Food and Drink (Protected Geographical Indication Status)
Currently, there are five Scottish food and drink products that have protected geographical indication status. That number goes up to six if Scotch whisky, which is protected under a separate regulation, is included. A number of products—Scottish wild salmon, Stornoway black pudding and Orkney Scottish island cheddar—are nearing the end of consideration for the award of PGI status. The PGI for Scottish wild salmon is imminent, and we are hopeful that we will hear good news about the other applications in the very near future.
Indeed, and I am very hopeful that Stornoway black pudding will receive protected status. Given that the award of PGI status would provide a marketing benefit for the producers of Stornoway black pudding and of the other products on the list, what steps is the Scottish Government taking to help them to market their products at home and abroad following that boost?
As the member will be aware—because, like other members, she has taken a close interest in Stornoway black pudding—that is something that we have devoted extra resources to over the past year or two. For instance, we have funded the Scottish Agricultural College to work with producers to work up their applications. I am pleased that new applications are coming through. Scotland has many iconic, world-famous food and drink products, which should be protected from fakes and should, as Rhoda Grant quite rightly outlined, enjoy the marketing benefits that such status brings. I encourage all members who have iconic, well-known food and drink producers in their areas to bring to their attention the benefits of European protected status. We will certainly give all the support that we can to get them through the process as quickly as possible.
Scotch beef and Scotch lamb share protected food name status, but it appears that Quality Meat Scotland spends much more money advertising Scotland’s wonderful beef than it does advertising Scotland’s equally wonderful lamb. Will the minister increase the funds that are spent on the promotion of lamb, while not decreasing the funds that are spent on the promotion of beef, to give a much-needed boost to Scottish sheep farmers?
I am not sure that that question is entirely relevant, but the cabinet secretary can answer it if he wants to.
I am happy to do so.
Sewage Treatment Plants
The Water Resources (Scotland) Bill is about making best use of Scotland’s water resources. There are provisions on Scottish Water’s control and management of substances that enter sewage treatment works. The bill also tasks Scottish Water with developing its non-core activities, which might include using assets such as treatment works for commercial enterprises such as the generation of renewable energy.
How will the new legislation address issues with private sewage treatment plants, such as the plant at Burnhouse near Beith, which serves around six houses and a caravan park of 40 caravans? That sewage plant was the responsibility of a private company—the North Ayrshire Water Company Ltd—which has now gone into liquidation. I have previously written to the cabinet secretary, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish Water, and no one seems to have responsibility for the plant, but if it breaks down, the residents will have to bear the huge repair and legal action costs. Does the cabinet secretary think that it is right that residents, many of whom are elderly, have to take responsibility for the plant? What advice can she offer the residents? Would she be willing to meet them to discuss their concerns?
I have sympathy for people in the scenario that Margaret McDougall describes. As she is aware, Scottish Water has no enforcement powers over the owners of private sewage treatment plants—such powers reside with SEPA through the licences that it issues to permit the discharge of waste water to the environment. Local authorities have enforcement powers in relation to public health matters, including emissions of malodour from such works.
The cabinet secretary will be aware that there have been difficulties for some years with the sewage pumping station at Largs and that promises that Scottish Water has made to local residents have been frequently broken. Given the problems of sight, noise and smell that local residents have had to put up with over the years, will she please say whether she would be prepared to speak to Scottish Water about the issue, so that a final resolution can be found?
I know that Scottish Water has had an independent review and provided a report of that review to all affected residents. I understand that the report contained 14 recommendations, which were discussed with residents and are being taken forward. I am advised that residents are being kept informed of the project as it progresses. I will ask Scottish Water to provide Kenny Gibson with an update on progress, so that he can discuss the matter with his constituents. I would be happy to discuss it with him further if concerns remain after that.
Will the new responsibilities that are outlined in the Water Resources (Scotland) Bill extend to putting in place a different funding mechanism to address sewerage infrastructure problems such as those in Prestwick, in my constituency? Scottish Water has cited a lack of funding for many years as the reason for not addressing problems of inadequate sewerage infrastructure there.
I am not entirely familiar with the circumstances and the details of the case in Prestwick that John Scott cites, so the best way forward is for him to write to me about the specific circumstances. I will then take up the issue with Scottish Water and get its response, and I will be able to offer him thoughts on how the new legislation will have an impact—if at all—on the situation. I am happy to take that forward in written correspondence and, if necessary, in a meeting with him.
Crime (Lanarkshire)
The Scottish Government is committed to doing all that we can to support a continued reduction in crime across the whole of Scotland. It is extremely positive that recorded crime fell by 24 per cent in South Lanarkshire and by 21 per cent in North Lanarkshire between 2006-07 and 2011-12. We are succeeding in our efforts to cut knife crime—the number of crimes involving an offensive weapon decreased by 47 per cent in South Lanarkshire and 54 per cent in North Lanarkshire in the same period. That has contributed to an overall 25 per cent reduction in recorded crime across the whole of Scotland in the same period.
The cabinet secretary is aware of the work of the street project in Hamilton, following his visit there earlier this year. Will he welcome and commend the project’s new venture, which it has undertaken with Crimestoppers UK? The project has produced a video about the dangers of carrying a knife called “Open your Eyes”.
Absolutely. I pay tribute to those who are involved in the street project, which Christina McKelvie is right to say that I have visited. I saw the theatre work, but I have not yet seen the video, which I look forward to seeing.
Norovirus
Health Protection Scotland monitors and publishes snapshot information on affected hospitals and wards that have been closed by weekly point prevalence surveillance. That information is published on its website. As at the week beginning 26 November 2012, there were 16 hospitals and 20 wards affected. Substantial preparations for winter are carried out every year across NHS Scotland, including work to minimise the frequency and size of norovirus outbreaks, and the Scottish Government has supported national health service boards throughout the year to develop and refine their winter plans for 2012-13.
As The Herald reports today, the problem is growing. There have been an estimated 180,000 Scottish cases so far this year. Patients remain infectious after the symptoms disappear and, although advice has been issued that people should wait 48 hours before they visit hospitals or go back to work or school, many people are unaware of that. What is the Scottish Government doing to ensure that that message gets across to the public?
The member highlights the important fact that norovirus is currently very active. The norovirus season appears to have started earlier than it has in previous years. That is not peculiar to Scotland; it is the situation internationally and the experience in other countries around the world.
Question 5, in the name of Rob Gibson, has not been lodged, but I have been given an explanation for that.
Police Officers (Lothian and Borders Police)
The latest police officer quarterly statistics, which were published on 4 December, show that there are 3,002 full-time-equivalent police officers in Lothian and Borders Police. That is an increase of 209 officers, or 7.5 per cent, since quarter 1 of 2007.
I welcome the news of the substantial increase in the number of officers since 2007, which goes alongside very positive crime reports. Can the cabinet secretary assure me that regional and local figures will still be available that can be compared against the 2007 baseline, so that my constituents can continue to see just how many extra police officers the Scottish Government has delivered?
Yes, I can give that assurance. The member makes a fair point. That has always been a concern as we move towards a single police service in Scotland. The Scottish Government will continue to report on national police officer levels, and our legislation requires the police service of Scotland to make local authority-level information available.
In that answer, the cabinet secretary did not own up to the fact that, in the same period, Lothian and Borders Police lost 409 civilian staff. How many of the extra officers that the cabinet secretary mentioned are doing duties that were previously carried out by civilian staff, and at what cost?
As I said yesterday in Labour’s debate on police reform, Her Majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary for Scotland has recently commented on that issue. Its understanding is that the only backfilling that is taking place anywhere in Scotland—the inspectorate covers the whole of Scotland—involves female officers who are approaching maternity leave and who cannot be expected, because of their condition, to provide front-line services, and male and female officers who are currently injured and incapacitated and are unable to carry out front-line duties.
Waiting Times (Accident and Emergency)
The Government remains committed to the important but challenging four-hour accident and emergency waiting times standard and to maintaining local access to accident and emergency services. We will continue to provide additional advice and support to the boards that are most challenged. We have drawn together an unscheduled care action plan, which is being reviewed by an expert group of doctors, nurses and senior managers. This winter, we have provided an additional £3.19 million to help NHS boards and their partners to manage winter pressures and to make the most effective use of capacity and resources.
The Government might have thought about how challenging it was when it made the promise, to my constituents and others, of 98 per cent compliance with the four-hour standard for accident and emergency waits. When was the last time that the standard was actually met?
A number of boards in Scotland have met the standard. Presently, we are at a level of some 95 per cent across the country, and we are continuing to work with the boards that are not presently meeting the standard. I should point out to the member that, back in 2006, when a survey of performance in A and E departments was carried out, the figure was 88 per cent. Therefore, there has been significant improvement in recent years. We recognise that some boards have specific challenges, and we are working with them to continue to make improvements in the area to ensure that patients get the care that they require as early as possible.
Pharmacies (Applications and Appeals)
Under provisions that are set out in the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009, the responsibility for considering applications to open a community pharmacy is given to national health service boards, and the responsibility for considering appeals relating to those applications is given to the national appeal panel. The Scottish Government has no role in monitoring applications or appeals, as securing the adequate provision of NHS pharmaceutical services is a matter for local service planning and delivery.
I have serious concerns about the way in which an application for a pharmacy in Whitlawburn in my constituency was treated, particularly given that it was rejected even though it had substantial support in the local community. There is a lack of transparency and accountability on the original hearings and on appeals. Specifically, the public want to know how the process can be handled fairly and objectively, how the public’s views can be taken into account and how misrepresentations at hearings can be corrected prior to a decision being reached. I note what the minister says—
We need to get to the question.
These are matters that affect communities. Will the minister begin discussions to ensure that a review is carried out of the hearing and appeal processes for pharmacy applications?
Be as brief as you can be, minister.
I should inform the member that there was a review of the process two years ago, when there was an extensive consultation exercise, so that people could express their views on the process. I am content that the current system is operating well, but I note the member’s concerns. If he wants to bring to my attention specific experience in his constituency, I am more than happy for him to write to me and I will give him a full and detailed response.