Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Thursday, November 4, 2010

Official Report 1104KB pdf

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Scottish Executive Question Time

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General Questions

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Unemployment (Young People)

1. To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking specifically to tackle rising unemployment among 16 to 24-year-olds. (S3O-11840)

In Scotland, 63 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds are in employment compared with 60.8 per cent in the United Kingdom. More than 85 per cent of young people in Scotland who left school in the summer of 2009 had sustained a positive destination nine months later. However, we are not complacent about the challenge. Tackling youth unemployment is a top priority for the Scottish Government and we are not prepared to accept the prospect of another lost generation. That is why we have launched a raft of practical actions, backed with £6.5 million of investment, to support leavers from school, college and university this summer.

No doubt the minister, like others, paid close attention to the Labour Party conference in Oban at the weekend, when we launched our intention to have a Scottish future jobs fund. Will the minister join me in backing that scheme?

I can confirm that I followed the Labour Party conference closely, and particularly the words of Iain Gray when he said:

“when unemployment rises and poverty flourishes and opportunity disappears, people will look to Labour”.

That is exactly right. People want to know the cause of those things, and it was the Labour Party. They are also interested in the idea that the Labour Party wishes for the worst for Scotland in order that it can prosper. That is exactly the wrong approach. It is the opposite of the approach that we are taking, which is positive, specific actions, through the measures that I mentioned previously, to deal with the consequences of the malaise in the UK finances that has caused unemployment.

How many new apprenticeships were created in the past year and what impact has that had on youth unemployment among 16 to 24-year-olds?

As I have mentioned before, we have prioritised modern apprenticeships. Last year, more than 20,000 apprenticeships were created, which was up from just over 10,000 the previous year. We have a similar target this year, with 15,000 in the budget that David Whitton supported and another 5,000 through European structural funding. We are therefore looking to carry forward last year’s success by achieving another 20,000 apprenticeships.

On the effect on youth unemployment, there is obviously not a direct correlation, but youth unemployment in Scotland has remained stable right through the 12-month period.

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Consumer Focus

2. To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding its decision to abolish Consumer Focus and what it considers the devolved implications to be for Scotland. (S3O-11819)

In response to the UK Government’s changes to consumer protection functions, the Scottish Government is working with local government partners and Scottish stakeholders more widely to develop practical proposals that will serve the needs of consumers and service providers here.

Does the cabinet secretary share my concern that the decision by the Tory-Liberal UK Government to abolish Consumer Focus will undermine consumers’ and citizens’ rights? Does he agree that Citizens Advice Scotland might not have the resources that will be necessary to fill the gap in service provision that is brought about by the decision, especially bearing in mind its increased workload following the welfare cuts that have been announced under the comprehensive spending review? Does he agree that the £70 million of refunds from npower that Consumer Focus secured last month is just one example of the good work that the organisation has done? Will he commit to ensuring that consumers’ rights continue to be championed in Scotland?

I reassure Rhona Brankin that, notwithstanding the decision that the UK Government has taken, the Scottish Government entirely shares her view that the interests of consumer protection must be assured in any future arrangements.

Clearly, the UK Government has taken certain decisions that have implications for Citizens Advice Scotland. As I said in my original answer, we have to engage in a discussion with various stakeholders to ensure that the type of consumer protection that Rhona Brankin clearly wishes to see in place can be assured for people in Scotland. I give a commitment that the Government will constructively explore that proposal in the period ahead. If Rhona Brankin wishes to make specific representations to the Government on the matter, I will be happy to receive them.

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Rural Primary Schools (Argyll and Bute)

3. To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to prevent the closure of rural primary schools in Argyll and Bute. (S3O-11761)

Argyll and Bute Council is responsible for decisions on school closures in its area, in accordance with legal requirements, and the democratically elected local councillors will be accountable for the decisions that they take. As members will be aware, the council has postponed its decision and has asked officers to complete further work on the proposals.

As the member knows, the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, which was proposed by this Government, establishes a presumption against the closure of rural schools by ensuring that a decision by a council to consult on a closure proposal is only a last resort. Argyll and Bute Council must, like all councils, follow the robust consultation process set out in that act, and if there is strong evidence that that has not been properly done, Scottish ministers will call in and could refuse consent to any closure decisions.

I am glad to hear that. Is the cabinet secretary aware of the anger felt by parents and communities throughout Argyll and Bute at the council’s shocking plans to close 26 primary schools? Many of those people are already questioning the basis for the proposals and whether the council has genuinely explored all the other options before considering what should be the last resort of closure. Does he agree that rural primary schools such as Southend, Glenbarr, Barcaldine, Keills, Ulva, Luing and all the others are fundamental to the socioeconomic fabric of fragile rural and island communities and that government at all levels should be working to support them? Finally, will he assure local parents that he is doing so?

I am very pleased that the 2010 act, which members unanimously supported, empowers parents in precisely these circumstances and that that empowerment is being assisted by other groups. I pay tribute to the Scottish National Party group on the council, which decided to press the other councillors for a delay, and I am glad that the councillors agreed to it. I praise the rural schools network on its information campaign, which has laid bare some of the arguments on the importance of providing information, and the website forargyll.com on its tremendous job in bringing together information. Most of all, I praise the communities themselves. They need to know about the rights, protections and defence that they have through the 2010 act, which, as I say, was introduced by this Administration. When any such proposals are made, they should be well-informed proposals of last resort. Even then, communities have substantial rights that they should know about, and I am taking steps to ensure that that information is available to every rural community in Scotland.

Last weekend, while attending Labour’s very successful Scottish conference in Oban, I took the opportunity to meet representatives from the Isle of Luing, who are particularly concerned about the council’s proposals for their primary school. Is the cabinet secretary able to give more clarity on this issue? The council is proposing to close 26 schools, the trigger for which appears to be the financial settlement from the Scottish Government. As the cabinet secretary has made clear, he has a role in dealing with closure proposals but, bearing in mind that his Government created the financial circumstances that have led the council to go down this route, how will he conduct himself if the council decides to go ahead with them?

Even I am staggered by that question—and I have very low expectations of Mr McNulty. I am staggered that he should be so blind to the effects of mismanagement by his party when it was in government and I am staggered that he does not realise that the financial pressures that we are all facing were created by that mismanagement.

That is rubbish.

However, I am not staggered by the fact that Lord Foulkes is, as ever, shouting. It is, like the bellow of a sea lion, a constant that is ever with us—and as inarticulate.

I am staggered that, instead of trying to assist the community on the island of Luing, which is what we are all trying to do, by making it clear that it has rights and can stand up to this situation, Mr McNulty wants to exploit it. That is the reality behind Labour holding its conference in Oban. It was in Argyll only because it wanted to exploit Argyll. However, the people of Argyll see through Labour, just as the people of Scotland will.

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Ferries

4. To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to use the vessel MV Isle of Arran, which sails on the Islay route, on other CalMac Ferries routes when MV Finlaggan comes into service. (S3O-11829)

MV Isle of Arran is one of two vessels on the Kennacraig to Islay route and will remain on it until MV Finlaggan enters service in spring 2011. Decisions on the future of MV Isle of Arran will be taken once the spending review is completed and following consultation with the vessel operator, CalMac Ferries Ltd, and her owner, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.

Work on MV Finlaggan is nearing completion on time and on budget. Despite the current financial pressures, we are fully committed to the completion of this £24.5 million vessel and the necessary harbour upgrades, which will provide a significant boost to ferry services to Islay for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors alike.

The cabinet secretary will recall the mayhem caused this summer by the breakdown of MV Clansman, which left Uist and Barra with a totally inadequate service. Will he use MV Isle of Arran as a standby vessel for those routes? I suggest that any cost could be mitigated by utilising the vessel on the Lochboisdale to Mallaig route when it was not needed on other routes.

Rhoda Grant will be aware that such issues are very much at the heart of considerations in the spending review and about the utilisation of vessels that are no longer required for core routes in the Clyde and Hebrides network. I will take into account the member’s representations—after all, the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change takes such decisions in consultation with the vessel operators and owners—and we will be mindful of any issues that emerge from the ferries review, which ministers are currently considering.

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School Building Programme

5. To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can guarantee the completion of its announced school building programme on time and on budget. (S3O-11817)

We are committed to delivering 55 schools through Scotland’s schools for the future programme.

I thank the minister for that brief answer. He will be aware that Auchmuty high school in Glenrothes is to receive £18.7 million from the Scottish Futures Trust towards a new build, construction of which is due to begin in 2012-13. Can he guarantee that Fife Council is in a position to meet its portion of the funding agreement, given the likelihood that local authorities will receive only a one-year budget with no guarantees beyond that? Indeed, does he share my concern that a one-year local authority budget will be very damaging to the school building programme?

I certainly share Claire Baker’s concern at the general state of public finances at a United Kingdom, Scottish and, as she has mentioned, council level. However, I point out that Fife Council’s record on this matter is extremely good, having built since 2007 nine of the 303 new schools that the Scottish National Party Administration has overseen—53 more, I should say, than Labour was committed to. That represents more than £40 million of investment from the Scottish Government.

Ms Baker knows full well that the commitment in question depends on different parties and pressures, one of which is the huge 36 per cent reduction in capital expenditure that the Scottish Government will suffer over the coming year. Perhaps that underlines the view that, in the words of the Labour Lord Myners,

“There is nothing progressive about a government that consistently spends more than it can raise in taxation and certainly nothing progressive that endows generations to come with the liabilities incurred with respect to the current generation.”

Although we in the Scottish Government—and, indeed, councils—are wrestling with the problem, we are nevertheless committed to our school building programme.

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Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (Meetings)

6. To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Strathclyde partnership for transport. (S3O-11824)

Stewart Stevenson last met the chairman of SPT at the meeting of the joint chairs of the regional transport partnerships on 1 September 2010. Officials also meet SPT regularly, most recently on 2 November 2010.

The cabinet secretary will be aware of widespread concern that, like the Glasgow airport rail link prior to its cancellation, the fastlink project has been kicked into the long grass of Transport Scotland. Will the cabinet secretary assure the chamber that the Government remains committed to fastlink; confirm that that commitment is for the project described in SPT’s on-line business case, not for some kind of glorified bus lane; and advise the chamber of the value of the Government’s support to allow SPT to pursue match funding and ensure that a scheme can be delivered in time for the 2014 Commonwealth games?

Ministers have made it clear on a number of occasions that the Scottish Government will contribute funding to fastlink with the objective of improving bus services between Glasgow city centre and the Scottish exhibition and conference centre. That will have obvious benefits for the 2014 games and the Southern general hospital. That has been our position, and it has not changed.

We have asked SPT to submit a plan that allows it to consider fully the timing and level of a Scottish Government contribution to the scheme. Decisions on funding the proposition can be made only when we have received a business case that has more up-to-date costs.

The cabinet secretary may know that I have met the SPT subway delivery modernisation team and that I have also met the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, Stewart Stevenson, to push forward subway modernisation. That was in August. At that time, no detailed business plan or detailed technical and financial assumptions were coming to the Scottish Government from SPT to ask for the relevant financial support. Can the cabinet secretary give me an update? I am worried about the fantastic subway delivery modernisation team having its ambition to modernise the subway coloured by the poor corporate governance of SPT at large.

It is clear that there is a strong argument in relation to the effectiveness and performance of the subway in Glasgow, and that its modernisation is required. Scottish Government officials are working with SPT to consider the detail of its modernisation proposals and the part that the Scottish Government might play in the process. Good progress is being made, and I look forward to a firm proposal that includes financial, engineering and commercial aspects coming from SPT by the end of this year.

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Airports

7. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support Scotland’s airports. (S3O-11762)

Although Scotland’s larger airports are privately owned, the Scottish Government provides support in a number of areas. We provide market and route analysis and marketing assistance to airlines in support of airports’ route development activities, and assistance and advice to maximise airports’ wider contribution to our economy, and we help with drawing up airports’ master plans and surface access strategies. We also provide funding to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd as a Government-owned company that facilitates lifeline air services.

As the cabinet secretary will know, the air route development fund, which, unfortunately, ended in 2007, was an extremely valuable and successful mechanism for supporting the creation of new routes to Scottish airports, including Prestwick. Will the cabinet secretary update members on the engagement that is taking place between the Scottish Government and the European Commission with a view to removing any legal barriers that prevent direct support for air route development?

I do not think that anything in the material substance of the problematic issues with an air route development fund has changed since the Government previously set out the position on the matter to the Parliament. We endeavour to be as supportive as we can be to the development of appropriate air connections to maximise the opportunities for direct air travel in Scotland and out of it to other parts of the world. The assistance that I described in my original answer is the focus of the Government’s work to try to address that particular requirement.

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Postal Service

8. To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to support a publicly owned postal service. (S3O-11830)

Postal services are a reserved matter. However, the Scottish Government recognises their importance to communities and local economies throughout Scotland, and we will continue to press the United Kingdom Government to make decisions in the best interests of Royal Mail staff, communities and Scotland’s economy.

I thank the minister up to a point for that answer. He and I share the view that communities and consumer groups throughout Scotland value the Post Office, but he stopped short of committing himself to a publicly owned postal service. Will he go one step further and commit himself, with the unions, consumer groups and communities throughout the country, to the idea that a publicly owned postal service is vital to Scotland’s interests?

That is rich. We must recognise not only that Labour put the service at risk, but that the current plan would have been brought forward by Labour under Peter Mandelson. Members should compare and contrast that with what we have been doing with Scottish Water and learn from that how we would manage public assets in an independent Scotland.