SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Roads (A8000 and A1)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will be in a position to give completion dates for the upgrading of the A8000 and the dualling of the A1. (S1O-6173)
The A8000 is a local road and the responsibility of the City of Edinburgh Council. On the A1, dualling of the Howburn to Houndwood section is due to be completed in July of this year and the completion of the Haddington to Dunbar expressway will follow in December. Thereafter, we plan to dual between Thistly Cross and Bowerhouse. Work is estimated to start in 2004.
Does the minister accept that the upgrading of the A8000 and the dualling of the A1 would assist in improving competitiveness and employment in Edinburgh and the east of Scotland and that that work should be proceeded with as soon as is practicable?
The excellent settlement for transport in the recent Scottish budget demonstrated that we accept that transport infrastructure is key to the competitiveness of particular parts of Scotland and to the country generally. As I pointed out, there is a timetable for the improvements to the A1. The City of Edinburgh Council's progress on the A8000 remains on track. We have received the objections to the compulsory purchase orders and they are under consideration. If a local public inquiry is required, it will take place very soon. We expect that it will still be possible for the council to achieve its target date of 2006.
The A1 seems to be the road to Damascus for Lord James Douglas-Hamilton. Is the minister aware that, when Lord James was the Scottish transport minister in 1990, he totally rejected the case for dualling the main east coast highway between Scotland and England? Indeed, he said that traffic flows up to 2008 would not justify dualling. Lord James's dramatic late conversion notwithstanding, will the minister accept the heartfelt thanks of people throughout my constituency for the fact that the dualling of the A1 in East Lothian is being completed by the Labour-led Scottish Executive?
We are extremely pleased at the progress that has been made on the A1. The words of Lord James Douglas-Hamilton are always touched by the wisdom of ministerial office—or rather, they were at one time. The progress on the A1 will make a real difference in East Lothian and in the east of Scotland.
Does the minister agree that the A8000 project is still on track in relation to the timings that the council has made us aware of? The council said that the project would be completed in spring 2006. Given that it is likely that a public inquiry will be required, I ask him to ensure that he gives the go-ahead for the inquiry as soon as possible. Furthermore, does he agree that the A8000 project, which takes on board the work of the Forth Estuary Transport Authority—the newly convened Forth road bridge board, of which I was once a member—is an example of the kind of partnership around cities that is being called for today in the cities review?
The member is right. This week, I spent some time in Kirkcaldy at the invitation of Marilyn Livingstone MSP. We talked about transport links between Fife and the booming economy of Edinburgh. It is clear that the improvement to the A8000 is on track and will make a genuine difference to those transport links.
Does the minister accept that, rather than simply being a local road, the A8000—on which an average of 29,000 vehicles a day travel—is of fundamental importance to the economy of east and central Scotland, never mind to the success of the Superfast ferry? Is it not about time that, rather than abdicating responsibility for construction to FETA and abdicating responsibility for payment to the hard-pressed commuters and motorists who cross the Forth road bridge, he and the Executive took charge and got the road built?
Not at all. The importance of the A8000 to the east of Scotland, to the Scottish economy and to economic regeneration more generally means that we expect everyone, including the relevant councils and the bridge authority, to pull their weight and work together in partnership to deliver the desired improvement. That is what is happening. It would be nice if the SNP could welcome that.
Young People (Secure Accommodation)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve services for young people in secure accommodation. (S1O-6201)
On 19 December, I announced an investment package to increase the number and range of specialist care programmes to be run in Kerelaw, Rossie and St Mary's Kenmure secure units. The new national standards for youth justice include standards of care for young people in secure accommodation.
I thank the minister for the interest that she takes in the matter. Will she outline how the new national standards for youth justice will contribute to the Executive's target of reducing the number of youth offenders by 10 per cent over the next three years to 2006?
The reason for introducing the standards in youth justice was to ensure that we met the targets. We also want to improve the time scales, such as the length of time that it takes to get persistent young offenders into the hearings system, and to ensure that young offenders receive programmes that are appropriate to them. We believe that the standards will bring about a significant improvement on the services that have been provided in the past.
I refer the minister to a constituency case, in which worried parents have found that their 15-year-old son, whom the children's panel placed in a local residential unit, regularly absconds and reunites with his peers, who are integral to his drink and drugs problem. The young man thereby causes havoc to himself, his family and the community. All that happens because—according to the panel decision, which I will quote from—the hearing felt that a lack of resources made the unit "the only available option", despite the disadvantages of the proximity of this young man to his friends.
I will not comment on any individual case. However, if Christine Grahame writes to me about that case, I shall look into it.
Does the minister agree that, in the light of the difficulties that are caused by a small minority of multiple offenders, her chief priority should be the provision of an adequate number of secure places within such accommodation rather than with the programmes that are carried on within such units?
We need both. That has been made clear in the reports on which Bill Aitken and others have commented. For example, the Audit Scotland report made it clear that we need to improve both the range and number of provisions. It is important that, when young people leave secure accommodation, they are properly supported so that they do not return to secure accommodation and do not end up in the adult criminal justice system.
Fishing Communities (Aid)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to aid fishing communities. (S1O-6211)
We currently make available around £10 million annually in aid through the financial instrument for fisheries guidance—FIFG—and related Executive funding. That is in addition to the funds that are available more generally to fishing communities through the enterprise networks, local authorities and other means. We are reviewing the FIFG priorities in collaboration with the scheme partners. As I made clear in my statement yesterday, we are discussing with the fishing industry and the wider community the need for, and scope of, any further measures that may be required in light of the decisions taken at the December meeting of the Council of Ministers.
Does the minister share my concern about the continuity of supply for the processors? Will he consult industry interests to ensure a viable and sustainable future? In particular, will he revisit the work that was done on the previous action plan, including the provision of any necessary financial support?
I share the member's concern. Yesterday, I made it absolutely clear that the issue affected not only the catching sector but would embrace people up and down the chain.
The minister will be aware of the concerns of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea about the poor recruitment to haddock stocks since 1999, which was the last good year, and about the possibility that that will lead to a sudden collapse of haddock stocks next year. Will he assure me that current discussions and plans to aid the fishing industry will take those concerns into consideration, particularly as haddock is probably the most important white-fish species to processors and catchers in Scotland?
We are all aware that haddock is the most important general species, although in the last year for which figures are available nephrops were in fact the most important species by value. Because we have real concerns for our principal species—haddock—we will, when we assess the position, take account of what Elaine Thomson has just said in all the measures that we seek to put in place up and down the chain. That is what I made clear in my statement yesterday.
Has the Scottish Executive made an assessment of how many Scottish fishing vessels, Scottish fish processors and jobs in the Scottish fishing industry will go as a result of the outcome of the December meeting of the European Union fisheries council? If so, when will it be in a position to give us those figures?
I understand the member's persistence—he asked me the same question yesterday. Obviously, while I was in the chamber, I was somewhat delayed from carrying out that work.
National Health Service (Fraud)
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is tackling fraud within the national health service. (S1O-6188)
The Executive is committed to tackling fraud within the NHS. All NHS bodies are required to have in place a fraud and corruption policy and response plan. The fraud investigation unit has been operating within the Common Services Agency since July 2000. Most recently, we announced that a working-together protocol was signed with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland. That signals a new joint initiative and approach to operational working to ensure consistent handling of all cases of suspected fraud in the NHS throughout Scotland.
Will the minister indicate the amount of money that is involved in NHS fraud? Will he confirm that the finances that are recovered will be directed back into front-line health services?
I assure the member that any money that we can recover from individuals or organisations that are defrauding the NHS will be channelled back into the health service. So far, within family health services alone, more than £100,000 has been recovered for the health service after investigations.
What new year resolutions has the Scottish Executive made to curb its fraudulent claims on its successes in the national health service? Will the minister undertake to ensure that the targets set and met in future are honest?
I was dealing specifically with criminal acts, which is an important point. I note that the area in which we obtained a prosecution is in the parliamentary region that is served partly by Mr Gallie. On his question, I acknowledge that we want to move forward on many aspects of the NHS. Fraud is not one of the most critical aspects of the NHS, but I assure the Parliament that we treat it seriously. I hope that Mr Gallie will reflect on that.
National Health Service (Free Portable Oxygen)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made towards providing free portable oxygen on the national health service. (S1O-6178)
The Scottish Executive is planning to provide patients on long-term oxygen therapy with portable oxygen equipment through NHS prescriptions where it is evident that they would benefit from such a service. Consideration is being given to the necessary clinical assessment criteria and associated supply and safety issues.
I hope that the minister is aware of the strength of feeling on this matter throughout Scotland. Groups such as the Monklands breathe easy group have long campaigned for that necessary provision to allow people with chest problems to be socially included, to enable them to use the upstairs area in their houses and to get them out and about. How and on what time scale will the consultation on the provision be taken forward?
Like Karen Whitefield, I have listened carefully to the breathe easy groups. I met members of the groups on two occasions and attended a balloon launch that was held in Edinburgh Castle in the summer, so I was aware of their views and was persuaded by them. That is why we are taking the issue forward as quickly as possible. We need to do some work on a scoping study to examine distribution and supply and we need to examine the assessment criteria, but we hope to complete that work by the end of February and consult—mainly patient groups—at that point. We want that process to be thorough, but to be done as quickly as possible.
First, I thank the minister for that helpful response, because it will make life a lot easier for many of my constituents who are members of the breathe easy group in East Ayrshire. Will the minister give an assurance that the social inclusion aspect of the provision of portable oxygen will be taken into account and that the decision that is made on whether to make portable oxygen available through the NHS will not be solely a clinical one?
I agree with Margaret Jamieson. The clinical assessment is important, but people's ability to go out is absolutely fundamental as well. That will be at the heart of any criteria for providing portable oxygen.
Scottish Screen
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reform Scottish Screen. (S1O-6194)
I published the report on the review of Scottish Screen on 19 December, which concluded that there is a continuing role for Scottish Screen as a non-departmental public body. However, it made recommendations in a number of areas, including on the focus of the organisation, the balance between its cultural and economic functions, partnership working with other public bodies and performance management. I have asked Scottish Screen to work on an action plan to be delivered to me by the end of next month.
I am sure that the minister will agree that one of the most striking features to emerge from the review is the range of activity that is undertaken by other agencies, such as Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Arts Council, in developing our creative industries. However, there is limited joint working with Scottish Screen and sometimes there is a confused and fragmented approach. The review recommends a radical restructuring of existing agencies to form a single body concentrating solely on the creative industries. How will that be progressed and what will the time scale for implementation be?
The report proposes the creation of a body called creative Scotland. To some extent, that has been anticipated, in that, last year, as part of the national cultural strategy, I established a cultural industries working group, which has met twice and to which a number of break-out groups have reported. I see that potentially forming the basis of the creative Scotland body that is mentioned in the Scottish Screen report. However, I fully accept what Jackie Baillie said about the fact that various agencies—the Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Enterprise and the higher education institutions—have to be brought together more effectively to ensure that we get the most that we can from what is already a productive creative industries sector in Scotland.
National Health Service Consultants <br />(New Contracts)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards implementation of the new contracts for national health service consultants. (S1O-6210)
The Scottish Executive is working with the British Medical Association Scotland to develop a new set of terms and conditions for Scotland's consultants. We have both indicated that, subject to the satisfactory outcome of that work, we will implement the new contract across Scotland as soon as possible.
Does the minister share my concern at the number of consultant vacancies which, in specialties such as paediatrics, are at their highest level since Labour came to office in 1997? Does he agree that the benefits of the new contracts may help greatly to recruit and retain specialists in Scotland? Will he therefore guarantee that the target date for implementation of the new contracts—1 April this year—which has been signed up to by doctors, will be met and that there will be no delay to progress in Scotland as a result of the rejection of the contract south of the border?
We have progressed the matter with the BMA as quickly as possible, so I did not understand why Nicola Sturgeon suggested last week that we were not getting ahead. The second stage, at which terms and conditions must be negotiated, was always planned. I hope that the heads of agreement will be published jointly soon. We have worked hard on that.
I declare my membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, of the Royal College of General Practitioners and of the BMA.
That was a bit wide of the original question.
As with all the new health service contracts, the basis of the GP contracts is to deliver better, more patient-responsive services for the extra money. That is the objective in the GP contract negotiations, which are at an advanced stage and are being conducted on a UK basis, as GPs in Scotland wish them to be.
Does the minister agree that the national health service in Forth valley would find it easier to offer consultants new contracts if Forth Valley NHS Board took at this month's meeting a firm decision to build a new hospital on the site of the Royal Scottish national hospital at Larbert? Will the minister encourage the NHS board to take such an early decision, instead of encouraging further procrastination on an important matter that has dragged on for more than a decade?
As Dennis Canavan knows, there are procedures to deal with that. It is up to NHS Forth Valley to produce proposals for our agreement. It is important, as I am sure the Parliament agrees, to perform public consultation in new and more effective ways. That is why we issued new guidance recently that talks about involving people much earlier and more comprehensively than in the past. We all want decisions to be made about provision in Forth valley, but we want to ensure the fullest involvement of local people. I will consider those matters when they are presented to me, but I will also meet the chair and chief executive of the NHS board soon to discuss those matters.
We had two wides there.
Network Rail (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Network Rail and what issues were discussed. (S1O-6184)
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Network Rail on a wide range of issues.
Given the long list of long-overdue rail improvements throughout Scotland, my concern is that unplanned expenditure that has not been budgeted for on work that is required after recent landslips and washouts throughout Scotland is bound to impact on the time frame for completing other work unless extra funding can be found. Does the UK Treasury acknowledge that and is it prepared to divert resources to tackle that?
The pressures on rail industry funding, which exist for different reasons, are widely acknowledged. Announcements were made recently about that. As for Network Rail and the additional cost of dealing with landslips and other incidents over the winter, Network Rail has shown at Falkirk and through the completion of the works at Dolphinstone in the past couple of days that it is equipped to, and can deal with, such incidents. Network Rail is responsible for the network's maintenance and renewal. The responsibility for improvements lies with the Strategic Rail Authority, so that funding question is slightly different.
The minister may be aware that, although Network Rail and all the other relevant bodies and individuals, including himself, profess to want an increased use of the rail network, community calls for the reopening of mainline passenger stations such as those at Greenloaning and Blackford in my constituency often result in a never-ending circuit of buck passing? Where there are clear expressions of customer demand, which I presume is to be widely welcomed, will the minister clarify precisely how he will ensure that supply, which in this case includes trains, stations and accessible timetables, meet that demand?
Those kinds of improvements often lie within the responsibility of local authorities. I think that I am right in saying that we have had a similar discussion at question time over recent weeks on the subject of Laurencekirk. As proposals are developed and submitted, we always look to work with our partners to see what can be done to improve our rail network. That is our intention and desire.
Could the minister update members on the progress of the opening-up of the rail link from Stirling to Alloa and Kincardine?
We await what I hope is the imminent submission to the Scottish Parliament of the bill that is required for the promotion of the reopening of the line. The progress of the bill will depend on the Parliament rather than the Executive. The current plan remains to start construction in 2004, which would mean that the route could reopen in the winter of 2005-06.
Oral Health (Alternatives to Fluoridation)
To ask the Scottish Executive what alternatives to the fluoridation of the water supply it is considering to improve oral health. (S1O-6202)
The Executive is currently consulting on ways to improve Scotland's oral health. "Towards Better Oral Health in Children", which was published on 24 September, sets out the facts about oral health in Scotland, describes what is in train to bring about improvement and seeks to promote a mature, constructive and inclusive debate about the full range of issues and options, including water fluoridation. I also want to ensure that the member is aware that I announced yesterday that the consultation period has been extended until 28 February.
In the light of the widespread international movement away from supporting fluoridation, what research or projects are being undertaken to determine the most effective ways of improving oral health?
I am not sure of the information to which Mr Gorrie refers in respect of the international move away from fluoridation. He may like to tell us about it. I am aware of the York review, which was completed in 2000. That review examined a number of examples of research into water fluoridation and reported that there is no evidence that water fluoridation causes health problems.
Perhaps I can help the minister with some information. Is she aware that in America fluoride toothpaste carries a poison control warning label? Is she also aware that Belgium has banned fluoride gum and tablets because of concerns about brittle bone disease? Does she agree that a more effective way of eradicating tooth decay in our young people would be for fizzy drinks and sweets to carry Government health warnings?
I am aware that the population coverage in the United States has recently increased from 62 to 66 per cent and that water fluoridation takes place in 45 of the top 50 cities in the US. The jury is still out on that. However, I stress that improvement in our diet would have a huge impact on the oral health of the people of Scotland. That is one of the issues that we will have to examine. In fact, we have been looking at the introduction of fruit in schools and at reducing the amount of sugar and sweet drinks that are available to children.
Given that the York review confirmed that the benefits to oral health from fluoridation of the water supply were at best inconclusive, on what research basis is the minister promoting fluoridation?
I am not promoting the research; I am simply telling the chamber what the research says. We will use research as it becomes available. I am not saying that the York report provided evidence in favour of fluoridation, but that we will use evidence that was collected in the report. That said, I want to hear people's views on fluoridation. I continue to stress that it is only part of the strategy and that we need to consider other ways of improving oral health in Scotland.
Does the Executive intend to introduce fluoridation before the end of this session? If not, does it intend to put it into its manifesto? That would clarify things for the rest of us.
I have already indicated that the consultation will not be completed until 28 February. As a result, I expect that it will be impossible to introduce any such measure before the end of the session.
Children of Asylum Seekers (Education)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether assimilation of children of asylum seekers into the state education sector has been monitored. (S1O-6172)
The Scottish Executive does not currently undertake any formal monitoring. However, good practice in integrating asylum seekers into school communities is being explored through the Scottish refugee integration forum.
I thank the minister for her answer. Nevertheless, she will know from her travels round the country of examples of the successful assimilation of children of asylum seekers into the state education sector under the present dispensation. Is she aware of the concerns that have been expressed by the Educational Institute of Scotland, the Church of Scotland committee on education, the Catholic Education Commission and the Scottish Episcopal Church among others regarding the requirement contained within the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 that the children of asylum seekers be schooled outwith the mainstream local authority education system in purpose-built accommodation centres? Will she tell the chamber what the Executive intends to do to meet those legitimate concerns and ensure that a progressive policy of integration can be maintained?
I am happy to confirm to Bill Butler that I have seen good examples of work with the children of asylum seekers and refugees in a number of state schools in Scotland, including several in the Glasgow area. I am also aware of the positive work being undertaken by local colleges there.
Is the minister concerned about moving children of asylum seekers from the state education sector into detention centres? Is she aware of the plight of the children of the Kurdish Ay family, who were described as exceptional and model pupils by teachers at their schools in Kent? Does she agree that it is unacceptable to remove children from the state education sector to put them into detention centres for up to six months—sometimes more—where education provision is severely limited?
I am aware of the background to the case that Shona Robison describes. I shall not comment on it in detail because it is currently the subject of legal proceedings. Nor would it be appropriate for me to comment on matters that are directly the concern of the Home Office.
I hope that the Minister for Education and Young People is aware of research by Glasgow City Council and Save the Children that shows asylum-seeker children saying that the best things about life in Glasgow are schools and teachers. Given that research, will she insist that those children have a legal right to education while residing in Scotland and would she challenge the Home Office if it tried to remove children from the state education sector and to implement what is in effect racist, segregated education?
I am careful about my use of language and I have already indicated in my response to Bill Butler that I am well aware of the positive work that is going on in Glasgow. I know that Save the Children has taken a close interest in the matter and has made some interesting recommendations. It is important to recognise that the majority of those young people are being educated in mainstream schools. I am glad to hear that people recognise that they are receiving a good education in our state schools with positive work being undertaken by teachers. However, it would not be appropriate for me to make any comment that might prejudice any child's or family's situation in relation to the law and I will not do that.
Safe Sex (Teenagers)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote safe sex among teenagers. (S1O-6196)
A range of measures is in train, including initiatives by the Health Education Board for Scotland, the pioneering healthy respect demonstration project, the sex education programme in schools, and direct funding to Caledonia Youth towards the establishment of four sexual health advisory centres. A national sexual health strategy is also being developed.
I have just come from a lunch meeting of an organisation called Confidence Scotland. It asserted that low self-esteem among teenagers is a factor contributing towards the incidence of pregnancy. Will the minister comment on that? Further, will she outline how better publicity can be used to promote the excellent initiatives taken by the Scottish Executive to ensure that those young people receive the services that they need?
Just before Christmas, I visited Wester Hailes Education Centre in my colleague Iain Gray's constituency. The centre is taking part in the healthy respect demonstration project. I sat in on a class where the young people were learning about sexual health. One of the main strands of the class was about raising self-esteem and developing relationships. That is an important part of the project and I hope we will be able to roll out the lessons from the project throughout Scotland.
Looked-after Children (Educational Attainment)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to improve the educational attainment of looked-after children. (S1O-6192)
On 30 December, we published a report outlining how local authorities had used the £10 million that was given to them to improve educational opportunities for looked-after children. Further investment will follow from the Scottish budget allocation, and we have commissioned Who Cares? Scotland to undertake work with young people to assist in making further improvements.
I thank the minister for her answer. The initiatives that she mentioned are most welcome. However, in the light of substantial empirical evidence that looked-after children fare badly in terms of educational attainment, does she agree that the expenditure so far has been somewhat generalist in its application and that there might be a case for more focused, individual or small-group tuition if we are to help those children to attain more and break the cycle of poor life chances and experiences?
Yes. The expenditure that has been used during the past year has tended to focus on the provision of equipment and facilities. That was necessary to ensure that young people who are looked after, particularly in the residential care sector, have the same opportunities as young people in other types of homes have. However, the reason why we asked Who Cares? Scotland to undertake further work is to consider the best way of developing those initiatives in a way that best meets the needs and aspirations of young people who are looked after. I expect that during that process we will want to consider the kind of initiatives that Tom McCabe has suggested.
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