Food and Drink Exports (Support)
To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans it has to support Scottish food and drink exports to Europe. (S4O-04658)
Following the recent disruption to the operation of the Channel tunnel and the Dover to Calais ferry, the Scottish Government has asked Scotland Food and Drink to work with industry partners on exploring the potential for alternative transport routes from Scotland. That work could reduce costs and create a range of mid-term and long-term options for our businesses that are looking to export Scotland’s fantastic produce.
Of course, during periods when there is a sudden shock to normal operation of business, it is important for companies to consider their business continuity and to plan alternative routes to market that meet their commercial needs. The role of Government is to help the industry to find ways of mitigating the impacts of disruption.
I agree with the cabinet secretary that our food and drink are fantastic products. At a breakfast meeting that I had last week with Bank of Scotland’s food and drink division, it was confirmed that there are some very significant opportunities for Scottish food and drink in Europe. Can the cabinet secretary confirm that contingency plans will be in place to secure such opportunities and to avoid exposure to disruption to a single artery of supply to Europe?
Chic Brodie has quite rightly highlighted the latest surveys of food businesses, in particular, the survey that was undertaken by the Bank of Scotland, which have found that most firms in the food sector are planning further growth in sales and investment and that more than three in five businesses—62 per cent—are planning to seek new international customers over the next five years. That is great news for Scotland.
That said, it is important that we respond to the recent disruption that many companies experienced in exporting to the continent, and that is why, at that time, Scottish ministers intervened and finally managed to persuade the United Kingdom Government to adopt a quick-to-market system in which lorries carrying perishable Scottish goods and produce to the continent would be prioritised in operation stack, should it ever be reinstated. However, as I have said, longer-term work is being undertaken in the meantime.
Would the Government consider developing a website, or providing information in other ways, to illustrate alternative routes to market for time-sensitive goods to help all Scottish exporters to Europe, in the event of future blockades of ports on either side of the Channel?
I am always open to ideas, and I will certainly consider that one. Of course, it is worth bearing it in mind that our food industry is very experienced in getting its goods to the European continent and other international markets, and that the very advanced and complex logistics that have been built up over time are meant to deal with the demands of the industry in this country. However, if there is any way in which that can be made more transparent and open via websites or any other channel, I am happy to consider it.
Can the minister give Parliament an update on the impact of Russian sanctions on Scottish food and drink exports? What is the Government doing to provide alternative markets for products that have been affected by those sanctions?
The sector in Scotland that was most affected by the Russian food import ban was the seafood sector and, within that the pelagic sector, particularly mackerel. Thankfully, however, many of our pelagic companies in Scotland were able to find other markets.
However, a deeper implication of the Russian food import ban on Scotland is that other European countries that normally exported agricultural produce in particular to Russia now have to sell that produce elsewhere. Because they remain in the European market, the price of many of those products has fallen. As we have debated in the chamber, that has had an impact on Scottish agriculture, and it is a big issue that is facing our primary producers in this country.
Public Sector Severance Payments (Regulation)
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to improving regulation of severance payments in the public sector. (S4O-04659)
Severance payments in bodies that are accountable to Scottish ministers must comply with the requirements of the “Scottish Public Finance Manual”.
The Scottish Government has considered and made improvements to the regulation of severance payments in the public sector following Audit Scotland’s report “Managing Early Departures from the Scottish Public Sector” in May 2013, including bringing more bodies within the scope of the “Scottish Public Finance Manual”. The manual sets out the relevant statutory, parliamentary and administrative requirements; emphasises the need for economy, efficiency and effectiveness; and promotes good practice and high standards of propriety. Audit Scotland’s 2013 report on early departures acknowledged that voluntary exit schemes can provide significant savings and that public bodies generally follow good practice.
I am grateful for that extensive answer. As part of the armoury on this issue, might the cabinet secretary consider using the Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill, section 2 of which refers to remuneration for chairmen of governing bodies? That bill gives us an opportunity to set out a standard clause that might go into other statutes in order to tighten up the issue across the public sector.
If Mr Don will forgive me, I will not give him a definitive answer on the amendment of that bill. Given the scope of that bill, it would be difficult to put in a provision that would have wider competence, beyond provisions in the higher education sector. I understand that Mr Don has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on this point. That issue will be given consideration.
I assure Parliament that the requirements of the “Scottish Public Finance Manual” are designed to provide effective scrutiny and regulation of severance payments, which, as I indicated in my earlier answer, can have a role, as acknowledged by Audit Scotland, in delivering savings, but they must be calculated and formulated in a way that is acceptable to the public purse and the manual.
Physical Activity and Sports (Young People in Glasgow)
To ask the Scottish Government how it is encouraging young people in Glasgow from disadvantaged backgrounds to participate in physical activity and sports. (S4O-04660)
We are committed to ensuring that young people from all backgrounds across Scotland have equal opportunities to participate in physical activity and sports. For example, almost £700,000 was awarded to 16 projects in Glasgow from the legacy 2014 active places fund. Mr Doris will be aware of the Glasgow City Wakeboard cable park, which received more than £50,000 through the fund. Glasgow has also seen the creation of 11 community sports hubs and, in 2014-15, our active schools programme provided just over 600,000 participant sessions, enabling pathways to over 190 sports clubs.
The minister might be aware that almost £25,000 from the Commonwealth games legacy fund has been given to Royston Youth Action to explore how best to boost sports and physical activity opportunities in the local area. It works closely with the Royston strategy group, and I am sure that that money can help to drive healthier lifestyles and urban regeneration. I invite the minister to visit Royston Youth Action to witness at first hand how it is intended that the funds will be used to improve health and wellbeing in one of our most deprived communities, and to see what opportunities are presented not only to boost sport and physical activity but to drive community regeneration.
I am aware of that investment, which has been made through the legacy 2014 sustainable sport communities fund, which is an excellent fund that has a value of £1 million and supports 33 projects across Scotland, including social enterprises that wish to develop facilities for their local community. Some of those are in Glasgow; I was happy to visit one of the beneficiaries in Castlemilk, which is investigating the creation of a new community centre that will be linked to Cathkin Braes, which was a Commonwealth games venue.
I am delighted that Royston Youth Action is also benefiting, and I will be delighted to visit it, just as I will be delighted to visit A & M Scotland with Mr Doris tomorrow.
United Kingdom Minister for Skills and Equalities (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training will meet the United Kingdom skills minister. (S4O-04661)
I have scheduled a teleconference with Nick Boles for 8 October, at which we will discuss a range of issues.
I trust that the cabinet secretary will raise the issue of the Trade Union Bill. There is widespread resistance to the bill and concerns about the impact that it will have on public sector workers in particular.
Does the Scottish Government intend to issue guidance to national health service boards in order to protect their staff? Will it follow the lead of local authorities and commit to resisting implementation of the bill? Will Roseanna Cunningham make the case to the minister that there is a need for a legislative consent motion, given the impact that the bill will have on devolved matters?
Our understanding is that there will be no requirement for an LCM, and no expectation of one, simply because the matter relates entirely to reserved issues. Of course, we will keep that under advisement. If we feel that the position changes, that situation might change. However, at present, our advice is that there will be no LCM.
On non-compliance, I can do no better than repeat the words of the First Minister from just a few weeks ago:
“There will be no co-operation from this Government in imposing draconian trade union legislation”.—[Official Report, 17 September 2015; c 18.]
We feel that the bill has the potential to destabilise the progressive approach that we are taking in Scotland. One of our difficulties is that, at present, it is difficult to tell from what is on the face of the bill what its actual impact will be. Until we know the outcome of the legislative process, it will be hard to issue guidance to public sector bodies on how to manage the process. Nevertheless, we are looking at the matter carefully. I hope that Labour and SNP members will be able to find common ground on the bill, as has happened at Westminster, because we all agree that the bill is completely unnecessary.
Opencast Coal Sites
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government on the restoration of opencast coal sites. (S4O-04662)
Representatives of the Scottish coal industry task force and key industry representatives met the UK Government on 27 August to discuss the carbon price support exemption proposal. As the member knows, the proposal was brought forward by industry and has the potential greatly to increase restoration activity and to protect Scottish jobs. On 8 September, we received a letter from the UK Government effectively ruling out the possibility of implementing the proposal in its present form. The Scottish Government is deeply disappointed with the UK Government’s response to this innovative scheme, and the matter will be discussed at the next meeting of the Scottish coal industry task force on 28 October.
Does the minister agree that the lack of action by the UK Government, in relation to the return of Coal Authority levies, which was an earlier proposal, and to proper consideration of the restoration coal proposals, shows that the UK Government has turned its back on coalfield communities including those in the Secretary of State for Scotland’s own constituency?
I am afraid that the facts make it difficult to reach any conclusion other than the one that the member, who has campaigned on the issue over a long period, has just set out. An outstanding proposal has come from the industry that would allow restoration to take place and would protect jobs over the next five years, and we will continue to pursue our endeavours to persuade the UK Government to change course. I fear that, if we do not manage to do that, there will be severe consequences for Ayrshire, Fife, Lanarkshire and the communities involved. I hope that the Secretary of State for Scotland will stand by his apparent views, which he voiced prior to his re-election.
I share the minister’s disappointment at the letter from the UK Government. Does he agree that the Parliament should unite to make the case further? What can we do to put in place a programme that will address the levels of dereliction in Fife, Ayrshire and elsewhere in Scotland?
I am in broad agreement with Alex Rowley, who sits on the task force, which is a cross-party group, not a political one. I hope that, by working together, we can make progress. I pay tribute to the officials in each of the local authorities involved, including Fife Council, who have done sterling work with limited resources, as has the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust. However, unless we can persuade the UK Government to change tack, we may prematurely lose and forfeit another industry that is vital to Scotland. That could easily be averted if action is taken in accordance with the excellent proposal that has been put forward by the industry.
Personal Independence Payments (Devolution)
To ask the Scottish Government what changes it expects to make to personal independence payments following their devolution. (S4O-04663)
We are consulting stakeholders and users about how we deliver our new social security powers, including disability payments. We have made clear that we want to adopt an accessible and fairer system that is underpinned by respect for the dignity of individuals.
We will therefore look for opportunities—informed by those who have experience of the process—to ensure that we have a Scottish social security system that is suited to the needs of our people and our country. Such opportunities include improvements to the assessment process, including reducing the need for unnecessary face-to-face assessments. However, the changes that will be available for Scottish ministers to pursue will be largely dependent on a fair deal as part of the fiscal negotiations that are on-going between this Government and the United Kingdom Government.
As the minister is aware, there have been major delays at UK level in the processing of PIP applications. What steps might the Scottish Government take to minimise such delays and to ensure that all potential applicants are aware of the new procedures once the benefit is devolved?
The delays that have been experienced by those applying for personal independence payments are unacceptable. The Scottish Government understands that the Department for Work and Pensions is taking action to address the issue, and we will continue to monitor the situation.
We have made it clear that we will ensure that people are treated with respect and dignity when they are applying and being assessed for and receiving disability-related benefits, and that appropriate advice and support are available as people go through the process.
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that we provide people with relevant information, so that they are aware of how a Scottish social security system will work for them at each and every stage of the process. That will include information on how long each stage, including decisions, will take.
Onshore Wind Farms (Subsidies)
To ask the Scottish Government how the planned changes to subsidies for onshore wind farms will affect developments in Scotland. (S4O-04664)
The United Kingdom Government has carried out what can only be described as an assault on renewables by the early closure of the renewables obligation. The decision has sent shock waves through the renewables industry, and a recent Ernst and Young report shows that investment in onshore wind is being hit.
On 9 July, I held a summit for onshore wind developers. Their concerns have been relayed to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Amber Rudd, and we and they await a decision on the future of renewables for the UK.
We expect the delay by the UK Government in formulating a clear policy and plan for renewables beyond 2020 to continue, further threatening investment both on and offshore in Scotland.
The Presiding Officer will be aware that the issue was a matter of debate at a recent Parliament day in Paisley. Does the minister agree that Scotland is ideally placed to make use of renewable energy? Given that 70 per cent of planned wind farms are in Scotland, what detrimental effects will the changes have on reaching our renewable targets?
I am aware that Paisley is a hotbed of debate, especially when George Adam is about. To be serious, the UK Government has taken a grave decision that is perverse and irrational. To illustrate just how broad-based the campaign against it is, I can indicate that WWF Scotland and the Confederation of British Industry Scotland have united to express, in combination, their opposition. One would have thought that the WWF and the CBI would not be the most likely campaigning pairing, but the UK Government has managed to unite even the voice of industry and the voice of the environment in condemning the decision as a retrograde and extremely damaging step for Scotland and the whole of the UK.
The minister knows that the UK Government’s plans to reduce wind subsidies have been warmly welcomed by many affected communities across Scotland. The minister has held a summit for wind power developers. Why is he refusing a request to hold a similar summit for affected communities? Why is he listening to only one side of the debate?
I regularly meet campaigners from communities—those who are against renewables, as well as those who support them, of whom there are a huge number. The Conservatives supported renewable obligation certificates at 0.9 as recently as 2013. What has changed since then, Presiding Officer? I am bound to reflect that although Mr Fraser is an ardent and somewhat extreme opponent of onshore wind, which, incidentally, is now cheaper than nuclear energy, some of his colleagues differ, because not only are they not against wind farms but they have some of their own.