Plenary, 08 Mar 2007

Meeting date: Thursday, March 8, 2007

Official Report 582KB pdf

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Question Time

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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

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Finance and Public Services and Communities

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Whistleblowing

To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons have been learned from the experience of John Travers, who used whistleblowing procedures to make allegations about a possible financial irregularity in the City of Edinburgh Council accounts and who was subsequently the subject of disciplinary procedures. (S2O-12304)

Statutory guidance made under the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 requires local authorities to have in place effective policies on fraud prevention and investigation and whistleblowing. It is for local authorities to establish those procedures and ensure that they are appropriate.

On the particular matter that Colin Fox raised, I understand that the City of Edinburgh Council is today considering an assessment of management, financial and human resources issues—including public interest disclosure—arising from the recent case involving the Edinburgh lifelong learning partnership, to which Mr Travers's allegations related.

I am sure that the minister will agree that the case raises some serious questions about the effectiveness of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, in particular the protection of those who seek to act as good citizens and bring problems to a council's attention.

Mr Travers, a loyal and long-serving public servant, approached the city council about irregularities that he saw in the running of the Edinburgh lifelong learning partnership. To his horror, rather than the council investigating why £400,000 of public money, including £180,000 belonging to the Executive, could not be properly accounted for, he found himself the subject of investigation and suspended from work. Despite winning an employment tribunal, he has not had his original job back, and he has been subject to repeated intimidation, which he believes his managers have done nothing to halt.

Does the minister accept that the experience of Mr Travers is hardly likely to encourage other loyal employees to come forward when they see apparent wrongdoing? As the minister says, the council is meeting today to consider the matter. Will he ensure that Mr Travers and his family are fully compensated for the substantial losses that they incurred?

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 is United Kingdom legislation that provides protection for workers who blow the whistle on, or raise a genuine concern about, malpractice. The 1998 act protects genuine whistleblowers from being victimised as a result of their actions, through, for example, reassignment of duties, failure to award salary increases and dismissal.

When the whistleblower is victimised in breach of the 1998 act, he or she may bring a claim to an employment tribunal for compensation. Awards are uncapped and based on the losses suffered. I understand that in 2006 Mr Travers won £5,000 compensation after an employment tribunal ruled that the council had failed in its duty to protect him.

Question 2 has been withdrawn.

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Public-private Partnership (Guidance)

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance and advice are given to local authorities on bridging any affordability gap for public-private partnership projects. (S2O-12253)

It is the responsibility of each local authority, as the procuring body, to ensure that its PPP project is affordable for the full length of the contract. It is a condition of any part-funding support provided by the Executive for a local authority PPP project that the local authority confirms to us that the project is affordable and that the local authority has the resources to carry it out.

In light of the minister's answer, I take it that he approves of the approach of South Ayrshire Council in imposing an additional 1 per cent levy on council tax payers to help bridge the gap in its schools PPP project. Can he confirm that future school rationalisation programmes would also be a legitimate tactic for South Ayrshire Council to employ to achieve the same end? According to the out-going Labour councillor Paul Torrance, just such a programme will be adopted for rural schools in South Ayrshire once the May elections are got out of the way.

It is not for me to comment on South Ayrshire Council's decisions. As with some other schools PPP projects, South Ayrshire Council identified an affordability gap during procurement, but it was bridged prior to financial close. As the procuring body, the local authority must ensure that it can afford any project that it undertakes. It is up to the local authority to decide how it will afford the project in the longer term.

In the light of Malcolm Fraser's resignation from Architecture Scotland, will the Executive commission a review of sustainability and the environmental and educational value for money of schools PPP projects in Scotland?

I understand that Architecture Scotland is already working with us on that issue.

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Efficiency Savings

To ask the Scottish Executive how, in advance of publication of the Howat report, it is possible for the public to assess the achievability of the savings the Executive has targeted. (S2O-12254)

As we have always made clear, the recommendations of the budget review report are being considered as part of the preparation for the next spending review. The budget review report will be published when the spending review is completed. The public will be able to assess savings as part of the normal budget scrutiny process following the publication of the spending plans of the next Administration.

Is it not the case that the current Lib-Lab Executive is well known for trying to hide reports that do not suit its spin? Will the minister give me a precedent for a report that has been sat on for a year before its intended publication, or is the Howat report so bad for the Executive that it is the only example of such inordinate delay?

As the member will know, advice to ministers is always protected. Ministers have always made it clear that once the spending review has been completed, the report will be made public. Indeed, a future Administration might decide to take an alternative position. However, today we give the guarantee that the Howat report will be published as part of the spending review in 2007.

In achieving targets to reduce spending, will the deputy minister say to what extent the Executive has taken account of direction and regulation from the European Union? I point to the £15 million that has been wasted through compliance with EU regulations on tendering procedures for the Clyde ferries.

The minister made his position on the matter very clear yesterday. He and I agree that that money might have been better spent on investing in and improving services for our islanders. However, we have to comply with EU rules and regulations in this area. To date, none of the Opposition parties, which have traipsed many times to Brussels, has come back with an alternative view on how to comply with EU cabotage and maritime regulations.

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Challenge 21

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote challenge 21 to eradicate underage purchasing of alcohol. (S2O-12285)

The Executive is committed to tackling underage drinking, which includes addressing the availability of alcohol, and we welcome initiatives such as challenge 21. I visited a local Co-op not so long ago to see the good work that is being done to ensure that anyone who tries to buy alcohol demonstrates that they are of age.

As part of our updated plan for action on alcohol problems, we will continue to support the development of the new national entitlement card sponsored by Young Scot, which bears the proof-of-age standards scheme logo.

In addition, the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 requires all licensees to operate on a no proof, no sale basis, and on-sales premises that wish to allow access by children will be required to set out their plans for approval by the relevant licensing board.

Does the minister agree that licensees in the on-sales and off-sales trade who operate challenge 21 should be congratulated on their contribution to combating underage drinking in our communities? Does he further agree that licensing boards should do more to encourage those who do not currently operate challenge 21, and in certain cases make the initiative a condition of licence?

The roll-out of test purchasing throughout Scotland will mean that all off-sales and on-sales premises will need to ensure that they require people who buy alcohol to prove that they are the right age on a no proof, no sale basis. Test purchasing is the real driver in ensuring that responsible on-sales and off-sales premises challenge anyone who buys alcohol to prove that they are the right age before a sale takes place.

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Housing (Rural Areas)

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is being provided for rural affordable and socially rented housing. (S2O-12310)

We are doing a great deal to provide affordable housing in rural communities. This year alone, our investment in new affordable housing in rural Scotland is about £139 million, which is expected to provide more than 2,100 affordable homes. Together with planning policies that are tailored to rural development, changes to council tax discounts on second homes and significant investment in water and sewerage infrastructure, that demonstrates the strength of our commitment to Scotland's rural communities.

The minister will be aware that the former Minister for Communities, Margaret Curran, identified the Borders as an area of particular housing need. In that context, it is extremely welcome that Communities Scotland will invest £15 million in Peebles in my constituency in building 138 affordable and social rented homes, which will go a considerable way to improving the housing situation for my constituents. However, does the minister know that the information from the local housing forum is that 301 such homes will be required annually in the Borders? What is the current completion level in the Borders of social rented and affordable homes and what will the level be in the next five years?

I cannot give the member information on completions. Next week, my colleague Ms Brankin will make an announcement on affordable housing for the Scottish Borders and other areas of Scotland. I am sure that members of all parties will find that announcement helpful.

Notwithstanding what the minister says about increased investment, and given the change in social circumstances that means that people are living in smaller and smaller units—which members can evidence from their casework—does he have any evidence that the gap between the demand for and supply of affordable housing in rural areas is narrowing at all?

To an extent, demand is not under our control. As the member suggested, social factors are involved. However, increasing the volume of housing in rural and urban areas where there is a housing deficit is something that is under our control. We have increased the volume of affordable housing year on year for the past two or three years, and we intend to keep doing that.

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Affordable Housing (First-time Buyers)

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to provide affordable housing for first-time buyers. (S2O-12291)

We are investing in the provision of nearly 5,000 new homes for low-cost home ownership in the current spending period. That includes the introduction throughout the country of the highly successful homestake shared-equity scheme, which makes it easier for those on low incomes, including first-time buyers, to own a home of their own. First-time buyers will also benefit from our wider actions to address affordability, such as the extensive planning reforms and the development that is being enabled by our massive investment in water and sewerage infrastructure.

The minister referred to the successful homestake scheme, which is being used in East Renfrewshire, but is he aware of the difficulties that young people and families face in parts of that area? Potential first-time buyers who have been brought up and who live in the area can no longer buy locally and live alongside their friends and family. Does he acknowledge that it is often the least affluent and most vulnerable members of our community who are directly affected? Is he aware of proposals such as that in Greenlaw, where a housing development has been approved with the proviso that affordable housing must be provided? Can he reassure me that he will support and recommend such measures throughout the country, so that first-time buyers are supported nationally?

The member will be aware that planning advice note 74 contains a requirement for 25 per cent of the housing in new developments to be affordable. In East Renfrewshire, we are providing funding to Arklet Housing Association to develop homestake properties at Greenlaw in Newton Mearns, and a further 30 units are planned for Auchenback via Cube Housing Association.

Part of the area in East Dunbartonshire that I represent experiences issues that are similar to those in East Renfrewshire, to which the member refers. I am aware of the problems faced by people who were born and brought up in a locality and have friends and family living round about but who find it difficult to get housing there, even if they have a strong priority need because of disability or some other issue. People in those circumstances require assistance, and the Executive will consider that.

The minister must be aware that last year saw the lowest number of first-time buyers on record and that the average age of first-time buyers is now 37. Although the schemes to which he referred are welcome, they are doing nothing to address the real problems that first-time buyers face. Will he consider doing more?

If the member will forgive me, I will introduce a wee bit of reality. Of course we have fewer first-time buyers, because increasing numbers of people bought over the past 20 years and are now on to their second and third house. The proportion of first-time buyers will inevitably reduce, because of patterns of social change.

The efforts that the Executive has made to increase, through homestake and other mechanisms, opportunities for first-time buyers to come into the market are making some inroads. However, I am aware of the price of housing and the problems that people have. We are creating increased numbers of social rented housing and more opportunities for first-time buyers to buy their own homes through the mechanisms that I have described, and we will continue to do so.

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Housing (Glasgow)

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with regard to second-stage transfer of Glasgow housing stock. (S2O-12276)

Scottish ministers remain committed to extending community ownership in Glasgow. In December, my predecessor wrote to the board of Glasgow Housing Association setting out a framework for taking forward second-stage transfers and re-affirming the Executive's intention of achieving some early transfers. I have had meetings this week with different housing associations in that regard.

The Glasgow stock transfer is already delivering a massive deal for tenants in Glasgow, including around £450 million of investment over the past four years alone. That equates to GHA spending around £1 million every two days on tenants' homes. The increased investment has already delivered substantial, real improvements for tenants, including more than 28,500 new central heating systems, some 11,000 kitchens and 11,000 bathrooms and more than 34,000 new secure doors.

Overall, the transfer has delivered around £1.5 billion for tenants in Glasgow—a substantial achievement by this Labour-Liberal Democrat Executive.

The minister will be aware that, despite the Executive's best efforts to promote second-stage transfer, there remains a widespread concern that GHA is not fully committed to that process. One of the key objectives of the original stock transfer to GHA, along with improving homes and achieving regeneration—which are welcome objectives—was to achieve greater local accountability and control. Therefore, will the minister outline precisely what progress has been made on achieving a key conclusion of a report that was delivered to his predecessor in December 2006, which was that

"a substantial restructuring of the LHO network in Glasgow … to help facilitate a series of transfers to a smaller number of viable and sustainable organisations subject to tenant ballot"

was needed? When are we going to get those transfers?

The letter from Malcolm Chisholm, which is available on the Communities Scotland website, makes it clear that, between now and the summer, ministers and Communities Scotland will be working with GHA to identify and support any organisations that are able to move forward to second-stage transfer under the current arrangements. Following that, we will work with GHA and the local housing associations to take forward a restructuring of the local housing organisation network to create an affordable structure for second-stage transfer that is in the best interests of tenants.

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Town Centres (Regeneration)

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to regenerate town centres. (S2O-12298)

It is me again, I am afraid, Presiding Officer.

The Scottish Executive is committed to supporting regeneration throughout Scotland for the benefit of all our diverse communities. We set geographic priorities to act as a catalyst for growth and regeneration throughout Scotland, including in a number of small towns. To support that, a range of funding is available for the regeneration of town centres, including housing investment and the community regeneration fund.

The minister will be aware that one problem in towns such as Dumfries, Annan and Lockerbie in my constituency is empty properties that are owned by absentee landlords. What steps can the Executive take to help and encourage local authorities to purchase compulsorily such properties and return them to productive use?

I am aware of the problem, which exists not just in Dumfries but in Paisley and many other places throughout Scotland. The Executive cannot do a huge amount directly through compulsory purchase orders, but we can help local authorities to work out a strategy for dealing with vacant properties and set a framework within which they can be brought into alternative use.

We need to consider the problem carefully, because it is a structural problem in town centres. We need an approach that has been carefully thought through, rather than our simply saying that it can be solved easily. If it could be solved easily, it would have been solved before now.

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Education and Young People, Tourism, Culture and Sport

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Outdoor Education

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it resources the provision of residential outdoor education courses for primary and secondary school pupils. (S2O-12281)

Outdoor education can make a valuable contribution to the broad educational experiences that we want young people to have. The Executive provides education authorities and others with a number of funding streams that they can use to provide residential outdoor education courses for their pupils.

I have seen many letters from pupils who have undertaken residential outdoor education courses at Glasgow City Council's outdoor education centre at Rhu. Those letters—and similar ones from teachers and parents—testify to the great contribution that such courses make to young people's social and personal development. The main means of funding placements on such courses is fundraising by schools. Given the courses' established value and the contribution that they make to tackling the problem of young people who are not in education, employment or training, will the minister consider funding such courses from grant-aided expenditure?

I fully support the idea of making opportunities available to young people, not least in outdoor education. As I said, there are a number of funding streams, and it is primarily for local authorities to take the matter forward within the broad gamut of their GAE and other funding.

We provide some funding from central sources—for example, to Scottish Centres and the YMCA, which make a valuable contribution. A number of local authorities have used the funding streams that are available from the Executive, such as the national priorities action fund and the out-of-school-hours learning fund, which preceded it. Quite a lot of local authorities—although not, I think, Glasgow City Council—have used that funding stream to support outdoor education. Money is also made available through community education.

Outdoor education is a matter for partnership between different levels of government, but local authorities are the primary organisers of activity because they are responsible for schools.

In the spirit of encouraging outdoor activity for pupils, and following Patricia Ferguson's comments on the radio this morning, will the minister acknowledge the benefits that flow from schools dedicating, say, Friday afternoons to extra-curricular activities?

A number of authorities already do that. I think that I am right to say that it happens in Edinburgh and the Lothians. It is certainly one way of tackling the issue.

The approach is part of a gamut of policies that are designed not just to give people wider experiences in physical education, but to tackle obesity. Such policies should not be imposed from the centre; it is for local authorities to make the appropriate arrangements. However, the Scottish Executive strongly supports the widening of opportunities in physical education and wants to take the matter forward, for example through the funding streams that we operate.

Mr Petrie might be interested to hear that a Scottish outdoor learning festival is planned for 30 April, which will bring together a wide range of organisations and professionals and offer them opportunities to reflect on reports, share good practice and build partnerships that might well be vehicles for taking forward suggestions such as those that he and Charlie Gordon made.

In addition to council-operated centres, the national centres, to which the minister referred, could be funded much more generously. Their facilities are not much used. Given the great benefit that outdoor and residential education brings, will the minister consider Charlie Gordon's plea for a fund that could help more use to be made of all centres by people from all orders of life?

Donald Gorrie makes a good point. Throughout the country, full use needs to be made of the various capital resources that are available to local authorities and Scottish Centres. There has been a fair bit of co-operation between organisations that are involved in outdoor education, to ensure that organisations are aware of each other's facilities and that there are suitable booking arrangements, for example. We might well be able to do more.

The unified voluntary sector fund supports Scottish Centres and others in that connection. Next week we will produce the Scottish youth work strategy, which will contain matters of relevance and interest to Mr Gorrie and others in the context of outdoor education.

Outdoor education is important and has been shown to make a valuable contribution to young people's educational experiences. We want to do everything in our power to support and extend provision.

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Education (Children with Additional Support Needs)

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the implications of recent court and tribunal decisions for the education of children with additional support needs. (S2O-12262)

Court and tribunal decisions are taken according to the individual circumstances. General issues will be considered as and when appropriate.

Is the minister aware that 39 per cent of placing requests for grant-aided or independent special schools are refused by local authorities, and that the additional support needs tribunal has not once upheld an appeal relating to a placing request made by a parent? He is aware that when the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 was passed, fears were expressed that special schools would lose out and cost considerations would take precedence over the educational needs of children. In the light of decisions to date, will the minister review the operation of the 2004 act as it impacts on such schools?

We said from the outset that we would keep the 2004 act under review. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education will conclude its inspection of the act's operation later this year and we will review the matter in that context. To support implementation of the 2004 act and to help inform practice, we have set up a national advisory group, which might well be able to consider not just matters to do with the tribunal but broader issues.

The 2004 act came into force relatively recently and a reasonably small number of references have been made to the tribunal—I think that there have been around 42 references and 20-odd decisions. We must move forward a little so that we can gain perspective and consider the wider issues that emerge from judgments. From April, we intend to publish anonymised decisions on the additional support needs tribunals for Scotland website, which will give coherence to the consideration of the decision-making process.

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Primary Schools (Literacy and Numeracy)

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve literacy and numeracy in primary schools. (S2O-12273)

The Executive is promoting a variety of initiatives including the home reading initiative, Scotland reads, and number partners. In addition, bookstart Scotland aims to support pre-school children. Good examples in West Dunbartonshire include Aitkenbar primary school and St Peter's primary school, which have set up a joint homework club to develop numeracy skills using technology.

The development of literacy and numeracy will be a key theme across the curriculum, with all teachers having responsibility for promoting language, literacy and numeracy development.

I thank the minister for highlighting the success in West Dunbartonshire. He will also be aware of the council's literacy initiative. Recent evaluations tell us that the initiative is succeeding in completely wiping out illiteracy, particularly in disadvantaged areas. For example, in 1997, 5 per cent of primary 1 children had very high scores on word reading, but today the figure is 45 per cent and still improving. Among primary 2 children, 11 per cent had very low reading scores, but today the figure is less than 1 per cent and still decreasing.

A question please.

One in three children leaving primary school was functionally illiterate, but now virtually none is. Will the minister commend all the staff involved and learn from the approach so that children from across Scotland, and not only those in West Dunbartonshire, can get the best possible start in life?

I certainly commend the staff for their dedication and enthusiasm and for the results achieved. I am aware of a number of initiatives in different parts of Scotland. We leave it to people locally to decide on how to develop those initiatives.

We are willing to learn from good experiences. There are different views in different parts of Scotland about different initiatives and their merits. What has been achieved in West Dunbartonshire is interesting and I will certainly want to reflect on it. I am aware of initiatives such as one in Clackmannanshire that have achieved good results too. The professionals in each local area are best placed to make the relevant decisions for the children in their schools. However, I join Jackie Baillie in commending the significant improvements in West Dunbartonshire.

Question 4 has been withdrawn.

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Teachers (Gaelic)

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage more people to take up careers as Gaelic teachers. (S2O-12316)

We established a ministerial action group on Gaelic teacher recruitment, appointed a Gaelic teacher recruitment officer to implement the recommendations of the group, supported new routes into Gaelic teacher training and provided a course to enable Gaelic-speaking teachers to transfer to Gaelic-medium teaching.

I am sure that, like me, the minister welcomes the expansion of Gaelic-medium education in many areas of Scotland, particularly the Highlands and Islands, where Gaelic-medium education is provided in both primary and secondary schools. A new Gaelic school is being purpose built in Inverness; what initiatives will the Executive promote to ensure that qualified teachers are available to fill the posts?

I have outlined some of the specific actions that we are taking to encourage more people to take up careers as Gaelic teachers. I join John Farquhar Munro in complimenting the schools that are being developed. I have visited a Gaelic unit in a primary school in Oban and I have visited the new Gaelic school in Glasgow. I confess that the latter was an eye-opener, not only because I saw the clear enthusiasm in the Glasgow school but because I saw the relevance that the people in Glasgow, who did not live in a Gaelic-speaking community, saw in having their children educated through Gaelic.

I am aware of the new school in Inverness. We are committing substantial resources to expanding the teaching of Gaelic in Scotland. However, as John Farquhar Munro rightly points out, this is not just about money and commitment. If we do not have the teachers to support it, the initiative will not make progress. I hope that the measures that we are putting in place will build on what has undoubtedly been a success to date.

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Meadowbank Stadium (Closure)

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact closure of the former Commonwealth games stadium at Meadowbank in Edinburgh would have on the provision of athletics facilities in east central Scotland. (S2O-12318)

The City of Edinburgh Council published a draft development brief for public consultation in December 2006. The brief set out the council's intentions for the Meadowbank site. Comments are sought by 30 March. The decision to replace Meadowbank sports centre with a new facility at Sighthill was taken by the City of Edinburgh Council. Sportscotland will continue to work with the City of Edinburgh Council on its sports facilities strategy.

Is the minister aware that the current plans for the Sighthill facility have no provision for an area for throws training—an athletics discipline in which many Scots excel, from Olympian Chris Black in the 1970s to current Olympian Shirley Webb? Is she aware that the proposed new stadium at Sighthill is only 2 miles away from the existing track at Saughton enclosure? From east Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian, access to facilities will be severely diminished. Does the minister believe that relying on the sale of existing—albeit neglected and ill-maintained—stadia to fund the building of new stadia is a sustainable policy?

The issue of the throws area should be raised in the public consultation, and I have no doubt that the City of Edinburgh Council will reflect on it. However, the situation concerning Meadowbank is not quite as simple as has perhaps been stated. The ultimate situation will depend very much on the decisions that are made by the City of Edinburgh Council following its consultation. I was pleased to note that a key element of the draft development brief is the inclusion of a local sports centre to replace some of the current facilities at Meadowbank, in addition to what is planned for Sighthill. I hope that that reassures the member.

Is the minister aware that the proposals for Sighthill, which is in my Edinburgh Pentlands constituency, will contribute significantly to the regeneration of that area, in tandem with the recent proposals announced by Napier University? Does she agree that they will, to an extent, offset the failures on the housing front arising from the housing stock transfer ballot, which does not augur well in respect of high-rise housing in the area? Is she further aware that the proposed stadium at Sighthill incorporates a running track and is intended as a dual-purpose stadium for athletes and those who play rugby and soccer?

As one would expect, Mr McLetchie makes a good case for his constituency, which shows the complexity of the issues that the City of Edinburgh Council will have to address. However, the project has the potential to have significant regeneration impacts on Sighthill. Cultural and sporting facilities can often have such an effect, and I have encouraged my colleagues across the chamber to take that view. I am particularly aware of the situation in Sighthill, having recently visited the excellent Sighthill library as part of a launch that was organised by bookstart. I was pleased to hear that the plan is that the new stadium should be able to give some focus to what is happening elsewhere in Sighthill.

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Public Library Service

I remind the Parliament of my entry in the register of members' interests as chair of the Scottish Libraries and Information Council.

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will improve standards in the public library service. (S2O-12289)

A new public library quality improvement matrix has been developed and, after the completion of successful pilots, will be launched very soon. The matrix is designed to be used by local authorities as a self-evaluation tool to encourage continuous improvement in public library services. The Scottish Library and Information Council has developed the matrix in partnership with local authorities, with new funding of £500,000 per year from the Scottish Executive.

Is the minister aware that the quality improvement matrix that is due to be launched has generated interest from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Audit Commission in England, and from the Governments of Australia and New Zealand? Will she join me in congratulating those who were involved in developing it?

Is the minister aware that Fife Council has recently taken a decision to close certain libraries in Fife, including Pitteuchar in Glenrothes, in some cases as a result of the condition of the buildings? Will she join me in urging Fife Council not to close the facilities until adequate alternative provision is in place? Will she agree to meet me to discuss what suggestions I can make to the council to achieve that?

I am not surprised that others are interested in the progress of the work that is being done on the quality improvement matrix. The feedback from the eight pilot projects shows that there can be very positive results for library communities. I am sure that the interest from elsewhere will increase as time goes on, particularly following the launch of the matrix.

I am aware of the situation in Fife, and I would be happy to meet Christine May to discuss what may be done.