General Questions
Constitution (Negotiations)
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are constitutional issues on which it will not compromise in negotiations. (S4O-00729)
We are consulting the people of Scotland on the nature of the referendum on independence. We are happy to listen to the views of the United Kingdom Government on that and we are ready to work with it to agree a clarification of the Scotland Act 1998 that would put the referendum effectively beyond legal challenge through an order under section 30 of the 1998 act.
However, the referendum on independence will be made in Scotland and therefore for the UK Government to attach any strings to it is not acceptable.
This week, another organisation was established to campaign for additional powers for the Parliament as a substitute for independence. Others said that there are lines in the sand that they would not cross, only to find them blown away with wind from the south. Is the Government open-minded about including such proposals in the forthcoming referendum should further detail on them be provided?
We believe that it is right that the people of Scotland be able to determine the form of government that is best suited to their needs. That is why the Scottish Government’s consultation paper, published on 25 January, seeks views on the inclusion of a second question in the referendum.
As we have consistently said, the Scottish Government’s preferred policy is independence. However, we are willing to consider including a question about further devolution if there is sufficient support for such a move. It is simply a matter of listening to the democratic and sovereign voice of the people of Scotland.
Gil Paterson implied that the line in the sand has washed away. Alex Fergusson said this week that the line was meandering. Whichever it is, it is the Tories’ line in the sand. I see that Murdo Fraser is the only Tory here today—probably the Tory who, more than anyone else, supports more powers for the Scottish Parliament. I apologise to Mary Scanlon, who has just come into the chamber.
Does the cabinet secretary agree that if an option such as devo plus were included on the ballot paper and endorsed in a referendum, the Scottish Government would find itself in a very weak negotiating position if the UK Government had not previously supported that devo plus or devo whatever option? In those circumstances, would the Government not find itself forced to compromise on a wide range of issues?
Patrick Harvie raises an interesting point, but as we have made clear all the way through the process, what is important here is the voice of the people of Scotland, their sovereignty and what they want the future of Scotland to be. That is how we will decide what is on the ballot paper. That should be the determining factor at the end of the consultation process, depending on what the consultation says and on the contributions from other stakeholders. I will bear in mind Patrick Harvie’s point, though.
Tyre Dumping (Rural Areas)
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to combat the dumping of vehicle tyres in rural areas. (S4O-00730)
The Scottish Government works closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and zero waste Scotland on the specific issue of waste tyres. Recent joint SEPA and local authority initiatives targeting illegal operators have resulted in significant reductions in the instances of illegal tyre dumping. For example, in 2010 in the North Lanarkshire and Glasgow areas, operation aspen resulted in a 71 per cent reduction in incidents. There are other examples.
The dumping of tyres in the rural areas of my constituency is endemic. It is not unusual to encounter 30 or 40 tyres distributed along a rural road. Does the cabinet secretary agree that measures for the better control of safe and appropriate disposal of old tyres need to be put in place, which would also allow the tracking of individual tyre disposal?
The member makes a good point. I am happy to investigate the details further. We all accept that the illegal dumping of tyres in the countryside is a blight on our landscape that we should tackle. A lot of good work, involving many local authorities and agencies, is taking place to curb illegal fly-tipping, of which dumping of tyres is a major component. If further measures need to be taken, I will investigate them. If the member wants to write to me with some ideas, that would be helpful.
The cabinet secretary acknowledges that dumped tyres are an eyesore in rural areas. They present a significant health risk and encourage insect and rodent infestation. I look for his support in encouraging a campaign similar to those that he mentioned to be carried out throughout our rural areas and, perhaps, in other local authority areas.
The member has my support. There are other examples of good initiatives that have good results. For instance, in 2011, operation indigo led to instances of tyre dumping in East Ayrshire falling from up to 200 tyres a month to only a few sporadic incidents.
Such initiatives work, and we should all support them in our local areas. I will certainly check what the situation is elsewhere in Scotland.
Does the minister acknowledge that there are facilities for recycling old tyres in all sorts of civil works but that it is sometimes felt that the regulations that SEPA and other agencies enforce are overly difficult? Perhaps, if the regulations could be simplified, it might make some of the issues easier to deal with and enable better recycling of old tyres.
If there are ways in which the regulations can be simplified, I would be happy to consider them. I urge the member to write to me with examples of how the regulations are the barrier to the proper disposal of tyres.
There is a market for used tyres and it is only right that those who wish to dispose of them pay for doing so because, in this country, we believe in the polluter-pays principle. Therefore, we must have regulations in place but, if they can be simplified, I will consider that.
Youth Employment (Education and Training)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the education and training of young people is appropriate to meet the future needs of the economy. (S4O-00731)
Ensuring that our young people have the right skills to meet the short and long-term needs of Scottish employers and the wider economy is a key aim of our work in reforming post-16 education. In particular, we are working closely with employers and employer bodies to determine how we can better reflect their ambitions in the provision that is delivered across the learning landscape.
Irvine royal academy in my constituency has recently joined forces with the University of Glasgow in a partner school programme that will provide an innovative approach to the theory and practice of teaching. It will also lead to better links between the community, local schools and the university.
Does the minister agree that linking schools and universities in that fashion will benefit pupils and students by raising aspirations, widening choices and increasing their future employment prospects?
Yes, I do. Margaret Burgess is right to showcase the innovative partnership that is taking place in her constituency between Irvine royal academy and the University of Glasgow. It will secure for parents and pupils in North Ayrshire the benefits of some cutting-edge practice that exists elsewhere in the world, for example in the United States and Australia. That aligns very much with the well-received Donaldson report on career-long teacher learning and will have far-reaching benefits for our children.
What impact will the Government’s decision to remove all funding from the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils Scotland have on its ability to square the needs of the economy with the training needs of young people?
This afternoon, I have a meeting with the joint skills committee of Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council. That is about ensuring that the various sector skills councils throughout Scotland meet the needs of learners first and foremost and meet the needs of employers.
In my view, the landscape is currently cluttered. My priority is ensuring that the precious funding that the Scottish Government has goes to the front line and young people.
As the minister might be aware, last year 30,000 jobs were lost in the construction sector, with skills lost to the industry as a result. Does she share my concern that the outstanding, modern, purpose-built facility for carpentry and joinery at Jewel & Esk College is now under threat because of merger proposals, and can she assure me that students in Midlothian and East Lothian will continue to enjoy the benefits of that facility instead of being forced to go to the other side of Edinburgh to learn?
I am happy to look very closely at Mr Hume’s concerns on behalf of his local college and the young people in his constituency. I am very interested in the construction industry—after all, it is an important industry for our young people—but I ask the member to bear in mind the fundamental point of post-16 reform and the regionalisation of colleges, which is to better meet the needs of our young people and employers and to ensure connectivity between the world of work and the world of education.
Economic Activity (Rural Areas)
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to promote economic activity in rural areas. (S4O-00732)
The Scottish Government recognises the particular challenges faced by Scotland’s rural areas and is committed to promoting economic activity in those areas through a range of actions, including supporting rural businesses and key rural industries; developing Scotland’s renewable energy resources and capabilities; establishing four enterprise areas; improving the transport network; and making it a priority to improve Scotland’s digital infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, through the allocation of more than £250 million of public funding.
I thank the cabinet secretary for setting out the actions that the Scottish Government is taking to promote economic activity. However, as he will be aware, one of the key costs of doing business in rural Scotland is the sky-high rate of fuel duty. Will he take this opportunity to confirm that it is time for Scotland to have control over excise duty to allow us to set rates that do not penalise rural Scotland in the way that successive London Governments have been doing for decades?
I am delighted to confirm to Annabelle Ewing that the Government’s objective is to secure those powers and responsibilities. Scotland’s rural areas have faced particular challenges with regard to fuel costs and it is important that any measures that are taken are effective in reducing the costs of rural motoring and transport activity. Of course, our investment in digital infrastructure will enable individuals to develop business activity in rural Scotland and I am delighted that we were able to allocate additional resources to that priority in the recent budget. I am only sorry that the proposal was not more widely supported by all groups in this Parliament.
Fire and Rescue Service (Location)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the interim operating base at Perth community fire station as the permanent base for the proposed single fire and rescue service. (S4O-00733)
Why do I get the feeling that Murdo Fraser is being a little mischievous with that question? As he probably already knows, that will be a matter for the Scottish fire and rescue service itself to decide in due course and I am sure that it will look at all the available options very carefully. Until then, Perth community fire station will provide a convenient, cost-effective venue from which a small senior management team can lead the new service from 1 April 2013. Because the station is not currently a service headquarters, basing the new service at Perth will help to ensure that there is no disruption to the public or senior officers.
I thank the minister for her response; indeed, I can think of no one better qualified to express an opinion on the issue. I am sure that she agrees that, with its central location in Scotland, its good transport links and its affordable accommodation, Perth—which I hope this year will be confirmed as our seventh city—is the ideal place to host the national fire and rescue service headquarters. Does the minister also agree that as far as efficiency and service continuity are concerned, it makes a lot of sense to establish the permanent base in the same location as the temporary base?
Murdo Fraser is tempting me to put myself into the position of the new Scottish fire and rescue service. No doubt he would be the first to complain if I started to make its future decisions for it.
That said, I can confirm that in considering possibilities for interim headquarters we looked very closely at precisely the issues that the member highlighted and, in the end, only a fairly small number of communities ticked all the boxes. I have absolutely no doubt that the new Scottish fire and rescue service will look at exactly the same issues and, for all I know, might reach the same conclusion.
Carer Information Strategy (Funding)
To ask the Scottish Government whether carer information strategy funding will continue in and after 2012. (S4O-00734)
Yes, I can confirm that we will allocate £5 million to national health service boards in 2012-13 to work with partners to continue to support carers and young carers through the carer information strategies. That money is on top of the £13.9 million for CIS that has been provided over the four years to March 2012. I advise the member that NHS boards should continue to plan on the basis of CIS funding being available in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
The minister will be aware of the benefit of local carer information strategy funding for carers centres and carers themselves. However, carers organisations have to apply for that lifeline financial support on an annual basis, even when it is directed towards continued activity and projects that are already acknowledged to be successful. Would the minister support health boards in offering such organisations three-year funding to enable them to plan more effectively?
The member correctly points out that CIS funding has assisted considerably in helping to support organisations that work with carers and young carers. As a Government, we are continuing that work with our NHS boards and other partners to ensure that we provide the range of support that is necessary to assist carers, who carry out an invaluable job in society.
It is for individual boards to decide how they wish to allocate the funding and it is possible for boards to award funding on a three-year basis, although any funding for future years would continue to be subject to parliamentary approval. Boards can allocate funding on a three-year basis if they choose to do so.
Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme (Aberdeen)
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding the business rates incentivisation scheme. (S4O-00735)
The business rates incentivisation scheme was approved by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and all 32 local authorities, including Aberdeen City Council.
The cabinet secretary knows that I am a great fan of the business rates incentivisation scheme. I cannot wait for 1 April, when it becomes a reality.
Does the cabinet secretary have any plans to further reward local authorities that invest the income from the business rates incentivisation scheme in encouraging even greater sustainable growth?
The business rates incentivisation scheme is an example of how the Government is trying to involve local authorities more closely in the process of encouraging and delivering more sustainable economic growth in Scotland. It will enable local authorities to take decisions that will support an increased level of development activity. That is a particular priority, given the economic conditions that we face.
We will, of course, monitor the success of the scheme as it takes its course after 1 April. I hope that it attracts the active participation of all local authorities in Scotland in supporting our work to encourage economic growth.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. (S4O-00736)
John Swinney and I met the secretary of state on 15 September 2011 to discuss the United Kingdom Welfare Reform Bill and related matters. A further meeting is planned, and there has been correspondence and telephone discussion in the intervening period.
Given that the Welfare Reform Bill has now passed its final hurdle in the House of Lords, what discussions have ministers had about the impact that the bill will have on working families in Scotland, particularly those in receipt of working tax credit?
We continue to have discussions about the detail with the DWP. As Anne McTaggart will be aware, the Welfare Reform Bill is a piece of enabling legislation. The devil is in the detail and much of the detail is not yet known and understood. We will continue to have discussions to consider the implications for Scotland, particularly around passported benefits. The Scottish Parliament’s new Welfare Reform Committee will have an extremely important scrutiny role to play, too.
Before we come to First Minister’s question time, members will wish to join me in welcoming to the gallery the Hungarian ambassador, His Excellency János Csák. [Applause.]
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