3. To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet. (S5F-00346)

Matters of importance to the people of Scotland.

We have heard the Conservative Secretary of State for International Trade branding European citizens working here as “cards” in the European Union negotiations. We have heard the Conservative Home Secretary advocating listing of foreign workers. Those “cards”—those foreign workers—are our neighbours and our friends. They are our families. People who voted for Brexit across the United Kingdom did not vote to send their friends home.

What can the First Minister do to ensure that EU citizens are treated with respect and dignity in the negotiations?

The First Minister:

The first thing that I can do, which is what I did on the morning after the EU referendum, is say unequivocally that people who have come from other European countries—or from any country—and have chosen to make Scotland their home and to make a contribution here are welcome here. This is their home: this is where they belong and it is where we want them to stay. All of us have a responsibility to say that as often as we possibly can.

Since the EU referendum, we have taken steps to liaise with the community of EU nationals living in Scotland. The Cabinet held a question-and-answer session a number of weeks ago in order to hear their concerns directly. We have also taken practical steps—for example, on university tuition fees—to give reassurance to EU nationals where we can, and we will continue to look for other areas where we can do that.

Unfortunately—it is a matter of real regret to me—I do not have the power to guarantee the right of EU nationals to stay here in Scotland. I will continue—I hope that I have the backing of every single member in this chamber when I say this—to call on the UK Government to stop using human beings as bargaining chips and to give them the guaranteed right to stay where they belong, which is here in Scotland.

Many EU citizens work for organisations such as Amazon. They deserve decent treatment. This week, Amazon celebrated its recruitment of more people at a rate below the proper living wage. The recruitment was described as a “bonanza”.

I have raised the issue before and the First Minister promised action, but nothing has changed. This week the Scottish Government did not utter a peep—not one word of criticism. Amazon has had millions of pounds in Scottish Government grants but pays poverty wages. Does the First Minister still intend to do anything, or has she lost interest?

The First Minister:

That is an unfair criticism from Willie Rennie, because he knows how seriously we treat the living wage. I know that he agrees with us, in that regard. We encourage—I will go further: we expect all companies that can do so to pay the living wage, and we have taken a lead on that.

I wish that I had the power here in Scotland not just to guarantee the right of EU nationals to stay but to legislate on minimum wage levels, so that we could raise the statutory minimum wage to the level of the living wage. Let us argue not just for companies to do the right thing but for having those powers in the hands of this Parliament, so that we do not have to call on the UK Government to do the right thing for us.

The First Minister will share my concern at today’s news that a hard Brexit could cost Scotland 80,000 jobs. A report from the Fraser of Allander institute shows that the weaker our economic integration with the European Union, the greater the negative impact.

Does the First Minister think that it is high time that the Tories dropped their bluster over leaving the single market and revealed—at long last—a plan?

The First Minister:

The Tories should have had a plan to deal with Brexit before the referendum. It is absolutely shocking that they did not. It is equally shocking that, three months on, we still have only the sketchiest of details about what happens now. It is unfortunate that the details that we have suggest that we are heading down the road of a hard Brexit, which—as today’s Fraser of Allander institute report said—will cost people in Scotland in lost wages and lost jobs. That is completely and utterly unacceptable.

What has been clear from the Conservative conference this week is that decisions by the Prime Minister are being driven more by her desire to appease the Tory right than they are by the genuine interests of the country. I think that that is wrong, regrettable and deeply irresponsible.

When Andrew Flanagan, the chair of the Scottish Police Authority, was asked yesterday about public concern about sex offenders and violent criminals being tagged, he said that he thought that worry would be “understandable”. Can the First Minister assure the public that her Government will not use an extension of electronic monitoring for such criminals, given the real concerns that have been voiced by the public and victims of crime?

The First Minister:

Public safety is at the heart of all such decisions. As I said in an exchange just a couple of weeks ago, it is not for politicians but for courts to decide appropriate sentences. When a court is deciding on the appropriate sentence—whether it is prison or an alternative to prison, including electronic monitoring—risk assessment and issues of public safety will be integral to the decision. That is right and proper and the public would expect no less.

As the First Minister is no doubt aware, two weeks ago today a major rupture in a water main that supplies Edinburgh occurred in Liberton, in my Constituency. The destruction that was caused was substantial and many families had to vacate their homes. The only reason why there was no loss of life where the greatest destruction took place was that an elderly couple are currently in a care home.

I had a constructive meeting with Scottish Water on Tuesday this week, but it was revealed that the main regulating valves for the supply of water to Edinburgh are causing Scottish Water serious problems, to the point at which the company is operating 24-hour supervision. The same type of valves are used to regulate the supply of water to Glasgow and Milngavie. Will the First Minister assure me that her ministers are looking into the matter and give Parliament detail on the steps that are being taken to ensure that the issue is remedied?

The First Minister:

I am aware of the disruption and concern that was caused to Daniel Johnson’s constituents as a result of the incident that he talked about. I know that Scottish Water will deeply regret that inconvenience.

I am more than happy to ask the minister who has responsibility for such matters to raise with Scottish Water the particular issue that the member has brought to the chamber today and to correspond with him when he has Scottish Water’s feedback.

Is the First Minister aware of the turmoil in the Crofting Commission that has been caused by the intolerable behaviour of the current convener? Does she know that the other commissioners have asked for his resignation and that the previous chief executive, Catriona Maclean, left because of the convener’s behaviour and the pressure that is being placed on commission staff? In those circumstances, will the First Minister and her Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity now take action to make the Crofting Commission work for crofters across the crofting counties without the disruptive presence of the convener?

The First Minister:

Tavish Scott has raised an important issue. The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity has already welcomed the apology from the board of the Crofting Commission, but it is disappointing that the convener was not a party to that apology. It is important that we get to the stage of being able to draw a line under recent events. The resources that have been spent in dealing with these issues by the Commission would, in my view, have been far better used by it being an effective regulator and contributing to a sustainable future for crofting.

I note that crofting commissioners have unanimously called for the convener to resign. The Scottish Government has requested from the convener further information about last week’s events. Although the Government would not ordinarily intervene in the internal operations of an independent statutory body, legislation gives Scottish ministers the power to act if required. I assure Tavish Scott that the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity continues to monitor the situation closely and will be happy to discuss it further with him.