRC to allow them to investigate complaints made by serving police officers about other police officers. There is a process within the police service for handling complaints being made by serving police officers against an existing serving police officer. One of the areas of work that was taken forward as a result of the assurance review by HMICS is in relation to the counter-corruption unit, which Police Scotland is now changing, which is taking for a range of different measures in order to improve the way in which it operates. In that instance, that may be the appropriate route for it to be considered. However, at present, there are no plans to extend the role of PIRC into investigating complaints between police officers while they are still in service. However, if the member has some specific issues that he wishes to raise with me, I would be more than happy to ensure that those issues are appropriately considered by Police Scotland or the PIRC. Elaine Smith. Given that I have also been assisting a constituent with an ongoing similar situation for many years and have approached chief constables, PIC, SPAACOPFS, PDS, CAAAPD, the Justice Committee law officers and various cabinet secretaries over the years, will the cabinet secretary agree to listen now to the genuine concerns of officers who have got nowhere else to turn and will he look specifically at my constituent's case? I cannot comment directly on individual cases and whether it is a matter that relates to operational issues, that is a matter for the chief constable and the processes that are set out within the policing process for dealing with those issues. Ministers do not have a direct role in investigating those types of issues. I am mindful of the fact that the member has raised it with a range of different parties through the Scottish Parliament and outwith the Scottish Parliament. However, if the member wants to write to me setting out those issues, I would be more than happy to refer it onto the appropriate body for considering those issues, but ministers do not have a responsibility in investigating those individual cases directly themselves. David Torrance. To ask the Scottish Government how much Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have paid in back, but they have not been able to claim back. The amount of unrecovered vat incurred by the Scottish Police Authority and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service between April 2013 and March 2017 is of the order of £140 million. We will continue to press UK ministers over this disparity, which could see a cost to the Scottish public purse of £280 million by the end of the current parliamentary session 2020-21. David Torrance. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that, as the UK Government has changed rules to enable academy schools in Highway England to reclaim that, it is reprehensible that they refuse to make the same change for vital emergency services in Scotland, which would bring them into line with emergency services in other parts of the UK? Cabinet secretary. I wholeheartedly agree with David Torrance and his comments on this matter. The UK Government could very easily change the rules to enable Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to recover vat. The UK Government has shown that, where there is a political will, the VAT Act can be amended to permit new bodies to recover vat. The member made reference to them. Since Police Scotland has been created and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has been created, a range of bodies have been included in the VAT Act, which allows them to recover vat, including health education England, the health research authority, the strategic highway companies, Highway England, the London Legacy Development Corporation and academy schools. If it is good enough for all of those organisations, in my view, it is good enough for Scotland's emergency services. Peter Chapman. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the increase in reported sexual offences in 2016-17. Cabinet secretary. The Scottish Government will publish the validated figures for recorded crime in September. The increase in sexual crimes implied by Police Scotland's recent report represents a continuation of a long-term trend, similar to that seen across the rest of the UK. The full reasons for the growth in recorded sexual crime are complex, but increasing historical and online cases are part of the picture. The Scottish Government analysts working with Police Scotland are undertaking a study of crime recording to gain a better understanding of sexual offending in Scotland. The results will inform how the justice system and wider public services respond to those incidents, and we will publish them in September. However, for today, we want those who are victims of sexual crimes and sexual offences to be able to come forward and report in confidence and in the knowledge that a responsive justice system will help to ensure access to justice for the victim. In addition to the specially trained officers who work within Police Scotland's national rape task force and highly trained prosecutors in the national sexual crimes unit, we understand that victims need specialist support, and that is why we have invested record levels of funding in third sector organisations. Peter Chapman. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Police Scotland has reported that there has been an increase in the number of 16 to 24-year-olds rape victims who had met the suspect online. It has also pointed to an exponential rise in cyber-enabled sexual crime in the last decade. What is the Scottish Government doing to promote safety online, particularly among children and young people? The member raises a very important issue, because, as I mentioned, the analytical work that has been carried out just now has already indicated that some of that increase that we have saw in sexual offences has been driven by cyber-related crime and online-related crime. That is exactly why Police Scotland is taking forward the 2026 strategy to look at how it can get the balance of expertise within the organisation, much more reflective of that new and emerging type of crime. For example, where it is relating to cyber-related crime is that it has the expertise within the organisation to support the police in being able to deal with that much more effectively. However, the member should also be aware that there has been a gradual increase in sexual crime over the last decade. That is not peculiar to Scotland. That is reflected across the UK and, to some degree, across Western Europe. The analysis that we are carrying out just now is to make sure that we have a much sharper focus on where the increases are taking place and to make sure that we are taking appropriate measures in order to try to prevent those crimes from occurring. As it stands at the present moment, Police Scotland has a programme that is running partnerships with its education authorities to help to make sure that young people have an understanding and awareness of the risks associated with online activity. That work will continue. Once we have had this analysis, we will look at what further work can be done in order to help to make sure that we prevent those crimes from occurring in the first place. Claire Baker I recognise that the cabinet secretary has outlined that validated figures will be published in September. The figures that were published last week showed that domestic abuse had increased from 57,702 cases to more than 58,500. However, the detection rate fell from around 81.2 per cent to 74.1 per cent. Can the cabinet secretary outline what he thinks the factors behind those figures are? The relation to domestic abuse, one of the reasons that we believe that we are seeing an increase is an increase in confidence in reporting those matters, but also the way in which they are now being investigated by Police Scotland. For example, the way in which they are now investigating them is that when an individual makes a complaint, they are also looking for previous partners relating to that particular individual that the allegations were made against, which results in, in some cases, where an initial complaint comes from one individual, in some cases it can involve two or three individuals that then make complaints against a perpetrator. That has resulted in an increasing demand being made on our Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in dealing with those cases, which is why we have put additional investment into the court service this year to help to support them in dealing with cases relating to domestic violence. That growing confidence and the change in nature of the way in which they are now being investigated has resulted in an increasing number of cases being reported and recorded. We need to make sure that we are supporting organisations that work with women who experience domestic violence, which is why we are providing record levels of funding to those organisations and at the same time making sure that a lot is fit for purpose. That is why we also have a domestic abuse bill before the Parliament in order to look at how we can much more effectively deal with all forms of domestic abuse, not just the physical abuse but also the psychological abuse that can often be associated with it. Question 4, Jackie Baillie. To ask the Scottish Government whether it has confidence in the chairperson of the Scottish Police Authority. Cabinet Secretary. As a member is aware from the answer that I gave to Parliament on 30 May, we will give information to the issues that are set out in the recent reports received from the Justice Sub-Committee on Placing and the Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee in coming to a determination. Jackie Baillie. I thank the cabinet secretary for that response and I recognise that it was the cabinet secretary that appointed Mr Flanagan to his current position, so I appreciate his frustration that Mr Flanagan has not been successful in his role as chair of the SPA. Although I urge him to take action to restore trust in the Scottish Police Authority, can I ask the cabinet secretary what lessons have been learnt about the role and responsibilities of board members and whether that has led to any change in approach by the Scottish Government? Cabinet Secretary. The member will also recognise that, in evidence to the Public Audit Committee, HMICS also set out the improvements that have been made in the SPA over the course of the past two years, in a way in which it scrutinises issues such as C3, in a way in which it has also looked at issues around stop and search, in a way in which it has now engaged with Police Scotland in a much more constructive fashion. It is wrong to characterise the fact that there have not been changes in improvements over the course of the past two years. I am notwithstanding that, Andrew Flanagan set out the areas in which he has also accepted that he has not met the levels that have been expected of him. I can assure the member that we will give careful consideration to the findings, both from the Public Audit Committee and from the Sub-Committee on Policing, and we will set out in due course what measures we will put in place to address those matters. George Adam. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Can the cabinet secretary tell me when we can expect the HMICS's report to report on the Scottish Police Authority's governance review? Cabinet Secretary. Her Majesty's Inspector of Constability for Scotland was asked to bring forward its review aspect of the SPA to look specifically at governance as a result of some of the concerns that were raised by the Public Audit Committee, something that the acting convener in her letter to me welcomed and, I believe, was an appropriate measure to be taken given the concerns that had been raised by the committee. I welcomed an endorsement in taking that action forward. HMICS has agreed that it intends to publish a report, hopefully, by 22 June. Question 5, Annie Wells. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to prevent violent crime. Minister, Annabelle Ewing. The member will be aware that crime is at a 42-year low, while the number of homicides and crimes of handling and offensive weapon are at their lowest since records began. However, we recognise that there is still more to do. Violence is a complex issue and, as such, we need to tackle the causes, not just the symptoms. That is why our strategy is focused on tough enforcement, coupled with education and diversion activity. We continue to put significant investment into the national violence reduction unit, which aims to reduce violent crime and behaviour by working with partner agencies to achieve long-term societal and attitudinal change, as well as by focusing on enforcement. Annie Wells. Thank you for that answer. We know that knife crime is a significant problem in some communities in Glasgow. What update can the Scottish Government give on action that it is taking to educate young people about the dangers of carrying a knife? Minister. Yes, thank you. I can say to the member that we also continue to invest in a range of other initiatives, such as the excellent known knives, better knives initiative. That has now been made available to all local authority areas in Scotland and it does indeed educate young people about the dangers and the consequences associated with carrying a knife and encourages positive life choices away from violence. I would also add that, in addition to the many other initiatives, one particularly pertinent one that I should mention further to the member's question is the Medic Against Violence secondary school programme. That involves some 250 volunteer medics from Glasgow having pledged their time to help to educate young people by going into schools and explaining the consequences of violence, particularly of knife crime violence. That has been a very successful programme and I would commend all of the medics who have given up their time to do that. Mary Fee. Thank you, Presiding Officer. The minister will be aware that serious assault crimes recorded between 2014-15 and 2016-17 increased by almost a third. Figures from the SPA show that murders have increased by 30 per cent. What specific action is the Government taking to tackle these rises in the most violent of crimes? Will the Scottish Government invest in more community policing? Can the minister give us any further information on the diversionary initiative that she responded to Annie Wells' initial question? Minister. Yes, I would say that the overall trend in terms of, for example, homicide is indeed going down and we also see in terms of non-sexual crimes of violence that there has been a reduction of some 51 per cent since 2006-2007. I hope that the member takes some heart from that. In addition to the initiatives that I have already mentioned in response to the question from Annie Wells, there is also, for example, the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme. That encourages young people to understand various forms of violence and to be leaders in supporting each other in that any form of violence or abuse towards another is unaccepted and will not be tolerated. That programme involves a total of 108 schools across 18 local authorities, which are currently engaging in the MVP programme. Work indeed is now being undertaken with Education Scotland to accelerate the expansion to reach an additional 30,000 young people in an additional 93 secondary schools across Scotland by March 2018. That initiative, together with the work of community-based officers to which the member referred, and the navigator programme, which is a feature of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary Accident Emergency Department and has been extended now to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary Department to the Ask Support Care campaign, which involves the Violence Reduction Unit, along with Medics Against Violence, to train professionals who interact with women in many aspects of their lives to spot signs, particularly of domestic abuse. Those are a whole range of initiatives that we are currently engaging in, and I hope that the member would feel that we are doing everything that we can to tackle violent crime. That brings us to an end of portfolio questions. The next item of business is consideration of business motion 5998 in the name of Joe Fitzpatrick on behalf of the Bureau setting out a business programme. I would ask any member to indicate now if he wishes to speak against the motion. I call on Joe Fitzpatrick to move the motion. Thank you very much. No one wishes to speak against it. The question, therefore, is that we agree motion 5998. Are we agreed? Yes. We are. The next item is consideration of business motion 5999, also in the name of Joe Fitzpatrick on behalf of the Bureau, setting out a timetable at stage 2 of the child poverty bill. I would ask any member to indicate now if he wishes to speak against the motion. I call on Joe Fitzpatrick to move the motion. Moved. Thank you very much. No one wishes to speak against it. The question is, therefore, is that we agree motion 5998. Are we all agreed? Yes. We are agreed. The next item of business is consideration of two parliamentary mushroom motions, I would ask Joe Fitzpatrick to move motions 6000 and 6101 on the approval of SSI. Moved. Thank you. We now come to decision time. The first question is that motion 6000 in the name of Joe Fitzpatrick on approval of an SSI be agreed? Are we all agreed? ond o'r Prif Weinidog yn hysbygol o'r SSI fe agriad a'r rhael agriad. Ond yna agriad o'r SIS, ac mae'r gwnnig ower o'r ddysguennau, a mynd i ddigono'r peth.