 Felly ku primeira gead businesses is general questions, and at question number 1, I call FINLEY Carson. To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on any discussions it's had with the UK Government regarding infrastructure. Minister, Jenny Gilruth. We meet with UK Government counterparts to discuss matters of importance to Scotland, including infrastructure, as required. I was certainly disappointed that no UK Government Minister was able to meet with me this week in London on the matter of rail infrastructure. ac mae'n gwneud bod ei gwasanaethau amddangos o'r ffordd o'u cyfathau ffwrdd o gr�lfaen. Mae wedi ddefnydd i'r mwyaf i ddweud datblygu i ddweud o'r byry i Gwbl cwmpadau ymgyrch yn Llywodraeth Llywodraeth, Brunigol, ac yn gyfleoedd pam gwyffredigolio ac yn gweithio i gweithraddau o'r ffordd i'r ffordd arllaw. Prif Weinbeach yn ymgyrch yn ei ddiwodig i gweithfawr i'r brind 끝ol, cael ei cyfathor yn gynhyrchu is impacting on our ability to deliver on capital investment plans? Finlay Carson. F начина. Unfortunately I really don't thank the minister for that response. Last week there was yet another horrific accident in the A75 when two HGVs lorries collided in the village of Crockett Ford. One of the vehicles overturning hit in several parked cars, a pedestrian crossing before carrying it into a house. It was a miracle nobody died. Sadly it's just another statistic. But for the people living in the small village it's becoming too often. I've lived next to the A-75 all my life and witnessed the aftermath of hundreds of accidents, far too many resulting in the loss of life. Presiding Officer, report after report highlights the need for significant improvements on the critical link to Northern Ireland, with a bypass around Crockettford and Springhome at the top of the list. But only last week, Michael Matheson said that union connectivity had fallen off the table, only to be undermined by Jenny Gilruth, who said that discussions were on-going. However, that is not about party politics. The people of Dumfries and Galloway and cross-party MSPs demand these bypasses. Nothing less will be acceptable. Can the minister confirm that positive talks with the UK Government are continuing and commit today to these bypasses, so communities will not have to wait a moment longer for the much delayed SDPR2? I very much recognise Mr Carson's constituency interests on this matter. I don't think it would be appropriate for me to comment today on any one individual incident, although I am aware of the incident, of course, in question. Of course, my officials in Transport Scotland engage on a regular basis with their counterparts in the DFT. I am advised that the last meeting, which I think was held on 31 October, when the A-75 was discussed, the DFT confirmed that a proposal would require to be submitted by the Scottish Government to the UK Government to approve the release of any funding for the A-75. There is no guarantee from the UK Government that any additional funding is available, and any money that might be received from the UK Government will most likely be best targeted in further investigation of preliminary options for a local bypass, as I think Mr Carson alluded to, of Springhome and Crockettford. That has been identified through the SDPR2 process. However, it would be for Transport Scotland to lead and manage this work because the trunk road network belongs to Scottish ministers. I have received any substantive update from the Chancellor on this matter. It would be much more appropriate. I hear Mr Carson heckling from a sedentary position. I have to say that this is potential. My officials have been informed. Minister, can I just remind members that the only person speaking should be the person who is asking questions or responding, and can I ask too that we pick up the pace because we have a lot of interest in this item? I have received no substantive update from the Chancellor or any other UK Government minister on this matter. It would be far more appropriate for the UK Government to protect and enhance Scotland's capital allocation to reflect rising inflation. Finally, as Mr Carson knows, transport infrastructure investment decisions are devolved to Scotland. If his friends in the UK Government want to increase funding to infrastructure projects in Scotland, they should do so to the already agreed and established processes of devolution. The task of Scottish Government will provide an update on any recent engagement that has had with the energy sector regarding support for those at risk of fuel poverty. The First Minister has chaired two energy summits since August this year where all major energy suppliers have attended, along with advice providers and third sector organisations. The summits have discussed the impact of the measures introduced by the UK Government in response to the energy crisis and agreed that the UK Government should be targeting more support towards those living within vulnerable circumstances. Other outcomes include the Scottish Government commitment to work with the public and private sector partners to explore how those living in fuel poverty can be further protected within our devolved powers. The last summit that the Scottish Government agreed to work with Energy, UK and other organisations to increase smart meter coverage in Scotland. Whilst aspects of smart meter usage are helpful, the Minister will be aware of the shocking and frankly immoral actions of energy companies who are using smart meters as a backdoor to switch consumers to pre-pay mode, often on a more expensive tariff, without informing people or having to apply for a warrant. That has already happened to over 150,000 households, with off-gems estimating a further 180,000 households will be affected this winter. Can he say how many households in Scotland this has happened to and whether that is in fact legal, given that previously companies would have had to apply to the Scottish courts for a warrant before taking such action? Although I cannot give an exact figure, we are aware of instances in which energy suppliers have switched their customers' accounts to pre-payment mode without informing them first or obtaining a warrant beforehand. That can have quite serious implications for customers, particularly those living in vulnerable circumstances. We would certainly condemn that kind of practice, as it is likely to exacerbate the challenges that some households in fuel poverty will already be contending with. I have asked my officials to engage with off-gem directly on this matter and to look for action to be taken. In the meantime, I would like to reassure members that, if they have a constituent who is affected by this, they can seek advice through our advice services, primarily through Advice Direct Scotland. The UK's major energy distributors made £15.8 billion in profits last year, despite rising energy bills putting more consumers at risk of fuel poverty. Unite the union is calling on off-gem to reopen its price review and set a clear cap on the distributor's profits. Will the minister join Unite in urging off-gem to act now to end this rampant profitering? I certainly support the need to make sure that we are taking a fair tax return from those who are making excessive profits within our energy sector and energy companies in particular. We are in a situation in which we are seeing energy companies making record profits. Scotland is one of the most energy-rich nations in Europe, but it has one of the highest levels of fuel poverty in the whole of Europe. Rather than writing to UK Government ministers, pleading with off-gem to take action over these matters, I prefer to have the powers here in this Parliament to tackle these matters so that we can tax these companies properly and we can end fuel poverty once and for all in energy-rich Scotland. Beatrice Wishart Thank you, Presiding Officer. Some of my constituents are experiencing significant delays in having faulty metres replaced or repaired as energy companies have contracted out this work to third parties. Already impacted by high levels of fuel poverty, they faced increased anxiety about their bills. Our island areas are also experiencing market failure and new electricity contracts for both business and domestic consumers. Has the Scottish Government had any discussions with the energy sector about those serious problems? The Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Connectivity We raised those issues on a regular basis with off-gem and with the UK Government, which are ultimately responsible for these matters, including issues relating to energy metres and failures in the market and regulation of the market, which are evident in adding to fuel poverty and the high increases that people are facing in their fuel bills. If the member has some specific examples that she wants us to ensure that she is highlighted to off-gem, I am more than happy to receive that information and make sure that we forward it on to off-gem and ask them to take urgent action in addressing these matters. To ask the Scottish Government what recent dialogue it has had with the UK Government regarding the potential impact on Scotland of the Northern Ireland protocol bill. Cabinet Secretary, Angus Robertson. I met with the Foreign Secretary two weeks ago and urged the UK Government to seize the current window of opportunity to re-engage in good faith with our European partners, seek sustainable shared solutions on the Northern Ireland protocol and to withdraw the bill without delay. The bill risks violating international law and sparking a trade conflict with our European Union neighbours in the middle of a cost of living crisis with potentially disastrous consequences for Scotland and the whole of the UK. That is simply indefensible. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. In the SEAC committee report on a legislative consent memorandum for the Northern Ireland protocol bill, the committee reiterated its view that the extent of UK ministers' new delegated powers and devolved areas amounts to a significant constitutional change. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that, to ensure that the Scottish Parliament has the opportunity to effectively exercise legislative powers to ensure that Scotland is a fairer, greener and progressive country, the real constitutional change that is required is for Westminster to keep its promise of 2014 that power lies with the Scottish people to decide how Scotland is governed and grant a section 30? Indeed, it would be far better for the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government to be able to make decisions in that area. In general terms, people in Scotland have made a clear decision to be offered the choice about this country's future in a referendum. We call on the UK Government to respect that decision to open discussions with the Scottish Government on a change to the Scottish Parliament's powers so that it can be given effect to the mandate of the people of Scotland in the Scottish parliamentary elections last year. The easiest route to do that would be through a section 30 order. To ask the Scottish Government how citizens can influence energy consent planning decisions made under the section 36 application process. Citizens are able to engage in the planning process by making representation to Scottish ministers on live section 36 applications. Measures are in place throughout the planning and consenting process to ensure that views from the public are taken into account when decisions are made. Guidance is available to encourage applicants to undertake early and meaningful engagement with citizens who would be affected by a proposed section 36 application. Thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. I recently met with constituents in Lylestone who told me that they feel that they are in a David and Goliath scale fight with a company proposing to build a large solar farm on farmland next to their village. They expressed worry and anger that the company concerned is acting as if the project is a foregone conclusion. I seek reassurance from the Scottish Government that this is absolutely not the case and that concerns and objections of residents of the village should be most impacted by the proposed development will be taken seriously and acted on. The planning and the electricity act application process has a very clear mechanism within it to ensure communities and members of the public can have their say when proposals are submitted. Ministers and the planning authorities carefully consider all views that are submitted and considered during the application process. The merits of each proposal are considered on their own individual merits on a case-by-case basis and are carefully balanced against a range of different matters that have to be taken into account, including environmental, economic, renewable energy and climate change benefits. The purpose of this is to ensure that communities have an opportunity to feed into the process and I hope that that provides reassurance to the member's constituents in that it is an open and transparent process for doing so. Question 6, Alex Rowley. Presiding Officer, to ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported decline in numbers of national 5 in higher pupils taking STEM subjects in schools. Cabinet Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville. We are committed to encouraging young people's ambitions to pursue STEM subjects. The evidence tells us that they continue to do so with the percentage of STEM entries at higher and national 5 stable this year compared to 2019, when the last year in which exams were held. Since 2017, we have been implementing our STEM strategy, which includes work to ensure on-going take-up of STEM subjects. For example, the work with organisations such as raising the aspirations in science education to equip practitioners with the skills, networks and confidence to deliver engaging STEM experiences and also continue to support the young STEM leaders programme. Alex Rowley. Presiding Officer, we could trade back and forward a whole load of statistics, but I would hope that the Cabinet Secretary would agree that we are not doing good enough when it comes to Scottish education and we need to do better. I ask the Cabinet Secretary specifically whether she will agree that we need to prioritise firstly by sorting out the teachers dispute. It is absolutely shocking that these teachers who have been through so much are having to be forced on to picket lines to defend their pay and their jobs. Secondly, would she agree that we need to have every local authority in Scotland, the education authority, bring forward proper cost and recovery plans so that those can be scrutinised by democratically elected councillors at a local level and by this Parliament so that we can start to address the massive failings in Scottish education? I am afraid that I do not recognise the picture that Mr Rowley is painting of Scottish education. I think that that is to be proven in the work that is on-going in the national discussion when we are told that there is a lot that is successful and that is good in Scottish education. While I appreciate, we must always look to see how we can do better. I think that it would be advisable if we also recognise what is going well and the good position that we are in at the moment. We are, of course, continuing to liaise with all teaching unions around the current pay dispute that work is on-going. Industrial action is no one's best interest, particularly that of children and young people. Of course, we are also very close to the publication of the stretch aims as part of our Scottish entertainment challenge, which are set by local authorities specifically to look at what is being done in each local authority to ensure that we are very careful looking at attainment within the councils. I recently attended a girls and energy conference hosted by an energy operator and their college partners that supports girls to undertake a one-year course in S4 and provides a platform to pursue a career in energy. Given that the sector is still considered to be male dominated, what action the Scottish Government is taking to maximise opportunities for girls and women to pursue educational pathways and a career in STEM? I thank Orgie Nicholl for that important question and a challenge that we must all rise to increase, not just the number of pupils that are interested in STEM but particularly young women as well. I absolutely recognise the contribution that girls and energy have in the courses that they support in Orgie Nicholl's constituency. That is very much integral to our work within the STEM strategy, ensuring that equality is absolutely an important part. That is exactly why Education Scotland continues to work with improving gender balance in the equalities team to look at that. Cabinet Secretary, the declining number of pupils taking STEM subjects at NAP5 and hires appears to have coincided with a drop in applications to study medicine. UCAS figures show that 19 per cent fewer Scots have applied to study medicine for the 2023 academic year than in the past two years. Is the cabinet secretary concerned that not only are there a drop in pupils studying STEM but there is also a drop in the number of Scots applying to study medicine? Cabinet secretary? I have a perhaps point to the original answer that I gave to Alec Rowley about the entry and attainment will inevitably vary from individual subjects. That is why I answered with an overall percentage of STEM entries. It is particularly important to recognise that there are a number of new STEM subjects out there. Mathematics is also joined by the application of mathematics and biology by human biology. We take very seriously our desire to increase the number of pupils that are taking STEM subjects and then, of course, whether it is medicine or otherwise, to encourage young people to take forward an opportunity within our colleges, apprenticeships and universities with STEM as the basis of that subject. To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ban the installation of replacement fossil fuel boilers from 2025. The Scottish Government published its hearing building strategy in October 2021, which set out how we propose to remove emissions from Scotland's buildings by 2045, in line with the country's climate change targets. As committed to in this year's programme for government, the Scottish Government will consult on details on proposals for a hearing building's bill in the coming year. That will include further detail on how we propose to phase out the use of fossil fuel heating systems from 2025, as committed to in our strategy. For people making decisions now about heating their home, we should be able to have a clear idea from the Government about how impending regulations will impact them. However, key messages about what we have to do to the homes to make them complied are not being relayed. Instead, the Government continues to make vague suggestions of what regulations might look like. Can the cabinet secretary tell concerned homeowners when they can expect comprehensive details of what regulations will come into place from 2025 regarding the need for replacement boilers? If the member is looking for concrete examples, he just needs to look at the strategy, because the strategy sets out that the early action in off-grid is focused in 2025 on those who are off-grid gas supplied at the present moment and by 2030 for those who are on-grid in gas supplies. The strategy sets that out very clearly, and I hope that the member will share that information with his concerned constituents. The statutory regulations that we will underpin will be brought forward in the draft bill, which will be consulted on, which will set out the details in regulation. I hope that that provides the clarity that the member is looking for as it has set out in the strategy, which was published last October.