Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Thursday, March 6, 2014

Official Report 831KB pdf

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General Question Time

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Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route

1. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with the procurement process and construction of the Aberdeen western peripheral route. (S4O-02977)

Procurement for the main works contract is progressing well. Overall the programme remains as set out by the First Minister in October 2012, with the award of the contract expected later this year and construction completed by spring 2018.

Over the Christmas recess, the minister said that sections of the AWPR could be open early and before spring 2018. Can he tell us whether ministers have specific plans to open sections of the road early and which sections they would be? Will they be in the north or the south of the route? Is the pursuit of such plans forming any part of the procurement of the contract?

What we said previously was that the idea of bringing forward certain sections—the two sections that have been mentioned are the Balmedie to Tipperty section and the road around the airport—could not be considered until we had received the bids, because it would have to be done in conjunction with the bidding process and the successful contractor. That remains the case. We will look at not only whether we can advance certain parts of the contract, but at what the implications of that would be for other parts of the road. We will take a balanced view on whether to open certain sections early, but that cannot be done until the process of bids coming forward is complete. We will look at the issue in detail at that stage.

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Campaign for a Leith Museum (Support)

2. To ask the Scottish Government what support it can give to the campaign for a Leith museum. (S4O-02978)

The Scottish Government provides support for non-national museums through Museums Galleries Scotland, the national development agency for museums and galleries in Scotland. However, in this instance I understand that the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs has agreed to meet Malcolm Chisholm and his colleagues to discuss the campaign for a Leith museum.

I thank the minister and I thank the cabinet secretary for agreeing to the meeting. However, does the minister know of the great and growing support in Leith for the creation of a Leith museum and of the unanimous view that the A-listed custom house would be the ideal location? Given that National Museums Scotland will vacate the building quite soon, will the minister and the cabinet secretary ensure that the building is designated in the first instance for acquisition by the community, rather than for sale to a developer?

I thank the member for the supplementary question. Of course we acknowledge the important role that the community is playing in relation to a Leith museum and the local interest in it, and the potential for bringing a building such as the Leith custom house back into public use. I am sure that the member will appreciate that the Scottish Government and its public bodies are obliged by the Scottish public finance manual rules to seek best value for the disposal of property. However, options for disposal other than on the open market are available, although they are limited. It would be helpful to discuss that when the member meets the cabinet secretary in the near future.

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Independence (Civil Servants’ Impartiality)

3. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the inquiry by the United Kingdom Parliament’s Public Administration Select Committee on the impartiality of civil servants in relation to the independence referendum. (S4O-02979)

We welcome the inquiry. It provides the opportunity to affirm both the commitment of the Scottish Government to the principles that underpin the operation of the civil service—impartiality, integrity, objectivity and honesty—and the record of the civil service in Scotland in upholding those values.

I am pleased also that the committee is to examine the role of the civil service in support of the UK Government’s position on constitutional reform in Scotland. It will be important for the committee to ensure that consistent standards are applied across both Administrations.

I agree with the Deputy First Minister that any review should not single out one part of the civil service. Does the Deputy First Minister agree that it is the proper role of the Scottish Government civil service to support the Scottish ministers’ policies for constitutional reform?

Yes, I agree with that, and I imagine that all democrats would agree with that position. This Administration stood for election on a platform of supporting a referendum and independence. It is absolutely appropriate for the civil service to support the Scottish ministers in delivering those policies, just as the civil service would support any other Government in developing and implementing its policies.

It is worth pointing out that any complaint that has been made about the Scottish civil service has been found to be unsubstantiated. Indeed, successive heads of the UK civil service have publicly acknowledged that it is the duty of the Scottish Government civil service to support this Government’s policies for the constitution.

I have always supported Scottish civil servants, even when they have been under attack by certain people. Equally, will the cabinet secretary make sure that none of her colleagues criticises the UK civil service, and particularly in this connection the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury?

As I said in my original answer, I think that it is good and I support the fact that the UK Parliament Public Administration Select Committee will examine the role of the civil service in supporting not just the Scottish Government but the UK Government’s position on constitutional reform. It is important that the committee looks at both and that consistent standards are applied to both Governments in terms of the pursuit of their policies in the referendum. My comments about the civil service in Scotland apply generally, and I hope that the committee helps to get us to a position in advance of the referendum where the impartiality of the civil service is absolutely beyond doubt.

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Elected Representatives from France (Meetings)

4. To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to meet elected representatives from France and, if so, when. (S4O-02980)

The Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs will meet the French member of Parliament Axelle Lemaire and member of the French elected second chamber Senator Claudine Lepage on Tuesday 11 March.

The eyes of the world are upon us. Does the minister agree with the French Senatrice Mrs Garriaud-Maylam, who made it clear last week in a debate on Scotland’s future that the threats formulated by Mr Barroso are inappropriate and are the result of pressure from London? Mrs Garriaud-Maylam added that those threats are not credible and that a yes vote will ensure that Scotland stays in the European Union.

The Scottish Government has always been clear that an independent Scotland would negotiate its continued membership from within the EU. Mrs Garriaud-Maylam’s comments were a welcome recognition of that point, as were the comments of former Czech president Vaclav Klaus that were reported in The Herald on 1 March and those of Professor Charlie Jeffery, professor of politics at the University of Edinburgh, who stated this month in his submission to the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee:

“Barroso’s was a personal, not a Commission statement, made by an outgoing Commission President with no influence on what might happen in the event of a Yes vote, on a matter where there is neither treaty provision nor precedent.”

We hope that, by the time the rest of the UK has its in/out referendum on the EU, it too will choose to continue its membership of the European Union.

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A83 (Landslip Closures)

5. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent further closures of the A83 because of landslips. (S4O-02981)

The fact that the Scottish Government, working closely with our stakeholder partners, has already invested nearly £7.5 million on the A83 around the Rest and be Thankful is a clear sign of our intent to find solutions to keep the A83 open and operational. The old military road diversion is in use as we speak, which is a clear example of this Government’s efforts.

The A83 route study recommended actions to address landslide hazards at other locations, particularly Glen Kinglas, Cairndow and Loch Shira, to give a level of landslide protection comparable to that which is proposed at the Rest and be Thankful. We have progressed investigations at all three sites and the output of that will be a report that recommends areas at each site that are considered high risk, together with potential mitigation options.

Following this morning’s closure and representations that I received from the constituency member, Mike Russell, I have asked for members of the A83 task force to come together in the next fortnight to take forward some of the plans that we have in that area.

I thank the minister for that and I welcome the fact that the old military road is being used as a diversion around today’s landslide. However, does he understand the frustration of local businesses and residents that, more than two years on, we are still at the stage of having only draft options for the other locations? What can be done to get practical solutions? Lastly, will he consider his position on conducting a study of the economic impact of the closures? Every business in Argyll and Bute, from Cairndow to Campbeltown and Dunoon in Cowal, suffers each time the road is closed.

I am well aware of the frustration that is caused and, unlike the member, I have attended all the meetings of the task force group at which the issues have been discussed in some depth.

Members: Oh!

Order.

The members of the task force, which includes many of the businesses to which Jamie McGrigor refers, have made those points. They are keen to ensure that the media reports are accurate because they do not want the impression to be given that Argyll is closed for business, which is not the case.

With regard to today’s landslip, the resilience programme that we put in place by investing in the old military road has allowed the closure to be brief and traffic to move quickly. That is the type of action that we have been asked to take by stakeholders.

I am aware of the frustration. We are doing as much as we can to mitigate the problem, and will continue to do so in future in the other areas that I mentioned.

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NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (Meetings)

6. To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing last met the chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and what was discussed. (S4O-02982)

Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, including the chief executive, to discuss matters of importance to local people.

I hope that the cabinet secretary will think that the issue that I am about to mention is a matter of importance.

In response to my freedom of information request, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed that it has no systems in place to monitor the number of times that patients with dementia are boarded when they are in hospital. The board’s response reflects the situation that exists in a number of other health boards in Scotland.

The cabinet secretary will be aware that boarding can increase dementia patients’ confusion, make them more ill and lead to longer stays in hospital. Does he agree that keeping track of dementia patients’ bed moves is vital for their wellbeing? Will he act, along with the health boards, to ensure that monitoring systems are put in place as soon as possible?

As Duncan McNeil will be aware, we, along with the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and a number of other key stakeholders, published a report on boarding last year in which we agreed a strategy for dealing with boarding in future. A key part of that strategy is to reduce the need for boarding for any patient, including dementia patients.

I appreciate that any change of circumstance is particularly difficult for a dementia patient, and the health service’s policy is to minimise any disruption for those patients in particular. We are looking at the situation to see how further improvements can be made with regard to the wider issue of boarding as well as the specific issue of treating dementia patients.

Question 7, from Jackie Baillie, has not been lodged. She has provided a full explanation and I am satisfied.

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Marine and Islands Renewable Energy (Transmission Charges)

8. To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on reducing the transmission and access charges to the grid for marine and islands renewable energy. (S4O-02984)

Last week I chaired an island electricity grid summit in Stornoway alongside council leaders from Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles. It was evident from the discussion that progress has been made towards establishing market and regulatory frameworks that can support island renewables development.

What chance does the minister consider there to be that Westminster will cede powers to Holyrood to regulate energy production from our substantial marine and island renewables prospects—for example, in my constituency in the Pentland Firth, and in the northern and Western Isles—to give us a greater means of tackling the increasingly urgent issues that are raised by the evidence on climate change and to give certainty to the supply chain?

I am not aware of any proposals from the UK Government or from any Opposition party to devolve plans for regulatory powers to this Parliament. Only independence can do that.

It is important to recognise that the islands—Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles—are the best place in the world to produce renewable energy. According to an expert, they can deliver up to five per cent of the electricity needs of the whole of Great Britain by 2030. However, there are difficulties, which I can best highlight by quoting Martin McAdam, the chief executive officer of Aquamarine Power. He says:

“There are worrying parallels ... with the UK’s early history in wind technology, where the UK had an early ... lead ... but a succession of poor policy measures handed the lead to Denmark ... I would encourage the UK Government to be more bold, to recognise the economic opportunity which ... exists, and to work alongside the Scottish Government to implement island-specific solutions which can work for tidal and wave as well as wind.”

I very much endorse those sentiments and look forward to continuing to work with Ed Davey to deliver improved connections for our islands.

Can the minister update us on interconnection capability in the Firth of Clyde, where, as he knows, there are great opportunities in renewable energy harvesting?

I will be able to give John Scott a detailed answer to that question in due course, but we very much welcome the increased connection from Hunterston to the south, which is, I think, the issue to which he is alluding.

Of course, that example simply illustrates the truth of the matter. Contrary to what we sometimes hear from Mr Davey and others, Scotland’s electricity, which is massively in greater supply, will be required to be exported to maintain security of supply and keep the lights on in England. Although we might sometimes feel that, metaphorically at least, the English Government is in the dark, we do not actually want the English people to be literally in the dark.

Were Scotland to become independent, how would the minister fund the interconnectors to the northern and Western Isles?

We will fund them from the very substantial resources that will be available to the people of Scotland. The number of renewable schemes in Scotland is more than those south of the border by about a third, but I point out that no nuclear power stations are proposed, such as that at Hinkley Point, for which the UK Government is proposing a taxpayer subsidy of £35,000 million over 35 years, and that there is no nuclear decommissioning bill of around £70,000 million. We need to look at all parts of the equation, not just at those parts that suit certain political parties.

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Education Maintenance Allowance

9. To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings of its review of the guidance on the administration of the education maintenance allowance. (S4O-02985)

The education maintenance allowance guidance documents are revised annually to give local authorities and colleges the necessary guidelines to help them administer the EMA programme effectively and fairly. The guidance documents will be issued in April 2014 and will allow local authorities and colleges to deliver the programme using their own discretion and in line with both local and national policies.

Is the minister aware of the Scottish Youth Parliament’s current care.fair.share campaign for young carers, a component of which is the education maintenance allowance? Does she agree that it would be useful if she could sit down with the members of the Scottish Youth Parliament who are directly affected by this issue and discuss the way forward?

I am more than happy to meet Ms Fabiani, young carers and their representative organisations. I point out that the current guidance makes it clear that discretion can be exercised at a local level in respect of vulnerable young people and that the new guidance, which will be issued next month, will make it crystal clear to our partners in colleges and local authorities that there needs to be flexibility for vulnerable young people and young carers in particular.

I pay tribute to the campaign that the Scottish Youth Parliament is leading. We have had the opportunity to work very effectively on this matter and to ensure that any issues that have arisen have indeed been resolved. This Government, unlike that south of the border, has retained the education maintenance allowance, which benefits nearly 35,000 young Scots, and we will do our utmost to ensure that any young Scot who is entitled to the allowance receives it.

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Independence (Defence)

10. To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the United Kingdom Government on defence in an independent Scotland. (S4O-02986)

The Scottish Government has contacted the Ministry of Defence, requesting factual information to support our consideration of the defence options that would be open to an independent Scotland. The Ministry of Defence has been unable to provide the full level of detail requested.

Briefly, please, Mr Dey.

During a recent flying visit to RM Condor in Arbroath, the UK Secretary of Defence Philip Hammond sniped at the Scottish Government’s detailed and costed plans for defence in an independent Scotland. Would the minister welcome an opportunity to have a face-to-face debate with Mr Hammond about the benefits that independence would bring to this country’s defence versus the UK Government’s track record of slashing Scotland’s service footprint?

Briefly, minister.

Of course, I have made a public request of Philip Hammond that, rather than jetting into Scotland and then scurrying away immediately afterwards without answering questions, he stays and debates some of those important issues with me. It seems to me that he has no awareness of any contingency plans being laid by the Ministry of Defence; that he is unaware of the fact that Scottish taxpayers pay around £3.3 billion towards defence and that only about £2 billion is spent in Scotland in return; and that he is completely unaware of the defence asset register that is published by his own department.

It is important, especially as we see, even today, complaints about cuts in the armed forces—with people having P45s delivered to them on the front lines—that we debate these issues in a proper and sensible way. I challenge him to do that in future. [Interruption.]

Thank you, minister. The sound of a phone going off was a cue that your time was up, but I ask members to ensure that all their phones are off when they are in the chamber.

Before we move to the next item of business, members will wish to join me in welcoming to the gallery His Excellency Konstantinos Bikas, the ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the United Kingdom. [Applause.]