 Those are your questions. R Cabinet secretary, Derek Mackay. To ask the Scottish Government how its budget will take account of promoting regional policy. Cabinet secretary, Derek Mackay. Whilst I am obviously constrained in what I can say today, I can confirm that the draft budget will respond to the challenges presented by the EU referendum and UK Government austerity. We will deliver the positive steps set out in the programme for government to build a nation with a dynamic approach that is going to embrace the safety of the EU and to make the balance of our trade today. will deliver the positive steps set out in the programme for government to build a nation with a dynamic, sustainable and inclusive economy that supports all of Scotland's regions. Richard Lochhead. I very much look forward to the cabinet secretary's statement, and I'm sure he'll agree that we need a renewed focus on Scotland's regional policy as Brexit fast approaches, given that many regional funds flow from Europe. Although I recognise that city deals for Aberdeen and Inverness and Ellsworth along with the islands initiative are big steps forward, does he agree that we also need bespoke measures for places like Murray that I represent and Ellsworth that are not covered by those initiatives but face similar challenges? In terms of future budgets, will he support efforts in Murray to persuade the UK Government in particular but also speak to him and his own colleagues in the Scottish Government to deliver a Murray city deal, especially given the enormous revenues generated by the space-side Scottish whisky sector for the UK's coffers? Finally, we should also be looking at other measures in promoting regional policy such as locating civil service jobs, especially new ones, in places like Murray and Ellsworth around the country. That was quite a comprehensive bid for the budget tomorrow, but taking each issue in turn, we should recalibrate our economic policies and light of circumstances to support every part of Scotland. On the issue of continuity of EU funds, I have guaranteed the continuity of EU funds, including following through from the UK guarantees to the Scottish Government. On city deals, I am happy to work with Murray Council to look at any specific request that may emerge, and the economy sector also deals with the city deals, and it will be happy to engage. On civil service deployment, it is the case that we have around 70 offices across the country, not just in the central belt, but we consider the deployment of our resources and civil servants. We will ensure that it looks at opportunities in every part of the country, but optimising the quality of service and, of course, best value staying in mind. Yesterday, Fraser of Allander, in its most recent economic commentary, said the following. The scope of a city to invest in productive infrastructure, skills and land redevelopment is essential to its ability to shape and manage population and economic change. The OECD observes, says Fraser of Allander, a strong correlation between fiscal decentralisation, prosperity and productivity, and there is mounting evidence that fiscal devolution or financial empowerment of cities creates an incentive framework that ultimately improves the economy and productivity. Does the cabinet secretary agree, and if so, could he point to the Scottish Government policies that are designed to assist the realisation of those policy goals? Cabinet Secretary, I have a great deal of sympathy with that proposition around how the metropolitan district, how the cities are drivers for the economy and regional growth. The one example that I will point to, as requested by Mr Tomkins, is the Glasgow city deal. I was a signatory on behalf of the Scottish Government when I was the local government minister, and we are happy to talk further to local government and COSLA about further empowerment and economic packages that stimulate economic growth along the lines that were suggested. Runa Mackay, I think that it was Rachel. Did you not wish to ask a supplementary? I beg your pardon, yes, sorry. Despite their claims, it would appear that the Tories are the only party obsessed with independence. Is this the wrong question? That's why I was confused. I think that we will move on to question 2. Gillian Martin To ask the Scottish Government what was discussed at the last meeting between the finance secretary and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce. The cabinet secretary and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce meet to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to continue work with businesses and business organisations to build a fairer and more prosperous Scotland. I last met with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce on 1 December as a guest at their annual event. The First Minister, also in attendance, announced that the Scottish Government will provide up to £400,000 to the chambers to support new business-led trade missions and forge new trading alliances between Chambers both here and abroad. That will boost the resource that is already committed by the Chambers network, complement the work of the Scottish Development International and contribute to our shared efforts to increase exports and internationalisation. Gillian Martin In my area of the north-east of Scotland, we have energy, innovation and technology that has the potential to be exported worldwide. How important is these international grants going to be given to the Chambers of Commerce in terms of helping businesses to export particularly in the light of Brexit? The First Minister I certainly know that the Chambers of Commerce appreciated that grant, which will support their work on internationalisation, building stronger networks, helping to do deals that will export our produced and indeed intelligence and improve our productivity, as well. Clearly aligned to our trade and investment strategies to support manufacturing and support for the low-carbon sector, and to encourage companies to export. That is a very worthwhile partnership for us at the Chambers and will complement the work of the SDI. Jackie Baillie Having a more international outlook for exporting is indeed welcome. Although we have seen an expansion of hubs to encourage exporting, they are in Europe and not in the rest of the world. Can the cabinet secretary tell me when will we see this investment in hubs in Europe matched in emerging markets across the world? Jackie Baillie Jackie Baillie raises a fair point that our work on internationalisation must reach beyond Europe, but it is a very important market. Our overall strategy around trade, investment and internationalisation can cover every part of the world, including the emerging markets. There will be an increasing focus on growth opportunities wherever they exist, but the Chambers appreciate the support that we have given them along the lines that I have suggested, trying to support our international efforts. Liam Kerr In September this year, organisations including CBI Scotland, the Scottish Whiskey Association and the Institute of Directors, wrote to the finance secretary to urge him to reverse the decision to double the rate of large business supplement in Scotland, which will affect one out of every eight commercial properties and add a further £6 million to those business rates bills in the current year. Who is right? Business groups of the SNP. Liam Kerr I look forward to presenting the Scottish budget tomorrow and I look forward to the on-going engagement with the business community. Following the receipt of that letter, I met with business organisations and I said that I would consider their propositions. I look forward to a package of measures that will support the business community when I outline the budget to Scotland tomorrow. Kenneth Gibson To ask the Scottish Government what impact its forthcoming budget will have on Ayrshire. As I referred to in earlier answers, tomorrow I will bring forward my tax and spending proposals. The people of Ayrshire, indeed people across Scotland, will benefit from our commitments to expand early learning and childcare, raise standards in schools and close the attainment gap, protect police budget in real terms and increase the health budget. The draft budget will also progress our ambitious infrastructure investment programme, set out in the programme for government, including significant investments in affordable housing, digital energy efficiency and transport and health. That includes further progress on the A737 Del Rye bypass and continued support for Glasgow Presswick Airport. Kenneth Gibson I thank the cabinet secretary for that very positive answer. We were how vital the Ayrshire growth deal is to Ayrshire's future prosperity. A deal that requires much-needed improvements to our infrastructure and investment of over £350 million. While I am delighted that the SNP Government has already agreed to work with all parties concerned, does it agree that the chancellor's autumn statement was a missed opportunity to propose a matching commitment from Westminster and that supporting the Ayrshire growth deal will not only be good for Ayrshire, but it is Scottish and UK economies and will the SNP Government therefore lobby the chancellor to reconsider, share our vision and back the Ayrshire growth deal in next year's spring budget? Kenneth Gibson Yes, I do believe that it was an emission from the UK Government. We will continue to pursue it with the UK Government and the economy sector will support us in taking those steps to support the Ayrshire growth deal. John Scott The cabinet secretary is well aware of the proposed Ayrshire growth deal, so it is dependent on more than one budget, as is outlined by Mr Gibson in his line of questioning. Does the cabinet secretary agree that expanding the existing but now full enterprise zones in Prestwick and Irvine, as well as perhaps creating a new one in East Ayrshire, is strategically important to job creation and business development across Ayrshire? Will that be a priority in his budget tomorrow and, if not, at the next budget? John Scott Mr Scott makes a valid point about a package of measures that can be involved in any growth deal—a package of levers to support economic growth and that package of measures on infrastructure support and business rates in other areas. I am sure that Mr Scott will welcome my budget when I present it to the Parliament tomorrow. Colin Smyth The Scottish Government's figures show that, since 2007, 800 jobs have been axed to East Ayrshire Council, 600 at North Ayrshire Council and 800 at South Ayrshire Council. That is 2,200 job cuts on this Government's watch. Given that the cabinet secretary refuses to use the powers of this Parliament to stop the cuts to local councils, can he tell the chamber how many more jobs will have to be axed in Ayrshire as a result of his forthcoming budget? Does he think that those job cuts will be a price that is worth paying for families in Ayrshire? Colin Smyth's position on the use of those powers is not accurate. I do not support the proposition that has been put across, and I would simply ask the member to reflect on the fact. As understood by the independent audit agency, local government has essentially had an equivalent reduction to their budget that the Scottish Government has. It is the case that local government has had fair and reasonable settlements from the Scottish Government. Ben Macpherson To ask the Scottish Government what was discussed at the recent meeting between the finance secretary and the chancellor. The First Minister and I met the chancellor of the Exchequer on 1 December and discussed a range of issues, including the economic and fiscal uncertainty that is resulting from the EU referendum and the need for the UK Government to do more to support the oil and gas sector to secure its long-term sustainability. We also discussed the iniquitous treatment of Scottish Police Authority and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service with respect to VAT, an unacceptable situation that is estimated to cost the bodies around £30 million per annum. Following the meeting, the chancellor committed to providing further details of his plans to adjust the UK budget and autumn's statement timetable. Those details will be of significant interest to the joint working group that has been established to look at the Scottish budget timetable following the passage of the Scotland Act 2016. Ben Macpherson I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. In regard to the VAT point, I wondered if he could outline what progress was made at that meeting in regard to introducing changes to VAT legislation through the finance bill that would enable our Scottish emergency services to recover VAT. Ben Macpherson The chancellor said that he will consider the matter further, and I hope that when he considers the matter further, he will realise that this is an unfair situation, that Police Scotland is the only police authority in the UK that is unable to recover that. That is not fair now. I would welcome the fact—I do not know why the Labour Party supports the Tories on this position—that the Tory party, through its chancellor, may well reconsider its position. It would be a very welcome and fair move if it ensured that we could reclaim our VAT, and that would be right for Scotland. Murdo Fraser Thank you, Presiding Officer. Was the finance secretary and his colleagues not well warned in advance of the creation of a centralised single police force that VAT would be irrecoverable, but they went ahead nonetheless? Ben Macpherson The excuse that the UK Government uses for this is because the money is not coming through local government resources, but there are a range of amendments that the UK Government has made to its agencies to ensure that they escape VAT. However, it does not seem to apply to Scotland why the unfairness—presiding officer—the Tories can fix this in Westminster and ensure that we get parity in Scotland for our valuable emergency services. Neil Findlay When we met with the chancellor today, he discussed public infrastructure funding. Today, the Guardian newspaper and the Ferret Online have exposed how the Scottish Government's failure to correctly interpret EU rules will result in £932 million lost to public investment. At the same time, private financiers are profiteering from the taxpayer via sky-high interest charges. At a time when interest charges across the western world are at a historic low, is it now not abundantly clear that NPD is now just another financial scam and that the only people who think that it is a good idea are members of the Scottish Futures Trust and people around them who are going to make fortunes out of this scheme? Will the cabinet secretary join me in calling for a committee of this Parliament to investigate the whole issue of NPD financing of our public services? Michael Matheson You would never know that PPP—in fact, it started off with the Conservatives' PFI—was the worst regime possible. Then Labour had PPP. What we supported by the Labour Party totally in office, our model was much better in terms of profit capping. What we have been able to do is accelerate capital infrastructure investment to build schools, hospitals and community facilities and infrastructure that has been welcomed across Scotland. We have also been perfectly transparent on how that is delivered and will continue to be transparent on how that is delivered. I will say more about infrastructure tomorrow in the budget, but, of course, we will make wise decisions on our capital spending and infrastructure projects, but we will continue to pay for the legacy of borrowing and profiteering that we inherited from first the Conservatives and then the Labour Party. Maree Todd To ask the cabinet secretary if he has received any communication from the Chancellor of Exchequer regarding his three specific asks for the oil and gas industry. Those were improved access to decommissioning tax relief, urgent clarity and the use of loan guarantees and measures to stimulate exploration, which were completely ignored in the autumn statement. Cabinet secretary, it is the case that those requests were ignored by the Chancellor. I have reinforced the point when I met him and I will continue to reinforce the point, because I think that it is important to the wider Scottish economy and specifically in the north-east, and maybe the Chancellor will revisit his position in the spring budget. Rachael Hamilton To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there is constitutional stability. Without a shred of self-awareness. Membership of the EU is fundamental to the structure of devolution settlement in Scotland. The UK vote to leave the EU therefore has profound implications for our current constitutional arrangements. That uncertainty is compounded by the apparent attention of the UK Government to pursue a hard Brexit and take the UK and Scotland out of the single market. The Scottish Government is clear that the future constitutional arrangements of Scotland must reflect the views and choices of the people of Scotland. The people of Scotland voted clearly to maintain our relationship with the EU. The Scottish Government will therefore be publishing shortly proposals to achieve that end and for further devolution to this Parliament to protect the interests of the people of Scotland on the UK leaving the EU. Rachael Hamilton The cabinet secretary for that answer. Former First Minister Alex Salmond said, a constitutional crisis might be an extremely good thing for Scotland. It would seem that he seeks to encourage a constitutional crisis to block Brexit, which SNP MSP Alex Neil has pointed out. Many SNP voters support, including himself, and to link Brexit with a second independence referendum as a formality. When will the Scottish Government start listening to Scottish voters and acknowledge that Scottish independence is not wanted? Cabinet Secretary? Not only are the Tories obsessed with Scottish independence, they are now obsessed with the two Alexes. It is the position that the ball is in the court of the UK Government. We will put forward proposals that reflect the democratic interests of the people of Scotland, respecting and listening to the people of Scotland who voted to remain within the European Union. If you focus on nothing else, surely it should be the single market that the Tories once believed in. We will put forward that proposition and the ball is in the court of the UK Government to respond positively. I hope for the sake of a number of matters, including constitutional certainty, that the Tories take that proposal seriously and help us to provide further stability, which is what is required at this time. Question 6, Daniel Johnson. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Features Trust regarding school rebuilding in Edinburgh. Government officials met with the Scottish Features Trust regularly to manage the delivery of the schools for the future programme, which includes four new school projects in Edinburgh. The Scottish Government is currently providing significant investment of £62.6 million to the City of Edinburgh council through the programme, with the council being the third-largest beneficiary from the programme. Daniel Johnson. Thank you for that answer. I hope that conversations continue between Edinburgh City Council, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Government to ensure that the way for schools such as the Liberty High School and my constituency are rebuilt. However, revelations in today's guardians that the NPD is to be investigated by auditors is both awkward, but will certainly give parents and teachers no confidence that the money is on its way. So what impact will that have on projects such as the Liberty High School and others across Scotland? Cabinet Secretary. Can I say first of all, in relation to the Liberty High School, that it is a very sensitive matter specifically, and we should all reflect on that. However, on the more general political point of school building at the hands of the Scottish Government, 651 school building projects have been completed during the last nine years. That is 2007-08 to 2015-16. By comparison, that has almost doubled the amount of schools. That was 328 completed over the preceding eight years. That Government has invested substantially in the school building and refurbishment programme, and we will continue to do that in dialogue with local government right across Scotland. Thank you very much. We are going to move on to economy jobs and fair work questions now, and we will start with that. Question number one from Willie Coffey. Thank you to ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to remove the barriers to employment for people with a disability. Minister, Jamie Hepburn. In a fairer Scotland for disabled people, our delivery plan published in 2 December. We announced a range of actions to support disabled people into work, including the long-term ambition of setting a target for reducing the employment gap between disabled and non-disabled people, both in the private and public sector, the use of new powers over employability to support disabled people into employment, our transitional service from April 2017 through Work First Scotland will allow us to take a fairer approach to that support and help. 3,300 disabled people are commitment, effective immediately for modern apprenticeships to include the highest level of funding of disabled young people at the age of 30, and building an SCV on inclusion in Scotland's pilot programme by providing disabled people with 120 employment opportunities in the third and public sectors and in politics between 2017 and 2021. Willie Coffey. Can I thank the minister for that answer? Does he agree that supporting disabled people into work not only helps them as individuals, but benefits the whole economy and businesses themselves too, and stands in sharp contrast to the treatment of disabled people by the UK Government, described by a UN committee as systematically violating the rights of disabled people? I absolutely agree with the fundamental point that Willie Coffey makes in terms of us missing out on much talent by not ensuring that more disabled people are involved in the labour market. We are missing out on their ingenuity, their creativity, their innovation. Clearly, greater participation would be good for the health and wellbeing of such individuals, but we also know that it would be good for employers and our overall economy. In terms of his latter point about the different approach that we might be able to take here in Scotland, I have set out very clearly that we are taking a very different approach with our devolved employment programme as opposed to what we have seen at the hands of the UK Government. I have already set out the range of action that we are taking to try to improve the participation of disabled people in the labour market. Annie Wells Thank you. In Scotland, the statistics rates for disability unemployment very substantially across the country, whereas in the Shetland Islands, the disability employment rate is nearly 88 per cent, and in Glasgow it is less than 25 per cent. What action will the Scottish Government take to address those vast differences? I have set out a clear direction of travel in terms of our ambitions, and we will continue to pursue that. I tell you what we would not have done, and it is very telling that Annie Wells pointed out the significant proportion of those who are disabled and unemployed in Glasgow, the city of Sheeret Resents. If we had control of a job centre plus, we would not be shutting job centres down in that city right now. Bob Doris Thank you, Presiding Officer. On that specific matter, minister, I met with the PCS union on Monday, along with MP colleagues. They tell me that they are particularly worried about the future for ESA claimants that job centres of those eight job centres do, including my constituency in Glasgow, Maryhill and Springburn, the job centre in Maryhill road. The DWP told the PCS crazily that forcing vulnerable constituents with mobility issues to travel longer distances will be an incentive into work. It is just crazy. Can I ask the minister whether the Scottish Government supports calls that have been made to halt the process and to have a fundamental rethink by the DWP? Let me say—I know that this is an important issue to Bob Doris, given his constituency interests—that we have interests to all Glasgow representatives. I have been able to make contact with Damien Green, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. I have been keeping MSPs and MPs who represent Glasgow up-to-date in relation to that correspondence. On the point that Bob Doris made about those changes acting as an incentive for people into work, I think that that tells us more about the DWP's attitude to human beings than it does anything else. I would absolutely agree with Bob Doris's point about the impact on those service users that I met with PCSL today to discuss that. There is also another point in terms of the Scottish Government's position here, Presiding Officer, because the Smith commission spoke of increased joint management for the Scottish Government of our job centre plus. In that matter, we had no prior notification, no meeting, no letter, no call, no email over this matter. I will be meeting with Damien Green at the joint ministerial group for welfare in January, along with Angela Constance. That will certainly be a matter that I will be raising. According to the Scottish Commission for Learning Disability, the number of unemployed adults with learning disabilities known to local authorities is over 50 per cent. What will the Scottish Government do, rather than what it will not do as it responds to Annie Wells, about that? Does the minister agree that the figure is just too high? Yes, I agree that the figure is too high. I certainly concur with that point from Mr Johnson. Indeed, I think that the wider employment rate for those with any disability in Scotland is too high. I think that we need to be doing it rather better on that regard. I have already set out the actions that we propose to take as part of the Fair of Scotland for disabled people. People are delivery planning, but I can also tell them right now that we have the open doors consortium, which provides specialist in-work support for a range of people. That works with organisations such as Action and Hearing Loss, the Scottish Association for Mental Health, RNIB and, crucially in respect to those with learned disability, it works with the navel as well. We are undertaking some actions just now. We will continue to take more on Mr Johnson. Indeed, any other member has innovative suggestions. We will always be happy to hear them, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the impact on the Scottish economy of the UK Government's Brexit strategy. Cabinet Secretary, Keith Brown. The UK Government's Brexit strategy, in its loosest possible sense, has increased the chances of a so-called hard Brexit. The Scottish Government analysis that was published on 23 August drawing on a research base of a range of external organisations suggests that, under a hard Brexit, Scottish GDP could be up to £11.2 billion per year, lower by 2030 than it would be if Brexit did not occur. It is such an adverse shock to our economic performance that we would reduce earnings, tax revenues and, in turn, the funding that is available for public services. George Adam. I thank the cabinet secretary for his answer. The cabinet secretary will no doubt agree with me that, with the Tory Government and Westminster currently having no strategy in Brexit, seen as this is the festive season and the hope that there can be a Christmas miracle, wouldn't it be good for the Scottish economy if there was at least one idea provided of strategy being undertaken by the Westminster Government? I think that Mr Adam is a very good point. If you see the hardening of attitudes among the other 27 members of the EU, you can see the effects of not putting forward any proposals. The economic evidence is clear that the hard Brexit outside the single market is the biggest threat to the economic prosperity of Scotland, including Paisley and, indeed, all of the UK. Despite repeated calls from the Scottish Government, the UK Government has yet to provide any transparency over its Brexit strategy, creating uncertainty for businesses across the country. For our part, the Scottish Government is clear that remaining in the single market is the best option for Scotland and for the UK as a whole. As such, we will very shortly present our proposition focused on keeping us in the single market. Dean Lockhart, what specific actions the Scottish Government is taking to capitalise on the opportunities arising from Brexit and how much money has been provided to Scottish business from the 500 million growth fund that was announced by the Scottish Government over three months ago? In parliamentary answers, if Dean Lockhart cares to check them, he will see the progress that we are making towards the establishment of the Scottish growth scheme. In addition to that, he will also have seen announcements from the Scottish Government whereby we are increasing the representation of SDI over coming months to make sure that we have a stronger representation throughout the EU and also with the hubs in London, Dublin and in Berlin, and in response partly to the point that was made by Jackie Bailey previously. Ministerial visits to Abu Dhabi supporting up to 80 Scottish companies interested in oil and gas and other industries as well. In relation to India, for example, we are talking to 100 CEOs there. A substantial amount of work has been done, but hardly a day goes by without one study or another showing that we expect to have increased costs, poorer employment prospects, poorer investment prospects and poorer confidence by people other than this Government, saying that they think that Brexit is very bad both for Scotland and for the UK. I just wonder how long it can be before the Brexit deniers that we have in a Conservative party start to realise that they have now moved well to the right of Thumbargoot Thatcher and that having been toxic for 35 years are about to experience the prospect of being toxic for a very long period because of their hard right attitudes and the economic self-harm they are doing to Scotland and to the UK. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what information it provides to employers regarding apprenticeship accreditation. All Scottish Government-funded modern apprenticeship frameworks must be approved by the modern apprenticeship group before they are available for delivery. They are developed through strong consultation with employers, reflecting sector needs as defined by employers. When frameworks are approved, they are communicated to employers via direct engagement with them, the training provider network and to other sector bodies involved in the development. The information is also published in Skills Development Scotland's website. Sandra White. I thank the minister for that reply. The minister will know that there are certain careers that are not apprenticeship accreditation. For example, to two artists, although they do a two-year apprenticeship, I therefore ask the Scottish Government if they would consider looking at the apprenticeship of this type to be accredited under apprenticeship schemes. Presiding Officer, we will always be very willing to consider such matters. I should reiterate the point that I set out in my initial answer to Sandra White. Any modern apprenticeship framework has to be approved by the modern apprenticeship group. I am aware that many employers will deliver their own apprenticeships if they want to see that approved as part of our modern apprenticeship offer. They should first of all engage with Skills Development Scotland, but Sandra White wants to pick up in this specific point with me directly and be very happy to speak with her. Thank you. A recent Scottish Government consultation on the apprenticeship levy found industry support for using the extra funds to support its target of 30,000 modern apprenticeships. A few weeks ago, I visited a score group in Peterhead, who has the largest private modern apprenticeship programme in Scotland, and they reiterated that point. Will the Scottish Government use 100 per cent of the apprenticeship levy funds from the UK Government to invest in apprenticeships, and when will we hear on their proposed policy to ensure that funds are used at approved regional training providers and not just colleges? Let me say that I am rather surprised to see Mr Kerr raise the matter of the apprenticeship levy. At all, it is well seen that he is hiding up the back of the chamber, Presiding Officer, because even he must be a little ashamed to have raised this, because it was only a few weeks ago that we heard from the Conservatives that the levy was going to see £300 million worth of funding come to the Scottish Government. Well, we know that that is not the case, because there are additional £79 million. We also saw when it was announced that the £221 million, the UK Government failed to set out that it is largely replacing existing expenditure. They also saw them fail to point out that it is going to cost the public sector some £73 million, which reduces the Scottish Government's spending leeway by some £30 million. Mr Kerr is quite correct that we did engage in a consultation on how we respond to the introduction of the apprenticeship levy, which is rather more than the UK Government did when they introduced it in the first place. They spoke to no one, including the Scottish Government, with our responsibility for delivering apprenticeship policy, and they spoke to no one who will be paying the levy, Presiding Officer. When we are taking something forward, we do things rather differently. Question 4, Mary Evans. To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the Aberdeen city region deal. Cabinet Secretary, Keith Brown. The Scottish Government, the UK Government and regional partners signed the Aberdeen city region deal on 21 November 2016. Signing of the Aberdeen city region deal and the release of funding allows the deal to move on to the delivery stage and make proposals a reality. The Scottish Government has committed to investing up to £125 million over the next 10 years. The city region deal funding will support investment in innovation, internationalisation, digital connectivity and infrastructure across the city region. Mary Evans. Two major infrastructure projects were named within the Aberdeen city region deal, within my constituency of Angus North and Merns. That included rail improvements at Uzin in Montrose and the Lawrence-Curt junction. Can the cabinet secretary provide an update and more detail on the options for rail improvements at Uzin, given that it acts as a bottleneck and is restricting capacity in the northeast? Can he also outline and explain the processes to be followed, leading up to the construction of the Lawrence-Curt junction? If a number of constituents contact me who are concerned at the 2021, the earliest possible construction date for that and an explanation of the process would be very helpful. Happy to do so, I should say that those two projects that are mentioned by Mary Evans are not actually part of the city deal. The Scottish Government wanted them to be part, but the UK Government balked at the size of the contribution. They would have to pay towards additional elements of the city deal, so they stand outside the city deal, but they were, as Mary Evans rightly says, mentioned at the same time. That is a further £254 million, I think, in investment from the Scottish Government, over and above the £250 million that we will jointly share with the UK Government. Transport Scotland is currently taking forward design development work for improvements to the A90 at Lawrence-Curt, with the preferred option expected to be identified in 2018, leading to publication of draft orders in 2019. Progress there, of course, is dependent on the level and the nature of representations received in response to the published draft orders. Subject to, of course, no objection being received, it is estimated that the earliest construction could commence in 2021. As Mary Evans knows, I have conversed with her on this subject this morning in committee and I have undertaken to provide further written accounts of what I have just said, and I am happy to do that. The development of rail infrastructure options are on-going, and those include consideration of opportunities to increase capacity on the single-track section between Montrose and Usain. Our focus, however, remains firmly on maximising the benefits for rail passengers in Aberdeen. The timescales for delivery remain in line with the previous commitments, with implementation from the next rail control period, starting in 2019. Liam McArthur Thank you, Presiding Officer. The cabinet secretary has outlined the benefits that will be delivered to this particular city region deal. We have seen similar benefits in relation to Glasgow and Clyde, also in Burness and Highland, who are pursuing their own agenda in this regard. Will the cabinet secretary be able to highlight or update the chamber on the progress that is being made in relation to an island deal, where similar benefits can then be rubed by Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles? Liam McArthur I should say that discussions have taken place, but we have to proceed in relation to city deals with the partners that we anticipate being part of those deals, with the UK Government and the relevant island authorities. As was mentioned previously by my colleague the cabinet secretary for finance, I asked the UK Government through Andrew Dunlop, Lord Dunlop, who is the lead on those things to ensure that the Ayrshire growth deal was mentioned in the Chancellor's statement during the autumn statement and was very disappointed that it was not. I think that Liam McArthur will be aware that there is a timeline or sequence for the deals that have been discussed so far, so the ones that were mentioned in that statement were the Stirling and Clotmanusure deals, as well as Edinburgh and the Tays cities deals. Further discussions on deals will require all those parties to be involved in that. The Scottish Government has made clear that we are willing to discuss city deals with anybody, bringing forward proposals. Those things are best done if we can maintain that partnership with the UK Government. Subject to the sign that they are also interested in doing this, we will continue to work with them. I should say, and we have made plain to the Ayrshire authorities—I know that that is not the subject of Liam McArthur's question—but it does, because of the sequencing that I mentioned, impact upon further discussions with the islands. If it is the case that the UK Government starts to draw back from that, we will see what we can do jointly working with those Ayrshire authorities. To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs are directly or indirectly linked to the pub sector in Scotland. According to the 2015 Business Register and Employment Survey, published on 28 September of this year, approximately 30,000 people are employed directly in the public houses and bar sector in Scotland, according to approximately 20,000 full-time equivalent employees. Applying the food and beverage services employment multiplier from the latest published Scottish Government input-output tables, it is estimated that there are further 2,400 FTE jobs across full-time or part-time roles that are supported in the supply chain for the sector, producing an estimated total of 22,400 FTE direct and indirect jobs in the Scottish economy. I thank the minister for that answer. Reform of the tied pub sector is crucial to protecting jobs in the pub industry. Many in the sector such as Camra and the Scottish Licensed Trade Association have expressed serious concerns that the recently published Scottish Government study commissioned by the previous minister on this issue is of extremely limited value. The concern that featured only 25 pubs, only 10 pubs of which were fully tied and none of which were free of tie tenanted pubs. The minister is aware that I am proposing to bring forward a member's bill on tied pubs. Would the minister agree that it would be wrong for the Government to rule out legislation in this area until a full and robust consultation is taken place? Would he agree to meet with me to discuss the issue of pub sector reform? I recognise the importance of the study and the evidence base to be established in deciding policy going forward. The independent study that Neil Bibby refers to by a CGA strategy into the pub sector was published in 6 December this year on the Scottish Government website. We are planning to engage with the pub sector interests to discuss the findings of the research and how we can work together to create a more successful sector going forward. We have not come to a view on the issue yet and that is why we are following the findings of the research and intend to meet with a wide range of stakeholders and interests to take their views. I am very happy to meet Mr Bibby to hear his points in regard to the research, but I also want to stress that the Scottish Government is still open to taking empirical research and evidence where that can be provided to help to inform the discussions on the issue.