SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Europe, External Affairs and Culture
Good afternoon. The first item of business this afternoon is themed question time, and the first set of questions is on Europe, external affairs and culture.
National Theatre of Scotland (Funding)
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding will be provided to the National Theatre of Scotland for the financial year 2009-10. (S3O-5392)
The National Theatre of Scotland has been allocated £4.49 million from the Scottish Government in 2009-10.
In light of the international success of its production of "Black Watch", has the National Theatre of Scotland reaped any reward from increased ticket sales for the staging of subsequent productions?
"Black Watch" has indeed been remarkably successful. The Scottish Government's international touring fund contributed to the cost of the NTS presenting the play in its enormously successful 2007 New York run. When the NTS was invited to play another season in New York in 2008, it earned enough at the box office from an audience of more than 26,000 to cover all its direct costs without the need for further Government investment. Ticket income from all NTS productions has increased by 46 per cent from £1.3 million in 2007-08 to a projected £1.9 million in 2008-09.
European Ministerial Counterparts (Meetings)
To ask the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture when she next plans to meet European institution representatives and what business they plan to discuss. (S3O-5382)
Before I call the minister, I must remind members that they are meant to stick exactly to the question that they lodge. Dr McKee, your original question refers to
I am always keen to engage with EU counterparts when the opportunity arises, and since taking office I have met a number of my ministerial counterparts including, most recently, ministers from the Governments of Catalonia, Hungary and Ireland. I also regularly attend meetings of the joint ministerial committee on Europe, at which issues of mutual importance are discussed. The committee will next meet in March. Of course, I take all opportunities to promote Scotland's interests, whether at home or abroad.
How is the minister using her international contacts to promote the year of homecoming?
I take every opportunity to promote Scotland's year of homecoming—and, indeed, all of Scotland's attractions—to EU and other ministerial counterparts. For example, at the annual reception for the consular corps, which will take place on 20 January, the First Minister and I will invite representatives of the countries represented in Scotland not only to participate in homecoming but to consider how their country's citizens might take part.
Creative Scotland Bill
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to bring a creative Scotland bill back to the Parliament. (S3O-5398)
It is always best to be exact, Presiding Officer.
I would be grateful for an exact response to my supplementary. Will the minister indicate the costs of establishing creative Scotland? Are reports that they have soared to £7 million accurate? Does she share my concern that those rising administration costs will result in money being diverted away from front-line arts spending? Indeed, is it not the case that the Scottish National Party has squandered the support for creative Scotland that had been built up by the previous Administration and has completely lost the artistic community's confidence?
We are finalising the transition costs, which will be presented to Parliament at the appropriate time. That is as it should be.
Given the difficulties that the minister experienced during the passage of the Creative Scotland Bill in explaining to the Parliament which agency would be responsible for disbursing funding to the arts in Scotland, can she now tell us whether Scottish Enterprise or creative Scotland will be the lead agency in funding arts bodies?
What is important to the Government and recipients of funding is having a transparent system for disbursing such funds. We are working with partners to create the best possible system for giving funding to creators in our country.
The uncertainty and confusion over creative Scotland's future is entirely the result of the Government's incompetence. Will the minister explain why the Government is determined to go behind Parliament's back by establishing creative Scotland without returning to the Parliament to address our funding concerns? When will she come back to Parliament to answer the serious concerns that were raised when the Creative Scotland Bill's financial resolution was rejected last summer? Why is she unwilling to proceed on a cross-party basis? Why did she refuse my request for a cross-party meeting to consider the best way forward for creative Scotland?
We will agree to differ on the difficulties of presenting plans for creative Scotland to Parliament last year. I contend that the Opposition lacked understanding, which forced the bill's failure.
Scotland's Culture Website
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to update the Scotland's culture website. (S3O-5401)
The Scotland's culture website was a pilot that began in 2002, which the Scottish Library and Information Council developed and ran for the then Scottish Executive. I understand that the council is considering how to develop the site.
I appreciate that the Scotland's culture website was established as a pilot, but I hope that the minister agrees that the information that the website supplies is especially helpful to people who are thinking of visiting Scotland as it is available in many languages. However, if a Google search by anyone who was thinking of visiting Scotland led them to that website, it would not set a good example—especially in our homecoming year—because it is not up to date. Is the website intended to be linked with relevant and updated material as soon as possible?
As Cathie Craigie and I have said, the website started as a pilot portal. The Scottish Library and Information Council developed it until 2006, when the council decided, using its own funding, to retain a member of staff to develop the website. The council has examined how to continue to resource the website and is considering giving it a serious revamp.
Young People (Exchanges)
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to develop cultural exchanges and visits abroad for young people from Scotland and vice versa. (S3O-5353)
The Scottish Government and its partner agencies support extensive cultural exchange activity involving young people and will continue to do so in 2009 and beyond.
In 2006, the minister's predecessor visited the Aberdeen international youth festival—I am a trustee of the charity that runs it. She was greatly impressed by the variety and talent of the young performers and by the relationships that had been established between Scotland and many other countries over more than 30 years as a result of the festival. I invite the minister to visit Aberdeen in August to see for herself the outstanding contribution that the AIYF has made to Scotland and its role in the year of homecoming. Can the Scottish Government offer practical support and advice to develop international cultural links with young people who participate in such festivals, particularly at this economically difficult time, when the importance of events such as the AIYF might be undervalued?
I would be delighted to visit the Aberdeen international youth festival this year and will try my hardest to do so. I was disappointed not to be able to go last year because I have heard very good things about it. The festival receives lottery funding from the Scottish Arts Council, and I was amazed to read that, since 1973, around 33,000 young people from 81 countries have performed at it. It is indeed a success. This year, the participants are also taking part in the year of homecoming, with support from EventScotland.
Scottish Artists Union (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture plans to meet the Scottish Artists Union to discuss the establishment of creative Scotland. (S3O-5419)
I am currently arranging meetings with various groups to discuss the establishment of creative Scotland. The Scottish Artists Union is, of course, welcome to participate.
I think that I am pleased to hear that response, although I would certainly be pleased if the minister responded to the clear expressions of concern from Scotland's artistic community about the establishment of creative Scotland. Before or following her meetings, will she clarify exactly what reduction in support Scottish artists can expect to receive from an organisation with a standstill or smaller budget but greater responsibilities?
I remind Ken Macintosh that, last year, I announced to the Parliament £5 million for new and innovative funding for the arts and creativity under creative Scotland.
Architecture
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for architecture in Scotland. (S3O-5387)
We have increased support for architecture to almost £2 million. A key priority is to integrate architecture more effectively with other policies on the built environment, including the reform of the planning system and the Scottish sustainable communities initiative. In autumn 2008, I commenced a review of Architecture and Design Scotland, and I intend to announce the outcome of that review before the Easter recess.
Will the minister give further details of how she intends to integrate policies on the built environment and improve place making?
The aim is to provide a stronger focus on the creation of better places within a modernised planning system. The directorate for the built environment was established in February last year, and work is now under way that draws together architecture, planning and building standards. That includes policy on designing streets, advice on master planning and support for improved skills and training in urban design and place making. I intend to announce further work in a statement on policy following the outcome of the review of Architecture and Design Scotland.
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games<br />(Cultural Programme)
To ask the Scottish Executive what role the directorate for Europe, external affairs and culture has in the cultural programme that will accompany the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth games and what progress has been made with that programme. (S3O-5404)
The Scottish Government's role in the development of the cultural programme is that of a full and active partner and the main sponsor of the games. The directorate for Europe, external affairs and culture is represented at all relevant working group meetings.
I am slightly disappointed that the minister did not follow up my question about the progress that has been made on the programme of cultural events that will accompany the sporting events in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth games. Perhaps she will do that next. Will she also confirm that Scotland will adopt the model proposed by the state of Victoria, which hosted the Melbourne games, and ensure that access to all events in the cultural programme is free of charge to those who participate?
I reassure Patricia Ferguson that the work is in progress and that the Melbourne games in the state of Victoria are one of the successful events that provided a legacy that we are examining as we put together our programme for the games and consider the legacy that we can give the country. We are studying the international examples closely and taking them into account.
Scottish Language Dictionaries (Funding)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on future funding for Scottish Language Dictionaries. (S3O-5406)
The funding arrangements for Scottish Language Dictionaries that have prevailed until now do not serve the best interests of the organisation. I am currently considering how that situation may be addressed.
I thank the minister for that answer, such as it was. I had hoped for an update on what the funding would be.
I reassure Marlyn Glen that I am considering how the situation may be addressed. I do not think that the funding arrangements that were put in place by our predecessors in government best serve the interests of that organisation. The Scottish Arts Council, which funds Scottish Language Dictionaries, has agreed transitional funding until November 2009, which has allowed me the space to consider how best to take the matter forward.
Education and Lifelong Learning
Citizenship
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage the promotion of positive citizenship in schools. (S3O-5379)
The objective of citizenship education is to develop in young people the capability for thoughtful and responsible action and participation in all aspects of the community, from local to global. Scottish schools engage very positively with citizenship education and have greater opportunity to do so through the curriculum for excellence, which seeks to enable young people to develop as responsible citizens.
I recently met Sir Bernard Crick, who has sadly since died. He had great hopes for the development of the ethos of citizenship, democracy and the individual's place in society as central to the education of our children and young people. Does the Scottish Government believe that that approach should be a central tenet of Scottish education?
I, too, put on record my sadness at the death of Sir Bernard Crick. I met Sir Bernard, and we had correspondence on citizenship. The Government agrees with the late Sir Bernard that the development of the ethos of citizenship, democracy and the individual's place in society is central to the education of our children and young people. Indeed, one of the overall aims of the curriculum for excellence, which we are implementing with energy and vigour, is to enable young people to become responsible citizens, with respect for others and commitment to participate responsibly in political, economic, social and cultural life.
The Government has rightly acknowledged the important role that outdoor education can play in citizenship. What is the timescale for the strategic group that is working on the outdoor education programme? When will the group report on its deliberations?
I hope that the member appreciates that I have been keeping her in the picture as much as possible on the work of the group. I am afraid that I cannot give her an exact timescale, but I know that the group is working speedily to come up with some suggestions.
I welcome the minister's commitment to the promotion of citizenship in schools. The eco-schools programme, which the minister has continued, is a fantastic way of promoting global and environmental citizenship and of showing how children can play a role in tackling climate change.
I give a commitment to write to the member with the precise details of what she asks for.
Secondary Schools (Laurencekirk and Kemnay)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide Aberdeenshire Council with access to new funding arrangements in order for the council to construct new secondary schools at Laurencekirk and Kemnay. (S3O-5443)
The Scottish Government is making available record levels of capital funding for investment in local authority infrastructure, including schools. Of course, it is for local authorities to decide on their own investment priorities.
The minister knows that, in addition to the normal funding process, the previous Scottish Executive made £63 million of public-private partnership funding available to Aberdeenshire Council for new schools at Portlethen, Lairhillock and Hill of Banchory in my constituency. Despite having been in office for two years, the Government has failed to provide any new kind of funding for any new schools in Aberdeenshire. Is the minister content to continue to do nothing about that, and to let children learn in schools such as those at Kemnay and Laurencekirk, which are no longer fit for purpose? The council cannot do anything until the Government introduces its new scheme.
It is indeed true that Aberdeenshire has a disproportionately large number of schools in poor or bad condition, and that the member's party has been in control of Aberdeenshire Council for 10 years or more. As a result of pressure from opposition in the council, a bigger commitment has been made to the school estate this year. For example, there is a commitment to replace Alford academy. That will begin to tackle the backlog of schools needing to be replaced in Aberdeenshire.
The minister will know that Aberdeenshire is not the only area of Scotland that is waiting for the much-vaunted Scottish Futures Trust—I think that everybody in Scotland is waiting for that. If she is not able to give me a date for when a school will be commissioned, will she give me a date for when she will encourage councils to make bids to the Scottish Futures Trust when they are putting together programmes for schools in their areas?
The member knows that, of the 328 schools that were built under the previous two Executives, fewer than half were built using the PPP programme. Many were built using conventional funding. This Government is well on track towards lifting 100,000 pupils out of poor-quality school buildings. Over the past year, 71 major school building projects were completed.
On a point of order. I asked a simple question about a date; I did not ask for a party-political lecture about what we did as the previous Executive. Will the Presiding Officer encourage the minister to try to address at least part of the questions that she is being asked?
Mr Macintosh, you know that that is not a point of order. Ministers alone are responsible for the content of their replies.
Class Sizes (Primary 1 to Primary 3)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is confident of delivering its pledge of lower class sizes for primary 1 to primary 3. (S3O-5403)
Yes. Under the terms of the concordat, local government has agreed to make year-on-year progress on reducing the maximum number of pupils in P1 to P3 classes to 18.
What actions does the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning propose to take to address the developing situation at Inverkeithing primary and other primary schools in the Dunfermline East constituency? Incidentally, not one new school has been announced since last year for that area, which is controlled by the Scottish National Party and in which the upwards trajectory for class sizes is such that they may double instead of being reduced to 18.
I remind the member that local authorities are responsible for education in their area. If she had been paying attention, she would have noted that Fife Council has announced further capital spend for new schools in Fife. Over the 2008-09 session, 27 schools have been given additional teachers to cut class sizes. There are challenges in areas such as Fife, Perth and Kinross and West Lothian, which have growing populations. However, although Fife has areas where the population is growing, it has managed to add to the teacher workforce in order to cut class sizes. I think that she should welcome that.
Can the cabinet secretary tell us how many councils in Scotland will provide class sizes of no more than 18 in primary 1 to primary 3 by 2011?
Murdo Fraser knows full well that the agreement with local government is that it will work to provide year-on-year progress on cutting class sizes to 18. It is a tribute to some local authorities that they have made early progress on that. As he will be aware, some local authorities will want to focus their attention on areas of deprivation, while others will want to take down the class sizes in all their schools. I am delighted that Fife, as was referred to in my previous answer, is making significant progress on cutting class sizes. I look forward to hearing news of that nature from across Scotland.
School Leavers
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address the high proportion of young people from deprived backgrounds or with disabilities leaving school who are not going into employment, education or training. (S3O-5413)
Helping all young people into education, employment and training is a top priority for the Government and we have a specific indicator to that effect in the national performance framework. To support delivery, I recently launched 16+ learning choices, which will be rolled out across Scotland by 2010. The new model will bring a particular focus to improving outcomes for young people who leave school at the earliest opportunity and for those who need additional support to make a successful transition.
I am sure that the minister shares my concern that young people from deprived backgrounds and those with disabilities are disproportionately represented among young people who are not in education, employment or training. That is a challenge to equalities as well as to the development of skills and education. Will the minister outline specifically what Skills Development Scotland will do to address the needs of those young people and improve their future prospects, what annual targets have been set for Skills Development Scotland in relation to those young people and how she plans to monitor such targets?
There were a number of questions there. I refer the member to the national performance framework, because it has the responsibility and the targets. Local community planning partnerships and, more important, the partnerships that involve Skills Development Scotland and all the other partners that can help the young people to whom she referred have made provisions to make significant progress. That is why we already see a gearing-up of the partnership work to help those young people.
What benefits for young people from deprived backgrounds does the minister envisage will flow from the Government's intention to institute nationally benchmark testing in literacy and numeracy at primary 7, as reported in today's Herald?
We had debate on that yesterday and I think that the member is stretching the question. However, it is important to put on record that we welcome the cross-party support that exists for assessment of young people in primary education to ensure that we improve pupil literacy and numeracy. In tackling literacy and numeracy skills, we also need to focus on adults, so our recent announcement of a survey on adult literacy and numeracy is important.
Skills Development Scotland Chief Executive (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the chief executive of Skills Development Scotland and what was discussed. (S3O-5433)
The chief executive of Skills Development Scotland met the Scottish Government at the regulatory review group meeting on 19 December 2008. The discussion focused on the role of Skills Development Scotland in improving regulation within the Government's better regulation agenda.
I thank the minister for her answer, although it is a wee bit disappointing.
Clearly, the Government is working on its economic recovery plan to focus on the support that is needed for economic recovery, but particular attention is being put on partnership action for continuing employment. We are improving and refocusing PACE to ensure that it is geared up to do what is required. I can reassure the member that PACE was actively involved with Woolworths staff in particular in the weeks before and during the Christmas period. I put on record my thanks to all the staff in Skills Development Scotland and the PACE teams for their work over the past few weeks, particularly in supporting the staff of Woolworths and other companies that have announced redundancies. I am committed to delivering and improving on the PACE agenda. I will make an announcement on that shortly.
Nursery Teachers
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains concerned at the removal of nursery teachers from nurseries in some local authority areas. (S3O-5409)
The Scottish Government expects there to be an increase in the overall level of teacher involvement with three and four-year-olds in nurseries. How that is delivered, under the terms of our concordat with local government, is for local authorities to determine on the basis of local needs and circumstances.
The matter might well be for local authorities, but the minister might have found the wording of my question familiar because his party's manifesto in 2007 stated:
My understanding of Renfrewshire Council's restructuring of nursery provision is that its aim is to provide access to a nursery teacher for all pre-school children. That was not the case before the new administration took over. The 20 per cent of Renfrewshire children who are served by partner providers will now benefit from teacher input into their pre-school education and care for the first time. The member will be interested to learn that I have been invited to meet the council administration early in the new year, when I intend to discuss the restructuring plans with the council. Clearly, the council needs to be able to show that improved outcomes for children will be delivered by the provision.
Asylum Seekers (Further and Higher Education)
To ask the Scottish Executive what barriers prevent asylum seekers from accessing further and higher education. (S3O-5362)
Key issues around barriers to asylum seekers accessing further and higher education were raised in research that was conducted by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Refugee Council in 2004. They included lack of proficiency in English language and literacy, lack of full refugee status, and child care issues. We have been working to remove those barriers and, as a result, we now have the most generous provisions available to asylum seekers across the United Kingdom.
The Scottish Government understands the value to Scotland and those young people of their being able to access further and higher education, and I welcome the work that has been done to date. However, conditions still apply and uptake appears to be low; by some estimates, it is fewer than 20 individuals in Glasgow and the west of Scotland. Will the cabinet secretary agree to review the existing conditions, including the conditions that individuals must be 18 or under at the time of the asylum application, which must have been prior to 1 December 2003, and that they must have been resident in Scotland for three years? A review of those conditions would give the opportunity to ensure the maximum uptake, so that every young person who could benefit is able to do so.
The terms that are laid down for young asylum seekers reflect the terms and conditions that affect other students. For example, the three-year residency requirement affects all students who apply for the support that young asylum seekers get. We are trying to ensure that young asylum seekers get the same access and financial support as similar students who have been resident in Scotland for three years. Although I am happy to keep that under review, my scope might be limited. We always knew that the numbers would be limited—there were 17 last year and this year there are slightly more—but we wanted equity of treatment, and that is what we have managed to deliver.
In light of the announcement that was made a few days ago about new approaches to the welfare of children who are seeking asylum, is the cabinet secretary pleased about the proposal for a pilot for alternatives to detention, and in particular about the ending of the detention of children in Dungavel detention centre in my region?
I have pursued this issue consistently. I welcome the announcement on the new code of practice and duty by the UK Border Agency. It is important for the new code to ensure that there is fair treatment that meets the same standard that a British child would receive; that the child's interests are primary so that there is no discrimination; and that their asylum applications are dealt with in a timely manner. I understand that that will be part of an amendment to a UK bill.
Scottish Baccalaureate (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service Tariff Points)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects an announcement from UCAS about the tariff points that will be awarded to the new Scottish baccalaureate when it is considered as part of a university application. (S3O-5351)
UCAS will be considering the tariff rating for the interdisciplinary project element of the new Scottish science and language baccalaureates in its work schedule for 2009. The Scottish Government and the Scottish Qualifications Authority will be working with UCAS between now and the spring to ensure that it has all the material that it needs to carry out that exercise, with a view to having the results ready in time for the first learners starting their baccalaureates in summer 2009 and applying in autumn 2009 for entry to university from 2010.
Does the cabinet secretary expect that the tariff points that are to be awarded for the science baccalaureate will be the same as those awarded for a modern languages, social sciences or arts baccalaureate?
That is an interesting question and I look forward to the answer. I am not sure that it is appropriate for Government ministers to set the tariffs for universities. If I did so, I am sure that I would hear a howl of complaint from elsewhere. That should be left to the specialists and educationists who can evaluate a course and subsequently set the tariff. As was said in the debate yesterday, the improvements in the tariff ratings for highers and advanced highers compared with those for other qualifications south of the border show that Scottish students are well placed. Even with an A* rating coming in for advanced highers, the likely, or proposed, rating that could be achieved by the interdisciplinary project as part of the baccalaureate will certainly provide an additional assurance that Scottish students who apply to universities do not lose out. If anything, they will be far more competitive than ever before.
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