 Rwy'n dechrau eu panfell, a'i eu cyfnodau a'r eistedd i'r cyflwymon sydd wedi ardal y gallai dd cruising, a oedd yn gweithio i ddurigiaethol Cerddorfolk gan Myrre Fffy. Felly, udydd yn gweithio i ddurigiaethol Cerddorfolk gan gweithreffordd. Rwy'n dechrau i gweithreffordd, ac i gweithreffordd i ddurigiaethol Cerddorfolk yn gweithreffordd. Mae'n cyffredin ni'n ddurigiaethol Cerddorfolk yn gweithreffordd. oes i ddechrau'r ddaeth o ddechrau'r ddechrau'r ddaeth o cyfnodau cyfnodau strategiol ac oes i ddweud. Mary Fee. As a cabinet secretary is aware, last week the Justice Sub-Committion on Policing published its report on the governance of the SPA. That report says that the committee does not have confidence that the current chair is the best person to lead the board. That follows similar concerns from the Public Audit Committee. We know that under the current Felly, mae'r lleiddiad iddo agor ddinsigol, y cyfleidiau krytidol, y lliwyr brydiau dipwyddio, a dweithio rhai o'r cyfleidiau ddefnyddio i'r treiddiad brydiau yn Moall. Andrew Flanagan wedyn yn ei ddod i Gymru a wedyn ei ddod i gyfleidiau deiswadau yng nghydweithiaeth i gynhygoel i hefyd i gwybodd hyn i gael iawn. Isau gweithio yn gwybodaeth, ac yn ei ddynnu i gllawh y sydd i'r cyfleidiau a dda pech cyfleidiau ar yr ysgolfau that Mr Flanagan's position is untenable and that he should go? I am conscious of the issues that have been raised by the sub-committee on policing, which provided us with a copy of the report last Thursday. As I am sure that the member will recognise, we will give very careful consideration to that report and the findings of that report. Alongside the issues that have been highlighted by the Public Audit Committee, and to take those issues into account alongside the other evidence that our sub-committee received, and that the Public Audit Committee received in looking at those matters. Once we have considered all those matters, we will then be in a position where we can then, as is very clearly, respond to those matters and our position on the position of the chair of the SPA. However, I am sure that the member will recognise that it is important that ministers and the Government do consider those issues carefully. I can give the member an absolute assurance that we will consider the findings of our sub-committee's report carefully in arriving at the Scottish Government's position on that matter. Andrew Flanagan has lost the confidence of MSPs from all parties, including Government-backed benchers. It is clear that his position is untenable. It seems that Mr Flanagan and the Justice Secretary are the last two people to see that. We need a drastic overhaul of how the SPA is run, and that must start with the very top of the SPA board. We need leadership from the Scottish Police Authority, but we do not have that at the moment. If Andrew Flanagan is not going to do the right thing in resign, then we need leadership from the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government approved Andrew Flanagan's appointment as chair. If the Cabinet Secretary will not withdraw that now, I simply ask what will it take for the Government to take action? I have given an assurance that we will consider the findings of our sub-committee's report. Once we have had the opportunity to consider that in detail, we will then be able to respond to those matters, alongside that considering the issues that have been raised by the Public Audit Committee. I am sure that the member would recognise that it is important that ministers give further consideration to those issues in coming to determination on those matters. On the wider issue around the SPA structure and the way in which it operates, the member will be aware that I have asked HMICS to bring forward the particular aspect of its inspection, its statutory inspection, which was due to take place later this year, to look at the issue of governance. HMICS has already agreed to do that specifically and intend to publish a report by 22 June on those issues. A point that was highlighted by the Public Audit Committee and, in a letter to me, welcomed the decision that I made in asking for this work to be undertaken. It is important that we consider those issues and reassure them that we are considering those issues very carefully and that we want to make sure that they are being appropriately addressed. On the wider issue around SPA governance and the SPA structure aspect, there is no doubt that there are aspects of the way in which the SPA has operated over the past four years that have not worked as well as it should have. There are areas in which I believe that it could make further improvements. I have been very clear about the need for the SPA to ensure that it operates in an open and transparent manner. I have repeatedly made that clear as a priority in the way in which it undertakes its processes in considering matters. There is no doubt that there have been improvements in the way in which the SPA has been operating. For example, as was led by the evidence given to the Public Audit Committee, the way in which it is considered such as C3, the way in which we now have the relationship between the SPA and the executive team within Police Scotland has improved significantly as well. The way in which it is taking forward the work around developing the 2026 strategy has shown clear improvements that have been made. I recognise the concerns that have been raised by our own sub-committee and members of the Public Audit Committee. I can give the member an assurance that he will be considered very carefully and at the Government's income tip position once it is considered all of these matters. Douglas Ross Cabinet Secretary, the evidence is very clear from the Justice Sub-Committee to the Public Audit Committee, from MSPs of all parties and indeed from former board members. Andrew Flanagan's time as chair of the Scottish Police Authority should be over and is certainly untenable to continue. Yes or no, does the Scottish Government continue to have full faith in Andrew Flanagan as chair of the Scottish Police Authority? As I have just said to the member, we will consider the findings of both the committee's work in this particular area and then come to decision on this issue. I am surprised at a member who, as a partner of the spokesperson on justice, would not want to ensure that we go through a due process in considering those issues. It is important that the Government ministers give careful consideration to those issues in coming to a decision. That is exactly what we will do. Once we have completed that process, we will then set out a position in this matter. John Finnie Cabinet Secretary, it is certainly my personal view that Mr Flanagan's position is untenable and he must go. I am sure that you will agree with me that we must have vibrant and diverse public boards. Can you indicate whether, in your response to both the committee reports, you will consider the impact that his conduct has had on the likelihood of being able to recruit women and ethnic minority people to those boards? The member might raise an important issue, because the Government is very clear about the need to make sure that we have greater diversity on our public bodies. I recently made some further appointments to the SPA, and I have already ridden to the chair of the SPA in recent weeks, highlighting the need to get greater diversity on the board, which is extremely important. That is why it is also extremely important that, when ministers consider those types of issues, we do have a due process that we go through in considering those types of concerns when they are being raised so that we do not dissuade people from thinking about applying for appointments to public boards when those issues are being raised with ministers. I can give the member an absolute assurance. I am very clear, not just with the SPA but with any boards within the justice setting, that they need to make sure that they are doing everything possible in order to increase diversity within their membership and that they should be looking to take forward proactive measures that can assist in achieving that. For example, it is not always necessary to go for direct appointments if there is no space to actually make direct appointments, but what you can do is to support the work of public bodies that can help to encourage greater diversity, giving people the experience of the work that that particular board might be undertaking with a view to applying for a place on the board at some point in the future. As a Government, we are very clear about the need to get greater diversity in looking at legislation in order to help to facilitate that. I am very clear, as justice secretary, that in all boards within the justice sector we need to see greater diversity. Recent track records on appointments to boards will demonstrate that we are making significant progress in increasing the number of women in particular on our justice boards, and I am determined to make sure that we continue to drive that forward. Liam McArthur The cabinet secretary will have heard the statement from Andrew Flanagan at the Justice Sub-Committee last week. There is no doubting that it was extremely contrite. He did offer an apology, but I think that the point that was being made by a number of members was that the position that he held was undermined and that the actual SPA itself would be inhibited in moving forward for as long as he remained chair. Given that, at the most recent SPA meeting last week, again concerns were being raised by board members about the publication in advance of papers, does he not believe that the culture shift that we all want to see in the SPA will not be possible until there is a change at the top? Liam McArthur The member will be aware that the SPA made a decision at its board meeting on 25 May to move its committees back to a presumption on the basis that it would take place in public and that papers would be published in advance. I have been very clear with the SPA about the need to make sure that they are open and transparent about the way in which they conduct their business. The member will recognise that it has been highlighted the need for private space in some of the SPA's work, given the sensitive nature and the confidential nature of some of the information that they are provided with, particularly where it relates to operational matters for Police Scotland and that a space needs to be provided for those discussions and for the sharing of that information to also be able to take place. My view is that the presumption in favour of sub-committees and board conduct taking place in a public forum is the right one and the approach that it should be taking. That is why I have also asked HMICS to bring forward the early part of its statutory inspection that was due to take place in the autumn of this year to look specifically at the issue of governance within the SPA. That work has already started by HMICS and I will report by 22 June. I have no doubt that it will help to support looking at what further measures the SPA needs to put in place. I recognise the need to make sure that the SPA is operating in an open and transparent manner. I have been very clear with it over an extended period of time to ensure that the processes and mechanisms that it has in place are able to deliver that effectively. We know that the chair of the Scottish Police Authority did not tell his board about a letter from Derek Penman advising of a forthcoming inspection. Now we understand that, on a previous occasion, Mr Flanagan did not share an advice note on forensic services with the board. Does the cabinet secretary believe that this is a further example of a lack of transparency and does the chair of any public body behaving in this way meet the Scottish Government's own guidance to those serving on public boards? As the member will be aware, Andrew Flanagan has accepted that he should have passed that note on to the other members of his board and accepts that there was an error made on his part, which is unacceptable. We need to ensure that chairs of any public body are passing on the relevant information to other members of the board in order to allow them to come to an informed position on matters when they are also being discussed. The issue around the advice note is one that also the chair has accepted that it should have passed on to board members. Again, it is a matter that we will consider in looking at the matter in the whole. I want to reassure members that the Government will come to a position on the matter, but it is appropriate that we consider all the facts and all the information that is being provided, in part for the very reason that was highlighted by John Finnie about individuals being attracted to stand and to work on our public bodies to ensure that there is a due process that ministers and Government will go through in considering those matters and then coming to a decision. A failure to do so, my concern would be that it would dissuade people from being prepared to go into public appointments and we want to avoid that from happening. That is why we will consider those matters very carefully and in a detailed way and we will then come to a decision on this issue. 2. Margaret Mitchell Tass, the Scottish Government, in light of the disruption over the bank holiday weekend, arising from the M8, M73 and M74 improvement projects, will it confirm the completion date of the work and provide details on how Transport Scotland plans to reduce the level of disruption? Following on from the opening of the new M8 motorway in April and the M74 Wraith underpass in February, the final sections of the new and improved M8, M73 and M74 motorways will open fully across the M8, M73 and M74 project over the coming days. More traffic management is being removed across the project each day, with the motorways expected to be fully open by the end of this week. As is usual for projects of this nature, the contractor will now focus on necessary finishing and snagging works and local and road improvements that have been held back until the new roads were available. Those works will continue until at least September, but will not affect peak-time traffic flows. Margaret Mitchell I thank the cabinet secretary for that response, and I would be very surprised if, by the end of this week, we could properly describe the roadworks that have been completed. What I can say is that, in the meantime, there are still major problems with the lack of or inadequate signage, which is an issue that I raised with the minister for transport in February. His response was that he would look into the issue, and since then, nothing has been done, in particular to indicate which lane to take for the new east cobride underpass layout. In addition to that, the delays that commuters are experiencing have been exacerbated by new road configurations and totally inadequate signage for diversions. As a result, countless numbers of drivers have found themselves completely lost with all the chaos that ensues. Furthermore, the delays in chaos are being added to by a lack of co-ordination of the works carried out by Transport Scotland and those by the local authority. Will the cabinet secretary now categorically commit to looking at the vexing issues, with a view to finding an effective solution? Cabinet secretary, I have responded to every letter that has been sent to me by the member. If there is one that has been missed out, I am happy to look at that, but if there are a number that she knows of representations from both her and other members, I have sought to respond to all of those, and, as I said, I will look to any outstanding ones to make sure that that happens. I did not say that the roads that have been completed by the end of next week—that is not what I said. I said that the major roads will be opened fully. As I went on to say, the snagging works that are necessary for finishing the local road improvements will continue until at least September, but they will not affect peak-time traffic flows. It is also true to say that, in a project such as this, and I will let you remind ourselves, half a billion pounds of work, I promise that, in relation to the rates that were exchanged by the Tories more than 30 years ago, it has taken this Government to do that. For the first time, there has been a motorway between Edinburgh and Glasgow, the whole way, it has taken this Government to do that, both of those that have been opened ahead of schedule. However, at this stage in the project, this is when roads have to be tied in, and it can cause disruption. For which I apologise, we do not want to see disruption happening. The contractors have tried very hard to do over the quieter period of the bank holiday overnight, when they have done that. However, in relation to the final point, if there are any further issues in terms of signage, any issues to which I have not responded to the member are more than happy to look at that. I thank the cabinet secretary for that response. However, the impact of the improvement project does not stop with mere delays in potential chaos. It is also having a seriously worrying adverse effect on businesses in the Lanarkshire area. For example, a number of businesses involved in Addingston have contacted me about a substantial loss of revenue, as a result of which a number of those businesses are closing or planning to close due to lack of football and cancellations. Some businesses are reporting a staggering 80 per cent drop in turnover. Businesses in the Birkenshaws trading estate in Addingston report having lost tens of thousands of pounds of turnover over the past few weeks, as a result of the M8 no longer offering a turn-off to Addingston. Similar problems have been reported elsewhere in Motherwall Hamilton and surrounding districts. In view of that, will the minister undertake to join with me in meeting with those businesses to hear first-hand their concerns and to find a solution to mitigate the adverse impact that the project is having on their businesses and the local economy? As I have said previously, I am more than happy to hear representations from the member if there is a letter that has not been answered. The issues that she has just raised, she has also raised with me and I have responded to them previously. If she has new issues, perhaps she could let me know and I am more than happy to look at those issues. However, what I think is remarkable and, of course, I do not deny for a second that there has been disruption. It is not possible to have, especially in the online sections of those roads, long-awaited improvements without disruption to traffic. It is simply not possible to do that. However, I think that it is remarkable that there is not one word of congratulation from Margaret Mitchell and the Conservatives over a fantastic infrastructure project that will bring major benefits to the central Scotland motorway network. I do not deny that there has been disruption, of course there has. There will always be in relation to those projects, but that is a tremendous project that should have been done decades ago. Once again, it has fallen to this Government to bring forward improvements. The M8 being a motorway the whole way between Edinburgh and Glasgow, you would think that Main Street Scotland would have had a motorway before and now it has not happened. The Wraith interchange, which I have had many representations of people saying that it has dramatically reduced their journey times, is not one word of that from the Conservatives. Of course, I will look at the issues that Margaret Mitchell has raised, but perhaps just once the Tory's could commend this Government and the contractors for the work done in bringing forward this fantastic project. Richard Lyle Can I say to the cabinet secretary that both those roads are in my constituency? I was on the M8 and M74 on Friday and travelled to Glasgow airport. Would the cabinet secretary agree with me that this £500 million contract, as I would suggest coming near to an end, with mainly landscape work to be done, can he personally communicate my thanks to SRP and to Transport Scotland for dealing with my constituency's needs timelessly and most of the emails that have likely been sent to Margaret Mitchell have also came to me and I have forwarded them on to him. I personally thank you for the work that you have done and also for the ffensing that you have put up at St John the Baptist School, which was long overdue and was not going to be done, but because of your work and the minister's work, it is now going to be done. I am not sure that there is a question in there, minister, but if you wish to briefly reply. It is an important point that Richard Lyle has raised many of the same issues that Margaret Mitchell has raised and I have sought to respond to him as well. In relation to the M74, of course, that does not include the extension to the M74. Under a long-delayed project, which has brought major benefits to the west of Scotland right the way through to the airport, I am glad that Richard Lyle could at least acknowledge that there have been problems, but there is a major benefit from those infrastructure projects. I would like to associate my remarks with Dick Lyle. As the cabinet secretary knows, I am full of praise for the project. I think that it is a wonderful project and it should be praised and for all the work that has been done. I know that it is the biggest project in Europe, but I would like to ensure that the cabinet secretary is aware that most people who use these roads believe that there is just a lack of information. That is the only weakness, and I think that it is only yesterday that someone wrote to me and said that they were queuing up for hours at midnight on the 88. I just wanted to make sure that the cabinet secretary was aware of that. I think that the weakness is in the lack of information and diversion. If it was not for that, I think that people would feel a little happy, but I do not want to detract them anyway from the project that I think is to be commended. I thank Pauline McNeill for her remarks. I also say that it is not actually the largest project. Even in Scotland, the AWPR is £750 million, but it is long-awaited. I acknowledge the point that Pauline McNeill makes about the disruption that has been caused. The very fact that the example that she gave happened at night is that she seeks to close the roads at times when there is least traffic on them. I acknowledge that there has also been issues with signage and communication, which I have raised a number of times with the contractor. We are coming to the very final part of that, which is when a lot of very quick changes have to be made in order to tie in the roads. I will pass on again the remarks of Margaret Mitchell and Pauline McNeill to the contractor for the last final few days.