Education and Lifelong Learning
Pupil Support Assistants
Yes.
I am delighted that Mr Ingram and I are in such agreement. Given that PSAs are usually women, that they are not highly paid and that they are often resident in disadvantaged areas, does the minister agree that any council that is considering large-scale redundancies among PSAs is under a statutory duty to carry out an equality impact assessment of cutting such posts? If he does agree with that, will he or his colleague Mr Russell ensure that Aberdeen City Council, which is planning some 290 further redundancies among pupil support assistants, carries out such an equality impact assessment before any redundancies are made?
I am glad to say that the situation in Aberdeen City Council seems to have moved on. The member will be aware that the SNP council group has brought forward proposals to withdraw the threat of wholesale compulsory redundancies. I hope that we can move forward, build better relationships with staff and unions and maintain key services for the people of Aberdeen, including having pupil support assistants in the classroom.
Further Education
The Scottish Government has provided record levels of funding for colleges. Funding for the current academic year is up 6.9 per cent on last year, reflecting our wish to make available more learning opportunities, especially for young people.
James Watt College, which is based in Greenock, is facing a shortfall of up to £5.7 million in its annual budget, which is jeopardising more than 100 jobs and putting a question mark over the availability and quality of student provision at a time of high demand. Does the minister recognise that every pound that is taken from the further education budget leads to an increase in youth unemployment, damages our skills agenda and—as the colleges are important employers in communities such as Inverclyde—increases overall levels of unemployment? Can she confirm that all those consequences were taken into account before the FE budgets were cut?
I thank the member for his concern for his local college. I appreciate that there are difficult times ahead for James Watt College. Colleges are, indeed, having to make tough decisions given the onslaught of cuts that the Scottish Government is having to make courtesy of the United Kingdom Government. I regret the prospect of redundancies at James Watt College and I share the view that was expressed by the college’s principal that, where possible, those will be by voluntary arrangement as opposed to compulsory, although I appreciate that there is, as yet, no guarantee of that.
Will the minister confirm not only that the teaching budget at James Watt College has increased substantially over the past four years, but that the number of student places there has increased from 13,000 to 16,000 in the same period and that student numbers will remain at that level next year?
Like other members, Mr Gibson is a doughty campaigner for his local college. The figure for the teaching grant and fee waiver was in excess of £27.5 million in 2006-07 and just under £30 million in 2010-11. I think that Mr Gibson is correct in saying that the number of student places at James Watt College will rise from 13,000 to 16,000, but I am happy to confirm that to him in writing.
Further and Higher Education (Courses)
We agreed with the college and university sectors to preserve the number of core places precisely to protect the widest opportunities for students. The basis of that agreement is set out in my letter of guidance of 17 November 2010 to the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council.
I appreciate that answer. However, my concerns are around the introduction of subjectivity or elitism in the definition of core places. There are many courses available, particularly at college level, that allow young people to pursue a range of careers that are beneficial and serve the community and the young people well for the rest of their lives. I hope that the minister can provide some reassurance that that type of course—and such diversity of courses—will remain in place at the current volumes for students with varying interests and varying levels of ability.
I appreciate that the member has a long-standing interest in this issue and that he made those points during the process of budget scrutiny. It is important to maintain the diversity of provision in further and higher education in Scotland. These are difficult financial times—my colleague has just made that point—but with those difficulties we must try to preserve the best possible approach to further and higher education. In using the words “best possible”, I certainly agree that we need to avoid elitism and ensure that there is a choice available that really does make a difference to the life chances of young people.
Mr McCabe’s question referred to the diversity of courses available to students. Is the minister aware that such diversity is threatened in the Highlands in relation to specialist traditional music? That specialist work is undertaken at a centre created in Plockton to serve the whole of Scotland, for which the Scottish Government has given additional grant in the past. What is the minister’s view on that matter? What action does he believe that it might be important to take to ensure that that excellent provision is maintained?
I am very concerned about this issue and I am grateful to Mr Peacock for drawing it to my attention, as others have done over the past few days. There is a very strong indication of considerable concern throughout Scotland. The centre of excellence at Plockton is an example of something very special indeed and it would be enormously regrettable were we to lose it.
School Estate (Glasgow)
The total capital support made available to Glasgow over the period 2007-08 to 2010-11 for investment in capital projects totals £792 million, of which £306.7 million is available for non-specific investment in projects such as the school estate.
Can the cabinet secretary name a school investment that has been commissioned and built from resources available from the Scottish Futures Trust in the Glasgow Shettleston constituency since 2007?
A very substantial number of proposals have been brought forward in Glasgow and elsewhere by this Government and through the mechanisms to which the member refers. The reality is that by the end of this session, we will have been involved in the procurement of more than 300 new schools. That is a larger number than the previous Administration planned to procure, had it won in 2007. I am pleased with what we have done and we can do more. We will do more in the next parliamentary session, because we will bring even more resource to taking Scottish schoolchildren out of unsatisfactory accommodation—just as we have done more of that than our predecessors.
Question 5 was not lodged.
Education (Capital Expenditure)
The 2011-12 draft budget includes £162.1 million of capital expenditure for the education and lifelong learning portfolio. In addition, up to a further £100 million of capital investment in education facilities will be supported via the non-profit-distributing programme announced in the budget.
Highland Council has made major improvements to Lochaber high school in two phases in recent years. However, with the completion of phase 2, progress is in jeopardy, as the council has made no provision in its capital plan for the completion of the third and final phase. That will leave a large part of the school in a very unsatisfactory condition. Will the minister encourage Highland Council to finish the job so that Lochaber’s schoolchildren do not have to be educated in substandard accommodation?
I am certainly opposed to children being educated in substandard accommodation and I am pleased that this Government has done so much to change that situation in Scotland.
Can the cabinet secretary say whether the £120 million—I think that that was the sum—that he mentioned in relation to next year’s capital expenditure includes funding for the first tranche of schools that the Scottish National Party announced? I should point out that one of those 55 schools is Eastwood high school, in my constituency. Is any money earmarked for that school next year? Has any money changed hands yet? Has East Renfrewshire Council been given any money to build that school?
I know that Mr Macintosh will welcome the fact that Scotland’s schools for the future school-building programme remains on track to deliver 55 new or refurbished schools and that no school project has been cancelled. The programme will now be delivered via a mixture of capital grant and funding from the investment pipeline. In all those circumstances, we are pleased that, despite the extraordinary pressure on capital that has come from the coalition Government—a squeeze that would have been imposed by the Labour Party, if it had been returned at Westminster—we are still able to move forward in that regard.
Budget for Bursaries Campaign
I am positive in relation to trying to support students in every way possible. In the current academic year, we are providing a record level of support for further education student bursaries. Our £84 million represents an increase of 6.2 per cent in cash terms on last year. Our draft budget for the academic year 2011-12 protects that level of investment, at a time when Scotland’s block grant is being cut by £1.3 billion.
The cabinet secretary refers to an increase in cash terms, but I cannot be the only member of the Parliament who is being bombarded with correspondence from concerned students who are pointing out a real-terms cut of more than £1.7 million by next year and are projecting a shortfall of £14 million in relation to the need that exists.
I have sympathy for the idea that we should change the way in which we provide student support. Indeed, the green paper on higher education that we published in December addresses that issue. The National Union of Students and others were involved in considering new options. I am open to reform and to what Mr Harvie refers to in terms of finding a better way forward.
I am pleased that the cabinet secretary agrees with Mr Harvie that perhaps the current model of college bursaries needs to be examined to ensure that college students have confidence in the system and are properly supported. Does the cabinet secretary agree that the yearly negotiations and the annual running out of money is becoming all too familiar and is not helping Scotland’s students?
Yes, I agree that we should look for better ways to do this, and that is why the green paper refers to better ways to do it. I say with great respect to Claire Baker that I am open to that, that I am looking for ideas, and that my predecessor increased resources year on year. Our predecessors in Government did not seem to be so concerned with the issue. She might reflect on that before she attempts to criticise.
Further Education (Student Numbers)
In the current academic year, the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council has asked colleges to deliver similar activity targets as in 2009-10. Colleges that serve areas of increased unemployment were given additional funds by the funding council and European structural funds with a view to their growing activity above their targets.
Given the potential increase in student numbers at Inverness College at the new Beechwood campus, I ask the minister for a commitment that the Government funding will be put in place urgently in order to take advantage of the European Union money that is currently available, and also to ensure that the new Beechwood college campus will be ready by 2014.
I am aware that Mary Scanlon has a long association with Inverness College. I hope that she will take some reassurance from the fact that in our draft budget we have indicated our intention to fund improvements to the college estate, which includes Inverness College. She will be well aware that decisions on the funding of individual colleges are for the Scottish funding council rather than for ministers, but ministers are encouraged by the college board of management’s decision to choose Beechwood rather than Longman Road as its preferred site for the redevelopment of the college.
I accept that it is the responsibility of the funding council rather than ministers to decide on funding allocations to individual further education institutions, but has the funding council gathered information about the implications for jobs and course provision of the Government’s reduced funding allocation to further education colleges for the coming year? Do we have any information or advice on the implications of the decisions that ministers intend to impose in the budget next week?
I assure Mr McNulty that the Scottish Government is, as ever, vigilant to any potential repercussions across the college sector. We are living in unprecedented times. Indeed, he will be familiar with the fact that the Government is facing an unprecedented cut of £1.3 billion. I hope that he will at least join me in acknowledging that, despite the difficult times, our colleges are rising to the challenge and are committed to protecting student numbers. There are indeed difficult decisions across the college sector, but the Government will continue to work collaboratively with every college the length and breadth of Scotland.
Question 9 has been withdrawn.
Les Compagnons du Devoir
Oui, madame. A representative of Compagnons du Devoir met Historic Scotland’s director of conservation on 12 November. Historic Scotland found it to be a useful meeting as the Compagnon scheme shares characteristics of Historic Scotland’s craft fellowship scheme, and both parties agreed to follow up the meeting.
Does the minister agree that, as in parts of mainland Europe, sectoral craft skills should be held in as high esteem as those of the professions? Does she agree that colleges such as South Lanarkshire College in East Kilbride are to be commended for their interest in alternative ways of addressing perceived skills shortages and that the French concept of apprenticeship and training is worthy of consideration?
The member is correct to say that the French concept is worthy of consideration. It has some interesting aspects. I would say that the strength of our modern apprenticeship scheme is in the employed status of apprentices, but nonetheless I commend the interest of and the work that is going on in the colleges in her area.
Europe, External Affairs and Culture
Antonine Wall
The inscription in 2008 of the Antonine wall as a world heritage site was a springboard for partnership working between the five local authorities, heritage bodies, museums and local community groups to promote the wall. The partners have recently made progress on several fronts. In December, they appointed a full-time co-ordinator to drive the implementation of the management plan; an interpretation plan based on an evaluation of visitors’ perceptions and requirements is now complete; an access plan will be delivered in March; and Learning and Teaching Scotland’s Scotland’s history website was launched last October. The partners remain committed to delivering future projects and, although all of this has to take account of the current financial climate, we expect them to come forward with sustainable action plans to be delivered as resources become available.
I welcome that response and echo the minister’s view that partnership is the best way forward. I also thank Friends of Kinneil for its work on promoting the world heritage site. Although I look forward to hearing more about the timescales involved, I am also interested in finding out what the Government is doing to support and promote tourism, education and so on with regard to the site.
Government support, including Historic Scotland funding, is fundamental to all the actions that I have mentioned. I, too, recognise and support the work of Friends of Kinneil. After all, this is as much about the involvement of voluntary groups as it is about the work of statutory agencies. There is a real energy about what we are doing. Great opportunities are emerging across the range of authorities, and we see our responsibility as co-ordinating the different local authorities and agencies.
The minister will recall that in this chamber I suggested the development of a Roman heritage centre near the Antonine wall. In the absence of such a centre, however, I wonder whether she can set out the efforts that are being made to ensure that young Scots can find out about and engage with their Roman heritage.
I know that members throughout the chamber are enthusiastic about having a physical centre to promote Roman history in Scotland, but there are other ways of having centres of excellence. Indeed, Learning and Teaching Scotland’s Scotland’s history website contains great opportunities for teachers to look into Caledonian, Pictish and Roman history; extensive information about Roman sites in Scotland; resource packs; audio and video clips; and databases of information from the National Museums of Scotland, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, the Hunterian museum and the British museum. However, I hope—indeed, I am sure—that the enthusiasm that has been expressed throughout the chamber for exploiting all the opportunities can be realised not only in local campaigns for physical centres but in promoting what is already available on websites.
I am tempted to ask, what did the Romans ever do for us?
The member is behind the times; I used his quotation about the Romans when we last discussed this issue.
Malawi
Scotland has a special link with Malawi, which remains central to the Scottish Government’s international development policy. As part of a programme of events in November 2010 to mark the fifth anniversary of the signing of the co-operation agreement between Malawi and Scotland, the Scottish Government held a trade event to promote trade links with Malawi and a networking event for current Scottish Government Malawi grant holders to promote links between projects and the sharing of best practice. We also provide funding for networking organisations such as the Scotland Malawi Partnership, which helps organisations in Scotland to build and strengthen links with their counterparts in Malawi. In February last year, I visited Malawi to see how Scottish Government funding is making an impact. I met ministers and officials from the Government of Malawi during my time there to strengthen the already strong Government-to-Government relations.
Will the minister join me in welcoming to the gallery Constance Kilimo? She is the first parliamentary intern from the National Assembly of Malawi.
I am pleased to welcome Constance Kilimo, and I was pleased to take part in activities during the previous Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Scotland branch visit in February last year to build links at the parliamentary level. I am keen to support such links, and I look forward to meeting members of the more recent cross-party delegation to find out lessons.
Presiding Officer, as you know, I was part of the delegation that returned from Malawi this week. I was privileged to be part of that delegation. Mrs Constance Kilimo, who is in the gallery, travelled back with us. She is on a pilot programme in which she will receive direct support and training in priority areas that will best aid the running of the National Assembly of Malawi. She is a special assistant to the clerk of the National Assembly of Malawi. Does the Scottish Government have any similar schemes for Government officials from Malawi? If not, will the minister consider such schemes in the future?
It is clear that there are frequent meetings that relate to the oversight of the agreement and frequent exchanges, and there is a lot of co-operation between policy officials in the Scottish Government and the Malawi Government. We think that the relationship between CPA Scotland and the National Assembly of Malawi is a strong way of building on the Government’s strands; indeed, I have discussed that with colleagues previously. We as a Government are keen to help to promote funding from different sources for that agreement.
Like Maureen Watt, I welcome Constance Kilimo to the gallery. I thank her and all those who hosted the delegation to Malawi last week. The visit was memorable.
Liam McArthur is right to focus on our people-to-people links and strengths. When I talk to other Governments and when I have discussions in the European Union, people are struck by the strength of the people-to-people and community-to-community relationships, which must be recognised and supported and which go back decades, if not longer. Even now, we probably underestimate the number of school-to-school and church-to-church relationships.
The initiative between North Lanarkshire Council and Shire Highlands education division in Malawi is the only local authority partnership to be recognised by the Department for International Development and the British Council. It involves a large cluster of school partnerships that are focused around Coatbridge and Chryston. What practical and immediate financial support can be offered to help to build capacity for that beneficial and sustainable initiative?
North Lanarkshire Council has developed that partnership itself and is to be commended for it. Much of our support for the Network of International Development Organisations in Scotland and for non-governmental organisations that work in the area relates to capacity building and learning lessons from elsewhere, as Elaine Smith knows. Many of the positive links concern teacher training and have been beneficial both ways.
As another of the members who have recently returned from Malawi, I commend to the minister the twinning arrangements that are being trialled with 10 MPs from Malawi. I was fortunate to have a valuable meeting with my partner, John Hiwa, who is the member for Ntcheu West; other MSPs met their partners. Does the minister agree that extending that twinning scheme would only strengthen local links with Malawi and contribute to increased mutual benefits for both countries in the partnership?
On my visit to Malawi in February last year, I was pleased to meet some MPs who planned to be part of the twinning arrangement. It is important that the twinning arrangement succeeds. I know that demand for it exists. One member of the Malawi Parliament—an energising woman from Chiradzulu—was keen to join when I visited, but the initial capacity of 10 had been reached.
Questions 3 and 4 were not lodged and question 5 was withdrawn.
Celtic Connections
From festivals to ceilidhs, traditional cultural events and activities the length and breadth of the country play a valuable economic role and a vital cultural role. Celtic Connections, which concluded last weekend, had another successful year, with ticket sales topping 100,000 for the fourth year running. Last year, the event’s economic impact study concluded that the festival was worth £11.9 million to Scotland’s economy in 2010.
How does the Scottish Government assess the non-economic contribution of such cultural events to Scotland?
The measure of cultural events is the demand for tickets and the attendance figures. The festival involved a range of cultural contributions, international stars and talented people. It is important to recognise that, when we pull in the likes of Sir Tom Jones, Rosanne Cash, Justin Currie and the Waterboys for sell-out concerts, the measure is audience participation.
Indeed. The question is on the economic impact.
The minister will be aware of the large number of young musicians from Plockton high school’s national centre of excellence in traditional music who have played at Celtic Connections and who are now making their way in the world as professionals. Has she had discussions with Highland Council on the threatened closure of this national treasure?
I did not catch that, but I suspect that it was not relevant.
I did. It was to do with traditional music. I am happy to answer the question.
No. We will move on. Question 7 is from Mike Rumbles.
It is a relevant question, Presiding Officer.
We will be the judge of that.
Fair Trade (Purchasing)
I have not directly been involved in discussions regarding the Scottish Government’s purchasing decisions in relation to fair trade. Responsibility for the issue lies with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth.
As we know, public sector purchasing decisions have an impact on the lives of producers in developing countries. Including fair principles in all stages of procurement would make a material difference to those producers. Will the minister inform the chamber—perhaps after discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, whom she said knows the answer to the question—about the proportion of Government spending on goods and services that includes fair trade principles? It is important not only that we have a statement saying that we support fair trade but that we know how we will do that. We need to know what proportion of spending is involved.
I will try to tease out the issue, Presiding Officer. I do not have information to hand on the proportion that is involved. I will see whether we can locate that.
As everyone knows, Scotland is working towards becoming a fair trade nation. I am sure that the minister agrees with me and many in the grass-roots fair trade movement that that will not be truly meaningful until we get beyond consumables and into issues such as procurement. Public bodies are the first part of that, after which we can encourage the private sector. Given that the United Kingdom is the member state in Europe, will the minister make further representations to the UK Government to look seriously at how we can best influence European procurement rules to allow real fair trade in our dealings in Scotland, the UK and across Europe?
Yes, I will. If, as I am hoping to, I have the opportunity to speak directly to the European Commissioner for Development, I will raise the issue with him, to try to overcome some of the constraints that we currently have to abide by.
China Plan
As members may be aware, today marks the start of the Chinese new year—the year of the rabbit. I therefore want to take the opportunity to wish everyone a happy Chinese new year. I would also like to put on record this Government’s appreciation of the valuable support that we have received from Consul General Madam Tan Xiutian, who will be moving diplomatic posts later this month.
The minister’s answer focused more on what happened in the year of the tiger. Can she tell us what specifically will happen over the next 12 months?
A number of exciting initiatives are under way. There is support for the whisky industry, which now has access to the Chinese market. We are already talking to salmon producers about the opportunities for trade links that exist. On education, we are discussing further roll-out of Confucius institutes. On tourism, there is a fantastic opportunity for discussions with the Chinese Government about supporting parents of the many Chinese students who stay here. Edinburgh zoo’s connection to conservation work with pandas is another exciting development. The member should not worry—there are plenty of opportunities going forward, in the year of the rabbit, to strengthen the relationship.