SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Crofting Counties Roads Scheme
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to bring forward legislation to reinstate the crofting counties roads scheme. (S1O-3330)
Although the scheme produced benefits in the nearly 60 years of its operation, we take the view that local councils are the appropriate bodies to determine local road spending priorities.
I thank the minister for his answer, which was not completely unexpected. I pay tribute to the minister's researchers, who had some difficulty in checking out the scheme, which went back to 1932. Does the minister agree that the scheme was extremely useful? Does he also agree that some roads in the remoter parts of the Highlands are below standard and that it would be useful if the Rural Development Committee examined the scheme to see whether it could be re-established?
Just as it is not for me to tell local authorities how to determine their spending allocations, it is certainly not for me to tell committees of the Parliament what they should examine. All I will say is that, as Jamie Stone pointed out, the scheme went way back to 1932 and was designed for a different purpose. I can only repeat that, although the committee may choose to examine the scheme, local authorities are the appropriate bodies to determine the spending priorities.
Glasgow Housing Association
To ask the Scottish Executive when Glasgow Housing Association will publish its business plan on the proposed Glasgow housing stock transfer. (S1O-3325)
That is a matter for discussion between Glasgow Housing Association and Glasgow City Council, in line with the Executive's "Housing Transfer to Community Ownership—Guidance for Local Authorities".
Can the minister confirm or otherwise that, in the business plan following stock transfer, the cost of modernising transferred stock will be 17.5 per cent more than under the council, through the imposition of VAT, which is effectively zero rated on council housing? Can she also confirm that that will mean that, of the £1.8 billion that is currently touted as the cost of modernisation, £268 million will go into the bloated coffers of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and thus be lost to Glasgow? If so, how will she ensure that that money is returned to the city?
First, it is clear from what has happened in Scotland over the years that money that is given to the chancellor is not lost to Scotland. On the specific question about Glasgow Housing Association's business plan, Mr Gibson is guessing at things that he does not know about—the VAT implications will depend on the specific details of the transfer proposals and, as he knows, we have yet to see those proposals.
Does the minister agree that, on the specific question, this matter has dragged on for far too long? It is more than high time that the question of the Glasgow housing stock transfer was resolved in, I hope, a satisfactory manner.
I firmly reassure the Parliament that I have encouraged all the parties in the process to keep their eye on the prize, which is increased housing investment in Glasgow and improved stock for the tenants of Glasgow. We are deeply committed to tenant involvement. That takes time. We are putting in place measures to make sure that tenants are involved. That is now happening. We are on target and we will make sure that matters proceed accurately.
Rail Links (Alloa)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether sufficient funding is in place to reinstate passenger and freight rail links to Alloa. (S1O-3355)
The completion of funding packages for those links is the responsibility of the promoters of the links, which are Clackmannanshire Council in the case of the passenger link and Railtrack in the case of the freight link. I understand that Clackmannanshire Council is meeting Railtrack again this week to discuss the cost of the project. We expect to be kept fully in touch with the result of those talks.
Will the minister reaffirm the Executive's commitment to the project? Will he confirm that the Babtie Group, which is one of the original two consultants, is examining closely Railtrack's revised figures? Can he give an assurance that the Executive will work closely with Clackmannanshire Council to make up whatever the final shortfall proves to be?
The reports that we have received from Clackmannanshire Council and Railtrack show the gap between the funding estimates that the council initially submitted and those that Railtrack later submitted. That is why we are calling for both parties to meet urgently to discuss those costs, close the gap and show that a viable, value-for-money project remains for us to support.
Only a few months ago, the Minister for Transport and Planning walked the track and committed the Executive to giving the go-ahead to the line's reinstatement. I ask the deputy minister to give a similar commitment. Will he commit the Executive to reconnecting Clackmannanshire to the rest of Scotland through the reinstatement of the rail line?
I will not make commitments before the parties that proposed the project produce firm, agreed and costed proposals for the project. Members will be aware of our commitment from the public transport fund to support the project as it was initially designed and proposed to us. There is a serious difference between the figures that were approved at that time and attracted our support and the figures that Railtrack has produced. It is for those bodies to get together and sort out the difference. When they have done so, we will study closely the viability of the project. If the project remains viable, it will receive our support.
Will the minister further clarify the answer that Sarah Boyack gave last month when I asked her whether the funding shortfall was caused by a miscalculation by Railtrack or by Clackmannanshire Council?
We are not in a position to clarify that. That is why we asked those bodies to talk to each other and examine—together—the basis of their figures. They are to produce a clear and agreed package with which we can proceed. We expect both parties to recognise the difficulties that their failure to agree on figures at the outset has caused. Sarah Boyack will meet the director of Railtrack in Scotland shortly. We expect Railtrack to give us assurances about the basis on which it will assess and respond to future bids from third parties such as Clackmannanshire Council.
Prescription Charges (Exemptions)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review the exemption from prescription charge categories. (S1O-3335)
We have no plans to do so.
That answer was not as bright as the minister's jacket. In recent weeks, many health support organisations have contacted me about reviews of the exemption scheme. The most recent contact was from Aberdeen mental health reference group, which seeks exemption from prescription charges for people with mental health problems. I remind the minister that the scheme was originally targeted at those with long-term conditions that required medication. To that end, will she agree to a review to appraise the needs of all those who suffer from long-term medical conditions?
We are aware of many different and often conflicting views on the policy that governs exemption categories. Relatively recently, the United Kingdom Government conducted a review of the categories and concluded that it would not make further changes. We, too, do not identify the issue as a priority at this time, but we are well aware of the many views that people with a range of conditions express on the issue.
I congratulate the minister on what looks like a lovely red jacket. I ask her to confirm that students who are aged 19 or over are means-tested to assess their eligibility for free prescriptions and that the means test assumes them to be receiving their full entitlement to student loans, whether or not they do. Given the levels of student poverty and debt, has not the time come to review the decision not to include students in the exempt categories for prescription charges?
I never realised that I could be responsible for provoking so many fashion statements in the Parliament. John McAllion accurately reflected the way in which students' incomes are treated for the purposes of exemption. However, I put that in a wider context. Prescription exemptions are granted on a range of medical and income grounds. About 90 per cent of all prescriptions are dispensed free of charge. As I acknowledged in answering David Davidson's question, a range of views will always exist about how exemptions should be granted and how forms of income should be treated, but successive Governments have decided to target resources as effectively as possible to those in the greatest need. We will continue to deal with the issue sensitively.
Maternity Hospitals (Nappies)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to promote the use of reusable nappies in maternity hospitals. (S1O-3353)
The use of reusable nappies is a matter for individual national health service trusts to determine.
Does the minister agree that, given the huge savings that the use of real nappies brings—£600 per child in personal costs to families and £40 million in landfill costs to the public purse—encouraging the NHS to introduce new mums to the benefits of real nappies would be a useful piece of leadership by the Scottish Executive?
I am aware of the cost and environmental implications that Nora Radcliffe refers to. I am also very much aware of the fact that parents have a key role to play in exercising choice in this matter. Environmental concerns must be balanced with the decisions that individuals take regarding convenience. That said, I congratulate the Women's Environmental Network on recently organising real nappy week and on its efforts to raise awareness of the issue. Increased awareness promotes informed choice.
Are there health concerns for babies from the use of disposable nappies? I refer in particular to the product tributyl tin, known as TBT. I also ask the minister to respond to the claim, made by environmental groups, that it takes more than 200 years for a disposable nappy to decompose.
My understanding is that it takes more than 20 years for disposable nappies to decompose. The subject raises real environmental issues. That is why I consider it to be a legitimate area of debate and expect environmental questions to be raised on it. I am happy to respond in writing to the specific point that Mary Scanlon made.
Is the minister aware that there is practically no difference in efficacy and convenience between the two types of nappy? The reusable nappy is a modern contrivance. [Interruption.]
Order. There is an awful lot of noise. Can we please hear the answer?
I find it difficult to know whether to answer that question as the Minister for Health and Community Care or as the mother of a toddler.
Job Losses (Assistance)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give the same assistance, proportional to the number of jobs lost, to work forces and communities in urban Scotland as has been made available to the fishing and farming industries. (S1O-3354)
Assistance is currently provided to all those who lose their jobs across Scotland in accordance with the principles set out in our partnership action for continuing employment framework. We are very conscious of the devastating impact that job losses can have on local communities. We are seeking to ensure that, as we create sustainable economic growth, employment opportunities are available to people in all parts of Scotland.
Many of us recognise that problems in fishing and farming communities need to be addressed. However, does the minister agree that companies such as Compaq and Motorola should be held responsible for the problems that are caused by their actions? Will she further guarantee that urban Scotland, where the majority of Scotland's population, poverty and problems are to be found, will be given the same proportionate support that has been given to the fishing and farming communities?
Hugh Henry's point—that companies are in a position to contribute to outplacement costs—is certainly true. We are encouraging companies to do that and I know that Compaq has agreed to do so. I am not sure that depleted fish stocks or slaughtered sheep can contribute in the same way as multinational companies can to clearing up the destruction that they have wreaked. It is true that a number of instruments—such as regional selective assistance, some European funds, including the urban fund, and social inclusion partnerships—are predominantly available in urban areas. The judicious use of such moneys, which has led to successes in the cases of Mitsubishi and Continental, is what we are looking for in response to the Motorola and Compaq situations.
At a time when many industries in rural and urban Scotland are suffering serious problems, does the minister agree that it is unfortunate, not to say crass, that a question should have been asked that tries to play off one area against another?
I did not understand the question to be one that tried to play off areas against each other. I was trying to reflect the importance of our responding to the specific needs of specific situations in urban Scotland. Where an exiting company can contribute to outplacement costs, we should encourage it to do so. Where we can claw back money, we should do so. Similarly, in areas where crises are a result of factors beyond the control of any one of us—for example, the depletion of fish stocks or disease in animals—a different response is required. The Executive is showing that flexibility.
The minister will accept that, in her constituency and that of Mr Henry, millions of pounds of public money have been spent in recent years. Does she acknowledge that the communities of Dumfries and Galloway, which have received a mere £800,000, would give their eye teeth to get their hands on even a proportion of what has been made available to those urban communities?
In the spirit of my previous response, let me say that it is important that members from all parts of the chamber try to do what is best for each community in Scotland. Earlier today and over the past few days, the Executive has been considering the Dumfries and Galloway recovery plan and the need to respond to the specific needs of that community in the face of the foot-and-mouth crisis.
Will the minister assure us that the Executive will not be deflected from addressing the crises in our fishing and farming industries? As a rider to that, would she consider extending the social remit of Highlands and Islands Enterprise to Scottish Enterprise so that we can address some of the issues in our rural areas?
One of the strengths of the Parliament is that we have the opportunity to address all those issues—be they fishing, farming or Scotland's industrial future—with a degree of detail, intention and public accountability that was not possible before the Parliament came into existence. With respect to the response of Scottish Enterprise to the crisis in Dumfries and Galloway, I have recently discussed the issue with Scottish Enterprise. The crisis has provided an opportunity for its rural team throughout the network to kick into action; it is presenting proposals to its board on how to drive forward the rural agenda, especially in the light of the impact of the foot-and-mouth crisis.
Ritalin
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to address the increase in the number of children being prescribed Ritalin. (S1O-3318)
Later this month, the Scottish intercollegiate guidelines network—SIGN—will publish evidence-based guidance for health professionals on the diagnosis, assessment and management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children. The guidance will be made available to all relevant health professionals.
Given the lack of convincing evidence that Ritalin has no long-term damaging effects, does the minister share my concern and that of professionals in the field at the dramatic, tenfold increase in the past five years in the use of the drug, which is prescribed to control the behaviour of children with hyperkinetic disorders?
I am aware that this is a controversial area and that a number of people have expressed concerns—I spoke to the Scottish Association of Mental Health on the subject last week. However, I would prefer to wait to see what the SIGN guidance says. SIGN will be considering a lot of the research evidence and taking account of best practice. I am told that it will cover non-pharmacological treatments as well as the issue to which the question refers.
visitscotland
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the interests of the South of Scotland are adequately represented on the board of visitscotland. (S1O-3322)
Appointments to the board of visitscotland are made on the basis of the expertise that an individual can bring to the work of the board and not because they are a representative of a particular area.
I note the minister's answer and welcome the fact that he has visited the area several times recently and listened directly to the concerns of local tourism businesses. However, on the basis of those visits, does he accept that there is a lack of confidence in Dumfries and Galloway that visitscotland can represent the area's interests and has its interests at heart? That was especially underlined by the allocation to the area of only £300,000 from the £5 million provided for dealing with foot-and-mouth. Will he ensure that he takes steps to restore confidence in visitscotland among tourist businesses in the South of Scotland?
Obviously, visitscotland has a very important role to play as far as the South of Scotland is concerned. On my visit to the area at the beginning of the week, I found that, despite the enormity of the challenge facing tourism businesses and other rural businesses, people were positive and forward-looking. I will certainly convey the concerns that I heard in Dumfries and Galloway from Mr Mundell and Elaine Murray to the interim chief executive of visitscotland, to whom I will be sending a minute as a matter of practice.
Does the minister acknowledge that there are concerns in constituencies such as mine that tourism in those areas is disadvantaged compared with tourism in Glasgow? Does he agree that the rural areas of the South of Scotland should also be highlighted through the tourist agencies, just as urban areas are?
There is no doubt about that. I am well aware of the challenges facing the South of Scotland. I was greatly encouraged by a plan to promote the South of Scotland as one entity, instead of breaking it up into Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders area. There is real potential to do something special for the South of Scotland and to promote it as one entity.
Would the minister consider persuading visitscotland to change its fatuous name, which is just confusing people and making it more difficult to find Scotland? He is aware that there are demonstrators from Dumfries and Galloway outside the chamber today. They are demanding that, in view of the recent catastrophes, an entirely new tourist board be set up.
Unlike John Swinney, I and all my colleagues in the Scottish Executive are doing everything that we can to encourage people to visit Scotland.
I call John Farquhar Munro in the expectation that his question is about the South of Scotland.
In order to support the excellent work that the Executive and visitscotland are undertaking to bring visitors to our countryside, will the minister encourage landlords who persist in displaying restricted-access signs to remove them with immediate effect from the areas of the countryside that are considered to be provisionally free of foot-and-mouth disease?
That issue is relevant to the South of Scotland and to part of the area that John Farquhar Munro represents. For many weeks now, I have been telling private landowners that there is no room for selfishness. They must engage with the wider community and take cognisance of the issues that tourism businesses are facing. The message is: get those unnecessary signs down.
Higher and Further Education (Partnerships)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to encourage higher and further education institutions to enter into partnerships with private enterprises in order to encourage business growth which benefits the wider community. (S1O-3347)
The Scottish Executive's approach to knowledge transfer, innovation and business development is set out in two reports: "A Smart, Successful Scotland: Ambitions for the Enterprise Networks" and the knowledge economy cross-cutting initiative report. Both documents highlight the successful role that can be played in productive partnerships between higher and further education and the business community.
Does the minister agree that an area such as West Lothian would make an ideal location for the commercial development of knowledge generated in Scotland's universities? Will she agree to discuss with Scottish Enterprise the promotion of West Lothian as such a location?
Very much so. As Bristow Muldoon will know because of his constituency interests, the Alba Centre, which is the first attempt to see Scotland as a centre for the next generation of electronics design, has a hub in Livingston. That is a unique collaboration between Scottish universities, the business community and Scottish Enterprise, and we hope that it is the first of such research-and-development-intensive projects to signal where the future of the Scottish economy lies.
In some cases, one of the obstacles to progress in that direction is that universities and colleges need more accommodation in the way of laboratories and workshops to carry out the research that will very soon lead to economic benefits, but they cannot afford to provide those facilities out of their existing budgets. Will the minister consider using some of the economic development money to assist the universities and colleges to provide those facilities, which would soon have a spin-off?
I have to put on record the fact that, over the past four years, an additional £1.5 billion has been put into university research; Scotland has been the recipient of more than its population share of that money.
BSE
To ask the Scottish Executive why it is safe to burn cattle over five years old yet not safe to bury such cattle due to the risk of contaminating either the ground or the atmosphere with BSE. (S1O-3324)
The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee recently considered a BSE risk assessment on the burning of cattle and the risk from burying cattle. SEAC's view was that burning cattle carcases remains the preferable option, as burning can destroy as much as 90 per cent of any BSE infectivity whereas, with burial, none might be destroyed. The committee estimated that the likely BSE infectivity in cattle born before 1 August 1996 would be about 400 times higher than that in cattle born on or after that date. Based on that information, older cattle in Scotland are either rendered or burned.
The minister will be aware that BSE is almost indestructible, so the process of burning potentially BSE-infected cattle that are more than five years old must carry a risk of distributing BSE prions into the atmosphere. That could allow the prions to fall on grassland or growing vegetables, which would contaminate the human and animal food chain. In light of that fact, which the minister has not denied, would not it have been safer to render rather than burn all cattle destroyed in the foot-and-mouth outbreak? Will he undertake to have cattle that are more than five years old rendered from now on?
The answer that I gave to John Scott was that we recognise the difficulty. We rightly and properly referred the issue to SEAC, whose advice I related in my first answer. There are no risk-free options in this matter. We have had similar difficulties in taking the advice of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and others about what we do with cattle that we are burying. In all those matters, we have the overlay of environmental considerations. There is no risk-free option, but at every stage we have taken advice from the relevant body. SEAC is charged with the responsibility for judging the risk of BSE and we have acted on its advice—it is on its advice that we have burned and incinerated animals over the relevant period.
Criminal Justice Forum
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in relation to the work of the criminal justice forum. (S1O-3358)
The reconstituted criminal justice forum has met on two occasions and will next meet in June, when it will consider a range of criminal justice issues.
Does the minister agree that improving community safety and fostering a sense of security is the key to the regeneration of constituencies such as Glasgow Anniesland and that improving public confidence in safety must be a top priority of the forum?
I agree that improving community safety is an important part of the regeneration of many areas of Scotland. That point was made forcefully in many of the exchanges during yesterday's debate on crime. The Executive wants to encourage community initiatives and community safety partnerships, which not only involve the police and the other criminal justice agencies but must involve people living in the communities. We give the issue a high priority.
Can the minister confirm that the criminal justice forum was first established in 1996, under the previous Government? Is he aware that, in 1998, the then Minister for Home Affairs and Devolution at the Scottish Office, Mr McLeish, gave an undertaking to drive forward proposals to cut wasted police time? Is the Minister for Justice concerned at comments made at the recent Scottish Police Federation conference in Peebles, where accusations were made of considerable wasted police effort?
I confirm that Michael Forsyth set up the criminal justice forum. In a spirit of consensus, I say that it is at least one initiative from Michael Forsyth that was worth continuing. I recognise the points that Mr Gallie has highlighted and the comments that were made by the Scottish Police Federation—Mr McLeish made the same points when he was the minister. We will examine issues such as the amount of time that the police spend in court, so that we can reduce the time that they spend unnecessarily and that could be better spent on other duties. We have increased support staff to release police for front-line duty and we are investing £8.2 million in a high-tech centre for Lothian and Borders police, which will allow the equivalent of 89 full-time officers to be released to full-time duties. The Executive's combination of increased police numbers and investment in technology to facilitate the work of the police will ensure that our police officers on the front line and in support are doing an effective job in protecting Scotland and making it a safer place.
Falkirk Council (Structure Plan)
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding Falkirk Council's structure plan. (S1O-3327)
A total of 269 representations have been received.
If it is appropriate for an MSP to make representations in the Parliament about the structure plan, why does the minister insist that it would be inappropriate for him to meet a delegation of MSPs to enable them to make oral representations about the structure plan? Furthermore, in view of the commitments made during the Falkirk West by-election in support of a new stadium for Falkirk Football Club, will the minister expedite approval of the structure plan to enable an early start to be made to the building of a new community stadium which will not only be a suitable home for Falkirk FC, but will be an asset for the whole community?
Mr Canavan has been around long enough to know that ministers—who have a statutory involvement in the structure plan process—cannot appear to show favour by meeting one party without undertaking to meet all the others. Although I recognise the plan's importance not only to the matters that he has raised but to many others, meeting all 269 of those who have expressed an interest would not allow me to expedite the decision in the way that he would like.
What representations have been made by constituents in Falkirk East, and what are the main areas of concern?
Of the representations I mentioned, a great majority—237, or 88 per cent—related to one particular part of Cathy Peattie's constituency; the Bo'ness area. Some representations were for and others against the green belt proposals for that area; all will be considered as part of the process, along with the representations relating to the football club and any others that have been received.
Is the minister aware of Falkirk Council's concerns that the structure plan might have to wait the full 40 weeks before it is approved, which could undermine the proposed development of the new community stadium at Westfield in Falkirk? Will the minister assure us that he will try to expedite the process of considering the council's structure plan to enable us to get it through before the 40-week period is completed?
I assure the member that every effort will be made to expedite the process and we will certainly aim to equal or better the 40-week target that we set. We should recall that Sarah Boyack reduced the target from 52 weeks early last year, and we are trying to achieve that.
Domestic Violence (Prosecution)
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are being implemented in order to ensure effective prosecution of cases of domestic violence. (S1O-3321)
Crimes of domestic abuse are viewed very seriously by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. In July 2000, detailed instructions were issued to procurators fiscal on the investigation and prosecution of offences of domestic abuse. Those instructions were informed by inter-agency discussions, particularly the work of the Scottish Partnership on Domestic Abuse, on which the Crown Office was represented. Prosecutors are instructed that, if there is a sufficiency of evidence in cases involving violence against the victim, prosecution not only is a consideration but ought to be the first option. There is a presumption in favour of prosecution in cases that involve injury. A rolling programme of awareness training to supplement those instructions commenced in September and was designed and delivered in conjunction with Scottish Women's Aid.
I thank the Lord Advocate for his reply. Will he assure me that he will consider introducing a system whereby such procedures will be monitored and assessed by his office or others, and that the people who are in that monitoring and assessment system will work with, among others, women's groups that look after women who suffer from such abuse?
We have regular contact with women's groups and others who are interested in matters of domestic abuse. Monitoring of all types of offence, including crimes of domestic abuse, is regularly undertaken by senior managers. When the new computer system is in place, it may afford a better opportunity for monitoring such offences.
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it next plans to meet representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and what issues will be discussed. (S1O-3336)
We meet COSLA regularly to discuss matters of importance to the people in Scotland, whom we all serve.
I thank the minister for that reply, although it did not tell me when he will next meet COSLA. When he meets COSLA, will the minister take the opportunity to discuss the fine example that has been set by Fife Council in refusing to distribute letters from the Chancellor of the Exchequer to school pupils in his constituency? Will he also consider whether guidelines on how to respond to such requests from MPs and MSPs—such as the one from Jack McConnell—should be issued to all councils?
I understand why the Conservatives have to ask a minister in the Scottish Executive to raise such matters with COSLA: the Conservatives control none of the councils in Scotland, so they are denied that opportunity. I have no plans to raise those matters with COSLA.
The minister will be aware that, over the past year, more than half of Scotland's councils have reduced the percentage of housing benefit applications that are processed within the target time of 14 days. At his meeting with COSLA, what steps will the minister suggest to ensure a reversal of that trend?
A series of processes are in place to try to improve performance across the range of local government services. We pick up such matters through best value reviews that the local authorities carry out. It is ultimately for those authorities to make decisions and improve their performance. However, if we can do anything to support that process, we are happy to do so.
Does the minister agree that it is rather strange that the Tories have attempted to lecture the Executive on public services? Will he explain the potential effects of the £16 billion of cuts that is the policy of the Tories?
Bill Butler is right to draw attention to the Tories' proposals, which would take us back to the time when they had control of this country and when there was a progressive reduction in the level of local government expenditure to a level that threatened public services. We do not want to revisit those days. People can make up their own minds about how to prevent it.
I remind members that ministers are not responsible for Opposition party policies.
Football (European Championship)
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12583 by Allan Wilson on 4 April 2001, what progress is being made in relation to the feasibility study into the possible staging of the 2008 European nations football championship in Scotland. (S1O-3357)
I understand that the feasibility study on the European nations football championship has been delivered to the Scottish Football Association.
Does the minister agree that bringing such a prestigious event to Scotland would give a boost to Scottish football at all levels, as well as to the Scottish economy? Will he ensure that the Parliament is kept up to date with the findings of the feasibility study?
I will advise the Parliament on the findings of the study at the first available opportunity, following the meeting that the First Minister and I plan to have with the Scottish Football Association.
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