 We have General Questions question one, Malcolm Tisham. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a statement about the consequences for the NHS of a no vote and a yes vote in the referendum. Cabinet Secretary, Alex Neil. Yes, I would be very happy to make a statement on the future of the national health service in Scotland as early as possible next week, but, as Mr Tisham will know, this is subject to approval by the Parliamentary Business Bureau. The cabinet secretary repudiated a series of graceful Patrioticism scars following a no vote, especially when the only evidence that he could produce last week at question time was a notional efficiency saving of 0.8 per cent of the English health budget, which even the Department of Health admits is highly problematic. Is he not ashamed to support ill-informed politically motivated scaremangory about the NHS, especially when privatised services cost more public money, not less, and when the zero— Is it a question, Mr Tism, and please let Mr Tism finish— This is my final bit of my question now, when they've calmed down. I know they're— And with 0.8 per cent efficiency saving, which will not materialise, is far less than he himself spends on privatised services or, indeed, the 3 per cent efficiency savings he demands of health boards every year. I think that Mr Tism is in the wrong end of the chamber. He should be over there with the Tories. Let me tell him the fundamental issue is the impact on public services of the cuts being made by the Conservative-led administration in Westminster and passed down to the devolved administrations. That is what the fundamental problem is here. We have a Westminster Government that believes that— Mr Tism! We have a Westminster—it's guilty, it's a guilty conscience, speaking, Presiding Officer—we have a Westminster Government that believes in shrinking the state, which believes in doing less through the public realm and passes less money down to us in order to be able to do it. That's a quote from the Labour Health Minister in Wales, Mark Drakeford, speaking in the Welsh Assembly on 17 June. Unlike Mr Tism, he hasn't sold his soul to the Tories. Ailey MacLeod. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Does the cabinet secretary share my deep concern about the adverse impact on Scotland's budget, likely to result from the cuts in public funding to the NHS in England as one consequence of the drive to privatise clinical services and introduce charging for NHS services and treatments south of the border? Does he also agree that that's why we need full control of Scotland's finances, which will, yes, be delivered? I've got the question, cabinet secretary. I'm absolutely very concerned indeed in everybody who cares about the health service in Scotland should be very concerned. As I said last week, the UK Government's own assessment of the impact of the English NHS reforms, including privatisation, could amount to a reduction in UK health spending over the next few years of £1 billion a year. Under the current funding system, which would stay under a no vote, if those monies were to be removed from the health spend and not otherwise used in another area, which did not have Barnett consequentials, that could see Scotland lose out on up to £100 million every year on public services like health up until 2020. There is no doubt, Presiding Officer, that a no vote could destroy the health service in Scotland. Question 2, Han Solo Malik. Thank you very much and good afternoon, Presiding Officer. Is to ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address the growing balance in science and maths in schools to increase the number of female students studying science, technology, engineering and maths at degree level. Minister Alasrae Rallon. When taking together entries for the three main science higher subjects shows strong interest in STEM learning from both genders, added together the total number of male entries for higher physics, chemistry and biology in 2013 was 14,056 and for females was 13,026. However, the Scottish Government is fully committed to creating opportunities for young women to undertake further study in STEM subjects and to progress to future careers. A recent report from Education Scotland encouraged staff in secondary schools to recognise and act on gender imbalance in the science subjects where it is necessary. Han Solo Malik. Thank you for that reply. In a recent letter of guidance to the Scottish funding council, the cabinet secretary challenged colleges and universities to improve the gender balance across subjects. I support that aim. However, how can colleges and universities influence the gender balance on subjects such as chemistry, physics and engineering when the imbalance is firmly rooted in schools at a higher level of studies, which results in only 29 per cent of physics being taken up by female students? Minister Alasrae Rallon. The member raises important issues. We all share an ambition to ensure that we create the maximum equality within the science sector. It is important to say that the issues that he raises are specifically around physics, because 64 per cent of those taking higher biology in schools are female and it is 50-50 in chemistry. We are not complacent about that. There is a great deal that has been raised in the Wood commission and its comments about the role of science in our economy. There is a great deal that is being done through the promotion of positive role models for young women in our schools when it comes to taking science, not least physics. John Pentland. To ask the Scottish Government what action the cabinet secretary for justice has taken to address the reported delays and the development of a unified IT system for Police Scotland. The formation of Police Scotland has created an environment whereby a unified IT system can be implemented for the first time, allowing officers to work seamlessly across Scotland that such large-scale integrated IT solutions were not able to be achieved under the previous legacy structural arrangements. Detailed governance and oversight arrangements are in place around this project to ensure that its development and delivery are being progressed in line with the project plan. I am confident that development of the I6 project is firmly on track and, once completed, it will assist significantly in the delivery of an improved service as well as sustainable efficiency benefits. John Pentland. Thank you for that response. With the lack of integration, constraining the ability of officers to function fully at the regional or national level, we are routine arming of police-leading jump-sullars to refer to Police Scotland as the crassest error that any politician has ever made. Will the cabinet secretary accept that the growing crisis of confidence in policing is not an operational matter? I am surprised that the member should take that point, given that he and his party supported the establishment of Police Scotland. It was the right thing to do, because under the previous legacy arrangements, we could not get agreement between constituencies and authorities as to what IT systems to take. I think that DCC Living Richardson has been doing an outstanding job. It is very complicated and very technical, but for the safety of our citizens to improve the service, we have to make sure that we have that seamless link across the whole of Scotland. I think that the member should recognise why he supported a single service in Scotland, recognise the hard work that is being carried out by Deputy Chief Constable Richardson, assisted by many others and recognise that savings will be delivered and the project will be completed. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the latest round of funding from the bus investment fund. Minister Keith Brown. Following the success of the bus investment fund last year, I am very pleased to announce that the second round of funding has launched and is open to applications until the end of August. This year, we have £3 million available for projects over a two-year period, which will continue to promote the improvement of bus services across Scotland. An announcement on winning bids for this year's fund is expected to be made before the end of this calendar year. Jamie Hepburn. I thank the minister for that answer. One of the projects benefiting from the first round of funding was the North Lanarkshire connector bus in which North Lanarkshire council failed to ensure that either coming all to the biggest town in the council area, Orkall Scyth. It was connected despite many local people reporting to me problems accessing decent bus services. Does the minister agree that it is incumbent on North Lanarkshire council to work to address that failure and that the on-going funding round that he has talked of presents an opportunity for them to try and do so? Minister. There is no question that the on-going funding is an opportunity, but the member will know that bus services in North Lanarkshire are primarily a matter for Strathclyde partnership for transport and the council. Last year, SPT supported 41 local bus services in North Lanarkshire carrying 1.4 million passengers in total. As the member says, they were successful in securing funding in the first round of the bus investment fund for the North Lanarkshire connector bus project. I know that SPT would be happy to discuss with the member, with the council or other interested parties any concerns about bus services in coming all to Orkall Scyth and how they might be improved. SPT are currently preparing bids for the second round of the fund, and we will consider any proposals carefully against the fund criteria and in the light of the available budget and level of demand. Question 5. Richard Lyle. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the cost of child care. Minister, Eileen Campbell. The Scottish Government is advancing over 280 million over two years to expand funded early learning and childcare from August 2014 to a minimum of 600 hours for three and four-year-olds and the most vulnerable or disadvantaged two-year-olds, 15 per cent this year rising to 27 per cent from August 2015. That is an increase of almost half from the 412.5 hours that we inherited in 2007, and we will deliver a saving to families equivalent to up to £707 per child per year benefiting around 121,000 three and four-year-olds this year. In the long term, we have set out in Scotland's future our ambitious plans to transform childcare, which would bring huge benefits to young children and their families. Richard Lyle. I thank the minister for that answer. Recent space research shows that families in the UK spend 27 per cent of their income in childcare. That is more than double the percentage of income spent in childcare in many small independent countries. What action will the Scottish Government take to remedy that fact in an independent Scotland? Minister. I am very pleased to confirm to the member that we intend to do a great deal with the powers of independence to enhance children's life chances and help families. As set out in page 194 of Scotland's future, we would in our first budget provide 600 hours of childcare to around half of Scotland's two-year-olds. By the end of the first Parliament, we will ensure that all three and four-year-olds and vulnerable two-year-olds will be entitled to 1,140 hours of childcare per year. By the end of the second Parliament, we will ensure that all children from age 1 to school age will be entitled to 1,140 hours of childcare per year. Those proposals represent a transformation in childcare, which would bring huge benefits to our young children and their families. What a great surprise to strive for following a yes vote in contrast, our help for families with the coalition's welfare reform measures is pushing an additional 100,000 children into poverty. Question 6, Sarah Boyer. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support older people who live alone. Cabinet Secretary, Alex Neil. Presiding Officer, over 77,000 vulnerable older people in Scotland receive free personal care of which nearly 48,000 are receiving their care at home. The Scottish Government also funds a number of projects such as the Silverline, which received funding of £210,000 in November 2013 and provides a free 24-7 helpline and be a friending service for older people. I thank the cabinet secretary for that response. A key fear of many of my constituents and older people in general is the prospect of being stuck in hospital once they have had treatment without access to the right care or rehabilitation services. They need to live that independent quality life at home. On Tuesday, the minister said that he hoped to release £100 million over the next two or three years to reduce delayed discharges. Does the minister have the figures of what it currently costs the NHS to fund the whole process of keeping older people in hospital rather than being at home? Does he have that breakdown by NHS board? Does that equate to £100 million? Cabinet Secretary. Can I just clarify what I said? If we were able to achieve our objectives in effectively eliminating delayed discharges, that would save the health service about £125 million a year. That money then would be available for reinvestment in other priorities. It would also produce better health outcomes for those who currently are subject to delayed discharge. In terms of the cost of keeping someone in a hospital, the average across Scotland of one week in hospital is of the order of £4,000 in an acute hospital. In a community hospital it is around £1,800 a week, and in a nursing home it is around £600 a week. The average for home care is £300 a week. To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce plans for reform of the private rented sector. Minister, Margaret Burgess. In May last year, the Scottish Government published its strategy for the private rented sector. As part of the strategy, I established a stakeholder group to examine the suitability and effectiveness of the private rented sector tenancy regime. The group reported in May and recommended that the current and short-assured tenancies should be replaced by a new private tenancy. I accepted the recommendation and planned to consult the proposals for a new private rented tenancy this autumn. The consultation will also explore issues that relate to rent levels. Mark Beardie. The 30,000 constituents I have who live in the PRS and those who share streets and stairs with them will be very glad to hear of the proposals and the consultation coming forward. Does the minister envisage legislation in this Parliament potentially coming out of this consultation or would this be an issue for a subsequent Parliament? As I said my earlier answer, we do intend to consult in the autumn and we are developing the detailed proposals for consultation and they will be based on the findings of the review group's report. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, it is my intention to bring forward a bill this parliamentary term. Mike Mackenzie. To ask the Scottish Government how it will provide safeguards for rural schools. Cabinet Secretary Michael Russell. The Government is committed to safeguarding rural schools. That is why we have strengthened the schools consultation Scotland Act 2010 to establish more rigorous and specific requirements before a local authority may propose closing a rural school. We have also strengthened the requirements for all school closure proposals, requiring that those reach high standards of transparency and accuracy and safeguarding schools from recurring closure consultations. Those changes were brought into force on 1 August. Mike Mackenzie. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Does he agree that some local authorities still fail to recognise the educational value of smaller rural schools or understand their social economic importance and the key role that they play in maintaining rural communities? The member raises the key issue. A rural school is undoubtedly, its central purpose is undoubtedly educational, but it is a key facility within the community and it plays an important role in the economic and social life and development of that community. That is why the Government's proposals and the Government's legislation insist that that is considered in terms of closure. Indeed, it is not optional for local authorities to look at economic and social issues. It is compulsory that they look at economic and social considerations, and no closure proposal can go ahead without proving those issues. John Scott. Is the cabinet secretary any plans for a greater involvement of local communities? I understand that a desire to involve local authorities, but local communities are very vociferous about that. I entirely agree with the member, and I am grateful for his support on this matter on a number of occasions. It is extremely important that communities recognise that their school is an asset, which, if it were to go or disappear, would diminish the way in which the community operates. I am glad to say that many communities, almost all communities that I know, recognise that and argue strongly and effectively for local education. Question 9. In the name of Neil Bibby, it has not been lodged. I have an explanation for that question. Maureen Watt. To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on the construction of the Aberdeen western peripheral route. Minister Keith Brown. We are making good progress and remain on target the half-construction completed by spring 2018. We announced the preferred bidder, connect roads, on 11 June 2014. On Monday, at a visit to see some of the advanced works that are already underway, I confirmed that we have now entered into a pre-start contract with connect roads to allow them to get the preparatory work started ahead of contract award, which is expected later this year. Maureen Watt. Thank you for that answer. I was pleased to be able to join the minister in my constituency on Monday for that announcement. Can we have an assurance from him that the work will be accelerated where possible as a commitment to decent infrastructure for the north-east, which previous Governments have failed to provide? Yes, I can give that assurance. As well as bringing forward preparatory works with the pre-start agreement, I am determined that we continue to look to deliver the benefits of the scheme, around £6 billion over the lifetime of the scheme, which is vital for the north-east's economy as early as possible. The people in the north-east have waited far too long for this project, some of campaign for decades, and it is this Government that will deliver the scheme in partnership with our local authority partners. Lewis MacDonald. The minister will be aware of the rapid rate of economic growth, particularly in the area of dice around the airport and on dice drive. Can the minister indicate today when he expects to come to a decision about the timetabling of the priority works around the western periphery, particularly connecting Aberdeen airport to the surrounding roads? As a member knows, we have had discussions with the airport, and we have said consistently that this will require discussions with the contract winner. We are in the process now of coming to financial close, and it is true in that process that we can have the discussions with the contractor to see which parts of the project may be brought forward. Of course, top of that list would be the airport in the dice area.