SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
Newly Qualified Teachers
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that it has made sufficient progress in securing employment for newly qualified teachers following a probationary year. (S3O-6810)
We have said that we are disappointed with the results of the 2008 teacher census and the implications for teachers after their probation year. This year, we are providing an additional £4 million to enable local authorities to employ an additional 100 teachers. We will also discuss with each local authority its plans for teacher employment and class size reduction.
I am pleased to hear of the ministers disappointment, which is widely shared in the Parliament and in the teaching profession. Is it acceptable to allow local authorities to reduce the number of teachers by 1,000, which means that the Scottish National Party is failing to deliver its manifesto promise? What discussions is the minister having with local authorities to increase the number of teachers and get it back on target?
Yesterday, I had a discussion with a local authority that has had difficulties in encouraging teachers to apply for vacancies that it has advertised twice. That underlines the point that the situation is different in different parts of the country.
Will the minister explain how the number of retirals by schoolteachers can skew statistics for workforce planning?
Teacher workforce planning takes account of the number of teachers who are leaving the profession for a variety of reasons, including retirement. The expected number of leavers each year is based on historical trends. For example, the number of probationers who are to start in 2009 had to be set by using leaver rates from 2005-06.
Did the recent joint working party on workforce planning formally discuss the effectiveness of the collection of data on how each local authority is filling teaching vacancies?
Yes, that was discussed. I refer Elizabeth Smith to a previous response that I gave on the issue. We are talking about an inexact science, because there is a long time lag between planning for the education and training of teachers and employing those teachers. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning in particular is doing as much as she can to work with the working group to ensure that we get planning right in future years.
Scottish Qualifications Authority
To ask the Scottish Executive when it now expects to make a decision on the future of the Scottish Qualifications Authoritys offices in Dalkeith. (S3O-6789)
An announcement on the future of the Scottish Qualifications Authoritys offices in Dalkeith will be made once consideration of the options has been completed. I know that the member has a keen constituency interest in a decision being made sooner rather than later, as I do, but she will acknowledge that the decision must deliver the best possible balance between value for money and the effective delivery of services to the public of Scotland at a time of increasing economic and public sector pressures. Resolving that has taken longer than expected.
To be frank, that answer was pathetic. When I first expressed concerns in January 2007 about the future of the SQAs ageing offices in Midlothian, where 231 permanent jobs and countless more temporary positions are based, my Scottish National Party election opponent accused me of scaremongering and manufacturing a non-existent crisis. However, two years into the term of the current Government, the minister still cannot give a simple guarantee that one of the biggest employers in Midlothian will not be moved out of the county. Is it not time for her to stop dithering and to end the uncertainty by giving a cast-iron guarantee today that the SQA will remain in Midlothian?
Far be it from me to comment on the scaremongering of Rhona Brankin. The matter is serious and the correct decision is needed. I will not compromise continuing negotiations by making the response that was described in her question. The right decision will be made for the SQAs future and—more important—for the service that it delivers to the pupils of Scotland.
Commission on Scottish Devolution
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the First Minister has met the chairman of the Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales but not the chairman of the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution. (S3O-6796)
For reasons of open-mindedness. The Holtham commission is looking at a full range of options for funding the Welsh Assembly Government, including tax-varying and borrowing powers. By contrast, the Calman commission cannot examine all the options for the future of Scotland. Nevertheless, if it helps, I will meet Sir Kenneth Calman later this month to explain the work of the Governments national conversation in more detail.
The minister is trying to mislead the chamber, just as the First Minister did when on 29 March he pointed out to the BBC that
I will not have the accusation made in this chamber that anyone is lying. Will you please withdraw that accusation?
Then can I substitute—
Withdraw!
I withdraw the accusation. Was the First Minister being ignorant or was he being economical with the truth?
I would have thought that a peer who apparently is one of the four wise men considering British intelligence matters might be more careful with his language than he appears to be in this chamber. If anything, such comments reflect badly on him.
But not independence.
Order.
But he is not answering the question.
Order.
I am afraid that Lord Foulkes is just not asking the right question.
Does the minister agree that the Calman commission, whose 15 members include six peers and three knights of the realm, is hardly a representative cross-section of Scottish society; that a commission that specifically excludes the noble aim of Scottish independence has damaged its democratic credentials; and that the national conversation is a more open and inclusive way of addressing Scotlands constitutional future?
Briefly, minister.
I certainly concur. However, I advise the member not to judge all members of the House of Lords by the one from whom we have just heard.
Oil
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being put in place to enable Scotland to benefit from a higher price of oil in light of recent forecasts that the present economic crisis will not postpone the impact of peak oil. (S3O-6851)
The North Sea is a vital resource for Scotland, employing over 100,000 people directly and indirectly and contributing almost £13 billion in tax revenue during the financial year ending April 2009. We continue to work closely and supportively with the industry directly and with Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Development International and others to encourage a similar approach from the United Kingdom Government and its agencies.
Is the minister able to set out some of the research and production ideas that he has in mind to combat the prospect of oil rising to $300 a barrel by 2020? I point out that Denmark, which the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee visited last week, is contemplating such a situation.
In February, we announced 10 pledges to create new jobs and wealth and a successful low-carbon economy, including the delivery of a more sustainable transport system through the development and market take-up of electric and other low-carbon vehicles. Research in that respect has been undertaken by the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise, working with the industry, and the responses to that consultation will be analysed in June.
Does the minister agree that offshore wind energy offers an opportunity both to address the energy gap that Scotland will face in the next 15 to 20 years and to diversify the economy of Aberdeen and the north-east on the basis of proven technology and established offshore skills and expertise?
I very much agree with that proposition. Indeed, that is why offshore wind energy, which was probably not on the radar even nine months ago, is now very much at the forefront of our thinking for both the east and west coasts.
Dumbarton Health Centre (Family Planning and Well Woman Clinic)
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the family planning and well woman clinic is being withdrawn from Dumbarton health centre. (S3O-6785)
The Dumbarton family planning and well woman clinic will now be part of a new integrated sexual health service based at the Vale of Leven hospital in Alexandria. The service will continue to provide all of the services that were available at the Dumbarton clinic.
The minister will of course be aware that the level of teenage pregnancies in West Dunbartonshire and in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area continues to rise and that it is clearly linked to deprivation, with the rate of teenage pregnancy in deprived areas three times the rate elsewhere. Given those statistics and given her stated approach of keeping services local, will the minister intervene on this matter and review whether the removal of family planning and well woman services is appropriate?
Jackie Baillie is quite right to highlight the challenge of teenage pregnancy in those and other areas. However, the service in question is designed to meet that need. It will run from 11 am to 7 pm two days a week, one day of which will be reserved entirely for young people. I would have thought that, given her concern about teenage pregnancy, the member would welcome that.
Pensioners Parliament
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any progress that has been made toward the establishment of a pensioners parliament. (S3O-6867)
At the older peoples consultative forum in April last year, I proposed the establishment of an older peoples assembly or parliament, making it clear that it would have to come from and be organised by older people. The proposal is being taken forward by members of the older peoples consultative forum, facilitated by Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland, and it is hoped that the assembly will be held on 2 October, as close as possible to national older peoples day on 1 October.
As convener of the cross-party group on older people, age and ageing, I wonder whether the minister or her officials might be able to attend one of our meetings and explain the proposals for 2 October.
I am certainly happy to take up that engagement, diary permitting. I am sure that people will be very keen to involve the cross-party group in what I think will be a tremendous event that will allow the views of older people throughout Scotland to be heard.
Does the minister accept that the council tax is still a huge worry and expense for many Scots pensioners? If so, will the Government look to implement Scottish Tory proposals for a 50 per cent discount for pensioners?
I am not sure that that has a lot to do with the pensioners parliament, minister, but feel free to respond.
We recognise the impact that the council tax has on older people, which is why we have frozen it for yet another year. I am sure that older people throughout Scotland welcome that action from the Scottish National Party Government.
Southern General Hospital (Clyde Fastlink)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering funding part of the Clyde fastlink project to enable it to serve the Southern general hospital. (S3O-6798)
As part of project 24 of the strategic transport projects review, which relates to west of Scotland strategic rail enhancements, we aim to increase public transport access to key public services. We are working with partners such as Strathclyde partnership for transport and Glasgow City Council on considering a range of options, including the possible development of a metro or light rapid transit network across Glasgow.
Can I take it then that the health budget could supplement Stewart Stevensons transport budget for the project?
The next important step is the appraisal of the Clyde fastlink proposal that is currently being undertaken by Glasgow City Council. I understand that there will be a report on that in the summer of 2009, which will inform the way forward. That report will be a necessary precursor to any discussions that will follow.
Houses in Multiple Occupation
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to increase the fines for landlords of houses in multiple occupation who do not have an HMO licence. (S3O-6813)
Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 revises the system of HMO licensing. Among the changes is a provision that makes an owner of a licensable HMO who is guilty of the offence of not holding a licence liable to a fine not exceeding £20,000, which is four times the current maximum. Later this year, we will discuss with stakeholders the options for implementing the provisions in part 5 of the act. We will then draw up a timetable for implementation.
I moved an amendment to the Housing (Scotland) Bill to increase the penalties for landlords of HMOs who do not have an HMO licence as the minister has outlined. That provision and other important powers in part 5 of the act have not yet come into force. The fight against illegal HMOs is made harder by the delay, and authorities such as Glasgow City Council have been waiting for some time to use those powers. What are the reasons for that delay? Implementation was expected at the end of last year. Does the minister appreciate that there has been a long delay and that the provisions, which are important, are needed now?
The Government is totally committed to implementing the provisions that Pauline McNeill mentions in consultation with the relevant stakeholders. However, we have consulted our local authority colleagues and have, at their request, implemented the landlord registration scheme first so that it is allowed to bed down. As the member knows, 87 per cent of landlords are now registered. That gives the local authorities the experience that is necessary to implement part 5 of the act successfully when we bring it into force later this year.
When the minister is considering the provisions that relate to houses in multiple occupation, will he also consider a new nuisance that has arisen for people who live in buildings with communal stairwells: weekend lets for stag and hen nights, in which the participants behaviour is abominable?
As I said last week when various members, including Malcolm Chisholm and Margo MacDonald, asked a similar question, we are considering covering short-term lets in HMO licensing, but there is a clear distinction between short-term lets and holiday lets. The primary way to deal with the problems that arise as a result of antisocial behaviour by a small minority of people who occupy holiday lets is the antisocial behaviour legislation rather than housing legislation.
Lottery Funding
To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the British Olympic Association and the United Kingdom Government regarding the estimated £150 million shortfall that could impact on Scottish good causes and voluntary organisations as a result of lottery funds being diverted to the London 2012 Olympic games. (S3O-6850)
I met the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Andy Burnham, on 31 March to press Scotlands case for the return of the £150 million that is being diverted to the London 2012 Olympic games. That meeting followed three letters to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to pursue that matter. At my request, my officials are currently arranging a further meeting with Mr Burnham; the Secretary of State for Scotland, Jim Murphy; and the leader of Glasgow City Council, Councillor Purcell.
In light of the millions of pounds lost to Scottish good causes, will the minister or her colleagues consider a not-for-profit Scottish lottery so that money that is raised in Scotland is spent in Scotland?
After the meeting that we had on 31 March, my officials and officials from the DCMS have been working to consider the available options to secure resources for the legacy. I hope to have an options paper soon and certainly in time for my meeting with those ministers and Steven Purcell.
That concludes general questions. Before we come to questions to the First Minister, I am sure that members will wish to join me in welcoming to the gallery the Honourable Maria Antònia Munar, the President of the Parliament of the Balearic Islands, and her delegation. They are most welcome. [Applause.]
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