 Y dyfodol bwysnys yw yng Nghymruiau Cymru, ac yn y cwestiynau ymddangos I, rai drystio Douglas Ross. Jan Cymru, ystod 35 yr ysgol sy'n gwneud o Pan Am Flight 103, na gael 270 o pobaennau bod gennym. Rwy'n gwisiau yn y cyflawniarn, ac rydyn ni'n ddigwydd cerddog ddwy'r chymru, gwyesblyd yedsedig, oedd hyn osion nesaf mwy ein wrth gwiaith. Dw i chi, Fel 라는iadau ac mae amser, ynEM, cydohaniaethol yn ei syfr息ant ma Gymru sefydliadau yn safid gamflwyllus y glasacedd yr wythredd. Met rywch yn 47.800 mae'ridingaedd, a fydd mwy ffrind explorer drwrs cement bodyw yn eu bobl n пят. Rwy'n achos cyfre gyda'r cy줄iau cerddalau arged köyllau cyflei Cychle importantau a edit HEL 1.5 million Scots paying more than people doing the exact same job elsewhere in the UK. Does Humza Yousaf think that it's fair that a majority of Scots will pay more tax than people south of the border who are in the same wage? I also add my thoughts and indeed my prayers to all of those who continue to feel the impact of the tragic, terrible terrorist attack in Lockerbie on the 21st of December 1988. This year, of course, marks the 35th anniversary of that attack. I spoke to David Mundell actually just this week, and both of us were reflecting on the incredible courage that we saw from not just emergency services, but indeed from the local communities. Many of them are not named, but through their courageous action ensure that there is an enduring bond between families that would impact both here in Scotland and those in the United States and across the world that would impact them. My thoughts continue to be with all of those who feel that loss. In relation to the issues around the budget, first and foremost, let's make it absolutely abundantly clear that the majority of those in Scotland will pay less tax compared to those in the rest of the United Kingdom—no ifs, no buts, no maybes about it. That budget, at its very heart, is about values. The Conservative Party, in its autumn statement, chose to give those like Douglas Ross on higher salaries a tax cut of £754. In contrast, we are asking the top 5 per cent of highest earners like Douglas Ross to pay a little more in tax. By doing so, we are able to give our NHS more than £500 million of an uplift—a real-terms increase to our NHS where, of course, the Conservative Party has cut funding for NHS in England. We will prioritise an uplift to the NHS. We will prioritise an uplift to education. We will prioritise an uplift to police and to fire. Of course, it is the Conservatives who have prioritised a tax cut to the wealthiest like Douglas Ross. Those are not values that I believe in. They are not the values that we of Scotland believe in either. Of course, at its heart, this was a budget from the SNP, which was about Scots paying more and getting less. That is what is going to happen as a result of this budget. Those SNP tax hikes on Scottish workers will damage our economy and risks forcing highly skilled, valuable workers out of Scotland. Ian Kennedy—well, the First Minister is saying not true—he is repeating it—is saying not true. Let us read to the First Minister what Ian Kennedy, the chairman of the British Medical Association Scotland, said. His quote is, "...one of the unintended consequences of this measure may push more of these doctors out of the NHS to jobs elsewhere or retirement or force them to cut over time. We could lose those nurses, doctors and specialist NHS staff for good." Does Humza Yousaf accept his tax rises could force key workers out of Scotland's NHS? The First Minister is awfully brave, and that is one word for it, for Douglas Ross to talk about the NHS. In the week that there is junior doctor strikes happening in NHS England but not happening in the NHS in Scotland. Not only that, of course, we have made sure that, through the choices that we have made in this budget, there is a real terms increase to NHS spending in Scotland and there is a real terms cut to the NHS in England because of the choices that the Conservatives have made. Douglas Ross, every time we ensure that we have progressive taxation in Scotland, he stands up and suggests that there will be some kind of mass exodus from Scotland. The statistics simply do not bear that out. The national records of Scotland statistics from 2021 show that 56,000 people came to Scotland from the rest of the UK, a net in migration of almost 10,000 people. Why are they coming here? They are coming here because, when they are here in Scotland, they get free university education. They are coming here because they get free childcare, free school meals, because they get free nursing and personal care. Those are the choices that we are making. Do you know what else they get? We have the best paid nurses here in Scotland, compared to anywhere else in the UK. No wonder that we have not lost a single day to strike action in the NHS here in Scotland, Presiding Officer. Douglas Ross? I was simply quoting the chairman of the BMA in Scotland, and we get a rant from the First Minister. Let's be very clear. The UK Government is providing the highest ever level of funding to the Scottish Government. Tight budgets are purely the SNP's fault for wasting taxpayers' money. They laugh. It would be funny if it wasn't so serious if it was wasted from the SNP Government on the fairies that vote on doomed court cases, on Ivy League degrees for water executives before we even start on the bar bill. As a consequence of SNP decisions, shops, pubs and hotels here in Scotland will not get the same rates relief as businesses in England and Wales. The Deputy First Minister is trying to shout down my question about hospitality. I would be very grateful if all members could resist the temptation to contribute, although they have not been called to speak. I would say too that I think that I am front-benches of a particular responsibility to lead by example, but of course each and every member of the Parliament has a role to play in that good behaviour. I have got to say that the smug smirk from Michael Matheson and others on the front bench is really disappointing, because what I am speaking about is that, as a consequence of SNP decisions this week, shops, pubs and hotels here in Scotland will not get the same rates relief as businesses in England and Wales. This is what the Scottish hospitality group said. Many Scottish hospitality businesses will struggle to survive and customers will see prices increase because of this. The Scottish Grocers Federation said this. It beggars belief that the Scottish Government has once again failed to pass on the 75 per cent relief for retail seen elsewhere in the UK. First Minister, why are the SNP putting Scottish businesses at a disadvantage? That is why Douglas Ross has no credibility when it comes to economic matters whatsoever. Not only did he demand that we previously imitate and copy Tory tax cuts, which would have meant that we would have £1.5 billion less to spend on vital public services. He demands that we spend every single penny of UK Government consequentials on business relief and tax cuts. If we had done that, we would have seen real-terms cuts to the NHS, real-term cuts to education, real-term cuts to the police service, real-term cuts to the fire service. We simply will not choose to do that. If we had spent the paltry £10.8 million that the UK Government and its autumn statement gave to health consequentials, that would have funded five hours of NHS Scotland activity. We make different choices here in Scotland, Presiding Officer. Why? Because our policies mean that, while we ask the top 5 per cent to pay a little more in tax, they get more for it. What we simply will not do is copy Tory tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of our public services. Last week, we heard a bold claim from an SNP cabinet secretary that world leaders were lining up to get advice from this SNP Government. It got me wondering who is this that has been calling for the advice. Has Justin Trudeau been on the phone looking for a camper van? Maybe it is Emmanuel Macron calling the health secretary to hear how to stream the Celtic match from Morocco. Maybe it is Joe Biden asking for advice on how to deal with a disastrous predecessor at the heart of a criminal investigation. I do not know. It could have been any of those things. Of course, it would not have been asking the Nats how to build ferries or how to run an education system, and they definitely would not have been asking Humza Yousaf for economic advice, because he is making hardworking Scots pick up the bill for his mistakes. He is putting Scottish businesses at a competitive disadvantage. He is driving key NHS staff away, and his decisions mean that 1.5 million Scots will pay more than people south of the border. Really, First Minister, is this all Scotland can expect from high-tax Humza? No, First Minister, sorry. It is very important that members address one another courteously, and that is using first names and surnames and avoiding other such names. This is the difference between us. Douglas Ross is standing here advocating for himself as one of the 5 per cent top-highest earners in the country to get £754 extra in a tax cut from his Conservative colleagues. The difference is that I am advocating to make sure that we get a real terms increase to our NHS. That is the difference between us. I believe in an increase to our NHS, an increase to our education budget, an increase to police officers and an increase to fire service as well. What do you get for our progressive taxation system here in Scotland? You get, of course, the best-paid NHS staff here anywhere in the UK. You get the baby box. You get free prescriptions. You, of course, get free nursing and personal care. You get childcare, the most generous offer of childcare anywhere in the UK. Under the Tories, you get a Brexit that we did not vote for. You get a mini-budget that tanked the economy. You get a Westminster cost of living crisis that is harming millions of households across Scotland. No wonder, Presiding Officer, that the Tories have not won an election in Scotland in almost 70 years. Under Douglas Ross's leadership, that will not change in any time soon, Presiding Officer. Members, I do not want to be shouting into a void, and I would be grateful that you carry yourselves with courtesy and respect. We have many members who wish to put a question today. Question 2 at Col Anna Sarwar. I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the families of those who lost loved ones in the Lockerbury tragedy 35 years ago. My thoughts are with all those both in the emergency services and the local community whose bravery and resilience after the event touched us all, and today we take time to remember everyone affected by this tragedy. As we break for the Christmas recess, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff of the Parliament for their hard work throughout the year, and to wish you, all members across the chamber, all the staff across the Parliament and, of course, the people of Scotland, a very merry Christmas. This year started with Humza Yousaf as health secretary, and throughout the year, things in our NHS have got worse, not better. Over 425,000 patients waited more than four hours at A&E this year. Almost 55,000 of them were there for over 12 hours, and at the start of the year, 767,938 people were on an NHS waiting list. Now that stands at 828,398. First Minister, why is it that everything you touch breaks? First Minister, you know that Anasarwar loses the argument when he goes for the personal attacks, which is what he does regularly and very often. Let me give Anasarwar some of the statistics, of course. In the budget that we have brought forward, which Anasarwar and his Labour colleagues have opposed, we are giving a record investment of over £19.5 billion to the NHS. That is a budget that is ensuring that we have the best NHS-paid staff compared to anywhere in the UK. It is a budget that gives a pay uplift to our care workers. As for the NHS waiting lists, of course, there are challenges. The global pandemic has impacted health services in Scotland, in Wales, in Northern Ireland and, indeed, in England and right across the world, but we are making progress. If we look at outpatients, long waits and outpatients, I can hear the Labour Benchy shouting, but we are not. Let me give you the statistics. When it comes to outpatients, the longest waits and those two-year targets, the numbers waiting over two years for a new outpatient appointment is down 69 per cent. When it comes to inpatients, numbers waiting longer than two years for inpatients was reduced by 26 per cent. We will continue to invest in our NHS. Would that not be good if Labour supported a budget that is giving record investment to our NHS? I was quoting Humza Yousaf's record and let me quote it again. You were the transport minister when the trains were never on time. When you were justice secretary, the police were stretched to breaking point. As health minister, we have got record high waiting times. No, I am not quoting Jackie Baillie. I am sure that even she was struggling to be that harsh. I am actually quoting Kate Forbes, who sat round the cabinet table with Humza Yousaf. And on Tuesday, we saw the consequences of SNP incompetence waste and a failure to grow our economy. Affordable housing funding cut by £200 million in the middle of a homelessness crisis. Mental health services cut in real terms in the middle of a mental health crisis. And the fuel insecurity fund scrapped all together in the middle of a cost of living crisis. This is the most devastating budget in the history of devolution. So why is it, on his watch, that Scots pay more and get less? On my watch, of course, because of the actions that the Scottish Government has taken, it is estimated that 90,000 children will be lifted out of poverty this year in Scotland. You know what won't help with tackling child poverty is a true child limit that Anasawar now supports retaining. What won't help, of course, is a bedroom tax that Keir Starmer and Anasawar now, of course, support retaining. On my watch, of course, in this Government's watch, we have more young people from areas of higher deprivation going to university than ever before. And yes, yes, there was challenges in the budget. I'm not going to pretend otherwise. Let's look at why there's challenges. There's challenges because we've had over 13 years of conservative austerity. Let me read what the Welsh Labour finance secretary said. Briefly, First Minister. This is the toughest financial situation Wales has faced since the start of devolution. Our funding settlement, which comes largely from the UK Government, is not enough to reflect the extreme pressure Wales faces. So why is it that Labour and Wales have the backbone to challenge Tory austerity but Anasawar and Scottish Labour don't? Anasawar. Presiding Officer, don't worry. In 2024, we're getting rid of them. What we need to do is get rid of the SNP incompetence at the same time as well, because I'm surprised that he didn't talk about his so-called progressive tax rise, which is going to raise £82 million. That would buy you a fifth of an SNP ferry that hasn't even sailed yet. He is simply not a serious politician. He thinks that if you earn almost £29,000, you should pay more tax in Scotland than in the rest of the UK. Those are not the people with the broadest shoulders, but they are being forced to pay the price for his failures in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. 2023 will be remembered as the year when the SNP was found out. They have broken the NHS, they have broken the justice system, they have broken the housing system, they have broken the public finances, they have broken the public's trust and they seem to have broken their party in the process. 2023 was a bad year for the SNP. The terms that I used to think 2024 is going to be any better. Talking about broken, all Anna Sauer does is sound like a broken record. Time and time again, he comes here demanding more money for public services but opposes every single revenue, raising power and policy that we bring to this Parliament. Of course, that's the Anna Sauer of 2023. Anna Sauer, who is touting for the Labour leadership, put out a letter demanding a 50p rate for those who earn £100,000. What happened? What happened? That was before, Presiding Officer. That was before. The one thing that absolutely won't change in 2024 is that Anna Sauer will say one thing one day and then another thing another day, because we know that Anna Sauer is not a serious politician. He doesn't think for himself. He waits until he gets the memo from head office. I don't know if Anna Sauer sent his letter to Santa, but if not, she should ask for a backbone, Presiding Officer, because if we find that backbone, you will stand up for Scotland as opposed to standing up for Cure Starmer. We move to question number three, and I call Mark Ruskell. Thank you very much. To ask the First Minister how the budget will support climate action. To ask the First Minister how the budget will support climate action. Tackling the climate emergency is key to my Government's three defining missions, lies at the very heart of our draft budget. Our capital and resource programmes that we have committed total £4.7 billion to climate positive activities include £2.5 billion investment in public transport, almost £360 million for warmer greener homes, a record £220 million for active travel, £158 million for nature and woodland restoration and over £60 million to anchor a new offshore wind supply chain. We have made those choices at the same time as being faced with a 10 per cent cut, real terms cut in our capital budget over the next five years. That is not just because investing in climate action is the right thing, that of course it is, but it is also where the huge economic opportunity lies for Scotland, more jobs, more successful businesses and greater opportunity for the country. That budget commitment to climate and nature is also a commitment to people. Record funding for active travel creates safer neighbourhoods, investment in nature means more rural jobs and funding for warm homes lifts people out of fuel poverty. Can the First Minister outline how the Government will ensure that the economic benefits of this Government's record investment in climate will reach the very people who need it the most? First Minister, we are committed to a just transition to net zero. That just transition is of course good for our planet but fundamentally it is good for our people too. At the very heart of that just transition is in our people and it is already happening. The renewable energy sector supported more than 42,000 jobs across the Scottish economy, according to the Fraser of Allander analysis, but we are also taking action to make sure that those who need the most help get the most help. Free bus travel, which we will spend almost £430 million on next year, is cutting emissions while making the lives of our 2 million people easier in terms of access to public transport. Our warmer home Scotland programme, which has already cut the bills and carbon for 35,000 low-income households, with up to £700 million of funding made available over the next contract period. We are investing a record £220 million in making our streets better and safer for cycling and walking the cheapest and of course the most sustainable form of transport. Mark Ruskell is absolutely right. At the heart of our climate action has to be people and that is exactly why we are investing the billions that we are investing in climate positive actions. First Minister, the Scottish Government is failing to meet climate targets in homes and buildings, transport and land. It still does not have a climate delivery plan or a green industrial strategy and they are cut to the energy transition. The just transition fund has been significantly cut, the green jobs fund has gone altogether and the 67 million offshore supply chain announcement was just a reduced and reheated figure from before. At a time when we need major investment in our supply chains to deliver on our green jobs potential, so how can the First Minister say that his Government is tackling the climate emergency when it is failing in so many ways? We of course all voted in this Parliament for those world-leading climate change targets, but what is most galling is that every time we bring proposals forward they seem to be opposed by the opposition time and time and time again. When it comes to a climate change plan of course, we will still publish that within the statutory time scale and timelines upon us. Of course, where the difficulty for Sarah Boyack comes is that she is demanding that we spend more and more and more money. All the while the Conservatives have car budget and all the while her leader has literally just stood up minutes ago opposing any revenue-raising proposals that we bring forward. I am afraid that Sarah Boyack has no climate credibility. She certainly has no economic credibility in this area either. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that Creative Scotland's national lottery extended programme fund has received applications equating to double the available budget, leaving some organisations and charities without funding? The Scottish Government is committed to its continued support for the arts. As announced in the budget this week, we will reinstate the £6.6 million to Creative Scotland for the national lottery shortfall funding for 2023-24, along with a further £6.6 million for 2024-25. All Creative Scotland's funds, whether funded by the Scottish Government, the grant and aid, or by UK national lottery budgets, receive far more eligible applications than there is funding available to support them. Due to the competitive process for funding, difficult decisions have to be made by Creative Scotland. In the event of an unsuccessful application, it is my understanding that Creative Scotland will offer advice to organisations on other potential sources of funding that may be available if those organisations contact their inquiry service. I welcome the significant investment that the budget offers to the culture sector while Labour and Wales has cut their budget by 10 per cent. As we know, culture organisations across Scotland are facing substantial rising costs. Can the First Minister say any more about how the Scottish budget will support the culture sector? What support the Scottish Government is offering to organisations such as Creative Stirling in my constituency, which loos out on Creative Scotland funding and faces significant challenges to stay afloat in the year ahead? On Creative Stirling, first and foremost, an organisation that I know and have been introduced to by Evelyn Tweed, I would encourage them to make contact with Creative Scotland about potential other avenues of funding. I will ask the appropriate cabinet secretary to be in touch with Evelyn Tweed in order to see whether there is any further support that we can direct Creative Stirling towards. As announced in the budget earlier this week, we are increasing culture funding by £15.8 million next year. That commitment to additional funding, despite the very significant challenges that our budget absolutely faces—let's put that into some context. In the Welsh budget on Tuesday, their funding for support for the culture and the arts was cut by 6.5 per cent. The UK Government has cut its funding to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport by 30 per cent in real terms between 2022 and 2023 in the coming year. We will continue to work with our arts and culture sector to ensure that we invest in them. However, where we can, those who miss out on funding, we are always happy to provide feedback assistance in order to see how better we can support them. Question 5, Jamie Greene. To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government can promote and assist organisations that tackle loneliness, isolation and self-harm over the festive period. Christmas as we all know can be an exceptionally difficult time. People can have money worries, loneliness, grief, just a few of the issues that people are confronted with during the festive season. That is why we have launched new content on our mental wellbeing website, Mind to Mind, to support people who may well be struggling at this time of year. That will be supported by a public campaign over the festive period online and in community settings, including restaurants and supermarkets. Since 2021, we have invested £51 million in our community's mental health and wellbeing fund for adults, with 3,300 grants being made to local organisations across Scotland to tackle social isolation. That very much complements action under way, funding 53 community organisations who are delivering befriending services and providing opportunities for people to connect. Social isolation, loneliness, mental health and equalities have been made worse by the pandemic and indeed by the cost of living crisis, and this Government continues to respond to those public health issues. Jamie Greene. Can I thank the First Minister for that update? For most of us Christmas in a year, obviously, is a time to look forward to, but many people dread it. Grief, loss, depression, domestic abuse and loneliness are the unwelcome gifts that the season too often offers them. Sadly, last year, 762 of our fellow Scots completed suicide, and this year, more than 100,000 will be eating their Christmas dinner alone. On that, I commend the work of Marion Scott at The Sunday Post and Age Scotland for their incredible campaigning on the issue of loneliness. If I may, can I also say directly to those watching this, who may have feelings of despair this festive season, that you are not alone? You can call the Samaritans on 116, 123 at any time of the day or night for free if you need to talk to someone. Can I ask the First Minister what more support can the Government offer, particularly those charities and volunteers who are always there at the other end of the phone when far too often no one else is? The First Minister has a very good question from Jimmy Greene. Can I commend him for, often at this time of year, raising those issues? As we all know, anybody in any demographic can be impacted by mental health challenges, can be impacted by loneliness and isolation. I also want to add my tributes and thanks to Age Scotland, and to The Sunday Post and others, who have done some excellent work in highlighting the issues of isolation, loneliness and mental health challenges that people face at this time of year. To answer Jimmy Greene's question directly, that is why I think that it is so important that the Government continues to invest in local community organisations that provide support from social isolation. We do that through our social isolation and loneliness fund to deliver 53 local projects. Supporting people and 70 per cent of that fund will be distributed to smaller organisations, 30 per cent to larger organisations, and that funding supports a whole range of activities. Many of us will have seen examples of that activity in our local constituencies, such as lunch clubs, social group activities, community development, digital connections, creative arts and befriending services. I want to pay tribute to every single organisation right up and down the length and breadth of this country for the excellent work that they do, especially at this time of year, in order to tackle loneliness and isolation. To ask the First Minister whether and how the Scottish Government plans to increase awareness of spiking ahead of Christmas and New Year. I also thank Pauline McNeill for an important question and recognise that she has raised issues in this regard, particularly around violence against women and girls on a very regular occasion. Spiking is an abhorrent act of violence, in the run-up to Christmas, Police Scotland is working with partners to ensure that licence premises are safe spaces for all, including through a spiking toolkit that provides advice to licence premises and also to relevant partners. We continue to support the best bar none scheme in delivering bystander intervention training to empower people to address and prevent harassment and provide advice on providing anti-drink spiking measures. Police Scotland is also working in partnership with other emergency services, with student bodies, with universities, with colleges and, crucially, our partners in the third sector to raise awareness and provide support for anybody who is affected. We remain absolutely committed to tackle all forms of violence against women and we encourage anyone who believes that they are a victim to come forward and report it to the police. Women across the country are being alerted to an increase in spiking. And in 2021, worryingly, we started seeing cases of spiking by injection. The most commonly used drugs being GHB, rehypnal and ketamine constitutes the crime of drugging under the common law in Scotland or can be a statutory crime under the sexual offences act. As the First Minister has already identified, it is mainly women who are targeted but not exclusively. The key characteristics of the drugs are that they are orderless, tasteless and colourless and can affect your memory. It can make it difficult to report those crimes. There are great campaigns, as the First Minister has already outlined of your spite, but I believe that prevention must be central to the strategy. Does the First Minister agree that it is vitally important to continue to have discussions with the night-time industry who are already alert to this? It is currently not recorded as a category of crime under the Scottish Government statistics. I wonder if the First Minister thought that we should do that. Does he agree with Don Fife of Glasgow-based wise women who ask that women remain vigilant, especially over the Christmas period? I agree with all that, and I am more than happy for the justice secretary to look at the issue around how that crime is recorded and to have that conversation with Police Scotland. The heart of Pauline Neill's question is absolutely right—prevention is far better than cure. It is so important that we recognise that the majority of the disproportionate impact of spiking affects women. Therefore, the work that we are doing to address violence against women and girls and the preventative work that we are doing with boys and men to not just change their behaviour but to call out unacceptable behaviours is something that I am absolutely committed to. I am more than happy to ensure that we work closely with Pauline Neill on those issues, but I agree with her wholeheartedly that we should do more to ensure that there is a greater awareness of spiking, particularly at this time of year. The First Minister says that he takes spiking seriously. His spiking round table was due to meet in October ahead of this year's crucial festive party season, but to the dismay of campaigners and victims it was cancelled. Although UK ministers are taking action to protect victims, complacent SNP ministers are doing precisely nothing. So can the First Minister tell spiking victims and campaigners when the round table will next meet? I have to say that I will not be the only one who will be extremely disappointed in the tone of Russell Findlay's question, because there should be a genuine understanding here that, for all our political differences—and I have many political differences with Russell Findlay—he should not be suggesting that anybody in this chamber does not take spiking seriously. We all take spiking seriously. That is why we have taken a number of actions, worked with a number of partners and supported a number of initiatives in this regard. We will, of course, continue to work with anybody, not just Conservative members in this chamber but, of course, with the UK Government on any criminal offence that they are looking to bring forward. We do not believe that there is a need necessarily to create a separate criminal offence of spiking, because it is covered, as Pauline McNeill said, through statutory offences at the moment. However, I would say to Russell Findlay that I am more than happy for the justice secretary to write to him in detail about the actions that we are taking to tackle spiking here in Scotland. We move to constituency and general supplementaries, and I call Bob Doris. Presiding Officer, best start food provides support to families with young children under three and is more generous and has a higher uptake than its equivalent scheme in England. However, the Scottish Government recently reported that some families have unused credits of over £600 on their accounts or had not acted with their best start food cards. Does the First Minister agree with me that, with the scheme opening to an additional 20,000 people in 2024, it is vital that that support is fully used? Will he meet me to discuss with myself and the Scottish Pantry Network to discuss a potential pilot project that could see food pantries, including those in my constituency, become strategic partners, to support uptake and ensure that healthy food is accessible and affordable to low-income families? Of course, the Scottish Government would be more than happy to meet with Bob Doris's Scottish Pantry Network, because the points that are made by Bob Doris are incredibly important. I am very pleased that we are expanding eligibility for best start foods in February, so that a further 20,000 people will benefit. I was pleased to be able to make that announcement earlier this year, and while estimated take-up for 2022-23 is 92 per cent, some people have not activated or indeed have stopped using their cards. Social Security Scotland contacted them to remind them that the money is theirs and encouraged them to use it. The card can be used at food pantries, in addition to funding being provided to the network by the Scottish Government. Social Security Scotland works closely with the Scottish Pantry Network, offering drop-in services and appointments to support people to apply for benefits. The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice would, of course, be more than interested to hear about what the network could do to promote best start foods. Graham Simpson Thank you. The First Minister's gift to hard-pressed rail passengers was the announcement of a near 9 per cent increase in fares, and that is way above the current level of inflation. At a time when we should be doing all that we can to encourage more people to use the trains, why is the First Minister doing the opposite? The First Minister Again, of course, this is the Government that has abolished and scrapped peak rail fares in terms of our pilot at the moment. This is the Government that made sure that we froze fares for a number of years. Again, we get to the contradiction at the heart of every single conservative contribution, and that is that they are demanding that we spend more money in this case on rail services but oppose every single revenue-raising option. In fact, they go further. They demand tax cuts for the wealthiest in this country. If we would listen to Graham Simpson, if we would listen to Douglas Ross and if we would listen to Liz Smith, we would have £1.5 billion less to spend on revenue. Thank goodness that we do not listen to the Conservative Party for the living officer. Jackie Baillie This Parliament passed the Christmas day and new year's day trading Scotland act in 2007. Prevision was made for Scottish ministers to stop large stores from trading on new year's day subject of course to consultation. The First Minister knows, as we all do, that retail staff work very hard, especially at this time of year, with longer hours and indeed more demanding customers. They deserve a break. The SNP says that they believe in fair work, yet they have rejected calls from our store, the Shot Workers Union, to fully implement the bill. Why is the First Minister opposed to giving staff in large stores the day off on new year's day? The First Minister We are not presenting that as a mis-cacterisation of our position. We believe in fair work. We are the party that is proud of the work that we have done in relation to fair work principles that we expect everybody, including the Government, to abide by. In terms of the trading Scotland act, I will examine what more we can do, more than happy, to work with us, who we have the most respect for, but also retail staff. It is important that Jackie Baillie raises that point at this time of year, in particular, that our retail staff do an incredible job, often in very difficult circumstances as well. I will see what more we can do in relation to the trading Scotland act, because we are the party, and we are proud that we are the party of fair work principles, Presiding Officer. Rona Mackay Thank you, Presiding Officer. While Christmas is a time of peace and joy for many, we know that there is often a spike in cases of domestic abuse over the festive season. Can I ask the First Minister what engagement the Scottish Government has had with agencies to ensure that people are supported to report instances of domestic abuse this Christmas? First Minister Again, Rona Mackay is absolutely right to raise this issue. We all know, of course. We all have a shared endeavour in this Parliament to ensure that we tackle domestic abuse. It is abhorrent, and I want people to know that there is support available to them, no matter what time of year it is, and I encourage anyone experiencing domestic abuse to report it to the police, to reach out to services for advice and support, as soon as they safely can. Agencies and service providers will be raising awareness of the availability of support throughout the festive period, and you can also call the Scottish Government-funded domestic abuse helpline on 0800 027 1234. Liam McArthur Thank you. The hammer of O is due to undergo plan maintenance. Next month, as a former transport minister, the First Minister, we will know that, in the past two-week refit period, we saw a row-packs and more recently a freight vessel providing cover on the Stromanus to Scrabster route. This year, there will be no vessel at all on the route. What does the First Minister think that this says about the Government's commitment to lifeline ferry services, and can he offer a guarantee to my constituents that there will be no repeat of this abandonment in years to come? We take our obligations, of course, seriously to our island communities, and the budget is undoubtedly a demonstration of that. I am more than happy to have a discussion with the Cabinet Secretary for the Cabinet Secretary and the Minister for Transport to write to Liam McArthur about the options that are potentially around the Stromanus to Scrabster route. I know that this is an incredibly important lifeline route, and any mitigations that we can feasibly put in place, we absolutely will put in place when, of course, the hammer of O goes for its two-week refit. Audry Nicolle I welcome the significant investment of £66.9 million that the Scottish Government has announced in the offshore wind supply chain as part of this week's budget. In light of the recent Fraser of Allander institute report on renewable jobs, can the First Minister outline his Government's commitment to growing the green sector in Scotland as part of our journey to next year? I warmly welcome the study from the Fraser of Allander institute that shows that the renewable energy sector supported more than 42,000 jobs across the Scottish economy and generated more than £10.1 billion of output in 2021. The report provides further evidence that Scotland is leading the way in delivering a green jobs revolution, unlocking the huge potential that our energy transition presents. As I have already mentioned in response to Mark Ruskell, it is worth putting on record that the just transition to net zero is not just a moral imperative of that, of course, it absolutely is. It is a huge economic opportunity for Scotland, a one that we are absolutely ready to capitalise on, and that is why the budget was so important in terms of increased investment to ensure that we have supply chains anchored here in Scotland. It was reported yesterday that empty power a battery manufacturer has entered administration. Plans for a £19 million mega factory in Dundee, which could create 215 jobs on-site and 800 more in the supply train, have been scrapped. It is a huge blow to our economy and our just transition to net zero ambitions. What can the First Minister do to provide assurances to current employees, and how can we ensure that we get the manufacturing facilities for the just transition that we need in the north-east? I was very concerned to learn recently that empty power has entered into administration. That will be a very difficult time for the company's staff, their families particularly at this time of year that people affected by the decisions are our immediate priority. The Scottish Government will do everything in our power to help those who have been affected through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations partnership action for continuing employment pace. I understand that the appointed administrator FRP will continue to look for a positive outcome for the third operation. In particular, the region has a track record in innovative battery research development in manufacturing, spanning 20 years, and every step will be taken to build on the existing capabilities and associated supply chain. That concludes First Minister's questions. There will be a short suspension now to allow those who are leaving. Presiding Officer, this week, both the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister have repeatedly said that the UK Government will cut Scotland's capital budget by 10 per cent over the next five years. However, the Scottish Fiscal Commission in evidence to the finance committee has made it clear that that cut will be 20 per cent to Scotland's budget over the next five years. Will the Deputy First Minister confirm that the cuts to Scotland's capital budget imposed by the UK Tories will, in fact, be much deeper than they have indicated? Mr Gibson, I am sure that, at this point in your parliamentary career, you are aware that that is not a point of order. Therefore, we will be moving on momentarily to the next item of business.