SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
BBC Alba
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will make with regard to the BBC Trust's review of BBC Alba. (S3O-8339)
The Scottish Government will make it clear to the BBC Trust that we regard BBC Alba as a vital addition to Scottish broadcasting. From the very date of its launch, the Scottish Government has supported the availability of BBC Alba on Freeview—a matter that I have raised repeatedly with the BBC at every appropriate level.
The minister will be aware that the Scottish Conservatives have consistently argued that BBC Alba should be available on Freeview. Many of my constituents in the Highlands and Islands believe that the issue is one of fairness. Does the minister agree? Will he continue to make the strongest possible case for the availability of BBC Alba on Freeview, given the importance of the channel in sustaining and encouraging our Gaelic culture and heritage?
Absolutely. Developing and maintaining a critical mass of viewers for BBC Alba requires it to be available on Freeview. There is some concern about some of the BBC Trust's arguments on the issue, which appear to have emerged out of nowhere. We will vigorously support the channel's availability on Freeview. Indeed, I have said on occasions, particularly to the Scottish member of the BBC Trust, that I cannot understand why the decision is taking a year. It should have been made much more quickly.
The minister mentioned the attitude of the BBC Trust. It has suggested that radio stations could be blocked out when BBC Alba is screened. Will the minister take up the case and ensure that the BBC Trust also considers the television channels that broadcast late at night and are not on at the same time as BBC Alba? Will he ask why the BBC Trust is targeting the radio stations, which are alternatives for our listeners and viewers?
To be scrupulously fair to the BBC, which is something that I try to be, it has listed a number of options as possibilities, of which the removal of a number of radio services is only one. Many of us were surprised to discover that that was one of the options. There are better options. We will argue for the options that ensure that services continue to be provided but that an additional service is provided—BBC Alba.
Cultural Heritage
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on Scotland's cultural heritage. (S3O-8298)
A tremendous importance.
The minister will recall that, in a previous life, he signed several of my motions that called for the Carrick/City of Adelaide not to be deconstructed. Does he agree that every possible effort should be made to save the ship? Given that he now has ministerial responsibility, will he consider what action the Scottish Executive can take to find a solution and ensure that the Carrick/City of Adelaide continues to have a place in the social, cultural and maritime heritage not just of Scotland but of countries around the globe?
I was indeed a vigorous objector to the demolition of the Carrick/City of Adelaide. That was almost 10 years ago. During the time since then, another Government that was present in Scotland did nothing to assist the matter. The city of Adelaide itself now seems unable to raise the finance to take the ship, and a proposal to send it to Salford to form part of a new development has been deemed impossible. I regret to say that there does not seem to be a range of other solutions that might fall within the funding available from the public purse or the Scottish Maritime Museum. The fact is that, occasionally, things of value cannot continue to exist, simply because we cannot bring together all the required resources. The amount of resources needed has risen substantially over the past decade; if something had happened earlier it might have been possible to do something. We will continue to consider every possible opportunity and do whatever is possible but I have to say that, given how long the matter has hung on for and given how the previous Administration did nothing to act on it, I am not hopeful.
Rail Services (Ayrshire)
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with Transport Scotland, Network Rail and train operating companies about the development of rail services in Ayrshire. (S3O-8343)
Transport Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish ministers, regularly meets Network Rail and ScotRail in the normal course of business to discuss a range of matters including the development of rail services.
As the minister knows, the Ayr to Glasgow line is one of the busiest rail routes in Scotland. Despite that, it is not possible to purchase a flexipass on the route, even though such an option would greatly benefit the large number of my constituents from Ayr, Prestwick and Troon who commute regularly by rail. Will the minister encourage the relevant rail authorities to put in place the necessary measures, including improved revenue protection procedures, to ensure that flexipasses can be introduced on the Ayr to Glasgow rail route?
The member makes an important point. He will be aware of the order for class 380 trains, which will form an important part of the development of services to the west of Glasgow. The introduction of those trains, which will be the most modern in Scotland, will increase capacity, increase speed and substantially increase comfort.
Will the minister consider developing direct rail services between Ayrshire and destinations beyond Glasgow, such as Edinburgh and Aberdeen?
I welcome Mr Gordon to his position as my opposite number on the Labour benches. As he knows, we are both rail enthusiasts so, naturally, I will within the constraints of the funding available to me take every opportunity to develop services wherever significant demand exists in Scotland.
Kinship Carers Allowance
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all local authorities pay the minimum national allowance to kinship carers. (S3O-8282)
The concordat commitment in relation to kinship care is to provide
I find it hugely disappointing that not all local authorities are making the payment or making it at the required level. Will the minister consider ring fencing the money to ensure that it goes to those people? Will he also ensure that all kinship carers get the support of local support groups, which, at the moment, are open only to those who care for looked-after children?
No; the member really needs to get her head round the fact that we have established a different relationship with local authorities that is based not on central diktat but on a partnership approach. I am encouraged by the importance that has been placed, across the country, on kinship care and the benefits of successful kinship care placement. After all, it makes financial sense for local authorities to put good local schemes in place.
Although a constituent of mine has to look after their grandchild as their daughter is a paranoid schizophrenic, they receive no financial assistance whatever because the child has not gone through the social work system and achieved looked-after status. How can the minister assist in that situation?
If the member cares to write to me with the details of the case, I will be able to give it more careful consideration.
Does the minister accept that the way in which the scheme has been introduced has given rise to unfair anomalies? While we continue to debate the issue, some families throughout Scotland continue to care for children in difficult circumstances and without the full support, including the holistic care package and the allowance, that they need and deserve.
I certainly accept that there have been some difficulties in ensuring the effective roll-out of the scheme across the whole country. One particular barrier has been the relationship between the tax and benefits system. Some local authorities do not believe that they should be income maintenance agencies, suggesting that the tax and benefits system should support children coming into families. As the member knows, the Scottish ministers and their United Kingdom counterparts continue to correspond on that subject.
Colleges Funding 2010-11
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council on the distribution of the remaining amount of additional revenue funding for colleges in 2010-11. (S3O-8352)
The Scottish Government and the Scottish funding council are continuing to consider how resources that are yet to be allocated might most effectively be used to support learners in 2010-11. Those resources are additional to the significant planned increase for 2010-11 in our funding of the college sector, which will enjoy a cash increase of no less than 6.9 per cent—or 5.3 per cent in real terms—at a time when the Westminster Government has cut the Scottish Government's budget by £500 million in real terms.
There is real disquiet among the board members of rural colleges on this matter. Does the cabinet secretary agree that the criteria used in the first round might have been insufficiently robust, given that no college north of Dundee received any funding, despite the pockets of significant rural youth unemployment in the north-east? Will she give a commitment to fine tune the criteria to ensure that the allocation of additional funding redresses that imbalance and offers support to young Scots in rural areas?
It is obvious that we have to ensure that support goes where it is needed. In that respect, we need to look at the claimant counts for September 2009. In Aberdeenshire the increase was 1.4 per cent, in Angus it was 1.6 per cent and in Perth and Kinross it was 1.5 per cent. However, in East Ayrshire the increase was 4.8 per cent, in North Ayrshire it was 4.6 per cent and in North Lanarkshire it was 5 per cent. As the member suggests, it is important that we target resources where they are needed.
The cabinet secretary will recall that, last month, the Parliament unanimously passed a Conservative amendment in my name that supported funding for rural colleges. I appreciate that such decisions are for the Scottish funding council, but the fact is that the cabinet secretary has powers of ministerial direction on this matter. Will she bear in mind the terms of my amendment when she considers future funding allocations?
I have already, in discussions with the funding council, brought to its attention the concerns that were raised in the Parliament. The council is aware of the motion that Parliament passed. I reiterate that when we have areas that have five times the increase in claimant count for 18 to 24-year-olds it is important that we address those areas first. We should bear it in mind that the claimant count information for the most recent quarter for which information is available shows that Scotland's figure is 2.7 per cent below that of England. That shows that we must be getting something right somewhere.
Concessionary Travel Schemes
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting concessionary travel schemes. (S3O-8299)
The Scottish Government provides free bus travel to everyone over the age of 60 and to eligible disabled people who live in Scotland. We have previously announced that we intend to include Her Majesty's service personnel and veterans under the age of 60 who have been seriously injured in service. The Scottish Government also provides discounted bus and rail travel to young people living in Scotland who are aged 16 to 18.
A recent newspaper report suggests that Fife Council is likely to scrap the flat-rate concessionary 50p rail tickets. I am sure that the minister will acknowledge that Fife has been at the forefront of pushing out the boundaries on concessionary travel—it was the first local authority to provide free bus travel for all pensioners. Given the wider health and wellbeing aspects of the policy, will the minister contact Fife Council as a matter of urgency and consider what support can be sourced from the Scottish Government so that the policy can continue?
We have regular discussions with councils throughout Scotland. The member will be aware that, under this Government, the proportion of the budget that is allocated to councils has risen since the final Labour budget at the end of the previous session of Parliament. It is for local authorities to decide how to spend the money that is available to them, but of course we will continue to have meaningful discussions on supporting people's transport needs in Fife and elsewhere in Scotland.
Are there plans to adopt the model of concessionary travel in England, where it applies only to local bus services?
One key attribute of the Scottish system is that transport is available throughout the day and right across Scotland. I congratulate my predecessors on introducing such a scheme. We share the commitment to the scheme and we have extended it. We certainly do not intend to copy what happens south of the border.
Charity Funding
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure the protection of Scotland's charities in the event that the Lloyds TSB Foundation and the Lloyds Banking Group fail to agree a settlement in their funding dispute. (S3O-8275)
I have held discussions with both organisations and have urged them to remain in discussion to find a solution. I will continue to encourage both parties to come to an agreement that will enable the valuable support that has been provided to charities in Scotland over many years to continue in future.
I am pleased to read in today's newspapers that discussions between the two bodies are to take place, but I am sure that the minister will appreciate that the loss of funding from the Lloyds TSB Foundation would have a hugely negative impact on community-based groups in my constituency and national organisations such as Cruse Bereavement Centres Scotland, which depend heavily on the Lloyds foundation for financial support. Will the minister use his office to stress the need for the charitable foundation to continue its work and the need for both parties to get round the table and come up with a solution?
Like Cathie Craigie, I was pleased to hear that the Lloyds Banking Group and the Lloyds TSB Foundation will have discussions tomorrow to address the issues. That is a helpful way forward, because the issues can be resolved only by dialogue between the parties. I have certainly encouraged that process and I will continue to do so. Cathie Craigie makes an important point about the significance of the funding stream for the viability of many charitable organisations throughout the country and the good work that they undertake, which of course we want to continue.
That concludes general questions.
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