Seòmar agus comataidhean

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it being the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, whether it will provide an update on what steps it is taking to tackle violence against women and girls. (S6O-04065)

Violence against women and girls is abhorrent, and front-line services provide much-needed support to victims and survivors. What steps is the Scottish Government taking to ensure that victims get all the support that they need?

Will the member take an intervention?

I thank Carol Mochan for taking an intervention. As someone who was born and bred in Kirkcaldy, which had at one end the Frances, which was commonly known as the Dubbie, and at the other, the Seafield, I know that the communities there were rich in culture, heritage and wealth. However, Mrs Thatcher’s legacy is 40 years of deprivation in those areas. Would the member agree with that?

Will the minister outline how the Scottish Government will look to support the social care sector in light of new concerns, which have been highlighted by stakeholders, that the UK Labour Government’s plan to increase employer national insurance contributions could be catastrophic for many voluntary sector care providers?

I welcome the Government’s continued work on that. It is vital that we press ahead with Scotland’s energy transition, replicating the success of projects such as the Aventus Energy and Sumitomo developments.

Does the cabinet secretary agree that to build on the Scottish Government’s progress, the UK Government needs to urgently match our ambition for Scotland, and match the £500 million just transition fund?

Westminster promised funding to communities across Scotland, and now, in the face of further austerity, Dunfermline’s projects hang in the balance. Does the Deputy First Minister agree that that funding cannot be another of Labour’s abandoned promises and that, rather than bypassing Scotland’s elected Parliament, any funding should be for this Parliament to deliver for communities?

A strong workforce is vital in the delivery of high-quality social care, which is why a key part of a national care service is the improvement of working conditions for carers. Alarmingly, over the past few weeks, we have loudly and clearly heard concerns from stakeholders such as the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland about the United Kingdom Labour Government’s plans to increase employer’s national insurance contributions, which the coalition says could be “catastrophic” for many voluntary sector care providers. Can the minister provide an update on the estimated impact that the UK Government’s increases in national insurance contributions will have on the care sector in Scotland?

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to reform the victim notification scheme in the coming year, to ensure that it operates in a more trauma-informed way. (S6O-03954)

The independent review of the victim notification scheme heard directly from victims and their families about their experience of the justice system and the scheme itself. Does the minister share my gratitude for their participation and strength, and does she agree that we must continue to listen to their voices as we progress with these reforms?