SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Sustainable Scotland
To ask the Scottish Executive what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee on sustainable Scotland. (S1O-5087)
The Cabinet sub-committee on sustainable Scotland meets regularly and will meet regularly over the next year to discuss how sustainable development can best be embedded into the work of the Scottish Executive. Agendas are decided by the chair near the time of the meetings and reports of the meetings are placed on the sustainable Scotland website.
Will the minister ensure that the committee discusses the sustainability of genetically modified crop trials as a matter of utmost urgency? Is the minister aware that continuing the trial of GM crops in the Highlands contravenes recommendations that were made by the Government's advisory body, the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission? The commission has advised that GM trials should not go ahead unless separation distances between GM crops and normal crops are increased and unless there has been a proper consultation—
You may not speak to a long extract from the paper, Mr Harper. You must get to the question.
Sorry. The minister has legal justification to halt the trial now. Is he willing to do so before any more people are arrested in the Highlands?
What is sustainable in the context of conducting the trials is for me, as the minister, to refer the question whether the trials are safe to an expert body. The discussion is not entirely analogous to the discussions that have been held in the chamber on the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, but I recall many contributions in those discussions in which it was deemed appropriate for a minister who is in doubt about scientific evidence to refer the matter to an independent scientific body. I assure members that, when I grant permissions for GM crop trials, I refer the matter to the appropriate expert body, which is the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment. I ask that body to confirm on an objective and scientific basis that trials will not harm the environment. I grant permission for trials only when I receive an unequivocal response. I regard that as a responsible way of discharging my duties. It is right for me to take advice from an independent expert body. That is a sustainable course of action.
A spokesman for Charles Kennedy said that the minister would try to get permission from Europe to halt the experiment at Munlochy. Will the minister confirm that claim?
I am afraid that I am not the spokesman for Charles Kennedy and I am not in touch with the spokesman for Charles Kennedy. If the spokesman wishes to speak to me, I have no doubt that he will. I am unable to confirm the claim. I can point only to the answer that I gave to Mr Harper about the basis on which I take decisions on trials.
The minister referred to ACRE in his earlier answer. Is he aware that Adrian Butt of the ACRE secretariat has written to say that it is
The member is well aware that it is entirely right that I refer such matters to an independent expert body. Of course I could ignore the advice of that body, but that would leave me in an extraordinary position, as the regulations require me to take a decision on the basis of independent scientific advice. If I chose to ignore the advice of the expert body, I would have to find another expert body to give me advice. Unless I have grounds for believing that there is something inherently wrong in the way in which ACRE proceeds, it is entirely responsible for me to refer matters to it as an independent expert body and to take the advice that it gives.
The minister is aware that road traffic is predicted to grow by 27 per cent from present levels by 2021. However, the document entitled "Meeting the Needs … Priorities, Actions and Targets for sustainable development in Scotland", which was published on Tuesday, says that the Government intends to
The member is aware that that figure was included in the document, which was announced by my friend Wendy Alexander, the minister with responsibility for transport. The document has more to it than simply encouraging the use of public transport; it sets out a clear strategy—and a way of achieving it—for diverting many individual car users on to public transport.
Compulsory Blood Tests
Question 2 is from Dorothy-Grace Elder. [Applause.]
Gaun yersel, Dorothy.
Order. Let us hear the question.
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make blood tests compulsory for persons who have assaulted police officers by spitting, biting or any other means whereby an officer could be infected with HIV or with other high-risk diseases. (S1O-5121)
I am aware of the member's deep interest in health matters. The Executive is aware of the petition on this subject that has been submitted to the Public Petitions Committee and of the committee's intention to raise the matter with Scottish ministers. We regard the health and safety of police officers as a matter of the highest importance. We will, therefore, give the Scottish Police Federation's request sympathetic consideration in responding to the committee. Any power of compulsion, however, would raise legal issues that would have to be addressed if such a proposal were to be implemented.
I thank the minister for his reply. The Executive is obviously giving the matter serious consideration. However, he will be aware that police officers have no protection under human rights legislation. They can be spat at or bitten—indeed, criminals are using threats of spitting and biting as a terrible weapon against them—yet the officers are not allowed to know the results of the tests. Criminals have sometimes agreed to have tests but not to have the results revealed to the officer, thereby putting the officer and their family in mental torment for months. Will the Executive toughen up and do something?
Members may be aware that I worked in the Scottish Prison Service as a deputy medical officer. I was assaulted on two occasions—once scratched, once bitten—by young women who were drug addicts. I therefore have great sympathy for the police officers who are in such a situation.
Does the minister recognise the fact that article 8 rights are not exclusive and that, as Dorothy-Grace Elder has pointed out, victims have rights, too? Will he reflect on the serious concerns that have been expressed by our police, our front-line national health service staff—including those who work in accident and emergency services—and others who work in public services? Will he confirm that there will be a policy of zero tolerance towards such vile attacks and that the Executive will stand with the victims?
Brian Fitzpatrick raises several issues. First, he is right to say that the interests of the individuals and public safety can allow us to legislate in a different way. Secondly, the issue of public service—I have already mentioned prison staff—also concerns the fire brigade, as firefighters go into situations in which sharp objects and needles are present and can contaminate them. There is guidance for them on that, just as there is guidance for the police force. The partnership Executive is about to issue guidance for accident and emergency staff and we are assessing a scheme, which is already being run, whereby the police train accident and emergency staff in self-protection.
Is there nothing in the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill, which was passed recently, that the minister could use to pass on such information to the police? Can he think of any information that would be more important to an individual officer than the type of information that Dorothy-Grace Elder has mentioned?
We will consider the matter carefully. I am not sure whether the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill will give us sufficient powers to get that information. However, we will look at the situation closely and, if we feel that it is appropriate to take legal action to ensure the protection of front-line staff, we will take such action.
Autistic Spectrum Disorder
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in extending parental choice with regard to the treatment of children with autistic spectrum disorder. (S1O-5090)
The Scottish Executive supports the view expressed in the Public Health Institute of Scotland's recent autistic spectrum disorders needs assessment report that priorities for improving services for people with autistic spectrum disorders must include the involvement of people with autistic spectrum disorders and their families, early assessment and integrated joint planning.
Can the minister confirm that, in extending parental choice, he will support parents who want to use the Lovaas applied behavioural analysis one-to-one programme for autistic children? Will he also support the biomedical treatments that Dr Danczak is developing at his clinic in the Health Care International hospital in Clydebank? Does he agree with the parents of autistic children throughout Scotland and with me that there can be full parental choice only if one-to-one care for every child with autism in Scotland is provided?
Some parents have argued that education authorities should fund the Lovaas approach. Research into that and other approaches to working with autistic children suggests that most approaches show some evidence of effectiveness. However, it has not yet been possible to demonstrate conclusively that one approach is more effective than another. Practice in schools throughout the United Kingdom tends to be eclectic, with staff drawing on features of a number of approaches, including that to which the member referred.
Glasgow Airport Rail Link
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will guarantee to provide the necessary public funds to allow the construction of a direct rail link from Glasgow city centre to Glasgow airport. (S1O-5095)
The current study on rail links to both Glasgow and Edinburgh airports will report on a range of options, including options for how those links should be funded.
Strathclyde Passenger Transport believes that the Glasgow airport rail link can be operational by 2005 and has committed £500,000 to developing important details of the link over the next three years. It is now time for the Scottish Executive to show the same commitment. Will the minister today give a cast-iron guarantee that within the next 12 to 24 months the Executive will at least fund the essential upgrade of the rail lines between Glasgow central station and Paisley? Will he commit the Executive to supporting financially the Glasgow airport rail link as a priority ahead of the Edinburgh airport rail link? Does he agree with Strathclyde Passenger Transport that the Glasgow airport rail link can easily be operational by 2005, if the Executive is willing to support it?
Our clear view is that the proposals for rail links to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports should be examined together and jointly. The study to which I referred is being conducted on that basis. The Executive has no intention of putting one project ahead of the other. We are carrying out an objective study, on the basis of the evidence. That study is making significant progress and will allow decisions to be made in the fairly near future. We expect to narrow down the options during the summer and to receive a final report on the options for both airports in the autumn. We do not intend to pre-empt the discussions that we will have with all potential funding partners on how the projects can be best funded and developed. I would be surprised if Mr Sheridan or anyone else suggested that we should take an initiative that excluded the possibility of other partners supporting the development of the projects and providing funding for them.
Does the minister agree that the Glasgow airport link, in conjunction with the Glasgow crossrail scheme, is vital for the regeneration of Glasgow? Does he not understand that the airport link could have been up and running by now if so much money had not been spent on studies of the link and the crossrail scheme?
Labour members do not and never will endorse an approach to transport expenditure that involves committing ourselves to major infrastructure projects without understanding what is being undertaken or planning the way in which money should be spent. The study that we are carrying out into the proposed rail links to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports is designed to ensure that the schemes that emerge offer the best value for money to the taxpayer and the best support for economic regeneration of the communities in question.
As a fair-minded Aberdonian, will the minister give even-handed support to the projects in both Glasgow and Edinburgh, bearing in mind the fact that Strathclyde Passenger Transport has already allocated £500,000 for preparatory work on the Glasgow airport rail link? It is enormously important and in Scotland's best interests that both projects are developed together.
I do not believe that what Strathclyde Passenger Transport has announced in the past few days amounts to preparatory work for the rail route to Glasgow airport. The key study that we are undertaking treats both airports jointly and even-handedly. That is the right way of proceeding. Of course, we will listen carefully to anything that Strathclyde Passenger Transport has to say. However, we have no reason to believe that it will add particularly to the evidence that we are amassing in our study of projects for links to both airports.
Does the minister acknowledge the growing impatience, in Glasgow in particular, over the slow progress on the matter? Will he undertake to push the studies to a conclusion and thereafter show some leadership in producing a timetable for action to complete the link to Glasgow airport as soon as possible?
We intend to show leadership and to make progress on the project as quickly as we can. We will do so on the basis of the evidence of the studies and we will do so in partnership with the UK Strategic Rail Authority, with the British Airports Authority—which clearly has an interest as the operator of the airports—and with other partners. As I say, I hope to see the evidence before the end of the year.
Flights (Highlands and Islands)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken in order to reduce the cost of flights from the Highlands and Islands. (S1O-5099)
The Scottish Executive provides a substantial subsidy to Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, which results in significantly lower costs to airlines, and provides direct subsidy to air services between Glasgow and Campbeltown, Tiree and Barra.
I am sure that the minister will appreciate that many airline services to rural and island communities are not simply public transport links but essential lifelines. Will the minister consider making representations to Westminster with a view to exempting from air passenger duty all flights to and from Highlands and Islands airports? That would lead to a modest but welcome reduction in air fares.
John Farquhar Munro will be aware that exemption from air passenger duty was introduced for all flights from the Highlands and Islands, and within the Highlands and Islands, from 1 April last year. To my knowledge, the Treasury has no proposals to introduce exemptions for flights from other airports. We feel that the current arrangements accurately and adequately reflect the special status of the Highlands and Islands. The exemption that the Treasury granted last year was a recognition of the unique status of the Highlands and Islands. It was on the basis of European criteria for services within sparsely populated areas that Scottish ministers came to an agreement with the Treasury on the exemption. It was a marked achievement, which has provided benefits to the Highlands and Islands.
Does the Executive understand the anger of islanders and tourists alike who find that it is cheaper to fly across the Atlantic than it is to fly across the Pentland firth?
Of course. As Jack McConnell said when he and I were in Stornoway recently, the airlines ought to consider their fare structures carefully. Clearly, that is a matter for the airlines and not for Government. The Executive, through its support for HIAL, reduces significantly the charges that airlines face. A knock-on effect of that is reduced costs to passengers.
The minister's words were rather complacent. Does he understand that nothing that he has said will lessen the fury of a constituent who contacted me this week to complain about the price of £293 to travel from Stornoway to Edinburgh? Does the minister not understand that the greatest thing that he could do would be to attract low-cost airlines on to those routes? With that in mind, will he not instruct HIAL—of which the Executive is the sole shareholder—to review or reduce airport charges further?
Duncan Hamilton should acknowledge that, far from being complacent, the Scottish Executive works continuously with HIAL and with the private sector to implement our policies. Those policies involve the investment of significant subsidies in HIAL that reduce its charges substantially. That is why easyJet has been able to make a commercial case for operating a service between Inverness and London. I hope that other low-cost operators that wish to operate in the Highlands will engage in negotiations in precisely the way that easyJet did. I know that Ryanair has been speaking to HIAL and that negotiations are progressing well, not on the basis of seeking additional subsidy but on the basis of commercial opportunities for the publicly owned airports and the privately owned airline to provide better services within the Highlands and Islands.
The minister mentioned the fare structure. It is now possible to obtain a ticket between Aberdeen and London Heathrow for £89.50, which, as it allows considerable flexibility, is available not just to people who can travel at longer notice but to people who wish to travel at shorter notice. Is he aware that no such flexibility of fare structure is available to the people whom I represent on Shetland, or indeed to people living on Orkney or the Western Isles? Will the minister seek urgent meetings with representatives of British Airways to tackle them on the social responsibility issues that the First Minister raised recently? In my view, British Airways simply has no sense of social responsibility.
Order.
Will the minister undertake to hold urgent discussions with British Airways and to ensure that we can achieve some change in that regard?
Order.
People are extremely annoyed about the fares that they have to pay—
Order. We have got the point.
We recognise that the cost to users is a matter on which airlines have to make a judgment. Our responsibility is to provide infrastructure and support. If, as is the case for a number of areas of Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles, a socially necessary service is not being provided on a commercial basis, but is a lifeline requirement, we will grant a public service obligation to allow the local authority or, in certain circumstances, the Executive to support that service.
Dental Care (Grampian)
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that people have better access to dental care in the Grampian region. (S1O-5115)
On 25 April, I announced a £1 million golden hello package to improve recruitment and retention of national health service dentists and to help to ensure that patients are able to access NHS dental treatment. Key features will include funding to provide a vocational training place for all new dental graduates and a £3,000 allowance for each new dental graduate who takes a training place in one of eight designated areas, including Grampian, where Elaine Thomson's constituency is located. Those measures are part of a phased programme to tackle recruitment and retention issues and to address demand.
As the minister knows, there is a major shortage of dentists in Grampian, which the new recruitment measures should help to address. The minister will be aware that access to NHS dentistry is crucial for less well off areas, where the dental health of both adults and children is often poor. I ask the minister to consider exploring further with Grampian NHS Board how the number of salaried NHS dentists can be increased and how the very successful toothnology dental health campaign can be extended and supported.
The introduction of salaried dentists is an important part of meeting the demand for NHS services. On 1 April, the Scottish Executive introduced a new career structure for salaried dentists, to encourage that option to become part of the career path. In that way, we hope to offer people more opportunities.
People in Grampian welcome the new measures on general dental practitioners. However, the biggest problem in Grampian by far relates to dental services at local hospitals, where people have to wait for up to four years to see an orthodontist. I hope that the minister agrees that that is wholly unacceptable. Will she outline the short-term and long-term measures that she will take to address that problem, particularly in relation to young children who are waiting up to four years for treatment at a very important stage of their development?
As I said, we are considering several ways of encouraging the retention and recruitment of dentists. Within the Grampian area, 7.5 full-time equivalent salaried dentists are operating, one of whom is an orthodontist practising from the dental hospital. We will continue to consider other options for improving the situation.
The golden hello is extremely welcome in Grampian, but there are simply not enough dentists being trained. What efforts is the Executive taking to increase the number of dentists?
The target for the number of people coming out of dental schools is 120, which we expect to reach this year. A substantially greater proportion of people are trained in dentistry in Scotland than south of the border. The issue is one of ensuring that those people stay in Scotland, and I hope that the measures that I have outlined today, among others, will encourage them to stay in Scotland and practise in the NHS here.
Alcohol-related Problems
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing to help deal with alcohol-related problems. (S1O-5097)
The Scottish Executive published its "Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems" on 18 January this year. The plan sets out a powerful package of measures to reduce alcohol-related harm. The proposed action covers culture change, prevention and education, support and treatment for people with alcohol problems and the protection of individuals and the wider community. Early Executive action includes the launch on 19 April of a £1.5 million national communication strategy to tackle binge drinking.
I welcome the initiatives that the minister outlined. The minister will be aware of research that shows that young people in particular have little awareness of the concept of alcohol misuse. Will she give an assurance that in targeting the issue of alcoholism in young people future advertising and information campaigns will tackle that lack of awareness?
We are particularly concerned about young people's misuse of alcohol. The Health Education Board for Scotland is working on proposals to take alcohol education into schools and community facilities. We are considering the possibility of further measures to assist and support through treatment youngsters who have become involved with alcohol. I have written to the Westminster Government, which is responsible for advertising, to ask it to review its policy on alcohol advertising.
I particularly welcome the minister's final comment.
A joined-up approach is essential, which is why we are considering with our education and social justice colleagues how to take such an approach on this issue. HEBS is about to launch a campaign and we must look at how that is rolled out and learn lessons from it.
Glasgow Housing Association
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Glasgow Housing Association since the result of the housing stock transfer ballot. (S1O-5094)
The Executive has been involved in regular discussions with Glasgow Housing Association both before and after the housing stock transfer ballot.
Is the minister aware that Bob Allan, the GHA chief executive, said recently that he had serious doubts whether the building labour was in place to deliver the GHA plan, which put in doubt the promise that was made to tenants who have waited a long time for repairs to be carried out? Will she guarantee Glasgow tenants that repairs will be carried out as promised?
I am not aware of the specific comments to which the member refers, but I will check the details.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer.
Is it a real point of order?
As far as I am concerned it is a real point of order, and I am sure that you will agree.
As I have said many times, the standing orders do not allow me to control what ministers say in their answers.
When the minister last met representatives of Glasgow Housing Association, did she discuss tackling anti-social behaviour, which is a serious issue in our constituencies? Will she ensure that Glasgow Housing Association puts in place an effective action plan to deal with that serious issue?
I have had such a discussion with Glasgow Housing Association. I am pleased that Jim Wallace joined me on a visit to Cranhill, which is in my constituency, to discuss that issue. By tackling issues such as housing design, we can begin to design out crime in local communities. I have had many discussions with Bob Allan about the issue, which is a key priority for Glasgow Housing Association. We have a unique opportunity to use housing design methods to begin to tackle crime. The Executive will use a joined-up approach to deliver crime in Glasgow, which we regard as a top priority.
I do not think that that is quite what the minister meant.
Will the minister take action in light of the announcement by Glasgow City Council that 93 per cent of the work done by its buildings direct labour organisation is defective?
As Mr Harding knows, Glasgow City Council adheres strongly to the best-value regime, through which it will address any issues that emerge following that announcement. We will work in partnership with Glasgow City Council to take determined action to tackle the serious issue that he raises.
Glasgow City Council (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Glasgow City Council and what issues were discussed. (S1O-5101)
We regularly meet Glasgow City Council to discuss matters of mutual interest.
Is the minister aware that Glasgow City Council's share of local government resources has declined, year on year, since new Labour came to power? This year, Glasgow's share is £56 million less—equivalent to more than £272 for every Glasgow council tax payer—than it would have been if it had remained at the level that new Labour inherited. Does he agree with Glasgow City Council's Labour leader, Charlie Gordon, that that decline represents a denial of social justice for Glasgow, as it impacts on the city's ability to deliver quality services and deal effectively with poverty and poor educational attainment? Will he therefore take the necessary steps to ensure a fair deal for the city of Glasgow?
Part of the role of any council leader is arguing to maximise the resources for their authority—I used to do so myself. Glasgow's special needs are recognised in the grant distribution system, which is why Glasgow gets the highest payment per head of all mainland councils in Scotland. It received a 7 per cent increase in grant this year, and its grant is 41 per cent more per head than that of Edinburgh or Aberdeen and 8 per cent more than that of Dundee.
Glasgow City Council believes that the minister's distribution mechanism does not lend enough weight to deprivation. Does he agree with Glasgow City Council, or is it his opinion that the mechanism for distributing local authority funds is satisfactory?
The means of distributing funds has been a subject of debate for as many years as I—or anyone else—can remember. The system has been constantly refined. Many reviews have taken place of the deprivation indicators in the distribution system—we are where we are with that. The recent changes gave more money to Glasgow and other councils that have high levels of deprivation. It is as a result of those deprivation factors that Glasgow gets a higher proportion of cash per head of population than any other council in Scotland.
Scottish Transport Group Pension Funds
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the relevant records from the Scottish Transport Group pension funds' trustees in order to enable ex gratia payments to be made. (S1O-5128)
The trustees of the STG pension funds wound up the pension schemes on Tuesday 30 April and we now have full access to the records of the schemes.
I am delighted to receive a positive response at long last. It has taken a long time—10 years—for justice to be done for the pensioners. How long will it take before the pensioners get the money in their hands? Will the minister discuss with the Treasury in London the possibility of raising the amount that is on offer, which is £118 million, so that the pensioners receive the maximum benefit from their pension fund surplus?
We estimate that approximately 14,000 pensioners are involved. Executive officials intend to write to each of those pensioners within the next few weeks to indicate what we believe their dates of service were and what we believe they will be entitled to. Once we have received confirmation of those details, we hope to be able to make payments to the vast majority of pensioners in the next four months.
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