 The next item of business is First Minister's Questions at question number one, I call Douglas Ross. Thank you, Presiding Officer. In the last hour, Jamie Dawson, KC Council to the Covid-19 inquiry, has explained that the SNP Government were asked to provide all communications related to key decisions made during the pandemic. These included all informal messages, including on WhatsApp. Mr Dawson has said, and I quote, no messages were provided. Grieving families deserve answers and full transparency from this Government. So why has Humza Yousaf not handed over key messages to the inquiry? Can I say first and foremost that my thoughts continue to remain with all those families that have been bereaved by Covid and defected by Covid. This Government will cooperate fully with both the UK inquiry and the Scottish public inquiry. In terms of what we have released and what we will provide to the inquiry, let me make it clear that any potentially relevant information that we hold, be it in WhatsApp, be it an email, be it any correspondence, we will hand over, have handed over. Of course, if there are concerns that have been raised by the inquiry, as Douglas Ross has rightly said, have been, then we will fully investigate them. We will, of course, hand over, and we have handed over relevant material. There are some messages that we are going to continue to provide, but they have to go through the appropriate processes. We will continue to hand over those messages. We will continue to co-operate fully with the public inquiries, both the UK inquiry and the Scottish inquiry. For those concerns that have been raised, they will be fully investigated. I am not sure what the First Minister is talking about. This is from this morning. Surely he is aware of what is happening. Jamie Dawson said that the Scottish Government has provided the inquiry with no WhatsApp or other informal messaging material, either in its own possession or in the possession of the individuals whose individual rule 9 requests are being handled by the Scottish Government. He also said that there is no clear comprehensive response emerged in the corporate statements from the Scottish Government, but in May this year, asked a direct question by a journalist, Humza Yousaf said that if a request for messages, including what was made, the Scottish Government should be absolutely open and transparent. In June, he said in this chamber, and I quote, WhatsApp messages, emails, signal messages, telegram messages or whatever will absolutely be handed over to the Covid inquiries and handed over to them in full. The inquiry has heard this morning that that has not happened. Where are the messages? Where have they gone? Has the Scottish Government deleted any messages? The Scottish Government did not make decisions through WhatsApp. That is not what we routinely did. I know that that was very different to what was being intimated by the UK Government. Members, let's hear the First Minister. Decisions were not made over WhatsApp, and I have, and I will continue to say to every single Government official that we must comply with the inquiry fully. If there is relevant information that has been passed on, I note the concerns that were raised this morning. Therefore, I have asked the solicitor general just this morning to internally investigate whether there, of course, are any other messages that have to be handed over. Whether it is WhatsApp, whether it is email, whether it is correspondence, all that information has been provided. I myself have provided a statement, of course, to the inquiry as well. However, I note the concerns that have been raised and can give an absolute assurance to the families listening, particularly those families that have been bereaved by Covid, where we hold any relevant information, that will be passed on. However, it is not. That is what we are hearing this morning, and it shouldn't take the solicitor general to get involved. The First Minister must know what is required and must have heard, as I did, what the council for the inquiry has said. Despite—and I am not going to say deliberately, maybe inadvertently—that the First Minister misled Parliament there, because we know—I think that that is okay to say—that the SNP ministers do routinely use WhatsApp to discuss government matters. At the end of last year, it was revealed that four SNP ministers were using WhatsApp to conduct government business—Neil Gray, Kevin Stewart, Mary Todd, and Humza Yousaf. The council to the Covid inquiry has also revealed today that witness statements, and this is a quote, suggest that informal communication, such as WhatsApp messages, were used by key decision makers to discuss matters around the progress of the pandemic in Scotland, and this is a quote from the council, decisions that the Scottish Government might have to take. Crucially, one Scottish Government official has voluntarily handed over WhatsApp messages from the pandemic, proving that they exist, so there is no excuse for not releasing them. Why is this information being withheld from grieving families, the inquiry and everyone who deserves answers? That is a complete mis-characterisation. I did not inadvertently mislead the chamber. I did not say that there has never been discussions over WhatsApp, but I said that we did not routinely make decisions over WhatsApp, which was very different, of course, from what the UK Government has done. What I would expect Scottish Government ministers to do and Scottish Government officials to do is comply with our mobile messaging apps, usage and policy. That policy, I believe, I wrote to every single member of this chamber, of this Parliament with. What I would also expect every single minister and Government official to do is comply with the do-not-destroy notices that were provided by the UK Inquiry. There have been concerns that have been raised—Douglas Ross is absolutely right—to reiterate those concerns that were raised on behalf of the committee. I can only say to the families listening that we will take on both those concerns. We will internally investigate fully, because my understanding, certainly as I stand here today, is that routine information has been—relevant information, forgive me—has been passed over, but, of course, if there is any concerns raised, they will be fully investigated. I will ask this list of general to investigate them and, of course, I will update this Parliament on any of those investigations. The First Minister was speaking about the letter that he sent. I have got it here on 20 July. He sent it to all MSPs. He states, I should reiterate here that the Scottish Government is committed to openness and transparency. We are co-operating fully with both the UK and Scottish inquiries, which is totally the opposite to what we have heard from Jamie Dawson this morning. SNP members are saying no. The council to the inquiry has said that they have not received what they asked for from the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government does have record management policies requiring officials to retain records. The SNP business manager, George Adam, told this Parliament in December last year that, all recorded information that is held by ministers or officials that relates to the business of the Scottish Government is subject to freedom of information law irrespective of its format or the platform on which it is held. The Covid inquiry also has powers to compel evidence. Refusing to hand over this information would not only be an insult to grieving families, it would not only be a shocking display of secrecy, it would potentially break the law. Will the First Minister confirm that he will be transparent and release every bit of information this Government holds? Does he accept that, if any messages have been deleted, it would be illegal? It is not this Government that has broken the law or will break the law. We will comply with not only the law, but we will comply and co-operate fully with both the UK inquiry and the Scottish Government's public inquiry as well. We have passed over what we believe to be relevant information. That being said— First Minister, if you might just give me a moment, question has been put to the First Minister. Let's hear the First Minister respond with no other comment. First Minister. Douglas Ross has said that nothing has been handed over. That is incorrect. My own statement to the Covid inquiry is over 100 pages long, so to suggest that there has not been any information passed over, that is simply incorrect. What we are doing and what we have done is not just complied with our own policy. What I am seeking assurances on the back of this morning's comments from council is to make sure that the DNDN notices do not destroy notice has been fully complied with, not just by ministers, but by every relevant Scottish Government official. We take seriously the concerns that have been raised by council. That Government will undoubtedly fully co-operate with both the UK inquiry and the Scottish public inquiry, too. In the past week, two major fires have brought misery and heartache to families who have lost everything. In Lockgallia, a fire ripped through a four-story block of flats and in East Kilbride six homes were destroyed. According to the FBU, both of those fires raged on because of delays due to cuts in services. Today, one firefighter has told the courier that they were 15 minutes later than they could have been to a second fire in Fife and that it is only a matter of time before those cuts put lives at risk. He said, we all want to do our best by the communities that serve, but it is difficult when we have one hand tied behind our back. Why can't you see that those cuts are putting lives at risk? I say to Anna Sarwar that, first and foremost, let me pay tribute to each and every single one of our firefighters who do an incredible job in Scotland. I know that from my position, of course, as First Minister, but previously as justice secretary, too. When it comes to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, I do not agree about the point being made in relation to cuts. Despite the very difficult financial circumstances due to UK Government austerity, we are providing SFRS with more than £368 million this year. That is an increase of £14.4 million on 2022-23. If I look at how many firefighters we have in comparison to other parts of the UK as of March of this year, there are 11.3 firefighters per 10,000 of the population in Scotland. That compares to 6.1 in England and 8.4 in Wales. If I look at the pay, I am pleased to say that firefighters have accepted an improved two-year pay offer of 7 per cent for 22, 23 and 5 per cent for 23, 24. When it comes importantly, and this is the most crucial statistic for the public who are interested in their safety, between 2011-12 and 2021-22, over that 10-year period, the number of recorded fires has dropped by 14 per cent. We continue to invest and increase, in fact, the investment in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. We continue to have more firefighters per head than other parts of the UK, but, crucially, fires are going down because of the investment that we have made. In short, the First Minister is saying that firefighters are wrong, and he is burning his head in the sand. The fire service budget is set by the Government, and it has fallen by 22 per cent in real terms over the past decade. The chief fire officer has been clear where the service is headed. He has said that 780 firefighter posts between 20 per cent and 25 per cent of the workforce could go if the Government does not change course. He went on to say that this would impact on response times when fighting fires every second counts. Why does the First Minister think that he knows better than firefighters on the ground and the chief fire officer about how to keep people safe? What I am saying to Annas Alwar is that, as a Government, we have, of course, invested and increased our investment in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. That is a fact. This year, we have increased the funding by 14 per cent. We have more fire officers per head, per 10,000 of the population than other parts of the UK. Crucially, the number of fires, the incidence of fires, are going down. That is what the public care most about. I will also quote Chief Fire Officer David Farries, because, Annas Alwar is right, there are changes being made. There are reforms being made in relation to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. In relation to those reforms, Assistant Chief Fire Officer David Farries said, and I quote, we are trying to make sure that we get a fire service that is fit for the communities of Scotland in the future. That gives us an opportunity to rebalance and reshape the service in a way that meets the 21st century. I think that that is absolutely right. I trust the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to make those changes and to do so in a way that continues to keep people safe. I am not sure why Annas Alwar does not trust firefighters. I think that it is me standing up here and speaking for firefighters who are campaigning at this Parliament rather than the First Minister. Perhaps he wants to go outside and talk to them. A 22 per cent fall in real terms, this Government's financial mismanagement is already affecting every part of a fire service that is suffering from a decade of neglect. In the past 10 years, hundreds of firefighters have been lost and now a dozen appliances are being removed and the First Minister is ignoring warnings that his Government is putting lives at risk. In the last few months alone, those changes have affected fire stations in every corner of Scotland—Dundee, Greenock, Dunfermline, Gronlethys, Methyl, Perth, Hamilton, Cercodi, Edinburgh and four in Glasgow. If that is not cut, what is? When the single fire service was created, the SNP said that it would, and I quote, not result in cutting front-line services. What was that, SNP spin or SNP incompetence? Let's again, instead of sticking to the spin Annas Alwar, continue to articulate. Let me stick to the facts. The facts are that, since 2017-18, there has been substantial year-on-year increases in funding to support the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. On top of that, we have more firefighters per head—per 10,000 of the population—than other parts of the UK. Of course, fires are going down. In terms of the temporary withdrawal of appliances, and Annas Alwar is right that there has been a temporary decision to withdraw some appliances, my understanding is that that is 10 appliances of their 635 operational appliances. That is 1.5 per cent. When I look at what the independent His Majesty's chief inspectorate of fire and rescue services has said, they have provided absolute assurance that the SFIRRS temporary changes are based on a robust analysis of activity levels, historical demand and, importantly, the ability to supplement any initial response within—this is the crucial bit—an acceptable timeframe. We continue to invest in our fire service. I want to thank and pay tribute to the FBU, to our firefighters on the ground, and I will continue to give them a promise that, so long as we are in government, we will continue to ensure that they get the investment that they need to keep our public safety. Do you ask the First Minister when the cabinet will next meet? The vast numbers of people are being forced to call emergency dental help lines, because they cannot find an NHS dentist. An investigation that I am publishing today shows that that happened almost 16,000 times last year in Fife alone. That is hardly surprising, given that there is just one Fife practice accepting new NHS patients. Across Scotland, people are desperate. Some are even resorting to DIY dentistry. The First Minister's recovery plan promised to abolish NHS dentistry charges altogether, but they are not going away. Next week, they are going up. Some will even double. What the Government did not tell you is that there are new charges for those emergency appointments and things like denture repairs. Can I ask the First Minister why are people paying more for less under the SNP? First of all, the word that Alex Cole-Hamilton did not mention in his question was the word pandemic. There has been a significant impact because of the pandemic on our dental services, not just here in Scotland but right across the UK. Alex Cole-Hamilton was also incorrect in saying that we have not made progress in relation to removing dental charges. We have done so for young people, for those who are under the age of 26. We look forward to making continued progress. In terms of growing the NHS dental workforce in Scotland, we have 55 dentists per 100,000 of the population. That is compared to 43 per 100,000 in England. We are investing in our NHS dental services. We are more than happy to write to Alex Cole-Hamilton with the details of the progress that we have made. Crucially, when it comes to the oral health of our young people in particular, where I know that all of us have an interest, there has been significant progress as well. It will, of course, take time, but what I can absolutely guarantee is not just the public but those working in our dental sector right across Scotland as it will continue to invest in dentistry in here in Scotland so that we can continue to improve outcomes for patients right across the country. To ask the First Minister in light of the launch of Scotland's new HIV anti-stigma campaign in partnership with the Terms Higgins Trust, what action the Scottish Government is taking to eliminate new transmissions of HIV? We are delighted to partner with the Terms Higgins Trust and other HIV stakeholders in this important anti-stigma campaign. Tackling stigma is one of the many ways to address HIV transmission in Scotland by reducing barriers to testing and treatment as well as improving the lives of people living with HIV. We remain absolutely committed to eliminating HIV transmission in Scotland by 2030. Our HIV transmission elimination delivery plan, developed by the deputy chief medical officer and stakeholders, will prioritise the recommendations for HIV elimination that we published last year. Our aim is to publish this plan in the coming months. I thank the First Minister for that answer. Stigma often presents a barrier to people accessing HIV testing and this anti-stigma campaign is an exciting milestone in Scotland's mission to improve the lives of those living with HIV and to update public attitudes. A first of its type in the UK, the campaign will reflect the realities of living with HIV in Scotland today, where if an individual is on the right treatment, they can live a long, happy and healthy life and cannot pass the virus on to others. Does the First Minister agree with me that tackling stigma around HIV will help Scotland to reach zero new transmissions of the virus and will improve and save lives? I absolutely agree with Clare Hockey on that point. Tackling stigma is absolutely fundamental to achieving our HIV transmission elimination goal by 2030. Hockey reference in our original question is just one way of addressing that stigma. We are also working with NHS Education Scotland to produce training materials for non-HIV specialists in the NHS to improve the detection and diagnosis of HIV. We are also working with Waverly Care to support fast-track cities, which provide stigma-related training activities for the health and social care workforce. Almost half of the population in Scotland would be ashamed to tell other people that they were HIV positive, so work is still required, very much required, to challenge misconceptions while also improving access to testing, to preventative treatment and to support people living with HIV. Those will be prioritised in our HIV transmission elimination delivery plan. I say that this new partnership is welcome and we must do all we can to eliminate new transmissions of HIV. Therefore, I ask the First Minister for a progress update on commitments made by the Scottish Government on World AIDS Day 2022, including the pilot of an e-prep clinic, which would act as an important and significant step towards ending stigma and giving people greater control over their own healthcare. I will ensure that we write to the member with full details on the update, but Scotland has been, while leading in the implementation of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis prep since the introduction of our programme in 2017. We have to recognise the point that is well made by the member that pre-exposure prophylaxis has to be as accessible as possible to communities and for those who require communities up and down Scotland. Work is under way, very much under way, to pilot the online pre-exposure prophylaxis. Prep clinic £400,000 of funding has been provided for the development of this project, which is currently in the important development stage and is on track to be taken forward during 2024 and beyond, but I will ensure that a fuller update is provided to the member. Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reported concerns that parents are having to give up their jobs due to childcare costs. Early learning and childcare plays a crucial role, not just in children's development, but in helping parents, particularly at models, to return to work. Our current offer is, of course, the most generous in the UK, with all three and four-year-olds and around a quarter of two-year-olds entitled to 1140 hours of childcare each year. Independent research shows that 88 per cent, almost nine out of 10 parents, with a three to five-year-old were satisfied that they could access childcare in a way that meets their specific needs. However, I do recognise that we have to, of course, go further to support more parents to find or indeed to stay in work. That is why, in the programme for government that I set out, I set out my plans to improve childcare, the childcare offer, to expand the childcare offer, to work with our partners to help 13,000 more children and families to access that childcare by the end of this parliamentary session. Childcare costs are one reason why so many women choose not to start a family. Families with children are having to cut down on essential items because they cannot afford to work and pay for childcare. That is why the role of free childcare is so important. It is not a luxury, it is a tool to get parents into work in our economy moving. Given that the Scottish Government has not announced anything on childcare since the programme for government, how will he reassure women that they will not end up pregnant then screwed by this Government? The programme for government, of course, was just last month and I am more than happy to provide an update to Meghan Gallagher as we make substantial progress. I go back to the point, of course, that in Scotland we have the most generous childcare offer in the UK. What I would also say is that one of the important points that I mentioned in my programme for government is, of course, the sustainability of the PVI sector. Scotland is the only part of the UK to pay staff who are delivering funded ELC, the real living wage. We are committed to providing the necessary funding to increase pay to £12 an hour for staff who deliver funded ELC provision in the private voluntary and independent sector, so we are investing in that most generous childcare offer. I am sure that other parts of the UK might want to follow Scotland's lead. I am very grateful, Presiding Officer. The First Minister will be aware that the data that was produced by pregnant then screwed campaign is damming. Does the First Minister share the confidence that the Scottish Government ministers do that the private sector childcare nursery model is still viable even with the proposed Scottish Government funding? I did see that report and I want to thank pregnant and screwed but for the information that they provided in the report that they have done. That is why I was keen to put on record that we do recognise that our challenge is particularly in the PVI sector. I think that we all recognise that in our conversations with the private voluntary and independent sector. That is why we are going to be providing funding to increase pay to £12 an hour for staff who deliver ELC provision. However, I go back to the point that I made to Megan Gallacher a moment ago that, through independent research—I stress the word independent—it shows that 88 per cent of parents with a three to five-year-old were satisfied that they could access childcare in a way that meets their needs. However, I recognise the point that the member raised about the sustainability of the sector and that is why I am absolutely committed to working with the PVI sector to ensure that we have a sustainable ELC provision going forward. I am afraid that what the Government has done so far on the PVI sector is not enough. The First Minister knows that there is an exodus of experienced staff from the private and voluntary and independent sector. He cannot just do the £12 an hour living wage. He needs to increase the fee rates or we are going to have a sector that is just not sustainable. He promised that in the leadership contest. Is he going to deliver? Of course, we will update the Parliament on our plans around the budget in due course at the end of this year. It is fair to say that overall capacity of the number of registered places across the whole childcare sector remains stable and has remained stable between March 2020 and March 2023. We know from the delivery data that we collect from councils specifically the number of hours that services offer has increased. However, I take the points that there are challenges around the sustainability of childcare. That is why we will continue to invest and continue to ensure that we have the most generous offer than anywhere else in the UK. 6. Jackie Baillie To ask the First Minister what steps are being taken to eradicate long waiting times for NHS treatment in light of Public Health Scotland data, showing that over 1,500 patients have waited more than three years. Excessively long waits are, of course, unacceptable. We are working hard to drive down those longest waits and we have already seen a significant reduction since targets were announced last July. The latest Public Health Scotland data shows that 73 per cent of inpatient day-case specialities had less than 10 patients waiting more than three years and only eight had 10 or more. That is welcome progress, but there is undoubtedly more to do, which is why in each of the next three years we will provide an extra £100 million to accelerate treatment for patients and reduce inpatient and day-case waiting lists by an estimated 100,000 patients. That investment will allow us to maximise capacity, build far greater resilience into the system and deliver those year-on-year reductions in the number of patients who have waited far too long for treatment. 6. Jackie Baillie Let's talk about people, not percentages. It is true that, in July last year, the First Minister announced a series of targets for completely eradicating long waits for treatment by September 2022. Not a single one of those targets has been met. In fact, instead of being zero as promised, there are a shocking 6,831 Scots waiting more than two years. His recent announcement of £300 million over three years is expected to treat 100,000 people. The waiting list sits at 800,000 people and it's growing. Both the BMA and RCN have been scathing about the total failure to acknowledge the workforce crisis and even his economy minister admitted that they had no idea how it will all be funded. When will the First Minister end the 800,000 people on the waiting list and, in light of the SNP's failure to deliver on existing promises on waiting times, why should patients believe them now? 6. Jackie Baillie Jackie Baillie, of course, does not acknowledge the impact that the global pandemic has had on health services right across the UK, of course in Scotland, but in health services right across the United Kingdom. Of course, there are differences in how we record waiting times right across the UK. Waiting times in England and Wales are measured by a referral to treatment time, that's the 18-week target, which, as I say, is not directly comparable to Scotland's treatment time guarantee. Nonetheless, when we look at the data from the 30th of June this year, it shows that there were 122 patients waiting per 1,000 of the population for the treatment time guarantee and new outpatient appointments here in Scotland, so that's 122 per 1,000, that's fewer than in England. About 134 patients per 1,000 are on the RTT waiting list and, in Wales, the figure is 243 per 1,000. My point is, while acknowledging there are differences in ways that those figures are measured, that the global pandemic has impacted health services right across the UK. We have made significant reductions in numbers waiting over two years for new outpatient appointments as down by 59 per cent when it comes to those waits of over two years and when it comes to those people who have been waiting as in patients for longer than two years, that has reduced also by 28 per cent since targets were announced. We'll continue our record investment in the NHS, we'll continue to ensure that our staff is at historically high and record levels, and we'll continue to make sure, of course, that our NHS staff remain the best paid anywhere else in the UK. Given the unacceptably long secondary care wait times, desperate patients are forced to continue to see GP's, placing greater strain on primary care and taking up appointments, forcing new issues from patients to wait, leading to them going to A&E in desperation. This is a system-wide cycle of despair that has contributed to record deaths this winter. You've spoken about surgical waiting times, but what about our patients waiting for medical clinics, chronic pain management, respiratory or cardiology? What tangible changes are you making specifically for them? First and foremost, that is exactly why we are investing an additional £300 million to reduce waiting lists for patients that have been waiting far too long. However, Sandish Gohani asked the question, what are we doing? We are doing everything we possibly can, our NHS staff are doing everything they possibly can, to increase activity in order to aid the recovery. I'll give one example of that. When we look at inpatient day-case activity for quarter 2, it was the highest since the start of the pandemic. In fact, it was the sixth quarterly increase in a role with 58,813 people, patients being seen in quarter 2. We are increasing the activity, but what we are also doing is making sure that we increase the workforce where we can. We have had recently historically high levels of NHS staff, and we are making sure that they continue to be the best paid. Of course, what will help us in relation to that NHS activity is to make sure that no NHS worker, be it a doctor or nurse or any of our NHS staff, feels like they have to go on strike because they are not being fairly paid. Therefore, this Government will continue to make sure that our NHS staff are the best paid in the whole of the UK. Can the First Minister outline how the newly announced fund to leave will support women fleeing an abusive relationship? The new £500,000 fund to leave pie will help to reduce the financial burden on women who can receive up to £1,000 to pay for the essentials that they and their children need, for example, for rent, for clothing. The fund is to support women experiencing domestic abuse, who, as we all know, face many challenges, many difficulties, including financial barriers when they plan to leave abusive partners. It is vital that women are able to access the support that they need when they need it. That can be through local authorities, their local women's aid group or partners involved in delivering the fund. I would always urge any woman experiencing domestic abuse or violence to reach out for support that is available through Scotland's domestic abuse and forced marriage helpline. Claire Ingoes was tortured and murdered in her own home, leaving behind a young son. Fiona and Ian Ingoes have found the strength to be here today, 24 hours after their daughter's killer was jailed. They are here for answers. Why was a violent criminal with dozens of convictions granted bail not just once or twice but five times? Since Claire's murder, why has the SNP Government passed a law that will make it even harder to remand criminals in custody? Will Humza Yousaf commit to an independent, robust and transparent inquiry? First and foremost, my thoughts are very much with Ian and Fiona, Claire's parents. I cannot imagine the trauma and grief that they are going through. There cannot be anything more unnatural in this world than to have to bury your child. I extend the condolences and sympathies of the Government to Ian and Fiona. I will forgive me for the indulgence and take a bit of time to answer some of the questions that Russell Findlay has posed on behalf of the family. First and foremost, it is appropriate for me to say that, of course, decisions about bail on remand are for the independent judiciary, the independent courts to determine that they are not for the First Minister or indeed any Government or any politician to interfere in or intervene in. On bail and release act, I do not agree with Russell Findlay's characterisation. When I look at the bail and release act, it is, of course, for the first time that the act makes clear that the court should specifically consider victim safety, which includes physical and psychological harm, when applying the new bail test. That is, for the first time, explicit within the act. Victim safety is absolutely at the heart of any decision that should be made around bail and remand. In terms of an independent inquiry, as Russell Findlay has asked for, he knows that I cannot intervene or interfere in the decisions of the judiciary given the concerns that have been raised by Russell Findlay, that have been raised by Ian and Fiona. I will, of course, convey those concerns directly both to the Lord President and the Lord Advocate when it comes to prosecutorial decisions and decisions to either oppose or accept bail conditions. It will be for them to, of course, appropriately respond, but I cannot demand an investigation into a decision that has been made by the independent judiciary or, certainly, it would be unwise for me to do so, because that would be seen undoubtedly as interference with a decision made by the independent judiciary. I will end by saying that this dreadful case, this tragic case, reminds us of the need to do more to tackle not just domestic abuse but, indeed, domestic homicide. That is why the Scottish Government is committed to developing a multi-agency domestic homicide review model in partnership with key stakeholders, which I will give more information to Russell Findlay and to any other member that has an interest. I remind members of my register of interest as a member of Unite the Union. Today it was announced that Newman Bonnar, the company set up earlier this year to acquire historic Dundee textile manufacturer, is closing, risking the livelihoods of 57 workers and their families. Can I invite the First Minister to take this opportunity to join the Provisional Liquidators in asking that any party who has an interest in acquiring the business please contact them? Will the First Minister join me in fighting to save these important manufacturing jobs in Dundee? I do share Mercedes Villalbaugh's clear disappointment to hear that Newman Bonnar Ltd has gone into liquidation. My immediate thoughts, of course, are with the staff and with their families who are again going through further uncertainty. The wellbeing economy secretary had met with and written to the company in recent months to encourage it to fully engage with Scottish Enterprise so that every available option to save the business could be explored. I know that the business has had a long-standing presence in the community, of course, as an important local employer. We will certainly do everything we can in our power to protect jobs and the manufacturing footprint in Dundee. Scottish Enterprise is engaging directly with Liquidator to better understand the situation given last night's announcement. We, of course, as a Government, stand ready to provide support to any employees who are potentially facing redundancy through a partnership action for continuing employment pace. I will keep the member updated on how those conversations are going. This week, the FBU Scotland launched its firestorm report. In the last seven days, we have seen them tackle floods and flames. Our firies are gathered outside right now, and they are clear. They cannot continue in their current roles. Never mind adept to the future kinds of roles they are expected to do with the current levels of investment. Can I ask the First Minister what his response to their firestorm report is, and will he agree to meet with firefighters themselves, not their managers, front-line firefighters to hear directly their concerns? First Minister, first and foremost, I go back to the response to Anna Sarwar. We will continue to ensure that we invest in our fire service because they do an incredible job. Of course, in our firefighters, we have a regular dialogue with the FBU. In fact, I think that the cabinet secretary has committed just this morning to meet with the fire brigade's union to meet directly with those on the front line. We did, of course, this financial year increase SFRS's budget by £14.4 million. That is despite the current financial pressure that we are under. On top of that, of course, we continue to make investments in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service that has seen them, through their incredible hard work, reduce the number of fires that have taken place over the course of the last year. I have the firestorm report. I have read through the report, and of course the cabinet secretary will meet with the FBU as she committed to this morning. First Minister, under the Scottish Government's vaccination programme, I recently had both the Covid and the flu vaccines at a very busy, efficient and indeed friendly vaccine centre, but that is anecdotal. Can I ask for an update on the take-up of the vaccine, please? First Minister, it makes an incredibly important point. We know that the vaccines for Covid and flu are incredibly effective and important. I would encourage anybody who is eligible to come forward for those vaccines. The programme is progressing very well, with more than 1.7 million vaccines administered so far. That is more than 1 million flu vaccines and almost 700,000 Covid vaccines. For those at our highest risk, re-facing of the programme has resulted in 73 per cent of care home residents already vaccinated, with the remainder due for completion by the end of this month. A large number of people have appointments throughout the rest of October and November, with vaccines due to be delivered by early December. I would reiterate to everybody to all those who are eligible that getting the Covid vaccine could save your life. It is the safest and most effective way to protect yourself and the NHS. This winter, if you are eligible, please do so, but I yet to book an appointment, please do so. I encourage everybody who is eligible to get those vaccines. This week, I met campaigners to discuss the impact of lockdowns on families of those living in care homes. After a long campaign, it was welcome that the Scottish Government announced that they would implement Anne's law. However, there are concerns that that still has not taken place, and it is currently sitting within the national care service bill. The campaigners want to see it decoupled, so can I ask the First Minister if he will agree to meet with the campaigners and if ministers will look urgently at decoupling Anne's law and delivering it now? Of course, through changes that were made by the previous minister for social care, Kevin Stewart, you gave practical effect through regulation to Anne's law. That is notwithstanding, of course, if there is something else that we can do, and the suggestion that was made by Miles Briggs in relation to decoupling, I will consider. However, of course, we do have the national care service bill progressing. Of course, we took time to pause that due to concerns that were being raised by local authorities and by trade unions. Of course, I will ask the cabinet secretary to meet Miles Briggs and, indeed, with the families who are represented by those who are in care homes to see if there is anything further that we can do. As we mark care experience week, can the First Minister provide an update on the steps that the Scottish Government is taking to improve the experiences and outcomes for looked-after children as they transition to adulthood? I do think that every single member of the Scottish Parliament who has met with care experienced people, particularly care experienced young people, will have been moved by their plight, by their strength, by their advocacy. I had the great privilege to meet with a group of care experienced young people in Glasgow yesterday, and I heard about some of the challenges that care experienced people face during that transition into adulthood. For anyone moving away from home can be a challenging time when we rely heavily on our family support networks, but not everybody has that family support network. Not everybody has the luxury of their mother and their father or, indeed, wider family to be able to rely on, and that is why I was pleased to set out the Government's proposal for a £2,000 care leaver payment to provide financial support at such a pivotal moment in young people's lives as part of a broader package of support. That is a key step in keeping the promise and let me reiterate to the chamber today that I, as First Minister and this Government, fully intend not just in keeping the promise but in making sure that it is delivered. Thank you. That concludes First Minister's questions. The point of order, Sandesh Gilhane. Dr Gilhane, your comment has been recorded. The next item of business is a member's business debate in the name of Paul Sweeney, and there will now be a short suspension to allow those leaving the chamber and public gallery to do so before the debate begins.