 Y Llywyddyn have a thank you. We start with general questions this morning. Question number one, Willie Coffey. To ask the Scottish Government how it is tackling poverty, including fuel poverty, in the Comarnock and Irving Valley constituency. Cabinet secretary, Angela Constance. The Scottish Government is taking action to tackle poverty across all of Scotland with the resources and powers available to us. The Fairer Scotland Action Plan sets out 50 concrete actions that we will take over this parliamentary term to deliver on our ambitions for a fairer Scotland. Tackling fuel poverty has always been a priority for this Government, and by the end of 2021 we will have committed over £1 billion to making our homes and buildings warmer and cheaper to heat. We have also committed to introducing a warm home bill to tackle fuel poverty. We do not hold figures for constituency areas, but the Scottish Government's fuel poverty and energy efficiency programmes have spent approximately £23 million in improving domestic energy efficiency and tackling fuel poverty across the three Ayrshire council areas since 2012. Willie Coffey. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer and welcome that substantial additional investment that she mentioned there to tackle that. I do hope that that will mean a significant extra investment in my constituency. On top of the existing measures that we have brought in to help those in fuel poverty, is the cabinet secretary able to say when she might be able to respond to the strategy group's recommendation to change the definition of fuel poverty so that we can do more where it is required? The fuel poverty strategy group and the rural fuel poverty working group between them made 100 recommendations, which is a Government that we are currently working through. On the specific issues that are in and around the change to fuel poverty and the definition of fuel poverty, we will work closely with the fuel poverty forum to agree the scope of the review, and we will commission that work as soon as possible. We expect the review to be completed within the first half of next year, but I want to be clear that that does not mean that we will define fuel poverty away, and any changes that come out of the independent review must be justified and ensure that those in need receive the most support. To ask the Scottish Government if it recognises the importance of the third sector in tackling issues like poverty, organisations like centre stage, modern day services, the holiday project and East Ayrshire Church's homelessness action to name but a few in the Comarnac and Northern Valley constituency. Will the Scottish Government ensure that East Ayrshire Council and the councils across Scotland are properly funded so that they in turn can ensure that those vital charities in our communities are fully supported? I thank Mr Little for his question. We certainly do recognise the importance of the third sector in tackling poverty, and I would like to commend centre stage for the very innovative and person-centred work that they do. I know that Ms Freeman has recently visited that particular project. As a Government, we have invested £24 billion this financial year in the third sector. It is imperative that local government and the third sector work together and collaborate. In terms of fuel poverty, there is some great innovation in the social enterprise sector that involves registered social landlords and housing associations in particular. I point to the example of our power, which is a social enterprise led by a housing association that is supplying power and energy to its tenants, saving hundreds of tenants, hundreds of pounds a year. That is another sterling example along with centre stage. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it will take forward plans to establish a national manufacturing institute. Scotland has a proud manufacturing heritage, and manufacturing has a potential to be a key driver of our future prosperity through global exports. The creation of a national manufacturing institute for Scotland is an ambitious proposal that is aimed at shaping the future of manufacturing and innovation in Scotland. As stated in a plan for Scotland, the Scottish Government's programme for government 2016-17 will be a key action for this year that will be developing the business case for the national manufacturing institute for Scotland. We have taken a multi-partner approach that includes Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish funding councils, Skills Development Scotland, Zero Waste Scotland and the Scottish Government. In developing the business plan for the institute, and this work includes building an evidence base and working closely with the private sector on the detail of the proposition. Clare Haughey. I thank the cabinet secretary for his answer. My constituency of Rutherglen has a wide range of family-run and medium-sized manufacturing businesses, including sackmakers, switchboard and electrical manufacturers, ventilation products and food manufacturers, to name a few. It is also home to the Shawfield business park, which is currently being developed by Clyde Gateway as part of the national business strategy. Has the Government considered a location for the national manufacturing institute? If not, can I suggest that Rutherglen is the perfect location? I listen carefully to what the member says and the excellence of some of the activity that is on-going in Rutherglen, but I should say that, as part of developing the business case for a new manufacturing institute for Scotland, options for the centre's location will be considered as part of that business case process. However, wherever the institute is located, we are determined, of course, that it will be for the benefit for the whole of Scotland. I listen closely to what the member said. Richard Leonard Thank you, Presiding Officer. The Government's manufacturing action plan, which was published early this year, also promised, among other things, an enhanced manufacturing advisory capital asset survey, by quarter 2 2016 and by quarter 3, that Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Isles Enterprise would have implemented a workplace innovation service aimed at workforce engagement. Can the cabinet secretary inform Parliament where those initiatives lie? Yes, I can, and I thank Richard Leonard for the question. On 18 March, Zeroway Scotland launched, first of all, the £18 million circular economy fund for business. On 1 June, the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service launched a new capital asset review service to which Richard Leonard referred. Also, on 22 August, Scottish Enterprise launched a new workplace innovation service. You can see that we are making real progress on that in trying to revitalise and assist where possible manufacturing in Scotland. Thank you. We welcome the plans to establish a national manufacturing institute. We hope that it helps to improve Scotland's productivity from the current levels in the third quartile. Can the cabinet secretary please tell me when will he announce new targets for Scottish productivity going forward? Once again, it would be useful when we have questions from the Conservatives if they could at least acknowledge that there are two Governments active in the economy in Scotland, a point that has been denied in the past by Dean Lockhart and others. There are two Governments involved in this, and sometimes to have some reference to the role and perhaps some of the shortcomings of the UK Government's involvement in the economy would be useful. However, it is important that we keep on the review productivity. We have seen an increase in Scotland, which we have not seen in the rest of the UK, in terms of productivity. In addition to that, as part of phase 2 of the review of the skills and enterprise agencies, we will look very closely at future targets and performance measures in relation to productivity. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met South Lanarkshire Council and what issues were discussed. Ministers and officials regularly meet the leaders and chief executives of all Scottish local authorities, including South Lanarkshire Council, to discuss a variety of issues. Senior officials attended the board meeting of South Lanarkshire community planning partnership on 27 October, along with the council's chief executive. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. It suggests that the cabinet secretary may be at further meetings at town centre regeneration and should be a focus of some of the work that the Government does along with local authorities. Angela Crawley MP and I have published a report on a consultation on Hamilton Town Centre. One of the recommendations is a discrete town centre business bonus scheme to encourage new business and sustain existing business. Can I ask the cabinet secretary what financial levers councils can use to promote economic development and therefore regenerate town centres like Hamilton? I am sure that Ms McKelvie is aware that the small business bonus scheme already reduces non-domestic rates for more than two in every five rateable properties across Scotland. As a Government, we have a commitment to expand the scheme from 2017 so that it lifts 100,000 properties out of rates altogether. There is also the new powers that councils have under the Community Empowerment Act to apply further rate reductions to any properties in their area. Perth and Conross Council is using the power this year to support its town centres. The Scottish Government's town centre action plan remains a key driver of action across Government that sets the right conditions for town centre regeneration in Scotland. My final point is that we have been very encouraged by the approach taken by local authorities and wider public bodies to the town centre first principle since its inception. It is good to see that town centres are being prioritised in public investment decisions, leading to positive change. The minister may be aware that data protection has been cited as the reason why some councils, such as South Lanarkshire, have made the decision to remove the displays of residents' names from the foyers of tower blocks such as Wailer Tower. Residents, however, wish their names in some cases to be displayed in order to aid deliveries and for routine emergency or doctor visits. Does the minister therefore consider that those residents, in order to comply with that protection, should be given the option of having their names displayed and that they should perhaps be part of their tenancy agreement? I think that that is a very interesting point raised by Ms Mitchell. We have to listen to the needs of residents and the member has outlined some very practical reasons why people would want their names displayed outside their own home. In particular, she has cited doctors doing emergency calls to assist the ambulance service. I will certainly look into the issue that she raises in and around data protection and to look at where a resolution lies, whether that lies at local level or within the Scottish Government's gift. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with tenant farmers and their representatives. Presiding Officer, the Scottish Government has frequent contact with tenant farmers and their representatives on a wide range of issues. I attend personally a large number of events, particularly farming shows over the summer where I meet and have discussions with tenant farmers on a variety of topics. More specifically, I met the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association on 27 July to discuss tenant farming matters, including mediation, and I met them again this morning. I have met representatives from the NFU Scotland on 4 August, 5 September, 17 October and 9 November to discuss various matters. I met Andrew Thin, the interim adviser on tenant farming on 29 August. Tenant farmers were also represented at the last CEP stakeholder group that I attended and will be invited to attend rural summits that I am due to hold, including on farming and food production. Throughout this time, Scottish Government officials have also had substantive significant contact with tenant farmers and their representatives on a range of matters. Andy Wightman Thank you for that answer. As you are probably aware, Presiding Officer, this was not my original question, which I was advised by breach rule 7.5 of standing orders. Two weeks today, tenant farmers' families will be evicted. We are in a situation where, because of the Scottish Government's failure to honour its own commitments to tenant farmers' facing eviction, they have had to take ministers to court and I now cannot as a consequence fulfil my parliamentary role of holding the Government to account for its actions. Will the cabinet secretary explain how we got into this situation? Will he commit to emergency legislation to halt these evictions pending proper mediation and compensation? Will he join me at 1 pm to meet the tenant farmers affected outside Parliament and to receive a petition signed by 25,000 people calling for a halt to the eviction of the Patterson family on Arran? Before the cabinet secretary answers the question, Mr Wightman is referring to standing orders that refer to the subjudice rule. There is an active on-going court case at the moment and Parliament must be mindful not to interfere in judicial proceedings. Having said that, cabinet secretary. I am mindful of those words and advice and I understand that I am not permitted to make comment on these matters because legal proceedings are active in relation to a matter as prescribed in section 2 of the Contempt of Cortact 1981. Therefore, I am constrained in what I may say about any matter that is subject to the current litigation. However, I can say to the member and every member in this chamber that as the rural secretary I am extremely keen to do everything we possibly can to help tenant farmers and indeed all farmers in the community and see a thriving, tenanted sector. I can assure all members that, following the resolution of the litigation, which prevents a more direct response on those matters, the Scottish Government will consider the outcome of that litigation with great care. No doubt, we will come back to this house as swiftly as we possibly can. Kenneth Gibson Does the cabinet secretary agree that, while tenancy arrangements between landlords and tenants are private, in rural communities such as those in Arnett, it is in everyone's interests for the land to be found productively, sustainably and effectively, and for those tenant farmers committed to food production, business diversification and land management to enjoy stability and security of tenure? While the cabinet secretary cannot talk about the cases currently in court, what general advice can he give to landlords and tenants who find themselves in dispute? Yes, I think that Mr Gibson makes the point very well. I hope that all members across the chamber and all parties will subscribe to the sentiments that he has expressed, namely that we wish all of us wished to see a thriving agricultural sector. That includes new entrants, crofters, smallholders, tenant farmers, owner occupiers or indeed landlords. And a vibrant tenant farming sector is one of the cornerstones of Scottish agriculture. In direct response to the question about what advice I would offer, I would point out that the Scottish Government has provided mediation services. Those are a matter, an entirely private matter, between the tenant and landlords to contract. In those cases where there is a live dispute, I would of course urge both parties to avail themselves of those mediation services. That is general advice, which we have sought to apply in individual cases. John Scott Thank you, Presiding Officer, for declaring an interest as a farmer, although not a tenant farmer. The cabinet secretary will be aware of the declining supply of land to let in the tenant sector, as predicted by Alex Ferguson and others in past sessions of Parliament. Can he assure Parliament that the Land Reform Act 2016 will increase the supply of tenant to land so vital for new entrants to the industry? John Scott Well, I think that if I may say so, Mr Scott makes a very sensible point. I share that aspiration, as I hope do we all. I can inform him that I think it was just last week or the week before that I convened a meeting of all public bodies that have land holdings, obviously including the Forestry Commission, including bodies such as Scottish Natural Heritage and local authorities, with the specific remit of asking them to look at whether they have land within their land holdings, some of which could be made available for new entrants in future. It was an extremely positive meeting and I would be delighted to continue to work with Mr Scott and members across the chamber in securing an objective that I think we can all recognise as being in the interest of bringing in new entrants, not least because the average age of a farmer in Scotland, sadly, is 58, just one year less than my own age. Rhoda Grant Thank you, Presiding Officer. Can I ask the cabinet secretary if he is intending to amend the land reform legislation to make sure that those who should have security of tenure will have that going forward? The topic of land reform has been closely debated in this Parliament and I know that the member Rhoda Grant has taken a long-standing and passionate interest in this and I respect that. We are always looking at ways in which we can improve the legal framework in order to secure the objective of a thriving agricultural sector. I am able to state that the Scottish Government is starting to implement much-needed changes in that agricultural holding legislation. On Friday 11 November, the first SSIs will seek to implement aspects of the legislation last year. I will continue to work with the member and others across the chamber in further improving the legislation that is affecting our farmers. 6. Gordon MacDonald Scottish Government plans to tackle traffic congestion in the west of Edinburgh. The Scottish Government has invested significantly in major schemes in the west of Edinburgh that contribute to reducing congestion. That includes the £41 million Edinburgh Gateway station due to opening 11 December. Since 2014, we have provided grants for sustainable land and active travel with 14 active travel projects. Transport Scotland also works with the City of Edinburgh Council through the development plan process to ensure the continued safe and efficient operation of the road network. Gordon MacDonald I thank the minister for that answer. The A70 and A71 are the two main anterior routes into Edinburgh through my constituency. Over the last five years, there has been an 18 per cent increase in the number of buses, coaches and like goods vehicles using the A70 through the villages of Ballerno, Currie and Juniper Green in total, close to 45,000 vehicle journeys daily on those two main roads. With on-going house building in West Lothian and all commutable into Edinburgh, how can we encourage more use of public transport in order that communities along the route of the A70 and A71 are not further impacted by increased traffic congestion? The member makes a very good point indeed that congestion is affecting our urban areas and in that vein, officials are working closely with regional and local planning and transport authorities to undertake a cross boundary multimodal transport study. That will assess the impact of current and projected travel demand but also take into account some of those housing proposals in the local development plan that the member mentions. The current phase of the Edinburgh Glasgow improvement project electrification of the short lines will result in journey saving times and additional capacity. I have mentioned the Gateway Station, there are also opportunities in the transport bill and the upcoming transport bill to see how we can improve bus patronage and also deal with the issue of roadworks, which will also add to congestion issues. I will keep the member fully brief on that.