 The first item of business is general questions. Short and succinct questions and answers would be useful. Question number one, Ash Denham. Thank you, Presiding Officer. In light of the on-going review of the Children's Scotland Act 1995, what consideration is it giving to putting a professional system, such as the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in England, in place for family courts in Scotland? Annabelle Ewing The Scottish Government plans to launch a consultation shortly on the review of part 1 of the Children's Scotland Act 1995. The consultation will cover a wide range of issues in relation to parental responsibilities and rights, child contact and residence, alongside a wider family justice modernisation strategy. Ash Denham. The proposal that private practice solicitors who currently act as child welfare reporters will receive two days' training will not be, I feel, putting children's welfare at the centre. Elsewhere, it is deemed that people who are qualified and skilled caring professionals are best placed to assess our children and family's needs. Could the minister provide assurances that that will be considered within the review? Annabelle Ewing I can, Presiding Officer. The consultation that I referred to a moment ago will indeed seek views on whether to regulate child welfare reporters. Of course, being a child welfare reporter is an important and difficult and challenging job, but I believe that, in particularly taking that into account, regulation is indeed required to ensure that reporters are fully trained in the tasks that they are asked to carry out and to ensure that the quality of reports is consistently high across the board. Supplementary Gordon Lindhurst If I might ask the cabinet secretary has a decision been taken on the form of training that may be provided to child welfare reporters within the review. Specifically, training relating to parental alienation is part of that, as is happening south of the border. Annabelle Ewing I can say to the member that the consultation that is to be launched shortly will seek views about whether to regulate child welfare reporters, including therefore on-going training requirements, and will encourage those who submit to the consultation. I encourage all those with an interest to do so to elicit their views on what kind of training they felt would be most appropriate. Jamie Halcro Johnston To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of the flexible workforce development fund. Jamie Hepburn While the flexible workforce development fund pilot is still in its first year of operation, the Scottish Government has commissioned an independent evaluation of the pilot thus far. The evaluation committee in February 2018 is due to conclude shortly. Jamie Halcro Johnston I thank the minister for that answer. In this first year, provision for the fund has centered on colleges. Would the minister be prepared to indicate whether he would consider opening up the fund or any successor programme to other suitable providers of training and skills in future years? Jamie Hepburn That is an issue that has been raised with me by a number of organisations. What I have said to them is what I will say to Mr Halcro Johnston. We have the pilot in place. We are essentially still at the pilot stage, so this coming year it will be my intention that it continues to be delivered through the college sector, but we have the evaluation and will continue to learn and no assumptions about what might happen going forward have yet been made. Bob Doris To ask the Scottish Government how centres that provide a supervised contact facility for absent parents to spend time with their children are inspected and regulated. Annabelle Ewing The contact centres managed by Relationship Scotland all follow national standards and practice procedures. Relationship Scotland has policies that cover issues such as domestic abuse, child protection, equality and diversity, confidentiality and vulnerable adults. There are also a number of independent contact centres. Some of them have their own guidance and practice and procedure. As I said in response to question 1, the Scottish Government plans to launch a consultation shortly on the review of part 1 of the Children's Scotland Act 1995. That will, among other topics, seek views on whether to regulate contact centres. Bob Doris For that answer, Minister Ewing, constituents of mine had issues with a particular contact centre that is not affiliated to Relationship Scotland. They discovered that there appeared to be no regulatory body, no agreed quality standards or inspection process in place for contact centres. That is despite the significant bearing that they can have on family relationships long-term and that they need reports to courts and child custody cases. Will the minister look at regulation in this area and will she meet me to discuss the matter further? Annabelle Ewing I can say to the member that, in the forthcoming consultation, views will be sought on regulation of contact centres, including the setting of minimum standards on the accommodation that is used, laying down training requirements, laying down complaints procedure and inspection processes. I hope that that provides some assurance to the member in terms of the direction of travel. Once the consultation is launched, which is to be very soon indeed, I would be very happy to meet the member to discuss matters further. Ivan McKee In light of the fundamentally new approach proposed in the recent legal aid review, will the minister consider putting child contact centres on a statutory funding footing through legal aid rather than relying on voluntary effort to provide this important service? Annabelle Ewing As I have already stated, the consultation will look at the regulation of child contact centres. I would imagine that we would receive a number of views on issues about them, including on funding. I point out to the member that, as far as legal aid is concerned, I can advise that, in 2016-17, the Scottish legal aid board sanctioned £459,583 of legal aid funding with regard to contact centre cases, albeit that it should be pointed out that the actual sum that is ultimately claimed or paid may differ from the amount that is sanctioned. At the same time, of course, it should be pointed out that not all users of child contact centres are eligible for legal aid. However, the consultation, which belongs very shortly indeed, will seek views on all of those issues, and I would encourage the member to make his views known. Donald Cameron To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve ferry services in the highlands and islands. Hamza Yousaf The Scottish Government has invested more than £1 billion over the past decade in new vessels, new routes and improved harbour infrastructure in cheaper fares. That clearly demonstrates our commitment to the long-term prosperity of our island communities to further strengthen our fleet. As the member will know, we have invested in two new 100-metre dual ferries worth £97 million currently in construction at Ferguson's. We have also recently provided the money to CMAL to allow them to purchase the three passenger vessels that serve the Northern Isles guaranteeing lifeline connections to and from Orkney and Shetland. We are also committed to rolling out RET to the Northern Isles, which has already been a major success in the west coast. Donald Cameron I thank the minister for his answer, and he referenced the two new ferries. Can he confirm when those two new ferries on order with Ferguson Marine will be ready for service? Hamza Yousaf The timetables that we have previously publicly committed to are the timetables that we have from Ferguson's. Obviously, we are keeping a close eye on that. We work very closely with Ferguson's, and I would say to the member that it is worth saying that those are the first ever LNG dual-fue vessels built in the UK. Therefore, there are naturally complexities with the new workforce. If there are developments on the timetable of the Glen Sannocks and 802, I will make sure that Parliament is updated appropriately. supplementary Liam McArthur Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Just following on from the undertakings given around the time of the budget earlier this year, I wonder if the transport minister could update Parliament on the discussions with Orkney Islands Council about improvements to the internal services in Orkney. Hamza Yousaf The Scottish Government was delighted, of course, on the budget discussions to give a payment, a one-off payment in the budget, to Orkney and Shetland, which I know is supported by both Liam McArthur and Tavish Scott, begrudgingly perhaps, but nonetheless supported the budget. What we did say is the second part of that commitment, which was important, was that we would, through the working group, ensure that we have a long-term solution. In my recent visit to Orkney and Shetland, both leaders of the council raised this with me, as did previously Liam McArthur and Tavish Scott. I have agreed this summer to travel back to Orkney and Shetland and convene that working group. I will keep members and Parliament updated on how those discussions go. supplementary John Finnie The minister recently agreed to consider my proposal to involve the trade unions and CalMac with Seamall in the procurement process. I wonder if he can advise the chamber whether he has agreed to that request and what discussions he has had with the trade unions. Hamza Yousaf On my visit just a couple of weeks ago to Orkney and Shetland in Orkney, I met the RMT and indeed United Union as well, so I met the trade unions. We referenced the question that I answered from John Finnie. Discussions are on-going. I am open-minded to the idea. I think that it makes perfect sense for future procurements. Of course, the next contract that we are looking towards is the Northern Isles contract, or the large contract would be the Northern Isles contract. Discussions with trade unions will be very much part of that discussion. 5. Daniel Johnson To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on delivering the policing 2026 strategy. Michael Matheson Last week, the Scottish Police Authority board approved an updated policing 2026 implementation plan covering the period to 2020. The plan sets out a number of early achievements, including improvements in custody provision, roll-out of the services wellbeing programme and the testing of new local policing models. The Scottish Police Authority chair has also outlined her intention to establish a designated committee to oversee transformation. The Scottish Government continues to support policing 2026, delivering real-terms protection of the police resource budget and a further £31 million of reform funding this year. Daniel Johnson I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Indeed, last week's SPA board meeting discussed the budget for the next three years, including Police Scotland's plans for much-needed and welcome reforms, including reductions in backfilling and investment in information technology. Can I ask first of all, is the Government fully committed to meeting the costs of those reforms, including the indicated £206 million of capital spend on information technology over the next five years? Second, given that the BTP integration is due to come out of the police reform budget and is explicitly not accounted for in the SPA plans, is the minister at all worried that the unknown costs of BTP integration could harm those wider and much-needed plans for reform in the police? Michael Matheson No, I am not. The work that has been taken forward by Police Scotland in relation to its ICT development is part of the work that was recommended by Audit Scotland in making sure that it had a robust ICT strategy in place. I welcome the work that it is taking forward in developing that plan. The funding that will be required for this is a matter that the SPA will have to give consideration to in any business plan for taking forward the request for funding. The member will also be aware that, at the present moment, Police Scotland has confirmed to the SPA that it intends to invest almost £5 million in core operational policing systems this year in order to ensure that it delivers benefits to officers who are carrying out front-line duties in communities. There is a lot of private chats going on. It is making it difficult for questioners and ministers to be heard. Gordon MacDonald Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. Does the Cabinet Secretary believe that progress is being made in the management and leadership of Police Scotland? Michael Matheson I believe that there is. DCC Livingston is an experienced and well respected police officer who is offering excellent leadership to the organisation going forward, supported alongside two Deputy Chief Constable and nine Assistant Chief Constables. The Scottish Police Authority has also set out its plans for the recruitment of further DCCs and ACCs. That programme has already been taken forward and it intends to have a recruitment process that will see the new Chief Constable being imposed by the end of this year. Question 6. Liam McArthur To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on there being a distinct rural dimension to fuel poverty and whether it plans to take forward all the recommendations of the Scottish Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force. Kevin Stewart Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. This Government has always prioritised tackling fuel poverty and is committed to ensuring that everyone in Scotland lives in a warm home that is affordable to heat, no matter where they live. We recognise that fuel poverty— Excuse me, Minister. You were turned off at source but you are back on again. I do not know why that was. I am not responsible. I am not responsible. It is the first time that I have been turned off at source. We recognise that fuel poverty in our remote rural and island communities requires particular attention and that is why we established the Scottish Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force who reported their findings in October 2016, and we published our response to that in March 2017. Liam McArthur I hope that you caught all that, Mr McArthur. Liam McArthur Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. This exchange has taken an uncomfortable turn. Can I perhaps just ask the minister to reflect on the unwillingness so far for the Scottish Government to accept the advice of the Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force, its own fuel poverty definition group, all the local authorities and housing associations in the Highlands and Islands, CAS, Shelter and a range of other organisations that need to have a minimum income standard for remote and rural areas if they are to be able to tackle fuel poverty at source in the communities like Orkney that are most heavily affected by fuel poverty? Kevin Stewart I thank Mr McArthur for his question. He well knows that he takes a great interest in all that. Our delivery plans are focused on remote and rural and island areas. The per head spend on heaps abs in remote, rural and island areas is £9,000, compared with £7,500 elsewhere. Although the majority of the recommendations that were made by the task force were for the Scottish Government, there is also a significant number for other bodies to look at, including the UK Government, off-gem and energy suppliers. We will continue to listen to remote and rural and island communities. Both the bill and the strategy that will publish before the end of this term will be designed to ensure that they are focused on those who are most in need to help to heat their homes no matter where they live in Scotland. Peter Chapman Rural properties are very rarely connected to the gas net network and often rely on kerosene central heating. What plans does the Scottish Government have to ensure that rural areas can play the airport in decarbonisation? Do they have plans to introduce schemes to help rural residents to upgrade and modernise heating systems in boilers? I thank Mr Chapman for his question, and we will continue to review all those things. I am very aware of the fact that those households that are off mains gas have difficulties of their own. It would be extremely helpful if the UK Government lived up to what it said it was going to do in terms of fuel prices and put a cap on them. Maybe Mr Chapman can talk to his colleagues at Westminster to see whether they will do that, because that would be of great relief to those who are living in remote rural and island communities. Christine Grahame 7. To ask the Scottish Government the light of recent issues regarding TSB's online banking service and further branch closures, including by Santander, whether it will carry out an assessment of its impact on businesses and people who find it difficult to access or use online or telephone banking. Paul Wheelhouse 7. The recent IT problems at TSB have highlighted the continued importance of physical access to banking services. However, regulation of banks and financial services remains reserved. The Scottish Government has made its position clear. Consumers across Scotland need to be able to access essential banking services in the way that best meets their needs. While online banking offers advantages for many customers, it is not suitable for all customers. The Financial Conduct Authority, with responsibility for regulation of the financial services sector, will investigate TSB's systems failure and monitor the banks' resolution of the problems that its customers face. Highlands and Islands Enterprise has commissioned work to investigate the impact of branch closures on communities and businesses in the Highlands and Islands area. The Scottish Government will review the findings of that work and the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee's on-going inquiry into banking services and consider appropriate action to support communities. Christine Grahame I thank the minister for his answer. I encourage that the Government might consider an assessment. The minister will be aware that the Royal Bank of Scotland in Melrose has a temporary reprieve only till December. I am only too aware, as he is, that it is part of his constituency of the many constituents and small businesses for which Melrose is renowned, that they need a non-street, not online bank. Considering that we own 72.9 per cent of Royal Bank of Scotland, do you not consider that this is a rotten deal for the public? Paul Wheelhouse? I very much agree with Christine Grahame that it is a bad outcome for customers of the banks. We are working with the banks, and I am encouraged that the banks are increasingly in discussions with us, recognising the importance of having some retention of face-to-face services where that is possible to do so. I want to reassure the member that we are very much focusing on the needs not just of the south of Scotland and Melrose in Ms Grahame's constituency but also the whole of Scotland. Quick supplementary, James Kelly? I reinforced the point that banks are the centrepiece of local communities, and I have seen the detrimental effect that that has had in closures in Canberra, Llanganwr, Rallagyn, Oderd, the minister to do everything in his power to avert those closures. Even quicker response, please, Paul Wheelhouse? I will do everything that I can to mitigate the impact of those closures, and if we can do that, we can prevent them. That was even quicker than I expected. That concludes general questions. The next item of business is First Minister's questions.