 That concludes general questions. The next item of business is First Minister's questions. At question number one, I call Douglas Ross. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Tens of thousands of people work in Scotland's north sea oil and gas sector. It raises billions of pounds to support public services and it's crucial for Scotland's economy. But this week across the Atlantic in the United States, Hamza Ewanza Yousif Finding says that Scotland will no longer be the oil and gas capital of Europe. Why does the SNP turn sour on Scotland's oil and gas? Deputy First Minister, we are committed to just transition for the oil workers in the northeast. I want to pay tribute to the sector and the workforce for the over £400 billion that they have generated for the UK coffers, much of it, of course, squandered. But of course we are committed to a just transition because we know that the unlimited extraction of fossil fuels is not consistent with Scotland's ambitious climate obligations and we have to ensure a planned and fair transition that leaves no one behind. But I think that Douglas Ross is very brave going on this subject today. In a week where his Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has essentially pulled the rug from under the net zero ambitions, not just of the UK, but potentially damaging the net zero ambitions of Scotland. That doesn't just damage the environment, it damages jobs into the process and he should be ashamed to stand side by side with Rishi Sunak on that matter. Douglas Ross. What a predictable response from the Deputy First Minister, because the SNP loved to talk a good game, but keep missing their own climate change targets. The Deputy First Minister wants to pay tribute to oil and gas workers in the North Sea. Let's hear one another please. The Deputy First Minister wants to pay tribute to the oil and gas workers and Humza Yousaf wants to take their job away. What we need is a transition sensibly to create new energy jobs, not by throwing away the current ones. It's not a choice between oil or renewables, we need to support both. That's why Humza Yousaf's proposals are so reckless. A recent report from the Robert Gordon University warned that the rapid decline in the oil and gas sector will cost tens of thousands of jobs. Why is the SNP backing a cliff edge scenario where skilled jobs will be lost for good? It was just a year ago that Douglas Ross was urging us to follow Liz Truss over the cliff edge of her economic catastrophe for our country. That same Douglas Ross now comes to the chamber today, wanting us to follow Rishi Sunak of the same cliff edge of reneging and backsliding on net zero targets. Of course, it's no surprise that one of the first people out of the stocks to support Rishi Sunak was Liz Truss herself. That is the company that Douglas Ross is keeping. Of course we are committed to a just transition for Scotland's energy sector. Of course, we are only just, Mr Target, by 1.2 per cent, which of course shows that we are not far behind. If I may ask you just for a moment, I'm finding it difficult to hear. Members are being somewhat robust in their engagement with responses and I would be grateful if we could hear one another speak. I've never allowed a man to shout me down in my life. I won't make any exception for Douglas Ross. Our targets are world leading. That's why the First Minister is in New York for the UN climate change week, because we are world leading and we have a First Minister whose ambitions are to meet the net zero target, showing leadership, unlike the Prime Minister who is ditching net zero targets. I also want to listen to me on that. All he needs to do is to listen to the condemnation from industry, from business and indeed from Tory MPs themselves. Douglas Ross. Let's just go through a few of those points. The Deputy First Minister saying that the SNP Government's targets are world leading. They're not meeting them. Eight out of the last 12 years, they've failed to meet their own world leading targets. Douglas Ross said that the plans from the Prime Minister were pragmatic and brings the UK in line with other nations, which we welcome. Presiding Officer, this is not just about what's best for our economy, it's also about what's best for our environment. Industry experts have found that new fields at Cambo and Rosebank would save 17 million tonnes of CO2 compared to foreign imports. More production in Scotland is cheaper. Greener and protects jobs. But Hamza Yousif no longer wants Scotland to be Europe's capital on oil and gas, and he's against the UK Government granting new North Sea licences. So can I just ask the Deputy First Minister why wouldn't we use our energy on our doorstep instead of costly foreign imports? Deputy First Minister. Well, of course, we've been very clear about any new licences and the climate targets that they have to meet in terms of the analysis of those. They have to be robust. Of course it's not us that will grant any new licences, but the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary have been very clear about those climate compatibility tests. Let's get back to the nub of this, because when Douglas Ross talks about our net zero targets, the changes and announcements made by Rishi Sunak make it harder for us to achieve our net zero targets and that is bad for the environment. It's also bad for business. Listen to Lisa Brank in the chair of Ford UK. What she said, our business needs three things from the UK Government. Ambition, commitment and consistency. A relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three. The former Siemens UK CEO Jurgen Mayer. It's just chaos, isn't it? It beggars belief. Everybody is now sitting wobbling and wondering. I can tell you what. They won't be investing in the UK. It's a disaster for productivity. A disaster for jobs, well-paid jobs and it's a disaster for business confidence and investment. We need exactly the opposite. When is Douglas Ross going to grow a backbone and support the net zero targets rather than his Prime Minister? Thank you. Douglas Ross. We can trade different quotes all day. I can quote Toyota, who said today's Government announcement is welcome as it provides the clarity industry has been asking and recognising that all low emission and affordable technologies can have a role to play in a pragmatic vehicle transition. Of course we had... Mr Ross, if you could just give me a moment. Mr Robertson, could I ask you please to remain silent when we're trying to hear Mr Ross's response? Douglas Ross. Angus Robertson's shouting didn't put me off when I beat him in 2017 and it doesn't put me off now. I also have to say it was quite something for Shona Robison to blame yesterday's announcement by the Prime Minister for the SNP failing to meet their targets in eight years out of the last 12. Now let's go back to where it all began. The SNP slogan used to be it's Scotland's oil. Now it's just stop oil. Humza Yousaf flew to New York to the finance capital of the world to tell people don't invest in our oil and gas sector. The First Minister of Scotland is talking Scotland down. It's a slap in the face to north-east workers. It's naive because we still rely on oil and gas and it would be a hammer blow to Scotland's economy. So why is the SNP giving up on Scotland's crucial oil and gas sector? Deputy First Minister. No one's giving up on Scotland's oil but it has been squandered by successive UK Government of all political colours. As I said at the beginning of my answer, we absolutely respect and appreciate the efforts made by the oil and gas sector and their workforce and we support a just transition that we have put serious money into making happen unlike the UK Tory Government. But listen to what the oil and gas industry are saying. Emma Pinchbecker, the CEO of Energy UK, sudden changes to policies and targets like this are damaging to the very investment we need to fund the move towards net zero and jeopardise the economic benefits and opportunities that this transformation could bring in terms of jobs, growth and greater prosperity to all parts of the country. Business needs certainty and stability when making long-term investments worth billions of pounds. The announcements by Rishi Sunak undermine all of that, not just for the UK but for Scotland and Douglas Ross standing shoulder to shoulder with Rishi Sunak will not be forgiven by the people of Scotland. People across our country are paying the price for SNP incompetence and failure at a time when they can't afford it. In every area that this Government controls we need to see mismanagement leading to billions of pounds of waste. In February 2015, the then health secretary Shona Robison promised to end-delay discharge by the end of the year. So can she tell the chamber, since she made that promise, how many people have died while waiting to leave hospital? How many bed days have been lost and how much has it cost the taxpayer? Deputy First Minister. First of all, can I say that we absolutely remain committed to eradicating delayed discharge? When I said that, when I was health secretary, we absolutely were determined then as we are now. Anasarba will understand that it is very challenging to do. Back then, of course, we were on the eve of the new integrated joint boards being established, which have, I think it's fair to say, been a mixed bag in terms of the delivery of delayed discharge progress, which is why, of course, we want to move forward with the national care service, something that Labour used to support, but as soon as the SNP tried to take it forward, they then opposed. So we'll get on with the job of tackling delayed discharge while Labour just sniped from the sidelines, as always. Anasarba. The Deputy First Minister is in denial. Nearly four and a half million bed days lost. Over 2,300 people died while waiting to leave hospital and £1.1 billion wasted. Shona Robison promised to end this eight years ago, long before Covid, and now people are being asked to pay for that failure during a cost-of-living crisis. One in four households facing a council tax rise of up to 22 per cent, an increase of £740 a year, an income tax rise for people earning as little as £28,000, and now proposing a £15 a day charge to drive to work. Why are working people who have already been hit by the Tory mortgage bombshell being asked to pay the bill for your incompetence and failure? Deputy First Minister. On the issue of the NHS, we absolutely remain committed to eradicating and delayed discharge, and we will work with our partners to do that. I know that Tessana Sarwar just moved on to talking about local government, finance and taxes. First of all, about the council tax multiplier consultation. It is a consultation based on looking at how we can make the council tax fairer but also that joint group with COSLA is looking at how we could replace the council tax going forward. Here is one question that consultation asks. Why is it that someone in a band H property pays so much less as a proportion of the property value than someone in a band A property? Someone in a higher band property? I do not think that that is fair. Why does Tessana Sarwar think that that is fair? We will get on with the consultation but it is not credible it is not credible for Tessana Sarwar to come here and say no to progressive taxation when it comes to income tax no to any changes in terms of local taxation but demands money be spent on public services that is not a credible position for Tessana Sarwar to take. Tessana Sarwar You've been in government for 16 years and that's the best answer you can give. The Deputy First Minister just doesn't get it. So let me give her an example. A family in Cambyslang the mum's a nurse dad's a teacher they've got two young kids their energy bills skyrocketed and they're still paying 50% more that's £2,000 their food bills are up almost 20% they've been hit with a mortgage increase of over £2,000 a year and now the SNP want to make that worse by asking both mum and dad to pay more income tax and £15 a day to get to the work in Glasgow this family is being let down by both Tory and SNP incompetence both making life harder for working people so why can't the Deputy First Minister see that the people of Scotland are being asked to pay the price for SNP failure Deputy First Minister We do know as Tessana Sarwar is now getting his orders from Keir Starmer and that is to not promise anything in terms of progressive taxation and to turn his back on raising additional funds because what Tessana Sarwar should remember is that if we had followed what she seems to be suggesting the Tory tax policies we would have a billion pounds less for public services back what Tessana Sarwar seems to be saying let me repeat there is a consultation on council tax no decisions have been made in terms of council tax increases and she should not be saying of rather Glen or anywhere else that is the case because that is to mislead but let me say to the nurse and the teacher that Tessana Sarwar commented on we have of course made sure that nurses are better paid than elsewhere in these islands by making sure that we pay through a Jennifer Chain and teachers of course are better paid in Scotland than anywhere else in these islands because we settled with the teachers in terms of their pay claim so we will get on with paying public workers what they deserve to be paid and supporting household incomes and as Sarwar will sign for the Tories against progressive taxation what a place for Labour to end up question number three Alex Cole-Hamilton thank you very much to ask the Deputy First Minister when the cabinet will next meet next Tuesday Alex Cole-Hamilton the list of NHS buildings being searched for the dangerous concrete known as RAC includes surgical wards a radiotherapy ward it includes maternity wards and major hospitals like Ninewells in the Deputy First Minister's home city there the area of concern extends to nine and a half thousand square metres that's more than the size of a football pitch assumptions about what is low risk based on looking at blueprints that are now being questioned because the school beam thought to be low risk was then found to be unsound so can the Deputy First Minister vouch for the safety of everyone going for surgery every cancer patient and every newborn currently receiving care in a ward where this concrete is suspected to be present Deputy First Minister let me say to Alex Cole-Hamilton both the buildings and the NHS looking at applying the guidance from the institute of structural engineers making sure that there is a risk rating for any buildings that need that repair but no building and no patients and no staff will be left in any dangerous building anywhere and we shouldn't suggest that because that worries people Alex Cole-Hamilton I understand was spoken to by the health secretary about this very matter just yesterday but if he still has queries I'm sure the health secretary will be prepared to speak to him again and I know that the cabinet secretary for social justice and education have also invited him to a meeting to discuss any further concerns but it is important that we give the assurance to the public that all of these matters are absolutely in hand and that the guidance from the institute of structural engineers is being followed and hopefully that's something that Alex Cole-Hamilton can join us in giving that reassuring message on. To ask the Deputy First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the potential impact of the roll-out of the carers support payment on the national mission to tackle poverty and reduce inequality. We know that unpaid carers face a higher risk of poverty and that the majority of unpaid carers are women. Carers support payment will be available in the local authority areas of Dundee, Perth and Kinross and Western Isles from November this year and will be extended to more areas from spring 2024 to be available nationally by autumn 2024. The carers support payment will extend eligibility to more carers studying full-time it will remove barriers to education provide more stable support take up and help carers access wider benefits and services and once case transfer from carers allowance completes it will also provide extra payments to carers with multiple caring roles and an additional four weeks of support when a caring role ends due to bereavement. I thank the Deputy First Minister for that response. I am particularly pleased to note the expanded eligibility of carers support payment compared to the DWP's carers allowance. Can the Deputy First Minister outline how many additional carers compared to the rest of the UK are set to benefit from Social Security Scotland's 14th devolved payment? Despite our fixed budgets and limited powers we have transformed social security provision in Scotland delivering a radically different system based on dignity, fairness and respect. From launch our carers support payment will expand access to many carers widening access to 1500 more carers once the benefit is available nationally. Carers support payment will also continue to benefit from our carers allowance supplement which has provided extra support to carers in Scotland since 2018 and will again call on the UK Government to match our actions to address the fact that carers allowance is of course the lowest of all working-age benefits. I note the Deputy First Minister's reply and the subsequent Westminster bad response but if I could draw the focus back to Scotland and to reducing inequalities the 2023 programme for government where there was a promise to develop a payment for eligible 16 to 25 year olds with care experience to provide transition security for independent living Deputy First Minister were a year on when will the promise be fulfilled? Deputy First Minister It's not about Westminster bad it was just a fact that the carers allowance is the lowest of all working-age benefits that's just a fact. I say to her on her question about the roll-out of the benefit for young carers I will ensure that the minister writes to her with an update in terms of the progress and timetable for that. 5. Brian Whittle To ask the Deputy First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reported comments from COSLA and council leaders questioning the achievability of net zero targets without a detailed plan and adequate funding. I would be grateful if we could do members the courtesy of hearing their questions. Deputy First Minister I'm sure that Brian Whittle must be regretting that question. A Tory MSP raising net zero less than 24 hours after Tory Prime Minister hollowed out their plans is a matter for pity perhaps. We'll continue to work in partnership with local authorities and COSLA to develop a framework between national and local government to agree shared approaches to delivering net zero. We're doing this at a time when the UK Government appears determined to undermine the means to deliver the change. The Prime Minister's decision to renaig on the UK's key net zero commitments yesterday was an unforgivable betrayal of current and future generations. The Conservatives are trading the future of our planet for a cheap electoral ploy. I'd like to say to Brian Whittle if he or his colleagues in the Scottish Tories have any influence with the UK Government unlikely then please urge him to rethink because you're on the wrong side of history. Brian Whittle Is the First Minister grandstands in New York accusing the rest of the world of catastrophic negligence and climate change. His SNP councillors have joined COSLA, the Committee on Climate Change and countless other organisations to criticise his Government's net zero plans. The SNP Green Government loved being praised for their bold, ambitious climate policies but those same policies keep disintegrating on contact with reality. A just transition requires more than ever grander promises with no thought on how they work in the real world. Will the Deputy First Minister now commit to setting out a detailed, pragmatic and achievable roadmap to Scottish Government net zero or will she continue the First Minister's approach of bashing others to disguise his Government's failures? Deputy First Minister Of course it's the Prime Minister's announcements that are disintegrating in the face of blistering criticism. Not just from industry, not just from business but from some of his own members. I wonder how Maurice Golden is feeling at this point and others on the Tory backbenches. The First Minister will continue as the Scottish Government will to show leadership on net zero. We are regarded throughout the world as having some of the most ambitious targets and ambitious policies. We will get on with the job and will leave Rishi Sunak, Douglas Ross and the Tories to try and explain to future generations why they had no backbone when it comes to the environment. Staying on the theme of Rishi Sunak's plan to ditch the UK Government's key net zero targets I asked the Deputy First Minister what initial assessment can the Scottish Government provide on the impact that this will have on the commitment and consistency that industry requires from the Government to ensure a just energy transition? I'm aware that the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero will be answering an urgent question on this later today. The Prime Minister's reckless plans have already of course been branded concerning by the Climate Change Committee who judged quotes likely to take further away from being able to meet its legal commitments. Business and consumer groups alike have referred to the plans as hugely damaging and a colossal error and Al Gore has called them shocking and hugely disappointing. There are many others I could quote. I know that the Tories don't like the facts to be presented to them but the key point here and the most serious concerning point is that these announcements will have impact and implication not just for the UK's but for Scotland's climate ambitions as well and that is unforgivable. Mark Ruskell. The Prime Minister's climb down on climate showed that he's a politician who is only interested in the next election rather than the next generation. So can I ask what impact his announcement will have on Scotland's plans to reach net zero by 2045? Deputy First Minister. Of course he is absolutely right and we will of course assess that the cabinet secretary for net zero will answer that urgent question but we will of course have to get into the detail of assessing what that impact is and of course he's absolutely right the member's right to point to what this is all about this is all about the general election and the Tories trying to appeal to their core vote which is essentially culture wars anti migrants and now anti environment what an unappealing negative backward looking small minded prospectus that is and it will be roundly rejected by the Scottish people once again. To ask the Deputy First Minister whether the Scottish Government will consider writing off school meal debts in light of reports of local authorities and sheriff officers to pursue families for unpaid school meal debt. Deputy First Minister. We recognise that the cost of living crisis is of course putting a huge strain on families and many are facing real challenges and we are committed to expansion of free school meals saving families £400 per year for every eligible child and where any families experiencing difficulties due to the cost of paying for school meals in the first instance we expect local authorities to use the powers available to them and to provide necessary support and while school meal debt is a matter for councils the Scottish Government will do everything we can to support families and will consider all options available to us to ensure that families don't find themselves punished for struggling during a cost of living crisis. Organisations like Aberlawer Children's Charity speak of a cycle of problem debt owed to public bodies trapping families in poverty not only are families experiencing the stress but we have now learned that councils like Renfrewshire in my region are sending debt collectors to families doors exacerbating unimaginable pressure when they are just trying to get by in a cost of living crisis. Despite what the Deputy First Minister says about causal guidance and managing school debt families are now in a postcode lottery with some councils writing it off and others resorting to debt collectors. 50 anti-poverty organisations and trade unions wrote to the Deputy First Minister's predecessor calling for action in the last budget to outline plans to write off school debt in our call for an emergency cost of living act in the summer of 2022. The former First Minister said that she was sympathetic and asked the officials to look at the issue. Sympathy, warm words, another year of inaction from the Government all the while, the debt collectors are banging on the door so if reducing poverty is a defining mission of families with the Government where will it take urgent action and provide resource to allow all councils to write off these debts and stop the share of officers. First Minister. First of all to fund an emergency cost of living act you would need to have progressive taxation whether at a national level or local level and of course Labour have now ruled that out so there is no more funds to pay for any emergency cost of living act on the house and also on this point there is a lack of consistency from Labour because also the two child cap and rape clause don't help vulnerable families either so we need to see some consistency from Labour on the point about debt it is an important point and I would encourage councils to have consistency in applying the guidance to whether it is school meal debt or any other debt and they should do that in a way that preserves the dignity of families and we will continue to work with COSLA on that important matter. Liam Kerr. Very grateful. The Scottish Government's failure to fully implement its free school meals promise is relevant here and the education committee heard just yesterday from SIPFA that government funding for the free school meals that are in place is insufficient. So Deputy First Minister why is this government failing to properly fund its own scheme? Deputy First Minister. Scotland has the most generous free school meal provision in the UK and we are going even further. Liam Kerr or any other Tory member cannot pitch up here demanding more money for free school meals or anything else when through their tax cuts that they wanted us to follow there would be a billion pounds less money a billion pounds less money to spend on public services whether it's free school meal provision or anything else so don't turn up here asking for more money when you want to take a billion pounds out of the money we already have. We'll now move to general and constituency supplementaries and I call Rona Mackay. Cancer Research UK announced a £123 million investment in the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute formerly known as Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute based at University of Glasgow's Garskud campus in my constituency. The Beatson name is synonymous with cancer research in west of Scotland and the amazing work of the Beatson Institute has been life changing for many. What does the Deputy First Minister say about the significance of this investment particularly for the west of Scotland and the strengths in cancer research and life science that we have in constituencies like mine? Deputy First Minister I say to Rona Mackay that I really welcome Cancer Research UK's announcement of this significant investment. Research is vital if new approaches to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer are to continue to be developed and this funding will ensure that the institute continues this research in the west of Scotland. The institute is recognised internationally for its quality, innovation and impact and the Cabinet Secretary for Health met with the chief executive officer of Cancer Research UK yesterday to discuss the work of the institute and recognise Cancer Research's very welcome investment. Jamie Greene This week we learned the disappointing news of more Bank of Scotland branch closures including one in Millport on Cumbria and Brodic on Arran. Those are the last remaining bank branches on those island communities. Whilst this is disappointing news for elderly residents on islands and many businesses who operate in cash I wonder if it has escaped the Lloyds Banking Group a group that received a £20 billion taxpayer funded bailout many years ago of the devastating effect this will have for our island communities. Will Scottish Government ministers join me in lobbying this banking group to reverse these devastating cuts to branches? Deputy First Minister I agree with Jamie Greene I think that these services are important particularly for those who do not have online banking facilities and many older people are in that position. The sentiment I agree with is a UK Government responsibility but in terms of his call for us to have cross-party representation I am very happy to ask Neil Gray to speak to Jamie Greene to see how that can be arranged. Given the level of skills shortages across the Scottish economy is the Deputy First Minister concerned that colleges are cutting courses and making staff redundant in order to balance their budgets? Skills in the future of skills is absolutely critical which of course is why the weather's review is so critical because it is so critical that we have to do the weather's review is so critical going forward and the college sector will be absolutely critical in that. There has been challenges to public finances across all public bodies no one is denying that due to UK Government austerity and we have to therefore make sure that whether it is the college sector or any other sector is delivering within the budgets that can be allocated but in terms of skills we absolutely recognise the importance of skills for the economy going forward and that is why we are keen to see that review and forward looking review from whether it is taken forward in a way that sees the colleges at the heart of that. The Deputy First Minister will recognise that this week is national iHealth week as the convener of the cross-party group has led the way with a longstanding policy of free eye tests with the Deputy First Minister support calls to encourage more Scots to utilise the free eye test as it can have multiple health benefits to the individual. I certainly agree with Stuart McMillan that national iHealth week is a timely opportunity to highlight the importance of having a free regular NHS iExamination and contacting an optometrist as the first port of call for any eye problem We know that it can provide a full health check of the eyes as well as a sight test and this can help to detect early signs of sight threatening conditions as well as other serious health conditions and I'm proud that Scotland remains the only part of these islands to provide free universal NHS eye examinations and the Scottish Government is committed to maintaining this. Mordor Fraser Last week the Scottish Government rejected calls from across this chamber or from industry to pause the licensing scheme for short term lets because of the emerging unintended consequences. Yesterday we saw yet more confusion about this policy with the Times Newspaper reporting that home link who arranged house swaps had been told by ministers that swaps would now be excluded from the rules. We also learned that the Deputy First Minister herself wrote to councils in March saying that guidance would be produced for temporary exemptions for house swaps but there's no record of such guidance ever being published. Meanwhile the housing minister who replied to the debate last week seemed to be unaware of any of this. Can I get some clarity please? Are house swaps to be excluded from the licensing scheme? Yes or no? Doesn't this demonstrate once again this is a shambolic policy from a Government where the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing? I'll certainly get Shirley-Anne Somerville as the social justice secretary to write to the member because it is important that there's clarity on this matter. Murdo Fraser is right to raise that and I'll make sure that that is made not just available to Murdo Fraser but to other members across the chamber. In terms of the policy per se what is important that Murdo Fraser and others do is to encourage those who are running short-term lets to now get their licence in order by 1 October because that will be critical in making sure that what this is all about at the end of the day is that whoever is using a short-term let in whatever sector can be guaranteed of the same safety measures applying to where they are staying. That is at the heart of what this is about but on that specific point I'll make sure the cabinet secretary writes to the member and puts that across to other MSPs as well. Rhoda Grant The Deputy First Minister will be aware that Highland Council has cancelled 10 new school buildings and this also means that desperately needed affordable housing will be lost. It's due to delays with her Government's investment programme. Can I ask the Deputy First Minister will she now make decisions about this fund so that local authorities can build schools and will she apologise to pupils, parents, teachers and communities that have been so badly affected? First of all of course the LEAP project has been enormously important in terms of the phases 1 and 2 and 37 projects including 3 in the Highlands through those first two phases. In terms of the third phase the Cabinet Secretary for Education will be updating Parliament in due course but of course one of the issues we've had to look at is the position of rat schools in relation to that phase 3 and to make sure that they receive the priority that they require. What I would just finally say to the member is this that despite our cut to capital budgets going forward that will be a cut of nearly 6.7 per cent. That makes it very difficult whether it's building schools, hospitals or anything else. I would hope that the member would join with us in making sure that we say to the UK Government that we absolutely need that investment in capital in the same way as the Welsh Labour Government have said. I just met with the Treasury and we are saying exactly the same. It's just a pity that Labour members in this place are not aligning with their Welsh Labour colleagues. Kenneth Gibson. Thank you, Presiding Officer. One year after Liz Truss' disastrous Tory UK mini-budget can the Deputy First Minister outline the impact of this chaotic event on the Scotland's economy? Deputy First Minister. The disastrous mini-budget enthusiastically backed by the Scottish Tories of course, Douglas Ross in particular sent shockwaves through the economy causing market interest rates to jump sterling to fall and literally crashed the pension market in the UK. Alongside that, the proposed tax cuts on the market reaction reduced any lingering credibility that the UK had in terms of economic management, which was already severely damaged by Brexit. That of course has now been followed by the equivalent to that by Rishi Sunak on net zero. Of course, Liz Truss being the biggest cheerleader for the backsliding and reneging on those net zero targets. If there was an argument for independence what has happened with net zero this week, surely there can be no better argument that control over net zero and the economy should rest here in this Parliament. Alexander Stewart. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Deputy First Minister, this week Clackmannasher council admitted that a house or fire was not fitted with the legally required interlinked heat and smoke alarms despite legislation requiring this from February 2022. This may not be an isolated incident and it may be putting vulnerable tenants and elderly at risk. Therefore, Deputy First Minister, what urgent action can the Scottish Government put in place to ensure that councils are fulfilling their legal responsibilities and protecting tenants and lives? Can I say to Alexander Stewart that I'm concerned to hear about that and of course councils absolutely should be making sure that they apply the legislation in the same way as anyone else. If Alexander Stewart wants to write to me with those details, that's certainly something that we can raise with the council because it's very important that tenants feel safe in their homes. Mercedes Villalbaugh. I refer members to my register of interest as a trade union member. This week, members of UCU, Unison and Unite the Union are on strike at the University of Dundee because their employer has repeatedly failed to make a fair pay offer. Year on year, real terms pay cuts are harming university workers, student learning and our education system. Deputy First Minister, will you join me in urging university principals in our city of Dundee and across the country to meet the demands of campus unions? Of course this is a matter for Dundee University or any other universities in terms of them being independent institutions and the way that they conduct industrial relations. However we would expect them to follow the fair work principles in terms of good engagement with the unions and we would expect them to follow those in the same way as other institutions should. We would urge them to continue to get round the table with the union partners to try to find a resolution. I would just say to Mercedes Wealba that what we are seeing from Keir Starmer is a complete retreat from workers rights. A U turn on every commitment in terms of workers rights so perhaps she should have a word with Keir Starmer or a suspect, she probably doesn't agree with him anyway but in terms of the devolution of employment law I hope she will sign the motion that is up for debate next week because I understand Anna Sarwar has sent a memo round saying Labour should not sign it. Hopefully Mercedes Wealba will sign it because there are notions of independent minds. I call Jeremy Balfour Thank you Deputy First Minister a constituent on mind who was a single mother with a short term let property had been in touch with me this week. She will shortly be obliged to display her license notice to the front window of a property to be compliant with the short term let regulations that includes her name and address. She is concerned about her wellbeing and privacy of her daughter and herself due to her domestic relationship. Can the Deputy First Minister confirm whether it is her intention for short term let regulations to make responsible owners afraid and scared and possibly having to withdraw the property and will she look at again whether privacy is appropriate in Scotland today? Deputy First Minister No and if Jeremy Balfour wants to furnish us with the case we will look at it in terms of what the guidance has been issued from Edinburgh City Council no one should be afraid and scared what we are asking here is for short term let owners to get a license on basic safety measures that's all not to put themselves in a position of being afraid or scared this is about basic safety standards but if Jeremy Balfour wants to furnish us with the details if there's an issue in terms of the guidance that's been issued by Edinburgh we will look at that but that's all I can offer at this stage Clare Adamson The Conservatives delivered a ruinous Brexit and this week Clare Stammer says he will tweak that ruinous Brexit while ruling out a return to the European single market he stated his priorities were economic growth and the opportunities and the outcomes for young people that were lost through Brexit does the Deputy First Minister agree with me that the only way that the European Union back is for Scotland to be there as an independent nation and a back to the family of nations of Europe Deputy First Minister Clare Adamson is exactly right and it appears to me that Labour don't like to hear the word Brexit even more than the Tories don't like to hear the word Brexit I wonder why that is but Brexit is an on-going disaster for Scotland and the Labour Party and wants to keep Scotland out of the hugely important European single market and out of the European customs union and of course it backs the end of freedom of movement which was so important for the Scottish economy and the real question here for Labour though is when the onslaught of workers' rights begins are they going to look trade unions in the eye or workers in the eye and say that's okay we support that we don't care about workers' rights Thank you and that concludes First Minister's questions The next item of business is a member's business debate in the name of Jackie Dunbar and there will now be a short suspension to allow members to leave the chamber and the public to leave the gallery