 Thank you everyone. On the first item of business today is Portfolio Questions. In order to get as many people in as possible I prefer short and succinct questions, and we need answers to match. Question 1, Ann McDonald. To ask the Scottish Government, what support it provides to local authorities to help reduce carbon emissions, and contribute towards the 2013-27 emissions reduction targets? Os ym Mhwilhau y Llyfridinolfu Cyfleidoliaeth, that Scottish Government provides a range of assistance to support local authorities to meet their obligations under the public body's duties in the climate change act, through providing £440,000 throughout funding support to the Sustainable Scotland Network, through the work of resource-efficient Scotland, which will receive £7.3 million in 2014-15, through access to finance and expertise via the Scottish Futures Trust and other mechanisms, including the £20 million central energy efficiency fund, and in 2013-14 we invested £2 million directly in local authority LED lighting projects. Through the investment of more than £10 million to local authorities and partners to support EV infrastructure and vehicles, we have a further £5 million investment plan this year and through providing £20 million since 2011-12 to councils to support food waste collections. It can also give further details about bus investment fund, smarter choice, smarter place as energy efficient, home energy efficiency program for the moment, but I bear in mind that. I thank the minister for that comprehensive response. A key part of the Glasgow 2014 bid to host the Commonwealth Games was the designation of several low-emission zones around each of the sporting venues. How does the Scottish Government intend to work with the Glasgow City Council to ensure that air quality in those areas continues to meet national air quality standards after the conclusion of the games? Clearly, the supplementary is about air quality, but it has relevance to climate change as well, so I accept the point. Low-emission zones are something that we are interested in learning evaluation evidence from Glasgow, so we are working with the council to see what is evident. Over limited periods of time, clearly during the Commonwealth Games, we can learn about the impact of that measure in Glasgow. We are also supporting Glasgow City Council to providing almost £600,000 worth of support in terms of electric vehicle funding, which will help to reinforce that approach in Glasgow over the period 2010 up to 2013-14. We have also given grants of almost £920,000 to first Glasgow for 10 buses under the Scottish Green Bus Fund. There are a number of measures that we are taking in supporting the action of local authorities like Glasgow to trial measures like that, and hopefully the supporting infrastructure investment will make it more likely that that will succeed in the future. To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made with the monitoring and regulation of tyre recycling and disposal. As John Pentland will know from our discussions around the earthmover tyres issue, when significant problems arose, we sought to strengthen SEPA's powers in the passage of the regulatory reform act Scotland to ensure that SEPA officers have the regulatory tools to tackle non-compliance and criminality in the waste sector. SEPA has taken enforcement action at a number of sites and will continue to take action to bring priority sites back into compliance. As part of a comprehensive plan, SEPA will also be working with waste tyre producers such as tyre fitters across Scotland to ensure that they take a high level of interest in how their waste is dealt with and to prevent them from dealing with non-compliance storage or treatment sites. I thank the minister for that response. As the minister is probably aware, there is a huge tyre dump on the flight path to Glasgow airport. Like the one near Wishill General Hospital, it has 100,000 tyres, is unlicensed and a fire could have a catastrophic impact. Given that, despite the responsible recycler scheme, there is still a lot of illegal disposal, with almost all major enforcement actions involving exempt operations. Has the minister considered a moratorium on waste exemptions for the end-of-life tyres? We have not taken that approach to date, Mr Pentland sets out, but we are, in the case of the site that he mentions, taking regulatory action. I would point out that, as of today, I believe, Fergus Ewing has signed orders that allow the Regulation Reform Act to come into force, so we now have an act that we can use in implementing tighter enforcement. I am happy to take any representations from Mr Pentland on the particular point that he makes, but we do not have any plans at this stage to impose a moratorium. Jamie McGregor What support is available for helping companies to promote the fact that they use products made from recycled tyres? The member will know that the cabinet secretary is keen to develop a circular economy approach and is looking at how we can use all sorts of raw materials to try and make sure that they are retained and that we use them in Scotland rather than lose the value of what are important raw materials. We are working through the likes of Zero Way Scotland, and it was also efficient in Scotland to try and promote those ideas. I am sure that the cabinet secretary would be keen to engage on that particular issue, where SIPA comes in, of course, in terms of regulating compliance issues and making sure that sites are compliant with the law. Clearly, the cabinet secretary would have an interest in the circular economy, and I am sure that he would be interested in any representations that he can make. Question 3, Gavin Brown. To ask the Scottish Government how the sustainable action fund is progressing. The sustainable action fund funds a range of activity to support local sustainability action and reduced carbon emissions. The largest component of the fund is the demand-led climate challenge fund. The CCF supports communities to take practical action to reduce carbon, and in the period since 2008 it has supported 658 awards to 486 communities, with total awards of £57.2 million. The annual CCF allocation is £10.3 million within the sustainable action fund budget of £15.3 million. Following the refresh of CCF, take-up has increased significantly and spent in 2013-14 was £9.8 million of the £10.3 million allocated. In-year demand has been such that it recently announced a CCF top-up of £1.5 million in 2014-15, taking the total funding available in the current year to £11.8 million and confirmed CCF funding at £10.3 million for 2015-16. Good progress has also been made on other areas of sustainable action fund spend. For example, in 2013-14, the remaining £5 million in the sustainable action fund supports a range of activity, including the roll-out of the ISM tool that provides £2 million to support transition to low-carbon street lighting and support for Greener Scotland's marketing campaign. In 2013-14, the original budget, I understand, was £15.3 million. It was reduced at the autumn budget revision to £13.3 million. It was reduced again at the spring budget revision to £11.7 million. What was the final outturn figure for 2013-14? I do not have that figure to hand, Mr Brown, but I will happily write to the member with that information as soon as I can give a hold of it. Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with West of Scotland local authorities on environmental improvement initiatives. The Scottish Government regularly engages with local authorities about a range of environmental issues, including flood protection, biodiversity, climate mitigation, air quality, environmental protection and drinking water quality, among other subjects. There is a range of environmental improvement initiatives that are under way in the west of Scotland. I thank the minister for that reply. The minister is fairly aware of my continued campaign for better flood protection measures throughout the west of Scotland, particularly in the Inverclyde area. Recently, I met the minister to highlight the case of Inverclyde and flood funding. I would be grateful if the minister could update me on the situation regarding flood funding for Inverclyde. The Scottish Government and COSLA officials met representatives of Inverclyde Council recently to provide feedback on their unsuccessful application for flood protection work. The council will now be invited to clarify the rationale for how the greenock part of the scheme, if taken alone, would meet the published criteria for funding when the scheme as a whole did not in the round in January. If the joint Scottish Government COSLA assessment panel agrees that the greenock scheme is eligible, then the scheme will be funded. To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes the recreational opportunities of the forest estate. The Scottish Government and Forestry Commission Scotland fully recognised the growing evidence that Scotland Woodlands plays an important role in tackling health inequalities. Forestry Commission Scotland actively promotes responsible access by a wide range of uses to the largest network in formal and formal recreation opportunities in Scotland, which last year hosted around 9 million visits. It achieves that through annual investments in its facilities, which in 2014-15 will be £11.8 million. The expenditure is supported in its recently renewed recreation website, targeted advertising, media releases and on-site interpretation, including its six visitor centres. The commission works in close partnership with public business and voluntary organisations at a national scale, such as mountain biking groups, and at a more local scale, such as Castlemildwood near Glasgow, so that more people from a wide range of backgrounds can enjoy their local woodlands. That is complemented by work that visits Scotland at the Scottish Tourism Alliance and the Scottish Sports Association undertake. Thank you very much Minister for his response. The minister may be aware of the sculpture trail at Tirebagger Wood in my constituency. The trail has been in place now for 15 years, but it is beginning to look a little bit tired and past its best. I wonder if the minister might be willing to meet me to discuss how the trail could perhaps have its recreational value enhanced to ensure that it can sit alongside some of the other pursuits such as mountain biking and walking that he has identified and attract more people to use the fantastic forest estate in the north-east of Scotland? I take the point that Mark MacDonald makes, and Kirk Hill and Tirebagger forests are a popular forest. I understand that they have 1.8 million visits per annum in myriad in Aberdeenshire area, so it is obviously an area of Scotland where forest estate is valued. I would be happy to arrange a meeting with the member to discuss the promotion and management of recreation on the national forest estate. I will point out that, in relation to Tirebagger, common with many art projects, the sculptures were commissioned and managed by a charitable trust. The trust has an agreement with Forest Commission Scotland and Aberdeenshire City Council, dating back to the 1990s. However, in recent years, the trust has struggled to maintain interest from its trustees and to raise the necessary finance to sustain the commissioning of high-quality workplaces at Tirebagger. I know that there are issues about investment in the forest, but I am glad to say that I will be able to meet Mr MacDonald to discuss that further. Claire Baker Minister and I were both at the Confor conference last week hearing about the challenges facing the forestry sector. Is he confident of meeting the 2022 target? How does he respond to calls from the industry to look at extending the target? We have obviously gone through a process of the woodland expansion advisory group to look at how feasible it is to deliver the target, not only in terms of woodland planting but taking into account the impact on agricultural use. I think that we have a route map of how we can do that, working with stakeholders, to ensure that forestry investment can take place. We have put in place funding of £80 million for this year and next year in total to ensure that we can achieve our targets. We know that at least 18,000 hectares are in the pipeline for planting over that two-year period, so we are confident in the short term that we can achieve it. However, we have to look at spending decisions in the future and obviously reflect circumstances at a time to ensure that we keep the planting rates competitive so that we are able to attract investment from the private sector and other partners as well. I will certainly keep Parliament informed of progress on this issue. To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to watch its national litter strategy. I said at the turn of the year that my intention is to publish the strategy in the early summer and therefore I will publish it very shortly. That will build on the high-profile action that we have already taken, such as increasing fixed penalties for litter and fly tipping, and our recently passed regulations for a charge for single-use carrier bags and we have also provided £1.5 million over two years to keep Scotland Beautiful's clean-up Scotland initiative. Given the consultation ended last autumn and that in 2012 a commitment was given by the minister to have it fully implemented ahead of the Commonwealth Games, why it has taken so long to launch its national litter strategy. As I explained, we are sticking to the timetable that we laid out back when the consultation closed in terms of publishing the final strategy. I would point out to Parliament that this is Scotland's first ever national litter strategy and therefore let's make every effort to get it right. I hope that this will help influence behaviour in Scotland because ultimately no matter what the Scottish Government puts into strategy it will depend on the co-operation of the people of Scotland to keep Scotland clean and tidy. To ask the Scottish Government how the agricultural holdings legislation review group can take account of the final report of the land reform review group at the land of Scotland and the common good in addressing calls for the right to buy for 1991 farm tenants. As chair, I met with the other members of the agricultural holdings legislation review group just last week to finalise the group's interim report and that will detail the group's extensive evidence gathering and engagement to date. It explains where we have identified issues that do need to be resolved and how we intend to develop potential solutions. As part of this work, the group noted the land reform review group's consideration of many of the issues surrounding agricultural tenancies and small holdings and that group's recommendations in this area, so we will consider what they have said, as well as our own work, as we develop our own recommendations in due course and support our own vision for a vibrant tenancy sector in Scotland. Thank you for that answer. I wonder if I can press the minister a bit further so as not to exacerbate tenant and landlord relations. Has the agricultural holdings review group decided if there is a need for tenant farmers to register an interest to buy their tenancies? Indeed, if there is a preemptive right under the 2003 act, surely we can abolish this need to register as an unwarranted exacerbation of relations. It is a good point that Rob Gibson raises. Of course, as I just explained, final decisions will not be taken until the second half of the year after the interim report has been published and we move towards the final report on that issue and other issues. However, we will consider it and I give that pledge today. Of course, as I said before, the land reform review group report was published a few days ago and I quote, the Scottish Government removed the requirement to register a right of preemption of secure 1991 act tenancies as an unnecessary constraint and that 1991 act tenants should have a first option in buying any part of the holding that the landlord decides to sell. I pledge that we will consider this issue and we will take into account that recommendation from the land reform review group. The cabinet secretary might agree with me that the land reform review group has gone beyond its useful remit in making recommendations on agricultural holdings, as well as I believe on deer management and wild fisheries, given the Scottish Government's own initiatives in establishing expert review groups to look into those areas and report back after hearing all the available evidence, something that the land reform review group has conspicuously failed to do. The land reform review group received a warm welcome throughout Scotland and from most of the parties in this chamber and it is a radical report. It is a very comprehensive report. There are 62 recommendations as well as some fantastic commentary on the wider issues facing land reform in Scotland. It is, of course, extremely difficult to divorce the issues of land reform from agricultural tenancies, so, although the expert group on agricultural tenancies should provide the expert advice on that subject, it is only right and understandable that the land reform review group should also take into account wider agricultural issues on how they relate to land reform and land tenure in Scotland. I do not think that there is any contradiction there, and it is perfectly right and understandable. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle fly tipping. Already this year, we have quadrupled the fixed penalty level for fly tipping to £200 and we have taken powers in the Regulatory Reform Scotland Act 2014 to allow SIPA to impose penalties of up to £40,000. Of course, I stated my response to Neil Bibby earlier on that the national litter strategy will be published shortly and that will include action on fly tipping and build upon existing support through Zero Way Scotland to clean up and prevent what is an unacceptable blight on our communities. George Adam. I thank the cabinet secretary for his response. There has been a recent spate of fly tipping in many parts of my constituency. Now, this might be down to the local authority actually closing immunity signs, but can the cabinet secretary join me in calling for the current Renfrewshire Council Administration to increase warden patrols, which have been dramatically cut since the beginning of their administration? I certainly condemn any fly tipping that is taking place in the member's constituency, and although I am not clearly as familiar with local circumstances as he is in terms of recent cuts of warden services, I would urge all local authorities, including George Adam's local authority, to do all that they can to tackle fly tipping and maintain a presence through the presence of wardens, if that is the chosen service locally, to deter such an important act in our local communities. Those people who do that should really be ashamed of themselves, but we are taking action against them and we will make sure that message is communicated to anyone out there in Scotland who is thinking of fly tipping in Scotland's beautiful countryside or in our communities. Question 9, Gil Paterson. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to open up new export opportunities for Scotland's food and drinks firms. I was delighted to launch Scotland's new food and drink export plan in March this year at Nairns Oatcakes, and the plan will focus on deploying a team of global experts across key export markets to open up new opportunities and, of course, continue to drive international sales. The plan is a really good example of collaboration between the industry and the Government. I am fully confident that it will reap huge rewards for Scotland in the coming years and help the industry to meet its new ambitious export target of £7.1 billion by 2017. Gil Paterson. Can I thank the cabinet secretary for that reply? This is going to be a strange question for somebody who never drinks, who never has, but I find believing a little bit of what you fancy does you good. I have a number of constituents who are employed in the whisky industry, in particular in the Auckland-Tosian distillery, so any increase in whisky exports is good news for Clydebank and Moghain. My constituency. Cabinet secretary, provide me with what projections have been made regarding overseas exports of whisky over the next five years, particularly in the emerging high priority markets of China and South East Asia? Although we may not share the regularity by which we partake of our drama, we certainly share the interests in the whisky industry, because we both have the constituents employed in the Scotch whisky sector, so we both take a very close interest in the fortunes of the sector, as many others do in this chamber. Although the Scottish Government does not hold such projections ourselves, the Scotch whisky industry review for 2013 reported that, over the five years from 2012 to 2017, it was estimated that the growth rate would be 3 per cent per annum in terms of whisky export projections, so that is the industry's own projections. It is worth saying to the chamber that the Scotch whisky Association recently reported that they are aware of around 30 new distilleries being planned in Scotland at the current time, which is a phenomenal growth of an iconic sector here in Scotland, of course. That, no doubt, is a sign of confidence that those projections for increased exports around the world, and that, as 40 bottles of whisky exported per second from Scotland, it is going to continue for many years to come. Thank you very much. We now move to questions to the justice and law officers, and question 1 is from Lewis MacDonald. Mr MacDonald, when you are ready please. Thank you very much. To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers in Grampian have resigned since the creation of Police Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally. It is a matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. The Government, though, is continuing to deliver on our commitment to 1,000 additional officers in Scotland with recorded crime at an almost 40-year low. I am disappointed that the cabinet secretary cannot answer such a simple question of which he has had several days' notice and an opportunity to consult with the chief constable if he is required to do that. Does he recognise that the failure of either his Government or the chief constable to publish comparable police officer numbers for Grampian before and after the creation of Police Scotland simply fuels the sense of crisis in the policing of the northeast and the concern that is there about the loss of local knowledge? I hardly think that crisis would be the description put upon Police Scotland in the northeast. As the member will be aware, as the chief constable has made clear, Police Scotland is committed to publishing sub-national data quarterly. In the latest published figures, taking Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire and Murray divisions together, local resources increased by one, regional resources available to the area increased by 12 and national resources available to them increased by five. I accept that that is a marginal increase, but it certainly shows that the delivery of 1,000 additional officers nationally has been maintained and the figure is also relevant there in the northeast. The chief constable, the Scottish Police Authority and indeed myself, I am aware that there are challenges in particular due to the buoyant economy in the northeast. It affects the police services, it affects public services and indeed some aspects of the private sector given house prices and given available jobs, but what is clear is that the police service is being maintained in the northeast and indeed it was a privilege to recently attend at Tullialan, where new recruits, including many, are going to serve in the northeast, were passing out. Question 2 has not been lodged and the name of Chick Brody an expedition has been provided. Question 3, Roderick Campbell. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it plans to hold with the UK Government about the UK's bloc opt-out of the pre-Lisbon criminal law and policing measures. I have in fact spoken about this issue to the Home Office Minister, responsible Karen Bradley MP, by telephone on 19 May. The member will know, of course, that we are not a party to the negotiation process for the UK to opt back in to the 35 measures that they have indicated that they wish to opt back into, but I expressed the Scottish Government's concern about UK ministers' decision to opt out of these important justice and police co-operation measures and about any potential delay in the opt-back-in process. My officials are, of course, available to update the Justice Committee if they would find this helpful. Roderick Campbell. Obviously concerned is a member of the Justice Committee that Karen Bradley postponed a private meeting with the Justice Committee at very short notice last month. I am grateful to the minister for other comments, but I would be grateful for assurance that she will continue to express concerns to the UK Government and to Karen Bradley, particularly in relation to the European arrest warrant. Well, as I indicated in my initial answer, we have already had a conversation both myself and myself. We do continue to remind the UK Government that an operational gap between opting out and back into these measures would have a direct impact on our criminal justice system. My officials were, in fact, most recently in touch with Home Office officials just yesterday, and they commented that negotiations were progressing well and that member states agree on the need to avoid an operational gap that could affect live judicial processes such as the European arrest warrant. We will continue to seek regular assurances from the UK Government until a seamless transition has been ensured. Many thanks. Question 4, in the name of Margaret MacDougall, has not been lodged in a satisfactory explanation, has been provided. Question 5, Jackson Carlaw. To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the licensing of air weapons is a proportionate measure, given the defences involving such weapons have fallen by 75 per cent since 2006-07. Yes, while gun crime is at a 32-year low and continues to fall, thanks to the hard work of our police and courts, there is no reason to be complacent. Air weapon offences are not falling as quickly as those involving more powerful types of firearm. There were 171 offences involving an air weapon in 2012-2013. That is almost half. 47 per cent of all firearms offences that year and do not take into account the number of many incidents that go unreported. Can I thank the cabinet secretary for that response? In form of a conversation that I have had with various constituents, admittedly air rifle enthusiasts, who are concerned that an unintended consequence of a licensing regime may be that some apply for a full firearms license as an alternative. The cabinet secretary may dismiss that concern. Indeed, he may be right to do so, but I wonder if he could confirm what assessment has been made of that probability. I am happy to engage with the member. Indeed, we do so through regular meetings and engagement. The legislation has been formed not only in conjunction with the police but in conjunction with discussions with BASC and with those who represent those involved in the responsible gun clubs. If there are concerns, we are happy to engage. The last thing that we want to see is that somebody obtains a certificate of likelihood at a higher cost than one that is necessary. That is a matter where I am happy to engage with the member if he so wishes. Equally, I think that when it comes to the licensing regime, either through the responsible gun clubs, through BASC who are vociferous in this and rightly so for their members, or indeed direct communications between the firearms officers and the individuals, I think that we can ensure that the appropriate licence is obtained for the appropriate individual and that that balances the appropriate need for a certificate but the safety and security of our communities. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the chief constable. I regularly meet the chief constable, discuss matters of keeping people in Scotland safe. I last met him on 28 May at the public launch of the national code of ethics for policing in Scotland at the Scottish Police College, and I was delighted to support that important development of which sees Police Scotland's values of integrity, fairness and respect firmly paced at the heart of the nation's policing. At his next meeting with Sir Stephen Will the Cabinet Secretary undertake to convey the real concerns that have been expressed by members from across this Parliament about the routine arming of police officers who are on patrol, and will he now accept that, regardless of how long that practice has been going on in different parts of the country, it must now be nationally reviewed? Well, those aspects are for the Scottish Police Authority review and they may choose to do so. What I can do is repeat what has been said in previous chambers. The current regime that operates is the regime that operated in Strathclyde, where Mr Smith represents, operated in Tayside, and indeed it was operated and had been instigated in Northern. It is now gun national. The Police Service in Scotland, 98.6 per cent of officers, I believe, are not armed or authorised to be armed. It is something in the region that is either 1.4 or 1.6 per cent, are that approximately 275 of them. Some are on leave, some are abstracted and they operate in a significant shift system, so the number of routinely armed officers in Scotland is but a fraction of that. However, we have to ensure that balance, because we have seen incidents in Scotland where tragedies have occurred. We have seen incidents south of the border. We have seen incidents in Norway and I think that we come to the conclusion that we have to have a limited number of officers ready, able and willing to secure our communities. We hope that that never arises, but if it does, it is reasonable and proportionate. I will pass the member's views on to the Scottish Police Authority. Does the cabinet secretary agree that school campus police have an important role to play in developing good relations with young people? Does he consider that police who retire early have a wealth of experience that could be used to good effect if they were encouraged to continue a school campus police? Could he confirm if the numbers of school campus police have increased or declined since Police Scotland came into existence? Will he raise that issue with the chief constable when he next meets him? Four questions there, cabinet secretary. First of all, I put on record that I very much welcome campus officers. I do not have that precise information to hand, but I will ensure that we, probably through police because I do not know how it is formally recorded, but we will get that information as best we can out to the member. I certainly do appreciate the value of campus officers. Ironically, I was at an event in my constituency with a charity skill force. I was speaking to the head teacher of a school in the city of Edinburgh who was praising the campus officer who I knew. Indeed, as the member mentioned, he was actually going to be returning in a voluntary capacity to work with the school. Obviously, there is a distinct role between whatever voluntary capacity that individual may have and what they may be offering. However, what I take out of Margaret Mitchell is two points. First of all, they do an outstanding job and I accept that. There is obviously other work that can and should be done, and they have valuable skills that we would not want to lose. Whether that is within the responsibility or ages of the police service of Scotland, I do not know, but I can certainly say that the head teacher of the high school in Edinburgh was delighted that this individual was coming back. Clearly, I think that it is food for thought for us as an administration for the Justice Committee and, doubtless, I will pass on to the chief constable. Finally, Neil Findlay on this question. When the cabinet secretary last met the chief constable, did he discuss miscarriages or justice experience by miners who were arrested during the 1984-85 strike? Will the cabinet secretary meet me and some of those convicted and who, in their words, believe that they were arrested on bogus, exaggerated or wholly false charges? I did not discuss that precise matter, but I am aware of the issue that the member has correctly raised in relation to the use here. We have legislation to deal with miscarriages of justice in Scotland. That is through the criminal case review commission, and clearly those who wish to seek to overturn conviction go through that route. What I can say is that it has always been accepted that policing north and south of the border has been distinct. It would be fair to say that the chief constable was an officer south of the border, probably at that time not one that now serves as chief constable north of the border, but he does recognise the difference in culture and practice. To ask the Scottish Government how its legislation on air weapons will achieve a balance between protecting communities and allowing legitimate shooting in a safe environment. We do not believe that it is appropriate to have unlicensed guns in Scotland. Those are potentially lethal weapons. The regime set out in part 1 of the air weapons in Licensing Scotland Bill aims to introduce a familiar, practicable and affordable licensing system that will allow a reasonable and fit person to continue to shoot. Licenses will not be provided to those who have no legitimate reason to have guns or seek to misuse them. I have written to the cabinet secretary on behalf of constituents who are concerned about the proposed legislation. What is the response to claims that the Scottish Government has not listened to reasoned arguments against the proposals? The proposals are excessive, need-jerk reaction and will be costly to implement. I will write to the member in full due course what I can say is that we have discussed significantly the meetings involving all those responsible gun clubs, those who represent the shooting and field sector, as well as police. I think that we have to get a reasonable proportionate and balanced system. I have met, prior to the launch of the bill, with the parents of young Andrew Morton. It would be fair to say that Andrew Morton and Charm Mcmillan were very supportive of action being taken because of the tragedy that befell their son and that could and should not happen to any other child. Equally, in next week I will be visiting the SSPCA because we are aware of the problems, issues and tragedies that befell animals by those who misuse weapons. The consultation was not about the principle of introducing licensing for air weapons, it is about the practicalities. We believe that the case for licensing has been made. It was made with the tragedy of Andrew Morton, it has been made since and it will be repeated and directly recounted to me by the SSPCA. What we now have is detailed proposals, estimated costs, and we will work, as Jackson Carlaw raised, to ensure that those who have a legitimate reason to possess may fire our air weapon, whether because it is pest and vermin control or because they are a member of a responsible gun club will be able to continue to do so. Thank you very much. I listened with interest to the cabinet secretary's response to Jackson Carlaw and to Bruce Crawford. I will be aware from the correspondence that we have had that concerns in my constituency that this is a response to a problem in urban areas that is having a disproportionate impact on rural areas. What reassurance can he give me and my constituents that the concerns of those living in rural and island areas will take them fully on board as this legislation progresses? I can give the same reassurance in terms of meeting those who represent gun owners, those who represent BASC, et cetera. I can give the member the assurance and I can predict that SSPCA will make it quite clear to me that this is not simply an urban area. This is a problem that transcends all of Scotland. Clearly, many in more rural areas have greater need to retain an air weapon because of their involvement in pest and vermin control, because they are farmers and we have to take that account and we will be. However, the tragedies that have befallen Scotland, whether to individuals or indeed whether to animals, the misuse is not restricted to an urban area that transcends all of Scotland. The cabinet secretary knows that I support the intentions of the bill. Nevertheless, there have been reservations expressed about the ability of the authorities, particularly the police, to administer any new licensing arrangement, given the sheer volume of air weapons out there. Has he costed the exercise and is he confident that he can support it? We have costed it because clearly that required to go in with the bill in terms of the financial documentation. We are aware of the concerns that the member has. It would be fair to say that we have met with the chief constable and indeed those who represent them at discussions with officials. They are happy that the police can cope and that is why we are working with them to ensure that the timescale is appropriate for them to be able to address matters. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the Scottish Police Federation and what was discussed. Regularly with representatives of the Scottish Police Federation to discuss a range of policing issues of concern to federation members, our next meeting will be on 25 June. It is clear that the Scottish Government and the Scottish Police Federation have a close working relationship, which most importantly benefits the people of Scotland and has kept crying down to a 39-year law. Does the minister therefore have any advice for his counterpart and Westminster, Theresa May, on how to properly engage in a useful and constructive relationship with her local police federation? I respect the work that police officers do and it is appropriate that I should engage in a constructive working relationship with the Scottish Police Federation. I think that I can give the member the reassurance that it would be inappropriate for me to refer to Theresa May, but I can say that we are not implementing Windsor in Scotland and equally I will reiterate as I have already said to the general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation that we will not implement either Windsor nor May reforms in Scotland. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the United Kingdom Government's decision to introduce fees for employment tribunals of £250 to register a case and a further £950 before it gets a hearing and the particular effect that that has on women in equal pay and sexual discrimination cases. The Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism did right to Joe Swinson MP on 24 June 2013 before the introduction of the new legislation, making clear the Scottish Government's opposition to the new measures. That principled opposition will continue after a yes vote. I would be surprised frankly if any future Scottish Government of any kind would think that such fees are at all appropriate. I thank the minister for that answer. With regard to equal pay cases, does the minister share the widespread concern at the failure of North Lanarkshire Council to enter into talks on settling thousands of equal pay cases, despite admitting that the mistakes were made? I need to be careful not to stray into the portfolios of colleagues. I remind the member that councils are independent corporate bodies and decisions on equal pay and on pay negotiations and legal costs are entirely matters for them. Nevertheless, the Scottish Government is keen to see a resolution to all local authority equal pay claims and will continue to encourage COSLA and councils to resolve all such issues as quickly as possible. With the full powers of independence, we would have the power to enforce the equal pay act. Of course, fees for raising an action in a tribunal will adversely impact on precisely the kind of people so unfairly affected by the North Lanarkshire decision. The minister will remember that I tried to introduce an amendment at stage 2 in the tribunals bill to prevent the charging of fees. In the event that many of us would like to see of employment tribunals being devolved to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, what mechanism would you propose to ensure that those sorts of fees cannot be charged in Scotland? I remind my colleague Elaine Murray of my answer at that time, which is the decision-making process about fees that might or might not be considered applicable for the policy areas in which that tribunal is located. For example, the Lan's tribunal in Scotland has always had a feeing structure. The proposal that Elaine Murray is suggesting would remove that from a tribunal where it has always taken place. It is not something that we envisage happening in the future, what the decision-making process around the formation of the Lan's tribunal was in regard to fees that I cannot comment on. However, as far as we are concerned, that is a matter for the individual policy area in which any tribunal emanates. Many thanks. That concludes portfolio questions. We now move to the next item of business, which is a European and External Relations Committee debate on its inquiry into