General Questions
Partnership Action for Continuing Employment
There are 21 local PACE partnerships across Scotland. We established the national organisation in June 2009, in response to the economic downturn. It brings together 18 organisations and the Scottish Government to oversee a continuous improvement programme to enhance the operation of PACE. We therefore continually review all aspects of PACE, including membership and functions.
The cabinet secretary will be aware that I recently had discussions with Fergus Ewing about the involvement of PACE following the closure of WJ Harte of Bothwell in my constituency, as a result of which more than 500 employees lost their jobs. However, he may not be aware that only about one in 10 of the former employees attended the PACE event that was held subsequent to the closure, whereas almost one in five attended an event that I and Thompsons Solicitors hosted on the employment and redundancy rights of individual members of the workforce. That appeared to show that there was a gap in the service that PACE provides.
Individuals who face redundancy will want to take a range of advice. I imagine that the advice that Mr McMahon and Thompsons Solicitors offered will have been of assistance in relation to some of the circumstances that the individuals in question face.
David Torrance has withdrawn question 2, but he has provided me with a satisfactory explanation for doing so.
NHS Ayrshire and Arran (Administrative and Hotel Services Staff)
Data for 2012 are not yet available. The latest statistics, which ISD Scotland published on 28 February, show that there were 1,561.9 whole-time equivalent administrative staff in NHS Ayrshire and Arran in September 2007 and 1,468.8 in December 2011. For hotel services staff, the figures are 616.9 and 602.9 over the same period.
As the minister will know, the working tax credit changes that will come into force in April 2012 will mean that those who work for less than 24 hours a week will lose out on that much-needed benefit. Under agenda for change, in-house staff in the national health service should receive at least the living wage, but that is not always the case for contracted staff.
Margaret McDougall rightly points out that working tax credits are not within my remit. I wish they were devolved to this Parliament. If Scotland becomes independent, we will have control over all such issues, and we will be able to ensure that there are no anomalies.
What proportion of backlog maintenance of the NHS Ayrshire and Arran estate is assessed to be of high or significant risk, and how might that affect staff, particularly those in administration and hotel services, and the provision of services in general?
As John Scott knows, the Government published its “State of the NHSScotland Estate 2011” report just a couple of weeks ago. The report was the first exercise to give a true picture of the state of the estate, as the previous Administration did not bother to carry out any such exercise. We now know the challenge that we face and, even in these times of constrained capital financing, we are maximising the capital resources that are available to NHS boards to enable them to carry out essential backlog maintenance and to continue to modernise the NHS estate. That is important for patients, and John Scott is right to link it to staff as well, because we must ensure that staff have a safe working environment in which to continue to provide excellent services for patients. We will continue to work with all NHS boards on that.
I request that questions and supplementaries, and answers, are a bit shorter. That is necessary if we are to make progress.
Private Sector Tenants
The rights of private sector tenants across Scotland are protected by a robust regulatory framework. This year, the Scottish Government will improve the effectiveness of regulation in the private rented sector by producing a new strategy for the sector for the next decade, introducing one or more tenancy deposit safeguarding schemes, and launching a consultation at the end of the month that will help to clarify the law on premium charges that are levied on tenants by letting agents.
I have been contacted by a number of constituents in financial difficulty who are trying to move house and find themselves legally being charged hundreds of pounds in admin fees. The Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011 gave the minister the power to do something about that. Is he prepared to use that power?
I have just said that we will launch a consultation at the end of the month that will help to clarify the law on premium charges that are levied on tenants by letting agents. It will address the problem that Kezia Dugdale identifies and, in particular, it will look at charges that tenants have no reason to expect. Nothing should be charged outside the rent and the tenancy deposit, which will be covered by the tenancy deposit scheme, but it is right that we consult first, and we will do so at the end of the month.
Inward Investment (High-quality Jobs)
Scottish Development International’s policy is to focus on the attraction of high-value, high-quality jobs to Scotland through inward investment. In the year to the end of March 2011, SDI attracted a total of 2,046 high-value jobs, which is within its target range for that year of 1,600 to 2,400 such jobs.
The cabinet secretary might be aware that constituents in Mid Scotland and Fife have raised concerns about an overreliance on agency workers at Amazon in Dunfermline. Is he prepared to publish any employment targets that have been agreed with Amazon? What mechanisms exist to claw back public funds should those targets not be met?
It is clear that, if companies enter into agreements with Scottish Development International that give rise to regional selective assistance or any other financial support, there will be stringent monitoring of all the commitments that have been undertaken to determine whether all the conditions have been met. The Government will continue to do that, and if it is necessary for any action to be taken, the Government will take it.
Fuel Poverty
I expect to receive a copy of the Scottish fuel poverty forum’s interim report in April. I met the chairman of the forum, Professor David Sigsworth, this morning, and we had a constructive discussion about how we can take forward a number of new approaches to tackling the problem of fuel poverty.
The latest Scottish house condition survey, which is from 2009, shows that 41 per cent of households in Dumfries and Galloway are in fuel poverty compared with 28 per cent in Scotland as a whole. The region has the third-highest level of fuel poverty of all the Scottish local authority areas. What steps will the cabinet secretary encourage local authorities to take in order to ensure that information is forthcoming to all residents about what they can do to reduce fuel poverty?
Last week, I announced a further £2 million for the Scottish Government’s boiler scrappage scheme and the universal home insulation scheme, which brings the total funding this year for fuel poverty and energy efficiency to over £57 million. I urge local authorities to tell households that are concerned about the cost of keeping their home warm to phone the home energy Scotland hotline—the number is 0800 512012—and free and impartial advice will be provided. Further, localised promotions are delivered through the five regional energy saving Scotland advice centres. That ensures that local authorities and voluntary organisations are fully briefed on the help that is available to their clients.
I welcome the resources to which the cabinet secretary referred. He will be aware that the number of households that are experiencing fuel poverty is rising. In light of that, does he believe that the 2016 target to eradicate fuel poverty is achievable? If so, what additional action will be needed to reach it, given that the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee recently reported that the financial resources fall some way short of what is required?
This morning, I wrote to the convener of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee with my response to its very good report. We will be glad to endorse a number of the committee’s recommendations.
Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route
It is hoped that the small number of objectors who are opposed to the AWPR will be willing to accept the recent Court of Session judgment so that we can get on and build the road. Subject to no further appeal being lodged against the judgment, we will continue to work with our project partners to ensure that that vital project can move forward to construction as soon as possible.
I seek an assurance that the Scottish Government is doing everything necessary to ensure that construction can start as soon as the legal shackles are lifted. The partners in the project—that is, the two councils—need a clear answer on the proposed funding arrangement, and they need up-to-date costings. Will the minister undertake to provide that clarity at the proposed meeting between Transport Scotland and the councils on 11 April?
We have had a number of conversations with the councils concerned, and they have been kept fully up to date on the progress that has been made. We have to take legal advice on what we can do during the current period, in which the legal process has not been exhausted, but we also have to go through the various design, procurement and construction processes. We will do that as fast as we can, as we want to be the Government that delivers the project, unlike previous Governments.
Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and Haudagain Junction
As the answer to the previous question dealt with the AWPR, in this answer I will concentrate on Haudagain. We have repeatedly given a clear commitment that we will progress the Haudagain improvements on the completion of the AWPR. That commitment remains firmly in place.
Does the minister acknowledge that work on the Haudagain could begin immediately, and that any further delay in its commencement would be a matter of great regret? It is now some years since the work was approved. Will the minister give us a commitment today—given his recent announcement of funding for design work on the Haudagain—to take the work forward this year, regardless of any change to the schedule for the AWPR?
The nature of the commitment that I am willing to give was in the answer that I have just given. We will start the Haudagain improvements on the completion of the AWPR—for the best of planning reasons, and because of expert advice that we have received.
Waiting Times (NHS Lothian)
In early January, NHS Lothian was asked to commission its internal auditors to carry out a special audit of waiting times management practice. NHS Lothian decided to commission the waiting times audit from external auditors, and it subsequently appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers to carry out the audit. After further consideration of the matter, I advised the chair of NHS Lothian on 25 February that, in the interests of appropriate corporate governance, my officials would now instruct the auditors, and that the report from the auditors would come to the Scottish Government in the first instance. On completion, the findings will be shared with NHS Lothian and, indeed, will be made available to this Parliament. I will expect the board to take forward any recommendations that arise from the report.
Perhaps the cabinet secretary could explain to us why
I would hope that David McLetchie and other members would welcome the fact that I consider the adherence of NHS Lothian and all health boards to the waiting times guidance—and some of the issues relating to NHS Lothian—to be so important. The carrying out of an audit that complies with strict standards of corporate governance and is seen to be completely independent of NHS Lothian should be welcomed.
Tax Increment Funding (Aberdeen)
In November 2011, Aberdeen City Council was invited to work with the Scottish Futures Trust to develop a tax increment financing business case for the city centre regeneration plans, including the redevelopment of the Union Terrace gardens. At that time, it was emphasised that Aberdeen City Council’s plan to use TIF for the Union Terrace gardens project would be progressed for ministers’ consideration only if public support for the project could be demonstrated. The recent referendum in Aberdeen demonstrated that public support, and we look forward to receiving the final TIF business case.
I feel a bit bad about asking these questions as we have already had a debate on the subject this morning. In the light of last week’s referendum, does the cabinet secretary intend to meet Aberdeen City Council to discuss the business case? The city garden project is not the only project, as we also have the St Nicholas house redevelopment, the city art gallery redevelopment, improvements to the city realm and the north Denburn valley redevelopment.
Presiding Officer, I hope that we are not going to have a tiff about TIF. I have no plans to meet Aberdeen City Council to discuss its bid for a TIF pilot. I expect finalisation of the TIF business case to be taken forward by the Scottish Futures Trust and the council, and I look forward to considering the business case in due course.
Cabinet secretary, we might have a tiff if you keep making jokes like that.