Plenary, 08 Jun 2006

Meeting date: Thursday, June 8, 2006

Official Report 746KB pdf

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Question Time

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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

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General Questions

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Reparation Actions

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that reparation actions in Scottish courts are processed efficiently. (S2O-10160)

The Scottish Court Service has targets for the throughput of civil business in the courts, including reparation actions. As I announced during the civil justice debate in April, we are in discussions with the senior judiciary about a judicially led review of the civil courts. One of the aims of the review will be to identify how to improve further the efficiency of the civil courts.

I have written to the minister about the case of a constituent who has approached me. On 27 October 1998, a lorry reversed and crushed her head against a wall. She was not expected to live, but she did and she is pursuing a case against the driver and his company. The hearing has now been booked for 16 January 2007, which will be eight years and four months after the accident. Does the minister agree that that is absolutely unacceptable? Further, has the Executive carried out research into whether the new procedures for personal injury actions in the Court of Session that were put in place in April 2003 have been effective, so that cases such as that which my constituent has endured are not repeated?

I share the frustration of Jeremy Purvis and his constituent. Anyone who must wait more than eight years for justice to be delivered clearly has not been served well. However, it would be wrong of me to comment on or intervene in individual cases. I am not aware of the circumstances that have led to the delay. We share the view that justice should be delivered speedily. That was one of the reasons why we set up the new procedures, to which Jeremy Purvis referred, which from all reports are working well.

I confirm that we have analysed the new procedures, which have been independently evaluated by the University of Edinburgh. We expect to receive a report in the summer but, from what we have heard so far, the new procedures are working well. However, I do not think that we can be complacent. Even if the new system is shown to be working well, there are clearly still problems, as Jeremy Purvis indicated, that we need to address.

I am aware of cases that were delayed not just on one occasion but on several, then were finally dropped. Is the minister aware of the number of cases that are significantly delayed, and will that issue be part of the civil justice review that he will embark on?

I cannot comment on the number of cases that are delayed or, indeed, ultimately dropped. However, the intention of the civil justice review is to consider the processes, how the courts operate and how people can get better, easier, speedier and more cost-effective access to justice. I have been heartened by the discussions that we have had so far. I think that everyone shares the view that if sensible improvements can be made, they should be made.

The Parliament has invested a huge amount of effort in tackling many of the problems in the criminal justice system. It will be incumbent on the next Parliament to consider the need to address problems in the civil justice system.

More generally, on the efficiency of courts, including the criminal courts, does the minister agree that if a court considers that a supervised attendance order is the most appropriate punishment for an individual, it should be available as the first-instance disposal rather than, as at present, being available only when someone has defaulted on a fine? If so, will the minister make the necessary changes to ensure that supervised attendance orders can be used as the first-instance disposal?

That does not sound terribly much like it is about reparation.

No, it has nothing at all to do with reparation. I suspect that Margaret Mitchell has simply seen an opportunity to raise a different issue.

We believe that supervised attendance orders and other disposals make a contribution. We will work to ensure that they are used effectively and we will consider the efficiencies of measures at all costs. However, those matters can be considered in other debates at other times.

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Class Sizes

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a progress report on the commitment in "A Partnership for a Better Scotland" to reduce secondary 1 and secondary 2 class sizes in English and maths to 20 by 2007. (S2O-10102)

There are no interim targets for the delivery of our commitment to reduce S1 and S2 class sizes in English and maths to 20 by August 2007, but I can report that very good progress continues to be made in training the teachers who are needed to meet our target.

Having taught secondary mathematics from North Berwick to Fort William over the past three years, I confirm that there is no evidence to support the minister's optimistic view. Average S1 and S2 class sizes in maths and English are still around the 30-plus mark. Will the minister give a commitment that he will not only secure maths and English teachers—I appreciate that he is talking about teacher numbers, but we are considering maths and English teachers specifically—but make classroom space available? I know the capacity of the existing schools. A twofold approach is necessary: we need teachers and class space. A wary teaching profession eagerly awaits the minister's response.

First, I welcome the fact that Dave Petrie chose to train as a teacher late in his life. I am sure that those skills will become useful again in a year's time, when he will require a job.

I would genuinely like more people to make the decision that Dave Petrie made and enter teaching. Indeed, huge numbers are doing just that. The number of entrants to maths teacher training is up by 116 per cent, while the number of entrants to English teacher training is up by 145 per cent. This year, 257 maths teachers and 328 English teachers will emanate from our colleges and universities.

We are making significant progress. I am glad to tell the Parliament that, since the Tories left office in 1997, teacher numbers have risen by 5 per cent and the number of teachers in training has increased by a staggering 75 per cent. In the same period, primary class sizes have fallen by 4 per cent and primary 1 and 2 class sizes are down by 8 per cent. Pupil to teacher ratios have improved by 12 per cent since the Tories left office. They were rising under the Tories, but they have been falling since Labour won the election in 1997. That is good news for Scotland, and I wish that the Tories would welcome it for a change.

I take it that the minister will join me in wishing the Educational Institute of Scotland well for its conference, which starts today in Dundee.

Does he acknowledge that English and maths teachers constitute the largest number of teachers in our secondary schools, that 17 per cent of teachers are over 55 and that, despite the late but welcome recruitment of new teachers in those subjects, there has been only a 5 per cent increase in new recruits? The reason that there are no interim measurements is that the policy is less a target to benefit pupils than more wishful thinking from the Government.

It is far from wishful thinking. I must say that I enjoyed dinner with the EIS last night, as I am sure Fiona Hyslop did. We are working with the EIS on future class sizes and how we manage them beyond the targets that we have set, which we will hit.

It is important to understand that we have modelled the number of teachers we need to recruit on the profession's age profile. We have done that systematically and in a much more sophisticated way in recent years than in the past. Teacher recruitment is buoyant and our universities are bulging at the seams. There are 3,860 probationers in the system this year. We are spending an extra £18 million this year and giving local authorities an extra £44 million the following year to employ those extra teachers, which will bring huge benefits to Scotland's classes. I wish that the Scottish National Party would join us in welcoming all those new teachers to the classroom and welcoming the big difference that they will make to Scottish education.

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A75

To ask the Scottish Executive what the specific programmed dates are for the start of construction of the six improvement schemes on the A75 between Stranraer and Dumfries. (S2O-10080)

Expressions of interest from contractors have been received for the schemes at Barfil, Newton Stewart and Planting End. Tenders are expected to be issued in August 2006, and the projected construction start is April 2007. Transport Scotland's intention is to publish draft orders for the schemes at Dunragit, Hardgrove and Cairntop in the next two months.

I thank the minister for that answer, which is more positive than any of the others I have received since I first started asking the question in 2002. Even yet, the start date is slipping by another year, and it is now in the financial year 2007-08. Does the minister accept that it is important for the communities along the A75 that there are no more of the interminable delays that have occurred with those six important projects since 2002?

I am pleased that the member is pleased with the response. I restate that we expect the construction of the first three schemes to commence next year.

When the concept of providing guaranteed, unambiguous overtaking lanes was first proposed, it was insufficiently detailed for all the value-for-money issues to be identified and addressed. I acknowledge that that process has taken some time, but we are now beyond it and we are moving towards construction. The Minister for Transport and I regret that the process has taken some time, but we are now in a position to move forward with those important works on the A75.

Does the minister accept that the unusually high percentage of heavy goods vehicles that use the A75—as borne out by the Executive's own figures—the effect of which will be greatly exacerbated following the construction of the joint port facility at Cairnryan, more than justifies giving a different weighting to any modelling exercise on the A75, as seemed to be acknowledged by the Minister for Transport when he visited Galloway and Upper Nithsdale? Does the minister accept that we urgently require not just a start date for those six agreed projects—I welcome the minister's reply on that issue—but several more projects, including bypasses for the two villages that will be left without one, Springholm and Crocketford?

I recognise the issues that the member raises, which I understand he has discussed with the Minister for Transport. I will certainly pass on to him the concerns that the member raises once again today. I am sure that those issues will be addressed under the forthcoming review of transport projects that the Minister for Transport announced recently.

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National Transport Strategy

To ask the Scottish Executive what issues are being considered in its consultation on the national transport strategy. (S2O-10085)

The national transport strategy consultation paper, which was issued on 20 April, sets out the issues under consideration. The paper poses questions on a range of issues, including how we continue to build a sustainable transport system for Scotland. The Minister for Transport looks forward to considering views on the paper after the closing date for comments, which is 13 July.

It is always a pleasure to hear the Deputy Minister for Finance, Public Service Reform and Parliamentary Business deputising at questions on transport in the absence of the real-life Minister for Transport. I am sure that it is a great pleasure for George Lyon into the bargain.

I ask the minister to reflect on the clear demand in my constituency and in constituencies in the north of Scotland for the transport strategy's road safety priority to be realised through the implementation of a dual carriageway between Perth and Inverness, which would ensure that motorists from this country and from abroad do not have to drive on the most dangerous trunk road in Scotland.

The national transport strategy will inform the strategic transport projects review, which will consider the future transport interventions that will be required to deliver the strategy in the 10-year period beyond the current committed projects running to 2012. Given its role and adequacy, the A9 between Perth and Inverness has been identified as one of the candidates for priority consideration under the STPR. Some preparatory work is now being commissioned to identify the practicalities of dualling north of Ballinluig. I hope that the member will accept that as a positive step in addressing the concern that he has raised once again today.

Question 58 in the national transport strategy consultation introduces the idea of abandoning the national target to quadruple cycling. Can the minister explain how abandoning that target can be squared with the Executive's stated commitment to a shift away from car use towards safer and more sustainable alternatives, including cycling? If the national target is replaced by local authority targets, will the minister consider that providing leadership on promoting cycling remains one of his key duties?

I am sure that I do not have to point out to the member that we expect him to respond to the question in the consultation on the national transport strategy. As I said to Mr Swinney, the Minister for Transport will look forward to reflecting on the views that are expressed in response to his consultation. We look forward to Mr Ballard's response.

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Kilmarnock to Glasgow Rail Line

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consider the outcome of the guide to railway investment projects stage 4 assessment of the dynamic loop on the Kilmarnock to Glasgow rail line. (S2O-10125)

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport has commissioned Network Rail to progress work towards implementing a loop between Kilmarnock and Glasgow. Transport Scotland is working with both parties to accelerate work on the project.

The minister's answer will go some way to clearing up the misinformation that has been circulating locally. Will the minister indicate the possible timetable for completion of the GRIP stage 4 assessment?

We anticipate that the current feasibility work will be completed in early 2007 and will identify the main activities, estimated costs and timescales for implementation.

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Enterprise in Education

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on encouraging enterprise in education. (S2O-10141)

Enterprise in education is a key priority for the Scottish Executive. The £86 million that we have made available to deliver "Determined to Succeed", our strategy for enterprise in education, is a clear mark of the scale of our commitment.

Will the minister join me in welcoming the innovative range of projects undertaken by young people in North Ayrshire as part of "Determined to Succeed", including the design and production of costumes for Scottish Opera by pupils of Irvine royal academy and the production of a Largs tourist brochure by Brisbane primary school pupils? Does the minister believe, as I do, that as well as learning about the world of business, enterprise in education allows young people to develop report-writing, negotiating, financial and team-building skills? Will he join me in wishing North Ayrshire's entry, Stanley primary school, every success in the final of the tomorrow's inventors competition at Glasgow Science Centre next week, as I am sure that his deputy, Allan Wilson, would, given that it is in his constituency?

I am pleased to send my good wishes to the school and to compliment North Ayrshire Council on all the excellent work that it is doing to deliver on "Determined to Succeed". More than £1.8 million of funding has been allocated to North Ayrshire Council to enable it to deliver enterprise education. In April 2006, it reported that it had met the targets set in "Determined to Succeed"—every pupil from primary 1 to secondary 6 now has an annual entitlement to enterprise activities. Each of the 10 school clusters in North Ayrshire has more than five business partnership agreements in place. The total number of formal and informal business partnerships in the area is 527. That has helped us to meet and beat the 2006 target to have 2,000 such partnerships throughout Scotland. The initiative is a shining example, not only in the United Kingdom but in Europe, of what can be achieved through enterprise education. We are well ahead of our targets for delivery.

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Youth Facilities (Audit)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to carry out an audit of youth facilities across Scotland. (S2O-10110)

The Scottish Executive has no plans to carry out an audit of youth facilities across Scotland.

Many young people in my constituency have approached me to complain about the lack of youth facilities in their communities. I am sure that that is the case in other members' constituencies throughout the country. Will the minister outline what assistance his Government gives local authorities to build new youth facilities? Does he agree that carrying out an audit would provide a national picture of where the gaps in youth facilities lie throughout Scotland, so that we could do something about them?

I acknowledge Richard Lochhead's interest in the matter. Two mapping exercises have been carried out. One was by YouthLink Scotland in 2003 and one was a performance information project carried out by Communities Scotland in 2005, which related largely to the United Kingdom sector. That is part of the national picture. Local strategies, however, are for local authorities to make. A large number of youth facilities exist in local areas, not least of which are the Elgin youth cafe and the outfit initiative, which were recently visited by the First Minister and Peter Peacock.