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I am a bit surprised by that answer. The most recent investigations at Lower Largo in Fife tell us that it is the most polluted beach in Scotland. It has breached the regulations on seven occasions so far in 2023 and, on three occasions, it was at 50 times the contamination limit, which is a very serious health hazard. What will the Scottish Government do to increase the frequency of checks on those beaches?

In addition, is the First Minister as concerned as I am about the number of community swimming pool closures, given that such pools are seen by many families as a safer alternative just now?

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking in response to reports of widespread contamination at many of Scotland’s outdoor swimming sites. (S6F-02404)

The cabinet secretary knows that, in a submission to the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, Creative Scotland described the Scottish Government’s support for the sector as

“short-term in nature and precarious in reality”

and warned that one arts organisation in three is at risk of insolvency, with possible job losses of 900. The First Minister recently said:

“The sector should be assured that this Government values the role of culture”.—[Official Report, 5 September 2023; c 17.]

So, will those 900 jobs be secure?

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further details regarding its programme for government 2023-24 commitment to develop a “long term strategic approach to skills and careers” in the culture and major events sector. (S6O-02525)

There are really two issues here: first, how the money that the minister claims is necessary is raised; and secondly, reforming the council tax to ensure that it is more efficient in the future. I have to say that I am very glad to hear that nothing has been decided, because I think that, when the results come in, there will be quite a considerable amount of criticism about the proposals. With hindsight, does the minister accept that it was not a sensible idea to freeze council tax for such a long period? Did it not take away councils’ ability to pull in the money that they needed at an earlier stage, which would have avoided some of the difficulties that we have just now?

I greatly welcome the debate. Willie Rennie was absolutely spot on in what he said, and I enjoyed his humour in relation to the U-turns on council tax and other policies that the SNP has undertaken in recent years.

However, the reason why I am pleased to take part in the debate is that there is no doubt whatsoever that the proposed council tax rises are a huge issue, certainly in the constituency of Mid Scotland and Fife that I represent, but also across Scotland. The proposals come at a time when people in Scotland are already being asked to pay higher income tax, and when more people, because of fiscal drag, are being taken into higher rates. The SNP-Greens have also been talking about a wealth tax that they would try to levy on a local basis. The proposals could not be anything but the worst possible news for so many people across Scotland.

Willie Rennie is absolutely right to set out the statistics on the difficulties that the rises will place on so many people. I think that when the consultation finishes tomorrow, and we see the results, the Scottish Government is going to get a big shock when it finds out just how deeply unpopular the whole thing is.

Mr Mason mentioned the Finance and Public Administration Committee. He is absolutely right about some of the warnings that we have been getting in committee about raising more tax while avoiding the burden of that tax having serious implications on behaviour.

The Scottish Government seems to be suggesting that it will try to exempt some of the low-income properties in the higher bands from the proposed increase. However, that does not fit with the facts on the ground. In fact, there are something like 108,000 households among the poorest 30 per cent of Scots who live in properties in band E or above, and just 23,000 of those households currently receive a council tax reduction. That leaves between 80,000 and 85,000 households that are vulnerable to the proposed increase, which is a huge number of people.

As I said, that comes at a time when the SNP-Greens are talking about very considerable increases to the tax burden in Scotland. Not only does that have considerable implications for the households that are being asked to pay the tax; but the whole prospect is just so complex that it will turn out to be unworkable. As both Willie Rennie and John Mason rightly said, it is simply inconceivable that we could be going ahead with these proposals based on property ratings from 1991. That does not make any sense whatsoever.

As we know, both the National Audit Office and Reform Scotland have called on the Scottish Government to finalise a new deal for local government. There is some good in the idea of setting up a new partnership agreement with councils that supports collaboration alongside a fiscal framework for local government. I have a lot of sympathy with that ambition, but it would have to be on a three-year, or perhaps five-year, basis to ensure that there is sustainable funding and greater financial flexibility and transparency. There is no doubt whatsoever that local authorities across Scotland have been suffering really badly because of the consistent cuts that they have had to put up with for a long period of time, and they feel so vulnerable in the face of all the proposed changes.

In conclusion, we have here yet another SNP proposal that is ill thought through. I really do not think that the Scottish Government has thought about the ramifications of the policy; it has certainly not thought carefully about who is actually going to end up paying. I think that when the consultation results come out, the Scottish Government will have to have a major rethink.

Mr Stewart, if your analysis is correct, why is there such a huge outcry from the hospitality and tourism sector telling you that the approach is wrong?

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations it has made in response to the protracted start to the 2023 grain harvest. (S6O-02493)

The cabinet secretary will know that that information shows that it has not been an easy start to the 2023 grain harvest, not just because of the delays but because of poor quality in some crops. That is particularly true of barley in my area, which is causing concern not to farmers but to the Scottish whisky industry.

In the light of the fact that we do not have any clarity about the agriculture bill, can the cabinet secretary reassure grain farmers that they will be supported?

I welcome the decision and pay considerable tribute to Jules Rose, Pat Kelly and all the other patients who have been fighting the case for 10 years. Aside from the public inquiry, will the Scottish Government consider a victim support fund for the former patients and their families?