Investment, Infrastructure and Cities
Good afternoon, everyone. The first item of business this afternoon is portfolio questions.
Full Fiscal Autonomy (Infrastructure, Investment and Cities Strategic Planning)
To ask the Scottish Government how full fiscal autonomy would impact on its strategic planning for areas that fall under the infrastructure, investment and cities portfolio. (S4O-03541)
Control of Scotland’s resources would allow the Scottish Government significant greater flexibility to invest in strategic projects with the aim of boosting economic performance, enhancing opportunity, providing better public services and improving the environment for the people of Scotland.
Given the role that civic society and a number of grass-roots groups play in shaping public debate around the new powers and how they can be used, how does the Scottish Government plan to include groups from across civic Scotland in the forthcoming negotiations with the Smith commission?
First, I take the opportunity to welcome Lord Smith’s intention to engage with civic society and the grass-roots groups that played such a key role in the referendum campaign. The importance of doing so is something that John Swinney and I stressed to Lord Smith when we met him last week.
The Scottish Government also intends to engage fully with civic Scotland and grass-roots organisations as proposals for further devolution are developed, and we will be encouraging—and do encourage—all organisations across civic Scotland to play a full role in Lord Smith’s commission. He has set a deadline of the end of this month for groups to submit proposals to him, and I encourage all those with an interest to do so.
Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal
In relation to the second part of James Kelly’s question, I am sure that it will not surprise him to hear that I have frequent and regular discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth. He will present his budget to the Scottish Parliament next week. I will not say any more about the budget than that at this stage, except to note that, as I said in my answer to Drew Smith’s original question, the Scottish Government’s commitment to the city deal has been made absolutely clear.
On the feasibility study, as I said in response to Drew Smith, we are currently finalising that work. It is important that it is done thoroughly, robustly and properly. The work has highlighted some challenges to the delivery of any rail link, and we will continue to work with the councils to address them. Of course, Glasgow City Council and Renfrewshire Council would take forward delivery of any project.
The Government’s commitment to work with the councils is well understood and I think that we will continue to make progress.
To ask the Scottish Government how it will introduce the Glasgow and Clyde valley city deal. (S4O-03542)
Glasgow is our largest city and it forms a key part of Scotland’s economy. The Scottish Government has signed a city deal for Glasgow and Clyde valley that will deliver significant benefits for the region and, I believe, for Scotland as a whole. As the member will be aware, we have committed more than £500 million to the deal, which will run for 20 years until the financial year 2034-35.
The intention is that funding will be released in five-year tranches. The release of funding will be subject to gateway reviews and is contingent on Glasgow and Clyde valley adopting satisfactory governance and assurance processes.
Probably the biggest barrier to Glasgow’s economic growth that this Government has created remains the issue of an effective surface transport link to Glasgow’s airport. What steps will the Scottish Government now take to ensure that the opportunity of a city deal is maximised and to finally take forward a practical solution for a fast connection by rail between Glasgow city centre and Glasgow airport? Does the cabinet secretary now accept that the Scottish Government’s decision to scrap the previous Glasgow airport rail link scheme, which resulted in the land on which it would have been run being sold off at considerable loss to the public purse, looks as short-sighted as it was misguided?
No, I do not accept that. The reasons for that Government decision have been well rehearsed and, I think, are well understood. I know that the member was accusing the Scottish Government, and not the people of Glasgow, of being short-sighted, but I take the opportunity to say that the people of Glasgow demonstrated anything but short-sightedness when they voted yes in the referendum a couple of weeks ago. [Interruption.]
Order.
On the specific question that the member asked, he will be aware that the city deal makes it clear that improvements in terms of surface access will cover the projects emerging from the Glasgow airport study, and our work on tram-train will inform those. Glasgow City Council and Renfrewshire Council are to take forward delivery, and the feasibility study in that respect is currently being finalised.
That all said, as a signal of our on-going commitment to improve rail travel in the Renfrewshire area, we have already provided enhanced passenger services and 38 new class 380 trains, providing 130 additional carriages, through the Paisley corridor improvement. This Government remains committed to ensuring that we continue to improve rail transport, and I have no doubt that the commitment demonstrated by the city deal will allow the local authorities that are involved in it to continue to make progress as well.
The feasibility study that the cabinet secretary mentioned has been on-going for some time. Can she confirm when it will be completed and when work will begin on a timetable for the introduction of the airport rail link, including budgetary implications? Also, will she state whether she has had discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth about the inclusion of provisions for city deal funding in the budget that will be published next Thursday?
Road Transport Projects (South Scotland)
To ask the Scottish Government what road transport projects it plans for South Scotland. (S4O-03543)
The Scottish Government continues to invest in road transport projects in South Scotland in accordance with the motorway and trunk road programme and the infrastructure investment plan.
The minister will be aware that freight traffic through Scottish ports has increased significantly over the past decade, with the majority of traffic going through Stranraer and Cairnryan. That means that the A75 is experiencing a greater volume of heavy goods vehicle traffic, which is particularly affecting Springholm and Crocketford—the only two settlements on the A75 that have not been bypassed.
Does the minister share my safety concerns over the continuation of a situation in which HGVs thunder through the heart of two villages that are simply not designed for that purpose? Will he agree to meet me and local campaigners to find a solution to those safety concerns?
Of course I am happy to meet the member to discuss the matter. However, it is worth pointing to the work that we have already done on the A75 Hardgrove to Kinmount project, which has a construction cost of £9 million and involved the construction of a new 3.6km section of wide, single two-lane carriageway trunk road, as well as other works that we have undertaken on the A75, such as the Dunragit bypass. A number of bypasses have been constructed and other improvements made in order to make the A75 safer. Those works could have been done some time ago, but this Government has taken them forward.
As I said, I am more than happy to meet the member to discuss the issue that he has raised.
Aberdeen Harbour Development
The two developments that Lewis Macdonald mentions are very much on the harbour authority’s mind, which is why it is making the improvements. He will also know that a number of sites around the harbour have been taken over by the companies involved in the sectors that he mentions. That has led to a huge increase in demand, which the harbour authority is trying to address. We are supportive of that approach.
I have been to the harbour three times, I think, to speak to the people there and make sure that we help them where we can. The potential for renewables is huge but, as Lewis Macdonald also knows, there is a huge upsurge in demand in oil-related activity. We are aware of what Lewis Macdonald mentions and are supportive of what the harbour authority is trying to do, but it is for the authority in the first instance to talk to local partners and produce its plans.
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proposed Aberdeen harbour development. (S4O-03544)
The proposed expansion has been identified as a national development in the national planning framework 3.
Aberdeen Harbour Board is currently undertaking preliminary environmental impact assessment work, along with consulting stakeholders and the public on the proposals.
I know that the Scottish Government has greatly helped Fraserburgh and Peterhead harbours. What kind of assistance is the Scottish Government planning to give other north-east harbours, given the ever-increasing demands on them from sectors such as energy, tourism and, of course, fishing?
Christian Allard makes a good point. Aberdeen harbour’s huge success and the demand to use it have had a positive impact on other harbours in the north-east. If we can help, we will. We have engaged with those harbours. For example, I visited Montrose harbour, where we have funded additional work to help it to deal with the additional demand that it has experienced.
We stand ready to help harbours in the north-east, not least through European fisheries funding, where that is applicable, and the Scottish Government emergency harbour scheme. Already, in excess of £16 million has been awarded to fisheries harbours in the north-east of Scotland under those schemes. That has supported harbour improvements and emergency works that have directly aided fisheries sectors.
As Christian Allard suggests, there has been a huge increase in the demand for the use of many of those harbours, some of it related to fisheries and some of it related to the overspill, as it were, from Aberdeen. We will continue to engage with the harbours to ensure that they meet that demand and encourage further demand.
Will the minister confirm that the planned development of Aberdeen harbour will further support the growth of offshore renewable energy in the North Sea? Does the Scottish Government agree that the offshore wind demonstrator project in Aberdeen bay is of importance, not just locally and nationally, but to the European renewables sector as a whole?
Child Benefit Freeze (Impact on Child Poverty)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an assessment of the impact on child poverty in Scotland of any United Kingdom Government freeze on child benefit. (S4O-03545)
Scottish Government analysis estimates that freezing the child benefit rates for the three years from 2011-12 to 2014-15 will reduce child benefit expenditure in Scotland by around £290 million. That will affect families with children where no one in the household earns more than £60,000. The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that an additional 50,000 children will be living in relative poverty by 2020 due to the UK welfare reforms. The figure could be as high as 100,000 after housing costs are taken into account. That is simply unacceptable in a country as wealthy as Scotland.
Does the minister share my concern that, whether the Tories or Labour get in at Westminster next year, the real losers will be the hard-pressed families in Fife and throughout Scotland who will be hit in the pocket by the real-terms cuts to child benefit that both those Westminster parties propose?
Yes, I share the member’s concerns that the continued real-terms cuts to child benefit and other working-age benefits and tax credits that the Labour Party and Conservative Party have announced will result in reductions in household incomes for families in Scotland that already struggle to make ends meet. The mantra has been “Making work pay”, but that has clearly failed. Six out of 10 of our children who are in poverty now live in working households. Those households are reliant on tax credits and other benefits to raise their household incomes. Reducing their incomes in real terms only pushes them further into poverty.
Levels of child poverty are going the wrong way and it is a concern for all. The exchange between Annabelle Ewing and the minister was most interesting, because it might interest members to note that not one word in the white paper on independence or the report of the expert group on welfare sets a different course from that of the UK Government. If the minister disagrees, could she point me to the page of either document that says otherwise?
There are a number of things in the white paper regarding reducing child poverty. The expert working group also talked about raising the minimum wage to the level of the living wage. We had our childcare package.
What antisocial behaviourout child benefit?
Order.
There are a number of issues, because child poverty is not simply dependent on an hourly rate of pay, as the Labour Party seems to think. It is a combination of rates of pay, the number of hours worked, the tax and welfare system, childcare and getting people into work. All of those were addressed in the white paper and all remain priorities for the Government.
Local Bus Services (Hospitals and Other Essential Services)
That is why, as I suggested in my initial answer, both local authorities and regional transport partnerships as well as some health authorities take that approach and provide services that do not make a commercial profit. If the member is aware, however, of individual services that are unreliable or late running, there is a specific remedy for that through the traffic commissioner for Scotland. I am happy to provide the member with more information about that if she wants to seek redress in that way.
I also mentioned the £50 million BSOG. The idea behind that is to try to ensure that some services, which might not otherwise be commercially viable, can run. We can bear down on the cost of fares as well so there are provisions in place. I am more than willing to listen to further suggestions because there is a review going on with the bus users group to consider how we can better co-ordinate the services that are currently in place. I am happy to discuss that with the member and to provide her with more information about the role of the traffic commissioner.
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to ensuring the continued viability of local bus services that have hospitals and other essential services on their routes. (S4O-03546)
Generally, the provision of local bus services and routes is a commercial matter for individual bus operators. Local transport authorities can choose to subsidise socially necessary services that are not provided commercially. Some health boards already work with local authorities and regional transport partnerships to support socially necessary bus services that provide access to local health facilities. The Scottish Government provides an annual bus service operators grant—currently £50 million—that aims to keep fares at an affordable level and support the overall bus network by enabling bus operators to run services that might not otherwise be commercially viable.
As the minister will be aware, not all bus services are profitable but, for many people in rural and remote communities, they are essential if they are to reach vital services such as hospital out-patient appointments. If irregular or unreliable services mean that patients from remote and rural communities miss their appointments, is there scope to take a different approach to planning for and funding such vital public services by regarding them as an investment in those other services rather than a cost? Is there also scope to promote a little bit more partnership working in the cross-sectoral cost benefit analysis?
Help to Buy Scheme
To ask the Scottish Government what conclusions it has drawn from the funding for the help to buy scheme being fully allocated within three months. (S4O-03547)
The Scottish Government continues to consider the impact of all our home ownership and industry support schemes, including the help to buy (Scotland) scheme. It is clear from recent experience that that scheme has been very successful in achieving its stated aims of stimulating demand, supporting home ownership, supporting industry and encouraging wider economic activity and growth.
I am sure that the minister will be aware of the dismay and disappointment that is felt by many potential applicants and by people in the housing industry about the funds running out so quickly. Has any analysis been carried out in particular of unmet demand for the help to buy scheme? Does the minister have a view on amending the criteria that are used to decide on applications under the help to buy scheme?
The help to buy scheme is monitored monthly by our partners in industry, the Council of Mortgage Lenders and Homes for Scotland. The scheme has been running for a year and the demand has well exceeded the expectations of the house-building industry and the Council of Mortgage Lenders. They initially anticipated £220 million for the scheme, but the amount has been significantly higher and we topped it up by a further £50 million this financial year. However, the scheme is currently under consideration and all the issues that the member raised are under active consideration.
Yesterday, during the housing supply debate, the minister stated that the budget for help to buy for next year is £100 million, which is £40 million less than this year, and that applications are being sought now. When does she expect that pot to run out?
This is a demand-led scheme, as I said. It was primarily set up to stimulate the housing industry, which it has done, and to create wider economic activity. What we have said is that £100 million has been set aside for 2015-16 and that applications are currently being made. Nobody has been prevented from making an application, and we are still monitoring the scheme monthly. I refer the member to the answer that I gave to Ken Macintosh.
Child Benefit Cap (Impact on Poverty)
On that basis, what would the minister do on child benefit? I give her a second chance to tell me which page of the white paper or the report of the expert group on welfare points to an approach to child benefit that is different from that of the UK.
The Labour Party has signed up to the austerity cuts that we are already experiencing under the coalition at Westminster. We made it very clear that we would not be part of that, and we covered all those points in the white paper, as I explained in my earlier answer. It is clear that Labour is embarrassed by the position of its Westminster masters.
To ask the Scottish Government how an extension of the 1 per cent cap on child benefit to 2017 would impact on its poverty strategy. (S4O-03548)
Our analysis suggests that extending the 1 per cent cap would reduce child benefit expenditure in Scotland by around £10 million in 2016-17.
As outlined in my earlier response, our efforts to tackle poverty in Scotland are already being undermined by the current range of welfare and benefits changes that are being imposed by the United Kingdom Government. Our most recently published statistics show that the reduction in poverty in Scotland that we have seen in recent years is now being reversed. Overall, the changes threaten the success of our preventative approach to tackling child poverty and the actions that we are taking to improve outcomes for children and deliver the wealthier and fairer society that we aspire to.
Does the minister agree with me that Westminster should agree to devolve welfare powers to allow the Scottish Government to protect its citizens from these cuts?
The UK parties have made much of their commitment to devolve further welfare powers, yet in their proposals they refer only to limited powers. In order to tackle poverty and protect citizens from these cuts, we want to deliver new powers for Scotland that are capable of making a real difference to people’s lives. We will therefore work with the Smith commission in good faith and strongly argue the case for more powers for Scotland.
Culture and External Affairs
Edinburgh International Culture Summit (Positive Outcomes)
To ask the Scottish Government what the positive outcomes are of the international culture summit held in Edinburgh in August 2014. (S4O-03551)
The second Edinburgh international culture summit at the Scottish Parliament was hailed as a great success by participants and delegates. The summit brought together 25 international Government delegations from six continents, including speakers, arts leaders and culture experts from around the world. It was recognised as a truly global collaboration on the current role of culture and the arts, and it included calls for culture to be placed at the centre of Government policy making and for a more unified voice for the arts around the world.
My meetings with other culture ministers helped to deepen and strengthen our international links. For example, the Japanese minister is particularly interested in the Commonwealth games cultural programme and legacy as Japan prepares for the 2020 Olympic games.
In total, we received requests during the summit from 16 Governments that wished to work further with us, and we continue to explore those opportunities.
Does the cabinet secretary agree that the Edinburgh international culture summit was a unique opportunity for culture ministers, artists, thinkers and arts leaders from around the world to come together to share ideas and discuss the power, position and profile of the arts, culture and creative industries, which have enhanced Scotland’s global reputation?
Scotland indeed has a strong global reputation for arts and culture. The opportunity to be seen as a world leader in progressing the debate has particularly enhanced the reputation of Scotland and the Parliament, and of all the participants. The summit is a unique opportunity not just to bring together ministers, but to promote direct dialogue and creative thinking between artists from all the different parts of the world.
Big challenges were presented to Scotland, but there was also a celebration of Scottish culture. The “Scottish Ten” exhibition was held in the Parliament, and the great Scottish tapestry was on show during the summit. Presiding Officer, you may be interested to know that the delegations had the opportunity to make their own mark on the Scottish tapestry by stitching a specially commissioned summit panel. I am sure that the delegations will remember the challenges that they faced not only in thinking, but in stitching.
That goes without saying.
Historic Buildings Renovation (West Scotland)
That is one of the areas that I am particularly keen on. Historic Scotland has programmes in place to help to bring communities together. There are some good examples of that, and I take part in one in my constituency.
I refer the member to “Our Place in Time”, the first-ever historic environment strategy for Scotland, which involves all the relevant agencies and not just Historic Scotland. Yesterday, I had a meeting with Ken Calman from the National Trust for Scotland. All the agencies and organisations are involved in helping to identify how we can support volunteers who are working to promote their local sites. For example, Archaeology Scotland has been supporting the adopt-a-monument scheme, and we are keen to support it, too.
There are different avenues, and if the member has any particular examples that she is interested in, I am happy to provide her with details later.
To ask the Scottish Government how much it spent in 2013-14 on renovating historic buildings in West Scotland. (S4O-03552)
The Scottish Government supports the conservation, repair and restoration of historic buildings through Historic Scotland’s work. Historic Scotland’s building repair grant provided grant support totalling £974,000 in the West Scotland region in 2013-14.
Scottish Government regeneration funding also contributed to the restoration of two historic buildings in West Scotland in 2013-14—Trinity church in Irvine and the former police station in the Ardrossan health centre facility—with grants provided totalling £895,535.
Historic Scotland provides expert advice and support and is responsible for properties in care in West Scotland, carrying out conservation work, maintenance and sympathetic repair.
What is the Scottish Government’s strategy to encourage local people and community groups to get involved in looking after and promoting historic properties?
2014 Major Events Strategy (Analysis)
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to analyse the impact of its 2014 major events strategy. (S4O-03553)
The year 2014 has been one in which we have extended a welcome to the world. Interim results have confirmed the anticipated positive impacts of what was widely regarded as the best Commonwealth games ever and the record numbers of visitors to the events that formed part of the homecoming 2014 programme.
The Ryder cup, along with Scotland’s second year of homecoming and the Commonwealth games, will be the subject of independent evaluation, and the findings for each of those signature elements of Scotland’s major events strategy will be published by spring 2015. We have just witnessed a very successful Ryder cup competition, which showcased yet again that Scotland is the perfect stage for major events. I am sure that the Parliament will want to join me in congratulating all those who were involved with its delivery and the European Ryder cup team on their victory. [Applause.]
Absolutely.
I certainly join the cabinet secretary in congratulating all who were involved on the success last weekend that was clearly not just for the tournament but for the whole of Scotland, as was the case with the Commonwealth games.
Does the cabinet secretary accept that the many community-based events and festivals that occurred in relation to the year of homecoming also require support if they are to continue the success that they achieved this year? How much attention will be paid to the development of and continued support for the community-based organisations that certainly made a major contribution to the year of homecoming?
I share the member’s appreciation of all the festivals that take place in support of our major events. Obviously, the original question was about some of those major events. During the summer, we had a debate in Parliament about our community festivals, the aim of which was precisely to recognise that, although events such as the Edinburgh international festival and the Commonwealth games cultural programme are important, so too are all the community festivals that take place.
Just last week, we announced funding for the winter festivals, some of which are based on existing smaller community festivals. One of our strengths in Scotland is that, at different times of the year, people can come here and find festivals exploding all over the country. That is part of the legacy of the years of homecoming and the themed years, and it is one way in which we can capitalise on that warm welcome that I talked about in the debate and on the fact that we are the perfect stage for people coming to visit not just in the summer but throughout the year.
International Development Fund (Kurdistan Region of Iraq)
Given those circumstances, will the minister take steps to ensure that the long-term strategic view for the international development fund includes the Kurdistan area of Iraq, and will he support the new organisation called KISS—Kurdistan is Supported by Scotland—which is fundraising to send doctors from Scotland to refugee camps in Kurdistan, which I have visited? I look forward to the minister’s support in encouraging military and medical aid to Kurdistan.
I recognise the work that Hanzala Malik has done in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. I am more than happy to meet him at any time to discuss ways that we could support Kurdistan, and to meet the new organisation—KISS, I think he called it. I am meeting representatives of the Kurdistan Regional Government next week, at an event that Hanzala Malik will probably also attend. I am happy to discuss further ways that we can support Kurdistan.
At the crux of Hanzala Malik’s question is the fundamental point that there must be a long-term strategic vision that protects the rights and freedoms of the people of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, and I am happy to give support in that way.
At topical question time yesterday, I made a similar declaration to Hanzala Malik’s declaration.
Specifically on the question today, in providing humanitarian support to the Kurdish region of Iraq, would the Scottish Government consider using expertise from our national health service where appropriate, to assist if we can, and will it draw on our pharmaceutical sector, which may be able to help with access to vital medicines in refugee camps?
I note Bob Doris’s work in Kurdistan, in Iraq and in Syria. The issues of NHS support and medicine support from Scotland’s pharmaceutical industry were raised in a meeting with Bob Doris last week. I am more than happy to explore those issues, and I think that Bob Doris is going to write some correspondence to that effect, following our meeting, to engage with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.
Members will not find this Government coming short with any assistance that we are able to provide.
The progress made by Isil in June came as a big shock to the international community. It is clear that the group’s advance was facilitated by not just the unrest in Syria but the inability of the Iraqi army to successfully fight back in the north of Iraq. It is therefore very important that, alongside air strikes, we need to be sure that Iraq has the ability to make progress on the ground.
Will the minister join me in welcoming the announcement in September that the United Kingdom had agreed to supply heavy machineguns and 0.5 million rounds of ammunition to the Peshmerga fighters in northern Iraq?
That is not a question on international aid, so you do not need to answer it, minister.
I declare an interest in that I have visited the Kurdistan Regional Government, at the invitation of the ministry of interior.
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to use its international development fund to provide support to the Kurdistan region of Iraq. (S4O-03554)
The Scottish Government does not currently have any plans to provide financial support to the Kurdistan region of Iraq through our international development fund. However, we are closely monitoring the situation and remain very concerned about the plight of people who have been affected by the recent violence, which of course we condemn in the strongest possible terms.
I am glad that the minister shares my concern about the Kurdistan region of Iraq, which has not only borne the brunt of the humanitarian crisis that has been caused by the violent progress of Isil militants but been severely underdeveloped as a result of generations of oppression. Yesterday, the minister stated that the issues in the Kurdistan region of Iraq require
“a long-term strategic approach”.—[Official Report, 30 September 2014; c 8.]
I agree with that whole-heartedly, and I am glad that he takes that view.
It would be helpful if you would ask a question, please.
Traditional Scottish Music and Dance (Support)
I cannot comment on what happened 18 years ago, although Richard Simpson is asking about an event that occurred that many years ago. He might not be aware of this, but all the various aspects of Scottish traditional culture and arts have come together under one body called Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland—TRACS—which brings together dance, music and storytelling. Only this morning I launched the 2014 storytelling festival, which is supported by TRACS, and which brings together the traditional arts sector. It has taken forward the collaboration between music, dance and all different aspects of the Scottish traditions. I am happy to write to Richard Simpson with a wider explanation of where dance fits in that umbrella group.
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support traditional Scottish music and dance. (S4O-03555)
In recognition of Scotland’s vibrant traditional arts and their importance to our cultural heritage and our national identity, the Scottish Government provides significant support to ensure that our traditional music and dance continue to flourish and to shape Scotland’s culture for future generations.
Alongside promotion and support through EventScotland for major events, including homecoming Scotland 2014, the Scottish Government supports the traditional music and dance sector primarily through Creative Scotland, which disburses more than £2 million each year to organisations, individuals and festivals that directly form part of the sector. They include activity in the year of homecoming and the 2014 culture programme, as well as the fèis movement, the Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland, Hands up for Trad, BBC Alba and the “Piping Live!” festival
Some 18 years ago the previous funding body, the Scottish Arts Council, said that the dysfunctional system of traditional dance, which was made up of very small groups across Scotland, required an umbrella organisation. That organisation was set up and funded by the Scottish Arts Council for some years, but three or four years ago the grant was halved, then terminated, which meant the closure of the organisation’s office in Alloa. Traditional dance no longer has a small professional umbrella organisation that focuses its activities. Will the minister comment on that?
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and what matters were discussed. (S4O-03556)
The Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs last met the Minister of State for Europe, the Rt Hon David Lidington MP, at a meeting of the joint ministerial committee on Europe on 16 June 2014. The readout of that meeting was provided to the convener of the European and External Relations Committee on 30 June 2014.
We often correspond with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on other matters. This week I have been in touch with the FCO about the case of Muhammad Asghar, the Scot who is currently on death row in Pakistan.
On that specific point, what representation has the Scottish Government made on behalf of Muhammad Asghar, the 70-year-old Scot who has been sentenced to death in Pakistan over blasphemy charges? As the minister will be aware, it has been reported that Mr Asghar was shot by a prison guard in the jail in Rawalpindi where he was being held. Mr Asghar is said to have a history of mental illness. Does the minister share members’ concerns for this individual’s health and wellbeing?
Yes. We are extremely concerned about the plight of Muhammad Asghar and have been for many months. The First Minister has intervened in the case and has spoken directly with Mohammad Sarwar, the Governor of the Punjab, where Muhammad Asghar is being held. I spoke to the FCO this week as well as speaking to Governor Sarwar, other Pakistani authorities, the family lawyer and the family themselves.
There are two immediate priorities. First, we have to ensure that Muhammad Asghar is kept safe and secure, which means his not being returned to Adiala prison, where he was shot. Secondly, we want to ensure that Muhammad Asghar gets the appropriate medical attention. He is severely mentally unwell and he needs a psychiatric assessment and medication to improve his health. Those are the immediate priorities, as well as working with the family, the legal team and the Pakistani authorities to secure Mr Asghar’s return. I assure Graeme Dey that we are extremely concerned and that the Scottish Government is doing everything within its power to ensure Mr Asghar’s health, safety and security.
Does the minister agree that the security and prosperity of Hong Kong is underpinned by the fundamental freedoms and rights that are stated in the Sino-British joint declaration? Does he agree that those freedoms are best guaranteed by the transition to universal suffrage?
Yes, I agree with those points. I saw the statement that the FCO made on 29 September, in which it reiterated those points. We agree that those freedoms can best be guaranteed through the transition to universal suffrage. We hope that the upcoming consultation period will produce arrangements that will allow a meaningful advance for democracy in Hong Kong. We encourage all parties to engage constructively in discussions to that end. I agree entirely with the two points that Jamie McGrigor raised.
Museums and Libraries (Closures)
I assure members that support for our local libraries is such that, in the joint meeting that we have with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, which involves all the conveners of culture services across Scotland, libraries have been a frequent discussion point for us. As a Government, we will do what we can to support the growing and developing role of libraries. Despite the severe restrictions that are placed on us by the Westminster budget, local authorities—which have no statutory responsibility for arts and culture—have generally not cut their culture budgets more than any other budgets. We will keep that dialogue going and, with the support of our local authority colleagues, we will continue to support our local libraries.
To ask the Scottish Government what figures it has on the closure of museums and libraries over the last five years. (S4O-03557)
The Scottish Library and Information Council advises that from 2008-09 to 2012-13, 22 public libraries in Scotland were closed, reducing the total from 628 to 606. That equates to 3.6 per cent in Scotland compared to 7.9 per cent in England, 11.1 per cent in Wales and 11.5 per cent in Northern Ireland for the same period. In 2013-14 a further four public libraries closed reducing the total to 602.
Figures on museums, including closures, are not held centrally. It is estimated that there are about 400 museums in Scotland.
Given that budgets are so tight, many councils are considering cuts to culture and arts budgets during consultations of the public. As a result, many more museums and libraries could be put under threat in the future. What is the Scottish Government doing to make sure that local libraries and museums are sustained? They make a valuable contribution to civic life and are often the only opportunity that less well-off people have to learn about their local history or to access books and computers, and increase their opportunities in life.
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Ryder Cup 2014