SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Education and Young People, Tourism, Culture and Sport
Act of Union
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the act of union in 2007. (S2O-10979)
Already a range of events has been planned by national agencies and others to commemorate the union. The events include book launches and a debate by the National Library of Scotland; an exhibition of documents by the National Archives of Scotland; a display of artefacts by the National Museum of Scotland; and a display of relevant portraits and new video work by the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the National Galleries of Scotland. In addition, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland will work with those bodies and with the Scottish Parliament to organise a schools competition about the impact of the union. Further announcements of other Executive plans will be made in due course.
I thank the minister for her comprehensive answer and welcome the programme that she has announced. I suggest to her that it might be appropriate to ask the Royal Mint to strike a stamp in commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the act of union.
The announcement of the programme may be a little late in light of previous announcements, but it is at least up to date. Unfortunately, Mr McLetchie is not quite as up to date, because my colleague the chancellor announced on 15 June this year that, in his capacity as master of the mint, he would be striking a £2 coin in celebration of the union, so it is fair to say that work is going on in England that will complement what we do here. We expect that there will be collaboration and that artefacts will be displayed both here and in England. As part of that collaboration, the English—literally—and Scottish versions of a special artefact from that time will be exhibited together for the first time.
Would the best way to celebrate the union not be just to end the union and to allow both England and Scotland their independence?
Well, if everything were as simple as Mr Neil makes out, life would be easier. However, I must point out to him that opinion polls come and go, but the Scottish people have consistently rejected his party and its policies and voted for parties that believe in the union and understand its benefits. I am sure that things will be no different this time next year.
Does the minister agree that appropriate commemorations can advance the interests of tourism, as the Trafalgar day celebrations showed, and will she bear that in mind?
Very much so. Lord James Douglas-Hamilton is correct about that. I am grateful to him for his consistent interest in such events. However, other events that are happening next year deserve our attention, not least the year of Highland culture.
Will the Executive channel all available resources into celebrating St Andrew's day, instead of wasting taxpayers' money on celebrating an act of treachery by a parcel o' rogues in a nation?
It has already been made clear that we want to celebrate all facets of Scottish life on St Andrew's day. One of the things about Scotland that I and visitors to our country find so interesting is the diversity of our culture. I am sure that Mr Canavan's views can go into that large melting pot along with those of everyone else.
Questions 2 and 3 are not lodged. In both cases, justifications have been given.
School Buildings
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is working with local authorities to develop high-quality, modern school buildings that meet the educational and physical activity needs of young people. (S2O-11012)
The Scottish Executive will work in partnership with authorities as they take forward the biggest school replacement and refurbishment programme in Scotland's history, which will provide state-of-the-art buildings and facilities.
I am sure that the minister is aware that the City of Edinburgh Council recently consulted on options for the replacement of Portobello high school, which is the capital's biggest secondary school. Does he agree that it is imperative that decisions on the matter are reached and plans put in place at the earliest possible opportunity, to ensure that the bricks and mortar and green space are provided for youngsters in east Edinburgh in the future? Will he give me an assurance that the Scottish Executive will continue to work with the City of Edinburgh Council and do everything in its power to make progress with that vital project?
I am aware of the strong representations that Susan Deacon has made on Portobello high school to the Minister for Education and Young People and others. The project is a big one for the city of Edinburgh and is part of the big programme of school replacement throughout Scotland that I mentioned. We realise the importance of making early decisions on the matter, but it is also important to make proper decisions that will serve the city well in the future. The matter is for the council to decide, and I understand that it will make a decision at a meeting in December. Against the background of our acknowledgement of the importance of the proposals, close liaison is taking place, as happens with many other projects, between Scottish Executive officials and the local authority. We are conscious of the delicate issues that arise in many such projects about land use and other matters. It is not appropriate for us to comment on those issues, but we are happy to continue to work with the local authority in Edinburgh and others throughout the country to ensure that the best possible proposals are produced.
The minister will be aware that many new public finance initiative schools are designed using rules that allow for a central open space in the building that is surrounded by classrooms. The central space is often used as an assembly hall, a sports hall, a dining room, a theatre or drama space and as part of the corridor that connects the classrooms and other parts of the school. Does that meet the educational and physical activity needs of young people in those schools, given that any noise that is too great in the central space detracts from the educational activity in the classrooms and that any reduction in the noise of the sports and physical activity in the central space detracts from that activity? Will he consider the rules on the design of schools so that we can, I hope, separate out some of those activities, rather than follow the cost-cutting approach of bringing all of them into a single space, which is detrimental to the children's physical and cultural activities?
The public-private partnership system is primarily a procurement method for projects. The design issues and challenges on which the member touches arise with all procurement methods, whether PPP, the schools fund or traditional borrowing. The Scottish Executive has laid down guidance to local authorities on the matter, but the detailed decisions are for local authorities. If Mr Maxwell wants to raise particular issues, rather than have a general go at PPP schools, I will be more than happy for him to write to me with the details of his concerns and I will look into the issues that he raises.
Voluntary Sector Funding
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it is giving to voluntary organisations that encourage positive lifestyles for young people through sport. (S2O-10995)
The Executive invests £12 million per year in the active schools programme, which provides a wide range of sporting and physical activities to children. More than 8.5 million participant sessions took place in the last school year. A key aim of active schools is to make effective links to community sports clubs by involving local volunteers in the delivery of activity sessions and by encouraging lifelong participation in sport through community clubs.
Is the minister aware of the Community Alcohol Free Environment—CAFE—project that is based in Arbroath, and its pioneering street football for all programme, which positively encourages teaching, fair rules, participation and decision making and which is inclusive towards all young people, irrespective of age, disability or other barriers? Is she also aware that the highly mobile pitch and trailer system that is used allows youth participation in other sports such as basketball and that requests have been made for demonstrations in places such as Peckham in London as well as elsewhere in Scotland? What practical financial or other support can she give the CAFE project to assist and encourage others to develop what is a proven, successful system?
Until about 10 minutes ago, I was not aware of that particular project. However, Mr Welsh has drawn it to my attention and has helpfully given me a brochure, so I have been able to acquaint myself with it at least a little. I have to say that all the claims that Mr Welsh makes for the project appear to be borne out in the literature that he presented to me. I was very pleased to read it, and I am pleased to say that the ethos of the project seems to be exactly what we are encouraging.
Does the minister agree that the way forward is to keep young people off the streets and provide activities that build confidence and self-esteem, to let them see that they can enjoy themselves other than through drug and alcohol misuse? Does she agree that the project that is funded by Gretna Football Club and run by the First Base agency in Dumfries, which provides football training for both over-16s and under-16s, is the kind of model project that should be funded by the Executive and rolled out across Scotland?
I agree with the premise that Rosemary Byrne puts forward. It is important that young people have opportunities that are an alternative to hanging about in the street and that they are able to learn about other facets of life in the area where they live. I had hoped to visit the particular project that Rosemary Byrne mentioned. However, due to the illness of the club chairman at the time, the visit was postponed. I look forward to meeting those involved in the project to discuss it in more detail once the chairman's recovery is complete.
The Executive's national strategy for sport, sport 21, set a target of sustaining 150,000 volunteers in sport by 2007. The strategy document put the 2003 figure at 150,000 to 160,000 volunteers but, in August, the sport 21 monitoring update revealed that the number of volunteers had dropped to 146,000. Will the minister make attracting more volunteers a priority for sport funding? Can she guarantee that voluntary organisations will retain their exemption from paying fees for disclosure?
We are working very hard to encourage more volunteers to come into sport. One way in which we think we can do that is by ensuring that there is a clear pathway for their efforts to be recognised by us all and for them to obtain a proper coaching certificate, which they can be proud of holding. That programme is beginning to achieve real results, as is our young leadership programme. I am keen for the Executive to do whatever it can to encourage people to become involved in sport, as volunteers are the life-blood of sport.
Music Industry Summit
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made following the summit on the music industry on 4 October 2006. (S2O-11029)
The organisations and individuals who expressed an interest in exploring how the issues raised during the summit could be taken forward have been invited to a further meeting with the Scottish Executive later this month.
I welcome the first ever summit on contemporary music, which brought together enterprise agencies, the Scottish Executive Education Department—which has responsibility for culture—and key players from the industry. Will the minister give me a commitment that she will work closely with the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning to ensure that we create a music strategy for Scotland, which is long overdue? Will she consider, in the course of forthcoming meetings, examining the value of the music industry to the economy and analysing the need to assist the industry in growing its talent and capabilities? Will she assure me that such meetings will not just serve as a talking shop, and that they will finally result in action being taken?
I am happy to acknowledge the work that Pauline McNeill and the cross-party group on the Scottish contemporary music industry have done to raise awareness of an important issue. I reassure her that our investment strategy and other support are committed to the music industry and the other creative industries in Scotland. As I have said several times in the chamber, I work closely with my colleagues Nicol Stephen and Allan Wilson to ensure that we have in place the proper support for the music industry in whatever form it manifests itself.
I was surprised to hear the concerns that participants in the music industry summit expressed when they were interviewed on "Newsnight Scotland" around the time of the summit. Much could probably be learned from the model that Highlands and Islands Enterprise has adopted through Highlands and Islands labels and Highlands and Islands Arts for the promotion of contemporary, traditional and rock music. Was that experience fed into the summit and the action that will follow it to help Scottish Enterprise to catch up?
Yes. We often encounter the example of Highlands and Islands Enterprise in our discussions. It is fair to say that how we progress the work will be discussed with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise and creative Scotland once it is established.
Schools of Ambition
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to expand the schools of ambition programme. (S2O-11011)
The Minister for Education and Young People will announce new schools for the programme in the near future.
Is the minister aware of Kilsyth academy in my constituency, where pupils and staff are to be congratulated on their drive and enthusiasm in seeking to improve attainment and education standards? Does he accept that the school would put additional financial support to good use, particularly in the music department? Will he ensure that Kilsyth academy is part of the schools of ambition programme?
I congratulate Cathie Craigie on her efforts. The work that one sees when visiting schools around Scotland is superb and is contributing more than somewhat to the enhanced education of our young people.
Of the 385 secondary schools in Scotland, only 27 receive funding from the schools of ambition programme. Instead of having another school of ambition here or there, would it not be better for the Scottish Executive to give a direct funding allocation to every school, which would give head teachers the freedom and flexibility to improve and diversify our education system and meet the needs of their communities and pupils?
Schools throughout Scotland are doing a good job of meeting the needs of their various and diverse communities. The schools of ambition programme is on top of the substantial and increased allocation to local authorities for education, which is designed to encourage innovative projects that will be of assistance throughout the school system.
Biomass Heating (Schools)
To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools built or planned under public-private partnerships will have biomass heating installed. (S2O-11043)
Local authorities, with our encouragement and support, are examining all aspects of sustainability in commissioning new school buildings through PPP and other procurement routes. Several authorities are considering biomass heating, although they have yet to decide on the final building specifications.
I welcome some of the new schools that are being built in the Stirling area, but few of them are having biomass heating, combined heat and power technology or any other energy technology that is relevant to the challenges that we face in the 21st century installed. I understand that the minister is still considering options for funding biomass. What guarantees will there be that potential funding options will be available for councils to bid into in the current school building programme? There are signs that the programmes of councils such as Perth and Kinross may be suffering delays while they wait for the Executive to consider and decide on funding streams for biomass. What assurances about funding can the minister give?
I can give members considerable assurances in that regard. With respect to Perth and Kinross, the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning has announced an award of £400,000 for a demonstration biomass project for six schools. I stress the word "demonstration" because we want to learn lessons about the implications and potential of biomass. In addition, £7.5 million will be made available for a scheme that will be launched in December to support biomass projects more generally. Schools projects will also be able to bid for that money.
Finance and Public Services and Communities
Small Towns (Financial Support)
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific financial support is provided to Scotland's small towns. (S2O-10984)
Scotland's small towns benefit from financial support from various sources. That support ranges from core local government support funding to funding for housing and regeneration. In addition, I expect local authorities that contain small towns to engage with their local enterprise companies.
Is the minister aware of the excellent report on small towns that has been put together by Scottish Borders Council staff and supported by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities? That report shows the significance of Scotland's small towns, which house 30 per cent of our population. Is he aware that there are distinct issues to do not only with the economies of and housing in small towns, but their social regeneration? In the past, the balance of policy has been more in favour of rural areas or cities. Will the minister consider a specific funding stream for a challenge fund for small towns? Is he prepared to meet me and Scottish Borders Council officers to progress some of the recommendations in that wide-ranging and outstanding report?
I would be happy to meet the member and representatives of Scottish Borders Council, but am not prepared to give commitments on specific funding streams at this point. Doing so would be unfair to the generality of bids that will be submitted, particularly those relating to the next spending review.
The minister is aware of the business-led partnership to improve Bathgate town centre, not least because Bathgate is the only traditional Scottish town that is involved in the business improvement district process. Will he congratulate that partnership on producing 20,000 Bathgate town guides, which highlight shops and the services that are available, and say a little more about how, in partnership with West Lothian Council and the Scottish Executive, those businesses can continue to improve the town's environment and economy?
I am happy to acknowledge the work that is being done in that BID pilot. I met the people involved in all the pilots just a few weeks ago in the Parliament. I was happy to acknowledge the work that they have done and the potential that the pilots have for regenerating our small and large town centres. I recognise the work that is being done in the member's area. As we have said on previous occasions, we look forward to seeing how the project can make a positive contribution, involve the business community in a much more comprehensive way and establish those critical links between the public and private sectors that are so necessary if we are to regenerate our towns.
Does the minister acknowledge the vital role played by local community halls run by voluntary organisations and individuals in small towns throughout Scotland? Surely he must be aware that the Labour-Lib Dem Government ended water charge exemptions for those charitable bodies and forced through massive increases in water charges that now threaten the viability and future of the community halls. Is the minister now a free-marketeer irrespective of social and community justice and if not, what is he going to do about those charges?
The free market credentials of this Executive have produced a Scottish economy that is in better fettle than it has been for generations. The Scottish economy benefits those very communities in a range of ways, including reducing the number of unemployed people, increasing the number who are employed, improving the number of young people who go on to further and higher education and, in all those ways, improving the cohesion of local communities. Even though a community hall is important, there is much more to improving the quality of life in our communities. This Labour-Lib Dem Executive has done a great deal to ensure that quality of life is far better than it has been and far better than it ever would be if Andrew Welsh's bunch ever got into power.
Housing Stock Transfer
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review its policy in respect of housing stock transfer. (S2O-10978)
We have no plans to review the policy. Housing stock transfer remains a key option for councils to attract substantial new investment to improve housing in their area while keeping rents affordable.
Does the minister recall that on 11 July he said of the Stirling housing ballot that a yes vote would see more than £70 million of new investment over the next nine years? Now that the tenants have given the thumbs down to the transfer, how much of that £70 million will be invested in Stirling? Will the minister confirm that the planned expenditure of £27 million for Cornton and Cultenhove has been withdrawn? If that is true, what can Stirling Council do to release those valuable moneys into the communities? It will be a disgrace if that money is not released.
As I said about the Edinburgh housing stock transfer, I will do everything that I can to support and help Stirling, just as I have Edinburgh. It is simply a fact of life that most people understand—apart from the SNP—that it is impossible to have the same level of investment through traditional routes as it is through community ownership. In the SNP's fantasy-world motion this morning, it suggested that the Treasury could somehow give an extra £2 billion to Scotland to write off debt. How could that possibly happen given the significant increases to our budget that we already receive each year?
Although we accept that the views of tenants on Stirling's recent stock transfer vote must be respected and it is difficult to see how investment of the kind envisaged following a yes vote would be possible, will the minister promise nevertheless to continue dialogue with me and Stirling Council as it develops a new business plan on housing?
Of course I will continue dialogue with Sylvia Jackson and Stirling Council, as I did with the City of Edinburgh Council following the no vote there. We will do as much as we can to support councils where there has been a no vote. However, tenants—and everyone in the chamber—have to face the simple fact that a yes vote will unlock far more investment and provide far more stability than a no vote.
Public Service Jobs (Relocation)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the Public and Commercial Services Union in its call for a moratorium on the relocation of public service jobs. (S2O-11040)
The Public and Commercial Services Union and other trade unions play an important role in representing the interests of their members during location reviews of public bodies; indeed, that is reflected in the Scottish Executive relocation guide, which was published last year after consultation with the PCS and other unions. On the suggested moratorium, there is no benefit for staff or organisations in delaying necessary decisions about the location of new organisations or those facing a break in their existing accommodation. However, if the PCS or any other union has specific concerns, we are happy to discuss them.
I thank the minister for his answer, which I hope means that the minister will take the concerns of the PCS and other unions more seriously in future. However, he knows that the relocation policy has not been strategically reviewed since Donald Dewar introduced it in 1999. Given that Audit Scotland has said that the benefits of relocation are "unclear", the convener of the Finance Committee has described the criteria for relocation as "bizarre", and the previous leader of the City of Edinburgh Council called the policy "bad government", does the minister at least agree that only an independent strategic review of the Executive's policy can restore confidence in it and must therefore be in the interests of all concerned?
Mark Ballard should get out of Edinburgh a bit more and speak to communities in the areas to which those jobs have been relocated. If he did so, he might find a big welcome for the benefits that the policy has already brought.
Local Government Finance Review
To ask the Scottish Executive when it now intends to publish the results of the review of local government finance. (S2O-10987)
The local government finance review committee published its report this morning, and I want to take this opportunity to convey my gratitude to Sir Peter Burt and his team for producing a detailed and comprehensive report and set of recommendations.
Although the Burt report recognises the inequity of the council tax, its recommendation of a 1 per cent home tax would almost double the average council tax in my constituency from £1,100 to £2,000. Does the minister agree that that would be unacceptable and that any form of local tax must be related to an individual's ability to pay it, not to the value of the home in which they happen to live?
Mr Rumbles should take a few more minutes to read the report; after all, it was published only this morning. It is not hard and fast about the 1 per cent home tax. The report is a substantial piece of work and everyone concerned needs to give it time for ample consideration. [Interruption.] I can understand that the SNP is unhappy. It tried to spin in advance of the report's publication, but the report has blown a hole through its flagship policy. However, it needs to get used to that situation because, over the next four months, we will progressively blow various holes in its fantasy policies. This is simply one example of what is going to happen. [Laughter.] I am afraid that the SNP will not be saved by its laughter and derision in the face of a considered piece of work.
Is Mr McCabe aware that a hole was blown in the council tax by the Burt review? In addition, can he reflect on the discrepancy between the statement that he has just made to Parliament—that the report requires careful consideration by all—and the First Minister's spokesman's statement that they would not give the report "the time of day"? Will Mr McCabe tell us whether the Government is actively considering the report or whether the First Minister has thrown out the report in a knee-jerk reaction because it does terminal damage to the arguments for the council tax?
I will reflect on two things. First, we were determined to ensure that the Burt report was properly considered and that it was not killed by inaccurate reporting in advance of its publication. That is exactly what happened yesterday, so we are determined to make space available to ensure that this comprehensive work is subject to proper debate between all concerned in Scotland. I will also reflect on the fact that, as I said a moment ago, the report has blown away the SNP's flagship policy, but it refuses to acknowledge that. The SNP is lucky that we did not ask Sir Peter Burt to consider its various spending commitments, including the £2 billion spending commitment that my colleague, Johann Lamont, ably highlighted this morning. If Sir Peter Burt had reviewed that, the SNP would be in a worse position this afternoon than it is already.
Will the minister confirm that the one absolute conclusion of the Burt report is the total demolition of any coherent argument for a local income tax—which would devastate the circumstances of people in my constituency—and that people in all constituencies, from the more affluent to the less, would pay consistently more under such a tax? Will he also acknowledge that the council tax needs to be reformed, that the present council tax arrangements require to be considerably overhauled and that we need a proper debate about that?
One of the things that the report says about local income tax is that it could be a disincentive to work. Everyone should reflect that anything that could be a disincentive to work should be seriously reconsidered in a country that is making so much economic progress and is determined to bring more people into economic activity and to bring those who have been excluded for too long into a position where they can make their own economic choices.
It is delightful to hear the minister slag off the Liberal Democrat flagship policy as well.
I said earlier that the report merits objective and timeous consideration by all concerned. It would be wrong for me to make commitments at this time, given that the report was published only this morning.
Public Authorities (Best Value)
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives are being taken to improve cost-effectiveness and promote best value in public authorities. (S2O-11030)
The Scottish Executive has many initiatives under way in supporting local authorities and other public authorities to improve cost-effectiveness and promote best value. Our efficient government programme is all about working more efficiently to free up money and other resources that can be reinvested in sustaining and improving public services. We have already developed and published a considerable range of guidance on best value, and we continue to engage with our partners as we roll out the best value arrangements across the public sector.
The minister has repeatedly underlined the importance of streamlining services and obtaining value for money for the public purse. Can he confirm that nothing is being ruled out, especially in terms of the rationalisation of the number of local authorities, health boards, executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies?
I can certainly confirm that we have entered into our public service reform dialogues with an open mind—unlike some people. [Laughter.] The guilty identify themselves, Presiding Officer.
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