 I think we'll move on directly to the next item of business, which is portfolio questions. The first portfolio this afternoon is health and social care. If a member would wish to request a supplementary question, they should press the request-to-speak button during the relevant question or enter R in the chat function during the relevant question. I call question number one, Mercedes Villalba. To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessments it has made of any increased use of online appointments on patients' access to GP services. Cabinet Secretary, comes in. Neil Mey is a safe and secure NHS video consulting service that enables people to attend appointments from home or wherever, of course, is convenient. During the pandemic, the use of Neil Mey in Scotland rose from around 1,000 consultations per month to a peak of 90,000 per month. GP consultations are included in these totals. Usage is currently 50,000 consultations to answer your question. Directly, the Scottish Government has published its impact assessment of Neil Mey, and that is available to the member. It hasn't seen it, but I'm happy to send a link across to her GP. Perhaps it's ultimately responsible for ensuring that their local appointment arrangements online or otherwise meet their patients' needs and provide satisfactory access. Mercedes Villalba. I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his response. In the face of opposition from patients and staff, Old Aberdeen medical practice was put out tender and this has resulted in declining standards of patient care for many of my constituents. One example of this is the roll-out of an e-consult system to arrange GP appointments online. It should have allowed patients to request an appointment at any time, but in reality it's left many struggling to access the care that they need, including one constituent who contacted me when she was 30 weeks pregnant and unable to get an appointment through the e-consult system. It's an unacceptable deterioration of what was once a high-effective and popular practice. Will the minister commit today to undertaking an impact assessment of the e-consult system and how it has affected the provision and quality of patient care at Old Aberdeen? I will certainly look at that suggestion with an open mind because I do know about the e-consult system and I'm disappointed to hear the feedback that Ms Villalba's constituents are giving her. I will look at the issue in more detail. The NHS Grampian, as you know, has provided their GP practices with that e-consult system. It is meant to help doctors to prioritise who needs face-to-face help and who, for example, can have help over the telephone or through video consultation. Patients can access e-consult at any time, even outside of surgery hours, but notwithstanding all of that, I hear the concerns raised by Mercedes Villalba and, of course, I will give serious consideration to her suggestion, but, in the meantime, I will take it up both with the Health and Social Care Partnership and the Health Board. Thank you. GPs are holding more consultations than before the pandemic, but demand is such that patients do not feel they are being seen in the manner they would like. What new measures will the Scottish Government do to support GP practices under unsustainable pressure and better communicate with patients via possibly a campaign that GPs are open for business and explain the different appointment types available? A lot to support GPs, including, of course, increasing funding this financial year, but communication and messaging is really, really important. We have made sure that we are saying quite clearly to people that, of course, we want to increase the number of face-to-face appointments and working with the BMA, the Royal College of GPs, in that respect, but that unfair vilification of GPs and GP staff, including receptionists, must stop, which is coming from some quarters, frankly from some quarters in the UK Government, as well as some quarters in this chamber. Let's support patients to increase the number of face-to-face patients, but let's make sure that access to GPs is part of a hybrid system that includes online, video consultation and telephone consultation, as well as face-to-face consultation, too. To ask the Scottish Government how much it will spend per head of population and health in the current financial year. £18 billion is provided for health and social care in 2022-23 this financial year. That takes forward our commitment to increase spending on the NHS by 20 per cent, over £2.5 billion by the end of this Parliament, and builds on our front-line spending that is £111 per person higher in Scotland than it is in England. To put that into context, that is more than £600 million more proportionally. Perhaps the cabinet secretary could also set out the elements in the social contract that residents in Scotland benefit from that are not available elsewhere? That is an important question, because on top of that higher spending per head in England, and indeed, I should say that it is £146 higher than in Wales, we know that people in Scotland, of course, also get access to free medicine. We have abolished prescription charges. I think that the fee in England at the moment is well above £9 per item. We have abolished NHS hospital car parking charges, saving users over £60 million, providing free dental care for everybody who is under 26. We are the only UK nation to provide free universal NHS-funded examinations. I am proud of our record on our NHS, not just the proportionate spend per head, but also all those additional benefits that are enjoyed in Scotland that are enjoyed in other parts of the UK. Spending our NHS is absolutely crucial, but so are actions. The cabinet secretary will be well aware that Murray's maternity service was temporarily downgraded for up to 12 months in 2018. The chief executive of NHS Grampian has now said that it could be a further decade before those services are returned. Does the cabinet secretary agree with that timescale? Does he agree that it is unacceptable, and what is he going to do to speed that up? As Douglas Ross well knows, because I have met him, I have met campaigners, locally I have met clinicians and Dr Gray's as well as, of course, in Rhaig Môr 2. The Government has stated—I have stated that we see that model 6 is at end destination. I have committed to a timetable this summer for model 4, which should be in the interim, and then a timetable later in the year to get towards model 6. I want to pre-empt those discussions that are on-going, but both health boards, NHS Grampian and NHS Highland, who are crucial to model 4 and then on to model 6, both know very clearly that I expect urgency and pace, but that we must do that in a way for the women involved in their unborn children that is safe and sustainable. The cabinet secretary will be aware that, from 2007 to 2010, the SNP Government did not pass on the money that they received from the then UK Labour Government for the NHS. Had they done so, the NHS would have £1 billion more today to spend on helping our hard-working NHS staff care for patients. Does the cabinet secretary believe that his predecessor was right to divert money away from the NHS, given the challenges that we face today? I think that Labour has a cheek to talk about health spending when they have there, of course, the architects of PFI spend in our hospitals. The fact that, of course, this SNP Government abolished car parking charges is something that I am very, very proud of. If it was up to Labour and they were still in power, patients, staff, doctors, nurses would all have to be paying to park to go to their work. I am very proud of the fact that front-line health spending in Scotland is £146 higher than in Labour-controlled Wales. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress regarding the spring Covid-19 vaccination programme in NHS Lanarkshire area. NHS Lanarkshire has administered a fourth dose to over three quarters, 76 per cent of all residents aged 75, and over is part of the spring Covid-19 vaccination programme. That includes over four in five, 82 per cent of people aged 75 and over in NHS Lanarkshire, who received the third dose more than 24 weeks ago. That demonstrates strong progress. It is very much in line with her expected delivery progress at this stage that vaccine officials meet all NHS boards individually on a bi-weekly basis to cover performance and delivery and discuss whether any additional national programme support is required. Furthermore, future planning discussions are very much under way for future activity, including preparing for any possible future autumn-winter programme. I thank the cabinet secretary for his answer and the workers from NHS Lanarkshire, who have been providing the service in the area. I was contacted by two of my mother-in-law and mother-in-law constituents to suffer from MS and chronic heart failure, respectively, both are housebound, but have been refused the spring booster dose. Can the cabinet secretary advise on the best course of action for my constituents and others in this position who believe that they may be eligible for the spring booster programme but have been unable to get the vaccine? I thank the cabinet secretary for raising the issue. She is welcome to give more detail to me in writing if she wishes. The JCVI advises that, to be eligible for spring booster, adults must be either aged 75 years and over, residents in care homes for older adults, or individuals 12 years or older who are immunosuppressed. That definition of immunosuppression is taken from the appropriate chapter in the Greenbrook chapter 14A, and I will send that detail across to her. If her constituents are not eligible, therefore, because they do not fit that definition, there is some clinical flexibility in there. Of course, that would not be a decision for me to make, as she knows as a minister, but for clinicians and vaccination leads to make. We are waiting interim advice from the JCVI about a future programme, and for those who are not eligible currently, they may well be eligible for a future autumn winter programme. However, I think that interim advice on the JCVI is due imminently. Does the cabinet secretary agree that, whether rural Scotland is located in North Lanarkshire or, for example, Nairn, there is a shared desire for vaccination services to be provided locally? Building on the excellent and detailed work that the cabinet secretary has carried out with myself and Dr Baker of the Nairn medical practice, will he engage with NHS Highland to progress consideration of local GP practices that wish to do so, continuing to provide local vaccination services? Obviously, we are a bit wider than North Lanarkshire, but I am sure that the cabinet secretary might want to take a stab at an answer. An important issue raised by my colleague. I was delighted to meet him and Dr Baker, very thoughtful and considered individual, both Mr Ewing and Dr Baker, on the points about vaccination locally. I would say that there is flexibility absolutely there. There is flexibility within the system. In fact, there are parts of Scotland, if I think about Argyll and Bute, for example, where GP services are administering vaccinations in some parts of the country. There is a degree of flexibility. I will raise that specific issue with NHS Highland. Question 4, Brian Whittle, who is joining us remotely. To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to support people who are experiencing poor mental health as a result of long Covid. The impact of the pandemic on our population has been far-reaching. Those who are suffering from long Covid should have access to the right mental health support at the right time. Our GPs and local healthcare teams are best placed to offer advice or treatment for mental health concerns, and they continue to work tirelessly to ensure that help and support is available to anyone who needs it. In addition, we have worked with NHS Inform to develop a dedicated long Covid website, which provides information and support in relation to low mood and depression and anxiety with signposting to self-help guides. Underpinning the range of support available across the country and the Scottish Government's record funding for our NHS, including unprecedented investment for mental health services. Maraging the mental health impacts of the pandemic remains an integral part of our plans to refresh our mental health strategy. There will be an opportunity for us to consider how we improve existing support for people with long Covid and ensure that that support is consistently available across Scotland. I thank the minister for that answer. Long Covid is a serious issue in the aftermath of the pandemic with tens of thousands of Scots estimated to be suffering. We should have had the opportunity to discuss this in a debate that was unfortunately postponed by the Scottish Government, so can I take the chance now to ask the minister if he will ensure that, in any response when it does come from the Scottish Government, treatment for the potentially debilitating mental health aspect of long Covid is included? Of course, the mental health aspect should be included and, subject to Parliament's agreement, we intend to bring the long Covid debate back to Parliament on 19 May. That will allow ministers to provide a fuller update on progress, as will not be bound by the pre-election period restrictions that we find ourselves in. I am quite sure that Mr Whittle will be looking forward to that debate on 19 May. Mental health is one of the major public health challenges in Scotland. I would like to put on the record my thanks to the NHS staff and the Scottish Government for ensuring that it has remained a priority throughout the response to Covid-19. I ask the minister to provide an update on the increase in the number of mental health staff in Scotland since the SNP came into office and set out the action that the Government is taking to increase the number of mental health staff that will allow our patients to access support within their communities. Presiding Officer, there is no doubt that the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of our population will be felt for years to come. We are investing record levels of funding and expect total spend, including by NHS Scotland and mental health, to exceed £1.2 billion in the current financial year. That funding will help services in all areas respond to the needs of the communities that they support, including in the member's constituency. I should say in response to Ms Brown's question about staffing. Since the Government came to power in 2007, the mental health workforce has increased by, in psychology staff, for example, 95.6 per cent, 34.7 per cent rise in mental health nurses, a 21.6 per cent rise in consultant psychiatrists and an 83.4 per cent rise of staff within children's and adult mental health services. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that women who need it have access to specialist services for advice and support on the diagnosis and management of menopause. We are determined to ensure that women are able to access the care and support that they need for menopause, be that through primary or specialist care. There is now a specialist menopause service on every mainland NHS board and support in place for the island health boards. A menopause specialist network meets regularly to provide consistent advice and peer support to healthcare professionals, including primary care teams. We know that many women will seek support from their local GP practice for their menopause symptoms. To support primary care in NHS education for Scotland is developing menopause training for healthcare professionals, including practice nurses and GPs. Support for women experiencing the menopause will continue to be a priority for the women's health plan as it is implemented. HRT is part of the jigsaw of management of menopause, and for many women it provides invaluable relief from the quite debilitating symptoms of menopause. Those women will be concerned about reported shortages of HRT. Can I ask the minister what the current situation is in Scotland and, further to that, if she would consider enabling pharmacists to prescribe HRT so that, where there are shortages, women can be advised on and provided with an alternative at the time, rather than returning to their GP? Grateful for that question. Community pharmacists in Scotland are able to make appropriate generic or branded substitutions by endorsing for a change of strength or quantity if alternative products are available. Pharmacists who are independent prescribers can prescribe items within their clinical competency. We are committed to expanding the number of community pharmacists undertaking independent prescribing qualifications and have invested in a programme to support that. In addition, serious shortage protocols, SSPs, which can apply to the whole of the UK, are used for serious shortages when medicines are likely to be unavailable for some time. Three SSPs were introduced across the UK on 29 April 2022. Community pharmacists can limit the supply to three months in accordance with the SSP for eligible patients to help conserve stock and to ensure that as many patients as possible are able to have access to their prescribed medicine. The question is a similar vein to the previous one. Across Scotland, many women are struggling to access hormone replacement therapy due to complex issues in the supply chain. While those shortages are the product largely of increased demand, it is unacceptable that many women are experiencing severe comfort and anxiety as a result of that. It is welcome that the UK Government has established an HRT's task force to get to the bottom of those issues, but what work is the Scottish Government doing to ensure that the short and long-term supply of HRT can meet the rising demand in the future? Can the minister confirm whether the Scottish Government is working with the Scottish Medicines Consortium, health boards and community pharmacies to improve the flow of medicine between suppliers, wholesalers and pharmacies? The member is absolutely correct at the problems that are affecting the whole of the UK. The member will also be aware that the supply of medicines is a reserved matter for the UK Government, but Scottish Government officials and NHS national procurement colleagues are regularly updated on any supply disruptions that might arise and provide advice to the NHS in Scotland on options to address the shortages. The disruptions and the availability of HRT are very concerning to those who have been prescribed them. Anyone affected by the disruptions should discuss alternative treatment options with their doctor in the first place. Undoubtedly, those issues arise because of complex issues. Indeed, they arise in demand, but there are also other factors that are contributing to the shortages of HRT at the moment. We welcome the appointment of Madeleine McTurnan as the HRT SAR. We will absolutely work together with the UK Government in order to improve the situation on this really important matter. We will make sure that information from Scotland is taken into account. My officials have already been in contact with the Department of Health and Social Care to work alongside Ms McTurnan. Before I call the next question, I would really make a plea for succinct questions and succinct answers. Otherwise, I will simply not be able to call all the questions. Thank you to ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the number of people requiring home care but who remain on waiting lists for such care. Thank you, Presiding Officer. The Scottish Government is aware that there are significant pressures facing the social care sector at present, including high levels of unmet need and the situation is under constant review. The cross-sectoral adult social care Gold Group meets Fortnightly, providing strategic national oversight on system pressures alongside key partners. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and I also have frequent meetings with local areas facing the most acute social care pressures, with discussion focused on solutions. More than 500 people died last year while waiting for home care. There are over 5,000 people waiting to be assessed. 404 of those are in South Lanarkshire. Age Scotland described those figures as an absolute tragedy. It is a fact that the longer people languish on the lists, the quicker they deteriorate. What urgent steps is the minister going to take now to get on top of this crisis? The Scottish Government has encouraged and supported partnership working between local resilience groups and health and social care partnerships in order to get that right. Through contact with partnerships, I am aware that there are a range of local initiatives across the country using volunteers, redeployed staff and third sector partners to support recipients of care. A lot of work is going on in that regard. In terms of our discussions, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and I are ensuring that best practice is exported across the country. We have to recognise that, although things are improving, we have had a significant problem with staffing shortages because of folk being off with Covid-19. That is improving and thank goodness for that. In terms of that social care workforce, we would be doing so much better if we had managed to retain the staff who have returned home to their home countries because of Brexit and the Tory Government's hostile environment towards immigration. To ask the Scottish Government to provide an update on whether adult disability day centres are able to operate at pre-pandemic levels. I recognise the importance of day services to those who use them and to their families and carers. Decisions about individual services are made by local authorities, but it is important that such services resume, given the benefits that they bring to people, the current low-risk to public health and the mitigations that can be put in place without hampering operations. Last year, I wrote to local authorities emphasising the importance of day services and asking them to look at reopening services in line with Covid-19 guidance as soon as possible. Further to a recent meeting with representatives of unpaid carers, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has undertaken to write to COSLA to ask for an audit of adult day care and respite services in every local authority with a view to finding out which services have reopened and which have only partially opened or opened with reduced capacity. In my constituency, it appears that the local health and social care partnership are not certain on how the guidance applies to the reopening of their adult day care centres at pre-pandemic levels. Whilst organisations such as Capability Scotland have reopened their centres to pre-pandemic levels, that has not happened in local authority run adult day care centres. Will the minister be able to clarify the guidance that the centres operators are to adhere to, or if the minister wishes to respond to that point in writing, I would be most grateful? In response to that, on that particular point around about the guidance and Renfrewshire being uncertain, I would ask that Renfrewshire health and social care partnership engage with my officials on that point, and we will help in that regard. It is absolutely vital that services return to a new normal, recognising that there is improved infection prevention across society. Of course, Covid-19 still remains a concern for public health, so it is recommended that folks follow the current Public Health Scotland guidance, but I would reiterate my point that, if there is any dubiety about that guidance, Renfrewshire health and social care partnership is free to contact my officials or Public Health Scotland to get clarity. We have now run out of time, so I will have to draw portfolio questions on health and social care to a close. There will be a very short pause before we move on to the next portfolio questions, which will be social justice, housing and local government. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what discussions a social justice secretary has had with the transport minister regarding the possibility of extending free bus travel in Scotland to people seeking asylum. Asylum seekers in Scotland are already able to access the national free bus travel schemes for older and disabled people and, of course, under 22s. The minister for transport and eye are keen that we do what we can to support all asylum seekers in Scotland, including enabling them to access support and services on the same basis as other residents in Scotland, and that includes providing free bus travel to other asylum seekers. We are doing this whilst needing to bear in mind that UK Government's reserve policy, which unfortunately restricts access to support. Mark Ruskell Can I thank the cabinet secretary for that response? It is really clear that free bus travel for under 22s has been transformative for hundreds of thousands of young people, but of course the cost of living crisis is going to hit all those seeking asylum, especially given that they are forced to live on just over £40 a week and are actually banned from working as well. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that now is the time to take that decisive practical action that comes with the hostile environment agenda peddled by the Tories? Will she commit to meet with me and other interested parties to unpick some of the barriers that she just explained to expanding free bus travel to all those seeking asylum in Scotland? I am certainly happy to agree to meet Mark Ruskell to discuss this in more depth. He will be aware of the ending destitution together strategy, which sets out a clear approach to improve support for people who are subject to no recourse to public fund restrictions, including people seeking asylum. I can say that Scottish Government officials are investigating the case for providing free bus travel to asylum seekers who do not meet the criteria for the existing schemes. I am happy to update you on progress in due course either at the meeting or I would write to the member. I thank the cabinet secretary for her responses so far. I thank the cabinet secretary for having met me and the transport minister for having met me on this issue previously. She recognised that it would cost less than £400,000 a year in terms of impact versus cost as an extremely good initiative. If there is such a hold-up, can the cabinet secretary please give an indication of the timescale that we could be facing to get that introduced? People are facing this destitution on a day-to-day basis. It really is a serious hardship faced by a lot of people in our community. First of all, I recognise Paul Sweeney's interest in this issue. He has asked me a number of questions about this in his campaign on it quite hard. Obviously, we met and had a very constructive meeting. As I said in my answer to Mark Ruskell, we are actively looking at the moment of what can be done. Obviously, we need to bear in mind the restrictions of no recourse to public funds. However, we are keen to do what we can around the issue of transportation. I know that, certainly, one local authority has already made some progress in that area. The Stirling Council has used some of its home office funding to support resettlement to buy bus passes for some Syrian and Afghan families, covered by the UK Government resettlement schemes. I think that they are extending that to Ukrainian refugees as well. Officials are working on that. I want to pick up that conversation more broadly with COSLA, once with the new team in place. I am happy to keep Paul Sweeney appraised of progress, because I know that he has an active interest in this matter. The recent crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine have put Scotland's new Scots refugee integration strategy to the test. Can the cabinet secretary underline the ways in which the new Scots approach offers compassionate support and opportunities to displaced people, despite the scale of those challenges? The new Scots refugee integration strategy provides a clear framework for all those working towards refugee integration in Scotland, with the key principle that integration begins from day 1 of arrival. It assists partners to make the best use of resources and expertise by promoting partnership approaches, joined up working and early intervention. It provides a strong foundation to respond to challenges faced by refugees, asylum seekers, displaced people and communities across Scotland. It aims to support people to use and share their skills, culture and experience as they begin to rebuild their lives. The latest statistics show that, since 2007, the Government has delivered 108,106 affordable homes, with more than 75,000 of them being for social rent, including 17,681 council homes, which is a record to be very proud of. As is our commitment to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, 70 per cent of which will be for social rent and 10 per cent in remote, rural and island areas. Of course, we have a £3.6 billion planned investment in this Parliament term to allow the important work of ensuring that everyone in Scotland has a warm, safe and affordable place to live. I thank the cabinet secretary for the answer. I have seen promising signs of affordable house building getting back into full swing in my own area, with more than 1,500 low-cost and social homes now built by the SNP in East Ayrshire since 2007. Does the cabinet secretary agree that the house building sector is on track to a full recovery following the pandemic, putting Scotland on a good position to achieve its ambition of a further 100,000-plus affordable homes across the country by 2032? Of course, the pandemic took its toll and we are aware that the pace of delivery has also been affected by global issues around materials, skilled labour, supply shortages and associated rising costs. However, I am pleased to say that the affordable housing sector is showing signs of recovery, with completions having risen by 35 per cent compared to the previous year to December 2020. I would also say that in East Ayrshire there is going to be available up to £66.5 million over the next five years, which is a 25 per cent increase on the previous five years, something on which I am sure the member will welcome. Thank you, Presiding Officer. If the cabinet secretary is proud of our record, can she explain to Parliament why, after 15 years of this SNP Government, do we see a record number of children living in unsuitable temporary accommodation in Scotland, and what plan does the Scottish Government have to end that practice? We are working extremely hard to end the use of temporary accommodation. An estimated 2,100 households of children have been helped into affordable housing in the year to March 2021. We did reintroduce the council house building programme, the first such central government support to councils in the generation. In marked contrast to the 500,000 council houses sold off under the Tories, half a million council houses sold off under the Tories, which is a lot of homes to have to make up. It does not stop here because here is an article from the Telegraph of All Places showing that Boris Johnson is leading the charge to sell off housing association homes. We are not content to sell off council homes, we now want to sell off housing association homes. Affordable housing is only safe under this SNP Government. Question 3, Jeremy Balfour. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I am a seed of PIP. To ask the Scottish Government how many people it estimates will qualify for an indefinite award within the first 12 months of the national launch of adult disability payment. Our policy on indefinite awards will avoid unnecessary reviews for severely disabled people with needs that are highly unlikely to change. That approach will provide dignity, will be proportionate to people's needs and will provide the security of long-term financial support or approaches supported by disabled people. Furthermore, the decision-making process for adult disability payment will be person-centred and compassionate to meet the needs of the individual. Therefore, the number of awards will of course depend on the circumstances of those that apply. The Scottish Fiscal Commission is responsible for forecasting adult disability payment, and our policy on indefinite awards will be part of its next forecast. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I am slightly surprised by the minister's answer in that, first of all, I only asked for an estimate, so a rough idea would be helpful. How well an individual who applies and gets a lower rate from a higher rate will be able to have that reviewed if it is indefinite, because the condition may get worse, but it may not know that. Will the new social security system allow for the department to do reviews so that it can benefit the claimant and not take away? First of all, I presume that there is implicit praise for the Scottish Government's position from Mr Balfour as there has been across the UK on this issue. He does raise some important points, so I will be happy to have further discussion with him on that. Just to come to the point, of course, that we are in a period at the moment of the launch of adult disability payment, and then we will undertake case transfer. People can apply in the first phase of asking disability payment pilot for indefinite awards now. As part of the case transfer process, when people have their review after they have been transferred, they will be able to apply for an indefinite award at that juncture. In terms of whether people are on a lower rate of mobility but feel that they should be on a higher rate, the point of indefinite awards at the moment is that we are only awarding them at the higher rate, but we continue to engage with stakeholders on potential indefinite awards for those on a lower rate. That is a point of further consideration. I think that that is an important point. We are very cognisant of the point that Mr Balfour raises about whether people feel that their conditions have changed, they should be able to then action and provoke a review in order to seek potential higher support if they think that they are eligible for it. Those are all being considered as they should be, and I would be happy to pick it up with Mr Balfour further if that would be of assistance. Pam Duncan-Glancy Thank you, Presiding Officer, and I register an interest as someone who is in receipt of personal independence payment. The Minister for Disabled People, Chloe Smith, has confirmed that it will be for the DWP to determine who is eligible for passported benefits. Could the Scottish Government wish to implement different eligibility for adult disability payment and is asked for notice of intentions around that? Can the minister confirm whether it is his intention to change eligibility for adult disability payment, including to get rid of the 20-metre rule, and has he indicated such to the Department of Work and Pensions? It is not entirely relevant to the question of indefinite awards. Ms Duncan-Glancy is very well aware of the engagement that we have had both with the committee and with the UK Government on adult disability payment and the eligibility criteria for it. As Pam Duncan-Glancy knows, we have committed to a review of adult disability payment, commencing later the fear and into next year, and eligibility criteria will of course be assessed as part of that independent review, and we will consider matters, including passporting, going forward from that. To ask the Scottish Government how the action set out in tackling child poverty delivery plan will support low-income families in Stirling. Our second tackling child poverty delivery plan, Best Start Bright Futures, sets out how we will provide immediate financial support to families and break the cycle of child poverty. We will increase the Scottish child payment to £25 by the end of 2022, having doubled it to £20 per week from last month. Of course, we have committed to mitigate the UK Government benefit cap as fully as possible within devolved powers, and we will also help parents to work and earn more through increased investment of up to £81 million this year in a new parental employability offer and transition fund. Increasing the Scottish child payment and mitigating the UK Government's cruel benefit cap are hugely welcome, but does the cabinet secretary share my frustration that policies such as the Scottish child payment are undermined by the UK Government's welfare changes, including the cut to universal credit, and that we could go so much further in realising our ambitions in tackling child poverty if we did not have to mitigate actions taken by Westminster? Yes, I totally agree with Evelyn Tweed on that point. It is incredibly frustrating, the devastating impact of successive UK Government welfare cuts imposed since 2015, including the two-child limit, the removal of the £20 universal credit uplift, and the 2015-20 benefit freeze, among others. If they were reverse, an additional £780 million would be getting into the pockets of Scottish households. Importantly, that would lift 70,000 people, including 30,000 children, out of poverty in 2023-24. Despite that, we will continue to provide support to low-income families that is unparalleled in the UK, including increasing our Scottish child payment and taking further action to mitigate the impact of Westminster policies, including the benefit cap, as we do already for the bedroom tax. To ask the Scottish Government what duty local authorities have to assist disabled people who reside in mobile or park homes under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Scotland Act 1972? We want disabled people in Scotland to have choice, dignity and freedom to access suitable homes, built or adapted to enable them to participate as full and equal citizens. Local authorities have powers and duties under a range of legislation, including the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Scotland Act, to assess an individual's care needs and to provide support services that are required. Support offered should be based on the assessment of the person's particular needs and taken account of their preferences and should not be affected by the type of property that they live in. I thank the cabinet secretary for her response. The cabinet secretary may be aware that many mobile or park homes, disabled residents, are denied adaptations by local councils who cite the temporary nature of their homes. How best can the widely held position be countered so that disabled residents receive the support to which they should be entitled? As I said, everyone should have access to the support that they need to be able to live in a home that is suitable for them. We know that the adaptation system requires improvement and we are currently undertaking a review that will improve streamline and accelerate the adaptation systems. The review will consider issues relating to adaptations to park and mobile homes, which will ensure that access to adaptations is fair and equitable, regardless of property type or tenure, and remove any inconsistencies. To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to families in the Cowdenbeath constituency that may be at risk of poverty due to the cost of living crisis. Through our second tackling child poverty delivery plan, we have set out bold action to drive forward progress across the country on our national mission to tackle child poverty. We are set to invest almost £770 million to tackle the cost of living crisis this year. By the end of this year, our five family benefits will be worth a maximum of over £10,000 by the time an eligible family's first child turns six and over £9,700 for every subsequent child. That is £8,200 more than is available for children in England and Wales. Our Scottish child payment will lift an estimated 50,000 children out of relative poverty in 2023-24. I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer and indeed welcome the various measures that the Scottish Government is putting in place to help my Cowdenbeath constituents. Given that so many people face acute financial hardship, surely it should be all hands on deck? Is it not the case in that regard that Scottish Government interventions are, in fact, being undermined by the failure of the UK chancellor who, regrettably, still holds the key economic levers in Scotland, so for the UK chancellor's failure to step up and treat this crisis with the urgency required? Annabelle Ewing is absolutely correct and wouldn't it be better if we were all facing in the same direction on child poverty? The UK Government, as the First Minister said during FMQs, has failed to act or even understand the pressures that households are facing. We have repeatedly urged them to take more action to support hard-pressed households, including cutting VAT on household energy bills, taxing companies on excess profits and to match the 6 per cent uprating that we delivered for eight of our social security benefits, but they have failed to do so. The Scottish Government will continue to do what we can, but it wouldn't be better if the UK Government was to do the same. To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to local authorities for expanding the provision of sites for Roma or Traveller communities and reducing time on waiting lists. Thank you very much. The Scottish Government has provided up to £20 million to local authorities between 2021 and 2026 through the Gypsy Traveller Accommodation Fund for more and better accommodation. The second round of the fund opened on 31 March, and we have asked for proposals for projects that increase accommodation across councils who have identified the need for more pictures or a new site. We are also commissioning research during 2022-23 to make it easier for local authorities to identify and plan for unmet accommodation needs, and those actions will support our work in reducing waiting lists. I thank the minister for that response. The Clinity Traveller site in Aberdeen is already at capacity, and though the redevelopment plans are much needed and welcomed, the improvements will not increase capacity or tackle waiting lists. Will the Scottish Government consider implementing statutory reporting on delivery plans, site provision and waiting list actions so that a fuller picture can be provided of the needs of the community? Will the Scottish Government do more to recognise ancestral stopping sites that might help to address some of the issues that the community faces? I thank Maggie Chapman for that incredibly important question. There is already a range of obligations on local authorities to plan and report on Gypsy Traveller provision, including requirements in the Planning Scotland Act 2019 through local housing strategies and housing needs and demands assessments, and there is annual reporting to the Scottish Housing Regulator. If Maggie Chapman has other ideas on how we could do more of this, I would be much very happy to meet her and discuss those, but we also have in our joint action plan with COSLA, which includes an action to map traditional stopping places, which has still been progressed as we speak. In relation to capacity at the Clinity site, Aberdeen City Council anticipates that capacity will increase from 21 to 38 caravans while complying with fire safety regulations. I am also happy to discuss those points further and mark the progress if Maggie Chapman should wish that. I thank the minister for our update on the progress that has been made towards the Gypsy Traveller sites and new sites towards housing to 2040 in line with the 2019 action plan. In my committee, we heard evidence from COSLA that Gypsy Traveller sites had been deemed not suitable accommodation under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Can the minister give any indication that Gypsy Travellers here and those coming from the Ukraine will be supported in appropriate accommodation and what can the Scottish Government do to ensure that there is no discrimination in that process? A couple of questions. We have provided £2 million in 2021 for councils to make immediate improvements on public sites based on what their residents said they needed and all 19 councils with Gypsy Traveller sites received that allocation. The Gypsy Traveller community, when I met them a few weeks ago, I have community conversations with them very regularly. They raised the issue around the Homes for Ukraine scheme and I have raised that directly with the minister responsible, so I will write back to Clare Adamson with the response to that. However, through the first funding round of accommodation fund, just over £1 million was provided to three local authorities for specific projects. Final allocations to those projects will be agreed to 2023 and paid, and the projects in Aberdeen City, Clackmannushire and Fife councils will provide accommodation that better meets the needs of residents, including larger pitches. The design plan and procurement has progressed in all of those. The work will start in the sites this year. On the point about the Homes for Ukraine, I will come back to Clare Adamson on that. For a final time, can I refer to my register of interests as a serving East Lothian councillor to ask the Scottish Government how it works with East Lothian council in the delivery of local government services across the area? As Mr Hoy will know, as an elected councillor, at least for a short while yet, local authorities are independent entities with their own powers and responsibilities, and it is for councils to decide how they manage day-to-day service delivery and decision-making processes, albeit within statutory limits and boundaries. However, maintaining a close, constructive partnership with local government has and always will be a priority for this Government. That partnership approach is underpinned by regular meetings with councils and COSLA to understand their needs so that we can respond and support them accordingly. A range of portfolio, cabinet secretaries, ministers and officials also have regular contact on key shared priorities with individual local authorities, including East Lothian. Does the minister not accept that cash is key? No matter how hard the Government tries to spin it, we only need to look at the figures to see what they really think of our councils. In East Lothian, the SNP cut the council's core funding by £3 million in real terms in this year alone. In what way is slashing East Lothian's budget, while saddling the council with spending commitments for SNP policies, anything other than a cynical cash grab by centralising SNP ministers? I will not repeat what the First Minister stated at First Minister's questions earlier, except to emphasise that the Scottish Government has had a real-terms reduction of 5.2 per cent, whereas in our allocation to local authorities, there has been a 6.3 per cent real-terms increase compared to 2021-22. The figures for East Lothian will receive £213.3 million to fund local services this financial year, which equates to an extra £19.4 million to support vital day-to-day services, or an additional 10 per cent compared with 2021-22. In addition, all councils will receive their fair share of the currently undistributed sum of £93.9 million. It is important that we consider the wider context initiatives that the Scottish Government is taking, for example, the Scottish child payment, which are all additional supports for communities across the country. In concluding, I take this opportunity on behalf of the Scottish Government to thank all those who are retiring councillors for their public service. That concludes this portfolio. We will be a brief pause before we begin constitution, external affairs and culture. The next portfolio of questions is constitution, external affairs and culture, and those who would wish to ask a supplementary question should press their request-to-speak button during the relevant question, or enter R in the chat function during the relevant question. Again, succinct questions and answers would always be helpful to allow me to take all questions on the business bulletin. I call question 1, Pam Duncan-Glancy, who is joining us remotely. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions on the constitution secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding support for people with no recourse to public funds to access financial support. The Scottish Government and COSLA are working to deliver our joint ending destitution together strategy published in March 2021 to improve and strengthen support and provision for people who are subject to no recourse to public funds living in Scotland. The pioneering strategy is the first of its kind in the UK and has been delivered in partnership with third sector public services and local authorities over the next two years. The Scottish Government is providing £250,000 to support a Scottish crisis fund, co-ordinated by the British Red Cross, up to June 2022. The fund provides grants to people facing destitution who are experiencing barriers to accessing support. Pam Duncan-Glancy I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Over the past six months hundreds of people with no recourse to public funds have been supported with emergency cash through Scottish crisis funds delivered by the British Red Cross. The cabinet secretary is aware that the fund is currently a pilot and that, although there is a welcome work from a number of charities supporting refugees and asylum seekers at risk of destitution, getting money to people is one of the most cost effective ways to provide short-term help. Does the cabinet secretary agree that the cash payments must be at the heart of tackling destitution? Will she commit to expanding the reach of the Scottish crisis fund to ensure that this lifeline can reach everyone, such as people like Ukrainians currently on seasonal work visas at risk of being made destitute? Pam Duncan-Glancy makes some important points around the Scottish crisis fund. It was obviously important in providing emergency grants but also to capture data to improve our understanding of where and why destitution is occurring to inform our longer-term approach. The Scottish Government will be reviewing the data provided by the British Red Cross to help inform the next steps. I am happy to write to Pam Duncan-Glancy with that further update. Will the Scottish Government outline what actions IT and COSLA are taking via the strategic migration partnership to safeguard mental health and wellbeing among people with no recourse to public funds? The ending destitution together strategy includes an action to improve access to mental health services for people subject to no recourse to public funds by working to better understand the barriers to access and then collectively agree the practical actions that can be taken. The Scottish Government provided £223,000 funding to the Simon community Scotland and Safe in Scotland in 2021-22 to boost the direct practical support that it provides to meet the mental wellbeing needs of people with no recourse to public funds in Glasgow and Edinburgh, many of whom have PTSD or similar conditions related to the reasons that caused them to leave their home country. To ask what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the potential impact in Scotland of the outcome of the French presidential election. May I take the opportunity to repeat the congratulations of the Scottish Government and no doubt members right across the chamber on the re-election of President Emmanuel Macron for a second term. The result creates the opportunity for the Scottish Government, particularly through our office in Paris, to continue our collaborative work with the French Government on shared issues, such as culture, climate change, biodiversity, human rights and many others. It also creates the opportunity to reaffirm our shared and strongly held European values. I thank the cabinet secretary for his answer. Voders in France have recently joined those in a number of European countries by rejecting the far right with the dismissal of Marine Le Pen at the ballot box. What assurances can the cabinet secretary make to ensure that Scotland's politics will also remain internationalist and free of hate? The Scottish Government's approach to international engagement is built on the same values of fairness and inclusion that guide our policies at home, our international activities and domestic priorities are mutually reinforcing by offering our expertise and making a constructive contribution to addressing global challenges that we can continue to promote Scotland as a good global citizen. At the same time, our international work and our engagement informs the achievement of our domestic objectives, for instance, by advancing a just transition to a net zero nature positive wellbeing economy. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the culture minister has had with the minister for zero carbon buildings regarding work to install energy efficiency measures in cultural and heritage buildings. The Scottish Government is working with stakeholders, including Historic Environment Scotland, to develop approaches and solutions to decarbonise Scotland's historic buildings, while respecting and preserving the special characteristics of our buildings and place. Although I have not met Mr Harvey on this issue specifically, the Scottish ministers take collective responsibility for all decisions reached by the Scottish Government and will continue to do so, and that includes on our commitment that all buildings reach a good level of energy efficiency where technically feasible and cost-effective by 2033. Evidence taken at committee points to the fact that there has been no assessment of costs for retrofitting buildings. Will the Scottish Government commit to supporting the cultural and heritage sector making such an assessment? As I have just outlined, the Scottish Government has a commitment that all buildings reach a good level of energy efficiency where technically feasible and cost-effective by 2033. I know Historic Environment Scotland and others are doing a fantastic amount of work. I have recently visited the engine shed in Scotland in Stirling, which provides a huge amount of research support and training support for people carrying out work on our historic buildings, and to Holyrood Park Lodge just around the corner in terms of some of that retrofit work, which I encourage Mr Golden to visit both so that he can see the work that is going on to encourage the work in this space. Minister, in Edinburgh we have many historic buildings and sites that are faced with a twin impact of Covid and now rocketing energy prices. Can you say what additional funding to mitigate the impact of climate change and install energy efficiency measures will be given by the Scottish Government to ensure that those buildings are kept fit for purpose for the future? The Scottish Government supports historic buildings and monuments through the work of our Lead Public Body Historic Environment Scotland. That includes providing £14.5 million annually for grant schemes, which enable the repair and revitalisation of the historic environment. We are currently providing substantial free advice and offering targeted support to our SMEs to uptake energy efficiency measures in zero emission heating through Business Energy Scotland's support service that is delivered by the energy savings trust. If there are specific issues that Sarah Boyack has in terms of specific buildings that she is concerned about, then I would be happy to see that in writing and to respond appropriately. To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting historic environment Scotland to deliver its inspection programme and related to media works on the condition of an impact of climate change on heritage science. The current financial year, the Scottish Government will provide £70.1 million to support historic environment Scotland, maintaining our enhanced support, given the impact of the pandemic on its commercial income. Historic Environment Scotland's inspection programme, designed to assess the condition and the impact of climate change on some of Scotland's most significant heritage sites, is already under way. I continue to engage regularly with Historic Environment Scotland to discuss the progress of those inspections and the current and future outlook for our heritage sites. Thank you. The minister will know that a number of heritage sites are currently closed across my region of Mid Scotland and Fife. Those castles and sites are vital for attracting visitors and tourists, not least due to the outlander connection that we have. There are a couple of questions. How is the minister trying to quickly progress? How is he supporting Historic Environment Scotland to quickly progress the surveys? Also at the end of this, there will be quite a large price tag for remedial work. He has talked about, I think, £14 million a year and £70 million, but is that going to cover the cost of the anticipated remedial work and what discussions does he have with them to prepare for the kind of funding that is going to be required? Minister. Thank you. Clare Baker is fortunate in her region that she represents some 17 sites of interest in this area. I am sure that she would welcome the opportunity to visit some of those sites with Historic Environment Scotland to be able to see the work that is being progressed there. The closures and access restrictions are clearly regrettable but necessary. I am sure that members will appreciate that health and safety must remain the top priority by restricting access. Historic Environment Scotland is making sure that it does not expose visitors and his colleagues to any possible risks. I continue to discuss the closures and restrictions regularly with Historic Environment Scotland and will continue to impress on them the need for their communication plan to provide clarity and consistency for sector stakeholders and the public as we approach the summer visiting season. The inspection in terms of finances and the inspection programme is ongoing. Historic Environment Scotland is working hard to uncover the extent of the issues faced at all its properties and care for us to take a full assessment on terms of cost from there. Can I thank the minister for accompanying me on the recent site visit hosted by Historic Environment Scotland to Llynyddgo Palace in my constituency to hear about and see the extent of high-level masonry repairs that are required to ensure safe and possibly phased reopening of Llynyddgo Palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, tourism and businesses in the town needed to reopen to attract trade. Can the minister commit to prioritising the timescale and funding needed to ensure that Llynyddgo Palace opens safely and in a timely manner? Yes, of course. I thank Fiona Hyslop for her invite and for allowing me the opportunity to be able to see much closer inspection at Llynyddgo Palace. The condition of Llynyddgo Palace in March and the risk of falling masonry that it poses to visitors and staff, it brought home to both of us the impact of accelerating climate change on her historic environment. I would encourage members again who have properties and care in their constituency or region, who are affected by access restrictions to arrange a site visit with Historic Environment Scotland, to speak to its conservation experts. Those access restrictions remain unfortunate and frustrating for us all, but there are compelling reasons behind why they are necessary at this time. I am keen that the inspection surveys are carried out as quickly as possible to re-establish access for visitors to our precious historic sites. 5. Annie Wells, who is joining us remotely. To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing to support the revival of cultural and heritage institutions in Glasgow city centre in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the course of the pandemic, the Scottish Government has announced £256 million of support to the culture, creative heritage and event sectors. That includes a £20.8 million fund administered by Creative Scotland to support cultural organisations as a result of the Omicron restrictions. Creative Scotland will publish the recipients of its fund shortly. Three Glasgow-based culture and heritage organisations received funding are the Under Historic Environment Scotland's Historic Environment Recovery fund, totaling £88.9,000. The Scottish Government has contributed over £7.5 million to the refurbishment of the burl collection. Discussions are on-going regarding the Scottish Government's support towards the refurbishment of the Citizen's Theatre. Annie Wells Thank the minister for that answer. Cultural and heritage institutions will play a vital part in attracting people back into Glasgow city centre. However, like many other organisations, they face a business rates cliff edge at the end of June. Will the Scottish Government therefore consider strategic use of rates relief to support these institutions, as has been called for by many a number of leading arts organisations? I am sure that Annie Wells will be familiar with the fact that the Scottish Government has already funded the most competitive rates regime in the UK and has gone over and above the UK's scheme in providing support to our businesses and ratepayers across Scotland. If she would have a particular proposal that she would like to pro-offer, I would be happy to hear it, as would Government colleagues, to ensure that we are providing all necessary support to the institutions that she and I hope can recover as quickly as possible, not just from an economic perspective but clearly from a well-being perspective, too. The minister is reassuring to hear the support available for cultural institutions, but it is also worth remembering that freelancers remain a vital element of Scotland's cultural sector. Can the minister provide any update on the hardship fund for creative freelancers? Minister, we are a bit wider than the actual question, but perhaps we could deal with it briefly. I thank Gillian Martin. It is an important area that I appreciate that freelancers have been particularly affected by the Covid-19 measures. The Scottish Government has most recently provided over £10 million to support freelancers in the form of two funds administered by Creative Scotland. The cancellation fund for creative freelancers made awards totaling £2.9 million, and the hardship fund for creative freelancers made awards totaling more than £7.5 million, and the list of those recipients will be published shortly by Creative Scotland. To ask the Scottish Government when it last held talks with the UK Government about devolving immigration powers to Scotland. Thank you, Presiding Officer. We have clearly set out how devolution of migration powers would work in our January 2020 paper. In February, I wrote a joint letter with my Welsh and Northern Irish counterparts to the UK Minister for Safe and Legal Migration, calling for immediate changes to the immigration system and for regular engagement. On 28 April last week, I met the UK Minister to discuss a range of migration issues, including those. Despite that, there has been no positive response from the UK Government. It is therefore clear that, only through independence and restoration of freedom of movement, we can best properly tackle Scotland's population challenges. Rona Mackay I thank the minister for that answer. My office manager and his husband have been asked by a Ukrainian family friend to sponsor their 16-year-old while his parents are trapped in the Donbass region. It has been 10 days since the application was submitted and they are still waiting on an update from the Home Office. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that powers over immigration must be devolved to Scotland so that we can waive the requirement for visas and allow refugees to get here as quickly and safely as possible? I sympathise with Rona Mackay's constituents in this case and, sadly, people remain at the mercy of the Home Office visa-processing arrangements rather than properly fund a humanitarian resettlement scheme. The homes for Ukraine and family schemes are characterised by significant administrative issues, complex application processes and unacceptable delays for individuals forced to flee their homeland. The UK is now in the unenwale position of being the only major European country without a legal route for unaccompanied children, without a family connection, which exposes highly vulnerable children to preventable harm. I raised those points with the UK Minister for Immigration last Thursday and, while Scotland stands ready to assist within the current system, we remain of the view that the UK must follow the example of the EU and waive visas for Ukrainian refugees. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the discussions that has had with the UK Government regarding the support, including funding for local authorities for displaced people settling in Scotland under a UK family scheme. We continue to raise the need to provide the same level of critical support to all Ukrainians and their families and, crucially, for parity of funding, no matter the sponsorship scheme that that person is under. I have raised that repeatedly with the UK Government and raised it again with the UK Government's Minister for Refugees in a letter on 25 April and followed it up when I met him last week. I know that the Welsh Government's position is exactly the same as ours. I also encourage the UK Government to replicate our super sponsor approach, which will provide greater safeguarding protections. Those uniting with their families needs to access health, education and support services to our local authorities. We want to support people, regardless of the scheme that they have arrived through, but they must receive a quality of funding to do so. I thank the minister for that answer. Does the minister agree with me that the UK Government's approach to crisis in Ukraine has, from the start, been too slow and piecemeal to effectively address the scale of the challenge and that it must urgently provide what financial aid Scottish local authorities need to fully implement their support programmes for refugees and asylum seekers? Yes, I do. The pace of the UK Government's Ukrainian visa schemes is particularly disappointing and frustrating for hosts and, most importantly, for the displaced people who are desperately seeking somewhere to settle. The bureaucratic administrative system that the UK Government has put in place to respond to a humanitarian crisis is leaving many Ukrainians in perilous situations awaiting clearance. Comparable financial support must be made available to local authorities to support people who come through the family scheme. There should be no unbuilt discrimination in how displaced people arrive here. In addition, given the fragility of private sponsorship, we must be prepared to rematch people into alternative accommodation if there is a breakdown in host arrangements. That will also incur additional costs and we must ensure appropriate funding is in place to support that. Our local authorities want and need to provide the same level of critical support, regardless of the scheme that Ukrainians arrive through. I have repeatedly urged the UK Government to provide that parity of funding across family and support sponsorship schemes, as has the Welsh Government, and I will continue to do so. One problem that we repeatedly hear that refugees are facing—not just those from Ukraine, but from the experience of Afghan and Syrian refugees too—is a lack of translation and interpretation resources, which can be huge roadblock to setting into the new country. What more can the Scottish Government do to ensure that those resources are available to the refugees who we welcome into Scotland? I am grateful to the Ukrainian community in Scotland who are stepping up on a voluntary basis to support translation services. I do not have a responsibility in terms of the Afghan or the Syrian schemes, but I know that the Scottish Government commitment to support people, regardless of where they come from, is clear. If the foysal charity would require further detail on that, I would be more unhappy to provide it in writing. Given the Home Office's bigger show, only 20 per cent of those who hold visas under the Homes for Ukraine scheme have made it to the UK. Will the Scottish Government renew their calls to the UK Government to waive visa requirements for all Ukrainian refugees across Scotland and the rest of the UK? Frankly, to it, if time just is not good enough. I absolutely agree with Stephanie Callaghan that she is absolutely right to raise the concern that I very much share, which is that the slow pace of visa processing has meant that there has been problems in people getting here. Having the visas translate into arrivals is a major concern of mine, so I remain very frustrated at the pace of the UK Government's visa schemes. We now see the consequences of this decision and reports of hundreds of people abandoning their efforts to come to the UK altogether, yet we know households across the UK want to welcome displaced Ukrainians to the UK and provide them with a place of safety in our communities. I raised those points with the UK Minister for Immigration last Thursday, and while Scotland stands ready to assist within the current system, we remain of the EU. The UK must follow the example of the EU and waive visas for Ukrainian refugees. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of its international officers. Scotland's international network creates domestic opportunities, attracts investment and ultimately benefits the people of Scotland. Our international officers use a range of qualitative and quantitative indicators across five outcomes. An update on that work was provided to the Constitution, Europe External Affairs and Culture Committee as part of their inquiry into the Scottish Government's international work. I have recently undertaken visits to Ireland, the United States, Canada and Germany, supported by our international officers and respective countries' visits, which have demonstrated all of those priorities in action. Alexander Stewart. I thank the cabinet secretary for that response. The Scottish Government's international officers collectively have a budget of nearly £8 million of taxpayer's money, but it was only noted in the recent report by the Constitutional External Affairs and Culture Committee that any reports on their activities have only been available up to now in response to freedom of information requests. Will the cabinet secretary commit to publishing an annual report on the work of those officers so that future scrutiny and activities undergo the proper scrutiny within the Parliament? Can I first say that I would urge Alexander Stewart and all other colleagues with an interest in this area to take every opportunity to recognise the excellent work that has been undertaken on all or behalf by Scotland's representatives and Scotland's officers around the world? As I noted during my committee appearance, I was pleased to see the cross-party enthusiasm and consensus for the excellent job that Scotland's international officers do day-to-day. We will respond to the committee's report in due course. I look forward to the colleagues' participation in the debate next week on that. We will respond in due course on the particular point that we are committed to a continuous process to make sure that the work that is undertaken by our international network is measurable, transparent and available to the public. Can the cabinet secretary elaborate on the ways in which the new Copenhagen office will assist the Scottish Government's implementation of the renewed Nordic Baltic policy statement and promote relationships with the countries in that region? That is an excellent question because our new Copenhagen office will seek to increase Scotland's economic and cultural visibility in the Nordic region, promoting co-operation around shared challenges and seizing the commercial opportunities that come with it. The office will, for instance, build on the extensive partnerships between Scotland and Nordic countries around energy transition, decarbonisation and renewable technologies. It will also expand existing co-operation on digitalisation, the blue economy and the creative industries. That concludes portfolio questions on constitutional external affairs and culture. I will allow a short pause in order that front-bench teams can switch positions should they wish.