SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Finance and Public Services and Communities
Affordable Housing
To ask the Scottish Executive when the working group considering ways of increasing the supply of affordable housing will report. (S2O-10707)
I convened the affordable housing working group to secure the input of a cross-section of interested parties on practical ways of making the housing supply more effective in areas of greatest need. The group has no plans to publish a formal report, but I intend its discussions to influence practice and help to inform our policy approach to the key subject of affordable housing.
I hope that the minister is aware that, given the average annual salary multiplier, it takes four years to save the down payment on a property; that the density of new-build houses has had to be increased at recently approved housing developments, such as those in Dornoch, to enable people to afford houses; that house prices are rising faster in Scotland than in the rest of the United Kingdom; and that rises in the prices that are paid for Scottish estates and farmland have outperformed the stock market in the past 25 years. Given that, will he ensure that his working group evaluates the cost of serviced house sites, the cost of building materials and, above all, the rocketing cost of land for building, on which written answers to me have said that information is not held centrally?
Land supply is central to the group's discussions, but some issues are beyond our direct control, such as the cost of materials. We are concerned to consider all the issues—not just investment needs, although they are significant, but matters such as land supply. In the Highlands, which Rob Gibson represents, many of the problems are manifest, but action is being taken on all those fronts. A big increase has been made in the affordable housing investment programme and, if people in the Highlands vote for community ownership, great new opportunities will be presented, such as 1,000 homes over and above the existing increase, plus all the other rent and investment advantages for council tenants.
Councils for Voluntary Service
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it offers to encourage the work of local councils for voluntary service. (S2O-10745)
The Scottish Executive is providing more than £3 million per annum to the network of 56 CVSs throughout Scotland. That represents a 13 per cent increase on the previous three-year funding package.
I appreciate the work that the Scottish Executive has done to encourage voluntary organisations in communities. Is the minister aware of the difficulties that we are experiencing in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth and of the move by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations to merge into one CVS all the CVSs in North Lanarkshire Council's area? Residents in my constituency and volunteers who are involved with that successful group of CVSs totally oppose that move. What is ministers' view on how the CVSs should approach the issue?
I welcome the member's recognition of the significant support that we give CVSs. I said that the increase on the previous three-year funding package was 13 per cent, but members may wish to know that there has been a 30 per cent funding increase since 2001. That did not happen by accident; it was an active political choice to fund the CVSs, because we recognise the important services that they and the broader voluntary sector can provide locally.
Question 3, in the name of Jamie Stone, has been withdrawn.
Job Relocations
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the publication of the Audit Scotland report, "Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs", it will now introduce a moratorium on relocation announcements until it can respond in full to the recommendations contained in the report. (S2O-10781)
The Audit Scotland report does not call for and we do not propose to have a moratorium on relocation decisions. We remain committed to sharing the benefits of public sector jobs throughout Scotland, particularly in areas of need. The Audit Scotland report provides useful recommendations that are consistent with improvements that we have made and are making to the delivery of relocation policy. We are considering its findings carefully.
I am disappointed by the minister's response to the question of a moratorium. A number of concerns were clearly brought out in the report. The Scottish Executive assured the Finance Committee that it would give more information about the reasons behind relocation decisions, but the Auditor General for Scotland has given evidence to the Audit Committee that he is not aware that that is being done. Will the minister assure us that more information will be forthcoming in future? Will he also seriously consider changing the policy so that final decisions are taken by accountable officers, as in the rest of the United Kingdom, rather than by ministers?
I reassure the member that we have made it clear to the Finance Committee that we will provide full evaluations of all the relocation projects to date and that we will give statements of the reasons behind each decision.
I appreciate the minister's comments about the clarification of the relocation criteria and more systematic working. However, does the minister agree that many of us think that the relocation policy is important and that, while there have been some issues with some relocations, it is crucial that we take jobs out of Edinburgh and do not end up with Scotland's government being concentrated in one city?
I have to agree with the member. Not many days go by without a member approaching me with a request that their area be considered and that relocations be delivered to them. The policy is extremely popular throughout the chamber.
I welcome what the minister said in his initial answer, because the last thing we need is a moratorium on the relocation policy. Does the minister agree that we need more relocation of smaller units, particularly to those areas that have received very little from the centre, such as Dumfries and Galloway?
I am happy to concur with the member. I am constantly chiding officials to come up with more suggestions for small-unit relocations, and I could not agree more that they need to be well distributed around the country.
The minister is aware that more than 1,000 staff are based at the headquarters of Registers of Scotland at Meadowbank. Does he share my concern that it is more than five years since a question mark was placed over the future location of the staff and the agency? When might a decision be taken on that? Will he assure us that he will take into account fully the evidence presented in two appraisals that shows that the cost to the taxpayer and the operational risk of even a partial relocation would be significant? If a commonsense approach were adopted in such cases, some confidence in the Executive's approach might be restored.
I understand the member's point. I point out that the first phase of the investigation into the relocation of Registers of Scotland considered a full relocation and it was decided not to proceed with that. A second investigation was then undertaken into partial relocation. Ministers take this matter seriously, so we have sought further information to enable us to make an informed and proper decision. That information has now been provided and we are very close to making a final decision on the relocation of Registers of Scotland.
Homelessness
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to address the issue of homelessness across Scotland. (S2O-10754)
The Executive is working with local government and partners on a wide range of actions to prevent and tackle homelessness. In particular, action is focused on taking forward the recommendations of the homelessness task force and the interim objectives set out in my statement on the abolition of priority need.
I will concentrate my remarks on the Fife figures. Although there was a drop of 44 in the 2004-05 figures for people assessed as homeless, a Fife Council spokesperson confirmed in the Fife Free Press last week that the council expects there to be a rise in the 2006-07 figures. What steps can the Executive take to support councils and other agencies in stopping that upward spiral?
Assessed numbers of homeless people are much the same this year as last year. The number of applications went up a bit, but not in Fife, as Marilyn Livingstone has pointed out. If something is happening in Fife this year, it is not yet reflected in the figures. If Marilyn Livingstone has more information, I would be interested to hear it.
The minister must be aware of the great concern throughout housing associations and local authorities in Scotland that the 2012 target to house all those who are homeless is under threat because they simply do not have the resources. What can the minister tell us about additional resources that might go towards housing and homelessness to ensure that the 2012 target is met?
We are strongly committed to the 2012 target, as indicated by the profile of housing expenditure over the current spending review period. A further increase will be made in 2007-08 to bring the number of new builds up to 8,000. Anything beyond that will be a matter for the spending review, which will be informed by our policy commitment to 2012 and the detailed work to estimate housing need that we have been doing through Professor Bramley. Tricia Marwick can be assured that housing will be given significant attention in the spending review.
Business Rates
To ask the Scottish Executive how revenue raised from business rates has been affected by the increased number of low-cost flights to and from Scotland. (S2O-10725)
The business rate income collected from airports is a matter for local councils. The information that the member requests is not held centrally.
Does the minister agree that the introduction of low-cost flights and the good support from the Executive has increased income into Scotland by £140 million? The point of my question is the opportunities for small business start-ups that arise from that. Does the minister agree that extra revenue will be raised by starting up those businesses?
I concur entirely with that point. I am delighted that Mr Gallie recognises the visionary policies that the Executive has put in place to improve Scotland's economy and the business environment. We are delighted not only that the member recognises that but that we have been so successful in our drive towards consensus politics that Opposition politicians are so complimentary about us.
I would hate the minister to think that consensus on the matter has been achieved on all sides. How many companies that are involved in the operation of low-cost flights have been disappointed by the Government's inability to publish and implement a research and development scheme that will reduce business rates for companies involved in R and D? The scheme was announced to Parliament, but we now understand that it cannot be implemented. Is it a significant number of companies or is this another case of information not being held centrally?
I can confidently say that the number of such companies—if there are any—will be insignificant, because the initiatives that the Executive has put in place have created attractive business opportunities for companies and have helped many people in Scotland to enjoy the benefits of foreign travel at low cost.
Free Central Heating Installation
To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes in the Mid Scotland and Fife region have received free full or partial central heating installation since 2001. (S2O-10776)
Since the central heating programme started in 2001, 5,250 central heating systems have been installed in Mid Scotland and Fife, as at the end of September.
Can the minister assure the Parliament that there will be a seamless transfer of obligations as part of the transfer of the delivery contract to Scottish Gas and that members of the Scottish Parliament will not be plagued by complaints about partially completed work, especially as winter is coming?
Far be it from me to be involved in anything that involves MSPs being plagued by anything.
Does the minister accept that in too many cases the worthwhile scheme that the Eaga Partnership used to operate resulted in horrendous problems for elderly people? In the worst case, an elderly couple's house burned down. Will the minister confirm that the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition will at least assume a moral responsibility to help in such dire circumstances?
First, I think that everyone recognises that the investment of £290 million of public money in central heating systems is not a problem, however members might try to characterise it as such. As a consequence of that huge public investment there have—understandably—been difficulties in individual cases. I have pursued such cases in the past and will be happy to do so again. However, there have not been, as the member said, difficulties "in too many cases".
I echo the minister's words. Many people in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth welcome and have benefited from investment in their homes and comfort.
I am conscious of the issue that Cathie Craigie has flagged up and would be happy to discuss it in more detail if she feels that there will be particular consequences in her area.
Education and Young People, Tourism, Culture and Sport
Kinship Carers
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities regarding the payment of allowances to kinship carers. (S2O-10766)
COSLA recently took part in a meeting with the Scottish Executive and local authorities to scope out the issues with regard to kinship care. COSLA has also been invited to join the reference group to support the development of the national fostering strategy.
I thank the minister for his reply and for the Executive's consideration of the circumstances of relatives who care for children whose parents are not capable of that.
I recognise Elaine Murray's point. That is why kinship care is under urgent consideration as part of the development of the national fostering strategy.
Does the minister acknowledge that in addition to the important issue that Elaine Murray has raised, a number of matters relating to the health portfolio arise under the care 21 agenda? Is there dialogue between education ministers and health ministers to ensure that the Government produces a comprehensive response that addresses the issues to do with the position of carers in today's society that care 21 raised?
I am grateful to John Swinney for asking that question. It is perhaps a commonplace to say that many of those issues go far wider than the departmental portfolio in which they lie. For example, kinship care overlaps with social security provision and other such matters that are reserved to Westminster. There are many complex issues for us to address.
Examination Attainment (Dundee)
To ask the Scottish Executive why attainment levels for Scottish Qualifications Authority examinations in Dundee are below average. (S2O-10706)
A number of factors may be involved. For example, people in Dundee are roughly twice as likely to live in a deprived area and there is frequently, although not always, a close correlation between deprivation and attainment.
Does the minister share my concern that Braeview academy in my constituency has particular problems with SQA attainment levels? Is he aware that, although the school board has raised concerns about recruitment and retention problems at the school with Dundee City Council education department on a number of occasions over a long period, the problems continue and have a severe impact on attainment levels? When parents met me earlier this week, they expressed concern that some children had received no science teaching for the first six weeks of the new school term. I ask the minister to take those issues seriously. Will he agree to meet the school board and me so that he can hear those parents' concerns directly?
I am obviously not directly aware of the concerns that Shona Robison raises. In the first instance, they are best discussed with Dundee City Council's director of education because the council carries the responsibility for such issues. However, we recognise the particular challenges that Braeview academy faces, which is why it was picked as a school of ambition. Extra investment is going into the school to try to encourage it to have more aspiration and to begin, over time, to lift standards. I am confident that the extra money that we are putting into the school—some £300,000 over Braeview's initial period as a school of ambition—will help to lift the climate of the school over time.
I welcome the minister's answer. Does the minister agree that the measures that are being taken in Dundee at the moment under the learning together in Dundee initiative are beginning to make a difference? I am not sure whether Shona Robison knows much about that. [Interruption.] I did not think that she was listening. Does the minister also agree that working together, rather than criticising from the outside, is the key to bolstering success in schools? Pupils and teachers need to know that they are being supported in their efforts while still being challenged. Complacency is not the idea at all. As a former teacher—
Is there a question here, Ms Glen?
There certainly is. I have asked this already, but I ask the minister to recognise the number of S5 pupils in Dundee who go on to college, where they do well. That measure is not included in school attainment.
I got both Marlyn Glen's questions—the early one and the later one—even if members in other parties did not pay sufficient attention. One of the ways to increase attainment is to pay attention in class; it helps.
Pupil Attacks
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available for teachers who have been attacked by their pupils. (S2O-10727)
Pupil attacks against teachers are, thankfully, very rare but always unacceptable. However, when they occur, education authorities may respond, for example, by offering direct support and counselling services to staff and through restorative processes.
Is the minister aware that, when a teacher is accused of attacking a pupil, there is currently no support or anonymity available to them, despite the fact that the vast majority of such allegations have been found to be without substance or have been disproved? Is he also aware that such allegations attract intense media coverage, as a result of which innocent teachers' reputations and careers can be damaged permanently? Will he therefore take steps to support teachers who find themselves in those circumstances by ensuring that their anonymity is protected until such time as they are proved guilty?
That question was raised with the Executive some time ago and Cathy Jamieson responded to it by maintaining the current position. I recognise the member's point, however. Teachers can indeed get exposed to that sort of coverage in relation to an accusation that is not upheld in court, but so can individuals in other circumstances who go to court and are subsequently proved to be not guilty. It is difficult to distinguish the particular circumstances of teachers in such situations and in the court system overall, compared with the circumstances that might apply to others who go to court.
Does the minister appreciate the very strong feeling among teachers on the issue, especially as children—quite rightly—have anonymity? Will he accept that there is a very strong case for changing the law in the best interests of teachers, especially in cases where they are falsely accused, and all the more so as there should be a presumption of innocence, which in many cases is being breached?
I do not think that the presumption of innocence is being breached by the Scottish court system—I am sure that Lord James was not suggesting that. I do not have much to add to my replies to Margaret Mitchell. We thoroughly considered the matter recently. We appreciate the point that teachers have been making. However, there are two sides to the coin. On balance, we felt that it was only right to maintain the existing position.
Historic Scotland (Town-centre Regeneration)
To ask the Scottish Executive how Historic Scotland is assisting the public and private sectors in the regeneration of town centres. (S2O-10753)
Twelve local authorities are to receive a share of £8 million in funding from Historic Scotland's historic environment regeneration fund to improve the state of repair and appearance of conservation areas, many of which lie within town centres. Both the public and private sectors will benefit from the partnership funding, which will support 13 area-based regeneration schemes and conservation initiatives. East Ayrshire Council has received an initial grant from the fund of £711,170 for Kilmarnock town centre.
As the minister has indicated, East Ayrshire Council was successful in its efforts to attract funding from Historic Scotland. However, the local company that owns the former Kilmarnock Opera House, which is in the town centre regeneration area, was unsuccessful in obtaining funding from the historic environment building repair grant scheme. The company has been advised that it will now be considered for a share of the award that the minister mentioned. Will the minister assure me that she will recommend that the level of funding that has been awarded to East Ayrshire Council will be reconsidered should it be found to be insufficient to enable the inclusion of that private company in bringing the former opera house back into use?
Ms Jamieson is correct to say that funding for the former opera house project will be provided by East Ayrshire Council out of its historic environment regeneration fund grant, which has been increased by £100,000 to accommodate that particular project. The sum is now larger than the amount that it might have been possible for the opera house to attract had it been able to receive money directly from the building repair grant scheme.
In areas facing severe economic difficulty, it is important that public and lottery moneys fund a higher proportion of the total cost of regeneration. Such areas find it difficult to draw as much funding from the private sector.
I am not sure that the basic premise of Mr McGrigor's question is accurate. However, I will say that Historic Scotland keeps its grants, and the criteria that apply to them, constantly under review. It will of course respond to any specific examples of difficulties in as sympathetic a manner as is possible within its structures.
Rural and Urban Schools
To ask the Scottish Executive how it differentiates between rural and urban schools in terms of policy making. (S2O-10783)
In making policy we endeavour to take account of the needs and aspirations of a huge range of different interests, including those of rural areas.
I draw the minister's attention to the issue of underoccupancy in rural schools. Many such schools were built at a time when every farm sustained several families, and some were built as junior secondary schools at a time when the structure for delivering education was different from today's. Does the minister agree that, although technically underoccupied, those schools are still at the centre of a community and still in the right place? Will the minister assure me that that is firmly understood at Scottish Executive policy-making level, and that in any consideration of the viability of a rural school, technical underoccupancy will be treated either as largely irrelevant or as a positive factor, in that it could offer opportunities for alternative community or public use?
There are various aspects to that question. I have a lot of sympathy with what Nora Radcliffe says. In many rural parts of Scotland, although the schools were designed for a different population from the one that exists today, it is not possible to have a school anywhere else because of the distances involved. Nora Radcliffe is also correct in saying that, when there is underoccupancy because of low pupil numbers, there are opportunities for providing other services—such as child care and early years services, which continue to expand.
That was a very important statement for the Executive to make. However, how does the minister relate that statement to reports by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education? An HMIE report on the estates review in Moray specifically mentioned the 60 per cent rule and capacity issues. How will the minister ensure that the Accounts Commission, as well as using a value judgment on undercapacity, takes account of the educational and community benefits that a rural school can offer? How can we change the current climate, in which too many schools feel under threat because of statements from the Accounts Commission and from HMIE, which report to you?
I am making it very clear that we do not recognise any 60 per cent rule. I understand its origin, but there has been a misunderstanding and misinterpretation of what the Accounts Commission means.
Regional Cultural Events
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the development of regional cultural events. (S2O-10724)
EventScotland uses its regional events programme to support the development of cultural and sporting events throughout Scotland. It devotes £500,000 per annum for the purpose, which is disbursed through two competitive application rounds every year. Applicants such as events organisers can apply for between £2,000 and £25,000 as appropriate.
I know that the Executive recognises the value of cultural tourism to Scotland and that the minister has personal experience of the Aberdeen international youth festival, in which I declare an interest as a trustee. Is the minister aware that the AIYF has exciting development plans and does she agree that, with the support of national tourism and cultural agencies, the event could be the focus for the promotion of Scotland as a centre for youthful creativity and artistic innovation?
My experience of the festival indicates that it is already carrying out that role well. We wish to see such work increase and evolve as time goes on.
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