Plenary,

Meeting date: Thursday, May 4, 2006

Official Report 748KB pdf

---

Question Time

---

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

---

General Questions

---

Literature (Takeover of Ottakar's)

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect Scottish literature, given the decision of the Competition Commission in respect of the proposed takeover of Ottakar's book stores by HMV. (S2O-9714)

The Scottish Arts Council has responsibility for supporting literature and publishing in Scotland. Through its literature department, the council works with a range of literary and publishing organisations and offers support to initiatives in the sector. In February, we announced additional funding of £7 million for the SAC. That increase in the SAC's budget will provide substantial extra assistance for Scottish writers and publishers.

Does a decision that is predicated on the position that there is no distinctive geographic market for books in Scotland not call into question the ethos of a Parliament for the people of Scotland, never mind the legitimacy of having a distinct minister for culture? Is it not time that we had power over books and culture, as well as a ministerial title?

I thought that Mr MacAskill would say something like that, so I looked at the most recent Scottish National Party manifesto and—lo and behold—there was no mention in it whatsoever of competition, nor of how the SNP would deal with competition issues in an independent Scotland, except the comment that the SNP would be "more competitive" than the United Kingdom currently is. That would be an interesting phenomenon.

As members will know, the Competition Commission did not believe that incentives for publishers to publish new titles or authors to write new books would change because of the proposed merger, to which Mr MacAskill referred. Throughout the country, there is substantial competition—across, dare I say it, national boundaries—in the sale and purchase of books on the internet and in supermarket chains. I believe that there is a tremendous opportunity out there, which we will support and encourage, for Scottish publishers and writers to have their work more widely read throughout the UK.

Does the minister not accept that there is widespread disquiet among the Scottish literary community that Scottish authors are not promoted as well when buying decisions are made in Basingstoke as they are when such decisions are made in their local bookshops? Does he not accept that neither he nor the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport has done anything to address the problem or to forward the Scottish literary community's concerns to the Competition Commission?

It is not the policy of Scottish ministers to comment on decisions of the Competition Commission. However, the commission was unable to conclude that Scotland formed a separate geographic market or that the competitive situation here, to which I referred in my earlier response to Mr MacAskill, substantially differed from that in other parts of the UK. The commission did not find that there would be a substantial lessening of competition because of the proposed merger. As I said, there are tremendous opportunities for Scottish publishers, writers, playwrights and scriptwriters, with support from the Scottish Arts Council and the Executive, to ensure that their work is more widely read and distributed in the UK, which should be regarded as an expanding market, rather than a market that contracts to national boundaries.

---

Water Mains (Improvements)

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to improve the infrastructure of water mains in Scotland. (S2O-9686)

On 28 September 2005, the Scottish Executive set out the objectives for improving the system that Scottish Water must meet in the next regulatory period of 2006 to 2010 and the objectives that Scottish Water should plan and prepare for in the period 2010 to 2014. Scottish Water is preparing a delivery plan for 2006 to 2010, which will set out how it will deliver the Executive's objectives within the funds set by the Water Industry Commission for Scotland. The plan will be submitted to ministers for approval.

I thank the minister for outlining the position once again. My concern about the state of parts of the water infrastructure has been renewed by a recent incident in Dundee—the water supply of 10,000 homes was cut off for nearly a whole day—and by the difficulties that Dundonians faced in getting any news of what was happening and in finding alternative supplies. What plans are in place to improve the response to such emergencies in future, including plans to improve communications by perhaps making available a freephone number?

I want to make it absolutely clear that the burst main in Dundee was caused by road contractors, working on behalf of Dundee City Council, who accidentally ruptured a major water main. It was not caused by dilapidated infrastructure or lack of investment. It was a rupture of a large strategic water main that serves some 10,000 households across Dundee. I believe that Scottish Water did all that it could to make the repair and restore services as quickly as possible.

I accept that issues may have arisen to do with communications from Scottish Water, and I understand that, following the incident, Scottish Water is to review its communications strategy and will try to determine whether there are other practical and beneficial communications routes that it can use. Scottish Water would very much welcome suggestions from the local member. If she is interested, I ask her to meet Scottish Water to discuss the issue so that she can make her suggestions in person.

Will the minister update the Parliament on the steps taken in the discussion with Scottish Water about improving water mains and other water infrastructure in Scotland since the appointment of the new chairman? When will we see changes to Scottish Water's business plan that have resulted from changes in management?

Ministers have already had discussions with the new chairman, Mr Mercer. A new delivery plan will be submitted to ministers shortly.

Is the minister aware of the excessive amount of water leakage that is recorded on Scottish Water's nightline meters at a time when very few customers draw water? If so, what are the Executive's proposals for eliminating such major waste—without substantially increasing the already excessive water charges?

Of course we will not have excessive increases in water charges. The average household charge this year is £287, which is an increase on last year's charges of less than the rate of inflation. In comparison, charges in England and Wales are £7 more, at £294—an increase of 5.5 per cent on last year's charges.

Dealing with leakages will clearly be a major part of Scottish Water's spending over the next few years.

---

Toddlers March to Parliament

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will welcome the Barnardo's Scotland toddlers march to Parliament on 4 May 2006—which, of course, is today—which aims to raise awareness of Barnardo's call for more support for children's opportunities to play. (S2O-9694)

Play is absolutely vital for children's physical, social and emotional development. I therefore welcomed the opportunity earlier today to meet representatives of bodies promoting children's play, to take part in the event and to show my support for more play opportunities.

I am glad that the minister confirms the importance of play for children, and I hope that he will agree that the Parliament's garden has been greatly enlivened this morning by the presence of young children.

Does the minister agree that, as well as promoting children's physical well-being, play also promotes their mental well-being? It builds their motor, language and social skills. Does he further agree that we have to reflect on what has been done elsewhere in the United Kingdom to promote and implement play strategies, at both local and national levels, to consider whether we can find examples of how to make progress in Scotland?

I agree with what Maureen Macmillan says: outside in the Parliament's garden today we have seen immediately and powerfully the pleasure that play gives young people. We know how important play is to the nurturing and development of our children, but play should not be viewed in isolation. It is part of wider child care and child development policies.

We are well aware of what has taken place in other parts of the UK—for example, the Welsh strategy and certain events in England. However, perhaps much more important is the opportunity to learn from projects and developments that take place in individual parts of the rest of the UK and in Europe. It is extremely important that we take note of such things and build on good practice both from elsewhere and, in fairness, from here in Scotland.

---

Health Services (Glasgow and West of Scotland)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it shares concerns of MPs and MSPs in respect of the reorganisation of health services in Glasgow and the West of Scotland. (S2O-9712)

Any proposals for service change must be consistent with "Delivering for Health", which describes our vision for the future provision of health care services across Scotland and which sets out an action plan for the implementation of the Kerr report, "Building a Health Service Fit for the Future". Each proposal for change will be considered in that context.

Is the minister aware that, before Monklands hospital was opened, Glasgow royal infirmary was running at around 150 per cent capacity? It is proposed to have only two full accident and emergency units in Glasgow, and Monklands is under threat of closure. Will the minister tell us what will happen to GRI capacity if Monklands closes?

Further, will the minister tell us, regarding his ex-health minister colleague John Reid, whether he and this Executive and the Scottish Parliament intend to go down and save the health service in Westminster and in England, because of the situation down there? Will he emulate them?

That was a rather confused question. My answer is that it would be presumptuous of me to anticipate the recommendations of Lanarkshire NHS Board. Members will be aware that the board completed its consultation on the main part of its proposed changes on Friday and that it will continue to consult over the next couple of weeks on one or two late papers. Once proposals have come forward, have been properly considered by the board and have been submitted to ministers, they will be considered, as I said, in the context of "Delivering for Health".

On the issue of acute provision, the minister will be aware of the vast public opposition to the proposals currently being considered in Lanarkshire. He mentioned the health board's responsibilities under "Delivering for Health". Will he assure me that he will thoroughly assess the extent to which NHS Lanarkshire has honoured its responsibilities?

The minister also said that the health board began consulting on the regional impact of cross-boundary patient flow only two weeks ago—a week before the major consultation closed and nearly seven months after the health board began suggesting that Monklands general hospital was its clearly preferred option for accident and emergency downgrade. That proposal is unbelievable and unacceptable. The hospital has the busiest and most efficient accident and emergency unit in Lanarkshire and serves a population with some of the worst ill-health, poverty and deprivation levels in Scotland.

I am very conscious of the effort that Elaine Smith has made on this issue and I can certainly assure her that the public consultation process will be an aspect that we will consider in looking at any board proposals for significant service change. The board must show that it has fully engaged with the public on the range of options available.

Last year, we established the Scottish Health Council for the specific purpose of ensuring that NHS boards carried out full and proper consultations in circumstances such as those in Lanarkshire. The report of the Scottish Health Council on the consultation in Lanarkshire will be one of the documents in front of me when I come to make a decision on this matter.

---

NHS Lanarkshire (Funding)

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the shortfall in funding to NHS Lanarkshire through incomplete application of the Arbuthnott formula. (S2O-9671)

In addition to the standard uplift made annually to the budgets of all boards, NHS Lanarkshire has received additional funding to move it towards its target share under the Arbuthnott formula of just over £21 million, including nearly £7 million in the current financial year.

The minister will be aware that that does not deal with the cumulative shortfall, which, by the end of 2007, will be £40 million. NHS Lanarkshire tells me that that amount is enough for half the budget of running either Monklands or Hairmyres for more than 12 months. The funding shortfall has a material impact on the options available to the communities of Lanarkshire. For example, people in East Kilbride are being denied a hospice on financial grounds, and the costs of refurbishment at Monklands are being talked up.

Will the Executive act to plug the gap and give NHS Lanarkshire the funding that it is due, so that the people of Lanarkshire can be offered options that actually meet their needs and aspirations?

The reality is that the funding levels of NHS Lanarkshire and every other NHS board in Scotland have been increased by at least double the rate of inflation every year under devolution. Some of Carolyn Leckie's comments were, therefore, very wide of the mark. She quoted NHS Lanarkshire. She will know from its public statements on the matter that it has made clear the fact that its proposals for the provision of accident and emergency services, to which she referred, are not driven by financial considerations.

Will the minister look at the funding and finances of NHS Lanarkshire and, in particular, how, in the space of two months, the board revised by £20 million its estimate of the capital cost of keeping accident and emergency services at Monklands hospital open?

As I said, in considering any proposals for significant service change that are made by NHS Lanarkshire, I will consider all aspects of the consultation and the case that the board makes, including the financial aspects. I reiterate the point that NHS Lanarkshire has made clear publicly: its proposals are not driven by financial considerations.

---

Antisocial Behaviour (Private Landlords)

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been made available to private landlords in respect of their obligations under the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004. (S2O-9685)

The primary obligation on private landlords under the 2004 act is to register with the local authority. There is detailed guidance on the landlord registration website and on the Executive's better renting Scotland website. We have also provided local authorities with information leaflets for landlords.

Notwithstanding some of the initial teething problems that landlords have encountered with the computer system, I welcome the new registration scheme. I ask the minister to consider what further advice and guidance can be given to landlords, especially on their responsibilities in relation to antisocial behaviour, given the high number of incidents in my constituency that occur in private rented properties. Although I accept that much of the registration scheme will help with that, I think that there is a need for further guidance to landlords on their obligations and the actions that they should take if their tenants act in an antisocial way.

Absolutely. We recognise the fact that there have been teething problems with the system, and we share the frustration of those who have encountered problems. However, I make it clear that some of those who are attacking the process are doing so in order to attack the principle that Karen Gillon has identified—the right of communities to contact landlords and ask that they take responsibility for what their tenants are doing in their properties.

Through the registration process, we can identify where the landlords are and have a positive dialogue with them. I reassure good landlords that they have nothing to fear from the registration process. We are determined that our communities should not be prey to landlords who see being a landlord not as a business but as a means of making money, and who have no regard for the communities in which their properties sit.

I note the minister's comment that good landlords should not be affected by the registration process; however, the fact is that it is the good landlords who have faced antagonism and cost in their attempts to register. Will the minister consider, somewhere along the line, recognising the costs that those landlords have faced and, perhaps, compensating them for the inconsistency and total irresponsibility of the Executive in introducing the scheme before it was ready?

Let me make it clear that 45,000 landlords have already managed to register and that nearly 60 per cent of properties are now registered. We recognise the fact that registration has been a challenge for some people, but those who are most frustrated are those who do not want to be held accountable for their properties.

I pay tribute to Cathie Craigie, who persistently drove the issue through the Communities Committee not because it was an academic issue, but because the direct experience of her constituents and mine was that bad landlords not only did not see themselves as responsible for bearing business costs—the registration scheme is such a cost—but did not see being a landlord as a business at all. Such landlords not only ignored communities when they complained, but were actively hostile to them. We will work with those who want to serve those communities and make them safe, and we will deal with those who do not.

We do not want to send out the message that the scheme can be destroyed by attacks on the registration process; we must be united around the principle of the scheme. As I have said, good landlords have nothing to fear from it and communities will receive a great deal of benefit from it.

---

Elderly and Disabled People (Support)

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to develop the use of information and communication technology to improve care and support to elderly and disabled people in their own homes and so promote independence and improved quality of life. (S2O-9683)

The plans for e-health outlined in "Delivering for Health" include the establishment of a Scottish centre for telehealth, which will promote standardised solutions for telehealth and telecare applications. We are also exploring ways of embedding the use of information and communication technology in policy initiatives and of sharing good practice and experience.

Does the minister agree that examples from Scotland and elsewhere in the United Kingdom, including the well-being programme in Liverpool, show that if ICT is properly exploited, it has the potential to transform not only the delivery of services but people's lives? Will he consider how that good practice can be made universal across Scotland? Will he seek to accelerate the page of change in that area and ensure that across the reform and reconfiguration of health and social care services, ICT is embedded in thinking and practice to bring about the transformation that Scotland needs?

There are indeed some very good examples. West Lothian Council and its partners are developing housing-based alternatives to traditional residential care, making good use of ICT in supporting people at home. I believe that that could be extended further and I want to build on the good work that has already been done to enable people to live independently in their own home with support from ICT.