SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
Economic Growth
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact its policies have had on economic growth since 1999. (S2O-11820)
Since devolution, the policies of this Executive have laid the foundations for continued economic growth and job creation in Scotland. The latest figures show that since 1999 the economy has grown by 11.9 per cent. The economy has grown above our long-run annual average in each of the past nine consecutive quarters.
That is interesting, because Professor Brian Ashcroft told the Finance Committee on 16 January that there has been
That is inaccurate. We need to treat quite a lot of what the Conservatives say on the issue with a great deal of caution, too. As members know, earlier this week I heard Annabel Goldie announce that she is tearing up most of the Conservatives' key policies—although she did not seem to have an exhaustive list. The Conservatives have U-turned on the economy and education. Perhaps I should issue a challenge to the Conservatives. Will they now support the Edinburgh airport rail link, which will help Scottish financial services? Will they support Scottish Enterprise's work on skills training, business support and economic regeneration, which is helping to create jobs and growth in Scotland? If the Conservatives cannot answer those questions, I assure members that the Executive will continue to build economic growth in Scotland and to exceed our average long-term growth rate in Scotland, as we have done for the past nine quarters.
I wanted to thank the minister for his answer, but his reference to inaccuracy was just too good. Gross domestic product is a poor and inaccurate measure of a branch economy and the reindexing of GDP on a rolling basis makes it more inaccurate.
As Jim Mather knows, business rates in Scotland are coming down. I hope he welcomes that.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. This is all very entertaining, but there is a serious point. The minister has made no attempt whatever to answer the substantive points that were put to him in two questions. He has responded by making party-political points. Under the standing orders of the Parliament, can you do anything to compel ministers at least to attempt to address the questions that are put to them?
I can look encouragingly, but under our standing orders I am responsible for the questions, not the answers. The answers are a matter for the Executive.
Planning System (Mediation)
There will now be only the slightest change of tone, Presiding Officer.
Mediation is one of a number of measures for engaging communities that we would see planning authorities adopting under the new planning system.
I am pleased to hear that answer because there is general agreement on the value that mediation can have in the planning system. However, a proposal for a pilot project on mediation in planning has been under discussion for more than two years now, and the Executive has had detailed proposals for more than a year and a half. When will progress be made? When will the minister be able to come to Parliament to report that the pilot project is going ahead?
We are currently scoping taking the mediation pilot ahead, focusing on the development planning process. The intention is to commission it in 2007. We are working with the different parties involved to ensure that that is done properly.
Has the minister considered how mediation is used in planning in the state of Maryland, where it is used extensively? If not, will he do so?
I have not considered mediation in the state of Maryland, but if Christine Grahame is suggesting that it is interesting, I will certainly ask officials to have a look at it.
I thank the minister for at last answering questions.
Dave Petrie is correct to suggest that the whole purpose of the planning system is to speed up and streamline the mechanism. We really would not want to bring in any process that took away from the clear benefits of streamlining.
Gypsy Traveller Sites
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to give local authorities more powers to move unauthorised Gypsy or Traveller encampments quickly to official sites and to recover the costs of relocation, provision of toilet and waste facilities and clean-up after the unauthorised sites have closed. (S2O-11837)
There are no plans to give more powers to local authorities to move unauthorised Gypsy/Traveller encampments on to official sites. A range of powers are already in place, under both civil and criminal law, which local authorities and local police can use to manage the incidence of unauthorised encampments and the impact on the local environment and community. In addition, the Scottish Executive published guidance in December 2004 to assist local authorities with this. The Executive is providing £3 million in Gypsy/Traveller site grant between 2005-06 and 2007-08 to local authorities.
I thank the minister for her partial answer and for the copy of the guide on unauthorised camping that she very kindly sent me the other week.
Opportunities are available to local authorities. Various provisions in civil and criminal law can be used to deal with unauthorised camping—provisions relating to vandalism; the dumping of rubbish; unwanted property; planning; and obstructing the highway. There are also common law offences such as breach of the peace and malicious mischief. Sections 61 and 62 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 could also be used—they deal with criminal trespass and the removal of vehicles.
I listened to what the minister said about guidance. Will the minister tell me how, in the absence of a specific provision in the recently agreed Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006, the Executive will ensure that the needs of Gypsy Travellers—who are also citizens of this country—will be met?
Our guidance to local authorities makes it clear that local authorities should provide strategies in their area in collaboration and consultation with Gypsy/Traveller communities.
Question 4 is not lodged.
M77 (Barrhead)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to upgrade junction 4 on the M77 to improve access to Barrhead. (S2O-11875)
Transport Scotland has been in discussion with East Renfrewshire Council about the possibility of upgrading this junction to provide south-facing slip roads.
As well as the benefits to the wider area offered by a new park-and-ride at junction 4, is the minister aware of the advantages that a new junction would give to the regeneration of the town of Barrhead? Direct access to the motorway network would attract jobs and businesses and would bring prosperity to the wider area. Will the minister ensure that improvements to the junction will be considered in the strategic transport projects review?
I am well aware of the arguments that Mr Macintosh has made in favour of this improvement. As I said, East Renfrewshire Council has been asked to prepare an appropriate appraisal. I understand that once an appraisal under Scottish transport appraisal guidance has been carried out, I will of course be able to assure the member that the project will be considered as part of the strategic transport projects review.
Tourism (Marketing)
To ask the Scottish Executive what further steps it is taking to improve the marketing of tourism in Scotland. (S2O-11812)
VisitScotland's imaginative techniques and use of new technology ensure that its award-winning marketing is constantly improving.
Although VisitScotland deserves praise for much of its work, a gap in perception exists. There is a sense of frustration and condemnation among providers. They feel that VisitScotland charges are added to fees charged by hubs; that a percentage charge is put on business that is sent to them; and that, on top of all that, a charge is made to the tourist. Providers feel that VisitScotland simply does not meet their needs.
Tourists coming to our country wish to book their accommodation and experiences through a variety of methods, one of which is the national website visitscotland.com—which I would emphasise has a slightly different structure from VisitScotland, which is the core agency for tourism in Scotland.
Air Discount Scheme
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the air discount scheme. (S2O-11879)
As at 1 January 2007, there were 90,293 members of the air discount scheme in eligible areas of the Highlands and Islands, including 26,653 in the Western Isles, Mr Morrison's constituency.
As the minister's answer proves, the air discount scheme has been remarkably successful and has benefited many islanders and island businesses. Now that the Scottish Executive has established the principle of, and implemented in practice, a discount scheme that discriminates in favour of island residents, will the minister—as a fellow islander, in common with the First Minister—agree with me that this valuable and eminently sensible principle can and should be applied to ferry travel?
I concur with the member's views on the warm welcome that the air discount scheme has received on the islands. In Islay, which I represent, the scheme has been well received and much used. As I stated at the Islay conference on the future of the islands, we need to go further in looking at improving the affordability of ferry services. Islanders need a greater direct benefit from the £30 million annual subsidy for ferries. The air discount scheme is a model that needs to be examined further in the context of ferry fares.
Chancellor Gordon Brown's latest tax increase came into force today, with another £10 being levied on every passenger who takes a domestic flight. I am concerned that, as well as being an extra burden on those who live in the Highlands and Islands, the extra tax will be a real disincentive to those who might be considering visiting some of the remoter parts of Scotland, many of which are very reliant on tourism. What representations has the Scottish Executive made to the United Kingdom Government on the tax increase? Will the minister assure me that, if it has not already done so, the Executive will fight to oppose the increase and any further increases that raise money for Gordon Brown at the expense of the north of Scotland's tourism sector?
I understand that the tax does not apply to outward flights, but I think that it is rather disappointing that the increase applies to inward flights. That seems to run contrary to the Executive's attempts to improve air transport for islanders. I can assure the member that the Executive makes representation to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a wide range of matters, including this one, and will continue to do so.
Fireworks Ban
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion it is having with the United Kingdom Government regarding the possibility of implementing a ban on personal use of fireworks. (S2O-11869)
I call George Lyon to respond. Mr Lyon?
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including fireworks. We continue to monitor the effectiveness of regulations that have been made under the Fireworks Act 2003 but we do not believe that a case has been made for further controls at present.
I thank the minister for his somewhat belated response.
I am aware that close to 100 representations on the problems of fireworks have been made by the member's constituents and have been passed to the DTI. I will undertake to examine the response that her constituents received. I reassure her that the Executive is always willing to examine the issue in the light of such representations to see whether a case could be made for further representations to the UK Government for a further change in the law.
Is the minister aware that I, too, am disappointed by his response to Margaret Jamieson's questions? When I raised a similar question with him on 30 November 2006, he undertook to monitor complaints to the police and to local authorities. According to the Official Report, he also undertook to discuss the representations that I have had on the issue. Kicking it for a shy to the DTI hardly fits the bill.
As I said in my previous answer, we have examined the letters that have been sent to us. We are aware of the representations that Charlie Gordon and other members have made. As I said in my answer to Margaret Jamieson, we are always willing, in the light of representations, to consider whether a case can be made for going further on the matter.
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