Question 1, from Murdo Fraser, has not been lodged, but an explanation has been provided.
Scottish Court Service (Meetings)
I meet the chief executive of the Scottish Court Service regularly. The last formal meeting was on 26 March, when I was given an update on SCS plans. I also met Eric McQueen informally at a courts reform bill event for stakeholders on 30 April.
Did the cabinet secretary discuss the recent progress in enabling SCS to access information held by the Department for Work and Pensions and other Whitehall departments in order to pursue Scotland’s 150,000 defaulters on fines? Does he agree that, in order to make real progress, we need to increase the number of dedicated fines enforcement officers to pursue the nearly 6,000 people who need to be pursued each year?
Yes, I discussed the issue at the recent informal meeting, following the DWP’s indication that it would allow the Scottish Court Service access to information. I have welcomed the DWP decision, as it will allow the Scottish Court Service easier access to details not simply on benefits but—perhaps more importantly—on the national insurance numbers of those who default while they are in employment. That will make it easier for the SCS to discover where those people are, trace them and take the appropriate action, which the SCS welcomes.
Does the cabinet secretary agree that a new justice centre should be built in Dingwall to replace the Inverness and Dingwall courts? Does he agree with Brigadier Hugh Monro that Dingwall should be considered as a location for a replacement for the Porterfield prison? Brigadier Monro thinks that that may well be a good idea in providing justice for the north.
First, I put on record my thanks and gratitude to Brigadier Monro for his service. He has been an outstanding inspector of prisons, and I would like that to be formally recorded.
Did the cabinet secretary discuss with the Scottish Court Service why it has reached conclusions on court closures without completing an equality impact assessment? Court closures are likely to impact disproportionately on women, children and the disabled, as the main users of public transport, because much more complex journeys will be involved. Will the cabinet secretary ensure forthwith that the equality impact assessment is finished?
The equality impact assessment will be dealt with. The Scottish Court Service is addressing matters, taking into account a variety of factors such as the impact on court users and on those who work there, the cost of transport to alternative venues and the availability of transport. All those issues have been factored in and are mentioned in the documentation that the Scottish Court Service has provided.
Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (Cap on Costs)
The Minister for Transport and Veterans announced earlier this week that each council’s future contribution will be capped at £75 million.
I thank the cabinet secretary for her very welcome response. I am pleased that the Scottish Conservatives’ pressure has paid off and helped to win a better deal for the north-east and to protect north-east taxpayers by delivering the cap that was announced this week.
Obviously, the maintenance of the road network will be dealt with in the normal way. We will continue to discuss with both councils involved all issues relating to the western peripheral route during its construction and thereafter, when it is in use.
I agree with the cabinet secretary that the focus should be on making progress. Given that within the WPR project there are a couple of discrete sections—one connects to the airport and the other is from Balmedie to Tipperty—can the cabinet secretary indicate when she expects progress to be made so that at least those discrete sections of the project will be completed and ready to use?
As Lewis Macdonald will be well aware, the dualling of the Balmedie to Tipperty section is included in the overall non-profit-distributing contract for the western peripheral route. We have also given a clear commitment to carry out improvements at Haudagain, which will be taken forward separately from the AWPR as soon as its construction and the Balmedie to Tipperty section are completed.
Given the delays that the AWPR project has already faced, does the cabinet secretary agree that it is irresponsible of Councillor Young of Aberdeen City Council cynically to object to the agreed funding split and that he and his colleagues should honour the funding agreement that was made in 2003 and allow this vital infrastructure project to be progressed in a spirit of co-operation, as Aberdeenshire Council has done?
Yes, I do. I absolutely and thoroughly agree with that. As I said in my response to Nanette Milne, the people of the north-east have, frankly, waited long enough for this project and it is time to stop arguing over these matters and have an absolute focus, as the Scottish Government does, on working together to get the project delivered without further delays. That is the priority, and anybody who seeks to divert from that is not doing justice to the people of Aberdeen.
Bus Services
The Scottish Government’s commitment to supporting bus services is clearly demonstrated by the £0.25 billion expended every year in the bus service operators grant, concessionary fares reimbursement, the Scottish green bus fund and the bus investment fund.
I am sure that the cabinet secretary will be aware of the bus reorganisation by FirstGroup in Glasgow and the surrounding area. Is she aware of the impact that that is having on many vital services, which are now being cut for communities in places such as East Renfrewshire? First’s motivation seems to be to prioritise services that make a profit while abandoning the rest. Does the minister now believe that it is time for tougher regulation? Will she give her support and the Government’s to the member’s bill being introduced by my colleague Iain Gray?
First, I reiterate the scale of the financial support that the Scottish Government gives to the provision of bus services around the country. I hope that members on all sides of the chamber would welcome that.
Air Pollution (Cities)
The Scottish Government is working closely with local authorities, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and other partners to improve air quality in cities. We support a number of measures, both local and national, to tackle air pollution successfully. They include the establishment of a statutory framework and clear strategic aims for both air quality and transport; the provision of grant funding for local authority actions; and the provision of advice and information through the Scottish air quality website and Scotland’s environment web.
The minister will be aware that, under the statutory framework, additional areas in central Edinburgh have been designated as air quality management areas, because they no longer meet the standards. What support can Edinburgh—the local authority and citizens—expect from the Scottish Government in addressing the problem?
I am certainly aware of the point that Marco Biagi makes in relation to Great Junction Street, Inverleith Row and Glasgow Road in Corstorphine, which have been added as air quality management areas.
Does the minister believe that the planting of trees in and around cities can help to mitigate the levels of some pollutants?
Absolutely. I praise the work that is being done by the City of Edinburgh Council and neighbouring authorities, including Fife Council, to plant 500,000 trees in Lothian and Fife as a means of combating emissions. I recognise the important role that tree planting in urban areas can play in that regard.
Currency
The Scottish ministers have made clear our intention to retain the pound. The first report of the fiscal commission working group—a group of renowned experts including two Nobel laureates, Professors Joe Stiglitz and Jim Mirrlees—proposes a macroeconomic framework that retains the pound and gives the Scottish Government maximum economic policy flexibility. It should be remembered that control over economic policy comes only with independence.
I note that the cabinet secretary has chosen to ignore Dennis Canavan’s remarks. We all know that she is dancing on the head of a pin. Given that her currency policy is in complete disarray, is she surprised by today’s poll, which shows support for independence at its lowest point since the yes campaign launched?
I am surprised that Kezia Dugdale accuses me of ignoring Dennis Canavan, which I never do. Labour is the party that managed to lose Dennis Canavan from its own ranks, going on to lose the seat that he held.
Order.
If Kezia Dugdale is saying that there must be complete policy agreement between different parts of the yes campaign, does that mean that she agrees with her Tory partners in the no campaign about economic policy, welfare cuts and bringing the UK out of the European Union? We need to be told. [Interruption.]
Order.
The big benefit of independence is that the ability to determine our own policy direction will come to the Scottish Parliament instead of being left in the hands of Westminster Governments that all too often we do not vote for.
OKI Electric (Workforce Reduction)
We share the member’s concern following OKI’s announcement about its Cumbernauld operation. This is an anxious time for the affected employees and their families, and the Government will continue to do everything that we can to help to establish the most positive outcome.
When I met representatives of the workforce at OKI, they made the point that many of the workers there have only ever had the one job and one interview. What specific support might be available to help those who are made redundant in those circumstances to re-enter employment? What support might there be from the Scottish Government to ensure that OKI remains in Cumbernauld for some time to come?
The Scottish Government will explore the reasoning behind the apparent decisions in order to ensure that there are as few job losses as possible. Our agencies are working on that as we speak. If job losses cannot be avoided, our PACE initiative, which is led by Skills Development Scotland, will engage to ensure that a tailored package of support is available and that—recognising the points that the member has raised—there is a comprehensive package that will support those who are affected by redundancy.
Question 8 has not been lodged, but an explanation has been provided.
Air Passenger Duty
The UK Government is very well aware of the Scottish Government’s position on devolving air passenger duty, and we are continuing to make the strong case for its devolution as soon as possible so that we can develop a regime that makes Scotland more competitive.
Given recent reports, does the cabinet secretary agree that APD causes enormous damage to competitiveness, investment, connectivity and business opportunities, and that, with events such as the Ryder cup and the Commonwealth games coming to Scotland, that damage is something we can do without?
Yes, I very much agree with that. The report entitled “The economic impact of Air Passenger Duty”, which was published in February this year, underlined the damage that APD is doing to our airports, our tourism industry and the economy.
The Scottish Government wants APD to be devolved. Is there a formal commitment or policy to reduce it?
If Gavin Brown had heard the speech that I made at Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce yesterday, he would have heard that question being asked and answered. We want the power for a purpose: so that we can do something about APD, which means reducing it or abolishing it completely so that there is a competitive situation in Scotland. That is our position. It would do Gavin Brown more good if he argued the case for devolving the tax to Scotland with his UK Government colleagues, so that we can do something about it.