SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Secretary of State for Scotland (Meetings)
To ask the First Minister when he next plans to meet the Secretary of State for Scotland and what issues he intends to raise. (S1F-710)
I speak regularly to the Secretary of State for Scotland on the telephone. This week, I had the great privilege of seeing him on Monday and Tuesday in Rome.
I am grateful to the First Minister for his answer. When he next meets the Secretary of State for Scotland, he might like to raise this issue. On Monday, the Minister for Health and Community Care said in relation to winter that
The NHS is better prepared this year than it has ever been. That is the view not only of the Executive, but of the British Medical Association in Scotland. There may well be problems this winter—winter is hard for the NHS, as more people fall ill and more people slip and fall as the weather gets colder—but we are prepared to meet the peaks in demand.
I am grateful to the First Minister for his answer but, as on every Thursday, he did not answer the question. I asked him whether waiting lists would go up or down this winter. Will the First Minister answer the question?
We discussed this issue recently and made the point about waiting lists. We are investing for further success to ensure that the waiting lists go down. The point of entry to the question was preparation for winter. I have every confidence that every step has been taken to ensure that we cover the winter period. That is supported by the BMA and by others in the NHS.
I hear what the First Minister says about resources. However, the Minister for Health and Community Care this week promised 700 extra beds, yet since Labour came to power 3,000 beds have been cut. Labour promised more nurses, but has cut 900 nursing posts. It has promised better care services in the community, but home help services have declined by 11 per cent since the Government came to power. Will the First Minister tell us whether part of the planning for winter—part of the Executive's guarantee to the people of Scotland that it will get waiting lists down—is dependent on the NHS cancelling essential appointments and operations to meet Labour's election commitment to cut waiting lists, which it is failing to deliver?
John Swinney has to do a bit better than that. The waiting list commitment is to 2002. The simple point is that people throughout Scotland will welcome the fact that the Executive has taken some extraordinary steps this winter to ensure that we are prepared—there is £0.5 billion more this year and £60 million to prepare for winter pressures. Older people in Scotland will be more reassured by those facts than by the constant whingeing of the SNP.
When the First Minister met the Secretary of State for Scotland, did he discuss the view expressed by Fiona Hyslop, who described SNP policy as contradictory and out of date? Does he agree with her view?
Order. I have said before that the First Minister is not responsible for Opposition policies.
Prime Minister (Meetings)
I will ask the First Minister a question from the real Opposition in Scotland.
I am delighted that David McLetchie likes that description. I last met the Prime Minister on 23 October. I have no plans to meet him in the near future.
I am disappointed to hear that, because if the First Minister were going to meet the Prime Minister, I am sure that the subject of law and order would come up in the discussions, given the Prime Minister's new-found and long-overdue concern about the issue.
That is a typically distorted perspective on law and order from the Conservatives. We discussed the Chhokar case at question time last week. It was important that that was done in a constructive environment. David McLetchie's attempt to play cheap politics with a sensitive issue is certainly not welcome, nor does it befit this chamber.
I hope that the members of the press in the gallery noted the considerable finesse with which the First Minister failed to answer that question. The fact of the matter is that all this business about institutional racism is being used as a smokescreen. The real issue is not race but incompetence. The Chhokar case is just the latest in a long line of administrative disasters that have followed on from the Holyrood building project and the exams fiasco—issues on which the Executive has abdicated its responsibility and constantly tried to blame someone or something else. Instead of engaging in a lot of irresponsible talk about institutional racism, why does not the First Minister do something about the institutional incompetence at the heart of his Executive?
To comment on that question would be to dignify it. It was a disgraceful comment. The Chhokar case and racism in general relate to deep-seated issues that this chamber should take seriously. I do not intend to take Mr McLetchie's comments seriously.
I wonder whether the First Minister will dignify question time by answering a question. When he next meets the Prime Minister, will he raise the issue of taxation in Scotland and ask him to explain whether it is fair that people in Scotland have to pay 20 per cent more in tax than the average for the UK, which they will do by this time next year? Why is Scotland the highest-taxed part of the United Kingdom?
If the member supplied a paper explaining the question, it would be much easier to deal with it. The question is a typical illustration of SNP economic nonsense and distortion. The SNP seems not to have noticed that, in a week in which the party was beginning again to wax eloquent about the prospects for North sea oil and the economy, the price of oil went down by 18 per cent. What a nonsense to pretend that we could build a safe and secure economy on the back of a volatile oil price.
Will the First Minister discuss with the Prime Minister the implications for the Scottish budget of the stated fiscal plans of Mr McLetchie's party, which are to cut Government revenue and expenditure across the UK by £8 billion a year?
I relish that question. The Conservative party in Scotland has the same problems as William Hague has down south. I believe that the Conservatives are committed to an £8 billion cut. That will mean a massive cut in services.
Order. I can only repeat what I said earlier. Ministers should not be asked questions about Opposition party policies.
Education (Arts and Sport)
To ask the First Minister what plans the Scottish Executive has to enhance the role of arts and sport in schools. (S1F-715)
Over the next three years, we have set aside £750,000 to carry out a pilot of cultural champions posts in schools throughout Scotland. Some £1.5 million will also be used to develop further the school sports co-ordinator programme and £2.8 million will be used to expand the active primary schools pilot to all parts of Scotland.
I welcome the First Minister's detailed answer to that question. Will he assure me that emphasis will continue to be placed on ensuring that that money is targeted to the most disadvantaged areas?
Yes. Sport and culture is important, and not only in relation to the need for coverage throughout the country. I know that our new Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture will ensure that that becomes a reality in every school.
Does the First Minister accept that it is difficult to enhance the role of arts and sport in schools such as Lockerbie Primary School, which was burned down in an act of vandalism, and Lockerbie Academy, which is falling down? Will he ensure that the money that Mr McConnell announced is focused on projects such as those and that we have a report back on how the money has been spent relative to the maintenance of those buildings?
I am slightly doubtful about whether I should allow that question, but I will let it pass.
I think that the Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs has noted the question. However, I will say that we have spent an additional £17 million on schools. In discussion with local authorities, we will ensure that what David Mundell calls for happens.
Fishing Industry
To ask the First Minister what plans the Scottish Executive has to preserve jobs in the catching and processing sectors of Scotland's fishing industry. (S1F-701)
There is no doubt that many fish stocks are in a parlous state. We will argue strongly at the fisheries council next week that catch levels for 2001 should take into account both the need to preserve stocks and the socio-economic needs of areas that depend on fishing. Once the catch opportunities for Scottish fishermen are clear, we will assess their impact on the industry. However, I am pleased to note that Scottish Enterprise Grampian has responded quickly to our proposal to establish a working group to address the challenges facing Scottish fish processors.
In addition to verbal support, will the First Minister offer financial support not only to Scottish Enterprise Grampian, but to the local authorities that are affected, so that they may do all that they can to assist with the restructuring of the industry and to increase the supply of fish from elsewhere?
I want the Executive to provide the maximum help for our fishing communities and for our fishermen. Two things are most important. First, we want to wait for the outcome of next week's negotiations on total allowable catches, which will give us more of a perspective on the situation that the industry finds itself in. Secondly, the working group that has been set up will wish to examine the specific needs of the processing sector. I will stay closely involved with Ross Finnie and with the UK Minister for Fisheries and the Countryside.
I call Jamie McGrigor to ask a supplementary—but not on the telephone.
In the event of fishing boats being tied up due to cuts in quotas, will the minister consider the idea of using and paying fishermen to test the technical conservation measures needed for the cod recovery plan? Will he push for European compensation to allay the hardship and poverty that fishermen and their families will undoubtedly suffer?
We are happy to consider those points. These are tough and testing times for the fishing industry—no one would deny that. It is helpful to wait for the outcome of next week's negotiations, so that we know the extent of some of the pressures that we will be facing. I promise Mr McGrigor that we will be wanting to discuss the way forward with people in the communities concerned and with representatives of fishing interests.
Scotland in Europe
To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Executive plans to promote Scotland in Europe. (S1F-713)
The Scottish Executive will promote Scotland by fostering links with smaller member states, with some accession states and with some of the more powerful regional Governments of the European Community; by seeking membership of influential European bodies; and by ensuring that the importance of the European Union to our future prosperity and security is widely understood by the people of Scotland.
I welcome the First Minister's description of Scotland's developing role in the European Union, which is to act with strength as part of the United Kingdom. Would the First Minister agree that, to better understand and promote Scotland's best interests through the European decision-making process, we should have active dialogue with other devolved Parliaments across Europe and with our own MEPs? Would not such an approach be in stark contrast to the Scottish National Party's priority of pulling Scotland out of Britain and, as a consequence, out of Europe?
I am pleased to respond positively to that question. We met MEPs in Europe during the week and we want to continue such links. I was delighted to see more Conservative MSPs in Brussels than I have ever seen before. I welcome their conversion to that positive policy.
With regard to Duncan McNeil's rather strange statement that if Scotland came out of Britain, we would come out of Europe, I could perhaps refer him to the legal views of the top two lawyers of the time.
No—but you could ask a question.
They were Lord Mackenzie-Stuart and Mr Noe. In their opinion, Scotland would automatically remain in Europe—as would England. The treaty umbrella would continue to apply.
Living in the real world, I am content to be at the top table as part of the United Kingdom. Scottish people also want to live in the real world. There are huge benefits to be drawn from Europe, which we are enjoying. I want that to continue. Once again, as was suggested in reference to Fiona Hyslop, the SNP still has no policies—here or in Europe.
Will the First Minister commit his Executive to the same degree of positive realism that was demonstrated the other day by the visiting Conservative delegation, which he was so obviously keen to see and happy to welcome?
They say that things can only get easier. I am delighted to respond positively to that question. However, there is a serious point about the quality of debate that we need in Scotland. I would like the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and us to talk positively about Europe. We can have academic debates in the chamber but, at the end of the day, the people of Scotland are interested in jobs, investment and quality of life. I am convinced that, if we are at the heart of Europe, those objectives can be secured.
Although, sadly, I do not seem to have been invited, will the First Minister agree that the forthcoming nuptials of Madonna in Dornoch in my constituency will do much to promote Scotland in Europe and, indeed, the world?
Order. The First Minister is responsible for many things, but Madonna is not one of them.
On several occasions, the First Minister has mentioned that we are in the top league in relation to Europe. However, we are not at the top of the table. We have the lowest pensions, the lowest benefits and the lowest investment in health services in the whole of the European Union. Does the First Minister agree that we should be ashamed of our standards in relation to the European Union and that, if we became an independent socialist Scotland, that would get us not just to the top table, but to the top of the league?
I would rather have answered Jamie Stone's question about Madonna.
The First Minister has said that we are at the top table in Europe. How many representatives of the Scottish Executive will be at the top table at the intergovernmental conference in Nice, and who will those representatives be?
I expect better questions of Alex Neil. The point that we will constantly make is that, to get to the top table, Alex, you would have to break up Britain and become separate. We are devolutionists and we are at the top table. That is to the benefit of the whole of Scotland.
Hospitals (Winter Pressures)
If I could return to earth and leave Mars behind, I wonder whether the First Minister recalls that following the winter crisis—
You have not asked your first question.
I know, but the First Minister knows what my first question is.
You must read out your first question.
Right, we will go through the form.
I am sorry that standing orders force me to answer your first question before we get on to the real business. The recruitment of hospital nurses is a matter for national health service trusts. Across Scotland, trusts have made provision for an additional 700 beds over the winter period and for the extra nurses to staff those additional beds.
Now that we have got that clear, does the First Minister remember that although after the winter crisis last year the Accounts Commission for Scotland admitted that agency nursing staff were an important resource, which should be called on, it said that they should be recruited only to fill unforeseen staff shortages or in unforeseen, unplanned emergencies? I was glad that on Monday the Minister for Health and Community Care said that she was planning ahead for the winter crisis. However, she also said that part of the plan was to recruit the extra supply of nurses from nursing banks. As the Accounts Commission said that that should be done only to deal with unforeseen circumstances, how does the First Minister intend to recruit the nurses that will be required this winter and to maintain services in elective surgery and so on, to which my colleague John Swinney referred and on which he did not receive an answer?
The Minister for Health and Community Care and I agree with Margo MacDonald that the use of nursing banks should be appropriate.
Will the First Minister tell the chamber how he expects the appointment of nurse consultants, a further nine of which posts were announced by the Minister for Health and Community Care earlier this week, to help with the retention and recruitment of nurses and with seasonal admissions? Will he give us the detailed job description of the nurse consultants, say how many more the Executive expects to appoint and indicate how much direct contact nurse consultants will have with patients?
I welcome Keith Raffan back to the chamber. We are keen to retain NHS staff and to boost morale. The steps taken by the Minister for Health and Community Care are part of that. We want an NHS in which the staff feel that they are making an enormous contribution. One way to do that is to offer progress, which is what we are doing.
Previous
Question TimeNext
Points of Order