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Chamber and committees

Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Thursday, October 2, 2014


Contents


General Question Time

Good morning. We have general questions. Question 1, in the name of Gordon MacDonald has been withdrawn. The member has provided me with an explanation.


Craighouse Development (Planning Application)

To ask the Scottish Government how many representations it has received calling for the Craighouse development planning application to be called in. (S4O-03562)

I can advise the member that 303 such representations have been received as of 1 October.

Jim Eadie

The proposal to build on the Craighouse site, one of the seven hills of Edinburgh, contravenes Scottish planning policy in relation to enabling development, as any development should be the minimum necessary to prevent the loss of the asset and secure its long-term future. Given the national significance of the Craighouse site, its A-listed buildings and unique wildlife and biodiversity, does not the minister agree that the decision on it is of such national importance, setting as it does a dangerous precedent for other valuable sites in Scotland, that calling in the planning application is justified? Will he now do that?

Derek Mackay

I emphasise first that the general principle under which the planning system in Scotland operates is that decisions should be taken at the most appropriate local administrative level unless there are compelling reasons for taking them at a higher level. The impacts of this application are local to the Craighouse area of Edinburgh and do not raise issues of national importance that would merit Scottish ministers calling in the application. I will write to the member later today outlining further detail on that.

I do not believe that planning applications set precedents, because each case is taken on its individual merits. However, I remind the member that although the planning authority has approved the application, there are still outstanding planning obligations—a section 75 agreement—to be agreed.

Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)

Given that seven local councillors objected and spoke at the planning hearing, that the local MP and MSPs objected and that a record number of public objections were received—over 1,200—is it not time that the Scottish Parliament looked seriously at third-party right of appeal?

Derek Mackay

I will write also to Alison Johnstone, who, like Mr Eadie, has been very vocal on the matter. It is my view, and it has been the view of Parliament in taking forward planning reform, that the legislation is broadly in the right place. When Parliament previously considered the matter, it did not support or approve third-party right of appeal. I have no immediate plans to reconsider that. However, I do, of course, want greater and stronger engagement from the public in the planning process.

Cameron Buchanan (Lothian) (Con)

Does the minister not agree that the problem is that the precedent set involves building on green space, which is what we are trying to avoid in Edinburgh? There have been so many objections to the planning application from all parties that I would have thought that it would now be called in.

Derek Mackay

No. Again, in planning one application does not set a precedent for others. Every case must be considered individually, with all the material considerations at hand and due process, and therefore it will not set a precedent. Those who have objected might not be happy with the local authority’s decision, but I emphasise again that I do not have adequate grounds for believing that it would be appropriate to call the application in. The matter is for the local authority to determine. As I said, the application is not complete, because the section 75 agreement has still to be agreed.


Barnett Formula

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that the Barnett formula will be reduced by the United Kingdom Government over time. (S4O-03563)

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth (John Swinney)

The Scottish Government is clear that the continuation of the Barnett allocation of resources represents an integral component of the vow made by the leaders of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties in the run-up to the referendum. We will continue to represent the best interests of the people of Scotland by holding those parties to account for the promises that were made.

Jamie Hepburn

The cabinet secretary mentioned the commitment made in the so-called vow. Does he share my concern that in the Westminster motion published on 22 September on devolution, there was no mention of funding, despite the vow? Does he agree that any enhanced devolution settlement must not disadvantage Scotland?

John Swinney

The observation that Mr Hepburn makes is absolutely correct. It caused concern that, with the vow having had such prominence during the referendum campaign, reference to the continuation of the Barnett allocation of resources was absent from the parliamentary motion that was tabled in the House of Commons.

Quite clearly, the Scottish Government works at all times to ensure that the financial arrangements that support the Scottish Parliament are maintained in the interests of the people of Scotland. That is exactly what we are doing in our current negotiations around the implementation of the Scotland Act 2012 and it is what we will continue to do in the discussions around any further powers in the years to come.

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)

I think that we are all agreed on the Barnett formula, but does the cabinet secretary accept that this is a political decision and that we have an undertaking from all the relevant political leaders in the UK? Does he also agree that with further fiscal devolution, which we all support, this will not be such a heated issue in England, given that the Barnett principle can still be followed but the grant to Scotland will not be such a major part of public expenditure in the United Kingdom?

John Swinney

On the Scotland Act 2012, the devolution of financial responsibilities will result in the devolution of the tax base for approximately 1.5 per cent of the block grant that the Scottish Parliament currently receives from the United Kingdom Parliament. There is a question of scale about all these points.

It is important—and this is where I agree with Mr Chisholm—that the commitments that were given in advance of the referendum, which included the continuation of the Barnett allocation of resources, are maintained without question. That is the view that I take in the discussions that I am having about the block grant adjustment in relation to the Scotland Act 2012 and it will underpin the Government’s attitude towards any further devolution in the years to come.

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con)

Given that the main adjustment to the amounts received under Barnett will be consequent upon this Parliament being given increased powers to raise income tax, what will the Scottish Government’s priorities be in relation to income tax? Will its priority be to lower tax rates or to increase them?

John Swinney

I will happily set out to Parliament next Thursday the first tax rates that will ever have been set by a finance minister in Scotland when I set land and buildings transaction tax and landfill tax rates. That is of course the appropriate moment for Parliament to be told about the tax rates. Parliamentary announcements will be made on the levels of income tax that will be set in Scotland in relation to the devolution of responsibilities coming from the Scotland Act 2012 at the appropriate budget opportunities.


National Resilience Centre (Role of Dumfries and Galloway Council)

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding its role in the proposed national resilience centre in Dumfries. (S4O-03564)

The Minister for Environment and Climate Change (Paul Wheelhouse)

On 14 August, I visited Dumfries to launch the new national centre for resilience. It will largely operate on a network basis but will have a physical presence at the Crichton centre from where it will be co-ordinated. The leader and other elected members and officials of Dumfries and Galloway Council and representatives of other partner organisations joined me to welcome this exciting initiative.

What I announced was the concept, which has been warmly welcomed by the resilience community. The centre will be up and running in 2015-16 and we are continuing to work with key partners such as Dumfries and Galloway Council to enable the centre to develop a work programme that will help emergency responders and others to increase resilience and preparedness at national and community levels.

Elaine Murray

I thank the minister for his response, but he will be aware that Dumfries and Galloway Council is keen to meet him and his officials to discuss how they can take this forward.

The process for establishing the centre has been described as a four-stage process. Which stage is the process now at and what timeline does the minister anticipate for the launch of the centre for research and resilience in Scotland?

Paul Wheelhouse

I thank Dr Murray for her interest in this subject, which I know is an important one for her constituents. On the next steps, we are in discussion with partners and stakeholders about the project management arrangements for the centre. Initial project meetings will take place later this month, so hopefully we will get some progress in the course of the month. Separately, the Scottish funding council is looking at the research opportunities and is consulting on how those are progressed. I am happy to keep the member informed of that through the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Mr Russell, and other colleagues as things progress. We would hope to have the centre up and running as early as possible in 2015-16, depending on human resource issues and the appointment of key personnel. It is an exciting opportunity for Dumfries, which has an important role to play in the future of resilience in Scotland.


United Kingdom Government Debt (Implications)

5. Chic Brodie (South Scotland) (SNP)

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Treasury on the implications for Scotland’s budget from 2016-17 to 2020-21 of United Kingdom Government efforts to reduce its debt of £1.57 trillion as at the end of 2016. (S4O-03565)

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth (John Swinney)

It is estimated that the Scottish Government’s resource departmental expenditure limits budget could be lower by around £4 billion in 2018-19 than when the current UK Government came to office in 2010-11 as a result of the £25 billion of cuts projected by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the March budget. That would represent a potential real-terms reduction in Scotland’s resource DEL budget of approximately 15 per cent over that period. The Scottish Government has financial information from the UK Government until the financial year 2015-16 but does not have any detailed financial information for thereafter.

Chic Brodie

The Institute for Fiscal Studies report that was produced on the day after the referendum indicated that the UK Government plan had been that public sector net debt should fall as a share of national income. However, the report showed that the latest forecast from the Government’s Office for Budget Responsibility suggests that the target will be missed and the latest forecast for UK public finances implies that further deep cuts of £37.6 billion will be made to public service spending between 2015-16 and 2018-19, on top of the £8.7 billion that has already been set out for 2015-16.

I am not sure that that was a question, cabinet secretary, but on you go.

John Swinney

The information that Mr Brodie has given is important information about the future of public expenditure in the UK and the effect that it will have in Scotland. The messages that we have heard in the past couple of weeks from the shadow chancellor and the chancellor indicate that a prolonged period of public expenditure reductions and austerity will be implicit whether a Conservative or a Labour Government is elected at the 2015 UK general election. Accordingly, that will present significant difficulties and challenges for public expenditure and public services in Scotland.

Question 6 in the name of George Adam has been withdrawn for perfectly understandable reasons.


Looked-after Children (Educational Outcomes)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it monitors how the educational outcomes for looked-after children in kinship care placements compares with those of children in residential or foster care. (S4O-03567)

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Michael Russell)

Generally, tariff scores of children in kinship care with friends or relatives are higher than those of children in residential care, but lower than those of children in foster care. However, the data is subject to large fluctuations due to the small numbers of children in these categories.

Willie Coffey

I know that the data samples are small and subject to fluctuations, but there appears to be a significant difference in educational outcomes between, for example, looked-after children who live at home and those who live away from home. Can the cabinet secretary assure me that looked-after children have access to the same learning support services, no matter where they are being looked after?

Michael Russell

There has been a keen focus on improving the outcomes for looked-after children because they have been far too low for far too long. We are seeing some significant advances in the work being done with looked-after children and it is producing far better outcomes for them. However, none of us in this chamber will rest until those outcomes are as good as they are for other children. It is important that we continue to support and resource a variety of schemes, including some innovative schemes in Glasgow that are making a difference for looked-after children.


Ebola

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations it has made to deal with any ebola outbreak. (S4O-03568)

The Minister for Public Health (Michael Matheson)

The Scottish Government has been working closely with Health Protection Scotland to minimise the risk of an outbreak of ebola virus in Scotland. I have met experts from HPS to discuss these issues.

The national health service in Scotland already has well-established and effective protocols for dealing with highly infectious diseases, but updated and revised professional guidance for healthcare workers has been issued in light of this outbreak. In particular, general practitioners and front-line healthcare workers have been advised that they must be extra vigilant when dealing with patients who have recently travelled to affected areas.

Scottish Government officials continue to take part in weekly United Kingdom teleconferences to monitor the outbreak and levels of preparedness, and Scottish Government officials are also directly involved in regular international teleconferences to ensure that we have the most up-to-date information.

The level of risk posed to Scotland by ebola continues to be very low, but we are not complacent and will respond accordingly if the risk increases.

Alex Johnstone

I understand that, this week, the news about outbreaks in Nigeria is good, and that the level of infection might be falling. However, has the Government made any specific assessment of the danger attached to movement between Nigeria and the north-east of Scotland related to the oil and gas industry? Are there any specific preparations for changing the status, should any risk be identified?

Michael Matheson

The member makes a good point. Some progress has been made in some of the affected countries, but there are countries in which the risk continues to increase. Therefore, we must be vigilant in how we continue to deal with the matter. I can inform the member that Health Protection Scotland has been engaging with the oil industry in the north-east on the potential risks to workers who operate on the west coast of Africa and has been discussing a range of measures that the industry should consider taking to ensure that its personnel are properly protected. It has also discussed the need for the industry to have in place appropriate measures to ensure that, when individuals return to Scotland, they have appropriate support, if necessary, should they find themselves unwell.


Dumfries Hospital

To ask the Scottish Government when work on the new Dumfries hospital will commence. (S4O-03569)

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Alex Neil)

Construction of the replacement for the Dumfries and Galloway royal infirmary is planned to commence in spring 2015. Procurement work and development of the business case are on-going. A major milestone was recently reached, as NHS Dumfries and Galloway announced the preferred bidder for the project.

Neil Findlay

On this project, the Aberdeen bypass and the new Dundee museum, we see companies that have been up to their necks in blacklisting securing public contracts without taking any remedial action to own up, apologise or pay up to the victims.

Given the assurances that we were given during the passage of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Bill, why is that still happening, and will the new guidance have any impact?

Alex Neil

The Scottish Government’s opposition to blacklisting was made clear in guidance that was issued in November 2013, which was developed in partnership with a number of trade unions. It gave public bodies new pre-qualification questions, as well as a new contract clause to enable the contracts of those who blacklist to be terminated.

The contractual provisions in the project agreement for the hospital, currently drafted for the non-profit distribution procurement model that is being used for the project, state that all bidders must fully comply with all prevailing legislation in relation to procurement and employment matters that is in force at the award of the contract, including those provisions that relate to blacklisting.

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)

Is the cabinet secretary aware that many of my constituents in the west of my constituency, particularly in Stranraer, are concerned that as the development of the Dumfries hospital takes place, the run-down of services that are currently available through Stranraer hospital might continue? Will the cabinet secretary assure me that he will work with the local health board to ensure that the range of services that is currently available in Stranraer continues to be available as the new hospital is established?

Alex Neil

I emphasise that services are not being run down in Stranraer. I recognise the particular challenges around the accident and emergency unit. There is provision for six and a half full-time equivalent accident and emergency consultants. Two have recently been recruited and we hope to recruit more people to those positions. I am fully aware of the challenges of attracting doctors to live and work in the Stranraer area and, along with the health board, I am considering a number of options to make moving into the Stranraer area more attractive to people with the qualifications and skills, specifically so that they can work in the local hospital in Stranraer, which is an excellent facility.