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Those things are not mutually exclusive.

The Scottish Fiscal Commission has spelled out in very stark detail why, given the position that we are starting from, it is so important, in order to get to the fair work and wellbeing agenda, that we improve our economy in Scotland. The minister should be asking—just as Mr Rennie did—why it is that, even when the UK has relatively poor growth in relation to some of those other countries, Scotland is doing even less well. That is the point, and we must address it. I will not go into the detail of what the Scottish Fiscal Commission has said, because we have rehearsed it many times—as did John Swinney, to be fair to him, when he attended the Finance and Public Administration Committee before he demitted office.

The debate is also about preventative spend. What is currently challenging the Finance and Public Administration Committee is how we can make decisions that will improve our financial contributions in the future by ensuring that we do the right things now in order to improve economic and social benefit.

Finally, I will sum up on the importance of concentrating on sorting out that problem for the Scottish economy. We will not be able to deliver what we want to by way of wellbeing and improving our societal and environmental outcomes unless we do that. That is the focus that we should have, not the constitutional warmongering that has always been going on with the SNP. If we do not focus on that, we will not provide for the generations of the future.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the winter Covid-19 vaccination programme. (S6O-02692)

That is an encouraging answer in terms of uptake numbers. However, I asked my question because I have had representations from quite a few constituents that they are not being sent information on the time when they will be eligible for vaccination. Will the minister have discussions with the NHS to ensure that that information is as clear as possible?

When will the chair of the Eljamel independent public inquiry be in post?

Michelle Thomson is absolutely right. With the Government making increasing use of the co-design principle, which is important in the Government’s relationship with stakeholders, one of the key issues is that, if we get the financial memorandum ahead of the final co-design process being completed, the Finance and Public Administration Committee is in serious difficulty because we cannot scrutinise the memorandum properly. What can the cabinet secretary do about that?

What an extraordinary answer that was. At the Finance and Public Administration Committee’s meeting on 3 October, the cabinet secretary claimed in answers to questions from Michelle Thomson and me that giving councils “more flexibility” was a significant part of the Verity house agreement. Freezing council tax has just removed that flexibility. When the cabinet secretary gave evidence to the committee, was she aware that the First Minister would announce the freeze on 17 October? If not, when did she become aware of the policy announcement?

Will the cabinet secretary confirm exactly how much the council tax freeze will cost and where that money is coming from?

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the statement issued by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities that the handling of the recent announcement about the council tax freeze undermined the spirit and the letter of the Verity house agreement. (S6T-01598)

It is good to hear that. The UK Government has earmarked £140 million for Scottish towns as part of its levelling up fund. Will the cabinet secretary agree that those efforts demonstrate the great value to Scotland of the shared United Kingdom?

To ask the Scottish Government, in the light of reports that the V&A Dundee has generated £304 million for the Scottish economy over the past five years, whether it will be pursuing any further joint projects with United Kingdom institutions. (S6O-02611)