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

And at question number one, I call Russell Finley.

Thank you, President.

In recent weeks, I've had the privilege of meeting apprentices and businesses across Scotland at Talley's in Goven, Collins Aerospace in Preswick.

And yesterday, Persumman homes in East Lothian, where I have to report, it became clear that I'll never make it as a brickey.

This week, we started a public debate on reducing the school leaving age from 16.

It's long being clear that far too many young people are being failed by the SMP's education system.

And we propose giving those young people who are being left behind the opportunity of a hybrid education and training in colleges and the workplace.

So does John Swinney agree that this conversation is long overdue and will he give any consideration to our proposals? First Minister.

I have to say this is a bold approach to the First Minister's questions.

Given the fact that yesterday when Mr Finley set out his proposals, he conceded in a television interview that it was not in fact

certain that these proposals would reach anywhere near a Conservative manifesto.

So I am not sure Mr. Finley has got quite as much confidence after that one interview in his

policy than he puts to me today.

I don't agree with these proposals.

We have spent a great deal of time and effort on trying to encourage young people to

maximise their engagement with education that has resulted in more young people staying on at

school and, as a consequence consequence more young people leaving school and

going into positive destinations. Indeed, positive destinations.

Let's hear the First Minister. Indeed, positive destinations are at record levels. So I don't

intend to follow the policy approach being proposed by Mr Finley, but then I don't think

he does either. Mr Finley, but then I don't think he does either.

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