SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
National Conversation
To ask the Scottish Government what action was taken during the summer recess to advance the national conversation. (S3O-4015)
The national conversation continued to build momentum over the summer. The First Minister and the cabinet secretaries took part in public events that were attended by hundreds of people in Dumfries, Inverness, Pitlochry and Skye. Public enthusiasm for those events confirms that Scotland's constitutional future cannot be separated from the issues that people and communities face each day. The issue of how Scotland should be governed in the future is now firmly established at the heart of public and political debate.
During the recess, the Scottish National Party directly connected with people to seek their views on Scotland's constitutional future. I was very encouraged by the responses that I received in my constituency of Dundee West and in John Mason's Westminster constituency of Glasgow East.
I am glad that Joe FitzPatrick was encouraged during the summer by the responses that he received.
Can the minister provide statistics on how many contributors from the floor there were at the events and on how many such contributors mentioned independence? If he cannot do so now, will he revert to us in writing?
The issues that people raised at most of the events, particularly the Cabinet events, showed the stark reality of our ability under the current devolution settlement to tackle the problems that they face with rising energy and food prices and fuel costs and with the downturn in the housing market. All those issues relate to the powers that have been established for the Parliament.
Just answer the question, Bruce.
I answered it.
Scottish Arts
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding support is available for traditional community-based Scottish arts to ensure that our culture survives into the future. (S3O-4038)
The Scottish Arts Council is, of course, the main national funding source for the arts. Its current funding system was launched in 2006.
The Scottish Arts Council has refused funding applications for some groups and is carrying out a review of the sector, and traditional community-based arts groups are worried that they may simply disappear. Does the minister acknowledge that what makes community-based Scottish arts groups significant is people's aspiration to participate in our traditional culture and not simply be spectators?
Absolutely. I disagree with nothing that Sarah Boyack said. Later today, I will meet representatives of the Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland, the Scots Music Group and the Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust. We have talked about the issues before. Since the Parliament was reconvened in 1999, members of various parties have expressed concern that there is no guarantee of funding for Scotland's unique indigenous arts and traditional culture. It is essential that we discuss how we can guarantee that uniqueness in our communities in future. The Government, with the care that it has for the traditional arts, will have that discussion.
In light of that answer, does the minister agree that monetary support for the traditional arts from the Scottish Arts Council ought to be provided on the basis of their ability to promote the vitality of our living traditions? Given the omission of the traditional arts from the previous Administration's national companies programme, is it time to investigate whether a national company or agency should be set up to progress those arts?
The Scottish Arts Council is having discussions with those who were not successful in that flexible two-year funding round. The Government wants to promote the very best of Scotland and the uniqueness of its traditional culture. I am not convinced that the national company model that we have for other forms of art in Scotland would be appropriate or would celebrate the diversity and the wonderful traditions of our culture. However, it is the Government's responsibility to protect our traditional cultures and we are very willing to have that discussion.
Does the minister accept that decisions must be made now? Does she understand the concerns of those who are involved in the Scots language and the traditional arts regarding funding? I am glad that she is meeting people today, but will she come outside with me this afternoon to meet folk who are involved in the traditional arts and listen to them?
It is bizarre that it is only now, nine years after the Scottish Parliament was reconvened, that we have for the first time a Government that is listening and recognising the problems and willing to do something about them.
Lanarkshire (Sport)
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to sport in Lanarkshire. (S3O-4025)
The local authorities are the main providers of sporting opportunities in Lanarkshire. The Scottish Government is committed to working with them and others to ensure that we achieve the twin ambitions of the national strategy for sport: increasing participation and improving performance.
Will the minister join me in congratulating New Lanarkshire Ltd, North Lanarkshire Council and South Lanarkshire Council on securing the international children's games in 2011? Can he assure me that the Scottish Government will support the games?
I am delighted to congratulate everybody who was involved in the successful bid. It is marvellous that the international children's games are coming to Lanarkshire and Scotland. I met John Scott, the chief executive of New Lanarkshire Ltd, and Karen Shaw of New Lanarkshire Ltd in August 2007. I met John Scott again in March this year, along with Richard Smith, the secretary general of the international children's games. The First Minister and I provided messages of support for the bid and the First Minister recorded a message of support as part of the bid process.
Housing (Investment)
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and local authorities regarding the First Minister's announcement of 19 August 2008 on housing investment. (S3O-4056)
The Scottish Government had a number of discussions at political and official level with COSLA and representatives of local authorities in advance of the First Minister's announcement on 19 August. Further discussion is continuing.
Following pressure, the First Minister announced on 19 August that £100 million would be provided to tackle the housing challenges. That was welcomed, but there are issues with the detail. The announcement was made ahead of £40 million of the money being confirmed. I do not know whether that concerns you, but will you confirm where we are in relation to that £40 million—if it is there—and how much of the £100 million will be available this year? Will you detail the process by which local authorities throughout Scotland can access the portion that is available this year to ensure fair distribution throughout Scotland?
All members should have received a memo from me this morning asking them not to refer to one another other than by their proper names or titles.
I confirm to Johann Lamont the words that the First Minister used in the speech that he delivered at the Donald Dewar memorial lecture on 19 August. He said that a package of up to £100 million would be available, £60 million of which was already identified and absolutely confirmed within the central Government budget. We made the point in that announcement that £40 million of the development was subject to discussions with local government under the arrangements in the concordat. We could not have been clearer in our explanation of the nature of that resource.
In the interests of clarity, will the cabinet secretary confirm that all local authorities will receive their fair share of that allocation?
The resources are aimed primarily at supporting the development of social housing, which will be developed through registered social landlords. We aim to make the maximum impact with the available resources, and the allocations will be discussed with our local authority partners. I assure Mr McNeil that those discussions will fully involve local authorities as part of our open approach to discussions and debate on all such questions involving our local authority partners.
Public-private Partnerships
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the replacement of public-private partnership funding schemes. (S3O-4030)
Work on developing the Scottish futures trust is progressing well. Subject to the agreement of the Parliamentary Bureau, I expect to update Parliament on progress next week. We expect that the Scottish futures trust will be established formally as a company shortly and I will keep Parliament properly informed of the details.
Is the minister aware that actual inflation rates, as opposed to the optimistic 2.5 per cent rate on which Highland Council predicated its PPP school building programme at the outset, have already meant that the annual cost of the scheme has virtually doubled, with £15.8 million paid out in 2006 rather than the £8.6 million annual charge that was estimated in 2001? Is he aware that the programme is mortgaging the council to the hilt for 30 years and jeopardising the development of education services in the area?
It is clear that there are a number of concerns about the efficiency and value for money of private finance initiative contracts. The example that Mr Thompson cites is alarming because it illustrates the degree of pressure that such changes to the inflation rate will have on the finances of local authorities, which have long-term financial commitments to meet in relation to PFI schemes. That is why the Government is motivated to secure greater value for money from the capital investment programme, which is one of our principal motivations for establishing the Scottish futures trust, which has at its heart our determination to deliver more effective value for money from our investment programme.
I cannot hear the letters PPP without thinking about the deplorable state of Wick high school in my constituency. Will the minister agree to meet concerned parents and teachers from that school within the context of what he has said to see how resources could be targeted to a particularly needy problem such as Wick high school?
I am sure that my colleagues in the education portfolio are in regular touch with local authorities and other groups about school refurbishment and new school construction. Those aspirations lie at the heart of the Government's proposal for the Scottish futures trust. If Mr Stone will forgive me, I will leave it to my education colleagues to consider his request for a meeting, but the Government is determined to ensure that we have a vigorous programme of investment in the school estate, which is what we are currently delivering.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (Training)
To ask the Scottish Government what additional training has been offered to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education inspectors following the death of headteacher Irene Hogg in the Scottish Borders. (S3O-4018)
HMIE invests in a thorough programme of continuing professional development for all HM inspectors to ensure that inspections are conducted professionally and constructively and that they lead to improvement for children and other learners. The member will be aware that the majority of inspections include a current practitioner as part of the inspection team, and important aspects of HMIE's programme of development extend to those team members.
I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer. Is she aware of the additional training that is being undertaken by HMIE inspectors, reportedly at a spa in Pitlochry, which is designed to train them to reduce stress on teachers, following the tragic death of the headteacher in the Borders? Does she agree that that is bound to add weight to the calls for a fatal accident inquiry into the headteacher's death, which followed widespread concerns about the methods that are used by HMIE inspectors, which have been relayed to me by teachers across Scotland subsequently?
The issue of a fatal accident inquiry is a matter for the legal authorities. I understand that a report is currently with the procurator fiscal.
Does the cabinet secretary agree that perhaps a long-term response to the tragedy that occurred in my constituency would be to take forward what Parliament has already voted for this year, which is a revised set of conditions and support for our school leaders in primary and secondary schools, who do outstanding work under huge local pressure, especially when inspections are about to be carried out?
I agree with the member that effective leadership in our schools is of paramount importance, and I pay tribute to the many headteachers who deliver that in our schools today. I reiterate the importance of acknowledging that there is a new inspection regime, which has been piloted since April and which is now in place from the current term. It has been welcomed so far by headteachers and professionals across the education system.
Autistic Spectrum Disorder
To ask the Scottish Executive whether numbers are available for people suffering from autistic spectrum disorder, based on recent case studies of specific areas, that would allow for a detailed breakdown of the numbers and severity of cases. (S3O-4019)
Information on the number of people with autistic spectrum disorders and the levels of needs are primarily of importance to local agencies with a responsibility for planning and designing services to meet the needs of the local population.
Has consideration ever been given to setting up one or more pilot projects—or to commissioning university resources to do so—to ascertain details such as numbers, age and severity, as it has been estimated that such problems might affect around 1 per cent of our population and might even be regarded as an epidemic?
Research projects are, of course, going on. For example, the Medical Research Council has funded such projects and has committed more than £3 million to new research, but it is not particularly focused on the issue of prevalence. I would certainly be happy to reflect on that further and write to the member with further details.
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