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Companies are attracted to Scotland for a range of reasons such as skills availability, a supportive government and pro-business environment, a clear economic strategy and a strong track record in attracting investment. The success of Scottish Development International in attracting inward investment has helped create or support over 32,000 planned jobs over the last five years and support Scottish businesses in their international ambitions.

I can confirm that no company has informed the government that they intend to or have withdrawn business as a result of the Scottish Government plans to hold a referendum in 2014 and that despite UK Government claims of business uncertainty they have yet to provide any evidence for these claims.

The Scottish Government is committed to tackling violence in Scotland, wherever it occurs. Recorded crime in Scotland is at a 37 year low, violent crime has reduced by 17 percent in the last year and crimes of handling an offensive weapon are their lowest in 18 years.

These reductions have been delivered through a combination of tough enforcement, early intervention and education. I would like to recognise the significant and sustained efforts of our local partners in tackling and preventing violence.

This includes the 17,436 police officers who are working in our communities. This visible police presence is helping to make Scotland a safer place to live – as shown in the recent results of the Scottish Household Survey that over three quarters of adults (78%) say they feel very or fairly safe while walking alone in the neighbourhood after dark, whilst almost all (97%) say they feel safe when they are alone in their home at night.

Our courts are also sending a clear message that violent behaviour will not be tolerated. For example, in terms of tackling knife crime, those who are caught carrying knives are being given longer sentences than ever before. The average length of custodial sentences for carrying an offensive weapon has increased, from 118 days in 2005-06 to 288 days in 2010-11 and is at its highest for a decade. The Lord Advocate’s prosecution guidelines for knife carrying are also sending a clear zero tolerance message. Under these guidelines, anyone caught in Scotland’s town and city centres in possession of a knife will be prosecuted on indictment before a sheriff and jury. This means an increase of the potential maximum prison term for offenders from one to four years.

Furthermore, in March 2011, we published the first National Strategy for CCTV in Scotland. This government believes that CCTV systems can play a crucial role in the prevention, detection and, as recent high profile court cases have shown, the prosecution of crime.

In addition to these enforcement measures, we believe that addressing the root causes of violent behaviour and knife crime is key to preventing violence in the future and making Scotland’s streets safer. That is why we are investing in a range of educational initiatives, including No Knives Better Lives, which are raising awareness of the dangers and consequences of violence amongst young people and supporting them to make positive choices.

We have also invested over £46 million, recovered from the proceeds of crime, into the highly successful CashBack for Communities Programme. CashBack improves self-confidence, self-esteem and provides positive opportunities for the young people who take part, while also supporting those communities worst hit by crime and anti-social behaviour. Since its launch in 2007 more than 600,000 young Scots have participated in a wide range of positive activities in their communities.

In its response to the recent consultation on a review of bands under the England and Wales Renewables Obligation, the UK Government announced its decision re retain support for electricity generated using geothermal energy at the current level. The Scottish Government has conducted a similar consultation exercise, and we will announce our decisions shortly.

Meanwhile, in order to encourage commercial interest in this energy source, the Scottish Government has commissioned a research programme aimed at identifying the next steps to take forward the commercial exploitation of deep geothermal energy, including high level mapping of potential and the scope for licensing. The study will also include a costs and financial risk assessment which should identify the likely capital and operating costs for exploring and developing the geothermal energy resources identified. We expect the results to be available by spring 2013.

We have no plans to ask the Scottish Court Service to produce a summary of justice of the peace and sheriff court decisions for the media. The Scottish Court Service does already publish the decisions of the Court of Session, High Court of Justiciary and sheriff courts on their website where there is a significant point of law or particular public interest.

http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/opinionsApp/index.asp?txt=False.

The First Minister last wrote to the Prime Minister of the UK Government regarding this matter on 6 May 2012. The Prime Minister subsequently responded in a letter dated 30 May and this correspondence is currently being considered.

The Scottish Government recognises that complementary or alternative therapies, including homeopathy, may offer relief to some people suffering from a wide variety of conditions. It is, however, a matter for NHS boards in Scotland to make such services available, based on an assessment of needs within their respective areas.

However, I expect all NHS boards to review services and facilities regularly to ensure that they continue to reflect local needs and provide the best quality healthcare services. In doing so, it is right that NHS boards take account of relevant evidence based advice and guidance in the delivery of NHS services.

It is for NHS Lothian to determine whether to make such services available. NHS Lothian has yet to conclude consideration of its proposals for the future of local homeopathic services. However, I have made it clear that I fully expect NHS boards to engage positively, constructively and meaningfully with local communities when they are contemplating change. I am aware that Midlothian Community Health Partnership is already making arrangements to undertake a period of public consultation before it makes any final recommendation on the future of the service.

However, should the board’s final proposals be considered major service change, they would have to be subject to formal public consultation and ministerial approval.

The modelling carried out by the University of Sheffield shows that a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol is estimated to increase spend per drinker by around £24 a year. The modelling breaks this down into £8 a year for a moderate drinker, £54 a year for a hazardous drinker, and £123 a year for a harmful drinker.

Alcohol misuse costs Scotland £3.6 billion per year, which equates to £900 per adult in Scotland, whether they drink or not. Minimum pricing will go some way towards reducing alcohol-related harm and the costs associated with it.