Thank you. That concludes general questions. The next item of business is First Minister's

questions. At question number one, I call Russell Finley.

Thank you, President. The SNPs plans for a national care service have already wasted

£28 million of taxpayers' money. Four parliamentary committees have warned about its flaws.

NHS bosses have serious concerns. Scotland's council leaders and unions have pulled their support.

So why is the First Minister pushing ahead of the plan that nobody seems to want?

First Minister. pushing ahead of the plan that nobody seems to want.

First Minister

Before I answer the substance of Russell Finley's question, may I welcome him to his post as leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

and I look forward to these exchanges which will take their course over the

next few weeks, months and years.

On the question of the National Care Service, the National Care Service is a product of consultation

and dialogue with members of the public led by the

Feeley Review.

The Feeley Review concluded that there was such variation in the quality of social care

and the effectiveness of social care around the country, that there was an argument and

a necessity for there to be a national care service to make sure that wherever

individuals are in the social care sector in the country, they are able to receive the highest

quality of support. That is the foundation behind the national care service and it is on that

basis that the government will pursue the proposition that we put forward to Parliament.

I thank the First Minister for his proposition that we have put forward to Parliament. So, Finley.

I thank the First Minister for his kind words.

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