 Rwy'n credu'r cwestiynau y cwestiynau yng Nghymru, Clare Baker. To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to deal with antisocial behaviour on quad bikes. Minister, Paul Wheelhouse. Section 126 of the Antisocial behaviour at Central Scotland Act 2004 provides powers for the police to seize vehicles being used in a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance. The Scottish Government supports the work of Police Scotland to deal with vehicles that are being used antisocialy. Local community policing teams are ideally placed to engage with members of the community. To identify areas that are causing concern, which can be prioritised for proactive patrols to prevent repeat instances of such behaviour and deal with any offences. Clare Baker. I thank the minister for the answer. Not only is antisocial behaviour happening in farmland and grassland, it is increasingly a nuisance and a threat on pavements and in urban streets. I recognise the minister is new into the post and I wish him well in his new role. Is the Government open to the option of strengthening fixed penalty notices to deal with this problem and to give the police more tools in the box? Minister. I would certainly be happy to have a discussion with Clare Baker on the issues. If there are any proactive ideas that she can bring forward to tackle this issue, it is worth stressing that we do have specific offences which can be taken forward in terms of activities that are happening off-road and indeed those on-road, depending on which section the act, the Road Traffic Act 1988, applies. There are things that can be done. We know that the police can proactively patrol areas to make sure that they clamp down on antisocial behaviour, but I am willing to listen to any positive ideas that members can bring forward and I am happy to meet Clare Baker on that basis. Question 2, Alex Ferguson. To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on tackling rural crime. Cabinet Secretary, Michael Matheson. Tackling crime, including rural crime, is an operational matter for Police Scotland. Local policing remains the bedrock of Police Scotland's activities and has been strengthened under the single service. Now all 14 divisions have a designated local commander to work with communities, councils and other partners to shape and deliver local policing. The Scottish Government funds Neighbourhood Watch Scotland and its well-respected alert system that allows individuals, businesses, Police Scotland and other agencies to share general safety messages and alerts. Farm Watch and Rural Watch areas across Scotland enable specific alerts about thefts, appeals for information and messages relating to work being carried out on and around farms to be shared quickly and easily. Mr Ferguson. I am grateful to the cabinet secretary for his response and may I congratulate him on his elevation to the cabinet. Despite the figures that he has given, the fact is that rural crime cost Scotland almost £2 million in 2013. Ayrshire seemed to be a particular hotspot costing the local economy very nearly half a million in that same year. Just last weekend, there was a theft of goods worth £6,000 from a farm near Hoik, oil, tools and particularly quad bikes. Machinery and garden equipment seemed to be the top items that are targeted now. Obviously, in rural areas, greater geographical distances and a lower concentration of police resources make tackling rural crime more difficult. On top of the steps that the cabinet secretary has detailed, can I ask what further the Government might do to try to ensure that these barriers of rurality, if you like, are overcome? Cabinet secretary. I do appreciate that there are specific aspects around policing within rural areas that create additional challenges that are important. One of the things that I am keen to see the Scottish Police Authority considering is how, given the data that we have received this week that shows that crime in Scotland is at a 40-year low, there are areas within that data that identify whether there has been an increase in particular types of crime, the very types of crime that the member makes reference to. In my discussion with Vic Emory, who is the chair of the Scottish Police Authority yesterday, I was keen to explore with him how he will reflect that in his policing strategy at a localised level, reflecting on that particular data. I am keen to make sure that the local policing plans, which we now have for all 32 of our local authority areas and also the local scrutiny committees within local authority areas, have a role to play in considering that type of data and to then look at how that can then be reflected in future policing plans within the local area in order to reflect the particular rural dimension but also to reflect the particular needs within that community in itself. Christine Grahame. While local policing plans are good and well, there are concerns that there are insufficient specialists while live crime officers in Scotland. In conversations in your new post, cabinet secretary, with the SP and Police Scotland, can you raise those concerns, particularly with the chief constable? Tackling wildlife crime, of course, is an important issue. There is a team within Police Scotland of officers who have specialisms in this particular field. If the member has some specific suggestions that she feels that the Scottish Police Authority should be considering, along with Police Scotland, I would be more than happy to consider them as well. However, it is important that we make sure that we take forward a whole range of measures that can help to reduce wildlife crime. There are already a certain range of measures that are presently in place in order to look at how we can build on that in the work that has been done over recent years, but if the member has some specific suggestions that she feels could assist in tackling wildlife crime much more effectively, then I would be more than happy to hear from the member and to consider how the Police Authority could look at taking these forward. John Mason, to ask the Scottish Government what the economic benefits of immigration from the European Union are to Scotland. Minister Hamza Yousaf. The Scottish Government recognises the importance of migration for healthy population growth and sustainable economic growth as well. EU migrants play a valuable role in our economic prosperity and will always be welcome in Scotland. The UCL report from earlier this month made the value of EU migrants clear that, found between 2001 and 2011, recent European migrants made a net contribution to the UK economy of £20 billion. John Mason. I thank the minister very much for that response. My understanding is that there are certain sectors in our economy that are very dependent on folk from overseas, including the European Union. Would he join me in deploring the anti-immigration hysteria that has been encouraged by some political parties? Minister. The member makes a valid point. We have concerns and tensions over migration exist. We have a duty to address them, but politicians must not be tempted to use inflammatory rhetoric in the pursuit of cheap political gain. Disheartened and angry is how I felt when I read the comments from UK defence secretary Michael Fallon talking about towns and cities being swamped and under siege from immigrants. We must all condemn such distasteful language as, frankly, is out of the British national party's handbook. Immigrants do contribute. They contribute culturally, they contribute socially and they even contribute, thank God for it, through their cuisines. So EU migrants and many others are very, very welcome to Scotland indeed. Jamie McGregor. Thank you. I fully recognise the many benefits that immigration has brought to Scotland, especially from Eastern Europe, to the tourism industry, especially in my region of the Highlands and Islands. But does the minister agree with me that it's paramount that we ensure we have a fair immigration system favouring those who want to come here to work hard and contribute to Scottish society rather than those who only wish to reap benefits? Minister. You know, I don't see anybody and never come across a politician or a political party that's advocated for illegal immigration. All of us want to clamp down on those who choose to abuse the system. That is absolutely correct. But we must understand that being part of the European Union, for every person that comes from Eastern Europe and to work here, of course we have a Scot that has a retirement villa in the Costa del Sol. So it's a two-way process and we enjoy that two-way process. But I agree with the member that there are vital sectors that need immigration. The UK Government's immigration rules are completely counterproductive to filling those skills gap. That is why the Institute of Directors, the STUC and University of Scotland were asking and requesting some measure of devolve or devolution over immigration. We'll chew over what the Smith commission has said over that and it's part of the issues of further consideration. I'm sure that the member for the geography that he represents will wish to make further representation on that, too. Question 4, Gavin Brown. To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has in respect of the non-domestic rate system. Cabinet Secretary, John Swinney. This Government remains committed to maintaining the most competitive tax environment available anywhere in the United Kingdom. Can I thank the minister for that answer and also congratulate him on his new role as deputy, First Minister for Scotland? Does the Scottish Government support a continuation of the below inflation cap on the increase for non-domestic rates? First of all, can I thank Mr Brown for his kind remarks, which are greatly appreciated. In relation to the approach on business rates, the Government remains committed to the two things. First of all, to updating business rates in line with the September RPI figures, which is the normal metrics by which that is undertaken, but also to ensuring that the business rates poundage in Scotland is equal to that south of the border. That will be the approach that the Government takes in any future decisions. Question 5, Kevin Stewart. To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the integration of health and social care. Cabinet Secretary, Shona Robison. The Public Bodies Joint Working Scotland Act came into effect in April 2014. A full public consultation on the regulations and orders that support the act has been conducted. Those regulations and orders have now been laid with the Scottish Parliament and are due to come into effect in December. The partnerships are currently developing their integration schemes. Those must be submitted to the Scottish Government by 1 April 2015. In Aberdeen, we have seen a dramatic rise in delayed discharge since the inception of the arms-length company Bonacord Care. When the SNP was in power in Aberdeen, delayed discharges were at zero. Will the minister foresee any problems with the integration of health and social care in areas where councils have passed the delivery of care on to arms-length companies? First, I will say to the member that he can be assured that delayed discharge is absolutely my top priority going forward. It is obviously up to local partnerships to take a collective view on the provision of health and social care services delivered in that area. I am sure that the member will be aware that one of the key problems in Aberdeen with delayed discharge is the fact that the challenges over recruitment and retention of staff to deliver that care. We know that Aberdeen is an area of low unemployment with a strong economy and there are significant challenges in being able to attract potential employees to that sector. One of the things that I can tell the member about is that he may well be aware of the discussions that are happening between NHS Grampian and Aberdeen City Council, who are working together to identify land assets that could be developed as low-cost affordable housing to help with that on-going recruitment problem in the area. That is certainly something that I am very keen that both organisations pursue and it is something that I have asked to be kept up-to-date with on a regular basis. Neil Findlay. Integration of health and social care is vital for dealing with delayed discharge. Given the crisis in local government finance, where in the earth are councils expected to find a match funding demanded in the First Minister's statement of yesterday? Of course, local government has received a higher percentage share of funding than happened under the previous Labour administration. I can say to Neil Findlay that the critical element here is the integration of health and social care. For too long, health and local governments have had their budgets in two separate silos, working in two separate silos. In between those silos are the vulnerable elderly people, in many cases, who are not getting the quality of service that they require. Integration is absolutely critical to address that. Bringing those two resources together—significant resources—I can say to Neil Findlay that the joint resource that health and social care will have going forward from April next year amounts to £7.6 billion. That is a huge resource, but what is important is how they spend that resource. I am absolutely clear that I expect both of those organisations to make sure that they make the improvements that they require to be made. The cabinet secretary will be aware of the late discharge problems in NHS Ayrshire and Arran and the shortage of available beds at the moment, without the winter bugs having yet kicked in. Does she share my concern about the situation in Ayrshire and will she, as a matter of urgency, raise this problem with NHS Ayrshire and Arran with a view to finding a solution? I can say to John Scott that all of the health boards are under no illusion about the priority that we give tackling delayed discharge. Of course, the solution to tackling delayed discharge does not just lie within the health service. It is absolutely about the health service working with local government to address that. Those partnerships have been working very hard to address some of the short-term challenges of winter pressures, and we absolutely know that those are indeed big challenges. Going forward, the plans that are beginning to be put in place around those partnerships from April going forward are absolutely critical to this. We need to redesign many of those services. We need to avoid people turning up to hospital when they do not need to be there. We need to have far better alternatives, particularly for those vulnerable elderly people, for many of whom an acute hospital setting is not the right one. I can give the member an absolute assurance that this is my key top priority going forward, and I would be very happy to keep him up-to-date about developments in his area. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its legacy plans from the Commonwealth Games. Scottish Government and our legacy partners are working to capitalise on the opportunities brought about by hosting the best Commonwealth Games ever. In the days following the Games, £6 million was announced towards Scotland's first ever dedicated Paris Sports Centre, as well as a further £2 million to build on and deepen the legacy, which has already delivered benefits nationwide. A further £50 million will be invested by Sports Scotland in the active schools programme over 2015 to 2019, significantly increasing opportunities for children to participate in sport across the whole of Scotland. More recently on Tuesday, the opening of a new track at Grangermouth stadium using the track utilised at Handham Park now means that young people can train on this very same track used by Ailey Child and UCM Bolton, inspiring the next generation of champions. A full economic assessment of the Games will be published in the spring. It recently asked points to £282 million being spent by visitors to the Games. A post-games legacy evaluation report assessing progress towards legacy outcomes will be published in July 2015. I thank the minister for that comprehensive response and congratulate him on his well-deserved new position as a minister. My constituency of Glasgow-Cathcart has a number of interesting legacy projects on-going, including a plan to turn the disused St Martin's Church in Casamolc into the Cathkenbrae's mountain bike and activity centre. Can I ask the minister if he will come and visit the site of the proposed centre and meet those involved with the proposal and be what assistance is the Government giving or intending to give to local and community projects to assist them with such legacy building in the local community? Briefly minister. I thank Mr Dornan for his welcome. Having delivered the most successful Commonwealth Games ever, we are determined to secure its legacy and communities across Scotland are interested in playing their part in securing the Games legacy. I would encourage communities across Scotland to visit the legacy website to find out more about some of the on-going sources of support, such as the legacy 2014 Active Places Fund and the legacy 2014 Sustainable Sport for Communities Fund. I am very delighted to learn of the efforts in Glasgow-Cathcart. I wish those involved well, and of course I will be happy to visit with Mr Dornan. To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on the development of energy storage technologies. Minister Fergus Ewing. Energy storage can help us to make the most effective use of Scotland's energy resources. Pumped hydro plays a vital role in meeting UK energy security, which is why our third national planning framework identified new and expanded pumped storage facilities as a national development and why we are seeking to work with the UK Government and industry to consider how pumped storage can be supported in the future. Joe McAlpine. I thank the minister for that answer. The Institute of Mechanical Engineers estimate that 3.4 gigawatts of energy storage will be needed in Scotland by 2020, but current storage capacity is little over 0.75 gigawatts, and as he says, it is largely pumped storage. A number of companies are developing technologies such as liquid-air battery storage and the former nuclear power station at Chapel Cross is being suggested as a possible site for these kind of developments. Does the Government agree with me that such projects should be encouraged, particularly as a way to make the most of Scotland's renewable energy resources? Yes, I do. I met the member and one of the individuals involved regarding the Chapel Cross proposal. Since then, Scottish Enterprise on 17 November has had a follow-up meeting. On the general point, there is a potential pumped storage capacity of over 2 gigawatts at the moment, but what there is not is a route to make that happen under electricity market reform. The ERM proposals are entirely devoid of any mechanism to bring forward pumped storage. That is entirely wrong. That is why I support Scottish Renewables proposal that there should be established a Scottish and UK Government inter-governmental panel, a proposal that I put to the UK energy minister on 13 November, and to which a reply is currently awaited. Is there any general questions before?