SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Coalfields Regeneration Trust
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Scottish allocation from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust is sufficient. (S1O-1062) The Deputy Minister for Communities (Jackie Baillie): The Coalfields Regeneration Trust will spend £4.5 million in Scotland over the next three years. That, of course, is in addition to the Executive's programmes to tackle the problems of deprived areas and to promote social inclusion.
Is the minister aware that the UK Treasury profits by some £250 million a year from the miners pension fund? Does she think that £4.5 million, which represents £2.50 per head per year, is sufficient to regenerate the mining communities, which lost so many jobs under the Tories? Will she admit that the Labour party is following the Tories in betraying the mining communities of West Lothian, Ayrshire, Fife and Lanarkshire by using the miners pension fund to feed the fat cats of Whitehall rather than to pay compensation to miners or to regenerate those communities?
There was a question in there somewhere, to which my response is absolutely not.
Does the minister agree that Ms Hyslop misses the point about areas such as West Lothian, which is an example of the successful regeneration of a former coalfield community and has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Scotland? Had Ms Hyslop attended the economic development
I thank the member for pointing out an example of the significant regeneration of a former coalfield area. Let me put the matter in context, as it is not just about the Coalfields Regeneration Trust. In December and again this week, Jack McConnell announced a special deprivation allowance, which will target eight former coalfield areas and which represents an additional £5 million in 1999-2000 alone. In the social inclusion partnerships, which also cover several coalfield areas, there is a further £5 million.
National Lottery
To ask the Scottish Executive what help and guidance it can give to organisations in Glasgow to encourage them to apply for funding from the national lottery's community involvement and poverty and disadvantage programmes. (S101035) The Minister for Communities (Ms Wendy Alexander): The National Lottery Charities Board opened an office in Glasgow on 17 June 1999, specifically to raise its profile in the west of Scotland. A team of people at that office has been trained to work in the west of Scotland.
Given that health and deprivation problems in Glasgow have been highlighted recently, and given the Scottish Executive's serious commitment to eradicating such problems, does the minister agree that further action is required to increase the proportion of successful bids by organisations in the cities from the unrepresentative levels of 10 per cent and 26 per cent of total awards in September and December respectively?
I agree whole-heartedly. That is why we have asked the Glasgow Alliance to work with social inclusion partnerships in Glasgow to attract a larger share of lottery funding into the city.
Does the minister consider that the £60 million that, it is reported, will be allocated by the lottery to bail out London's dome would be better used for the relief of poverty in Glasgow?
I invite Lloyd Quinan to reflect on how I spent my day yesterday—I was with one of the lottery distributors, suggesting that the £23 million that it will be spending over the next three years in Scotland should be spent in areas of social exclusion. I commend the efforts of the Universal Connections digital inclusion conference to him.
Roads (A77)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the progress being made on the upgrade of the A77. (S1O-1034) The Minister for Transport and the Environment (Sarah Boyack): The preparatory work for the new section of the M77 is proceeding in line with the timetable for implementing the scheme, which I announced in November.
Is the minister aware that there is suspicion and concern in Ayrshire about possible delays and in particular about the timing of the Glasgow southern orbital route? Will she confirm and give a guarantee that the upgrade of the A77 will not be held back by any delay in the Glasgow southern orbital route?
Our intention is to ensure that the two schemes proceed in parallel. I know that East Renfrewshire Council and South Lanarkshire Council are extremely keen to make sure that the Glasgow southern orbital route proceeds properly and that the M77 proceeds as quickly as possible. The timetable that I announced is a two-year programme from now to construction starting in 2002. There is no need for anybody to be suspicious. We have started the preparatory work, orders have been laid and the scheme is progressing well within the timetable that I specified to Parliament on 4 November.
To allay people's fears, will the minister reassure me that the Executive is committed to the upgrade of the A77 and that it is proceeding as fast as possible?
Yes. Let me make it absolutely clear. It is a £60 million scheme and a complex piece of work; it must be done properly and go through the right procedures. We are making sure that that is being done. I can give every assurance that we are going ahead with the scheme, as I announced in November.
Does the minister agree that it would be desirable for the Kilmarnock to Barrhead railway line to be upgraded before the disruption of construction work on the A77? Can she update us on progress towards receiving grant support from the shadow strategic rail authority—
Mr Tosh—
—and will she indicate whether, if that falls through, she will be prepared to consider including the cost of the railway works within the public-private partnership for the road construction?
That was only just in
I would not want to do anything that delayed or impeded progress towards the M77 scheme. That is why we are progressing with the approach that I have just outlined.
Temporary Sheriffs
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will appeal against the decision relating to temporary sheriffs, and what the up-to-date position is in respect of the consequences of the original decision. (S1O-1020) The Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice (Mr Jim Wallace): The Lord Advocate has decided against an appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. In the light of that decision, ministers are now considering the way forward and I will make a further statement to Parliament in due course.
Is the Deputy First Minister aware that the president of the Glasgow Bar Association, the other Mr Jim Wallace, said:
Lord James will recognise that the number of sheriffs and whether we need any more is kept under constant review, but I think that he will also agree that it would not be good use of public resources to over-endow the bench with sheriffs if other means can be found to address the particular difficulties that have arisen. I do not deny that there are difficulties in the sheriff courts because of the decision on temporary sheriffs. We are looking at other measures to address that. If appointing more sheriffs is part of the solution, we will want to give proper consideration to that.
Irish League of Credit Unions (Meeting)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on its recent meeting with the Irish League of Credit Unions. (S1O-1070) The Deputy Minister for Communities (Jackie Baillie): I met Tony Smith and his colleagues in Dublin last month and heard about how the credit union movement in Ireland has grown over the past few decades and about the factors underpinning its success. We will use that information to determine how best the Executive can support the credit union movement here in Scotland.
Will the minister join me in welcoming to the visitors gallery George Foulkes, the MP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, who has long been a supporter of the credit union movement? Does she agree that this Parliament should lead by example in progressing the setting- up of a parliamentary credit union that would allow access to a credit union for Parliament staff?
I join Cathy Jamieson in welcoming George Foulkes to the gallery. George and I shared a platform not too long ago at a Burns supper that happened to coincide with his birthday, when he turned 58. [Laughter.] I am getting my own back.
Local Produce (Retail Outlets)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce new planning regulations or guidelines that would allow planning authorities to stipulate minimum shelf space for local produce when granting planning permission for major new retail outlets. (S1O1030) The Minister for Transport and the Environment (Sarah Boyack): We have no plans to do so.
I should perhaps take this opportunity to declare an interest—I have a small stake in my brother's family cheese-making business. [Laughter.] I am a small cheese, Sir David. I have to say that—
You do not have to say anything, Mr Stone. You have to ask a question.
I am about to do that, Sir David.
I am aware that my response to Mr Stone's first question did not sound very sympathetic or helpful.
Too right.
Let me try to be more sympathetic and helpful in my second answer. Any planning condition or requirement in planning law must be reasonable, must be enforceable and must relate to the development. That does not mean that it is not a good thing to encourage the sale of local produce on the shelves of supermarkets or local shops. In fact, many supermarkets are open to that idea. However, any planning requirement must be enforceable, and that would mean that the proportion of local produce displayed on supermarket shelves would have to be monitored by local planning authorities. There would be major practical implications.
Does the minister agree, in advance of an organic targets bill, which I hope the Parliament may consider, that a scheme to encourage the sale of local produce would be of great assistance in the interim to small farmers who want to convert to organic farming, as it would provide an outlet for their goods, which are in great demand?
I do not want to stray too much into Ross Finnie's territory, and I know that organic farming is more in his patch than in mine. However, I think that there is an opportunity to engage in discussions with shopkeepers and with major supermarket chains to identify local produce that could be sold in their stores. I have no doubt that that would be popular, whether with small cheese makers or with small-scale organic farmers.
Drug Misuse
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will welcome the recent release of a toxicology report in relation to fatal drug misuse-related overdoses in greater Glasgow and encourage the continued and extended release of this type of information across Scotland. (S1O-1060) The Deputy Minister for Justice (Angus MacKay): I welcome the publication of the report, which provides useful and timely information on recent drug-related deaths in the greater Glasgow area. Official statistics on drug-related deaths are collated and published annually with the co-operation of forensic pathologists and local enforcement agencies. The Executive is currently assessing whether that information can be improved.
Will the minister join me in welcoming to the gallery the Reverend Canon Kenyon Wright, who has a long history of supporting many community-based projects and disadvantaged groups across Scotland?
I agree with Mr Henry's sentiments. It is critically important that every drug action team, of which there are 20 in Scotland, effectively develops research on the nature of the drug problem on the ground in its area, so that rehabilitation and education services in particular are tailored accurately to the nature of the problem in each part of Scotland.
Which new rehabilitation services might aid the tragic young women who are prostitutes in Glasgow, in areas such as the Broomielaw? I will be sensitive, because one reputation has been damaged enough—that of the prostitute seen in public with a Government spin-doctor. [Laughter.]
Order.
Does the minister agree that those girls are rendered helpless by drugs? Will he ensure that there is more action to aid them, and will he progress to a change in the law of clandestine injury to include prostitutes, who are rendered helpless by heroin?
Dorothy-Grace Elder's sensitivity is touching.
Domestic Sprinklers national health service. (S1O-1061)
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have begun to implement the installation of domestic sprinklers in new and renovated housing stock. (S1O-1066) The Deputy Minister for Local Government (Mr Frank McAveety): That information is not available at present, as there are no requirements to install domestic sprinklers.
I am sure that the minister will join me in congratulating Central Scotland Fire Brigade and Stirling Council on promoting a domestic sprinkler initiative. Will the minister indicate how the Executive proposes to encourage and support that initiative in the Stirling and Ochil constituencies, and more widely throughout Scotland?
I can assure Sylvia Jackson that we wish to address the matter to which she referred at the appropriate level—locally. Many local authorities may wish to pursue similar community safety initiatives in new housing. I hope that those initiatives will develop. Given the overall assessment, we will continue to review the matter, but at present, it would not be appropriate to consider making such initiatives statutory with regard to housing.
Does the minister agree that the elderly and disabled are particularly vulnerable to fires in the home? We already have classifications of housing for them, such as sheltered housing and amenity housing. Does the minister feel that it would be reasonable for building regulations to be amended to ensure that houses that are classified as amenity or sheltered housing have sprinkler systems installed, so that some of the most vulnerable members of our society have reasonable protection if there is a fire in their property?
The member makes an appropriate contribution. We have the opportunity to review those matters. Professionals in the areas of housing, community safety and the fire services believe that there are other measures that can address some of those concerns. We welcome any local ideas, and I hope that they can contribute to a longer-term review to resolve some of the concerns that have been raised by Sylvia Jackson and Michael Matheson.
Radioactive Waste
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's current policy relating to the disposal of short-lived radioactive waste in the The Minister for Transport and the Environment (Sarah Boyack): The policy of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency with regard to the disposal of short-lived radioactive waste in the NHS is to ensure that the material is disposed of in accordance with the terms of the authorisations granted under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993.
Is the minister aware that the way in which that law has been interpreted by SEPA means that clinical waste from Scottish hospitals has to be transported to England for incineration, despite the fact that in many cases, it is well within recognised safe levels of radioactivity? Does she agree that that is an avoidable cost for the NHS in Scotland, and will she urge the agency to complete its examination of the matter quickly and come to a sensible conclusion?
I can give the member the commitment that I will take the matter up with SEPA urgently. I will also tell SEPA that I am currently considering the Substances of Low Activity Exemption Order 1992, which is the detailed guide to the disposal of those types of waste. I will be happy to take that matter up and pursue it shortly.
Roads (A74)
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is in its discussions with Her Majesty's Government on the upgrading of the A74 from Gretna to Carlisle to full motorway status. (S1O1036)
My officials were advised on 24 January that the Government office for the north-west has submitted a steering group report to the north-west regional assembly for consideration.
I thank the minister for that answer. Does she undertake to endeavour to ensure that the priority for Scotland of that upgrade is made clear? Is she aware that the Scottish Council Development and Industry has said that to ensure the continued development of the economies of both Scotland and the north of England, that piece of road should be completed as soon as possible?
I am well aware of the interest in ensuring that the road is brought up to the best possible standards. It is to that end that, when I last met Gus Macdonald, I raised the issue of that stretch of road with him, and said that we were very keen that it should be upgraded. If the northwest regional assembly confirms that the
Prisoner Release
To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it had in the decision to release Barbara Glover from prison. (S1O-1051) The Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice (Mr Jim Wallace): Scottish ministers referred Miss Glover's case to the Parole Board for Scotland in accordance with section 2(5)(a) of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993, and in accordance with section 2(4) of that act released her on licence on the direction of the Parole Board.
Will the minister say what submission ministers made to the designated life tribunal, given information that showed that Miss Glover, from her place of custody, had carried out a war of attrition against her victims' families, with devastating results?
I quote:
NHS Dental Services
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to restore NHS dental services to rural communities such as Alford in Aberdeenshire. (S1O-1024) The Deputy Minister for Community Care (Iain Gray): A number of measures, including the provision of grants under the Scottish dental access initiative and the appointment of salaried dentists, are already in place to increase the availability of NHS dental services in rural areas of Scotland, and further measures are in prospect.
That refers to one salaried NHS dentist in the city of Aberdeen, to which the whole county of Aberdeenshire has to travel, and is ineffective. In view of the fact that the Alford practice in my constituency closed, because after trying for 18 months it was unable to attract a dentist who was prepared to work in a rural practice with NHS patients, will the minister consider introducing new initiatives to protect NHS dental care provision in rural areas, such as introducing salaried rural NHS dentists? Does he have any specific plans to launch a recruitment campaign to encourage NHS dentists to work in rural areas such as Aberdeenshire?
As with so many of those matters, proper planning is a local issue. Grampian Health Board, as with all other health boards and primary care trusts, may apply to Scottish ministers for approval to appoint salaried dentists, where it believes that dental services are inadequate. As I have indicated, the Scottish dental access initiative is available to make grants where there is demonstrated unmet need or particularly high oral health needs. At the moment the grants are some £635,000, which includes grants in Aberdeen, for example, and Banff.
Is the minister aware that all general dental and general medical practitioners in North Angus, Grampian, Shetland, Orkney and Moray have been advised that waiting lists for routine referrals to Aberdeen royal infirmary have been closed? Does he agree that that is a major blow to the provision of dental services in the north-east and that those problems, which are overwhelming the service, will result in its destruction if the lack of investment is not addressed, as a matter of urgency, by the Executive?
Oral health is one of the priorities that we have set for health, as are initiatives to try to reduce waiting times, so it is a matter that we expect to discuss. Once again, it is for the local health board and the local health trusts to try to resolve the problem that the member described.
Dirt Bikes
To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations exist to govern the use of dirt bikes on public land by those under the age of 16. (S1O1038) The Deputy Minister for Justice (Angus MacKay): The provision of regulations governing the use of various types of transport on land depends on the specific status of the land concerned.
I make the minister aware of the case of one of my constituents, Mrs Condron, whose young son Paul was seriously injured while walking along a path beside a public road, by an eight-year-old boy who was riding a dirt bike. Will the minister give me a commitment that he will
In addition to the specific circumstances, the way in which the regulations would be enforced would depend on which type of land the dirt bike was travelling. I am sorry to hear of the injury to the individual concerned. If Karen Whitefield is willing to write to me in detail about the case, I will undertake to examine the matter and to write back with a detailed examination of the position.
Local Authority Pay Awards
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was to local authorities in 1998-99 of self-financing local authority pay awards and what was its estimated effect on the provision of public services. (S1O1040) The Deputy Minister for Local Government (Mr Frank McAveety): Pay is a matter for local authorities themselves to consider, when setting their budgets and determining their spending priorities. We do not hold that information centrally.
Nevertheless, does the minister accept that seven years of self-financing pay awards has taken £700 million out of local authorities' budgets and caused enormous strain on existing resources? Will he admit that that policy inevitably leads to higher council taxes, increased unemployment and cuts to services throughout Scotland? How does the minister explain that Tory finance policy to his Labour local government colleagues?
It is a sort of "Groundhog Day"
The minister must surely acknowledge that his Government is spending £500 million less on local government services than was spent under the Tories and that those inevitable cuts will lead to council tax increases. When ring-fenced expenditure and extra Government burdens are taken into account, along with inflation, there is less money for local government, which means cuts, closures and higher unemployment. That is his responsibility.
Before we walk the lonely roads of the SNP's picture of miserable local authorities, let us get the real picture. I will say it again: there has been a rise in real terms in the past two years. Key priority areas—as agreed by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities—particularly in education and social work, have been addressed.
Does the minister accept that there is a further problem that compounds the situation to which Mr Welsh referred, as many local authorities have a latent problem with capital infrastructure not being maintained and going out of service? Does the minister agree, given that he has said that he is anxious to encourage co-operation, that a national directive to local authorities commissioning a survey on all their capital infrastructures might be useful?
Recently, the wonderful Minister for Finance, Jack McConnell, and I were at a meeting to address the issue of capital finance for local authorities. Many COSLA representatives were delighted that for the first time there is room for growth in the capital allocation to them.
Does the minister accept that the Executive's proposed budget will fail to protect vital core services in councils such as Aberdeenshire, as we witnessed in the lobby of the Parliament this week? Does he recognise that people's jobs are on the line? What is he going to do about it?
The Minister for Finance and I have met representatives of Aberdeenshire Council, including Audrey Findlay, who was present at our discussion with COSLA on Monday. We have considered the guideline flexibility for Aberdeenshire Council, as Mr McConnell announced this week.
Nephrops Industries
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to solve the present difficulties being faced by the Scottish nephrops fishing and processing industries. (S1O-1056) The Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs (Mr John Home Robertson): Stocks of nephrops— otherwise known as prawns—are currently in good condition. I am pleased that during last December's Fisheries Council we were able to negotiate an increased total allowable catch of nephrops in the North sea and avoid quota cuts in waters to the west of Scotland. Prices for this stock increased substantially last year and provided the fishery is managed sensibly, prospects seem reasonably healthy.
I thank the minister for his answer. Does he realise that price is now the question? Does he recognise the importance of the prawn industry, especially to the west coast fishermen? Is he aware that, this week, the price of whole prawns plummeted another £5 per stone, to reach an all time low, and that the price of small prawn creels is now half of what it was in 1979? Does he agree that the main reason for that drop is the over-landing by large fishing boats using twin-rig trawls in the North sea? What will he do to protect the livelihoods of the west coast fishing communities that depend on prawn fishing?
There has been a significant increase in the targeting of the prawn fishery, not only by former whitefish boats, as Mr McGrigor described, but by new, efficient, under10m boats. There is now an opportunity to develop both the fishery and the market. However, there is also a risk of damaging the stocks and oversupplying the market, as Mr McGrigor suggests. My officials are well aware of the problem. I assure him that the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency is keeping a close eye on the situation.
Will the minister tell us what help the Executive has given to Scotland's fish processors so that they can meet their obligations under the urban waste water directive? What more help does it plan to give before jobs are shed due to the exorbitant costs involved in meeting those obligations?
I am not quite sure how Mr Lochhead can associate a question about the urban waste water directive with question 15.
It was a question about the processing industry.
His question would have been more appropriately addressed to Sarah Boyack. However, we understand the importance of the processing industry and we have been actively engaged in discussions with people in the industry. Next week, I will be in Aberdeen to talk to people about it again.
Health Boards (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Health and Community Care last met representatives of health boards in Scotland and what matters they discussed. (S1O-1055) The Deputy Minister for Community Care (Iain Gray): The Minister for Health and Community Care meets representatives of health boards regularly to discuss a wide range of issues. The minister is meeting health board and trust chairmen in Dunkeld this afternoon, as we speak.
Why are our hospitals facing a £50 million deficit? What is the minister going to do about it?
Clearly, we are concerned to ensure that all national health service trusts remain financially healthy. It is true that 18 trusts have forecast deficits. Recently, 12 of those trusts either improved or stabilised their position. However, it is important to keep a sense of proportion. The combined deficit is significantly less than 1 per cent of their forecast income. Our officials work closely with senior management in the affected trusts to help them prepare plans that will ensure continued high-quality patient care while achieving financial balance year on year.
Will the minister talk to his senior colleague when she gets back from Dunkeld and impress upon her the
Following wide consultation on its report, the Arbuthnott group has been asked to do further work on a couple of aspects. We emphasise that we remain committed to the principle of allocating health resources fairly. That means allocating them to try to deal with the kind of health inequalities that have been debated on a number of occasions in this chamber. Margo MacDonald's question is flawed. What makes change possible is the guarantee to each and every health board in Scotland that it will have real-terms increases in its resources over the coming years. No money will be taken away from any health board.
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Tayside Health Board and what issues were discussed. (S1O-1072) The Deputy Minister for Community Care (Iain Gray): I refer Ms Cunningham to my answer to Mrs Scanlon.
The minister will, I am sure, be aware of my constituents' great concern about the impact of the acute services review on the Tayside Health Board area—in particular, the impact on the services delivered at present by Perth royal infirmary. On Monday, I met staff from the maternity unit at PRI. There are great fears about the future of maternity services there. Will the minister say whether he or his boss is prepared to come and listen directly to my constituents' concerns? I have now invited them to do so twice.
I regret that the response to that invitation—kind though it may have been—is likely to remain the same, but of course we support the review and redesign of acute services. They are an important and powerful means of ensuring that people in all parts of Scotland have access to the highest possible standards of modern service. We believe—it is an important belief—that decisions on the detailed configuration of local services are best taken locally. Tayside Health Board is still developing its proposals for acute hospital services and we would encourage it to involve all its planning partners, the public and interest groups in that process. Although we are aware of concerns about services at Perth royal infirmary, those concerns are being considered in the context of the acute services review. We remain convinced that those matters are best decided locally in partnership with local people.
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