General Questions
Dairy Sector (International Investment)
Scottish ministers have instructed Scottish Enterprise to actively engage across the food and drink sector, including the dairy sector, to attract inward investment here in Scotland.
On Tuesday, at the national dairy event in Birmingham, NFU Scotland called for the sector to try to capture a share of the global dairy markets, which are growing and profitable. For example, India has more than doubled its quota for the import of skimmed and whole milk powders. Has the cabinet secretary held, or does he plan to hold, discussions with NFU Scotland on how the Scottish Government can assist its efforts to promote Scotland’s dairy sector on a global scale?
Yes, I have held meetings with NFU Scotland’s leadership in recent months and I will meet them again in a few days’ time. The Scottish Government is funding an NFU trip to Europe to an international dairy conference that takes place next month at which the NFU has agreed to investigate whether there are any inward investment opportunities out there for the dairy sector in Scotland. I agree that we have to add value to milk in Scotland and to the dairy sector if we are to give it a prosperous future and encourage it to be much more profitable. Clearly, that has got to be our focus for the next few years as we learn some of the hard lessons of the past few decades that have led to some decline in the dairy sector not just in Scotland but across the United Kingdom and, indeed, Europe.
I wrote earlier this year to the cabinet secretary regarding the Government detailing to retailers how much they should pay dairy producers while having no idea how much the producers of the milk were receiving. In the week in which NFUS has called for a pricing mechanism, does the cabinet secretary agree that the Government should lead from the front by ensuring that all producers of milk that is supplied to the Government estate receive a fair price at the farm gate?
I think that the member will find that the Scottish Government’s track record on procurement for our catering contracts has improved dramatically to help primary producers in Scotland over the past few years and certainly since the member’s party was in Administration. I will continue to explore all opportunities to ensure that the Scottish Government can support a fair deal for Scotland’s primary producers, including our dairy sector.
Social Care (Advice and Guidance)
The national strategy for self-directed support was published on 23 November 2010—a joint strategy with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. It sets out a 10-year vision for the development of SDS nationwide, based on a set of values and principles that aims to ensure that all people eligible for social care have a choice in their support arrangements.
I welcome the new self-directed support legislation that was announced yesterday. Given the challenges for some of my constituents in securing a truly self-directed care package, will the minister reassure them and me that the new SDS bill will address those challenges and ensure that the independence of the individual is paramount?
It is extremely important to recognise that people’s expectations around their care arrangements have changed significantly. People want much greater opportunity to control and direct their care in a way that is most appropriate for them. Very often, an individual is better placed to decide what their needs are and how they should be met in a more effective way. I have been encouraged by the views that have been expressed in support of the SDS bill during the debate on the legislative programme. The bill will ensure that we have statutory provision around how self-directed support should be taken forward; it will extend the eligibility of those who are able to participate in self-directed support beyond what is presently provided for under direct payments; and it will consolidate and modernise the legislation around how direct payments are handled.
What guarantees will be in place to assure members that all care that is paid for by self-directed support will be undertaken by fully trained and qualified carers? How will self-directed support maintain standards of care throughout Scotland?
The bill will provide the opportunity for people to choose between a number of options for taking forward their care arrangements. It will be for the individual who arranges their care to decide how their needs will be most appropriately met. We must recognise that some local authorities may find this process challenging. However, they must recognise that they can no longer provide care according to how they wish to provide it but must do so according to how the person wishes their care to be arranged. I hope that more and more local authorities will engage in doing that as they shape the care arrangements in their particular areas, so that individuals will have flexibility in choosing how their care is provided.
Cashback from Crime (Sport)
Since 2007, the Scottish Government has invested almost £14 million of cashback money in sports other than football, including rugby union, basketball, amateur boxing, athletics, hockey and badminton. We are continuing to encourage all sports governing bodies, and indeed individual clubs, to submit appropriate funding proposals for consideration for investment from the cashback for communities programme as and when resources become available.
The minister will no doubt be aware that Paisley and Renfrewshire will become the gateway to the Commonwealth games in 2014. Can she offer assurances that funding sports through the proceeds of crime will continue to help prospective athletes who will compete in those games?
Cashback funding is about giving all our young people opportunities to take part in a range of sporting activities. We hope that, by stimulating an interest in sport through the scheme, some young people will go on to represent Scotland on the international stage. I expect that the athletes who will represent Scotland in the 2014 Commonwealth games are already in the system and are receiving appropriate support through the relevant sports governing body.
Recovered criminal assets were previously identified for return to communities that were badly affected by crime. In recent years, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice has followed the England and Wales example and utilised around £5 million of the funds to pay for prosecutor and police work. We are now told that—
Will you get to the question, Mr Pearson?
I am coming to it.
We are receiving a large number of bids in the scheme that we are currently operating, not all of which can be agreed to, of course. However, we are building up a bank of bids, and I expect that a great many bids will be from areas that are already suffering from a number of indicators of deprivation.
I am sure that Stuart McMillan will keep his question brief.
As an ambassador for Ocean Youth Trust Scotland, I know how beneficial and welcome cashback funding has been to that organisation. Will the minister give even more assurances that additional funding can be provided to other water-based activities throughout Scotland?
No sporting activity is excluded if it falls within the parameters—obviously, it would need to be for young people. We are happy to receive any proposal that seeks cashback funding, whether it is from people involved in sailing, boating or any other water-based sport. Proposals would be considered and supported if they furthered the programme’s aims and, of course, if funding was available. As I said in my previous answer, we are developing a bank of proposals and we will continue to assess the proposals and make decisions as money becomes available.
Economic Growth (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley)
A range of services is available from public and private sector organisations in East Ayrshire to support economic development and provide support for local businesses to grow. Those organisations include East Ayrshire Council, Scottish Enterprise, the business gateway and Scottish Development International.
I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. As he knows, my constituency already suffers higher unemployment levels than Scotland as a whole. That situation will be made much worse next year when Diageo finally leaves the home of Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock, taking with it 700 jobs from the local economy. Will the cabinet secretary take those factors into account when, in due course, he considers possible enterprise zones for Scotland?
I am certainly well aware of the circumstances that Mr Coffey presents on behalf of his constituents. As he is aware, I have been very familiar with the circumstances arising from the decision of Diageo to close the plant in Kilmarnock. I will reflect on the representations that Mr Coffey has made on behalf of the Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley area, and if he wishes to supply me with further representations, I will be happy to receive them.
Wind Farms (Aviation Interests)
Operational air safety is of paramount importance when considering the impacts of any wind farm development. The Scottish Government formed the south-west Scotland aviation solution group in March 2009, which brings together all the relevant stakeholders and led to the publication of the Scottish Government’s feasibility report. The report described the potential for finding solutions to radar issues and is the foundation on which much of the progress made to date has been built. The Scottish Government is also a member of the aviation management board, which brings stakeholders together at United Kingdom level, including to support the development of new technological solutions.
I thank the minister for her answer. Can she give me a timetable for the implementation of radar solutions? As she will be aware, many of our local communities in Ayrshire face a number of wind farm applications that are being held up in advance of a radar solution. Can she also indicate to me who will pay for the radar solutions?
I thank the member for his reply; I understand that he has a real interest in wind farms and the planning issues that surround them.
Question 6 was not lodged.
RAF Leuchars Closure (Discussions)
While we welcome an increased Army presence in Scotland, the Scottish Government has made clear its considerable disappointment with the UK Government’s decision to withdraw the RAF from Leuchars.
Will the Scottish Government undertake to press the UK Government for details of the infrastructure expenditure it proposes to ensure an efficient and appropriate transition between RAF Leuchars and the new Army base?
We are aware that the UK is intent on committing infrastructure investment at Leuchars to allow it to manage the transition to an Army base. In this period of uncertainty for the community, we will continue to press the Ministry of Defence for much firmer details on the levels of investment.
Fire Brigades Union Scotland (Discussions)
The cabinet secretary and I have regular meetings with the Fire Brigades Union. We have met it on a number of occasions over the summer to discuss a range of local and national priorities. The member may be interested to note that I also met local FBU representatives in Fife on 23 August, as did my colleagues, during the recent Kirkcaldy Cabinet.
I appreciate the minister’s agreeing to a meeting to discuss the situation in Fife, at which I will be able to provide more details. However, according to Fife FBU, Fife Council’s proposal to make further cuts to the Fife fire service next year, in addition to the efficiency savings that are already in place, will lead to a further reduction of 20 firefighters. Does the minister share my concern that that will compromise safety? Will she make representation to Fife Council that it should consider a moratorium on cuts and consider freezing staffing levels ahead of significant changes to the national service?
As the member would expect, we are continuing conversations with those fire services where there are currently greater challenges than there are in other places. I met the convener of the relevant committee when I was at those meetings in Fife, so I have already had some conversations on the subject and we are continuing them.
Insulin Pump Therapy (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde)
According to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, there are more than 700 people with type 1 diabetes in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area who could and should benefit from an insulin pump; yet, the number of people accessing pump therapy is a mere 67—only 1.1 per cent of the type 1 population. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has, to date, unfortunately failed to deliver an insulin pump service that meets the needs of the type 1 population in the area.
Can we get to the question, Ms McTaggart?
On behalf of those constituents, I urge the Scottish Government to make a real effort to enforce its commitment. Access to pump therapy should be boosted significantly across NHS board areas over the lifetime of the action plan.
Anne McTaggart raises an important point and I credit her for doing so.
Can we have Ms Sturgeon’s microphone on, please?
Perish the thought that I cannot be heard in the chamber.
Problem Alcohol Consumption
I am sure that Ms Adamson will realise that we have now reached 12 o’clock and that she will forgo her supplementary.