SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Deeds of Conditions
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to restricting the terms of deeds of conditions whereby the appointment of a named property manager cannot be made mandatory. (S1O-527) The Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice (Mr Jim Wallace): Such matters are being considered by the Scottish Law Commission as part of its work on non-feudal real burdens and title conditions. The commission will submit its final report to Scottish ministers by the end of this year.
I am obliged to the minister for his response, but does he agree that it is iniquitous that co-proprietors of a complex for elderly persons should be required to commit themselves to a named factor whose service might be deficient and expensive? Those co-proprietors might be unable to change to a more acceptable property agent.
The Executive is well aware of such concerns, which have been expressed by a number of people. A working group that includes representatives of developers, managers, owners, owner-occupied sheltered housing and other interested parties is preparing a voluntary code of management. We hope that adoption of that will be made a condition of membership by associations that represent managers and developers. That is being consulted on and we await the proposals that will be made by the Scottish Law Commission, which will be in the report that it will submit later this year.
Trident
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made or will make representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding the immediate removal of the Trident installation in Scotland. (S1O-495) The Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (Henry McLeish): The Executive has made no such representations and has no plans to do so.
Will the minister explain why he does not consider such representations to be necessary, in view of the fact that he is defying the wishes of 85 per cent of the Scottish people, the Scottish Trades Union Congress and all the
Views on the nuclear deterrent and its presence are well known, especially the views of the Scottish National party. I have already made it clear that I do not intend to comment on the merits of the sheriff's judgment. Law officers have confirmed that they will refer the matter to the High Court for its consideration. It would be wholly inappropriate for me to comment at this stage.
Landfill Sites
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the current planning regulations with respect to landfill sites and their proximity to residential accommodation. (S1O-543)
There are no plans at present to review the guidance.
Does the minister intend to have major control over landfill sites that have planning permission, to allay the fears of residents living close to sites such as Tarbothill in my constituency? Residents there are having their homes tested frequently for dangerous landfill gases.
I acknowledge that there are concerns, particularly in areas where there are landfall sites. It is crucial that we ensure that those sites are managed effectively and that the appropriate licences are attached. That is an issue for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Scottish Prison Service
To ask the Scottish Executive how many time-off-inlieu hours were due to Scottish Prison Service officers as at 1 September 1999, or the latest date for which figures are available. (S1O-511) The Deputy Minister for Justice (Angus MacKay): At 1 October 1999, 101,643 hours were owed to staff, and 27,579 hours were owed by them.
Can the minister say whether he knew those figures at the time of the announcement that £13 million was being splashed—[Laughter.]—sorry, slashed from the prisons budget?
The splashing and slashing is in Mr Gallie's question. The position regarding time-off-in-lieu hours in the Scottish Prison Service is that the number of hours owed has fallen by 20 per cent in the past year. Those figures are entirely reasonable and are in keeping with those of any other national public institution.
Can the minister assure me that time-off-in-lieu hours that are due to prison officers will be given as time off in lieu and will not have to be paid over the next 12 months?
The average time off in lieu that is owed is 19.6 hours per head, which is a little more than two shifts per member of staff. That is entirely in keeping with standard practice. An action group has been set up by the Scottish Prison Service to examine the re-provisioning of the Scottish Prison Service's budget, over the coming weeks and months. It will be for that group to make recommendations about the way in which time off in lieu is dealt with.
Breast Cancer
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will identify the factors that have resulted in the improvements in survival of breast cancer patients in Scotland. (S1O-522) The Minister for Health and Community Care (Susan Deacon): The latest figures show that
Tamoxifen is one of several drugs and treatments that are offered to cancer patients. The Scottish Executive is committed to ensuring that all drugs and therapies that are offered are as safe and effective as possible. With regard to the specific study that Mr McMahon asked about, I am happy to look into the matter. I shall give him further details in writing.
Pigmeat
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with pigmeat retailers about the labelling of pigmeat products. (S1O-541)
As I indicated last week, my department is in consultation with retail and other interests on how best to enforce labelling requirements for foodstuffs, including pigmeat products. Given the high quality and welfare standards that are adhered to by the Scottish pig industry, I hope that that will help the consumer to identify home- produced pigmeat.
As the minister clearly agrees with me that Scottish pig producers are to be commended for the quality of their produce, does he further agree that our partners in the European Union could learn much from the standards that have been set by the Scottish industry? When he has the opportunity to do so, will he seek to persuade our partners to raise their standards to Scottish levels?
I am happy to give that undertaking. As Mr Macdonald will know, EC directive 91630 sets out the minimum standards for the welfare of pigs. That was voted for by a majority, in 1991. Unfortunately, it allows until 2005 for those standards to be made uniform throughout Europe. At every opportunity, we point out that those standards should be advanced.
Ambulance Service
To ask the Scottish Executive how many ambulances are provided in Angus between the hours of 6 pm and 8 am. (S1O-513) The Minister for Health and Community Care (Susan Deacon): It is for local health boards and national health service trusts to determine the health needs of local areas and the appropriate level of services that is required to meet those needs. I can, however, advise Mr Welsh that four emergency vehicles are provided in Angus between the hours of 6 pm and 8 am. Tayside Health Board and the Scottish Ambulance Service would be happy to provide any further information that Mr Welsh may require.
If under-resourcing is causing problems for the ambulance service in meeting existing needs, what extra resources will the minister provide for an acute services review that will centralise services and increase the number of journeys outwith Angus?
I am pleased that there are now record levels of investment in the health service in Scotland. Over the next few years, that investment will be put to good use when we consider how we can redesign and modernise NHS services throughout Scotland, including those in Tayside. The local acute services review that is taking place there is an important part of that process, and I look forward to its outcome.
That acute services review does not take into account the impact on ambulances. Will the minister look into that, to avoid an obvious future problem?
I am always happy to examine the future provision of any aspect of services, to ensure that those services are of the highest quality for people throughout Scotland. I stress, however, that where there are questions to be raised about provision in local areas, it is important that that dialogue takes place locally. I urge the local member, if he has concerns, to raise those questions with the local health board.
Public Service Job Relocation
To ask the Scottish Executive what further consideration it is giving to the relocation of public service jobs, particularly in relation to departments or agencies with rural responsibilities, to the Scottish Highlands. (S1O519) The First Minister (Donald Dewar): Our policy on the location and relocation of public service jobs was set out in my statement of 15 September in response to a question from Mr Duncan McNeil. We will seek opportunities to locate the work of the Executive and related bodies as close as possible to the communities that they serve. That is consistent with our objectives of efficiency and effectiveness.
Does the First Minister agree that moving the aquaculture division of the Scottish Executive rural affairs department to Kinlochbervie or to Lerwick, or encouraging the Highlands and Islands partnership programme or its successor organisation to move out of Inverness, would provide vital jobs and would also strengthen the government of Scotland?
We should always look for opportunities where the criteria are properly met. A considerable number of public bodies in the Highlands and Islands are creating jobs in the region, and the partnership programme in Inverness is just one example. Jobs are also created through the local enterprise company network all over the Highlands and Islands. Whether it is possible to have further devolution and relocation is a matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise to consider. The Executive is anxious to encourage it, although one must always remember the importance of lines of communication and the interests of the staff, who may be well settled where they are and may have
Stobhill Hospital
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will call for an independent consultant to carry out a design survey regarding the proposal to reduce the size of the ambulatory care and diagnostic unit at Stobhill hospital. (S1O-521)
The Scottish Executive does not intend to call for an independent consultant. It is a matter for Greater Glasgow Health Board and North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust to decide on and to commission such design surveys as they deem necessary to assist in the development of the proposed ambulatory care and diagnostic unit at Stobhill hospital.
Does the minister share my concern that Mr Andy Black, the so-called independent adviser who carried out a design briefing in December, was not in fact independent and that he had tendered for the work to carry out the ACAD proposal at Stobhill hospital?
I am assured that the local health authorities are employing effective processes to take forward that important aspect of service development. In due course, they will put proposals to the Scottish Executive and we will consider them carefully.
Police Funding
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase expenditure on policing in financial year 2000-01. (S1O-529) The Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice (Mr Jim Wallace): As announced in the comprehensive spending review, the total revenue funding available for the police in 2000-01 is £741.9 million, which is an increase of 3.8 per cent on this year's figure.
Does the minister agree that inadequate police resources lead to increased crime, especially public order offences and street crime? Does he still agree with the assertion that he made in response to a written question from me, that the substantial increase in violent crime in Strathclyde last year is entirely unrelated to the fact that Strathclyde police are 350 officers short of their operational complement? If he considers that assertion misjudged, will he take this opportunity to outline precisely what measures he intends to take to ensure that all Scottish police forces are restored to their full complement?
Many studies conducted over many years have shown that there is no clear correlation between levels of crime and increases or decreases in the size of police forces. Mr Gibson will be aware that, in addition to the sum for the forthcoming year to which I referred, a sum of £4.7 million has been allocated to the police for millennium funding. That will free up budgets for other areas of policing. The Executive continues to pursue a policy of civilianisation and of improving information technology, allowing more police to be freed up for front-line duties.
Pig Industry
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the contribution of the pig industry to the economy. (S1O-542) The Minister for Rural Affairs (Ross Finnie): In 1998, the output of the pig industry in Scotland was worth £72 million at the farm gate, which equates to just under 4 per cent of the total Scottish agricultural output. To put that into perspective, in recent years Scottish agricultural gross domestic product has declined to somewhere between 1½ and 2 per cent of the total GDP of the Scottish economy.
I am grateful to the minister for his reply, and to the drawer for eventually picking out one of my questions. Last week, the minister was able to announce a £5 million UK-wide aid package to promote the marketing of pigmeat. Could he provide more detail of how that will operate and, in particular, whether it will promote Scottish and UK pork in home markets, using animal welfare considerations in addition to quality considerations?
I can confirm that the £5 million pig package—if that is the right phrase—will be applicable across the UK. It is important, however, in the light of the launch earlier this year of the Scottish pork quality mark, which differentiates home products and Scottish products from imports, that our proportionate share of that £5 million will be devoted exclusively to promoting Scottish products. I hope that that will greatly assist the industry.
New Opportunities Fund
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to encourage the national lottery board to expedite the release of the £17.25 million cancer initiative funding for Scotland from the new opportunities fund. (S1O-516)
The New Opportunities Fund Board, which is responsible for that new initiative, has set up a robust bidding and assessment
Is the minister aware of the concern of the charities involved about the delay in funding? These are three-year programmes, and the robust procedure that she describes could lead to a delay of up to 20 months. Is she not concerned that that funding delay might lead to delays in treatments such as those that have been referred to by other members today?
We all share the view and are keen that this important new investment—which, I stress, is in addition to existing NHS investment— be put to use as soon as practically possible, to tackle cancer prevention and detection and to give care to cancer patients. A balance must be struck, however, to ensure that the process of allocating the sum is fair and effective, alongside getting the money where we want it to be. Such a balance has been struck in this case.
Ninewells Hospital
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on the future of the neurosurgical unit at Ninewells hospital, Dundee. (S1O-528)
A short-life working group has been set up under the chairmanship of the chief medical officer, to review the overall provision of neurosurgical services in Scotland. It will consider the needs of Dundee.
I thank the minister for her reply. When she considers the issues that underpin the acute services review that Sir David Carter is conducting, and the primacy that is attached to the principle of equality of access to services—that all our constituents should enjoy equality of access, no matter in which part of the country they happen to live—does she believe that the concerns in the Tayside area about the possible threat to the neurosurgical unit at Ninewells hospital are in any way justified?
I am determined to ensure that people in Tayside, as elsewhere in Scotland, have high-quality, accessible services. It is important, however, that we recognise that there are ways of taking those processes forward. I believe that the exercise in which the chief medical officer is currently involved will take account of the needs of each part of Scotland, to ensure that we have the highest standard of service for all areas.
Glasgow Council Housing
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the role, remit and objectives of the new steering group set up to oversee the next phases of work on stock transfer of Glasgow council housing. (S1O-547)
The group has been established with the following remit:
Now that the minister has taken personal charge of the Glasgow stock transfer proposal, does she see a conflict of interest in her role as the person who is chairing the implementation of the stock transfer while she is chairing the allocation of the bidding process? Will she explain how she will deal with that conflict of interest, and is such busybody behaviour to become the norm in her pursuit of public policy?
Fiona! [Laughter.] The view of the Scottish Executive is that as a Scottish housing minister I would be failing in my duty were I not to work with the City of Glasgow to develop proposals—I stress "work with", because I am the joint chair of the steering group. Fiona raises a legitimate point, and I have taken steps to ensure that I will not be the minister making final decisions on the new housing partnership bids that come forward.
Blood Donation
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to launch an initiative to raise the profile of blood donation in Scotland given that only 5 per cent of the Scottish population currently donates blood. (S1O-509) The Minister for Health and Community Care (Susan Deacon): The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service constantly works to increase blood collection through an on-going programme of initiatives. Specific initiatives are already being planned for the run-up to Christmas and the millennium, designed to highlight the importance of blood donation and encourage more people to give blood. I welcome any suggestions that Mrs Goldie or any other members may have for future initiatives that we may wish to consider.
She cannot make suggestions now—she can ask another question.
I thank the minister for that full
Congratulations.
Order.
Given that since the inception of the Parliament many sections of the public have been baying for the blood of MSPs, does the minister agree that there is now a laudable and, indeed, novel opportunity for MSPs to give the public what they want, by going to the conveniently located centre at Laurieston Place as soon as possible, and giving as many pints as we can?
Susan Deacon.
Sit down.
Order.
I congratulate Miss Goldie on her nuptials and on her creative line in questioning, and whole-heartedly endorse her plea to members.
Marine Protection
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-385 by the Minister for Transport and the Environment on 9 August 1999, whether it has yet received advice from its nature conservation advisers and whether Scottish Natural Heritage has any plans to designate the seas around Fair isle as a marine special protection area under the birds directive. (S1O523) The Minister for Transport and the Environment (Sarah Boyack): No. The Scottish Executive has not yet received advice from its nature conservation advisers on the identification of marine special protection areas under the birds directive, so there are no plans at present to classify the seas around Fair isle as a marine SPA.
Does the minister accept that the local community and fishing and environmental organisations are working towards the designation of Fair isle as a marine SPA? Will she support the island's application to be awarded a European diploma by the Council of Europe on the basis of the island being declared a special marine area?
It would be helpful if I explained, as I said in my answer to Robin Harper last week, that the moderation process on special marine areas and special areas of conservation is still in progress. Until that process has finished, which is looking at land-based SPAs and SACs, we will not move on to look at marine-based areas. However,
Waste Recycling
To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to encourage householders to minimise their output of domestic waste and to encourage waste recycling. (S1O-498) The Minister for Transport and the Environment (Sarah Boyack): We are committed to adopting a national strategy for waste by the end of this year. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is working on a strategy that will cover waste minimisation and recycling.
Will the minister assure me that she has no proposals to levy charges on householders for the collection and disposal of domestic refuse, and that no officers in her department are working on any such scheme?
The scheme that we are working on at the moment is the national waste strategy that SEPA will publish before the end of the year. It will look primarily at the range of disposal and recycling options that will be available to the people of Scotland.
Pig Industry
This is the final pig question of the day. To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to write to local authorities and other public authorities highlighting the quality of pigmeat produced in Scotland and urging them to support the industry by sourcing their orders from local producers. (S1O-510)
I have already written to local authorities in that vein. In addition, I wrote to my ministerial colleagues with responsibilities for the national health service, the police, the fire service, prisons and education, highlighting the desirability of sourcing local produce. However, Mr Lochhead will understand that while I can make that point and promote it, I cannot interfere with the competitive tendering process.
There does not have to be a supplementary, but if there is one, we will take it.
I welcome the minister's answer. Many people will have noticed that many members are wearing badges that say, "Save the Scottish Pig Industry". In addition, I urge all members to sign the all-party motion that was lodged today. I urge the minister to use every measure possible to encourage people to buy
I am not sure that that supplementary requires any reply, other than to endorse what was said.
The word amen would have done.
Youth Services
To ask the Scottish Executive how it envisages the work of organisations offering a holistic advice service to young people, such as Off the Record in Stirling and The Corner in Dundee, being supported in their pioneering work to provide a confidential, accessible and multi-agency approach to help young people deal with increasing drug-related problems. (S1O-502) The Deputy Minister for Justice (Angus MacKay): I announced a new drug prevention and effectiveness unit on 21 September. It will help locally based drug action teams to target the most effective ways of tackling long-running drug misuse problems. I believe that it will be of great help to organisations such as Off the Record and The Corner.
Would the minister be willing to visit Off the Record and The Corner, to hear at first hand of some of the financial difficulties that those organisations are having?
I am always happy to accept offers to visit projects, providing that my diary permits it.
School Closures
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it regards recent school closures to be as a result of the current local government spending allocation. (S1O-546)
No.
Will the minister accept no responsibility, in spite of the fact that in the first three years of the Scottish Parliament the Government will be giving £2.5 billion less to Scottish local authorities than under the last three years of the Conservative Government?
The reality is that an increasing amount of money is flowing towards local authorities for educational purposes. That is why we are seeing the expansion of education provision across most of Scotland.
Council of the Isles
To ask the Scottish Executive what preliminary discussions have been held with the designated assemblies and Her Majesty's Government concerning the structure, functions and membership of the proposed council of the isles. (S1O-533)
Strand 3 of the Belfast agreement envisages the establishment of a British-Irish council and makes various provisions for its working arrangements. A treaty providing for the council's establishment was signed in Dublin on 8 March. The council will come into operation when powers are devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly. In the interim, some preparatory discussions have been taking place at official level.
The minister said that the council depends on the setting up of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Nevertheless, no doubt the London and Dublin Governments have an agenda for the council of the isles. Does the minister agree that it would be helpful if we had a position paper on the council relating to its structures, agenda and membership?
We will examine that matter at the appropriate time.
Scotland House
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it envisages the establishment of Scotland House playing in promoting the interests of Scotland within Europe. (S1O-526) The Minister for Finance (Mr Jack McConnell): Scotland House acts as the focal point in Brussels for a mix of Scottish organisations, including the Executive, and many others from the public, private and voluntary sectors. We in the Executive see its establishment as playing an important role in promoting the interests of Scotland within Europe. A good example of its role was Scotland Week, from 11 to 15 October, which was hosted at Scotland House and was a week of business, cultural and social events to promote a positive awareness and understanding of Scotland.
Does the minister agree that the approach taken by the Scottish Executive of co-operation with our partners in Europe is the best way forward for the interests of Scotland, as opposed to the isolationist approach increasingly adopted—[Interruption.]—not by the SNP, but by the Conservatives?
I would not want to interfere with our colleagues in the SNP agreeing with the Conservatives' isolationist approach. The approach taken by the Executive is a good one for
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