SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Question 1 has been withdrawn.
Glasgow (Regeneration)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to regenerate Glasgow. (S1O-4591)
The Scottish Executive is involved in a wide range of initiatives that are aimed at regenerating Glasgow. We have targeted regeneration initiatives, such as social inclusion partnerships, that run in tandem with mainstream activities in health, education, transport, employment and housing, all of which are aimed at improving the quality of life of the people of Glasgow and at regenerating the city.
Is the minister aware that the December edition of "Glasgow Economic Monitor" predicts only 2 per cent job growth in the city in the coming five years, compared with 7.5 per cent over the past five years? Does the minister accept that one way of expediting the regeneration of Glasgow is to speed up construction of the M74 northern extension, which would secure 55,000 jobs? We should also ensure that that construction is linked to simultaneous derelict and vacant-land reclamation next to the road, which would provide the industrial sites that the city so desperately needs.
We need a question, Mr Gibson, not a speech.
Will the minister explain why Glasgow, unlike Lanarkshire, has never had an enterprise zone? Will one be constructed next to the M74 northern extension?
There was a great deal in that question and I would be happy to go into great depth on the range of initiatives that we are taking to help the city of Glasgow, although that would take up a considerable amount of the Parliament's time. I will concentrate on one aspect of Kenny Gibson's question—construction—because that is all that I am likely to be permitted to do. The one policy to which I draw his attention is the housing stock transfer, which will greatly regenerate the city and increase construction opportunities. I look forward to Mr Gibson supporting that policy.
Will the minister condemn the visit to Easterhouse in Glasgow by Iain Duncan Smith, who sought to undermine the efforts of local elected members to regenerate Glasgow? Given—
Order. That is not an area that falls within the minister's responsibility. The minister can hardly comment on what the leader of the Conservative party in another Parliament has done.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. You have not given me the opportunity to complete the question.
Mr Martin, if you complete the question in a way that shows that you are dealing with a matter for which the minister has responsibility, I will listen to it.
I have already.
Forestry
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on the forestry industry of its and Her Majesty's Government's policies. (S1O-4607)
We published our forestry strategy in November 2000. The forestry industry and other stakeholders were actively involved in the formulation of that strategy. Forestry is a devolved matter. The forestry strategy operates within a climate that may be affected by many factors, among which are the policies of Her Majesty's Government and the European Union. We are now implementing the strategy. We have established a forestry forum, which includes representatives from the forestry industry as well as other stakeholders, to assist in taking that strategy forward and to assess progress.
I have given the minister brief notice of my supplementary question. Will he seek a review of the building regulations in Scotland in order to increase the required levels of insulation in domestic house building, thereby promoting and increasing the market for home-grown Scottish timber? Does he agree that that would not only be good for the environment and for the provision of warm homes, but provide an extremely welcome boost to the Scottish timber industry and the 12,000 jobs that it sustains?
I wholly welcome any moves to sustain those jobs and to boost the timber industry. Timber production is set to double over the coming 10 to 15 years. We are working closely with the industry through the Forestry Commission on a major campaign to promote the use of wood by architects and other specifiers. The building regulations are constantly under review. Review of those regulations in accordance with our policies on energy efficiency and insulation would be welcome, but it would have to be done in conjunction with our colleagues in England and Wales, which is prospectively our biggest market. I hope to broach that subject with those colleagues at a joint meeting next month.
How can the Executive say that it supports the forestry industry when it is four months late with many farm woodland premium scheme payments? Why is the rate for those payments half the rate in Ireland?
We announced a review of the grants when we published the Scottish forestry strategy. A steering group that represents the industry and other stakeholders is overseeing that review and I expect it to report to me in March.
Children's Hearings System
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that the children's hearings system complies with the European convention on human rights. (S1O-4642)
The principal challenge under the ECHR to the children's hearings system has been the S case. The judgment in that case found that the children's hearings system complies with the ECHR, but that the absence of a scheme for considering publicly funded legal representation could breach some children's civil rights under article 6. On 23 February, we will introduce through subordinate legislation an interim scheme for legal representation in children's hearings in appropriate cases.
Does the minister share my concern about the recent media coverage of children's hearings? Does she agree that the service is excellent? What can be done to ensure that young children do not slip through the net?
I recognise the valuable role that the children's hearings system plays. I have had meetings with relevant people to consider how we can value the work of children's panel members, who give up their time to take on a difficult task, and to ensure that we recruit an adequate number of panel members for the future. I am aware of some of the media coverage today, particularly that on ensuring that the supervision requirements that the hearings system imposes are performed. I take that matter seriously and will address it in coming weeks.
Does the minister accept that the biggest threat to the human rights of children who appear before a panel is the lack of social workers to perform the supervision and investigation requirements? Will she elaborate a little on the activities that she has undertaken to try to resolve the problem, particularly in Glasgow, where there could be a major crisis?
I am perhaps more aware than most of the valuable work of social workers who work with very vulnerable children. I am trying to get a picture of the whole of Scotland. I am aware of the circumstances in Glasgow. I have had discussions with the social work services inspectorate and I know that Glasgow City Council is attempting to fill the gaps by recruiting additional social workers. That is linked to work that we need to do on a strategy for social work training. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix, although I assure the member that the matter will progress in due course.
Has the requirement to consider placing 16 and 17-year-olds under the supervision of the children's panel anything to do with the ECHR? If so, what consideration has the minister given to extending penalty ranges and, ultimately, enforcement of any orders that children's panels issue?
Phil Gallie is probably aware that a wide range of disposals is available in the children's hearings system. A children's panel can write conditions into supervision requirement orders. Accountability is provided for because local authorities must bring children and young people back at the appropriate time. My colleagues in the justice department and I will examine carefully the proposed pilots for involving 16 and 17-year-old offenders in the hearings system. In due course, we will report on progress with that.
Housing (Edinburgh)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to improve housing standards in the Dumbiedykes area of Edinburgh. (S1O-4597)
More than £5 million of new housing partnership funding was earmarked for the comprehensive regeneration of the Dumbiedykes estate in February 1999. On 25 January this year, the Executive gave a commitment to earmark further funding to meet a potential shortfall—which was identified by the City of Edinburgh Council—provided that the final proposals represent value for money to the public purse and receive the support of tenants in a secret ballot.
I welcome the new money from the Executive, which ensures that we have a chance to modernise those flats and houses dramatically. Does the minister recognise that people in Dumbiedykes have waited for years for a major refurbishment? Will he assure me that, when the Executive receives the business plan from the council, it will deal with it as swiftly as possible so that the houses can be brought into the 21st century?
I agree with Sarah Boyack that we must all pull together to progress improvements for the residents. That is the central issue. I acknowledge her relentless efforts in the past few weeks to ensure progress. The council is responsible for preparing a proposal in consultation with tenants and submitting it to the Executive. We issued detailed guidance to councils on preparing transfer proposals, which includes guidance on assessing value for money. When we receive the proposal, our appraisal will be undertaken as quickly as possible and in accordance with the guidance.
Out-of-school Care
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the provision of out-of-school care. (S1O-4643)
We are seeking to improve the provision of that important service. We have made £8 million available over three years to local authorities to help to stabilise and sustain out-of-school clubs, especially in disadvantaged areas. We are convening a cross-sectoral working group to tackle a range of issues that affect the delivery of out-of-school care. I have met representatives of the new opportunities fund in Scotland to agree ways of increasing the take-up of funding under the fund's child care initiative.
An increasing number of parents now take up—or want to take up—employment opportunities provided by breakfast clubs and after-school clubs, such as those in the excellent Coatbridge community education centre, which is run by North Lanarkshire Council and is one of three such clubs in my constituency. Does the minister agree that such clubs are extremely important in that respect? What are the possibilities of using new opportunities funding to help to expand out-of-school provision, particularly breakfast clubs?
I recognise the work that is done by the clubs in Elaine Smith's constituency. I know that she takes an interest in such initiatives, both locally and through her involvement in the cross-party group on children and young people. We have had discussions with the new opportunities fund about how we can ensure the take-up of funding and whether breakfast clubs and other initiatives fall within the criteria to receive funding. The new opportunities fund can give some priming money, but organisations must be able to sustain themselves in the longer term. We have discussed those initiatives and we want to pursue them.
Lothian and Borders Fire Board (Pensions)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Lothian and Borders fire board in order to discuss funding of pensions. (S1O-4625)
This morning.
I am not surprised by that answer. Does the minister concede that the meeting was convened only in the past few days, despite board members' repeated requests for a meeting with him? Will he confirm that the minimum requirement for tackling the pensions time bomb is a long-term commitment to deal with the fact that the pension scheme is unfunded? Does the minister acknowledge that the pension scheme is unfunded and that, during the 1980s and 1990s, Tory home affairs ministers and Labour councillors paid for essential fire services from the pension contributions of firemen?
That is two questions already.
Will the minister confirm whether such a ticking time bomb exists in other public services, such as police forces? How does the Executive plan to tackle that pensions disgrace?
I do not propose to discuss the history of the 1980s and 1990s, but I will mention more recent history. When I met the Tayside fire board in January of this year, I made clear my willingness to meet the conveners of all fire authorities in Scotland, which is what I did this morning, along with a number of firemasters and directors of finance. The meeting was constructive. After it, the vice-president of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, George Purcell, said:
Although I welcome that reassurance, will the minister also reassure me that there is no threat to front-line fire services in my Midlothian constituency?
It was specifically pointed out that the Lothian and Borders fire brigade is very aware of the need to maintain front-line fire services. However, the issue of pensions is important and I hope that we will be in a position to address the concerns that have been expressed.
I congratulate the minister on the discussions that took place this morning, particularly with regard to the fire services in Lothian and the Borders. Does he agree that, when we hear good news about the protection of front-line fire services in Lothian and the Borders and the fact that the pensions issue is being addressed head-on, and then consider the effects that such news will have on council tax levels throughout the area, we should welcome that news, not criticise it?
I should sound a slight note of caution: I did not have a cheque book in my hands this morning and there are some details that I still have to discuss with the Minister for Finance and Public Services. However, Mr MacKay is absolutely right. The Executive takes the proper funding of front-line services seriously. We are determined to fund those services properly to ensure that the people of Scotland—not just those in Lothian and the Borders—have fire services in which they can have confidence. Indeed, they have such services at the moment and we want to ensure that that situation continues.
Ministerial Appointments
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 26 independent assessors appointed to oversee ministerial appointments to non-departmental public bodies have political affiliations. (S1O-4634)
Of the 26 assessors in post, 14 declared that they were politically active in the five years prior to their appointment. However, details of an individual's political affiliations are not a matter of record, as it would be inappropriate for an individual's voting preference to be known. All appointments are made on merit. As the commissioner's code makes clear, political activity is not, and should not be, a barrier to taking up a public appointment.
It is important to draw a clear distinction between the hundreds of ministerial appointments to quangos and the appointments of the 26 so-called independent assessors. There is quite a difference between the two. Will the minister give an undertaking that, when a Scottish commissioner for public appointments is appointed, he or she will support a change in the rules to ensure that none of the 26 assessors who are appointed to ensure fair play is politically active?
Neither the Executive nor the UK commissioner for public appointments believes that political activity should be a bar to anyone who wants to serve as an independent assessor. A record of political activity does not mean that someone is unfit to hold such a post or to take on any other appointment. The key question is whether they can do the job. The UK commissioner confirmed that our process was fair and open and covered a wide range of people.
Does the minister think that our heads button up the back?
Is that your sole question?
The minister's head certainly does. Is it not incredible that Labour party membership is equivalent to less than 0.2 per cent of the population, yet 50 per cent of the assessors are Labour cronies? Is it not the case that, because of the way in which the most recent 12 assessors were appointed, the public have no confidence in them? They should be sacked and the whole process—
You are starting to make a speech, Mr Neil. We have got the point.
I remind the minister that we are living in Scotland, not Sicily.
I do not recall Mr Neil shouting about cronyism when, in July 2000, the then First Minister wrote to him seeking names of people to serve as independent assessors. Mr Neil did not scream cronyism when two out of three of his choices were appointed as independent assessors. He did not complain when he was written to again a year later, as the convener of a committee, or when his party leader was written to in order to get names of people to be put forward as independent assessors. If that is political cronyism, I do not understand his actions. Over the past week, he has sought to undermine the Parliament, the people who choose to act in the service of the Scottish public and those who wish to participate in public service. The fact that he is moaning about the appointments simply shows that he still has nothing positive to say about how public service works.
Minister, you are straying off the point of the question.
The bill that Mr Neil proposes is more about Mr Neil than about improving public service.
Sorry, Mr Neil. Both the question and the answer are straying away from the lead question.
Does Alex Neil want to see the letters dated 23 July 2000?
On a point of order. The minister misled—
Mr Neil, you are consuming other members' time. This is a political exchange, not a point of order.
Will the minister advise the Parliament of his involvement in the appointment of the independent assessors?
I shall be happy to correct some of the misrepresentation over this matter. In May 2001, ministers agreed to the process of recruitment. The UK commissioner for public appointments cleared the job description and person specification for the post. The Executive invited nominations from a diverse range of organisations across Scotland—
The minister means a diverse cross-section of the Labour party.
I will come back to that point in just a minute, thank you.
What about new Labour?
The Nolan appointments style was adopted throughout the process. There was an independent panel including Dame Rennie Fritchie and two civil servants. Sixty application packs were sent out, 27 responses were received and 19 interviews took place. Not once was I or any other minister involved in the selection process. I was unaware of the political affiliations of those who were nominated to me.
If people are really appointed on merit and public bodies are really representative of the population as a whole, why have more than 50 per cent of recent appointments to the super-quango been members of political parties when less than 2 per cent of the population are members of any political party? Are we expected to believe that political parties are endowed with such a disproportionate share of talent and expertise? That is not evident in this place.
In writing to 100 organisations, putting the advert on our website and, last year, advertising the post widely through the media, we have done our best to bring people forward. The process is undermined by members who attach politics to the appointments instead of the principle that whoever is good enough for the job should get it.
Immunology Clinics
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the operation of immunology clinics. (S1O-4621)
It is for national health service boards and trusts to plan and implement immunology and allergy services that best meet the needs of their local populations and periodically to review the operation of such services. In doing so, they should take account of the recommendations contained in the report "Immunology and Allergy Services in Scotland", which was published by the Scottish Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee in September 2000.
Does the minister agree that, if someone was diagnosed in 1998 as potentially having an allergy, they should have been able to see someone in the immunology clinic at the Glasgow Western infirmary before now? I refer to Miss Jacqueline Pollock of 348 Redburn, Bonhill, Alexandria. Does the minister agree that we need to take a radical look at the approach to the diagnosis of allergy? That woman is housebound and incapable of taking any medicine because of her allergy.
We are wandering away from the question, Mr Quinan. Keep to the question.
Okay. Does the minister agree that it is unacceptable for anyone in Scotland to await a diagnosis for four years? What is the minister going to do about that situation?
I think that we have got the point.
I am unaware of the specific case to which the member referred. If he writes to me, I will have the matter investigated. On resources and services, we recognise that there is a problem that cannot be tackled overnight. However, additional investment is going into services in the Greater Glasgow NHS Board area. The NHS boards in the west of Scotland are involved in discussions with the Glasgow board and others to see how a more comprehensive service can be delivered. As for the specific case that the member mentioned, if he—or any member—addresses a specific case to ministers, that case will be investigated.
Scottish Ambulance Service
To ask the Scottish Executive when a priority dispatch system for the Scottish Ambulance Service will be implemented. (S1O-4628)
The Scottish Ambulance Service sent a full business case for that project to the department a few days ago. The department is considering the case carefully but urgently. Subject to the department's approval, the service expects to be able to complete implementation of the project in 2004-05.
As the minister will be aware, many members are concerned that the reduction in the number of ambulance centres will have a negative impact on the service and on projected reaction times. Will he answer those concerns and say whether he is content that the reduction in the number of centres will have a positive and not a negative impact on the service?
The situation is the opposite of what Margaret Smith suggested. The reality is that the Scottish Ambulance Service has done an important piece of work, which the Executive asked it to do. We will look urgently at that work. However, the plan cannot be implemented unless there is investment in three operation rooms. Unless that happens, it will not be possible to move to the priority dispatch system. Those two things must be done simultaneously. I hope to be able to give a response to the report in the near future.
Will the minister tell members whether the Aberdeen ambulance control room will play a role in delivering the new system? If not, does that mean he is proceeding with closure against the wishes of 22,000 local people who signed a petition to keep the Aberdeen centre open?
There will be room for smaller local centres, but the reality is that the new priority dispatch system depends on having three operation rooms and on major investment being put into them. I understand that that plan has given rise to concerns, but when people understand the reason for that investment in the new operation rooms, they will support the plan. It is clear that people want to move to the priority dispatch system, but that cannot happen without the investment in three operation rooms.
In the light of the current concerns over the siting of accident and emergency facilities in Glasgow, can the minister tell us when we will finally have a trained paramedic in each ambulance who can be used in the priority dispatch system?
The issue of paramedics is fundamental, too. We cannot move to the priority dispatch system unless we invest in extra paramedics. That is part of the Scottish Ambulance Service's business case. I want to look at the detailed issues over the next few weeks. There must and will be more investment in paramedics. By building up that service, we can have the kind of emergency services throughout Scotland that we want.
The minister will be aware that last year an ambulance travelled from Glasgow to Dumfries via Edinburgh and Hawick. Will he ensure that, when the proposals are implemented and the new centres are established, there will be proper geographical computer data to allow the dispatch to take into account complicated rural geographies?
One issue that we must consider is how the plan will work in remote and rural areas. I look forward to discussing that and other issues that have been raised when I visit the Scottish Ambulance Service College the week after next. I will be talking with the chair and senior management about all the issues that members have raised.
Alcohol Problems (Action Plan)
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional financial resources it will make available for the implementation of action points identified in its "Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems" and how such resources will be distributed. (S1O-4633)
The Executive has made an additional £1.5 million available for a national alcohol problems communications strategy. NHS boards are being given an increase of £550,000 to support local alcohol action teams. That funding, together with additional resources to improve information required to plan local alcohol problems strategies, is coming from the £1.8 million central budget for tackling alcohol problems.
Does the minister agree that a serious imbalance exists between the Executive's spending on tackling drug misuse—£141.5 million on specific and generic programmes—and the much smaller amount that it is spending on tackling alcohol dependency? Given that the number of alcohol-related deaths is at least three times that of drug-related deaths and that alcohol dependency affects an estimated five times as many people as does drug addiction, what are the Executive's plans to redress the balance?
I recognise that a discrepancy exists between the moneys that are available. However, that is not the result of a lack of commitment to dealing with alcohol problems. The alcohol strategy sets out proposals to tackle alcohol misuse. By working up local plans, we are assured that we will be able to tackle alcohol misuse in a meaningful way.
Smuggled alcohol is of great concern when dealing with alcohol misuse—by definition, there are no controls on its sale. What measures are in place to measure the effectiveness of the extra resources that are being given to HM Customs and Excise, as set out in the plan? In particular, what are the plans to measure the 10 per cent year-on-year reduction in smuggled goods? That figure is set out in the plan under the heading "It's happening already".
The problem of smuggling alcohol into Scotland is known. It is difficult to know how large the problem is, but local teams are tackling it. As the member said, additional resources are being given to HM Customs and Excise to tackle the problem.
Asylum and Immigration
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Her Majesty's Government in order to discuss issues relating to asylum and immigration. (S1O-4646)
I met with George Foulkes, Minister of State at the Scotland Office, and Lord Rooker, Minister of State at the Home Office, on Monday 4 February, as part of on-going dialogue, to discuss asylum seekers and refugees.
The minister will be aware that the white paper on immigration and asylum that was published today contains proposals to require asylum seekers to pass an English language and citizenship test. As refugee integration is fully devolved, does the minister accept that it is likely that local councils will have the responsibility for preparations to meet the criteria, in addition to their other responsibilities for asylum seekers? Are there plans in the local government finance settlement to examine provision to cover the additional costs for councils that are already strapped for cash?
The detailed arrangements that follow on from the white paper, in this area as well as in others, are under discussion and form part of the discussion to which I referred in my first answer. Provision of support for English language skills and funding arrangements were part of those discussions.
When the minister next meets his colleagues in the Home Office, will he tell them that it is unacceptable for ladies and gentlemen from churches in my constituency region of Central Scotland to be fingerprinted and photographed routinely when they choose to visit Dungavel detention centre residents?
The administration of Dungavel is, of course, reserved entirely to the Home Office. I suggest that Linda Fabiani ask her Westminster colleagues to broach the subject in the proper place. As the question has been raised with me today, I will raise it at the next meeting that I have with United Kingdom Government colleagues. As I have pointed out, such meetings happen regularly.
Education (Disabilities)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to improve educational provision for school pupils with disabilities. (S1O-4636)
The Scottish Executive has introduced the Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils' Records) (Scotland) Bill to improve educational provision for school pupils with disabilities. The bill is currently undergoing stage 1 consideration and will require education authorities and independent and grant-aided schools to prepare accessibility strategies. Through those strategies, education providers will plan progressively to improve access to the curriculum, the school environment and school information for pupils with disabilities.
Does the minister agree that narrowing gaps in attainment between advantaged and disadvantaged children is vital, whether the disadvantage comes from disability, a less affluent background or behavioural difficulties?
I thank Elaine Thomson for updating the Parliament on the good work that is being undertaken in Aberdeen with the assistance of Executive funding. I would like to take up that invitation when the Parliament visits Aberdeen in May and have accepted a similar invitation from Aberdeen City Council to find out how it is working on its integrated children's services plan.
I am sure that the minister realises that implementing the measures that are contained in the bill involves a cost implication for schools. What assistance will the Executive give to schools in the independent sector to help them to meet those additional costs?
The Scottish Executive, as Murdo Fraser may be aware from the discussion in the committees, has said that it will give £9 million in general local government revenue grant to assist local authorities to implement the accessibility strategies. In addition, education authorities will be able to access funding from the excellence fund inclusion programme, which will amount to around £51.3 million over the next three years.
Does the minister agree that the role of parents is important in designing education for children with disabilities? It is important that local authorities work closely with parents and listen to what they say about their children's education.
I agree absolutely that it is vital that parents be involved in their children's education. That is one of the main reasons why we wish to roll out the new community schools programme. That programme will ensure that parents and others who have an interest in improving attainment levels, particularly for young people from a disadvantaged background, are involved in building on the success that we have already achieved.
Cities Review
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place with local authorities other than the five cities to discuss the cities review. (S1O-4641)
I recognise fully the importance of the links between our cities and their surrounding regions and am therefore keen to involve neighbouring authorities in the cities review. Ministers have met Aberdeenshire Council and the local authorities neighbouring Glasgow and Edinburgh. A meeting is being arranged with the local authorities neighbouring Dundee.
Is the minister aware that the Lothian structure plan requires East Lothian Council to release 4,700 sites for private houses, mainly for people who work in Edinburgh? Does he acknowledge the need for measures to help councils such as East Lothian Council to meet the costs of providing education, transport and the other infrastructure needs of areas with growing populations? Is there not an overwhelming case for requiring housing developers to meet a substantial share of those costs? Will he address those points in the context of discussions about the cities review?
Developer contributions and planning gains have been raised by several of the parties in the context of the cities review. Some have argued for increased contributions and others have argued for reduced contributions. Members can work out who might have been arguing which way.
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