SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
The first business this afternoon is question time. I remind members that, following last week's point of order from the convener of the Procedures Committee, supplementary questions have to relate specifically to the original question.
Compulsory Purchase
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reviewed the powers of private companies, public sector organisations and other entities in relation to compulsory purchase in the light of the incorporation into Scots law of the European convention on human rights. (S1O-746)
We are reviewing compulsory purchase powers as part of our commitment to modernise the planning system. Any legislation that we bring before the Scottish Parliament will need to be compatible with the convention.
Will the adoption of the ECHR be taken into account in the event of the compulsory purchase of land in connection with the Scotland to Northern Ireland interconnector?
Every decision that we make will have to be in line with the European convention on human rights. It is important to state that decisions on compulsory purchase orders involve weighing up the public and private interests. All those issues have to be taken into account.
Given the adoption of the ECHR, will the Executive instruct district valuers to take into account the commercial payments for the erection of telecommunications masts when assessing payments to facilitate the erection of pylons in rural areas?
I would be quite happy to provide a written answer to Mr Fergusson on that question. He has raised about four issues, all of which are complex, and I do not want to give an answer that might miss out a legal issue that ought to be brought to his attention.
Offender Rehabilitation
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to provide rehabilitation for offenders with drug abuse problems within prisons. (S1O771)
All prisons in Scotland offer drugs rehabilitation measures ranging from intensive rehabilitation programmes through to continuing support programmes for former users.
Given that the prison population in Scotland in any year normally rises to around 30,000, and given the fact that—according to the Scottish Prison Service—5,000 places are available in Scottish prisons for drug rehabilitation, does the minister agree that our prisons have inadequate provision to deal properly with the rehabilitation of drug abusers?
The capacity of the Scottish Prison Service to provide rehabilitation measures has been expanded. Around 5,300 prisoners will access services in this financial year; that figure is up from 1,656 in 1997-98. In addition, the SPS is examining how existing services might be expanded in the future.
Will Mr MacKay tell me what measures—
Mr Quinan—I am sorry, but I did not call you.
International Criminal Court
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with Her Majesty's Government about the ratification of the treaty on the international criminal court and whether it has identified any amendments to Scots law which may be necessary as a result of this ratification. (S1O-734) The Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice (Mr Jim Wallace): The Scottish Executive has been involved in regular discussions with Her Majesty's Government about the statute of the international criminal court. Domestic legislation will be needed before the United Kingdom can ratify the statute. We envisage modifications to Scottish criminal law, procedure and jurisdiction.
Will separate legislation be required in order to comply with the treaty?
Yes. I should explain to the Parliament that this is an important piece of legislation. It is a major advance in international justice to deter potential dictators and war criminals and to bring justice for victims, even
Women's Aid Refuges
To ask the Scottish Executive to detail the financial assistance available to women living in women's aid refuge homes. (S1O-770) The Deputy Minister for Communities (Jackie Baillie): The Scottish Executive and local authorities fund voluntary bodies that provide support and accommodation. The payment of social security benefits to individuals is the responsibility of the Benefits Agency.
Is the minister aware of the plight of women in rural communities, who often have to raise a court action in one location, are forced to move to another location and then have to return to the first location to pursue the action? Furthermore, is she aware of the additional cost of travelling in rural communities and of the frequent necessity to stay overnight? If so, will she commit the Executive to further funding to ensure that those women are properly catered for?
The Executive already recognises that fact, which is why we established the domestic abuse service development fund a few weeks ago. That fund will provide an eightfold increase in the amount that the Executive gives to refuges.
Hepatitis C
To ask the Scottish Executive by how much the incidence of hepatitis C has increased in the past five years, how many of the cases are estimated to be as a result of drug injecting, what measures the Executive is taking to prevent the further spread of hepatitis C and what the cost implications are for the national health service in Scotland of any increase in the incidence of hepatitis C. (S1O-750) The Minister for Health and Community Care (Susan Deacon): It is estimated that there has been an increase in diagnosed cases from some per cent of diagnosed cases are injecting drug users. The Scottish Executive is awaiting a report on the implications of hepatitis C, including on how to prevent transmission.
Has the minister seen the July report from the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health, which estimated the figure of known diagnosed cases of hepatitis C at 6,367, but, more important, stated that the number of unknown cases exceeded that known figure severalfold? What are the implications of that for health treatment throughout the country? Furthermore, does she agree that we urgently need national treatment guidelines and far more research on the prevalence of this exceedingly serious disease?
I have seen the report to which Keith Raffan refers and agree that it is important to study the available research into how hepatitis C is transmitted and can be prevented. That is why the Scottish Office commissioned a report from the Scottish needs assessment programme earlier this year. We expect a working group that is examining the issue to report early in 2000; I will want to consider those findings very carefully.
Maternity Services (Greater Glasgow)
To ask the Scottish Executive what account will be taken of geographical location in the review of maternity services within the greater Glasgow area. (S1O-779) The Minister for Health and Community Care (Susan Deacon): That is a matter for the Greater Glasgow Health Board. I expect local health boards to engage in full discussion with local communities and service users in reaching decisions regarding future service provision.
Does the minister agree that there is bound to be concern in Glasgow over the proposal to reduce the number of maternity units from three to two? Does she recognise that that could threaten the future of the Queen Mother's maternity hospital at Yorkhill, which has an excellent reputation for serving the west of Scotland? Scotland has had the good fortune of offering women the chance to have their children at maternity hospitals. Given the number of low- birth-weight babies that has been announced this week, will the minister ensure that that choice remains available to the women of Scotland?
The provision of health services to meet local needs in the greater Glasgow area is a matter for Greater Glasgow Health Board. That said, I understand that many people will be very concerned about the future of maternity services in that area and elsewhere in the country. I can assure members that I am firmly committed to providing the best possible quality of maternity services, which means not only maternity services in hospitals but services provided in the community. Many current changes in provision across the country reflect a shift in balance towards community provision, which improves the service provided for women.
Frail Elderly People
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in building closer co-operation between local authorities and the national health service in the delivery of services to frail elderly people. (S1O775) The Deputy Minister for Community Care (Iain Gray): Our monitoring of the implementation of "Modernising Community Care: An Action Plan" indicates good progress in many areas. As I said to Parliament this morning, I will be chairing a working group to take forward the views expressed at last month's seminar for health and local authority leaders on joint working in community care.
Is the minister aware of initiatives such as the close co-operation between Lothian Health Board and West Lothian Council to put additional resources into care of the elderly? Does he see that as a model, greater use of which should be encouraged throughout Scotland?
Joint working of the kind to which Mr Muldoon refers is exactly the sort of thing that we want to see. There was another recent example of such joint working in Aberdeen, where the local authority and the health board worked together to spend resources where they could best be used. I know that recently there have been some problems with joint working in West Lothian. However, senior staff from my department have met health board and local authority officials; Mr Muldoon quite properly—as the local member— took an interest in those meetings. I am pleased that the difficulties have started to be overcome and that joint working is allowing issues to be moved forward.
Textile Industry
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage Scottish Enterprise to develop a national strategy for the textile industry. (S1O-769) The Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (Henry McLeish): The Scottish textile network, a Scottish Enterprise-funded forum for the exchange of information between industry and support agencies, was launched in March this year. The network is to develop a strategy for the Scottish textile industry, taking into consideration the strategy—due to be published around the end of this year—that was drawn up by the UK textiles and clothing strategy group.
Is the minister aware of the recent successes of some textile companies in the Langholm area of my Dumfries constituency, which have overcome many problems to capture niche markets for quality products in Italy and other parts of Europe? Is he aware that, despite that success, the directors of those companies believe that the Scottish textile industry would benefit from the development of a cluster strategy and from a move to address training problems to equip textile workers with skills in modern technology to ensure continued success?
I want to associate myself with the successes in the textile industry. Despite the fact that there have been nearly 5,000 publicly announced job losses since 1997, there have been enormous successes in significant niche markets such as technical textiles, cashmere and leather. In January, I will chair a working group that aims to examine the cluster issue. Despite the problems that the industry faces, it has a huge future. We want to work with employees, trade unions, managers and owners to ensure that success is achieved not only in the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, but the length and breadth of the country.
Housing Associations
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations regarding the promotion of community-based and tenant-controlled housing associations. (S1O-765) The Minister for Communities (Ms Wendy Alexander): I met the council of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations on 4 October. The SFHA is also an active participant in the Scottish housing interest group, which I met as recently as Monday of this week.
The last Scottish housing minister at Westminster promised to set up a partnership code of practice for all housing providers, with a definition of community ownership as, for example, a locally controlled organisation with a maximum number of housing units. Will the minister tell us what progress has been made towards making good that promise, or has the promise been dropped as a consequence of devolution?
I know that Mr McAllion has a particular interest in whether there should be a size limit on community-based housing associations. In his constituency, the plan is to have an organisation that will manage 2,000 units. The largest number of units in Scotland is 3,000. The member will be able to take up the matter during committee consideration of the forthcoming housing bill. We expect the bill to be with the committee by the summer.
Consultative Steering Group Report
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it continues to endorse section 3.5, paragraph 5 of the report of the consultative steering group on the Scottish Parliament. (S1O-757)
Yes.
I thank the minister for that very full answer. The section requires bills to complete a consultative process before being presented to Parliament. Will the minister comment on the adequacy of the consultation on the Executive's decision to include in the forthcoming education bill a section to abolish the Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee? In particular, will he comment on the fact that the consultation consisted of issuing a letter to nine organisations giving them 10 working days to comment not on the policy content, but on the technical provisions of the bill? I know the Executive's arguments in favour of abolishing the SJNC—
Have we had the question?
Does the minister think that that constitutes adequate consultation?
As I have previously indicated, the Executive is committed to the principle of consultation. All the bills that the First Minister announced in June have been or will be consulted on. It is for a committee to consider and comment on any consultation that has taken place. It is also within the gift of a committee, if it felt that any consultation was inadequate, to take further evidence and perhaps take the matter further.
Pre-school Education
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) males and (b) people from ethnic minorities are employed in pre-school education in Scotland. (S1O-741) The Presiding Officer: I call Peter Peacock to answer—and there has been a request that you should speak up, Mr Peacock.
I am delighted that so many people want to hear what I have to say. [MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] Thank you very much.
That is a worrying statistic. It is vital to have a balanced work force, especially in early education, when role models are particularly important to the development of young children. Can the deputy minister tell me whether there are any plans to have more men and people from ethnic minorities working in pre-school education? Will they be employed by the local authorities?
We very much share Maureen Macmillan's concern about trying to find the right balance between male and female teachers at all levels of education. I am glad to say that the national training organisation for early years is about to commission work to see how we can promote further the employment of males in that sector, and encourage more people from ethnic minorities to participate in training.
School Closures (Cumbernauld)
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received on the issue of the proposed school closures in Cumbernauld. (S1O747)
To date, we have received letters from 23 individuals.
Will the minister join me in congratulating the Cumbernauld Save Our Schools campaign on gathering 20,000 signatures? A huge proportion of the community is affected. Will he join me in condemning Councillor Charles Gray for dismissing, in the Cumbernauld News and Kilsyth Chronicle, that number of people as insignificant?
I am well aware of what is happening there, through the good work of my colleague, Cathie Craigie, who is the constituency member for the area. [Applause.] The matter is for the local council, which is currently considering the outcome of an open consultation process with parents. I urge Mr Wilson and his colleagues not to mislead parents into thinking that this Parliament has a direct role in this matter. I also urge parents in Cumbernauld not to allow themselves to be manipulated by people who see the issue simply in terms of political gain.
I remind the minister that he has a statutory duty with regard to school closures and that the member for the area is not opposing the school closures.
Order. You cannot remind the minister of anything, but you can ask him questions.
I therefore ask the minister whether he will join SNP members next week in receiving parents' signatures on the petition on this matter, not on a party basis, but for a cross- party, non-party, community-led campaign.
There are well-established procedures for receiving petitions. It would not be appropriate for us to do as Andrew Wilson suggests in these circumstances, as it is conceivable that one part of the exercise may ultimately be referred to ministers. However, the petition will be handed to us as a consequence of the exercise that Mr Wilson has talked about.
Miscarriages (Greater Glasgow)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will assist Greater Glasgow Health Board's public health department with funding for a fuller investigation of the high incidence of miscarriages it has reported in the area of Paterson's toxic dump, at Baillieston and Mount Vernon, Glasgow. (S1O-735) The Minister for Health and Community Care (Susan Deacon): That is a local matter and it is appropriate that studies are conducted and funded by the local health board. I understand that Greater Glasgow Health Board intends to carry out a full investigation into the matter.
I thank the minister for her answer, but the health board requires more assistance. The investigation is a major probe and the health board has already had to fund another one. I think that the minister will agree that Greater Glasgow Health Board's public health department has plenty of brains, but not enough cash.
Where is the question?
Does the Executive agree that it is totally unacceptable to have within the boundaries of any city a toxic dump that takes 500,000 tonnes of waste a year, including arsenic and cyanide—
Order. I am sorry, but we must have a question. I remind members that the standing orders are quite clear that points of view cannot be expressed during question time.
I ask for members' forbearance—it is difficult to give a clear answer to a confused question. However, I am clear about the Executive's absolute commitment to providing additional investment for the health service and to supporting local health authorities in discharging their functions effectively. We are also committed to taking action across the range of our responsibilities to reduce health inequalities and wider inequalities, and to tackle poverty across Scotland as well as in Glasgow.
NHS Equipment
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it is making for the replacement of medical and laboratory equipment in the national health service in Scotland. (S1O-772) The Minister for Health and Community Care (Susan Deacon): Capital resources of more than £45 million are allocated to individual NHS trusts on an annual basis for investment in their estate, including the replacement of medical and laboratory equipment. It is for individual NHS trusts to determine local priorities for the provision of equipment and how they should be funded from the resources available.
I thank the minister for her answer. However, does she accept that there are many demands on the capital budgets of acute trusts, as is the case with Aberdeen royal infirmary, which is in my constituency? Will she consider whether longer-term budget planning might assist those trusts to plan for the replacement of equipment and to meet priority targets in equipment-intensive areas, such as coronary heart care and cancer?
I am always happy to have constructive discussions with local health authorities and with MSPs about the ways in which we can become more effective in delivering high- quality health services and in ensuring that resources spent within the health service are utilised efficiently. I am pleased that we are doing that within the context of record levels of investment in our health service so that, as we move into a new millennium, we can provide modern, effective health services for people across Scotland.
Rural Challenge Funding
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that Here We Are Ltd of Cairndow will not lose any or all of its rural challenge funding as a result of the Scottish Executive's decision to call the project in for review. (S1O-748) The Minister for Rural Affairs (Ross Finnie):
I thank the minister for his response. However, given that this is a local community project and that the community has put a huge amount of work into raising the necessary funds to get the project off the ground, can the minister assure me that the review process will be completed by 31 March? Any further delay will mean that the project will forfeit £30,000 from Argyll and the Islands Enterprise and £42,000 from Scottish Natural Heritage, in addition to the £50,000 from the Scottish Office rural challenge fund.
I cannot give an absolute guarantee on the final determination of the inquiry but, as Mr Lyon is aware, the parties were asked to submit their submissions by 30 November. The submissions are being circulated and the parties have three weeks within which to respond. Therefore, it is up to the parties to meet the inquiry's timetable.
Chancellor of the Exchequer (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister last met the Chancellor of the Exchequer and what they discussed. (S1O-767) The First Minister (Donald Dewar): I met the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, an encounter that attracted a rather flatteringly large amount of attention.
I thank the First Minister for his courteous and enigmatic reply.
I recognise the hot pursuit of this issue that Mr Stone has mounted and I understand its importance and sensitivity. As he knows, there has been an enormous demand for funds that are, to some extent, limited. My colleague, the Minister for Rural Affairs has, very sensibly, tried to prioritise those funds, so that we can progress this matter in an orderly manner. Mr Finnie will meet the Rural Affairs Committee shortly to discuss the matter and I know that he is looking forward to that discussion.
Epilepsy
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a national strategy for the treatment of people with epilepsy in Scotland. (S1O-742)
The Scottish Executive endorses the work of SIGN—the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network—in producing national guidelines for the management of epilepsy in adults. We are also working to build links between services best to meet patients' needs.
There are 40,000 people in Scotland who suffer from epilepsy, but epilepsy is mentioned in the health improvement plans of only two health boards. What arrangements are in place for managed clinical networks in each health board area in Scotland?
Many of the developments that are taking place in health authorities throughout Scotland—to bring services together to work on a multi-agency basis, and to enable those services to listen more effectively to and meet patients' needs—will benefit epilepsy sufferers and people who suffer from many other conditions. I recently met representatives of the Epilepsy Association of Scotland. I have considered several ways in which the work can be carried out; we are continuing to consider that. I ask members to join me in working to break down the stigma and prejudice that surround epilepsy, so that we can build positive attitudes as well as effective services.
Disabled People
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve local authority service provision for disabled people. (S1O-782) The Deputy Minister for Community Care (Iain Gray): Our proposals to modernise community care will improve service for all client groups, including people with disabilities.
Can the minister explain why, in his written answer of 20 October, he detailed that the expenditure on services for those with a physical disability, in the first year of a Labour Government, had decreased by 26.2 per cent? What action does he plan to take to address that situation? Why was there a reduction of 26.2 per cent? Will he tell me on what page of the social justice document that fact appears?
We have covered this ground before. The grant-aided expenditure for social work services in Scotland has increased since last year by £51.3 million, or 4.9 per cent. It will increase next year and the following year as well.
Houses in Multiple Occupancy
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the introduction of mandatory licensing of houses in multiple occupancy will ensure that such accommodation is safe and does not in itself present a health and safety risk to those occupying it. (S1O-777) The Minister for Communities (Ms Wendy Alexander): Yes. Local authorities will be able to refuse licences to premises that fail to meet the required standards. Operating a house in multiple occupancy without a licence will now be a criminal offence.
Does the minister believe that licensing will strengthen the powers of local authorities to prevent situations from arising such as the one that occurred in my constituency earlier this year, when two young men lost their lives unnecessarily?
The answer to that is also yes. I am acutely aware of the interest that Patricia Ferguson has taken in this matter following the recent deaths in her constituency. I can confirm that the working party that is drawing up the guidelines is now at work with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to examine how preventive measures can be established. I would be happy to send Patricia Ferguson a copy of that guidance when I receive it, which should be around Christmas. We expect to bring it to the Parliament by spring 2000.
Closed-circuit Television
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to continue to provide funding to local authorities so that they can install CCTV systems within communities suffering from high levels of crime. (S1O-737) The Deputy Minister for Justice (Angus MacKay): On 11 August, I announced that £3 million would be made available in the financial year 2000-01 to fund the new "Make Our Communities Safer" challenge competition. Of that money, £1.5 million will be allocated to projects that address wider community safety issues. The other half will fund CCTV projects on the same basis as the previous Scottish Office challenge competition.
I welcome the minister's reply. Does he agree that increased spending on CCTV in communities such as Northburn in Airdrie is making a real difference in the detection and conviction of criminals, especially those associated with violent crime?
Yes. There is no doubt that all the research evidence in support of CCTV indicates that it has a substantial impact on the detection of crime, the ability to obtain convictions as a result of that detection and the ability of police forces to marshal the use of their resources.
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