 I will finalise my business's portfolio questions. The portfolio this afternoon is Net0 and Just Transition. If a member wishes to ask a supplementary question, they should press the request-to-speak button during the relevant question or enter the letters RTS in the chat function during the relevant question. As to the Scottish Government, what recent engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding projects in Scotland that will will contribute to meeting net zero targets. Minister and officials regularly meet with UK Government counterparts to press for action needed to meet net zero. For instance, I attend the monthly interministerial group on climate change with representatives of the Governments of the Four Nations. The most recent meeting took place last week. I chaired it on the matter of the urgent need for grid infrastructure This is one key area that we are pushing for action on alongside transmission charging and progress on the Scottish cluster. These are critical areas to net zero. If the UK Government does not want to act on them, they must devolve responsibility for these matters to the Scottish Parliament so that we can. Given that Andrew Bowie, parliamentary undersecretary of state for energy scrutiny in net zero, told the NZ Committee last week that he would be overwhelmingly delighted should ACORN be successful through the track 2 process and that it was vital to Scotland's 2045 net zero ambition that we get more carbon capture and storage on stream across the whole of the United Kingdom, does the cabinet secretary agree that it is vital that the UK Government finally delivers long overdue carbon capture funding for the Scottish ACORN project? I absolutely agree with Jackie Dunbar. It is vital that the UK provides clarity on funding for ACORN and the Scottish cluster as part of track 2. In fact, it is inexplicable to all observers that ACORN was excluded from track 1. We urgently need that concrete timeline for track 2 instead of the vague commitments to further updates in the summer. The fact of the matter is that we are in a climate emergency. Scotland is very fortunate that we have natural resources to help us to tackle that, but while the UK Government has the powers over our natural resources, we are at their will and I am afraid that we are at risk of being left behind. We all support the Scottish cluster, particularly the UK Government, which has provided over £41 million so far as carbon capture funding. Given the sentiments that the cabinet secretary just expressed, can she tell the chamber how much of the £80 million that the Scottish Government promised to the Scottish cluster in February last year, rounded to the nearest £1, has actually been paid over? There is, as ever, a large dose of irony, and I would have to say hypocrisy in the questions coming from the Tory benches. This Government is investing very heavily in supporting Scotland's transition to net zero, not least £500 million over 10 years through our just transition fund, and £75 million in our energy transition funding. However, the member is challenging me to put a figure on investment in CCUS when it is his party in Government down south who have failed to do what only they could do and prioritise Acorn for track 1 status. I will wait with bated breath for a date on the closure of track 2. To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce financial incentives to encourage households to install low-carbon heating in their homes to help reach net zero by 2045. We have allocated £1.8 billion for heat and energy efficiency improvements, including an existing package of grants and interest-free loans. That package has recently been made both more generous and more flexible. The green heat finance task force forthcoming interim report exploring options for scaling up existing financial products will also help to shape our policy for encouraging low-carbon heating investment from the second half of this decade. Decarbonising Scotland's buildings will require a mix of public and private finance, and it will sit within a wider package of measures, including regulation, to provide market certainty, develop supplier and skills capacity and enhance information provision. The Scottish Government's draft energy strategy and just transition consultation closes the week today. The minister will be aware of that, and the response from the just transition partnership this week sets out just how inadequate the plans are in their current form, in that they barely exist at all. Just transition has stated that home energy efficiency appears peripheral rather than central to the strategy and that engagement with drafting strategy has been poor. I noted the minister's answer. Given the average installation of air-source pumps being about £7,000 to £14,000 and ground source being much more expensive than that, can the Government also give me some details of where those grants are going, who is benefiting from them, and do you have some annual targets as to how many installations you would hope to reach each year? I think that there may be some differences of expectations here. We have been very clear all along that the detail of our heat and buildings programme already consulted on earlier at a high level will be subject to the detailed consultation that we will be publishing this spring. That is where the detail of our heat and buildings regulations, as well as the very large amount of support that we are providing to households and organisations to decarbonising their buildings, is where that detail will be included. I hope that Labour colleagues and others across the spectrum who are urging us to go further will welcome the ambitious programme that we are setting out on there. For example, £7,500 per household with an additional rural uplift for heat pump installations is substantially higher level of support than exists anywhere else in the UK. Added to that, we have additional grant and loan schemes for energy efficiency as well. That package together, taken alongside our investment in supply chains to ensure that the cost of insulation reduces over time, means that we are balancing an ambitious package of regulations with a generous package of support to ensure that the heat transition is one that works for everyone. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the development of sustainable aviation fuel in Scotland. Transitioning to sustainable aviation fuel or SAF is an essential part of the global endeavour to decarbonise aviation. In developing our aviation strategy, the Scottish Government will consider all responses in our public consultation, including support for investment in SAF. In addition, Transport Scotland is working with Scottish Enterprise, who commissioned a SAF supply chain study to review the economic opportunity for Scotland, taking into account a new report by sustainable aviation, suggesting that UK SAF production could initially create 10,000 jobs. We will consider all such material in determining our potential actions on SAF. Aviation is a critical part of Scotland's transport infrastructure, bringing two million visitors each year who in town spend £2.5 billion in Scotland and the industry is worth £2.5 billion in its own right. However, net zero does pose a real challenge. Electric aviation will only be suitable for short hops and hydrogen is some way off. So, sustainable aviation fuel is important, but I think that the decisions around how we revitalise our petrochemical infrastructure and the opportunity cost because of substantial use on biomass is critical. So could I ask what detailed steps in terms of the evaluation, in terms of the opportunity cost of that biomass and what clear planning framework will be in place? That is genuinely co-led between Government and industry. In my initial answer, I gave Mr Johnson the scenarios that are currently being undertaken by the Government, Transport Scotland and Scottish Enterprise. The SAF mapping exercise commissioned by Scottish Enterprise will provide much more robust evidence-based to consider whether and how the Scottish Government could support SAF production in Scotland. Some measures are already being taken in Scotland in this regard. For example, Highlands and Islands airports limited has recently made SAF available in Vernace airport and there are many other schemes under way. We will continue to move forward on this front to ensure that aviation becomes sustainable and, of course, we will keep Parliament informed as we move forward. The aviation cross-party group published a report in March that called for the creation of SAF industry in Scotland, which should be supported by the Scottish Government and the Scottish National Investment Bank. The minister seems to accept the potential for SAF with what he said up to 10,000 jobs. What is he doing to unlock that potential? Is he in talks with the UK Government about doing so? The Scottish Government talks to the UK Government on a number of issues. I would point out to Mr Simpson and the chamber that regulation of aviation remains reserved and the UK Government's jet zero strategy will apply throughout the UK. The sector has repeatedly called in the UK Government to introduce a price support mechanism for SAF giving its high cost. I agree with the sector that the UK Government should be doing that. Sustainable Aviation's new report reiterates the request and notes that, if the UK SAF support schemes are not established soon, there is a risk of missing out on creating a UK SAF industry. Of course, I and the Scottish Government will do all that we can to prod and cajole the UK Government into putting that mechanism in place. I hope that Mr Simpson will support us on that. To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of any potential impact on local communities of the reported deterioration of vital transport links in the Highlands and Islands region. An assessment of Scotland's strategic transport network was undertaken as part of the second strategic transport projects review. The final recommendations of STPR2 were published on 8 December 2022. The reports include final appraisal and outcomes for the Highlands and Islands region. My officials at Transport Scotland continue to engage with partners across the Highlands and Islands to monitor strategic transport links, such as trunk roads, ferries and air routes, in which routes are affected by weather, technical or other incidents. Transport Scotland works with operators, emergency services and local resilience partnerships to resolve issues as efficiently as possible. There are simply too many areas of concern to ask in just one question. I could ask about the appalling state of roads across my Highlands and Islands region or the increasing number of CalMac services that are failing to deliver for the communities that they are meant to serve. Or I could ask about the on-going issues at the Coron Narrows crossing, where local residents are still without that vital ferry link and so forth to Detour on a much longer road route. However, I would like to ask about the disruption to Orkney following the incident involving the MV Pentalina and to get some clarity from the minister. While there appears to be no recall option as part of the agreement between CalMac and Pentland Ferries, could CalMac still agree for the MV Alfred to return to its normal Pentland Firth route if there was a prolonged absence of the MV Pentalina? If yes, what discussions has the minister had with both CalMac and Pentland Ferries on their option and any potential further disruption to west coast routes it would cause? As I explained to the chamber on Tuesday, there is no recall element to the contract between CalMac and Pentland Ferries, which is a commercial contract. However, we will continue to monitor the situation in terms of the transportation of goods and people to Orkney. As I explained on Tuesday, we have moved to the summer timetable, so there are three return services a day from Scrabster to Stromnes. I explained to the chamber that I will continue to keep a close eye on all that to see whether further service provision is required. Beyond that, I reiterate the point that there is a commercial contract between CalMac and Pentland Ferries. Pentland has no calls for the recall of Alfred and neither have Orkney Islands Council in the discussions that I have had with them. Does the minister consider that the Northern Isles ferry lifeline services are operating as best they can on overnight crossings? When booking a cabin with a vehicle is a struggle and booking dates beyond 30 September is not only a struggle but impossible because the booking system is not open beyond that date. What I would say to Ms Wishart is that we will move to open bookings as soon as that is possible. I want to ensure the best possible services for the residents of Orkney and Shetland. I think that Northlink serves them very well indeed. I visited Northlink in Aberdeen recently and have been impressed by the changes that they have made to the service to suit the needs of islanders. I will write to Ms Wishart to give her an indication when we will move to opening that booking system. To ask the Scottish Government what criterion it used to determine how much funding should be spent on active travel projects. The Scottish Government undertakes annual budget setting in line with the processes set out in the Scottish Public Finance manual, as well as the commitments made in the programme for government and the Butehouse agreement. The active travel budget forms part of the overall budget for the transport portfolio, taking into account legal or contractual commitments along with other policy commitments. Investment priorities in transport are also set out in the second strategic transport projects review, which was published late last year following extensive public and stakeholder feedback. Last week, the City of Edinburgh Council confirmed that it must restart a public consultation on making active travel schemes permanent due to errors with bus lanes and yellow lines costing the taxpayer thousands of pounds. That is not the first wasteful project led by Sustrans. Given the scale of funding that they receive in the order of £234 million over five years, will the minister commit to reviewing whether Sustrans are providing value for money and actually listening to the genuine concerns of local residents? I am happy to explore with Edinburgh Council any issues or concerns that they have about that situation. Very clearly, if we are remotely serious about our climate ambitions in relation to transport, as well as the wider economic, social and health benefits from active travel, if we are serious about the 20 per cent car kilometre reduction target and the role that active travel can play on that, investment in that is not only value for money but is a long-term priority. The countries that have seen a transformation in active travel have achieved it with strong local leadership and long-term investment. That is the opportunity Scotland has to make that change. We are also undertaking a transformation project on active travel because we know that delivery models will need to change to match the scale of ambition and the scale of budgets that we have now and that are coming next year. There will be more to say on the results of that transformation project later in the year. I listen to the minister's answers with some interest, but I wonder if he could give us an indication of how much the Scottish Government spends on active travel compared to the rest of the United Kingdom. Not only has the overall budget for active travel risen to a record £189 million this year as part of our commitment towards £320 million—that is 10 per cent of the transport budget by £24.25—but, at the same time, we have seen a sad lack of similar commitment to many parts of the UK outside of Scotland. Outside of London, in fact, the spending per head is just £1 a head. Really, if we are remotely serious—I think that James Dorn and I both represent Glasgow—Glasgow now has an ambitious long-term plan for a network development of active travel routes. If we want to see that opportunity turned into a reality, it requires that long-term commitment for funding from the Scottish Government, and that is what we are determined to deliver. The Government's new cycling framework for active travel includes welcome commitments for infrastructure developments. That is an exciting opportunity for new, unionised, green public sector job creation. Can the minister confirm how many such jobs the Scottish Government expects this framework to create and what discussions it has had with trade unions about developing those jobs? I do not have a figure for job projections with me at the moment, but I would be happy to write to the member about that. I am pleased that she shares the enthusiasm for the opportunity to transform Scotland's towns, villages, cities and communities to make active travel not only the natural choice but the safe and attractive choice for a far greater proportion of the journeys that we make. I welcome the record level of investment that we are now seeing from the Scottish Government as a result of the Bute House agreement and the Greens in Government and successive budget deals in this Parliament. Does the minister agree that delivering the capital infrastructure that keeps the cyclists, the wheelers and the walkers separate from motor vehicles is the right priority for the Government and that, to drive up rates of active travel, it is a case of build it and it will come? That capital investment is in record numbers already and is going to be set to rise next year. We are keen to work not only with local authorities but also with the third sector to ensure that the local leadership matches the scale of investment. I mentioned that comparison with outside of London, just £1 ahead being spent in other parts of England and the Scottish Government spending, since it is £34 ahead rising next year to £58 ahead. That is the kind of commitment that we require if we are going to make the transformational change that this Government is determined to see happen. To ask the Scottish Government what process informed its previous decision to launch the deposit return scheme on 16 August 2023, including any input that it sought from industry regarding its readiness for that date? The 16 August 2023 launch date of Scotland's deposit return scheme was informed by a five-month assessment process. That accounted for the findings of the gateway review that was conducted in June 2021, independent advice, review of circularity Scotland's implementation plans and feedback from a wide range of stakeholders. That launch date was announced in Parliament on 14 December 2021. I thank the minister for that response since she has been at pains to assure us in here that this is an industry-led scheme. However, on a written submission by Circularity Scotland, they submit and say that Circularity Scotland's advice to ministers had been that the most appropriate time to go live would be spring 2024. However, the Government's preferred implementation date was 16 August. Perhaps the minister would explain to the chamber and to the thousands of businesses struggling to get to grips with the shambles of a DRS scheme why she knew better than industry. Circularity Scotland was one of many stakeholders that were included in that assessment process, that five-month assessment process that I outlined. Those stakeholders included stakeholders that vociferously wanted us to continue to launch in 2022, those who wanted a short delay, as well as those who wanted a longer delay. I chose 16 August as a challenging but deliverable date for the industry. As we have seen, many businesses were ready to go for the 16 August date, that is why we have seen letters from businesses that are public and to myself and to the UK Government asking us not to delay from 16 August. Yesterday, Circularity Scotland told me that the launch date for the DRS on 16 August 2023 only allowed a few weeks for all stakeholders to test its implementation. Can the minister tell me what consideration she has given to the period of time available to test the new DRS arrangements with the new launch date and how long that information will be available to industry so that they can test the implementation of the scheme in advance? I thank the member very much for that question. It is a really good question. Industry is still working in a lot of ways towards that August 16 date in terms of the speed of implementation has not slowed down. As I said in my earlier answer, that 16 August launch date was always a challenging one for industry. It was absolutely deliverable but it was a challenging one. What it did mean was that there was limited space for testing and, as we know, very little space for contingency. Now that we have, from now until launch date, 10 months, that gives businesses not only more time to get ready, which has been welcomed by some businesses but also a very extensive window for thorough end-to-end testing of the system, which I know will help to ensure that customers have the best possible experience on the launch date. Was the minister working up a proposal to delay beyond August, while also assuring businesses, his investment was going towards an August launch? Yes or no? A little bit confused by the member's question, but, of course, with the delay to the UK Government issuing an exclusion to the internal market act, of course I was working with my officials on options as to how we would deal with this uncertainty to make sure that we would have a successful launch of a deposit return scheme. So I worked with officials to come up with different options and what I recommended to the First Minister and he accepted was that we would go ahead and launch on March 1 next year. However, that uncertainty still remains and, until the UK Government issues us with that exclusion, businesses in Scotland are facing that uncertainty, which is the last thing that they need. I am very grateful, Deputy Presiding Officer, to ask the Scottish Government what discussions it's had with industry bodies and colleges regarding the provision of green skills training for green jobs of the future. Skills are a critical component of the transition to a net zero wellbeing economy. Ministers and officials regularly engage with a range of stakeholders on the demand and provision of skills for a green economy. That includes senior representatives from industry and colleges who are represented on the implementation steering group for our climate emergency skills action plan. Last November, I hosted a round table with college and university representatives to discuss green skills training and provision, and I look forward to further engaging with them over our mutual goal of an education and skills system that is agile and responsive to the opportunities and changing demands that arise as a result of the transition to net zero. Given the recent announcement on college funding this week, there's great unease within the energy sector that the transition to net zero energy jobs is going to be hampered. What assurances can the minister give to ensure that adequate resources are in place for our colleges and training places so that we can meet the goals through the oil and gas transferable skills to boost our greener jobs? The sector needs clarity from this green SNP Government. Absolutely. Our college sector is very important to us in delivering these green skills. I most recently met with the Scottish colleges this February to discuss green skills, so I'm absolutely aware of the key role that they play in delivering this. We are facing the most challenging financial environment since devolution and very difficult decisions across portfolios have had to be made. The Scottish Government continues to spend nearly £2 billion a year on Scotland's universities and colleges through the SFC alone. Research and innovation funding for universities has increased, with additional funding allocated for high priority maintenance across college estates. I can squeeze in question number eight if I could please have brief questions and answers to match. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address anti-social behaviour on public transport. The Scottish Government is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and promoting safer, stronger communities where people take responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others. The police, local authorities and other local agencies are responsible for tackling anti-social behaviour at the local level. Those agencies are empowered by the Scottish Government's work in a concerted and co-ordinated way to effectively tackle the problem. I encourage anyone who is witnessing incidents to report that behaviour to their local authorities' anti-social behaviour team and to report all criminal behaviour to Police Scotland or the British Transport Police. I thank the minister for his answer. He will be aware that it has been an increase of anti-social behaviour here on Lovian buses. This has included cancelled and diverted buses, vandalism and police officers being called to disturbances on board buses. This sort of behaviour will deter people from using public transport and instead turn to private vehicles, which will increase carbon emissions on our roads. Will the minister instruct Transport Scotland to win a national campaign to change behaviour and to make local buses safer for all passengers? I thank Mr Balfour for his question. One of the things that has been suggested by some is that some of the anti-social behaviour is linked to the launch of free bus travel for young people. I am not convinced that that is the case because I think that most of our young people behave in a good manner, but we will evaluate that scheme one year after launch and look at all aspects of that. On his suggestion for a campaign, I will certainly consider that and I will write to Mr Balfour in due course on that issue. There will be a short pause before we move on to the next item of business, to allow front bench teams to change positions should they still wish. Thank you.