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

Thank you, President Officer. Businesses across the United Kingdom receive important financial support from government in the form of rates relief.

But when this cash reaches the SNP government, they spend it on other things. things like their half-billion-pound ferries,

their seven billion-pound benefits bill and their propaganda papers on independence.

Scottish businesses need this cash. They are suffering badly with hospitality, including

pubs, suffering more than most.

The SNP has failed to pass on at least £700 million of business rates relief since 2022.

Can John Swinney therefore tell us exactly where this money has gone.

First Minister

The Government in its forthcoming budget that will be discussed by Parliament over the next few weeks

is putting forward a package of reliefs worth an estimated £864 million, which enables us to sustain

the small business bonus scheme, which has been a hallmark of this Government's approach, and

also offers a 15% relief to retail hospitality and leisure premises liable for the basic

or intermediate property rate in mainland Scotland.

These are just some of the measures the Government puts forward to make sure that we support the business community as they wrestle with the challenges that they face.

Russell Finley.

We talk about the S&P Budget, but the Scottish Bearing Pub Association say the SMP budget falls well short of what is needed for many pubs across Scotland.

Pubs are closing in Scotland at the rate of one every single week.

Almost 300 have been forced to close their doors in the past five years.

Just this week a new survey revealed that one in seven pub owners are thinking of calling

time for the last time.

John Swinney must take action now to stem the flood of pub closures.

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