Contents
- Scottish Parliament Thursday 3 February 2005
- Economy
- First Minister's Question Time
- Question Time
- Enterprise Grant Awards
- Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2005 (SSI 2005/19)
- Inquiries Bill
- Business Motion
- Decision Time
- Local Benefits Services
Question Time
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Environment and Rural Development
European Structural Funds
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the possible impact on the agricultural and fisheries sectors of the Scottish European structural funds forum's assessment that European structural funds for Scotland will be cut by between 15 and 50 per cent from 2007. (S2O-5302)
It is far too early to draw conclusions about any particular assessment of the outcome of the negotiations on European structural funds. The negotiations are likely to continue for some time before final decisions are reached. The Executive is monitoring closely the development of future European Union structural funds in parallel with the draft rural development regulation, and is discussing scenarios with relevant stakeholder groups. From those discussions, the Executive feeds into the development of the United Kingdom position on the regulations.
The minister knows how important structural funds are in helping our fishing communities to weather the storm while our fish stocks recover. When will we know whether we face a high, medium or low funding scenario in Scotland?
There are two separate streams. Negotiations on structural funds started in September 2004—we understand that it will take 18 months to complete those negotiations. As Mr Ruskell is aware, the member states are discussing a range of variables. The present financial instrument for fisheries guidance runs from 2002 to 2006, so the new fisheries fund will have to be in place well before the new one comes into operation in 2007.
Question 2 is withdrawn.
Agricultural Diversification
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is promoting agricultural diversification. (S2O-5237)
Support for agricultural diversification is one of the key themes of "A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture", which I published in 2001. The Scottish Executive provides financial support to farmers and their families who want to diversify through two principal grant schemes: the agricultural business development scheme and the farm business development scheme. The schemes were launched in 2001 and have a combined budget of more than £60 million over six years. They offer support for diversification into alternative agriculture—for example, energy crops, soft fruit and worm farming—or non-agricultural activities such as tourism, retail or sports and leisure.
A third element of diversification is the processing and marketing grant schemes that we operate, which support diversification by providing assistance to farmers to develop innovative products, to add value, to co-operate to exploit new markets and to shorten the supply chain by linking producers and processors. The grants will deliver £22 million of assistance between 2001 and 2006.
I thank the minister for that comprehensive answer. Given the difficulties in our agriculture sector, can the minister indicate whether all the moneys that are allocated to the farm business development scheme have been taken up? What additional publicity could there be in the sector to assist agricultural diversification to take place?
There is no doubt that the implementation of common agricultural policy reform has created an element of uncertainty in the sector and that there has been a concomitant reduction in the uptake of, and inquiries into, both of the schemes to which I referred. The Environment and Rural Affairs Department has tried to engender new interest by distributing a leaflet. Some 20,000 leaflets have been sent out with farmers' integrated administration and control system packs, and the project staff who work in agricultural areas have held surgeries to promote the schemes. We also ran a campaign through the young farmers organisations and other stakeholder organisations. Scott Barrie is right to raise this issue, as we have been concerned about it. We are taking every possible step to encourage people to take up the two schemes.
What assessment has the department made of how successful the money that has been disbursed so far has been in achieving lasting and successful diversification? What plans does the department have to put in place research to establish that?
Of course, the crucial issue is the long-term outcomes of the schemes. We are obliged to assess each element of European funding, particularly as one of the schemes is co-funded. The scheme in the rest of Scotland is a Scottish Executive funded scheme. We are reasonably satisfied that we are achieving our long-term aims. However, as Alasdair Morgan will be well aware, it is all very well to use the glib term "diversification". The issue is to find schemes that can be applied in specific areas that have specific characteristics, which is why we offer a broad range of options. The scheme can be agricultural or non-agricultural; within agriculture we support a broad range of activities. We are reviewing the schemes, which we are obliged to do, and we keep under review whether we are getting long-term benefit.
One thing that is certain is that farmers will have far greater freedom to diversify away from traditional livestock farming under the single farm payment support structure. Many current livestock farmers may, for example, choose to diversify into deer farming to satisfy the ever-increasing market for venison. Does the minister agree that it is grossly unfair that any farmer who chooses to do so will receive full single farm payment as long as he has entitlement, whereas current deer farmers who have been farming without support for some years will receive no support?
No, I do not agree. We had to make a very difficult decision. There is no doubt at all that in financial terms Scottish agriculture is still in a relatively fragile state if we do without subsidy. The aim and object of the agriculture strategy is to try to increase the proportion of that very small section of the industry—it is perhaps less than 20 per cent at the very top. The difficult decision was about whether we should change the whole financial basis, as has been done elsewhere, or introduce major reform but provide some certainty about the financial support. My judgment was that it was better, given the state of Scottish agriculture, to give farmers the certainty of financial support, while at the same time encouraging them through the agriculture strategy to implement measures that will make them less subsidy dependent.
I am sure that the minister will agree that a popular and successful form of diversification has been tree planting under the forestry grant scheme. However, that is under threat from the current draft European Union rural development regulations, which propose a reduction of support to 40 per cent of costs and propose that it will last for 10 rather than 20 years. What will the Scottish Executive do to ensure that the current level of support for farm and croft forestry is maintained?
Two elements are involved in addressing that problem. One is to try to get greater integration between agriculture and forestry; such integration is more common in mainland Europe. Compared to other European countries at our latitude we have below-average forestation. The second element is to consider more closely the opportunities that are afforded by energy crops and, in respect of forestry, short-rotation coppice. I will link Eleanor Scott's direct question on agriculture and forestry development to the opportunities that open up with energy crops. The Executive, in considering how it pursues its strategy, is well placed to ensure that we continue to give support to ensure greater integration of those two aspects.
Royal Highland Showground
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with interested bodies about the future of the Royal Highland Show showground. (S2O-5209)
Prior to the publication in December 2003 of the UK white paper "The Future of Air Transport" the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department participated in a joint study that was led by the Department for Transport and involved the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Airport Ltd and the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. The objective of the study was to identify whether the proposed growth of Edinburgh airport could be compatible with retention, in some form, of the Royal Highland Centre. A number of options were examined, but the conclusion was that there were no options that both Edinburgh Airport Ltd and the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland could agree on as being mutually acceptable.
The white paper concluded that
"Our proposals would therefore require the relocation of the RHASS, by around 2013 (or earlier if that would be more suitable). The Scottish Executive will work with the Society, BAA and relevant local authorities to identify an alternative site for the Society and help facilitate their relocation."
Scottish Executive officials have therefore been working with the society, relevant local authorities, and Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian on identifying suitable alternative sites for the Royal Highland Centre. That work is on-going.
I thank the minister for his answer, although it is obviously disappointing to me as the local member.
Is the minister aware of the growing support both for reconsideration of the current proposal, which requires the RHASS to move at considerable public cost, and for an option that recognises that there is room for all on the site and which will allow the continued co-existence of the society and the airport? Will he agree to meet me and the society to discuss the issue, which is important for the region's economy?
I will be happy to meet the member and interested parties. As I said, the Environment and Rural Affairs Department is considering options and if new material or facts have emerged, I will be very happy to consider them.
Question 9 is next.
If members do not withdraw questions, I am required to put them. This is the second week in which—[Interruption.] I am very sorry. Question 5 is next.
Flood Prevention
I will wear a brighter tie next time.
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources are in place to enable local authorities to take flood prevention measures. (S2O-5219)
Very substantial resources are in place. Last year's spending review increased the grant that is available for flood prevention and coast protection schemes to £89 million over the period 2005-08. Local councils can apply to that fund to meet 80 per cent of the eligible costs of approved schemes.
I welcome the additional resources, but is the minister aware of the significant flooding that has taken place in Selkirk and Peebles in my constituency and in Hawick in my colleague Euan Robson's constituency? Will the minister work with Scottish Borders Council to mitigate flooding, particularly along Selkirk riverside, not only to alleviate flood risk but to allow the area to be actively promoted for economic development?
I am aware of the flooding incidents in the Borders and elsewhere in Scotland in recent weeks. Because of that flooding, the funding that is available to local authorities is particularly welcome in the Borders and other areas. The message that I hope local authorities will receive in respect of the increased funds and the increased rate of payment is that we very much want to encourage all councils to address the areas that have flooding risk and to bring forward schemes. Such schemes must go through the statutory process to be approved for technical competence, but if the criteria are met, schemes will be supported by the Executive.
Fly-tipping
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in reducing instances of fly-tipping. (S2O-5277)
The problem is that no formal data are currently collected centrally to allow us to measure the amount of fly-tipping that occurs in Scotland. However, the Scottish Executive is to provide the necessary funding to allow Scottish participation in the flycapture project. Flycapture is a web-based fly-tipping database, into which local authorities and other duty bodies will be able to input data directly. The database will provide a record of fly-tipping incidents throughout the United Kingdom. Scotland-only data will be extractable to enable us to assess where and at what point we should direct more resources at the problem.
I am grateful for the minister's detailed answer. I hope that if sites are identified, we will be able to do more about the problem. Is the minister aware that North Lanarkshire Council provides a free uplift service and a dedicated fly-tipping helpline, so that it can be advised about fly-tipping as it happens? However, as quickly as the council clears one site, the problem reappears elsewhere. Does the minister agree that fly-tipping is unnecessarily blighting the countryside around Shotts, Salsburgh and Cleland in my constituency and in many parts of rural Scotland? Does he agree that more needs to be done to address the problem?
Karen Whitefield's interest in the matter is well recorded and I am grateful to her for constantly keeping it to the fore in Parliament. I am impressed by the steps that North Lanarkshire Council has taken to try to address the problem, but it is disappointing that a local council should seek to engage with its community only to find that the people who indulge in such highly irresponsible behaviour are simply displaced from one area to another. I am entirely in agreement with Karen Whitefield and we are well aware of some of the problems in her locality. However, the absence of clear information throughout the country has made it difficult to concentrate resources where they are most needed. I hope that the initiative that I announced will help in that regard.
Power Generation (Environment)
To ask the Scottish Executive what the environmental costs and benefits are of placing power generation capacity immediately adjacent to cities. (S2O-5192)
I am not aware of any current applications to build power stations next to such areas and therefore the Executive has not made a comprehensive analysis of such proposals. The siting of a power station is in the first instance a commercial issue for the generator. However, a developer would have to have regard to the relevant local authority's development plan, together with the Government's policy and guidance, as set out in Scottish planning policies. The consent of Executive ministers under section 9 of the Electricity Act 1989 would also be required.
I am sure that the Tories will be disappointed to hear that the minister will not support power generation within the boundaries of the city of Edinburgh. In relation to the rest of Scotland, given that the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets is seeking to skew transmission costs to favour power generation that is adjacent to cities, and to penalise power generation that is distant from them, have you had discussions with Westminster colleagues, or directly with Ofgem, about the direct negative impact that the policy will have on power stations in rural Scotland, such as Peterhead power station in my constituency?
The member said that the policy "will have" an impact, but it will have an impact only if it finally comes into being. I assure the member that the Executive is in direct contact with Ofgem. Allan Wilson, the deputy minister with responsibility for the issue, has written directly to Ofgem to point out the matter that the member raised about the damage that might be caused by the policy that appears to be the current option. As the member is aware, Ofgem has changed its policies on a number of occasions in recent times; we hope that we can persuade it to change yet again.
Will the minister join me in welcoming the proposal for wind turbines on Salisbury crags? Does he accept the general principle that, if we are to have onshore wind farms, it makes sense to locate them in urban areas, close to centres of population, rather than in rural areas such as the hills of Perthshire?
I wonder whether a declaration of interest should have accompanied that last question. I do not necessarily accept that principle. One of the potential benefits to Scotland of renewable energy is that we can create employment opportunities and make a sizable contribution to improving the environment through developments in remote and rural areas, where there are fewer job opportunities than there are in the central belt. I do not favour a policy of concentrating such developments in the central belt. However, each proposal must be judged on its merits and, no doubt, the proposal to which the member refers will be judged on its merits.
Question number 8 is withdrawn, so we come to question 9. As I said earlier, this is the second week running in which a member has not turned up for their question. Members must inform my office if they want to withdraw a question; to do otherwise is a discourtesy to Parliament.
Water and Sewage
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase water and sewage capacity in areas where acute housing shortages have been identified. (S2O-5266)
In the current investment period, some £200 million will secure positive benefits in addressing current constraints and an additional £41 million will address development constraints and first-time connections in rural areas. We consulted recently on what Scottish Water's future investment priorities should be and we will announce next week the objectives that we wish Scottish Water to address in the next regulatory period.
In the Robroyston area of my constituency, people are experiencing severe difficulties with connection to water and sewage services. Since last August, a business that aims to locate to my constituency and which will provide 130 jobs has experienced difficulties with Scottish Water in connecting to water and sewage services. Can I meet the minister to discuss the issue and to ensure that, once and for all, Scottish Water deals with the administration of ensuring connection to water and sewage services?
I am aware of the issues that Paul Martin raises, although they are not confined to the areas that he mentioned—similar issues have arisen elsewhere. It is worth saying that at the outset of the current investment programme, none of the parties in the discussions highlighted the issue of development constraints. One consequence of that is that, in preparing the directions that we will issue for the next investment period, we ensured that business, housing developers and local government were fully involved in the discussions to help us identify the priorities that need to be applied if we are to ensure that similar constraints do not arise in the future.
Health and Community Care
PFI/PPP (Costs to NHS Boards)
To ask the Scottish Executive what effect increasing private finance initiative/public-private partnership costs have on the budgets of national health service boards. (S2O-5214)
PFI contracts are signed on the basis of an approved business case and affordability is assessed over the period of the contract. The unitary payments that are made to contractors reflect not only the construction of buildings, but on-going maintenance over the life of the contract. The Executive is continuing to increase dramatically the level of infrastructure investment in NHS Scotland. This is not simply about PPP. Our public capital budget has risen from £136 million in 1997 to £350 million this year. The annual capital budget by 2007-08 will be £530 million. In 2004-05, the unitary payments for signed NHS Scotland PFI/PPP contracts is just over £100 million. That represents 1.26 per cent of forecast revenue expenditure for NHS boards. Those costs have been published within the draft budget 2005-06.
Will the health minister acknowledge the ratchet effect of fixed-payment PFI/PPP projects on a tightening budget? Will he also acknowledge the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform's confirmation that internal rates of return to shareholders in those project companies are between 13 per cent and 16 per cent? In particular, however, will he undertake to investigate why delivering such revenue streams for the private sector has become a function of the health service?
What escapes the member's attention is that we need buildings in the health service to provide services to our communities; therefore, whatever way we build our hospitals, they will be a key driver in any NHS budget. What PFI/PPP does for us is provide additional capacity that otherwise would not be available. I say to the 550,000 patients in Scotland who have benefited from Hairmyres hospital, Wishaw general hospital and Edinburgh royal infirmary that they would not have had those hospitals under the policies of Linda Fabiani's party.
Private Health Care Referrals
To ask the Scottish Executive how many national health service patients have been referred to the private sector in the past year. (S2O-5173)
Information is not available on the number of patients who are referred to the independent health care sector. Referrals may be made for a number of reasons, such as diagnostic scans or surgical procedures. It is estimated that 2,500 NHS patients underwent treatment in the independent health care sector in Scotland in the past year. "Fair to All, Personal to Each: The next steps for NHSScotland" included a commitment to negotiate contracts with the independent health care sector for a range of procedures and treatment that will benefit NHS patients in Scotland and help to reduce waiting times. Those contracts will include a requirement for all relevant patient returns to be submitted timeously.
Given that an operation in the private sector can be three times as expensive as an operation in a national health service hospital, would it not make more sense to provide more resources to the national health service to reduce waiting times, instead of continuing to shell out public money to private hospitals? Is the minister aware that in Forth valley there has been a welcome reduction in the use of the private sector over the past two years? Why, in that case, is the Scottish Executive apparently encouraging more use of the private sector?
It appears to escape the member's attention that the Executive is putting historic levels of funding into the health service to ensure that the primary function of the NHS here in Scotland is to provide health services. There were 465,000 emergency admissions to our hospitals and 562,000 elective in-patient day cases in our health service in 2003-04. That constitutes the vast majority of the work, which is right. What is also right is that, when we have particular difficulties and unacceptable waiting times for patients, we need to act and to respond to those concerns. I suggest to the member that on top of the 1,150 more hospital doctors, the 2,700 more nurses and the 1,250 more allied health professionals that we have in our health service we also have additional capacity from the private sector to deal with the longest waits and—I have to say—to address the needs of patients and not the service.
Given the minister's answer, I ask him for reassurance that private sector involvement in the treatment of NHS patients, which is sanctioned by the Executive, will in no way serve to undermine or to reduce the current or future capacity of the NHS in Scotland, and whether it is intended as a short-term measure while NHS capacity is increased?
We are increasing dramatically the capacity of the health service—the figures that I quoted previously are evidence of that.
What we are saying is that in some areas and some specialties we have difficulty in providing enough services within the national health service, so we use additional resources from the private sector. Our service is and will continue to be based on the national health service, but members may rest assured that we will not turn our back on patients who are simply waiting too long, when we do not have the capacity here in Scotland to deliver. I therefore think that the Executive's policy is a balanced one. It does not replace the national health service but supports the national health service by allowing NHS boards to put patients who require treatment into hospital on a timeous basis, and they are doing so at the moment.
Is the minister concerned about the growing number of NHS dental patients who have had to go for private treatment? More than 91 per cent of dentists say that they will not increase the amount of NHS work that they do in the next two years. If he is concerned about that, what is the reason for the delay in the Executive's response to the consultation which, the minister will remember, was launched in 2003? That was two years ago.
Of course, in dentistry we are dealing with a market that is very much in the private sector, given the role that dentists have within the structure of our health service here in Scotland. With regard to the delay, I have said many times to members, who can ask me as many times as they like about when this or that will arrive, that we will not deliver the paper to Parliament until we in the Executive have got things right, until we have got our plans properly resourced and until we are able to make the real difference that we want to make. That is not about responding to parliamentary pressures but about getting things right for patients. I want to make sure that our oral health strategy is the right one, which will make a difference for the communities that Shona Robison seeks to represent in her question.
Centralised Hospital Services (Assessment)
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has carried out of hospital services that were centralised in 2003. (S2O-5183)
Our aim is for health care services to be as local as possible and as specialised as necessary. The key objectives are clinical quality, safety and the best clinical outcome for the patient; any service changes and developments must achieve those objectives. Responsibility for monitoring and assessing service changes is a matter for national health service boards. All boards must have robust clinical governance arrangements in place, including processes to evaluate and maintain satisfactory standards of clinical safety and quality of care. That requirement applies to all clinical services, including those whose physical location has changed.
Will the minister confirm that he is responsible for monitoring the boards to which he refers? As part of that assessment, will he investigate the probity of the decision-making process in respect of the closure of the emergency surgery and trauma orthopaedics departments at St John's hospital at Livingston? In particular, will he investigate the role of Brian Cavanagh, the chair of Lothian NHS Board? Mr Cavanagh wrote to me on 24 May 2004 to state that any proposed closure would be subject to consultation, yet within a matter of weeks the services had been closed with no scrutiny, consultation or public accountability. Will the minister ask for publication of the minutes of the meeting at which the decision was made?
We all have rights under the freedom of information legislation and the member might wish to take up her rights in relation to the matter that she raises. In terms of any service that we have here in Scotland, redesign and reconfiguration allow us to ensure that services are delivered with the specialist skills that are available in the health service, the quality and safety requirements that we quite rightly demand as patients, and clinical sustainability. That drives many of the changes in our health service.
We should get the facts right about where our health service is heading—it is heading into the community. More than 90 per cent of patient involvement with the NHS starts and finishes in our communities. Our drive in the Executive's partnership for care is to get more services back into the community and there are many good examples of services being devolved to local areas. I suggest that clinical safety and patient need are paramount and that they are the key drivers for all health boards here in Scotland.
In view of the minister's response to Ms Hyslop, would he care to comment on the concerns that are being expressed by patients and medical professionals about the consequential effects of centralisation on cottage hospitals, such as those at Jedburgh in the Borders and Insch in Aberdeenshire?
I will make the point again about centralisation. What we want to provide here in Scotland is services that are as local as possible and as specialised as necessary. Clinical safety is the key governing factor, and we want to ensure that we provide as many services as we can in communities. Of course, we have closed many hospitals—we did so because they were unsuitable for modern care. We have put people into the community and into the proper environment, which is where they deserve to be treated. Therefore, I have to say that not every closure is to the detriment of the patient, as long as we develop the right responses at local level in relation to the services that the member mentioned. We have taken renal dialysis and chemotherapy out of the hospital environment and into the community, and there are many other good examples of how the Executive has delivered services in communities. The driver is the need for services that are as local as possible and as specialised as necessary.
Cancer in Children (Pollution)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is taking any action on recent research that some cancer in children is caused by pollution. (S2O-5284)
The research referred to is presumably that published by Professor Knox in the "Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health" on childhood cancers and atmospheric carcinogens. Initial scientific consideration of those findings points to the need for caution, in particular because of the novel study methods used and concerns for the robustness of the inherent assumptions. The Government's principal scientific advisory committee on such issues, the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, has been asked to consider and advise on the findings of the study as part of its current review of cancer in children.
Does the minister share the view of many Glasgow residents that the Executive should examine most closely any such indications by research? Given that, last week, the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development told me that, although Glasgow City Council will make progress in reducing pollution over the next few years, it will not meet air quality objectives under the Environment Act 1995, does the Health Department consider that the matter is worthy of further attention?
Clearly, we need to consider the issues in a joined-up way and I agree that the issue that has been raised merits attention. Of course, the main childhood cancer types that have been cited as having a possible link to environmental exposure are leukaemias and cancers of the central nervous system. We need to continue to conduct research in those areas. The chief scientist's office is currently funding four research projects on leukaemia at a cost of £249,000. Available scientific evidence cannot yet clarify whether exposure to environmental factors such as radiation affect the incidence of childhood cancer in the United Kingdom. However, if they do, their effect on overall childhood cancer statistics is likely to be low.
Smoking
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is currently providing to people who wish to give up smoking. (S2O-5269)
There is a well-established infrastructure of specialist smoking cessation services in every national health service board in Scotland. Smoking cessation services provide intensive support either in groups or through individual counselling. The Executive has committed an additional £4 million to cessation services for 2005-06, which effectively more than doubles funding for those services.
Does the minister accept that a number of initiatives that have been undertaken in the past have failed and that we have to learn some lessons from those failures while building on the successful programmes? Will she consider engaging with publicans who will experience difficulties as a result of the initiative involving no smoking in public places, to investigate the possibility of using their premises to give people an opportunity to access information on the cessation of smoking?
We are always open to such suggestions, which is why the licensed trade and hospitality sector is a key participant in the smoke-free areas implementation group. Of course, we are always willing to consider novel ways of developing smoking cessation services.
Paul Martin might be interested to visit the Glasgow pharmacy stop smoking project, which is operating in more than 70 per cent of community pharmacies in greater Glasgow. Patients who are motivated to stop smoking can attend their local community pharmacy, where they will be prescribed weekly supplies of nicotine replacement therapy. They will also be offered five to 10 minutes of counselling support and they can have their carbon dioxide levels tested. He might be interested to know that one of the pharmacies in Springburn Way is participating in the scheme.
According to the Executive's figures, 5,000 13-year-olds and 13,000 15-year-olds smoke regularly. Of those 18,000 children, approximately 15,000 admit to buying cigarettes in shops. However, in response to a question that I asked, the Executive confirmed that between 1998 and 2002 there were only five convictions for selling tobacco products to children. Given the Executive's stated intention of improving health by preventing young people from taking up smoking, will the minister take up that issue with the Minister for Justice and use the power of her office to support the use of cigarette test purchasing to dissuade unscrupulous shopkeepers from selling cigarettes to children?
I am conscious of the issue of smoking among young people as, in a previous existence as a teacher, I ran smoking cessation sessions for youngsters at secondary school. I am more than happy to have discussions on the matter with the Minister for Justice. We are currently considering how to ensure that retailers do not sell cigarettes to youngsters.
NHS 24
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is reviewing the performance of NHS 24. (S2O-5189)
The Health Department receives weekly performance reports from NHS 24 and tracks the trends in the organisation. Meetings to review performance are held regularly with senior staff from NHS 24. Our aim is to ensure that patients and the public receive the service that they expect and that the taxpayer gets value for money.
I am sure that the minister will join me in paying tribute to the staff of NHS 24 for the work that they do, which can range from dealing with potentially serious medical conditions to dealing with, for instance, a hamster bite or a request for an emergency supply of condoms. A number of cases have been cited in which concerns have arisen about whether the appropriate advice has been given to patients and, on occasions, about whether doctors have been called by NHS 24 to go out to patients when that has been required. What happens in NHS 24 to ensure that its procedures are monitored regularly, so that such problems do not arise? What impact has there been on general practice and accident and emergency services and has there been any monitoring of that impact?
The member recognises the contribution of NHS 24 staff, which was particularly relevant over what was a difficult festive period for them, especially given when the public holidays fell. NHS 24's resource was stretched at that time, but the planning that it put in before the Christmas break ensured that the service was delivered effectively. I understand that, on occasions, the call waiting times extended beyond what I would say was normally acceptable. Nonetheless, that was the case on only a few occasions. From Christmas eve to 5 January, NHS 24 took 89,700 calls, which was a substantial achievement.
NHS 24 is not an emergency service—it is not about emergencies or 999 calls and the first message that the caller gets contains that information. The service receives a wide variety of types of call. One of the refreshing things about the service that NHS 24 provides is that anything that gets round the systems of working can be effectively investigated by listening to the calls and going through the protocols. That can help patients to understand why certain decisions were made on certain occasions.
We can always improve our services, particularly with regard to the use of support organisations over the festive period. The links between organisations were under some strain—I recognise the member's point about how we should properly treat the various services. Lessons have been learned and I hope to report to the Parliament further on the changes that we wish to make to the system to ensure that it becomes even better, while recognising that an organisation that handles 1,250,000 calls but received just 89 complaints is not doing badly.
I echo what the minister says about the staff of NHS 24. However, does he acknowledge that there have been cases in which constituents have either not been able to get through to NHS 24 at the first time of trying or been asked to phone back? Does he agree that the targets for both those occurrences should be zero? Otherwise, more pressure is put on the 999 services.
Many of those issues will be dealt with in the reports that I will receive as part of our considered analysis of what occurred over the Christmas and new year period. The sheer volume of calls put strain on the system. Nonetheless, I would say that the service performed extremely well overall. I am happy to take on individual cases.
The issue is about properly resourcing NHS 24 to ensure that targets are met. The current target is for 90 per cent of calls to be responded to within 30 seconds of people hearing the message that they receive when they call the line. That is a substantial target, which is not yet being achieved on every occasion. We need to ensure that the targets are correct. There are strict limits with regard to calling back. I am aware of some individual failures with call-back over the Christmas and new year period. We will learn from those.
With the transfer of out-of-hours services, this has been the first time that NHS 24 has had to deal with almost every call to do with health in Scotland. I repeat that, although there might have been individual service failures, which is completely unacceptable to the individual callers concerned, NHS 24 provided an extremely efficient service over what was a very testing period.
An "efficient service" was not my experience over that period. The minister rightly indicated that NHS 24 is not an emergency service. Why, then, is the first question that patients are asked when they ring up, "Is this an emergency?" Patients are told that emergencies are to be dealt with first, but is that not the wrong message for NHS 24 to send out?
Mike Rumbles's experience is not the same as my experience from the calls that I have made. The message says that the service is not an emergency service—the call handler is, of course, simply seeking to reassure himself or herself on the nature of the call. It is not a matter of saying that a call will get to the top of the queue, but the call handler will—correctly—place an emergency call in the hands of the 999 service. I am happy to discuss the matter privately with the member, but my experience is not the same as his.
Question 7 has been withdrawn.
Psychiatric Care (Children and Young People)
To ask the Scottish Executive how many in-patient psychiatric beds for children and young people will be provided by October this year to comply with the implementation of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. (S2O-5226)
By October 2005, the number of beds in dedicated units for children and young people will be 44, as it currently is. However, national health service boards are also developing plans to provide age-appropriate care in other NHS settings to ensure compliance with the act.
I have an update from Children in Scotland, which states:
"A new report by the Child Health Support Group recommends that a minimum of 60 inpatient psychiatric beds are required".
Will the additional beds be in place by the time the act is implemented in October?
As I said, plans are being developed to provide age-appropriate care in other NHS settings to ensure compliance with the act. Currently, NHS regional planning groups are considering the option and costs of expansion. We absolutely do not wish any young person to be inappropriately admitted to an adult ward, but interim measures will be required to accommodate young people appropriately if a place is not available in a dedicated young people's unit, as it will take some time to get an ideal service. The child health support group has recommended that all NHS settings that admit children and young people with mental health difficulties should meet a series of quality standards, which are outlined in the report. We are discussing with NHS Quality Improvement Scotland the possibility of developing formal standards.
General Questions
Community Transport
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting community transport schemes. (S2O-5298)
The Executive is supporting more than 100 community transport schemes right across Scotland in rural and urban areas. Our funding for those schemes is £2.3 million in this financial year and it will rise to £2.5 million next year.
I was pleased to welcome representatives of the community transport sector to the Parliament recently. Those representatives expressed the view to me and other members that the Executive has built up a good level of knowledge and understanding of the issues that affect them. However, is the minister aware that many of them are anxious about having to go through the same process again in building up that level of awareness and understanding among the new structures at regional level? How does the minister intend to ensure that the new structures come up to speed on community transport issues so that the sector can continue to develop?
It is important to emphasise that, until recently, most investment in community transport was in rural parts of Scotland. There are around 95 projects in those parts, but pilots are now coming through in urban centres in Scotland. It is clear that some communities in our cities and urban areas urgently need community transport initiatives and it is important that those projects are evaluated and that we ensure their success. However, it is also important to get beyond the pilot stage and to put stable, longer-term funding into community transport in Scotland, which I regard as a priority over the next few months.
Housing
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the availability of affordable housing. (S2O-5175)
Over the next three years, we will invest £1.2 billion in affordable homes to rent or buy across Scotland. We have raised our three-year target for the supply of affordable homes from 18,000 to 21,500.
Is the minister aware that average house prices in Scotland have increased by 80 per cent over the past five years and that that brings the average cost of a house to more than £121,000? Given that many people cannot afford to buy a house, will the Executive ensure that there is an adequate supply of rented housing through reviewing the implications of its policy on the sale of houses by councils and housing associations and through ensuring that, if such houses continue to be sold off, sufficient resources will be made available to councils and housing associations to replace them where there is still demand for rented housing?
We are determined to increase both the number of social rented houses that are being built and, crucially, the number of low-cost houses for home ownership. We have an exciting and innovative shared equity scheme to give people opportunities to get on to the housing ladder. I accept that there are severe difficulties, especially in some parts of Scotland, for first-time buyers.
On social rented accommodation, I have announced the investment figures and the targets for new build, which show a 46 per cent increase by 2008 on what we have currently. We are expanding the programme considerably. As Dennis Canavan knows, the Parliament passed an amendment to the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 to ensure that we give a statement on the right to buy by September 2006. We have made arrangements for that to happen and there will be a thorough look at the issue. We will consider the case for any further adjustments to the right to buy in the light of that report.
How will the minister ensure that an adequate water and sewerage capacity is built into Scottish Water's quality and standards III programme forward from 2006 to cater for affordable housing developments? In particular, how will he ensure adequate capacity in local authority areas in which the structure and local plans do not provide a full—or, in many cases, any—allocation of sites for affordable housing, but rely instead on a supply of windfall sites?
Those are issues of development planning and it is key that enough land should be designated for that. Murray Tosh's first point relates to infrastructure. Lewis Macdonald will make a statement soon about the water industry investment programme. I have been in discussions with Ross Finnie and Lewis Macdonald about that, as it is a matter that has been raised with me quite often since I took up my brief four months ago. I think that Murray Tosh will be pleased about the developments that will take place on the back of the investment plan.
Community Planning (Rural Services)
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging the use of community planning powers by local authorities to protect and develop rural services. (S2O-5306)
The Executive is committed to working with community planning partnerships to develop strong, successful rural and island communities. The closing the opportunity gap framework includes a specific target to ensure a strong focus on service delivery for rural Scotland, so that
"agreed improvements in accessibility and quality are achieved for key services in remote and disadvantaged communities."
A range of other activities that are under way across the Executive also contribute to the protection and development of rural services.
Is the minister aware of the European Community-funded research that is being carried out through the northern peripheral partnership on how best to support initiative and enterprise in small rural businesses? The study has concluded that that needs joint working between local authorities, local enterprise boards, other businesses and academic partners. It was also felt that community planning should be broadened out to include support for innovative small businesses, so that we can more easily develop inventive ideas and sustain those ideas in rural Scotland. Will he consider how that might be achieved?
I recognise and accept the importance of the research that Maureen Macmillan has highlighted. The importance of community planning in that context lies in pulling together the appropriate agencies and ensuring that they all play a full and appropriate role in business development. I would be happy to consider the specific piece of research in that context and to seek to find ways in which community planning partnerships can play a full and appropriate part in delivering what we all hope to achieve—a growing and better Scottish economy.
Question 4 has been withdrawn.
Scottish Water (Cowie Planning Application)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to hold a public inquiry into Scottish Water's planning application to build a waste transfer station at Cowie, near Stonehaven. (S2O-5307)
The planning appeal to Scottish ministers from Scottish Water was received by the inquiry reporters unit on 10 January and is in the early stages of the appeals process. It has not been decided whether the appeal will proceed by public local inquiry or by an exchange of written submissions.
The minister should be aware of what I believe to be disreputable behaviour on the part of Scottish Water in attempting to hoodwink local people into believing that its plan for Cowie was the only reliable way forward. Scottish Water's consultants' report, which had been private but was leaked, did not endorse the current proposal, which was also unanimously thrown out by Aberdeenshire councillors. Does she agree that, if Scottish Water's appeal is not simply rejected, we need a local public inquiry to ensure that all the facts surrounding Scottish Water's application are in the public domain?
First, the appeal is for a proposal to erect a waste water screening and pumping works and associated landscaping and fencing. It is not for a waste transfer station, as Mr Rumbles claims.
Obviously, I cannot comment on the individual application, although I am keen that the process is carried through appropriately. The inquiry reporters unit's decision on whether to proceed with the inquiry by an exchange of communication will depend on the preferences of Scottish Water and the planning authority. Before coming to any decision, the unit will take into account the complexity of the issues that are in dispute and the level of interest within the community. If significant issues are involved, the Scottish ministers may in certain circumstances recall the appeal for their decision, in which case an inquiry would be held. However, that decision will be made further along in the process.
Area Infrastructure Investment Plan
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its area infrastructure investment plan. (S2O-5304)
The infrastructure investment plan will be published later this month. The plan demonstrates our on-going commitment to improving our infrastructure and investing in Scotland's future. We are also planning an infrastructure investment conference, which will be based on the plan, in Edinburgh in mid-May. That will provide the opportunity to show that we are open to working with our partners across the public and private sectors to help to improve the co-ordination and delivery of infrastructure projects in Scotland.
I welcome the increased timescale for the plan, but on what basis and over what timescale will it be reviewed? Does the minister agree that it is important that the plan contains sufficient scope and flexibility to take account of schemes that might become more pressing over time? Schemes such as the rail link to Leven, the improvements to Glenrothes airport and water and sewerage schemes for housing and businesses, such as those that my colleague Paul Martin mentioned, are all vital for tourism and the economy.
The member makes some relevant points. The plan will take a 10-year view, but it will be a live document that will be continually updated. It will attempt to bring together for the first time the substantial infrastructure projects that are being undertaken in Scotland. That will give the market a longer-term view for assessing capacity requirements and for ensuring that capacity is in place to provide substantial improvements to Scotland's infrastructure for the benefit of all our citizens.
Question 7 has been withdrawn.
Maritime Heritage
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on preserving Scotland's maritime heritage. (S2O-5225)
The Scottish Executive actively supports the preservation of Scotland's maritime heritage by, for example, providing core funding to the Scottish Maritime Museum.
The minister will no doubt be aware of the importance of the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine, in my constituency, both to our national maritime heritage and to what is a relatively fragile local economy. Will she give an assurance that she will work with the museum's board of trustees to safeguard and secure the future of the museum and its collection?
The Scottish Maritime Museum currently receives £160,000 in core funding and an additional £30,000 towards the cost of curatorial support. As the member will be aware, on-going discussions with the museum's trustees on how we can ensure that items of national significance are preserved in a suitable and sensible way resulted in the decision, which was made some time ago, that some items will transfer to Glasgow museums on completion of the new riverside museum there. The trustees of the Scottish Maritime Museum recently wrote to me to ask for additional funding to help to safeguard some of the museum's important items in the meantime. I hope to be able to issue a positive response to them in the next few days.
I back my colleague Irene Oldfather and I welcome, in part, the minister's response. I suggest to the minister that we could consider training young people in simple engineering practices. The Scottish Maritime Museum offers great potential for that. Investigation of that suggestion by the minister might be to mutual advantage.
I am always delighted when Mr Gallie welcomes at least some of what I say; that is a step forward from some past situations that we have been in. I hope that he will be able to give us more significant approval in future.
Mr Gallie makes a valid point. An educational facility is a vital part of the work that any museum can and should do. That is one reason why the Scottish Museums Council wants to establish a national framework for funding decisions for museums, to safeguard coherently such national collections of extreme significance.
The minister will be well aware of the maritime heritage of Clydebank in my constituency and of the John Brown shipyard site. An exciting proposal has been made to restore the Titan crane in Clydebank and to open it as a visitor attraction. Nearly all the funding is in place to achieve that. If we can proceed with that, will the minister be willing to visit the site and to open the visitor centre?
I am fairly familiar with the area, as I am located not a million miles from it. I am happy to oblige the member in the fashion that he outlines and I look forward to receiving the invitation.
Question 9 is from Eleanor Scott.
I apologise for Eleanor Scott's absence; she appears to be delayed.
I stress again that, if members do not submit an apology, I regard that as a discourtesy to the Parliament. That is the third such incident in two weeks.
Global Economy
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to counter the anticipated economic slow-down in global growth in 2005. (S2O-5252)
It is self-evident that the Executive cannot prevent a possible slow-down in global growth, but it has policies in place to help Scottish businesses to remain competitive. Our refreshed "The Framework for Economic Development in Scotland", which was published in September last year, underscores our commitment to creating the necessary conditions to allow enterprise to thrive and flourish. We are investing in skills and in the transport and electronic infrastructure, encouraging and promoting a culture of enterprise and supporting business investment in research and development.
As the minister knows, organisations including the Institute for International Economics predict a global slow-down in growth in 2005. The Executive obviously cannot prevent that, but what steps is it taking to ensure that Scottish Enterprise and local agencies are prepared to help Scottish businesses to rise to the challenge of a possible slow-down? Has his recent visit to promote economic links with China presented opportunities for Scottish businesses to offset the impact of a possible global economic slow-down?
It is important to emphasise that, in an ever more competitive global market, it is vital that Scottish companies are at the cutting edge of competitiveness and that we promote productivity. Those are the objectives of "The Framework for Economic Development in Scotland".
I assure the Parliament that the international arm of Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Executive, Scottish Development International, works relentlessly to identify opportunities for indigenous Scottish companies to globalise their operations and for attracting inward investment in Scotland. On my recent visit to China, when I led a life sciences delegation, the companies that were involved identified several opportunities in life sciences and a considerable opportunity in waste management, for example. An important point about China is that achieving even a very small proportion of business there in absolute terms can lead to considerable advantages and benefits for Scottish companies.
Laurencekirk Railway Station
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made towards the reopening of a railway station at Laurencekirk. (S2O-5228)
The proposal to reopen Laurencekirk station is being led by Aberdeenshire Council, with funding support from the Scottish Executive. Executive officials will shortly meet the council to discuss the proposal further.
I thank the minister for that indication of progress. Is the station's reopening likely to be associated with an extension of the crossrail proposals for Aberdeen, or will the station be an additional main line station?
The intention is that Laurencekirk should be considered as an additional main line station. The progress of the crossrail proposal, which is being led by the north-east Scotland transport partnership, has had some difficulties, because the Strategic Rail Authority and Network Rail have been unable to introduce improvements to the Orton loop. Last summer, I asked for an interim arrangement to be considered with regard to the Aberdeen crossrail project, which would have allowed progress to be made even before the Orton loop improvements had been introduced. Although the Laurencekirk proposal is separate, it is supported by NESTRANS and Aberdeenshire Council and I hope that good progress can be made on it over the next few months.
That concludes general questions.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. On two occasions this afternoon, questions were called but the members were not present to ask them. That is, as you have said, a discourtesy to the chamber. It is also frustrating for those of us who have come to the chamber to ask supplementaries to find that the original question has not been called. I wonder whether you can give some thought to how such conduct might be improved and, in particular, whether you consider it appropriate to ask business managers to remind members of their responsibilities to the chamber in that regard.
I specifically said that such behaviour is a discourtesy to the Parliament, not to the chair, because members are denied the opportunity to ask supplementary questions. I will discuss the matter with my two colleagues as Presiding Officers and the business managers and hope to issue a note on it. I take your point.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I might have heard wrongly, but I felt that, in response to Shona Robison's supplementary to the second health question, Mr Kerr suggested that Scottish Executive ministers gave a very low priority to responding to questions. I ask you to study the Official Report and either take me to task for mischief making or, if I am right, perhaps take Mr Kerr to task for suggesting discourtesy to the Parliament.
Of course, your offer is terribly tempting, Mr Gallie, and I will look at the Official Report. Nevertheless, I will say two things. First, the content of ministerial responses is a matter for ministers, not for me. Secondly, as I heard it, I think that Mr Kerr pointed out that freedom of information rights are available to all, including unspecified members. That is my recollection but, as I said, I will look at the Official Report.
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