 Felly, y dyma ymgyrchaf y gwaith ymgyrchaf yn ymgyrchaf ymgyrchaf. Be fyddwn i ddweud y ymgyrchaf y nifer 1, rwy'n credu i ddweud i ymgyrchaf Roses Point yw oedd y pwynt ymgyrchaf o'r gaelio cyflwynt ymgyrchaf yn cyfleoedd ymgyrchaf ar gyfer y pr�u gyda'r gaelio. Rwy'n credu i ddweud i ddweud i ddweud i ddweud i ddweud i ddweud o'r cyflwynt ac ydych chi'n As a consequence, the chamber's system was not live, while the member was making his point consequently, there is no recording of his comments and we're unable to replicate them in the official report, however, the member's subsequent points of order are, of course, a matter of record as will be my response. Members will be aware that the public gallery was reopened following the resumpTION of business, I would also like to comment, As I've indicated that, I respond to Alexander Burnett's point in relation to the distribution of votes results. I have looked into the matter and can advise members that vote results during stage 3 were circulated in accordance with long standing practice, including being made available to the media during proceedings. But I have listened to the point made by Mr Burnett and will review this practice for future stage 3 proceedings and we will discuss this with business managers. I now move to general questions and at question number 1 I call Rhoda Grant. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it is doing to improve and maintain the road network in Scotland. Minister Jenny Gilruth. The Scottish Government continues to invest in the motorway and trunk road network. Our future investment priorities are set out in the recently published second strategic transport projects review and focus on improving safety, climate change, adaptation and resilience on the road network. Scotland's 32 local authorities are responsible for the operation and maintenance of their respective local road networks. Rhoda Grant. I thank the minister for that response and as she said local authorities are responsible for their road network but it was recently reported that Highland Council may slash their road maintenance budget by more than half from 20 million to 9 million next year. If that goes ahead the amount is completely inadequate especially as Highland Council manages the largest road network in Scotland. Those roads are considered some of the worst in Scotland so will the Scottish Government intervene and ensure that roads that are a lifeline in remote areas are adequately maintained in Highland Council area? Minister. As the member will be aware I cannot as a Scottish minister intervene in relation to local roads. Local authorities have a duty under the road Scotland Act 1984 to maintain local roads in their area and their duties are specified under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to secure the expedious, convenient and safe movement of traffic so neither Scottish ministers nor the Scottish Government could become directly involved in the day-to-day duties in that respect. The vast majority of funding that flows to local authorities from Scottish Government, as I alluded to in my initial response to Ms Grant, is via the block grant and we do not stipulate how local authorities should utilise their local allocations, so it is therefore the responsibility of each local authority, including Highland Council, to manage their own budget and to allocate the financial resources that are available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first, of course, fully fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set out national and local priorities. Jackie Dunbar. It was recently announced that the Scottish Government intends to invest approximately £5 million in additional road safety measures for the A9 between now and 2025. I ask the minister what the Government anticipates it will achieve through this welcome investment. I thank the member for her question. There have been a number of fatalities on the A9 recently and every one of those deaths and any on Scotland roads is one too many. Having spoken with Police Scotland on a number of occasions and with officials about safety performance on the road in recent months, I know that there is a wide range of underlying reasons for the accidents that have occurred and that it will need a combination of engineering, education and enforcement to influence driver behaviour going forward. In light of the recent poor safety performance on the A9, a commission transport Scotland to develop a series of short-term measures that could be used to improve safety on the A9 in advance of dualling. Those total £5 million were announced last week. The recently announced road safety investment is made up of a series of targeted improvements that include lining, signing and key junctions on the A9. That looks at improving driver information as well for single carriageways and road safety awareness campaigns, initially on fatigue and drive on the left awareness. I am also undertaking some work with car hire companies, particularly in relation to foreign drivers who may not be familiar with the road itself, but those measures are expected to help address the causes of the tragic accidents that we have seen on the A9 this year. I will require more succinct responses, minister. I call Graham Simpson. Will the minister not just accept that it is under funding of Scotland's councils that is leading to the deteriorating road network? I do not accept Mr Simpson's assertion in that respect. We have had questions from members in relation to local roads. Local roads are the responsibility of local authorities. I would invite the member to critique his own party's record in recent months in relation to financial responsibility. The recklessness of Mr Simpson's party has caused serious concern to this Government and our ability to provide a reliable and informed service to our local authority partners who, of course, have responsibility for local roads. Question 2, Michelle Thompson. To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to supporting the gaming industry in Scotland during the cost of living crisis. Cabinet Secretary, Angus Robertson. Officer, while the current climate is extremely difficult for all businesses, the Scottish Government is actively working to support the gaming sector in Scotland. We want to build on the recent success of Scottish Games Week by working with the sector to leverage the best support from the opportunities and assets that are available, such as our national tech scaler network, a £42 million investment that will widen access to entrepreneurial opportunities and support founders, including the gaming industry. I thank the minister for his response. He will be aware that, since 2014, up to the most recent survey data for 2021, global surveys suggest that the number of women employed each year in gaming industries is low and, indeed, with a peak of only 30 per cent for 2021, given the importance of both the sector and women to our economy, will the minister consider reviewing and then monitoring, on a regular basis, the gender divide in the gaming sector in Scotland? Michelle Thompson is raising an extremely important aspect to the success of the gaming sector and reflects on its room to grow with a growing part of that sector coming from the female workforce, which I think that we are all in favour of. The Scottish Government, I think that it is fair to say that everyone with an interest in building up and boosting Scotland's game sector is keenly aware of the existing gender imbalance, while noting that across a digital economy more widely, this imbalance is sadly not unique to gaming. A recent paper, Scotland's Games Ecosystem, the State of Play, Challenges and Opportunities, written by academics from the universities of Glasgow and Stirling in collaboration with the Scottish Games Network and in-game, makes similar points in calling for the collection and publication of metrics that will evidence progress towards an open, inclusive game sector in Scotland. I commit to Michelle Thompson that this is something that I will be paying close attention to. Question 3, Graham Dey. Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government how it will seek to achieve a balance between food and energy security in relation to permitting the use of productive agricultural land for the deployment of large-scale solar arrays. Presiding Officer, our land and the natural capital that it supports is one of our most valuable assets, and it is critical to our ambitions for Scotland to be a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. Recent years, we have seen a series of global shocks, most recently the illegal invasion of Ukraine, which is having an undeniable impact on global food security and, on all aspects of our domestic food and drink supply chain. A recent vision for Scottish agriculture sets out our intention for the new agriculture bill to be adaptive in supporting farmers, crofters and land managers in the near, medium and long-term future to reflect this, recognising the wider need for bold actions to tackle the climate emergency. Given that Scotland has some of the most extensive renewable generation capacities, capabilities rather in Europe, the revised draft national planning framework for, if approved by Parliament, will limit most types of development on prime agricultural land. However, it allows for renewable energy developments such as solar on prime agricultural land, providing the layout and design of proposals that minimises the amount of such land that is required. I thank the minister for that answer. My Angus South constituency is the subject of multiple planning applications for solar arrays specifically in the area of the SIDLOS. I recognise the minister perhaps cannot comment on applications in particular localities, but can I ask if he can offer me some reassurance that the issue of cumulative impact is something that can and will be taken account of in circumstances such as these? I thank Graham Davey's supplementary. I know that he will fully appreciate it. It is the decision maker for each proposal who will be required to consider the planning merits of each case, taking full account of all the information submitted by parties involved, including members of the local community. Current Scottish planning policy sets out, although considerations will vary relative to the scale of the proposal and area characteristics, those are likely to include cumulative impacts. In due course, however, our national planning framework 4 will replace SPP and become part of the statutory development plan, meaning that its policies will inform day-to-day planning decision making. Our revised NPF4 sets out that potential impacts on communities, nature and other receptors remain important considerations in the decision making process. With the revised draft NPF4 energy policy 11, including the need for consideration of cumulative impacts, which I hope provides some reassurance from the member. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to close the autism spectrum employment gap. There are no official statistics available in autism spectrum employment gaps, but Scottish Government policies and approaches supported by our key stakeholders, including disabled people's organisations, are person-centred and focused on what a person can and wants to do, and what they may need support with, irrespective of what their impairment may be. The Scottish Government's focus is on reducing overall disability employment gap in line with our commitment to at least half the gap to 18.7 per cent by 2038, compared to 2016. Our latest figures show that, in the past five years, disability employment gaps have been reduced by 6.2 per cent to 31.2 per cent, which means that we are showing progress. I thank the minister for that answer. At a time, businesses are facing real labour shortages. One of the most important actions that we can take to close that employment gap is to raise understanding of autism among the non-autistic population, in particular many businesses. Although I am sure that the minister is aware of the usual place project in Dumfries, the Narrow Standing Autism Awareness project, which is funded through the Government's Increasing Understanding of Autism programme, I ask the minister if he will give an assurance that that increasing understanding of autism programme is not being axed by the Government, and that projects like that will continue to get support so that local businesses can benefit from the talents of the amazing young people who this project supports. I agree with the sentiments of the members' points and, of course, projects like the one that he cites, which are excellent projects, are making a huge contribution to this issue. There are a number of measures that the Government is taking to support breaking down barriers with employers across the country through funding, through our workplace equality fund and other sources as well. We want to continue to support as many projects as we can within the financial constraints that we face because many of the projects, such as the one mentioned, are doing a very valuable job. To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has with the UK Government regarding reports of delays of payment of energy bills support scheme vouchers. The Scottish Government is fully aware of the challenges that consumers with pre-payment metres are having in accessing the energy bills that support scheme vouchers. That is why we are continuing to call upon the UK Government to ensure that the correct measures are in place to guarantee that everyone in Scotland is receiving the support that they are entitled to. I would urge anybody struggling to access their support scheme vouchers to Contact Advice Direct Scotland, who will be able to help in the first instance. Receiving correspondence from constituents who are Scottish power customers and correspondence from park home residents about the delays in receiving energy bill relief. What support is available to my constituents affected by these delays? The member may be aware that, on Monday, the UK Government announced that the £400 energy bills support scheme alternative funding will be distributed early next year to all consumers without a direct relationship with energy suppliers, including those who are park home residents. I hope that that will help in what has been an unprecedented level of delay experienced by constituents such as Mr Beaties. The member will also be aware that, just last week in the budget, we also announced a continuation of our uprated £20 million in the fuel insecurity fund to ensure that there is support for those in the greatest need right through 2023-24. Given the delay in issuing the vouchers, what can the minister say about local reports that customers eligible for off-grid oil and alternative fuel support will have to sign up to an online portal for the fuel payment on top of the unacceptable delay? Considering the large numbers of off-grid customers in Scotland, including in Shetland, can the minister indicate any discussions that he has had with the UK Government, including offers to assist in helping to distribute the funds? We have made continued representation to the UK Government on these matters because of the bureaucracy that some households are experiencing with the existing scheme. UK ministers have given his assurance that they are pressing energy providers to make sure that they try to speed up the payment of those vouchers as quickly as possible. However, the existing system is still not working in the way in which it should for many consumers, particularly in the member's constituency who have off-grid heating systems. I can assure the member that we will continue to press the UK Government to make sure that this system operates in a much fairer and much more consistent way across the country. How it ensures good governance in Scotland's colleges? The Scottish Government works with the Scottish Funding Council, College of Scotland and College Boards to ensure good governance. We also engage with regional strategic boards, trade unions, student associations and the College of Development Network to the good governance steering group to ensure the implementation of governance improvements. I thank the minister for that answer. The minister will be aware of the situation at South Lanarkshire College where the highly respected principal who had been looking into serious allegations of theft and malfeasance has been suspended on full pay for 13 months. That is not due process in anyone's book. The college board has still not taken a decision and the costs of this are just going to rise. Does the minister agree with the comments from the college principals group in a letter to the education secretary that that raises fundamental issues about good governance and the process relating to how college principals are treated in such circumstances? Let me first recognise that Mr Simpson has been pursuing this issue, as is right, given that it is a constituency issue for him. Of course, the Government is aware in broad terms of some of the detail of the situation at South Lanarkshire College. I should say and be very clear, given that the regional board in the Lanarkshire region is also the board of my local college. I have recused myself from direct involvement in this matter, so I am not as close to all of the specific details quite rightly, because it could constitute a conflict of constituency. I am in a sterile interest, but what I can say is that our paramount interest at all times is in safeguarding the quality of learning at every college, and that includes South Lanarkshire College. The Scottish funding council is a body for the responsibility of investigating governance issues. It will monitor the situation and will provide updates to the Scottish Government. I know that Mr Simpson has a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary next month to discuss these matters, and he will have the opportunity to speak to her then. 7. Jamie Halcro Johnston To ask the Scottish Government how many vessels operated by CalMac, North Link or Scotland's local authorities will be operating past their working life expectancy by the end of the current parliamentary session. Minister Jenny Gilruth All vessels within the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles fleets undergo regular maintenance and meet all regulatory requirements. I am sure that Mr Halcro Johnston welcomes the procurement this year of two new Islay vessels, the more recent procurement of two further such vessels, plus the MV Glen Sanix and vessel 802, means that six new major vessels will be delivered between 2023 and 2026, with plans to begin replacing small ferries from 2025. We will shortly issue our draft long-term plan for vessels and ports for consultation next year. Council ferry replacement is, of course, a matter for those local authorities. 6. Jamie Halcro Johnston I thank the minister for that answer. I would welcome the delivery of vessels before the procurement. It has been estimated by the local council that the cost to replace the ageing inter-island ferries fleet and upgrade infrastructure is around £443 million for Orkney alone. While it is welcome, the Government is now finally discussing this with the islands council. I hope that talks will lead to more than just talk. However, there are also vital ferry services operated by Shetland, Highland and Argyll and Bute Council in my region alone. Given the importance of the lifeline routes to the communities that they serve and the painful lessons that are being learned on the west coast of the devastating impact that ageing and increasing unreliable ferries have on local people and local businesses, can the minister tell me what discussions the Scottish Government is having with the councils on what investment is needed in their fleets and infrastructure and how that investment will be supported by the Scottish Government? I recognise the challenge for local authorities that have responsibility for their ferries. The Scottish Government, as we are saying, has provided more than £136 million over the past five years alone to support the running of those services. Funding distribution of the support for inter-island ferry specific grant for 2324 will be confirmed in due course. I am very aware of the growing need for local authorities to replace their ageing ferry fleets and infrastructure. While responsibility for funding that replacement infrastructure remains wholly with councils at this current time, I am committed to continuing engagement with Transport Scotland and local authorities. I understand that, as the member alluded to, Mr Swinney has been engaging with Orkney Islands Council on that, and I would continue my own engagement as transport minister with those local authorities in relation to our role. However, I put on record that local authority ferry services at the current time are the responsibility of local authorities, but we will see what more we may be able to do within the current financial constraints, of course, put in front of this Government.