SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
New Deal
To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest figures are for the percentage of those leaving the new deal who enter unsubsidised employment. (S1O-3552)
To the end of March 2001, 38 per cent of those young people recorded as leaving new deal in Scotland went into unsubsidised employment.
I am grateful for the March figures. Is the minister aware that, as of the end of February, only 11 per cent of all those who went through the new deal secured unsubsidised employment? That figure is well down on the original expectations for the new deal and it is certainly down on the expectations of young people. With that in mind, is the minister prepared to argue the case for this Parliament to have control over the new deal, so that resources can be redirected to suit the Scottish economy and to get a better deal for Scotland's young people?
I am certainly not prepared to argue that we should give up responsibility for the new deal after hearing from a party that is not even committed to the new deal. I remember that, four years ago, the SNP argued against our taxing the windfall profits of the privatised utilities to help people into employment, whether subsidised or unsubsidised. However, by doing that, we have reduced youth unemployment by more than three quarters in Scotland in the past four years.
Will the minister join me in congratulating all the young people in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency who have found employment through the new deal? Will she also congratulate those in the employment services on reducing youth unemployment by 80 per cent over the past four years?
Yes. The member has highlighted the hugely significant impact the new deal has made at local level. Four years ago, people simply believed that youth unemployment was a problem that was here to stay. In constituencies across Scotland, four out of five youngsters who were unemployed four years ago have now had the opportunity to go back to work, aided by the new deal and by the political courage that the Labour Party showed in taxing the windfall profits of the privatised utilities to make it possible.
Policing
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that there are high levels of visible policing within communities. (S1O-3548)
We have funded record numbers of police officers in Scotland. Exactly how those officers are deployed is an operational matter for chief constables, but I know that those chief constables understand the benefits that can be obtained from visible policing. In addition, Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary will be undertaking a review of visible policing across Scotland.
Although I welcome extra police officers across Scotland, it is important that the additional numbers translate into officers walking the beat. I share the concerns of my constituents—particularly in Shotts and Harthill—who want to see more police officers walking their streets. Does the minister agree that we must ensure that the police force listens and responds to the concerns and fears of local communities and neighbourhoods?
Yes. It is certainly the case that our police forces should be policing in a way that meets the needs and aspirations of the communities that they serve. We set national performance targets for the police—Jim Wallace announced them relatively recently. Of course, it is easy to set national performance targets; the important thing is their delivery at a local level. I believe that police and communities have to engage locally to ensure that the people's priorities are met. The likeliest forums for that are the community safety partnerships, which allow crime prevention and community safety to be considered in their totality. That will allow issues such as closed-circuit television to be addressed. Of course, if specific concerns arise in Airdrie and Shotts, and Karen Whitefield wants to write to me, I would be happy to look into them.
Does the minister appreciate that visible policing is an alien concept to people in Grampian, given that the area gets the second-lowest level of police funding in the country, despite the fact that it has the highest rate of recorded crime in the country? Will the minister update the chamber and Grampian on what progress has been made on reviewing the funding formula for the police force in Grampian, so that we can have a better deal for Grampian and more visible policing?
The key piece of progress was that cognisance was taken of Grampian's historical position when the current financial year's police funds were agreed. However, we continue to work with police forces and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland to examine how police funds should be distributed in future years.
Does the minister agree that public reassurance is obtained in many areas, particularly in urban communities, only where the policing presence is visible and police are clearly available to counteract crime? Does he accept that that should be a priority and that he should be directing police authorities accordingly?
I agree up to a point. Our communities want results from their policing. If Bill Aitken examines the recently released safer Scotland drugs campaign, he will see that covert intelligence-gathering police work has produced visible results. The first eight weeks of covert enforcement resulted in the arrest of 3,490 people for drug offences, the charging of 847 people on drug supply charges and the seizure of drugs worth £3.7 million. There is a debate to be had about the most effective way in which to deploy our police officers. That is what people want and we are delivering it.
Violence Against Women
To ask the Scottish Executive when its action plan on the prevention of violence against women will be published. (S1O-3542)
We intend to publish in September an action plan for the Scottish Executive on preventing violence against women.
We all look forward to reading the action plan, which will cover all forms of violence against women. Although we all welcome the allocation of £18.4 million to address the problem of domestic violence, does the minister agree that it is important also to acknowledge links between all forms of violence against women, including rape and sexual assault, and to set aside appropriate funding to tackle them? What plans are there for a funding strategy to tackle those other forms of violence against women and are time scales attached to them?
I agree with Elaine Smith that domestic abuse is a problem, but not the only problem, when it comes to violence against women. We are pursuing policies on other aspects of the issue—for example, we are committed to legislating on those who give evidence in court in cases of rape and other sexual offences.
Does the minister accept that in certain quarters of Scotland there is a regrettable, almost laddish, culture that pays scant respect to the well-being of women? Does he believe that that ought to be raised at schools, where people should be trained or taught to believe in mutual respect for one another, in the hope of developing better-rounded citizens who take a responsible attitude?
I agree that worrying evidence exists. Not long ago, a survey discovered worrying cultural attitudes, particularly among young men. We must address that issue soon. That is why we aim to support the work on that issue that the Zero Tolerance Trust is conducting.
Will the deputy minister consider additional funding for women's refuges in rural areas? For example, the only refuge in the Borders is in Jedburgh and to have several smaller units would undoubtedly be better. As funding is patchy and accessed from social work and housing budgets, will the minister consider conjoining the funding sources and ring-fencing those moneys?
We have a significant funding package for expanding the number of refuge places. Those funds will begin to play through and make a significant difference. Christine Grahame asked about ring-fencing funds that are disbursed through local government. Like many other issues, that question concerns the funding relationship between the Executive and local authorities. We will make it clear to local authorities that we expect the number of refuge places to be increased. The funding was calculated on the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities formula, so we are clear about the number of new places into which we expect it to translate.
Science Strategy
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to build on Scotland's science base. (S1O-3549)
The United Kingdom science budget has increased by £1.4 billion in the past three years. In the next two years, that funding will be boosted by a further £1 billion. Scottish scientists can expect to benefit from more than Scotland's population share of that funding. Later this summer, we will publish the first comprehensive science strategy for Scotland. We are investing significant sums in building the capacity of the Scottish science base.
I welcome the minister's answer. How does she intend to encourage greater commercial application of much of the groundbreaking science and engineering research that takes place in Scotland's universities?
That question is appositely timed, because Bristow Muldoon and I spent part of today visiting NEC Semiconductors (UK) Ltd in his constituency. We considered how we could link some of our major electronics employers more effectively to our higher education institutions. For that reason, the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council has embarked on a review of the distribution of research funding for infrastructure projects, to make more direct links to commercial opportunities for the Scottish economy.
In light of the still-low percentage of revenue that the private sector spends on research and development, will the minister outline the initiatives that she intends to take to increase research and development spend in the private sector and to bring that spend closer to the UK and European averages?
I hope that the member will give the Executive some help on that in his capacity as convener of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee. As he knows, I have been keen that that committee should examine how we use the public resources that are available for research to stimulate greater investment in research and development by the private sector in Scotland. I greatly look forward to receiving the committee's report in due course.
What plans does the minister have to tackle one of the bottlenecks in improving our science performance—the fact that many universities need bigger and better laboratory operations—so that the early research into pure science activities can be developed commercially? Will she produce funds, in partnership or otherwise, to help universities to provide those important facilities?
I agree whole-heartedly with Donald Gorrie. As he knows, the budget of higher education institutions in Scotland is being boosted by 14 per cent. On research infrastructure, I announced the Scottish research investment fund in February; that involved £90 million being dedicated to the provision of infrastructure facilities, which are important for those who perform basic research.
Out-of-school Learning
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to expand out-of-school learning. (S1O-3553)
The new opportunities fund is supporting some 68 projects in 1,362 schools. More than 275,000 pupils in about 1,700 schools participate in study support activities funded through the excellence fund. Future arrangements for the expansion of such activities beyond 2002 are under consideration.
I am sure that the Executive will note the success of many of those projects, as they have raised attainment and helped pupils across Scotland. I draw the minister's attention to Renfrewshire Council's looked-after children project and to pilot homework clubs that were held in three libraries. Funding for those new opportunities fund projects finished at the end of March. Will the minister reflect the success of projects run by Renfrewshire Council in future plans for the new opportunities fund? Given the success of those projects, we do not want them to come to a premature end.
Although it would be inappropriate for me to get involved in an individual application to the new opportunities fund, I agree that it is important that projects that are established using new opportunities fund money have the chance to sustain their development. We need to look at that issue as we review our use of the excellence fund and the overall provision of out-of-school facilities.
Cultural and Heritage Sites
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to safeguard the future of cultural and heritage sites in the north-east of Scotland. (S1O-3532)
It is not clear to which sites Irene McGugan refers. If she is concerned about sites in the care of Historic Scotland, I should be happy to pursue any issue if she provides me with details.
I am happy to provide the minister with further information. Does he agree that most people would find it extraordinary that, notwithstanding the audit, museums in Scotland are under greater threat than ever before? Indeed, many would argue that the audit is a seriously flawed and inadequate document. We are now two years into the first Scottish Parliament for 300 years and yet museums such as Duff House, described by the director general of the National Galleries of Scotland as a jewel in the crown of the north-east tourist industry, are under threat. Duff House is about to take receipt of a Botticelli valued in excess of £10 million—
We do not need a supplementary dissertation; we need a question.
That museum is facing cuts, as are Peterhead Maritime Heritage Centre, the Lighthouse Museum at Fraserburgh, Macduff Marine Aquarium and Dundee Heritage Trust. The trust looks after RRS Discovery and the Verdant Works, the last working jute mill, which is about to close. When does the minister intend to visit all those beleaguered sites? What is he going to do to support them adequately—
I ask Mr Wilson please to give his answer.
I am not sure which section of the question I should reply to. Is Irene McGugan still going on? Her question is typical of the sort of exchange that we expect from the Scottish nationalists. As the SNP is well aware, no member would expect me to comment on the specifics of the national audit until it is complete. It would be imbecilic to suggest otherwise. The questionnaires have been sent out and should be returned by 19 June. I expect the publication of the full results in the spring of next year.
Given that the Executive is encouraging cities such as Dundee to broaden the base of their local economies by developing strategies for sectors such as tourism, and given that the Verdant Works and RRS Discovery attractions are key to developing tourism in Dundee, does the minister accept that it would be entirely counterproductive not to secure the future of those key attractions by supporting with adequate subsidies the heritage trust that is responsible for them?
I agree with that sensible contribution from my colleague, John McAllion. In fact, Verdant Works and the industrial museum sector in general will be made a priority in the national audit. Verdant Works is primarily the responsibility of Dundee Heritage Trust. However, I am arranging to meet representatives of the trust to discuss their difficulties. I have already consulted and discussed the situation with my good colleague, Kate MacLean.
Energy Efficiency
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made by local authorities in improving home energy efficiency and what impact this has had on levels of carbon dioxide emissions. (S1O-3545)
Local authorities tell us that, during the first two years of the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995, energy efficiency was improved by 2.86 per cent and carbon dioxide emissions fell by 0.7 million tonnes. The benefits from HECA between 1997 and 1999 are set out in a report from the Executive, which was laid before Parliament on 22 May.
I thank the minister for her reply, but does she agree that, as well as the environmental benefits of energy efficiency, the savings in fuel costs to households are important? Will she assure me that she will encourage local authorities to place the reduction of fuel poverty at the heart of their energy efficiency policies?
I am happy to give the member that assurance. I am sure that Trish Godman and other members will be aware of the deep discussions that we had at stage 2 of the Housing (Scotland) Bill—a bill that might take up slightly more time in the parliamentary timetable next week than we took this afternoon. As part of those discussions, we put considerable emphasis on fuel poverty and made clear our strong commitment to a range of measures on fuel poverty, which would of course include local authorities. We will make that a key part of local authority housing strategies. If members will excuse the pun, I will say that those measures were warmly welcomed by key organisations in the field and mark considerable progress on those matters.
Does the minister agree that an increase in fuel efficiency does not necessarily translate into fuel savings? The standard of insulation in our houses is so appalling that even when houses are insulated, people are likely simply to spend the same amount on fuel, in order to keep their houses nice and warm. How did local authorities arrive at the figure for carbon dioxide emissions that the minister mentioned?
Robin Harper was at the Social Justice Committee, where we had many discussions. I welcome his contribution—and that of his party—to the entire debate and to understanding throughout Scotland. It has been clear from those discussions that, to tackle fuel poverty, home insulation and the other problems that are involved in this matter, a range of initiatives and measures have to be undertaken. We have never implied that just one measure was needed.
Breast Cancer
To ask the Scottish Executive what the recommended waiting time is for a specialist breast examination at breast cancer units and whether this target is being met. (S1O-3535)
The independent Scottish intercollegiate guidelines network clinical guideline recommends that more than 80 per cent of urgent referrals should be seen within five working days and the remainder within 10 working days. With the current exception of Lothian, those recommendations are being met across Scotland.
It is customary to thank ministers for their reply, but I will just sympathise with that shabby response and ask the minister to apologise to our joint constituent, Sharon Gray of Broomhouse, who has learned today that she will wait 12 weeks before being seen at the Western general hospital.
What Margo MacDonald got from me a minute ago was not a shabby reply, but an honest and factual one. That is what is merited for an issue as important and serious as this.
Does the minister recognise that, in relation to all the Executive's objectives on waiting lists and waiting times, the role of medical secretaries is absolutely vital? Will she give a commitment to deal with the complaints of medical secretaries, who require not only regrading but an improvement in their wages? They have been campaigning for far too long and they are undervalued. Will the minister give a commitment to meet the demands of the medical secretaries?
You are going well wide of the specific question, Mr Sheridan.
With respect, Presiding Officer, my question concerns special initiatives in the health service. Medical secretaries deal with special initiatives.
Your question must relate specifically to the one in the business bulletin.
My question relates specifically to special initiatives, and the problem is that it is the medical secretaries who are responsible for them.
All right.
I am happy to recognise the contribution not only of medical secretaries, but of the 136,000 people who work for the NHS in Scotland. A wee bit more time should be spent in this chamber on recognising the results of their efforts, and a wee bit less on kicking the service when things go wrong. The issue of medical secretaries is current. The Executive is facilitating negotiations between the trusts as employers and the trade union representatives. That is the sort of practical and meaningful action that will continue to be taken in this important area.
As a Lothian MSP, I share the concerns raised by Margo MacDonald, which were echoed to some extent by the minister. Members of the Health and Community Care Committee—along with the rest of Scotland—have been waiting for some time for the cancer plan. A number of concerns have been raised in the cancer field in the past few months, when we had expected to see the cancer plan. When can we expect to see it?
I am happy to give an absolute assurance that a great deal of work is being done on the cancer plan. We expect to publish it, and further details of work that will flow from it, in a few weeks.
Prawn Shells (Recycling)
To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has for the recycling of commercially discarded prawn shells. (S1O-3536)
Although the Scottish Executive encourages recycling generally, it has no specific proposals relating to prawn shells. [Members: "Shame."] However, in 1999—yes, members heard me correctly—we provided support in the form of a small firms merit award for research and technology of £45,000 to Carapacics Ltd in Ayrshire to help the development of a process that involves recycling prawn shells to produce commercially viable products.
As some of us are aware, crab shells are an essential ingredient in the production of bandaging that accelerates healing. Will the minister, or her colleague the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, consider an approach for funding from Heriot-Watt University at Galashiels for research into the feasibility of using discarded prawn shells from Eyemouth catches for that very purpose? Will the minister shell out and give that idea some muscle?
I am afraid that I cannot give a specific commitment to shell out on behalf of Wendy Alexander. However, the university would be in a position to apply again for a small firms merit award for research and technology or could look for help under the financial instrument for fisheries guidance grant scheme. I would be happy to discuss the matter with Christine Grahame.
Beta Interferon
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3462 by Susan Deacon on 24 May 2001, whether it will ensure that every patient who is assessed as potentially benefiting from beta interferon is prescribed it. (S1O-3554)
The Executive has initiated an extensive agenda of work to ensure that all patients have access to consistent, high-quality NHS services, no matter where in the country they live.
Two weeks ago, the minister said that cost was not a factor in determining whether patients with MS are prescribed beta interferon.
If Tricia Marwick were to check the Official Report from a few weeks ago, I suspect that she would probably find that I said that this is not simply a question of cost; as with any drug or treatment, it is a matter of considering the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of any intervention. Every health care system in the world has to do that. We have to find systems, especially when modern medicine and technology are advancing by the day, of evaluating drugs and treatments to ensure that what we offer in the NHS in this country are the best interventions for all concerned.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer.
No, I am sorry. That is not a point of order.
Local Democracy
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to develop local democracy. (S1O-3547)
We are taking forward the development of local democracy in a number of ways. A proposed new power of community initiative to councils is just one example.
I thank the minister for that reply. Does the minister agree that it would be of great benefit to local democracy in the West Dunbartonshire Council area if the current Labour leader, Councillor Andrew White—who lost a vote of confidence last Wednesday—were to step down from the position, as he has been requested to do by four members of the Labour party who voted against him in the vote of no confidence? Does the minister agree that for a council leader not to accept the democratic vote of a council at a full council meeting is an assault on local democracy? Will he instruct Councillor White to resign from West Dunbartonshire Council?
Order. Ministers have no power to instruct councillors to do anything of the kind. Does the minister want to answer that question?
The essence of local democracy is that it is local. It is not for this Parliament to intervene in matters that are determined locally. Councillors will stand or fall by their record with the local electorate.
Does the minister agree that, at any level of government, it is dangerous to democracy if one party has an overwhelming number of seats although it does not have an overwhelming number of votes? When will the minister move to introduce proportional representation to local government?
We are committed to making progress on electoral reform, and progress we shall make.
Can the minister explain how holding local elections on the same day as the Scottish Parliament elections will improve local democracy?
In 1999, when local council elections were held on the same day as the election for this Parliament, we saw that, for the first time in many generations, the turnout for local elections increased significantly. The great benefit of that is that elections for local councils have parity of turnout with elections for this Parliament. That means that the credibility of local councils, in the eyes of the Scottish public, ought to be equivalent to that of this Parliament. That is good for local democracy.
Will the minister indicate whether his plans to revitalise local democracy in Scotland include any plans to break up further the country's local authorities, or does he believe that any such plans would have a negative impact on Scottish people as far as the delivery of services were concerned?
I beg your pardon, Presiding Officer. I did not catch the question.
Does the minister think that it would be to the advantage of Scottish people to downsize local authorities and thus reduce their competitiveness?
There are a number of aspects to downsizing. Local authorities must be of a certain size to deliver services effectively, and there are a number of questions to be answered about the appropriate size of local authorities. However, we would not intend to make a move towards having smaller local authorities.
Scottish Budget
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the total Scottish budget as a proportion of comparable UK spending will rise, fall or stay the same in the next three years. (S1O-3543)
I am pleased to report that the Scottish budget remains stable as a proportion of the overall UK budget over the next three years.
Perhaps for "stable", we should read "falling". According to every estimate—including the Treasury's—the Scottish budget will fall as a share of UK spending over the next three years. Is the minister satisfied with that situation? Is he also satisfied that he is the only finance minister in the developed world who does not trust himself with the nation's finances? Is not it time that he acknowledged the wide consensus across Scotland and joined the growing support for the case for financial autonomy and full fiscal freedom for the Parliament, instead of backing the Tories on this issue?
There was rather more noise and heat than light in Mr Wilson's supplementary question. I note with great interest that, in a letter that appears in The Scotsman today, Professor Arthur Midwinter says of Andrew Wilson's position:
I am sorry that Andrew Wilson sought to put you in an embarrassing situation just then, Presiding Officer.
The people of Scotland are faced with some very clear choices in tomorrow's election. They can vote for the Scottish Socialist Party, which proposes some Trotskyite nirvana of an independent Scotland; they can vote for the Conservative party, with its £20 billion pounds' worth of expenditure cuts, £2 billion of which would fall on Scotland; or they could even consider voting for the SNP, with its structural deficit of somewhere between £5 billion and £2.5 billion. In fact, they can choose between the mad, the bad and the dangerous to know—or they can stick with Labour, and the Prime Minister's commitment to stick with Barnett.
Does the minister agree that the letter from Professor Arthur Midwinter of Strathclyde University to which he referred effectively debunks the myths that the SNP has continually peddled about the Barnett formula for a number of years? On David Davidson's point, does the minister also agree that the pressure from certain parts of the north of England for the formula to be revisited is clear evidence that the formula works to the benefit of the people of Scotland?
The formula does indeed work to the benefit of the people of Scotland. As a result of Gordon Brown's previous set of spending decisions in the comprehensive spending review, Scotland received an extra £1.2 billion, £2.3 billion and £3.4 billion in each of the succeeding three years' budgets.
Schools (Technological Studies)
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision exists within the primary and secondary curricula for the teaching of technological studies. (S1O-3540)
Technological studies is the name of a specific course that is available at standard grade and at higher and intermediate 2 levels. The five-to-14 environmental studies guidelines provide for the study of technology at primary school and in the first two years of secondary school.
The minister's reply slightly eases my troubled mind in one respect and troubles it further in another. Is the minister concerned to learn that in an educational authority the size of Glasgow City Council, where there are 27 secondary schools, it is alleged that technological studies is available as a subject choice in only three schools? Given the current skills gap in Scotland, is not that a deeply disquieting picture? Will the minister confirm that he is prepared to examine this issue with a degree of urgency?
I have been concerned to learn that the number of pupils who are studying for standard grade in technological studies has dropped significantly in recent years. That is why we have decided to focus from next year on a new, improved credit and general level course in technological studies and to drop the foundation level course in the subject. Pupils can then be directed towards other subjects in the technological mode that are more popular.