 Ar gyfer y cwestiwyr cwestiwyr, ond I will move on to the next item of business, which is portfolio questions on finance, economic and fair work.ine. Can I say to members that remind them of questions 2 and 3, and questions 7 and 8 will be grouped together? That means that I will take the two questions. The supplementary is pertaining to 2, and the supplementary is pertaining to 3 by the members. If you want a supplementary 2, 2 and 3 you press then, but you will be taken after 2 and 3. I hope that I have explained that. ffordd y gweldwch i Weth, maen nhw yn ddifscolwyr. Gweldwch i mfodol 1, Jenny Gohroodd, nhw, i'n gweledig fod yw i wyblog. To ask the Scottish Government on how it is tackling unemployment in the mid-fife and glinrothis constituency. Diolch i ddweud, Presiding Officer. The Scottish Government and its agencies are committed to tackling unemployment by supporting inclusive economic growth across Scotland, including in mid-fife and glinrothis. For example, in 2018-19, the Scottish Enterprise committed investment of over £1 million in local enterprise companies, the regionalist elective assistance and research and development awards? Jenny Gilruth. I thank the minister for that answer. In 2017-18, Fife had an impressive 7 per cent of the national total of modern apprenticeship starts, with more than 27,000 taking up the qualification. However, the most recent stats for the 2018-19 period point to a slight drop in female modern apprenticeship starts compared to the same period last year. Can the minister advise what practical work is being done by Skills Development Scotland in my constituency to close the gender gap in modern apprenticeships? As Ms Gilruth points out, Fife is doing very well in terms of the number of modern apprenticeships overall. In 2017-18, the last full year, we have figures for it, we are 1,893 modern apprenticeships in Fife, and I should place on record a thanks to employers across the kingdom for offering those opportunities. However, I recognise that more has to be done to diversify participation in improving female participation. Work is under way in Fife and across the country. Skills Development Scotland has its apprenticeship called the action plan. There is also the STEM strategy to try and tackle gender segregation and subject choice at school, as emphasized in our gender pay gap action plan as well. There is activity in training, but I absolutely recognise that much more remains to be done. One of the ways to tackle unemployment in mid Fife and other communities in Scotland is to lift people out of poverty. If the Government will take urgent action to investigate the £22 million of funds that the EU has suspended in terms of ESF funding to tackle poverty and take immediate action to release that money into Scotland's communities. I think that the first thing that I should say is that we are aware of the issue and we are actively exploring it. I can give Mr Kelly that assurance, but a number of the projects that are funded through that source are continuing to be supported. I think that we should also place that on record, but we are aware of the issue and I can assure Mr Kelly and the rest of the chamber that that is something that we are actively exploring the resolution to. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to promote inclusive growth in the North Ayrshire economy. The Scottish Government is committed to achieving inclusive growth in all parts of Scotland, including North Ayrshire. Inclusive growth is assisted by a significant investment in housing, education and skills, transport, health and other areas. Specifically, the North Ayrshire economy will benefit from the £103 million committed by the Scottish Government for the Ayrshire growth deal. The heads of terms agreement signed in March includes significant local investment proposals, including the Great Harbour, the I3 project and marine tourism in North Ayrshire, as well as regional initiatives for skills, digital and community wealth building. It is now over six months since the Fraser of Allander published its economic review for North Ayrshire Council. The review highlighted the importance of inclusive growth in tackling regional inequalities. It also states that if significant inroads are to be made in tackling regional challenges, that will require major investment and national strategic support. Given that the spending power of North Ayrshire Council has been the minister of Scottish Government cuts and that North Ayrshire was passed over as a location for the new social security agency, despite being identified as the best option for inclusive growth, what will the Scottish Government now do to turn its rhetoric into reality about inclusive growth in North Ayrshire? As the member should be aware, Scottish Enterprise approved a funding offer of £10 million towards Puleport's £30 million proposed project to redevelop its Hunterston Park site in North Ayrshire. North Ayrshire has been allocated £1.4 million from the town centre regeneration fund for 2019-20. North Ayrshire projects have received more than £2 million through empowering communities programme funds to date. Scottish Enterprise is also concerned to deliver support to businesses in North Ayrshire via innovation grants, the Scottish manufacturing advice service, regional selective assistance and research and development grants. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to bring job opportunities to North Ayrshire. The Scottish Government and its agencies are committed to achieving inclusive growth in all parts of Scotland, including North Ayrshire, and we are working with our range of partners to create high-quality jobs and opportunities in the area. Specifically, North Ayrshire will benefit from the £103 million that is committed by the Scottish Government for the Ayrshire growth deal. The heads of terms agreement signed in March, including significant investment proposals from the Scottish Government for projects in North Ayrshire, and the Ayrshire regional partners estimate that the deal will result in 7,000 new jobs across the region. I am pleased that the minister welcomes the multi-government investment in North Ayrshire, but the reality is that the Scottish Government's regional employment study highlighted that under-employment in North Ayrshire has risen to 13.5 per cent, whereas in other local authorities it is falling. What action is the Government taking specifically to address the issue of under-employment in Scotland? The North Ayrshire inclusive growth diagnostic was a joint piece of work between the Office of the Economic Adviser and North Ayrshire Council, which is looking at exactly what the issues are roundabout barriers to growth in the area, a significant one of which, as the member has identified, is roundabout under-employment. That has been rolled forward through North Ayrshire Council's fair for all strategy to tackle inequalities in the area and influence investment decisions to deliver long-term transformational change in the North Ayrshire economy. The minister will be aware that, if he delivers the proposed economic master plan, Hunterston will bring more than 1,700 jobs to North Ayrshire, supported by local labour and Tory councillors, as well as myself and the MP. Does he agree that it is time that Mr Green came off the fence on the issue and stopped trying to be all things to everyone? Through the Ayrshire growth deal and directly, what support will the Scottish Government provide to successfully deliver the master plan? As the member will be aware, and others are aware, the Scottish Government has committed £10 million to the Ayrshire growth deal over the next 10 years. We know that agencies are committed to working with all partners to help to secure the future of the Hunterston site and to maximise its inclusive growth opportunities. We encourage all local politicians to work in common purpose on that. As for direct support, as I mentioned earlier, last November, the Scottish Enterprise Committee committed £10 million towards redevelopment. The investment in joint work between the Scottish Enterprise and North Ayrshire Council and private sector partners has the potential to deliver significant benefits to North Ayrshire and the wider Ayrshire economy. To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in assisting the workforce of the talk-talk call centre in Stornoway. The Scottish Government, Highlands, Islands Enterprise and PACE partners are continuing their contact with talk-talk, and those staff are facing redundancy to ensure all employment opportunities are explored and PACE support provided. I thank the minister for that answer. Talk-talk has, of course, been a significant employer in Lewis, and the loss of those jobs will have an impact on the broader economy. Will the Scottish Government commit to examining whether there are any opportunities for further public sector jobs to be based on the islands? I recognise the key role that public sector jobs play in the economy of all parts of Scotland and, of course, in the islands. The Scottish Government is currently consulting on the development of the national islands plan, which has set out a number of objectives that support and promote to our island communities, including employment. Where there are opportunities to be taken, it makes sense and we will always be willing to look at what can be done. I agree that public sector jobs should be dispersed throughout Scotland rather than centralised, but will the minister consider, with regard to talk-talk, a staff buy-out of the organisation and help to allow them to bid for work on a call centre basis so that those jobs could be retained and stored away? No such proposition has been advanced so far, but, as she knows from my exchanges previously, the Scottish Government has high ambitions for employee-owned businesses. If it is something that the workforce there is interested in, I would be very delighted to engage with them directly on that. To us, the Scottish Government, what are the implications for its public sector pay policy of the agreement that reaches with the teaching profession? The public policy pay sets a framework for pay negotiations and balances, delivering a fair deal for employees with affordability and investment in high-quality public services. However, it acts as a benchmark against which employers have flexibility to deliver pay awards meeting their local circumstances. The teachers pay award, includes an element targeted at addressing recruitment and retention issues, including a wider package of measures to address workload issues and support the Empowering Schools agenda. I am grateful to the minister for that reply. She will be aware that exactly the same circumstances apply to Haleins-Anne's airports, with regard to the ATC strike that is pending, suspended for next Wednesday but is still threatened for the future. Will she bring the same flexibility to those pay negotiations and recognise that ministers directly intervened in the teacher strike? We could do with some intervention on the ATC strike, because lifeline air services depend on them. Like the member, I recognise that it has been a very difficult time for travellers with the disruption and I welcome the suspension of industrial action scheduled for 12 June, and I would encourage Hale's air traffic controllers to carefully consider the latest offer that is made by Hale for a new retention allowance. In light of my earlier answer, I reiterate that pay policy is a guide and a benchmark, and in that sense it is up to negotiation between employers and employees on delivering a pay package. Does the Scottish Government still have a public sector pay policy that is worth the paper that it is printed on? Does it not sound like it from the latest deals that have been struck? We do indeed have a pay policy that ensures that it is affordable and invests in high-quality public services, but, as I have already said, that act as a benchmark against which employers have flexibility to deliver pay awards meeting their local circumstances. We reflect on the impact of all sectoral awards in developing pay policies and we will do so again in time for next year's pay policy in the context of the spending review. Neil Findlay? I commend the EIS for securing a deal for its members, but when the Scottish Government gave some prison officers an upgrade in their pay but left others floundering, they were taken to court by the PCS union and caved in. In the same vein, the Government is treating some council workers in one way and other council workers in another way. What has happened to the pay policy and what has happened to fairness? From what I thought, we are drifting off teaching, but it is about public pay policy, please. I reiterate the point that the pay policy does not directly apply across all workforces. It acts as a benchmark for pay awards in other sectors and sets the tone for the wider public sector, which will help to increase labour participation and productivity, so that work pays both for the individual and for the Scottish economy. Key sectors, local government, health, police and firefighters have all delivered arrangements broadly in line with our public sector pay policy. Question 7, Clare Adamson. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government how many accredited real living wage employers there are in Scotland. Scotland has 1,473 living wage credit employers, proportionately more than five times more than the rest of the UK. Clare Adamson. Thank you, minister, for the answer. According to living wage Scotland, over 3,000 workers across Lanarkshire have received a pay increase to the real living wage of £9 per hour, but low pay is still one of the main drivers of in-work poverty. What action has the Scottish Government taken to encourage more employers like myself to pay the real living wage in Motherwell and Wisha and across Scotland? The figures that I have indicated in terms of accreditation are, I hope, reviewed as being positive. However, there is much more to be done through the work that we undertake with the poverty alliance. We aim, over the course of this parliamentary term, to see an uplift of 25,000 workers, more workers across Scotland being paid at least the real living wage or more through accreditation. However, we are also taking forward our first agenda, so that all job-related grants that are paid by our agencies will ensure that the living wage is paid. We are undertaking activity in the social care and early years in learning childcare settings to make sure that workforce there is paid the living wage. However, I thought that Clare Adamson made a salient point when she referred to the fact that she is a living wage employer that shows that we can show leadership as well. In our communities, we should be encouraging all employers in every area to become accredited and pay at least the living wage. To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Scotland earn less than the living wage. The living wage initiative is an important part of the Scottish Government's fair work agenda. In 2018, there were 470,000 workers earning less than the living wage in Scotland. Since 2015, the number of workers in Scotland that earning the living wage or more has increased. That means that in total 80.6 per cent of all workers in Scotland now receive the living wage, as proportion of all the UK countries. In West Llywodrae, 16,000 were receiving a pay under the living wage in 2012. It is now 17,500. We could impact on that if there was the political will to do that. Why, in a very straightforward question, does not the Government insist that in its public procurement policy that contractors pay the living wage and that any companies that receive Government-direct assistance also pay the living wage? I have made the point about the fair work first agenda that we are taking forward that I think will see improvements. In terms of procurement, of course procurement reform, the Scotland Act took every opportunity to address the real living wage through procurement. It requires our public bodies procurement strategies to include a statement on the general policy of payment of the living wage to people involved in delivering contracts. In October 2015, we published statutory guidance addressing fair work practices, including the living wage and procurement, which public bodies should be following. I can say right now that the Scottish Government has gone through a recent troll that shows that 90 per cent of all suppliers who were awarded onto the Scottish Government collaborative agreement during the period of January 2017 to March 2018 made a commitment to pay the real living wage. I think that that is significant progress. It is encouraging, but we continue to strive towards 100 per cent. Thank you. That concludes questions in finance, economy and fair work. We now move on to questions in environment, climate change and land reform. 1. Bruce Crawford To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action that it is taking to reduce single-use plastic usage. Will the minister allow the minister to do that very slowly? Are you ready, minister? You are. We are absolutely committed to tackling Scotland's throwaway culture and to matching the pace that was envisaged by the EU single-use plastics directive. We are already taking very ambitious action and we are the first country in the UK to announce our design for Scotland's deposit return scheme. We have taken action on plastic cotton buds and microbeads, and our expert panel is considering measures to reduce the use of difficult to recycle items such as single-use beverage cups. We have committed to increasing the single-use carrier bag charge to 10 pence and are part of a UK-wide consultation on the form of packaging producer responsibility arrangements. You can speed up your delivery now, if you like, Mr Crawford. I was actually trying to make room for the cabinet secretary, but I did not realise that the minister is aware that the recent report by the Centre for International Law found that the proliferation of single-use plastic around the world is accelerating global greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. The Committee on Climate Change was clear on the need for action in order for Scotland to reach its net zero ambitions given the importance of reserved UK policy levers. Can the cabinet secretary outline in the specific areas that she thinks require action from the UK Government? We very much welcome that report and we have already taken steps to address the recommendations on single-use plastics. On the CCC advice and the need for UK Government action in reserved areas, the cabinet secretary has written twice to the UK minister of state, Claire Perry, to request an urgent meeting to discuss action to accelerate the deployment of fully operational carbon capture and storage facilities, accelerate the decarbonisation of the gas grid, redesign vehicle and tax incentives, commit to adhering to future EU emission standards, reducing that on energy efficiency improvement in homes and ensuring continued support for the renewables industry. Now, those areas are reserved and it is imperative that if we are to meet our ambitious targets we need the UK Government to take action and to address those. There is also a whole host of other areas that could be taken, but where a contrary approach has been adopted, which has disincentivised renewable technologies, for example. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Plastic pollution is indeed a systemic problem that causes systemic danger and damage to our environment. Will the Government commit to a system-wide arrangement for measures to tackle the issue, for example a range of targets for the different types of plastic to reduce them and also to ban those that cannot be recycled? I thank Claudia Beamish for that question, because we are doing a whole power of work when it comes to single-use plastics, whether that is online first in terms of reduced reuse and recycling, but also when they end up in our marine environment as well. I would be happy to have a further conversation with Claudia Beamish about what she is proposing. Does the minister agree that education is one of our strongest tools in tackling single-use plastic and groups such as the Ullipool sea savers are great examples that could be replicated across the country? Probably won't surprise Gail Ross, but I absolutely agree with her, because I think that the Ullipool sea savers in particular have really led the way on those issues. I think that we will all be aware right across the chamber when we visit primary school ourselves. To be honest, whenever I visit primary schools in my constituency, the one issue that they raise with me every single time is about marine litter and plastics and what we are doing. I think that it is only right that they continue to push us to strive to do more. I think that we should be proud of the young people that we have in this country and the fact that they take such an interest in it. We are listening and we are doing what we can. To ask the Scottish Government how it will assist people in remote and rural areas in dealing with the climate emergency. Delivering the transformative change required to tackle the global climate emergency must be a shared national endeavour. The Scottish Government is now looking across our whole range of responsibilities to make sure that we continue with the policies that are working and increase action where necessary. Over the summer, the Scottish Government will engage the public communities, businesses, industry and the public sector, including in remote and rural areas, in a discussion about what more can be done and how we can work together. Thank you, cabinet secretary, for that answer. Many of the measures that are outlined that will reduce the areas in which carbon emissions require transformative action at local authority level. How will the particular challenge of decarbonising transport in areas such as myn and Aberdeenshire, which is one of the highest mileage of roads, and a high proportion of off-gas and hard-to-heat homes be given tailored assistance, and how will the administration's decisions be held to account in our national endeavour to deal with the climate emergency? The Scottish Government supports the energy saving trust, which provides bespoke advice to homeowners and insulation and energy-shorted storage, which is particularly useful to off-grid and hard-to-heat homes. We have provided almost £10 million to local authorities across Scotland to ensure that EV charge points are installed across the country, encouraging local authorities to focus on solutions for remote and rural communities. The Scottish Government will keep exploring using hydrogen as a zero-carbon substitute fuel, as the member probably is aware. Aberdeen has been a leader in that with 10 hydrogen buses already running on two routes in Aberdeen with a further 10 coming into service later this year. Scotland is the only country to have statutory annual climate targets, ensuring that progress is regularly scrutinised in Parliament, and there will be annual reporting on a sector-by-sector basis on progress to delivering the climate change plan. However, I need to say again what I have said before, the Scottish Government cannot do this on its own. It will involve a widespread endeavour, including with local authorities, who will be expected to step up to that. In that regard, I welcome the announcements by both Glasgow and Edinburgh Council in respect of their own climate targets. John Scott, followed by Rhoda Grant. The deposit return scheme is now being rolled out as part of the response to the climate emergency, and rural shopkeepers are starting to think about the likely cost to them. Can the cabinet secretary tell Parliament what the expected installed cost of a plastic recycling machine will be to each rural shopkeeper, and will the Government be helping to defray this cost? As the member is probably aware, what we are doing right now is involving organisations that represent shopkeepers the length and breadth of the country, including the very small ones. We have indicated that there will be a variety of different options available for return, and that may include the return-vending machines, but it may not. That is a conversation that will be had with the organisations. I should also point out that there will be a handling fee. What is expected is that this will, in the end, be cost-neutral for all shopkeepers involved. Rhoda Grant, what can be done to support people in less conventional housing tenures in rural areas such as agricultural holdings, or tied cottages, to allow them to increase energy efficiency and reduce household emissions and tackle fuel poverty? There are a lot of things in play. I know that the member will be aware of the widespread work that the Government is doing on energy efficiency, and that will continue. The tenures of homes can sometimes create an issue. I am aware of that. It is not the only issue, of course. Sometimes there are other concerns. When we talk about very unusual scenarios, I think that those are probably some of the harder ones to look at. If the member has got very specific examples in mind that she is asking this question about, it would be helpful if she could come to me and we could discuss them in more detail. I am aware that different tenures, particularly when it is tied housing, can create some real barriers for people. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Fife Council's call for an independent inquiry into the Mossmorran petrochemical plant. We are aware of the motion passed by Fife Council on 2 May. We have not received any formal requests from Fife Council regarding Mossmorran since then. The Mossmorran complex is subject to regulation by SIPA as an independent environmental regulator. On 25 April, SIPA announced a formal investigation at the site and calling for a further inquiry at this time could prejudice any potential enforcement action that SIPA may take. Annabelle Ewing Switch off recording, please. Switch off recording, please. I forgot where I was now. Where was I? Was I calling you, Miss Ewing? Yes, you were. I was just saying this. It's a senior moment from me there, Miss Ewing. Annabelle Ewing, please. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer, and it is perhaps a wee bit disappointing to know that Fife Council has not yet managed to forward to the Scottish Government its motion, which called on the Scottish Government to commit to an independent inquiry. However, I am sure that the cabinet secretary will be aware that one of the strands of Fife Council's motion, and an issue in which constituents raised with me, is the need to have empirical data as regards health impacts. Can the cabinet secretary clarify whether there is any work on going with regard to that matter? Cabinet secretary, I have seen the motion, although there has been no formal approach from Fife Council. I understand that SIPA is sharing information with NHS Fife where possible while carrying out its on-going regulatory investigation. Once NHS Fife has assessed that data and attempt will be made to address the most common health concerns in the local community in the most appropriate way. NHS Fife has not been contacted by any local GPs specifically regarding the mosmor in complex. However, they are reviewing published health data with a view to engaging with local representatives and making information accessible for communities. Mark Ruskell, to be followed by Alexander Stewart. At a recent public meeting in Lochgelly, we heard powerful testimonies from hundreds of local residents, including families coping with autism, whose lives have been made a misery by the noise, light and vibration from the plant. Is the cabinet secretary aware of any equalities impact assessments that have been carried out by SIPA in relation to the operation of this plant? How will the Government support those families? I do not have detail about the specific meeting that the member is referring to. He has raised some very specific issues that have some health impacts. I do not know that it would have been within SIPA's purview to have looked at the kinds of impacts that the member is talking about. However, I will go back and ask whether that is part and parcel of some of the work that NHS Fife might be considering in this. I will ensure that he is kept aware of that. Obviously, on-going work is being done by SIPA. It is monitoring and looking at the situation within the regulatory set-up that it is required to consider. We will estimate whether or not there are other things that need to be done by other public bodies at some other, perhaps once that is done. Alexander Stewart, please. Given the recent difficulties at the plant regarding environmental, health and social impacts, can the cabinet secretary indicate what further assistance can be given to ensure that local residents have confidence and trust in the operation of the site? As I indicated, SIPA is continuing to provide updates on its dedicated most modern hub and on-going monitoring will be used to inform its investigation. In fact, air quality monitoring information so far continues to show no cause for concern. However, activities are being taken forward. Following previous enforcement action, both operators have submitted assessments of the best available techniques for carrying out their activities to SIPA, which are currently being reviewed. I know that, on 23 May, SIPA served further permit variations. There is on-going work constantly. As I indicated in my earlier response to Annabelle Ewing, NHS Fife is now also looking at the specific aspects that are more proper for them to consider. That information will all be brought together at an appropriate moment. As a Scottish Government, in light of the climate emergency, what action is it taking to act on the recommendations of the Committee on Climate Change to deliver low-carbon infrastructure and homes? The Scottish Government has acted immediately in response to the committee's advice with amendments to our climate change bill to set a net zero emissions target for 2045 and to increase the targets for 2030 and 2040. We are now looking across our whole range of responsibilities, including infrastructure and homes, to make sure that we continue with the policies that are working and to increase action where necessary. Our high ambition will be matched by on-the-ground delivery, and we, of course, will be updating the climate change plan within six months of the bill receiving royal assent. There are tens of thousands of houses across Scotland that are being described as too expensive to insulate. If not the fuel poverty bill, if not the climate bill, when will the cabinet secretary legislate for addressing the state of Scotland's existing homes, the poor state of which is one of the key drivers of fuel poverty and climate change? Will the cabinet secretary not agree that it is a win-win for both and the sooner that we get these houses insulated the better? There is an enormous work being done by the Government in terms of energy efficiency, a huge amount of finance that will be over £1 billion by the time we get to 2021, work that is on-going. That is very much part of the answer to what the member has said. There are some very significant issues when it comes to retrofitting housing, and I think that the member is probably well aware of that. We have an energy efficient Scotland route map, which was published last year, to make all our buildings warmer, greener and more efficient. That will ensure that homes meet EPC band C by 2040, and we are already consulting on the impact of bringing forward that date, if possible. We are also currently consulting on how to decarbonise the heat supply in buildings off the gas grid. There is a review of energy standards within building regulations under way to consider further opportunities to reduce emissions from new homes and continuing work being done for energy efficiency. If the member is asking when I will bring in housing legislation, I am sure that he is absolutely aware that it would not be for my portfolio to do any such thing, and I will make sure that his request is relayed to the housing minister. If I have brief questions and brief answers, I can get the last three members in Gil Paterson, please. To ask the Scottish Government what impact it believes the proposed deposit return scheme will have in tackling climate change. There is a global climate emergency, and the Scottish Government is acting according. Our first step, of course, has been to immediately lodge amendments to the climate change bill targets in line with the independent expert advice of the committee on climate change through enabling more higher-value recycling. The Scottish deposit return scheme will contribute to those efforts by reducing emissions by around 4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent over 25 years. That is an average of 160,000 tonnes each year, the equivalent of taking 85,000 cars off the road. Can I ask the cabinet secretary to confirm that groups like St Union's primary school in Clydebank, whose students are on a mission to reduce plastic use in all primary schools through Weston-Bartonshire, have an opportunity to become involved in the deposit return scheme? I thank the pupils of St Union's for their efforts in this important area, and I echo the comments made by Marie Gougeon earlier about all primary school children at the moment who are very exercised on issues related to that. We recognise the potentially significant role that schools and other community services can play in making DRS a success, and that is why we intend to allow for those facilities to act as voluntary return points for containers captured through the scheme. I would also encourage all school pupils to consider how that could benefit their schools through encouraging donation of deposits to their schools, for instance, or litter picking to claim deposits. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve air quality in densely populated urban areas such as Coltbridge. The Scottish Government's Cleaner Air for Scotland strategy sets out a series of actions for government transport Scotland, local authorities and others to further reduce air pollution right across Scotland. An independent review of that strategy is currently under way, and that will identify priorities for any additional action. The Scottish Government works closely with North Lanarkshire Council to provide practical and financial assistance to monitor air quality, to support the delivery of measures, and to implement its air quality action plan to improve local air quality. Fulton MacGregor. For that response, it is great to hear the assistance that has been made to make my constituency in a wider area a cleaner and healthier place to live and grow up. She will be aware of a very controversial and long-running proposal to build an incinerator between Cairnbrough and Shawhead next to the busy M88 in Coltbridge. Do not expect her to comment on this particular application, which is subject to appeal. However, she may be aware that this particular area is one of the most polluted areas in the country, and number one in North Lanarkshire, I ask if the Government and its any data of the impact of incinerators on air quality in areas where pollution is already known to be high. The responsibility for air quality monitoring in data lies with individual local authorities, but I am not aware of any local authority having identified any significant impact from incinerators on local air quality as a result of that work. However, just in terms of general air quality in North Lanarkshire, I want to add that the latest data that we have shows that air quality in North Lanarkshire continues to improve year on year in most locations. There are a few hotspots of poorer air quality that still remain, as there are in many other Scottish towns and cities, but we are absolutely determined to tackle those remaining hotspots and to do that as soon as we possibly can. North Lanarkshire Council has produced an air quality action plan covering the authorities three traffic-related air quality management areas. That plan contains a comprehensive range of measures, and the council is working closely with the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland, SEPA and other partners on its implementation. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Glasgow's progress in meeting the policy outcomes in its climate change plan. In meeting the policy outcomes in Scotland's climate change plan, it is monitored nationally. The Scottish Government acknowledges the ambitious approach that Glasgow has taken to establishing its low-emission zone, and the recent announcement by Scottish Power in support of the city's ambition to become the first in the UK to achieve net zero emissions. Those are positive steps for the whole of Scotland. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. The climate change plan states, and I quote, that the Scottish Government's ambition is to reduce emissions from transport in ways that promote sustainable, environmental and socioeconomic well-being. How will active travel contribute to realising that ambition, and how in particular will the cabinet secretary ensure that active travel is available not only in the less deprived areas of cities such as Glasgow, but also in the more deprived areas? It is fundamental to what my colleague Michael Matheson is promoting with active travel, and indeed the whole of the Government is promoting. The active travel budget was doubled fairly recently, so there is a great deal of money going into that, and we are very cognisant of the need to consider active travel not just in terms of recreation, but also in terms of actual access for local people, particularly in the circumstances that he is raising. As it happens, I will be meeting with Glasgow Council next week to discuss their proposals for being a net zero city by 2030, and I will undertake to specifically raise the active travel with them when I do. Point 1 on Glasgow City Council's climate emergency working group terms of reference emphasises renewable heat. Does the cabinet secretary agree that, over the next few years, we need to be taking very large numbers of residential and non-residential properties off the gas grid and giving them access to heat networks, and that that will only happen with a much more ambitious approach from the Scottish Government as well as local government? Indeed, that is required, but I notice that Patrick Harvie misses out the other Government, which is going to be necessary to achieving this. That is the Westminster Government, because without decarbonisation of the gas grid, the logistical issues of doing what is required to do in terms of domestic heating in Scotland are very considerable indeed. I hope that people will join with me in calling on the Westminster Government to get a move on and do for their part what is required for them to do if we are, all of us in the UK, going to achieve our climate change ambitions. Thank you. That concludes Portfolio Questions. We have a short pause before we move on to the next item of business.