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The cabinet secretary is cautious about the recommendations of the Hayward review. What does that mean for parity of esteem between academic and vocational subjects and what is she doing now to encourage greater take-up of vocational opportunities in schools?

I agree with that. As a Liberal, I believe that alternatives to prison are far more effective, not just because the prisons are full, but because we have had, of necessity, a series of short-term emergency measures. The cabinet secretary referred to further longer-term measures. What are those measures and by when will they be implemented?

Justice social workers are essential in making community justice work, given their detailed knowledge of the offender, the circumstances and the range of available custodial and non-custodial options. However, we hear that, in a significant number of cases in which social workers recommend non-custodial alternatives, the courts choose instead to impose prison sentences. Bearing in mind the independence of the judiciary, does the Lord Advocate recognise that situation? What is her response to it?

I have witnessed some shocking behaviour on buses from people of all ages, and drivers have told me just how bad it can get. Has the transport secretary assessed the impact of that behaviour on passenger numbers? If not, when will she manage to do that?

As normal, the Liberal Democrats will come forward with costed, reasonable proposals that will balance a growing economy with an interest in our constituencies and protecting the fabric of society. However, that is for another day, when the UK Government’s budget comes forward and when there are further proposals from elsewhere.

Today, I want to acknowledge the Greens’ influence. There is no doubt that the party has made an impact on the economic performance of the country and the Government. There is no doubt that they have made an impact on housing, the climate and tax. My concern is about what that impact is, and about the Greens’ lack of concern about the consequences of their policies.

For example, there have been reports of behavioural change, with people choosing to work elsewhere because of the ever-rising taxes in this country—yet there is not a peep, a word or a concern from the party about that. The party has ignored housebuilders telling us that they are investing in England, rather than Scotland. It dismissed those concerns with, “What do these people know? Do they know what they are talking about?”, as if it is not a concern for the Government.

I have only four minutes, and there is a lot to criticise with the Greens.

The Greens feel cheated, and I feel sorry for them, because they were thrown out of the Government when their allies had so willingly agreed to apply their policies in government. They feel cheated and hurt because of that. In those circumstances, I, too, would probably feel hurt. However, the Greens have now come forward with a whole suite of popular policies for the Parliament to embrace, including suggestions for the exploration of further fiscal avenues, lots of new taxes and a rise in income tax, which is how I interpret an aspect of the Greens’ motion. It does that without any acknowledgement of all the concerns that I raised—

If he wants, Mr Greer can include that when summing up.

It is important that we understand the consequences of the Greens’ policies of ramping up taxes and the impact on behavioural change; of the loss of income as a result of putting up those taxes; of the £624 million tax gap; and of the loss of the ScotWind funds. None of that was in Ross Greer’s speech—not one element. That is why we should forever reject the policies of the Green Party.

Not just now.

When there is evidence that the majority of what is raised through a tax rise will be lost to behavioural change, there is no concern. No questions are raised—there is no concern at all. Where is the commentary about the £624 million economic tax gap resulting from the sluggish economy? There is not a peep, a word or a concern. It is as if those things are nothing to do with the Greens.

Not just now.

It is important that we understand the consequences of the SNP Government’s decisions, including the hundreds of millions of pounds of ScotWind money that is being used to plug the hole in the country’s finances. Those problems were partly created by the Greens’ economic policies. The trouble is that the Greens claim to be progressive. They tell us that they care more than everyone else, and that it is the progressiveness of the party that brings more care to the country. However, it is not progressive to lose hundreds of millions of pounds in a tax gap. It is not progressive to lose good people who choose to work elsewhere. It is not progressive to fail to build the houses that we are desperate to build in this country. That is not progressive politics—it is cavalier politics, which we should dismiss.

Almost two thirds of teachers who were surveyed in Fife are considering leaving the profession, as a result of violence in schools. What can the First Minister say to those teachers to keep them teaching? What, precisely, has changed as a result of the recently published Government guidance on behaviour?