SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Education and Young People, Tourism, Culture and Sport
Schools (Class Sizes)
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had about reducing class sizes. (S2O-4313)
I have regular discussions with local authority and teacher representatives on several educational issues, including class sizes.
Does the minister agree that many classes are far too big? For example, is he aware that according to the Executive's latest figures, in secondary schools in the Falkirk area, 47 per cent of first-year maths classes and 55 per cent of second-year maths classes have 30 or more pupils? Instead of allowing head teachers to dilute the partnership commitment to reduce such class sizes to a maximum of 20, will he fulfil the commitment by increasing teacher recruitment and giving local authorities additional resources to employ more teachers, to improve educational opportunities for pupils in our schools?
I am glad to be able to satisfy Dennis Canavan on all those counts. The Executive is firmly committed to reducing class sizes in secondary 1 and 2 maths and English in particular, precisely because we think that classes are too big. That is part of our commitment to have 53,000 teachers in our schools, even though school rolls are falling. We are on track to meet that commitment.
I was pleased to hear what the minister said. In allowing head teachers more flexibility over class sizes and providing on-going information, will he undertake always to keep teachers informed, particularly through the Educational Institute of Scotland and other trade unions?
Not only will teachers be kept informed, but I hope they will play an active part in national and local discussions about how we provide the flexibility for which head teachers and schools have asked. It is good professional practice for head teachers to seek to involve teachers in the discussion of potential changes to class sizes in their schools. That is very much the spirit in which I want progress to be made.
Are falling school rolls not having more impact on class sizes than are Executive policies to boost the number of teachers? Several news stories in the past few weeks have suggested that a shortage of teachers persists, not least in Glasgow. Given that driving down class sizes is the key to improvements in attainment and discipline in school education, will the minister undertake to review the measures that he is taking to increase teacher supply, rather than twisting and turning on matters of flexibility?
I do not for one minute think that I am "twisting and turning on matters of flexibility". Our policy is clear and I will reiterate it. We have given the extra cash to build the extra classrooms to house the extra teachers whom we are recruiting. We have in position all the places in our universities to train those extra teachers and we have all the money to pay their salaries. Given that everything is on track, it is right that we should examine how we might advance our policy even further with some local flexibility. Indeed, last week the First Minister quoted the SNP spokesperson speaking in support of that policy rather than opposing it. I hope that we will get support from the SNP.
Foreign Languages (Primary Schools)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support the teaching of foreign languages in primary schools. (S2O-4355)
Since 2001, the Scottish Executive has provided education authorities with more than £14 million to support the implementation of the recommendations made in the report by the action group on languages "Citizens of a Multilingual World".
Does the minister accept that the notorious incompetence of people in Scotland and the rest of Britain in foreign languages is a serious handicap to our ability to take maximum advantage of European trade opportunities? Has he done any assessment of the success of the recent teaching of foreign languages in primary 6 and primary 7 and of whether that offers a successful way of changing the scenario? Is he looking at the possibility of rolling out language immersion for primary 1 children, which is being piloted in Aberdeen and which could copy the success of Gaelic-immersion schools in a slightly different context?
I am more than happy to consider new ideas of ways to advance the cause of promoting better language use in Scotland. I am one of the incompetent Scots who does not have other languages. That is a matter of personal regret because, in the past when I was operating in European political forums, all the people around me could speak several languages and, to my shame, I could not. Many people in Scotland and the rest of Britain believe that because most people speak English, we do not have to learn other languages. That is one of the major challenges facing education in Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom. However, all the evidence shows that learning other languages is good for the brain and for expanding learning capacity and that whether someone learns other languages determines how competitive they will be in the future jobs market. Undoubtedly our young people will have to compete on a European stage in the future more than they have to do today, so having one or more additional languages would be a clear advantage.
The minister has acknowledged the challenge ahead of us and he is no doubt aware that according to research by the European Commission, only 34 per cent of UK citizens speak a second language compared with 98 per cent in some other member states. Does he agree that inter-regional co-operation and joint projects with schools in other regions of the European Union can greatly assist pupil motivation by allowing them to engage with other young people and getting them interested in learning languages? Will he join me in welcoming the European Commission's Comenius programme and the involvement of local authorities such as North Ayrshire Council in progressing such programmes?
I join Irene Oldfather in congratulating that council on its involvement in that programme. I acknowledge that she is not one of the incompetent Scots, because she is competent in French as I know from her involvement in the European Committee of the Regions. When she was entertaining visitors to the Parliament last week, she conversed in French for the whole evening. She is to be congratulated on the example that she sets for the rest of us.
Is the minister aware of the innovative scheme at Rothesay Primary School where one teacher has refreshed her language teaching skills so that she can provide all the language teaching in the school and free up the other teachers for non-contact time? Is that initiative not worthy of consideration for repetition elsewhere in Scotland?
I am not aware of the particular scheme to which Lord James refers, but I will be happy to receive information about it. However, Lord James makes a good point—I do not always say that—that some councils are using the opportunity that is created by the reduction in class contact time imaginatively by deploying specialisms to fill up the time. That is one way to advance not just languages but other specialisms in schools.
Modern Languages
To ask the Scottish Executive what further action it will take to make the primary and secondary school modern language programme more successful. (S2O-4318)
It is obviously the Liberal week for languages. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education is evaluating provision for modern languages in Scottish schools. Its final report is due this month. Those findings will help to inform future support for modern languages and work that is under way to revise our schools curriculum.
The fact that two questions on languages came up together is a coincidence and not a plot. Taking up Irene Oldfather's point, how does the minister think that we can help teachers to enthuse pupils in secondary schools about modern languages? I would hate to try to teach a modern language to pupils who were dead against it for whatever mistaken reason. How can we enthuse them about the importance of learning modern languages and the pleasure to be gained from it? Our education system is notoriously at its worst in the early secondary years, so how can we grab those pupils for modern languages in that period?
Donald Gorrie makes an important point. The thrust of the changes to the curriculum that we announced last month is to try to ensure that young people are more engaged in learning in S1 and S2. Part of the secret of that is not to use compulsion in all subjects but to encourage and enthuse people and to give them greater choice and space than we have given them in the past to pursue the subjects that they want to pursue.
Marine National Parks
To ask the Scottish Executive whether tourism would be boosted by the establishment of statutory marine national parks. (S2O-4407)
Tourism in coastal and island areas, including watching marine and other forms of wildlife, is an important and growing component of Scotland's tourism sector. VisitScotland is already actively engaged with other organisations in promoting its further development. The Executive consulted recently on a strategic framework for Scotland's marine environment, and asked for views on whether there is a role for marine national parks in better managing the use of our seas. Responses to the consultation are being evaluated and the Executive's conclusions will be announced in due course.
I am sure that the minister agrees that Scotland's marine environment is the envy of the rest of the United Kingdom and much of the rest of the world. Scotland's marine environment is an asset to our tourism industry, as the minister said, but its management is a guddle of more than 80 pieces of legislation and 35 public bodies. It has taken half a century for Scotland to catch up with England and Wales on terrestrial national parks—even though one of our national parks does not have sensible boundaries and has no planning powers. Does the minister recognise the potential iconic value of establishing the UK's first marine national park? Will he persuade his Cabinet colleagues to speed up moves towards the establishment of such a park?
I will persuade my Cabinet colleagues—although they will need no persuasion—to pay full attention to the responses to the consultation, as the Scottish Executive always does. I fully accept the member's point about the value of marine wildlife tourism in Scotland, which generates more than £57 million per year, supports more than 2,600 jobs and is of tremendous importance. More than 90 per cent of visitors to Scotland mention our tremendous natural resources as a reason for visiting the country, so I accept that those resources are an extremely important part of tourism activity and I accept the importance of protecting our wonderful natural heritage.
VisitScotland (Marketing Strategy)
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for VisitScotland's marketing strategy. (S2O-4334)
VisitScotland's marketing strategy is key to the ambition of increasing the value of tourism revenues in Scotland by 50 per cent over the next decade. We have made available a 28 per cent increase over three years in VisitScotland's marketing budget to support that ambition. VisitScotland will use that extra money—most of which will be matched by the private sector—to broaden its United Kingdom and United States marketing campaigns, to extend its European campaigns and to strengthen the marketing of the many new direct air links to Scotland from international and UK markets.
I thank the minister, who is standing in to answer questions. I acknowledge that there have been recent successes in attracting new tourists to Scotland and I hope that such success continues. However, concerns are expressed, particularly by people in the industry, that the projected shortfall of between £2 million and £4 million might have a damaging effect on local funding. How will the expected 10 to 15 per cent redundancy across the network be paid for? Will VisitScotland take on the pension liabilities of the 14 area tourist boards?
I am blinded on any potential shortfall. I mentioned the substantial increase in VisitScotland's marketing budget and VisitScotland's overall budget is £43 million per year, which is a considerable sum of money. VisitScotland's results are impressive; this year there was a 12 per cent increase in visitors to Scotland and a 25 per cent increase in visitors from the European Union, which indicates that we are on the right track. Work is going on to refine our efforts even further to ensure that we are up to date with the best possible practice in the management of our tourism assets and with the most effective techniques of promoting this country in the UK and around the world. I am sure that in any changes that are made, VisitScotland will follow the best human resources practice, but discussions on the matter are going on and as far as I am aware have not yet reached a conclusion.
I am sure that the minister is aware of Edinburgh's crucial role as a driver of Scottish tourism and a gateway to Scotland. Indeed, I am sure that he is aware that 54 per cent of overseas visitors and 21 per cent of UK visitors to Scotland route through Edinburgh. Will the minister provide an assurance that the new arrangements and marketing plans for the VisitScotland integrated network will continue to maximise the capital's gateway role and build on successes such as the Edinburgh convention bureau, and in so doing ensure that not only Edinburgh but the wider Scottish tourism industry and the wider Scottish economy reap the maximum benefits?
I am happy to endorse the efforts that have been made in Edinburgh not only to improve tourism in the city but to allow the effects of increased tourism to be spread across Scotland. That is to be commended in every possible way. More and more, we realise the benefits of co-operation rather than competition between areas of Scotland, to ensure that there is the maximum transition from one area to another; that we gain the maximum possible spend from visitors to Scotland; and that through those efforts and exposure to the maximum number of attractions that Scotland has to offer we encourage even higher numbers of repeat visitors.
Finance and Public Services and Communities
Land-value Taxation
To ask the Scottish Executive when the independent body reviewing local government finance will meet to consider the benefits of land value taxation. (S2O-4391)
We are moving on apace, as the Presiding Officer is well aware.
I realise that Mr McCabe is doing two jobs today.
It is public sector efficiency.
I welcome the minister's confirmation that the committee will consider land value taxation as part of its work. Does he have information on whether the independent review committee plans to meet external organisations to discuss the potential of land value taxation? In the voluntary sector, the Henry George Foundation, a think-tank that is based here in Edinburgh, is at the forefront of research into how public services can be funded through land value taxation. In academia, there are experts in Scotland such as Dr Roger Sandilands at the University of Strathclyde—
We do not want a speech, Mr Ballard. Come to the question.
Does the minister agree that it is essential that the review makes full use of all resources and external bodies properly to consider the contribution that land value taxation might make to the cultural, economic, environmental and democratic renaissance of Scotland? [Interruption.]
It is still a question.
Even applying my best efficiency, I cannot remember half of what the member has said, but I will do my best to respond.
Domestic Abuse (Prevention)
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding assistance is offered to organisations involved in the prevention of domestic abuse. (S2O-4397)
Over the past few years, an unprecedented amount of funding has been made available to organisations that are involved in the prevention of domestic abuse. From 2000 until 2006, almost £26 million will have been spent on tackling domestic abuse. A further £6 million will have been spent on the wider forms of violence against women. The funding includes such programmes as the refuge development programme, the domestic abuse service development fund, the Scottish domestic abuse helpline and the domestic abuse court pilot.
Does the minister agree that Scottish Women's Aid and other such organisations that are working in my constituency and throughout Scotland must continue to be resourced, so that they can provide invaluable assistance to women and children, who are by far the main victims of domestic abuse?
Absolutely. The Scottish Executive has recognised the key role of Scottish Women's Aid, both by providing funding and by working with such organisations to develop a strategy. We know that 89 per cent of the victims of domestic abuse are women and that more than 89 per cent of perpetrators are male.
I welcome the minister's comments. I wish to raise a constituency matter relating to the Edinburgh domestic violence probation project, which has been running for many years. The project is waiting to hear the outcome of an application for additional funding to allow it to operate at proper capacity. At present, sheriffs are unable to divert people to the project and although it has been successful in Edinburgh, it cannot be extended to other jurisdictions, such as Haddington. Will the minister consider accelerating consideration of the project's funding in order that further progress can be made?
The Scottish Executive is committed to working with organisations and projects that seek to make the changes on which we all agree. Although I do not know the details of the project to which Kenny MacAskill referred, I am more than happy to meet him to talk about it or to receive correspondence from him highlighting the issues, which I will ensure are pursued within the Executive.
Given that many young people and children in schools display emotional difficulties or do not learn because they are affected badly by domestic violence, does the minister agree that there is a need for more awareness raising among teachers? Does she agree that initial teacher training courses should provide courses in conjunction with Scottish Women's Aid—which does training well—and that refresher courses should be provided every few years so that teachers are aware of the signs and know how to deal with those young people?
When I was a schoolteacher I worked with young people who were often blamed for their non-attendance and difficulties in school, when in fact their behaviour was absolutely logical given what was happening to them in their homes. Sometimes they were afraid to leave their homes because they were afraid of what they would go back to if they left their mother on her own. I understand the issues that Rosemary Byrne highlighted. The £6 million that has been allocated to children's workers recognises that there are people who, although they are not working in Scottish Women's Aid refuges, have a central role in working with young people. It is crucial that as a result of training for teachers and other people who work in schools and elsewhere, they should be able to ask the right question at the right time, to allow young people to explain their circumstances in a safe way and get the help that they and their families need.
Scottish Borders
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to sustain and invigorate Borders communities. (S2O-4408)
A wide range of Executive policies are in place and are making a real difference, for example investment in affordable housing, funding to support community transport projects, significant economic development investment, and 175 jobs in the Scottish Public Pensions Agency.
I note what the minister says, but does he agree that central to sustaining and invigorating Borders communities is the local primary school? Given that, Borders-wide, schools such as Burnmouth, Hutton, Fountainhall and many others are going to close, that cannot be said to be supporting sustainability or invigorating communities. Will the Minister for Communities liaise with the Minister for Education and Young People to consider providing targeted funding to local authorities such as Scottish Borders Council to enable schools to remain open in the wider interests of the social and economic well-being of often fragile communities?
I will raise the matter with the Minister for Education and Young People, who heard the member directly, so I am sure that he will get back to her. Obviously, I was not expecting an education question. When I was talking about the Scottish Public Pensions Agency, it sprung to mind that Christine Grahame attacked that movement of jobs to the Borders, saying that it was little more than "cynical political manoeuvring". I hope that she is now willing to retract that and accept the analysis of Scottish Enterprise Borders, which estimates the annual economic impact of that move at £6.13 million and 289 full-time-equivalent jobs.
The minister may be aware of my opposition to the proposal of the Conservative-led council in the Borders to close schools. Does he acknowledge the work of Lauderdale Development Trust and the community of Walkerburn, which are working hard to develop their areas? Will he ensure that the local funding structures, through the enterprise company, the council and Communities Scotland, are properly co-ordinated to offer support to communities such as Lauderdale and Walkerburn?
I am pleased that Scottish Enterprise Borders has put funding into those communities. I strongly support that and I will see what further work can be done.
It would not be appropriate to comment on education issues during this section of question time, so instead I will ask the minister about community planning and the co-ordination of activities to sustain communities. Scottish Water already imposes significant development constraints in the Borders and now the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has adopted a negative attitude towards soakaways in the building of individual houses. What discussions has the Executive had with SEPA about that restriction on housebuilding in the Borders and other parts of rural Scotland?
I am not aware of any discussions on the issue, but I will investigate the matter and write to the member.
Housing (Local Authorities)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is a good use of public resources for local authorities to compete in the private housing market for homes rather than build new local authority owned properties to meet their obligations under homelessness legislation. (S2O-4305)
As a general rule, Scottish Executive funding goes to programmes that increase the supply of housing. However, there may be circumstances in which the purchase of properties is justified to meet particular housing objectives quickly. That is a matter for local authorities to consider in the light of their housing needs assessments and local circumstances.
All members support the recent homelessness legislation that will ensure that homeless people have access to temporary accommodation. However, the public in Aberdeenshire have raised concerns because the council there has just spent £0.5 million on buying six houses in the private market, competing against local people. Does the minister accept that that shows that there is a council housing crisis? Surely it would be cheaper, more sensible and a better use of public funds for councils to build council housing to help people who need a roof over their head than to compete in a market in which housing is already in short supply.
As I said, the fundamental policy is to increase the supply of affordable housing. In the next three years, £1.2 billion will be targeted at that. Aberdeenshire Council has benefited greatly from the increased expenditure on housing—it received a big increase in its funding for housing in the past year. However, as I stated, those measures may need to be supplemented in some circumstances. We have increased the rights of homeless people and the number of people who have those rights, which obviously means that short-term as well as longer-term action needs to be taken. The fundamental policy is to increase the supply of homes, but the private sector should be used where necessary. I emphasise that because, as a result of the Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2004—which will ensure that families are not in bed-and-breakfast accommodation for longer than 14 days—some councils may have to use the private sector.
The minister is aware that local authorities play a key role in housing, not just as landlords, but in leading strategic discussions and decision making about housing provision, particularly in relation to homelessness. Will he reassure me that he will continue to work with local authorities to address the needs of homeless people in their areas?
I strongly agree with Mary Mulligan on that point. On Tuesday, I was pleased to convene one of a series of regular meetings between the Executive and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on housing, homelessness and regeneration, at which I made clear my total commitment to working in partnership with COSLA on the challenges of homelessness and of housing and regeneration more generally. I repeated that commitment at yesterday's Communities Committee meeting, in which there was some disagreement with COSLA. I do not want to go into the details, although some of this morning's reporting of the disagreement was one sided. We engaged with COSLA as much as we could in the past year on the order that I mentioned, but it did not respond to the consultation on the matter. However, that is water under the bridge and I am determined to ensure that we work in partnership with COSLA on all the challenging housing matters.
The trouble is that the water is not entirely under the bridge, I am afraid. Is the minister aware that the order has made it necessary for East Lothian Council to try to purchase former council houses to meet the growing needs of homeless people? Does it make sense for the Executive to compel local authorities to sell houses at discounted prices as low as £20,000 and then compel them to buy back the same houses at the market price of around £100,000? How does the minister reconcile that with the theme of efficient government that the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform will talk about this afternoon?
That is not the main thing that is happening in housing in East Lothian. One of the most important developments for East Lothian Council—over and above the £1.2 billion that will benefit everywhere in Scotland—is the Executive's decision to allow councils to use a prudential borrowing regime. I know that East Lothian Council is keen to benefit from that regime, which will do a great deal for council housing in the area.
Local Authority Services (One-stop Shops)
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging the development of one-stop shops for local authority services. (S2O-4356)
The Executive is encouraging the development of one-stop shops—and, most important, one-stop services—through the modernising government fund, which provides direct financial support to local authorities, and through the community planning process, which encourages councils to work with their partners.
I thank the minister for his comprehensive response. He might be aware of the extensive network of one-stop shops for local authority services in my local authority area in Fife. I am heartened to hear him acknowledge that, as part of the process, authorities should work with partner agencies. What encouragement can be given to all local authorities to include in their one-stop shops not only local authority services, but services that are offered by non-departmental public bodies?
Mr Barrie raises an important point in relation not only to non-departmental public bodies, but to departments of Government in the round. We intend to work with the range of organisations that he describes in order to ensure that one-stop shops and one-stop services link across Government. We intend to ensure that citizens receive the best possible service as quickly and efficiently as possible. That is very much part of our efficient government approach.
Local Government Finance Review
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive a progress report on the work of the independent review into local government finance. (S2O-4296)
As the member will have heard in the response to an earlier question, Tom McCabe and I plan to meet the review committee early in the new year to hear of progress in its work.
When the ministers meet the independent committee, will they stress the importance of publicising its work and of inviting people who have views on the future of local government finance to submit their comments? Liberal Democrats are keen to put forward our view that the council tax is unfair and should be replaced by a local income tax.
It is certainly our intention, when we meet the independent review committee, to ask its members about the mechanisms for ensuring that all who wish to put forward their views and give evidence can do so. The information on the committee's approach should be promulgated as widely as possible throughout Scotland.
Housing Support Services
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve housing support services. (S2O-4375)
Under the spending review, £1.2 billion is available over the next three years for housing support services. Local authorities are being asked to conduct local service reviews in order to identify services that do not fit with strategic priorities and gaps in provision and they are being asked to deliver improved value for money. The Scottish Social Services Council is examining the scope for introducing a training qualification for housing support staff.
Although I appreciate the work that the Executive is doing in the area, does the minister accept that the changes to the arrangements in the supporting people fund are causing difficulties for projects such as the supported housing accommodation for young people in Alexander Road in Glenrothes in my constituency? Will she outline the management arrangements that have been put in place to deal with the changes connected with the supporting people programme? Will she ensure that there is meaningful dialogue with local authorities and voluntary bodies on the matter?
We all recognise the challenge that always comes with redistribution and change. In its dialogue with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Scottish Executive has acknowledged some of the difficulties that have emerged around the supporting people fund. We should be clear about a number of things, however. First, £1.2 billion over three years is a significant amount of funding in anybody's language. Because it is spread over three years, it is providing stability and an opportunity for local authorities to plan ahead, as they themselves have recognised.
General Questions
Health Services Funding (Grampian)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to change the funding formula for health services in the Grampian area in the next three years. (S2O-4306)
Grampian's 2004-05 unified budget has increased by £30.9 million over the comparable 2003-04 budget. The Executive currently has no plans fundamentally to change the funding formula for the health service, which is based on national health service boards' population share, the age and sex mix, the level of deprivation and the proportion of the population living in remote and rural areas. A short-life resource allocation committee is being set up and part of its remit is to improve and refine the Arbuthnott formula.
The minister will know from a recent parliamentary answer that he gave me that two years ago Grampian received the third-worst funding settlement in Scotland per capita for health services, last year it received the second-worst funding settlement in Scotland and this year it received the worst funding settlement in Scotland. That is despite the fact that, although Grampian has perhaps the most efficient health board in the whole of Scotland, it has some of the longest waiting times in Scotland.
Come to the question, please.
Grampian NHS Board could be about to run up a deficit of around £13 million. Does the minister accept that the current formula does not reflect need for patients in Grampian? Will he initiate a review to ensure that the formula used reflects need and takes into account the pressures that are experienced by medical staff and patients in Grampian?
I tried to indicate that to the member in my initial answer. If he does not believe it from me, he should perhaps correspond with his party leader, who said:
Is the minister aware that, as a result of financial constraints, NHS Grampian has had to postpone its appointment of infection control nurses until April next year? Does he agree that those nurses have a vital role to play in education about, and control of, MRSA and other hospital-acquired infections? For the future, will he seek to restore NHS Grampian's fair share of resources, which were directed away from the north-east under the Arbuthnott formula?
Let us get this in context, colleagues. The current budget is £8.1 billion, rising to £10.3 billion in 2007-08. On the point about Grampian, I point out that the Executive has levelled up resources; we have not taken money away from any health board. With the progress that we are making and the additional resources that we are putting in, we have been levelling up. No one is losing in hard-cash terms. The new money that has gone to Grampian is in line with the average increase throughout Scotland. There is no reduction in funding. Of course all our health boards are under pressure with regard to resources. We all know that they could do more with more money. However, it is for them to decide the local priorities. I share the member's view on infection control, about which the Executive will make announcements in due course.
Road Safety
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve road safety. (S2O-4387)
The Executive is investing in road improvements targeted on accident black spots. We are also funding road safety programmes, such as the foolsspeed and Christmas drink driving campaigns, and safer road projects, such as safer routes to school and home zones. We are supporting tougher enforcement by the police, for example to stop drivers using hand-held mobile telephones, which is illegal and irresponsible and costs lives.
I welcome the measures that the minister outlined. Does he agree that elderly pedestrians can be particularly vulnerable, given that they could have sight, mobility and hearing problems? Will he consider running a road safety awareness campaign to encourage drivers to recognise the specific difficulties that elderly and disabled pedestrians face?
I thank Irene Oldfather for that suggestion. She has raised with me the recent tragic incident involving an elderly person in Ayrshire, so I am aware of that sad case. I will certainly raise her suggestion with the Scottish Road Safety Campaign and encourage local authorities to consider what measures they can take, particularly in areas where there are a significant number of elderly people. I will also raise with trunk roads officials in the Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department the issue of dangers and points on the trunk road network where we might be able to take action that would assist elderly people or people with disabilities.
Does the minister agree that we live in one of the gloomiest countries in the world at this time of year, when darkness descends in the early afternoon? Is he as surprised as I am at the number of drivers who persist in driving along roads such as the A82 with no headlights in half-darkness, fog or even snow? Will he adopt the Scandinavian model of having drivers use dipped headlights at all times and advocate that as part of a road safety campaign?
I am not sure that that is within the Executive's devolved competence.
I am pretty sure that it is not, Presiding Officer. Much of the gloom tends to come from the left side of the chamber, particularly when Fergus Ewing is on his feet. Any constructive suggestion about road safety should be considered seriously and I would be happy to raise his proposal with the appropriate authorities, including the police and the Scottish Road Safety Campaign. Legislating on road safety issues remains reserved, but we in the Executive have an important role to play in promoting better road safety. I will certainly consider any suggestion. The Scandinavian approach of using dipped headlights at all times is worthy of study.
I am sure that the minister will agree that making alternatives to the car more attractive would go a long way towards improving road safety, so will he tell us when we will have a proper strategy and meaningful targets for road traffic reduction?
We have a proper strategy for road traffic reduction. We have an ambitious target to reduce road traffic levels by 2021. We are determined to achieve that target through the most ambitious investment programme in public transport initiatives that we have seen for decades. That is why we are committing to new bus, rail and tram projects and extra investment in our ferry services. That package of measures, which is targeted on improving public transport, will transform our public transport infrastructure over the coming years.
What examples can the minister give of the positive use of speed cameras for road safety? Will he describe the criteria that are used for determining fixed-camera sites?
Speed cameras can be very effective. For example, when the grade-separated junctions were introduced on the section of the A90 at Forfar—the Forfar bypass—safety cameras were in place throughout the road works and were welcomed by the local community and all sensible motorists. Correctly positioned safety cameras can help to protect drivers, passengers and the local community and all the surveys show that they have strong local support. I would like to ensure that, when new safety cameras are introduced, there is always a strong safety case and an open and public account of why they are being introduced. I have no doubt that I will recommend more safety cameras in appropriate locations, where they can help to reduce the toll of deaths and serious injuries on our roads.
The minister made a comment about how people on this side of the chamber can be gloomy every so often. I was cheerful when his predecessor announced that there would be an improvement to the Ballinluig road junctions to tackle that accident black spot. However, I was less than happy when I found out in a series of ministerial answers that virtually no progress has been made with the improvements that the then minister promised more than two years ago. What steps have been taken since I asked those questions to intensify the timescale for that essential measure to improve road safety on the A9?
I understand John Swinney's concern and I, too, want to ensure that the project goes ahead as quickly as possible. I had meetings with officials following the commitment that I gave John Swinney in the chamber recently. The project is complex and involves two crossings of the railway line as it passes through Ballinluig, but I am determined to move forward with it as quickly as possible. I had an assurance from officials that work is being done on the detail of the project, based on the new consultancy contract. The draft orders will be published in the spring and I want to move forward as quickly as possible after that, I hope without a public inquiry, to ensure that the scheme is built.
Drugs (Legislation)
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding plans to alter legislation on possession which would introduce an offence of having drugs in the bloodstream. (S2O-4401)
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the misuse of drugs. I understand that there are no plans to introduce an offence of that nature.
I am grateful for that confirmation. The minister has acknowledged that more needs to be done to reduce drug-related crime, but will he confirm that the Government's alcohol strategy review showed that offenders have been found to be intoxicated with alcohol in 30 per cent of sexual offences, 33 per cent of burglaries and 50 per cent of street crime and that the problem is more severe in Scotland? What is the Executive doing to raise the profile of alcohol-related crime in police areas throughout Scotland?
Excessive consumption of alcohol and alcohol-related crime remain issues throughout Scotland. We have invested significantly in education programmes to make people aware of the dangers of alcohol and to promote safe alcohol consumption. As part of our review of licensing laws, we are encouraging a debate about the need for those who sell alcohol to act responsibly and for those who purchase and consume alcohol to take responsibility for their own safety and protection and the safety and protection of the wider community.
In the minister's discussions with Her Majesty's Government, will he support a reduction in the limit of ethanol that is permitted in the bloodstream of people who are driving?
We discuss a range of issues with our UK colleagues and I am sure that they will continue to review the limits of various substances in the bloodstream in relation to driving. The message must go out that people who take substances that affect behaviour should be careful and, in fact, should not consume them when they are considering driving.
Strategic Road Projects Review
To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of strategic road projects will begin in order to ensure that gaps in the network are closed and that bypasses for those communities seeking them are given consideration. (S2O-4379)
The partnership agreement commits the Executive to starting the strategic projects review before 2007. The review will cover all transport modes, not just strategic roads. A significant number of major new road schemes, including bypasses, are already being progressed as part of our £3 billion capital investment programme for transport.
One of the Scottish Executive's success stories is the development of the Superfast ferry, which has helped to remove millions of heavy-goods vehicle miles from the road network. However, the continuing success of the ferry means that many HGVs are using the roads in and around the Rosyth ferry port, so will the minister and his colleagues give priority consideration in the review to the aspiration of the communities in Rosyth and Inverkeithing to have a bypass at Rosyth? Every time that there are high winds, the Forth road bridge is closed to HGVs, caravans and high-sided vehicles, which are rerouted through the towns of Inverkeithing and Rosyth, creating an unacceptable impact on the people there.
Can we just have the question?
Will the minister bear that in mind?
I will bear it mind. On the earlier point, Helen Eadie has made representations to me, as have other MSPs from the area, such as Scott Barrie, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who is busy on other matters today but would be interested in this reply. I want Rosyth's future to be considered carefully and I agree that new investment is needed in the road network. If we are going to be ambitious for Rosyth, make new linkages and take more freight off our roads, a rail network to Rosyth, as well as the enhancement of the ferry service, will be required.
Will the minister consider promoting the development of a bridge across the Forth that would take some of the traffic that at the moment goes by the Forth road bridge or by the A80? The new Kincardine bridge could ease those two blockages.
The new investment that we propose in the extra Kincardine bridge—it will not replace the existing bridge; a second bridge will be created—is important and can help the road network through to Stirling and Clackmannanshire. We must be prepared to take a longer-term view on the issue and consider the future of all the Forth crossings, which is why the early-stage work that the Forth Estuary Transport Authority is doing on the long-term options is important.
Racism
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce racially motivated attacks in Edinburgh. (S2O-4317)
Racially motivated attacks have no place in today's Scotland. We are committed to challenging racism, whatever form it takes and wherever in Scotland it occurs. Where cases are reported, the Lord Advocate has made clear his desire to see the police and procurators fiscal improve the prosecution of race crimes. The police and other agencies across Scotland are also working hard to reassure and support all our communities.
Recent reports have shown a 30 per cent increase in recorded racial attacks in the capital. Does the minister agree that, in light of recent press coverage, the media have a responsibility to ensure that they do not encourage or inflame racial prejudices?
Everyone has that responsibility. Members of the Parliament have a responsibility to be careful in what they do and say to ensure that they do not inflame racial prejudice. Members of the public should take particular care about what they say or do and should try to avoid offence or stirring up racial prejudice. Equally, members of the media of whatever form should be careful in what they report so that unintended slight does not occur, words are not misconstrued and people do not suffer as a result. We all need to think very carefully about what we say or do. We need to think carefully about our responsibilities to other members of our society.
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