Last weekend, Orkney’s young athletes—hockey players, swimmers, footballers and netballers—successfully retained the Stuart cup in the junior intercounty competition against their Shetland counterparts.

Will the Deputy First Minister join me in congratulating both the Orkney and Shetland athletes on the quality of the competition and the spirit in which it was played and will she also restate the Scottish Government’s on-going support for the International Island Games Association games, which will take place in Orkney in 2025?

I have no hesitation in joining Liam McArthur in congratulating the Orkney and Shetland athletes. He sits next to Beatrice Wishart and I am sure that there was no bias whatsoever in his question.

The international island games are wonderful. They really put the spotlight on our island communities and give great opportunities to young athletes from those communities, so I wish them well and commend what they have achieved.

That concludes First Minister’s question time. The next item of business is a members’ business debate in the name of Mark Ruskell. There will be a short suspension to allow those who are leaving the chamber and the public gallery to do so before that item begins.

Meeting suspended.

On resuming—