SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Rural Schools
At 1 o'clock this morning it did not seem such a great honour to ask the first question of our newly empowered legislature, but I am sure that, although I was selected randomly by computer, it is indeed an honour.
I have to say that I was in bed before midnight. [MEMBERS: "Ah."] I thank my colleagues for their warm endorsement of that statement.
Is the deputy minister aware that Dumfries and Galloway Council faces a bill of £32 million to repair schools, and that one school in particular, my former school Lockerbie Academy, was the subject of an arson attack, which will require the primary school to be rebuilt? Does he agree that neither of those circumstances should be used as a reason to close rural primary schools in that area?
We want a strong network of rural schools in Scotland; they are part of the diversity of the Scottish education system. The Government has made available a substantial additional sum of money—some £27 million— through the new deal for schools, of which Dumfries and Galloway Council has had an allocation of about £1.5 million, which should help it to tackle its problems.
General Teaching Council
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make the Deloitte Touche review of the General Teaching Council for Scotland available for consideration by members, and if so, when. (S1O-189)
The report will be available shortly, together with our proposals for change.
The Educational Institute of Scotland dominates elections to the GTC by its effective running of slates and also dominates the convenerships of that body. Given those facts, does the minister intend to make any changes to the way in which the GTC is formed before passing greater powers to it?
As I said, the report will be available shortly. One of the issues addressed by the report is the make-up of the GTC and the number of representatives of the teaching profession on it. The Government believes that teachers should have a majority on the council as part of the process of enhancing their professionalism and encouraging self-regulation. Some specific proposals will be made shortly.
Criminal Record Certificates
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to implement a charging policy for certificates issued by the police under part V of the Police Act 1997. (S1O-157) The Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice (Mr Jim Wallace): It is intended that part V of the Police Act 1997 is to be self-financing. However, we recognise the concerns of the voluntary sector and we are willing to keep the matter under review.
Is the minister aware of the amount that some Scottish organisations will have to pay if there is to be a series of charges? The Boys Brigade will have to pay £65,000 a year and I believe that the Guide Association will have to pay £23,000. Does the minister intend to implement a relief scheme for those organisations?
I take this opportunity to say how much I recognise and value the role of volunteers in our society. Mr Davidson's point about the burden that will fall on a number of voluntary organisations is a matter that we would want to take into account when considering the review of the charging arrangements.
University Staff
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on its attitude to the establishment of an independent pay review for university academic and related staff. (S1O-187)
That is a matter for the higher education sector. There is no barrier to its initiating an independent pay review if it wants to.
Bearing in mind the fact that the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and the Conservatives have all supported the concept of an independent pay review body for the higher education sector, will the minister tell us the Labour party's position, what proposals he intends to make and what stance he has taken in his discussions with the Association of University Teachers?
It is important to remember that the Dearing committee considered the situation and decided to set up an independent review committee to look at the framework of higher education pay and conditions. That committee—the Bett committee—has not recommended the establishment of a standing pay review body but wants a national council with a Scottish committee. The Government is discussing the Bett committee report; the Parliament will also consider it and a debate on the issue is scheduled. It would be wise to wait for the outcome of those deliberations before making any definitive statements.
Fire Services
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to provide fire services in the event of industrial action by the Fire Brigades Union. (S1O-184)
Statutory responsibility for the provision of fire services rests with the fire authorities. Negotiations on conditions of service are continuing with no indication that industrial action is imminent. However, we will keep matters under review.
Is the deputy minister aware that the Scottish region of the Fire Brigades Union agrees with the national motion that was passed that if the conditions of service are changed— something that it fully expects to happen—there will be national industrial action? The union believes that the Government and the Executive are sleepwalking towards a national fire brigade strike.
The original proposals for changes to terms and conditions have been whittled down to seven points; those will be discussed at two further meetings that are to take place at the national joint council for local government services. The employers have made it clear that they do not intend to impose changes to
Schools (Sport)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on the number of school sports co-ordinators. (S1O-175)
On 7 June, I announced that the first tranche of school sports co-ordinators would be appointed in 87 secondary schools. Our target is to have school sports co-ordinators in all Scotland's secondary schools by 2003.
Does the minister welcome the role played by local authorities, such as East Renfrewshire, in encouraging young people to participate in sport? Does she appreciate the importance of sport in developing healthy lifestyles and in making progress on our social inclusion agenda?
Yes, and I welcome the work that is being done in East Renfrewshire. Sport has an essential role to play in promoting social inclusion; social inclusion features in the Scottish Sports Council's corporate plan, "Sport 21". Earlier this week, I visited Arbroath High School and Arbroath Academy to see school sports co-ordinators in action. In Arbroath Academy I was particularly pleased to see the interesting scheme in which able-bodied children worked with children with special educational needs.
Accident and Emergency (Glasgow)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it intends to take to address the concerns in the south-east area of greater Glasgow at the proposed concentration of accident and emergency services at the Southern General hospital and the associated run-down of the Victoria infirmary. (S1O-152) The Minister for Health and Community Care (Susan Deacon): Greater Glasgow Health Board has over the past 18 months been engaged in debate with hospital clinicians about the future configuration of acute hospital services in Glasgow. In due course there will be a period of public consultation to allow all interested parties the opportunity to put forward their views. Only when the outcome of the consultation is known will any final decisions be made by the board. The board's proposals will then be submitted for ministerial consideration and approval.
I thank the minister for her answer and for those assurances. Does she accept that the views of the public in south-east Glasgow also need to be taken into account?
I recognise that there are strongly held local views on various aspects of the issue. I must stress again that there are currently no firm proposals for change. As and when any such proposals are put forward, the health board has a statutory obligation to consult; I would ensure that full and effective public consultation on any proposals for change took place. I plan to meet the Greater Glasgow Health Board and a range of other bodies over the recess. I want to be assured that any proposals for change and the reasoning behind them will be well explained to the public. We want to achieve high-quality services that meet local needs and are fit for the 21st century. I hope that we can achieve that in Glasgow and elsewhere.
After-school Clubs
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on the provision of after-school clubs in Scotland. (S1O127) The Deputy Minister for Children and Education (Peter Peacock): The extension of after-school clubs throughout Scotland is being supported by the excellence fund for schools and the new opportunities fund. Over the next three financial years, more than £50 million will be made available to local authorities.
That is a very helpful answer. Is the minister aware of the special circumstances of rural communities in Scotland, particularly in areas such as Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley? Will he consider visiting some of the successful projects in that area and consulting people who want to set up similar projects?
Cathy Jamieson makes an important point: it is often more difficult to make provision in rural areas because of the smaller school rolls. We want broad equality of provision in rural and urban areas throughout Scotland. I would be happy to consider a visit to her constituency to consider the projects that she mentioned.
Teachers (IT Training)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on its plans to improve information technology resources and training for teachers. (S1O-143)
The sum of £100 million for IT resources has been allocated over the next three years, supported by £23 million from the new opportunities fund. We will announce shortly details of a scheme to help teachers to buy computers.
I thank the minister for that response. Over the weeks since the election, I have met a number of teachers in my constituency of Linlithgow who have said that they very much welcome the resources that are being put into schools for information technology. However, they have some concerns about the speed at which training is being made available. They appreciate that, without that training, they will not be able to get the best out of the facilities that they have or to pass skills on to the children. Will the minister comment on that?
We are all on a learning curve with computers, including myself—[Laughter.] Surely not, they say, but I am afraid so. However, computers are important and one of my aims for the teaching profession is to enhance teachers' general training, professionalism and continued professional development. From here on in, I intend to take that work forward on computers and on a range of other issues.
Fisheries
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has, within the context of negotiations on the reform of the common fisheries policy, to argue for the implementation of regional fisheries management regimes. (S1O-167) The Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs (Mr John Home Robertson): The Scottish Executive will press for improvements to the common fisheries policy with the objectives of conserving fish stocks and protecting the interests of fishing communities. The "Partnership for Scotland" document includes a commitment to encourage greater local involvement in the development of sustainable fisheries.
Given the widespread support from Scottish fishermen for the regionalisation of the common fisheries policy, does the minister accept that the proposals of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation constitute an important step forward and provide a basis for the Executive's policy position on this important matter?
I stress that we want a constructive relationship with the Scottish Fishermen's Federation on matters that affect
Housing (Glasgow)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to provide details about the revised timetable for housing stock transfer in Glasgow City Council. (S1O-188) The Minister for Communities (Ms Wendy Alexander): There is no timetable, revised or otherwise, to announce. The council has undertaken a feasibility study of the potential for a whole stock transfer and has submitted a bid for further funding to develop a transfer proposal, which is under consideration.
One of the main concerns of the people of Glasgow and elsewhere about stock transfer and the lack of a timetable is security of tenure. Until this chamber deals with that issue and provides people with security and confidence, it would be unfair to force them to vote in a ballot without knowing what is happening, where it is happening and when legislation on security of tenure will be introduced.
Essentially, I agree wholeheartedly with Fiona Hyslop. We applaud the courage shown by Glasgow in taking forward the proposals. There are critical matters around security of tenure that need to be examined.
Sport
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to support efforts to bring major international sporting events to Scotland. (S1O-158)
The Scottish Sports Council operates a major events programme to assist eligible bodies to attract and stage major events in Scotland. Since its inception in 1996, it has supported 19 events of Commonwealth, European and world level in Scotland.
I notice that Ms Brankin made no mention of the Ryder cup. Is she aware of plans to prepare a bid to bring the Ryder cup to Scotland in 2009? That is a long way away, but it gives us time to set up a cross-party working group to support and promote that bid to bring a
Many of us would love to see the Ryder cup come to Scotland. In the first instance, that is a matter for the relevant golf associations, although we would all like to the event to take place.
I understand that the relevant golf associations need to be involved. The idea is to promote a cross-club bid, which would, in the first instance, bring the event to Scotland. That bid is coupled with the imaginative idea of establishing a youth Ryder cup at another club the week before the main tournament. Will the minister support such a bid?
That would be an interesting development and I would be happy to talk to Fiona McLeod about it.
Multilateral Agreement on Investment
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make representations to HM Government to ensure that the potential impact in Scotland on matters within its responsibility of any future multilateral agreement on investment is taken into account during any negotiations to establish such an agreement. (S1O-135) The Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (Henry McLeish): The Executive will put forward views as appropriate on the implications for its responsibilities for issues as they arise in international trade negotiations, including any future negotiation of international investment rules.
Does the minister acknowledge that such an agreement would cut across the jurisdiction of this Parliament? What areas of the Executive's programme would be constrained by a future MAI agreed by the Westminster Government?
Mr Ingram's first point about a future MAI cutting across this Parliament's specific powers is not correct. These are important issues and we have to take them seriously. Anything that would adversely impact on our world trading position would be a matter for concern. However, negotiations and discussions are continuing. I can give an absolute assurance that we will consult closely with ministers at Westminster to ensure that the Scottish perspective is firmly put and that they are aware of the implications of any decisions made on a worldwide basis.
New Deal
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make a statement on the number of young unemployed who have benefited from the first full year of the new deal. (S1O-146)
By the end of the new deal's first year, 28,300 young people across Scotland had benefited from the scheme. Of those young people, 14,700 had taken up sustained employment, had gone into full-time education or training or had taken up work experience opportunities.
I welcome the minister's statement, but does he agree that short-term unemployment is a growing problem in places such as Greenock and Inverclyde, where the electronics industry is a major employer? People have been asked to accept either short-term employment or long-term educational opportunities. We need to create local flexibility in the new deal to ensure that it works properly. One solution could be to count together periods of unemployment, which would allow people to qualify for the new deal if they had been unemployed for six of the past 12 months and were identified as needing extra support to compete more effectively in the labour market. That would ensure that Labour's new deal worked effectively for them.
Although the new deal is a new scheme, everyone will agree that it has had some considerable successes. However, as with any new scheme, it has to be kept under constant review; we will examine Duncan McNeil's suggestion about flexibility. Flexibility is important in many aspects of the new scheme. A Scottish advisory group is considering all aspects of the new deal; it has been concerned specifically with how the new deal can more fully support the most disadvantaged individuals in Scottish society. Many suggestions have been made to the UK Government, which has ultimate responsibility for the scheme. I am sure that the Scottish Executive will listen to suggestions such as those from Duncan McNeil and other MSPs to create flexibility and to improve the scheme.
Perth College
To ask the Scottish Executive whether in view of the current financial difficulties being experienced by Perth College it has any plans to increase the level of grant payable to the college in this financial year. (S1O-132) The Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (Henry McLeish): On 1 July, the responsibility for direct funding of further education colleges passed to the new Scottish Further Education Funding Council. I understand that Perth College has already written to the council about its financial position.
The minister will be aware that Perth College is successful and has responded well to the Government's new proposals to enable wider access, college collaboration and social inclusion. It has also been involved in the University of the Highlands and Islands project and in setting up new outreach learning centres. Its business has grown by about 34 per cent. Does the minister agree that it is difficult for an organisation such as Perth College to square the mantra of education, education, education with the stark reality of cuts in its expenditure? Spending was £5.7 million in 199697 and £5.1 million in 1999-2000. [MEMBERS: "Ask a question."] It is difficult to keep going and to ask a question when it does not suit the Government.
I acknowledge that the points that Bruce Crawford has raised are important, but the facts, too, are often important. The grant allocation for the college in 1999-2000 is to be increased by £0.4 million, a 7 per cent increase on the previous year. In the comprehensive spending review settlement over the next three years, we have provided additional funding to stabilise the financial set-up in a number of colleges. That will be very important.
Will the minister supply the chamber with information about the financial position of all the colleges in Scotland from 199697 to now?
This is a common-sense issue; there is no need for the slight aggression shown. The National Audit Office report published a few days ago contains an update on the financial position and on the question of efficiency and value for money for every college in Scotland. I am sure that it will make good reading.
Stephen Lawrence Inquiry
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to implement the recommendations of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry as contained in the Macpherson report. (S1O-126) The Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice (Mr Jim Wallace): The Executive fully recognises the important issues raised by the Macpherson report, which clearly have implications for Scotland and not just for England and Wales. I intend to publish shortly an action plan to take forward the Macpherson report in Scotland. We will then consult widely on the proposals in the plan to implement the recommendations.
The recent case of Ghulam Rabbani raises many issues relevant to Macpherson, such as the chronic underfunding of interpreting services in Scotland. What does the minister intend to do about that in relation to the criminal justice system?
As Shona Robison knows, there are a number of recommendations in the Macpherson report. Some of them do not apply to Scotland, but our working presumption will be that we will seek to implement those that do. As I said, we will bring forward an action plan to deal with issues such as the ones that she raises. In parallel with the position taken by the Home Secretary in England, I intend to set up and chair a steering group to oversee progress in the implementation of those recommendations.
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