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My understanding is that the NRAC formula, which you mentioned, is under review and could be altered. Where are we with that? When will the findings be ready to be published, for instance?

I have a supplementary question. I want to give an example of sustainability or supporting people to avoid hospital admission. Folk with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma can be helped to improve their lung health by going to a local choir, for instance. We know that that helps with pulmonary rehabilitation. How do we recognise the importance of, for instance, the third sector, in helping COPD patients or people who need lung rehabilitation to avoid admission to hospital?

Good morning, minister. I am interested in the vaping issue, as I am co-convener of the cross-party group on lung health, and ASH Scotland has come and presented to us. I am thinking about how retailers seem to be everywhere now—taxi drivers are selling vapes and online food companies will sell vapes as part of your food delivery. How will retailers be educated on or supported in the change in the law?

Parents need to realise the damage that nicotine does to their children. We hear about kids who are so anxious that they cannot sleep, and when they try to withdraw from vaping, they have withdrawal issues. There are total health impacts for young people who vape, so I welcome this legislation, but how do we make sure that retailers are aware of it, and how do we curtail the number of businesses that are selling vapes?

Good morning. The overall budgets of some territorial boards are increasing in cash terms by 14.2 per cent, but some—including NHS Borders, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, NHS Highland, NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland—are receiving increases in their budgets above 14.9 per cent. I am interested in the decisions that were taken to increase the budgets for those territorial boards. Were they taken to support reductions in waiting lists, to address delayed discharge and to address other aspects?

I have a quick question about digital and innovation. Earlier, I spoke about pulmonary rehab, which I know is being delivered remotely, which is good for rural areas. I would like to hear from you about artificial intelligence and how it will link to the budget in the future.

Thanks.

Thanks.

There is nothing to add. I recognise that Scots is spoken in a variety of ways and in different dialects in different parts of Scotland. I urge colleagues to support the amendments in the group.

I engaged with the Scots language community when we discussed amendments to propose. There has been no direct discussion with ADES and teachers, but I have engaged with members of the Scots language community, who I believe are experts in Scots.

I encourage members to support amendments 69, 71 and 74.

Amendment 69 agreed to.

Good morning, everyone. It is a pleasure to be here, and I thank you for the opportunity to move these important amendments.

I thank the many Scots organisations and individuals who have been so helpful to me and who support our Scots language cross-party group, which I co-convene. The organisations include the Scots Language Centre, Oor Vyce, the Scots Language Society and the Open University in Scotland. Many individuals are associated with those organisations, and I must include Bruce Eunson, Dr Sylvia Warnecke and Dr Michael Dempster. All have made invaluable contributions to promoting Scots, both at the CPG and in providing input for me on the bill.

At stage 1, there was discussion about whether the term “Scots” includes the different dialects of the Scots language that are used in the different parts of Scotland—for instance, the north-east dialect, which is also called the Doric—so I am keen to introduce my amendments in this group.

My amendments seek to reassure the Scots language community on that point—not by changing the definition of “Scots” in an exhaustive way that could, inadvertently, exclude something, but by focusing on the substantive sections of part 2 of the bill. Amendment 69 makes it clear that the Scottish ministers’ objectives for the promotion of Scots in the Scots language strategy are to include the different dialects of Scots that are used in the different parts of Scotland.

Amendment 71 clarifies that, likewise, the Scottish ministers’ power to give guidance to public authorities on the promotion of Scots includes the different dialects of Scots.

Section 31 of the bill places an education authority under a duty to

“promote, facilitate and support Scots language education”.

Amendment 74 makes it clear that the education authority

“may discharge its functions relating to Scots language education through teaching and learning in the dialect of the Scots language most relevant to its area.”

For instance, in the north-east of Scotland, Doric would be the most relevant.

I hope that that provides some reassurance for all stakeholders, and I ask the committee to support my amendments in this group.

I move amendment 69.