SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
We begin this afternoon's business with question time. For question number 1, I call Paul Martin.
Health Care Facilities (Site Selection)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to improve the process of selecting sites for new health care facilities. (S1O-5736)
I call Sandra White.
Never!
I beg members' pardon. I apologise, but I was still shuffling my papers. I call Malcolm Chisholm.
Draft interim guidance that was issued recently to the national health service requires a thorough and rigorous approach to public involvement and consultation when any substantial development or variation in health services is proposed. Moreover, the Scottish capital investment manual requires NHS bodies to appraise a range of feasible options when selecting sites for new health care facilities in order to enable operational suitability and value for money to be examined and compared before final decisions are made. That guidance is currently being revised.
Does the minister agree that it is absolutely crucial that facilities such as new medium-secure units are selected in the most effective and best sites possible? Does he share my concerns that a 1998 option-appraisal document discounted two sites in Glasgow for public and political reasons? Does he agree that that is unacceptable? Does he also share my concern that Stobhill was selected because the capital receipts that would have come from its sale would have been minimal compared to other sites at the time?
That certainly would be unacceptable if that was what had happened. However, both Paul Martin and I heard Tim Davison, chief executive of the Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust, say to the Health and Community Care Committee that that was not the case. Although someone might have made such a statement at an NHS board meeting, Tim Davison said that the reason that Paul Martin cited for the site's selection was not the case. The trust examined many site options, but one factor that had to be considered was the need to get the medium-secure unit built as quickly as possible. Tim Davison also said that, although receipts from other sites were a relevant and legitimate factor in terms of value for money, it was not the overriding factor that influenced the decision.
Before I call supplementary questions, I remind members that the question is about sites for new facilities. It is not about the wider issues in national health services in Glasgow.
I thank the Presiding Officer for the promotion, although I thought that I had more hair than Mr Chisholm.
That is a crucial issue. As I said in the debate in the Parliament on 12 September, an important report on that will be published this month, which I know MSPs are waiting for. I certainly hope that the report will give impetus to the issue although, as Sandra White knows, we have a considerable amount of time before the changes will be implemented in full.
Given the commitment in the Mental Health (Scotland) Bill to the least restrictive alternative, will the minister guarantee that there will be a medium-secure unit in the west of Scotland that could take appropriate patients out of the state hospital at Carstairs?
As all members will know, we are keen to have a medium-secure unit for Glasgow NHS Board as well as for the other west of Scotland NHS boards. I held a meeting about that with NHS board chairs a few weeks ago, so I know that work is being carried forward on the matter. It is clear that it is important that such units are built as soon as possible so that we can, among other things, deal with people being in Carstairs for longer than they ought to be, which Mary Scanlon referred to.
Does the minister agree that it is wrong that his department should send letters to the director of South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust indicating its support for the building of new ambulatory care and diagnostic units? A letter was sent on 11 September, which was the day before we had a debate in the chamber on whether the Parliament supported the trust's proposals for reorganisation. Does not that letter show a flagrant disregard for the democracy of the Scottish Parliament?
Absolutely not. We would never disregard the democracy of the Scottish Parliament.
We wandered well wide of the question there. We move now to question 2.
Flood Prevention
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in the field of flood prevention. (S1O-5753)
The Executive is taking forward a number of initiatives on flood prevention, such as providing increased resources for local authorities in support of their investment in flood prevention schemes.
I welcome the support that has been given for flood prevention schemes. However, is the minister aware of the cost of promoting minor flood prevention schemes and the length of time that is required for such schemes under present legislation? For example, there is a flooding problem in my constituency that requires urgent attention, but it cannot be dealt with under current legislation. Has the minister any plans to introduce new legislation to simplify procedures for schemes that have a value of less than, say, £250,000?
I think that I am familiar with the scheme to which Trish Godman refers, because I live only a matter of miles from it. I am glad that she welcomes the increased resources because we are expanding those resources to £40 million over the period that is covered by the new Scottish budget.
Notwithstanding what the minister said about considering legislation, will he explain why—given that mitigation of flooding will be one of the indicators of the success of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Bill—he is not using that bill as the legislative vehicle with which to deal with flooding?
The Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Bill, as Fiona McLeod knows, is currently at stage 1 in the Transport and the Environment Committee and I understand that the committee will produce a report soon. When it does, I will consider closely its recommendations on the matter.
The minister will know that the management by farmers of flood plains has a huge part to play in flood prevention. What support will the minister give to farmers and crofters to enable them to preserve and restore flood plains?
We are already taking action. Planning guidelines will involve a presumption against building on flood plains. However, the Executive requires a catchment-based approach to flood prevention. We encourage best practice in councils' consideration of appropriate sustainable solutions to flooding problems. There have been a number of examples of that; I visited one in Linlithgow recently.
The minister will be aware that, in the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Bill, little attempt is made to address flooding problems and their mitigation. Who should be ultimately responsible for the development and delivery of flood management plans? Should it be local authorities or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency?
Local authorities should be responsible.
Drug Users
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in developing an integrated approach to treatment and care of drug users. (S1O-5754)
On 2 October, the Minister for Health and Community Care launched a report by the Executive's effective interventions unit that provides comprehensive information and advice on the provision of integrated care for drug misusers. The report is based on a review of research evidence and on consultation of health care professionals, service providers in the statutory and voluntary sectors and service users.
I thank the minister for his reply. I welcome initiatives such as the increasingly successful use of drug treatment and testing orders in Aberdeen. I hope that that will soon be complemented by the introduction of a drugs court.
We are determined that criminals should not be allowed to benefit from their ill-gotten gains. The recent passage of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, which we will begin to implement in December and will implement in other respects in February of next year, will produce resources that over time we will put back into communities and into treating problems in communities.
Will the minister join me in congratulating the volunteer founders of the You Are Not Alone family support group, which was launched on a shoestring budget two weeks ago in Stranraer? It is a telephone helpline service for addicts and their dependants. Will he undertake to issue guidelines to local and area drug action teams so that they will actively support and encourage such groups and initiatives?
I had the pleasure of meeting the Stranraer Against Drugs group some time ago. I was particularly pleased with the highly effective raid that was conducted recently by Dumfries and Galloway police. I know that the Stranraer Against Drugs group was present at the briefing. The raid was a very effective demonstration of enforcement. Alex Fergusson is right that we must also support family units. The First Minister recently announced for the support of family groups the use of £180,000 of money confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime (Scotland) Act 1995. We also held our first national family conference this year. We will develop support for groups in localities such as Stranraer. Although we are not issuing specific guidelines, we have produced a report on the subject.
Does the minister agree that the integrated approach should include the opportunity to have residential detoxification, rehabilitation and throughcare services? Will he take steps to ensure that we have that in the north-east? Does he share my regret about the demise of the Grampian Addiction Problem Service, which has worked with prostitutes in Aberdeen and elsewhere in the north-east? What steps will he take to ensure that agencies such as health boards and local authorities help, support and encourage community groups such as the Grampian Addiction Problem Service?
The member raised two specific issues, one of which is residential rehabilitation. I have to say that such decision must be judgments of local drug action teams. Community groups often regard residential rehabilitation as the best way of proceeding, but it is not; rather, community-based rehabilitation and withdrawal systems are more effective. We should be cautious about wasting money on rehabilitation.
British Embassies (Contact)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is in regular contact with British embassies. (S1O-5763)
Yes.
I spoke to an ambassador in a European embassy a couple of weeks ago who informed me that she is briefed only by Whitehall departments on policy issues, including issues that are devolved to the Scottish Parliament. On checking the websites of any of the British embassies around the globe, one can find pages that promote Buckingham Palace and Big Ben, but finding any reference to Scotland is like finding a needle in a haystack. Will the minister speak to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and remind it that there is a place called Scotland, which it should be promoting as well, because—for the time being—Scottish taxpayers continue to fund the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and those embassies?
I am always keen to find ways to promote Scotland, and if using embassy websites helps us to do that better, I am happy to pursue that. However, I make it clear that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office does provide appropriate support to ministers and officials when they travel overseas. External relations officials are in daily contact with Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in London and in embassies abroad. I have had personal contact with a number of British embassies and British ambassadors, and not just in Europe. It is only fair to say that the service that ministers receive from British embassies—or high commissions, as when the First Minister visited South Africa recently for the earth summit—when we visit other countries is first class. This is an opportunity to put that on the record.
I welcome the minister's positive response. Given the strong family links between families here in Scotland and in Zimbabwe, has the minister had any contact with the high commission in Harare? If so, has he expressed the concern of families here about the safety of their relatives in Zimbabwe?
I have not had contact with the high commission in Zimbabwe. The matters to which Mr Gallie refers are reserved to Westminster, and are therefore the responsibility of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Scottish Water (Tariff Structures)
To ask the Scottish Executive when Scottish Water will report on its review of tariff structures and whether the review will take account of the impact of recent increases in fixed and volumetric charges on the viability of small businesses. (S1O-5761)
First, I acknowledge Cathy Peattie's interest in the matter on behalf of a number of constituents who have business interests.
Will the minister examine ways in which to address the negative impact that huge water costs are having on small businesses? In my community—in Grangemouth, Bo'ness and Brightons—people tell me about bills for boiling a kettle and flushing the loo once a day that are three times the amount that they used to be. Surely that is not appropriate. We need to find ways of supporting small businesses.
First, I regret deeply that the review is taking so long, but I well recall that during the early passage of the Water Industry (Scotland) Bill in committee and in the chamber I acknowledged that one of the major tasks that faced the water companies was to review charges. I regret to say that if one examines the practices of the three former water authorities, one finds that they were different and that different treatments were applied. One of the things that we have to be careful about is that in some cases, people rush to the conclusion that metering will be the answer. We have also to take account of the fact that in the water industry, a large percentage of the charge is the fixed charge for transmitting the water supply to one's door to make water available 24 hours a day.
Is the minister aware that a business in Coldstream that has the same rateable value as one in Berwick has a water bill that is at least £200 more? Notwithstanding what the minister has just said, what interventions will the minister make to redress such competitive disadvantages, especially given that Borders businesses continue to struggle in the aftermath of the foot-and-mouth outbreak?
I am not saying that the example that Christine Grahame cites is in any way equitable, but I regret to say that the pattern of water charging throughout Scotland is not satisfactory. That is why this fundamental review is under way. I regret that it will take rather longer than I had hoped it would, but I am afraid that it would be impossible for ministers to intervene in individual cases throughout Scotland on the basis of the evidence that we have. We have to await the outcome of the rigorous review.
Question 6 has been withdrawn.
Education (Children with Disabilities)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in ensuring that local authorities are able to introduce strategies that ensure that children with disabilities have equal access to education. (S1O-5751)
All local authorities must prepare their first accessibility strategy by 1 April next year and the Executive has published guidance that provides advice to help education providers with that duty. The Disability Rights Commission is also holding seminars for local authority planning groups on the approach to preparing strategies.
I thank the minister for the money that was announced recently to give children access to specialist equipment. Is the minister aware that families are committed to raising funds to buy specialist information technology equipment? In my constituency, the Clegg family spends a lot of time raising funds to buy IT equipment for a nursery.
I would be happy to examine the circumstances that Kenneth Macintosh describes. It is important to acknowledge that the money that has been made available is to enable local authorities to examine the range of facilities that they provide. The recent investment was not only to provide physical access to buildings, but to provide the kind of equipment that allows children and young people to get the benefits of education.
Will the minister accept that there is a place in certain circumstances for special schools for children who have severe and complex learning difficulties; that decisions about what disposals offer the best outcome for children are sensitive and difficult and that the views of families need to be taken into account as well as those of the experts?
I have no difficulty in giving the member that reassurance. I have always said that our policy of including young people has to take account of the fact that many young people have extremely complex difficulties and might require specialist education, whether that means day provision or residential schooling. I have not changed my view on that.
Fire Services
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it has made to ensure that fire services will be maintained should strike action be taken by firefighters. (S1O-5735)
There are contingency plans in place for a range of possible scenarios, including industrial action in the fire service. Detailed planning is taking place with the military and the emergency services on the arrangements for responding to emergency calls. However, those arrangements cannot replicate fully the cover that is provided by local authority fire brigades. It is still to be hoped that common sense will prevail and that, in the light of the independent review, the Fire Brigades Union will withdraw its wholly unnecessary call for industrial action.
We must be aware that, in the 25 years that have passed since a Labour Government last forced the fire service to the verge of strike action, the availability of military equipment to provide cover in the event of a strike is now rather less than it used to be, with many green goddess fire engines either scrapped or in museums. Similarly, the quality of the equipment that we rely on now is much higher than it was in the past. Will the minister therefore ensure that military personnel have access to existing fire service equipment, should it be required?
I am not in a position to say that. As I said in my answer to Alex Johnstone's first question, we cannot replicate fully the cover that is provided by local authority fire brigades. There will be about 110 green goddess crews, manned by approximately 1,800 personnel. In addition to that, there will be specialist breathing apparatus rescue teams and rescue equipment support teams. The basic green goddess crew consists of six personnel.
Will the Deputy First Minister tell the Parliament whether the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has joined his ministerial working group? I was surprised to hear that COSLA had not been invited to do so at the outset. Will the minister assure the Parliament that the Executive will make it plain to the office of the Deputy Prime Minister that we deprecate his approaches in respect of the fire service review to local government in England but not in Scotland?
Although COSLA is not represented formally on the working group, I discussed the matter with COSLA representatives at an earlier stage in the dispute and officials have subsequently maintained contact with COSLA. The relationship with COSLA is productive. It is not be for me to comment on what the office of the Deputy Prime Minister has said to local authorities south of the border.
Given that the United Kingdom Government fully consulted local authorities in England and Wales on the terms of reference of the fire service review, will the Deputy First Minister explain why the Scottish Executive failed to consult COSLA on the subject? Will he confirm that COSLA will be fully involved in discussions about arrangements for emergency cover in the event of a strike?
COSLA is the employer. In respect of emergency cover, I want to make it clear that the military assets will be under the direct control of the responsible military commander who will direct actions in the event of industrial action. The military commander will do so in consultation with the police and the appropriate fire authority representative. The military will take the final decision on the division of available resources, taking advice where necessary.
Population
To ask the Scottish Executive what the causes are of Scotland's declining population. (S1O-5726)
Since 1981, Scotland's population has declined by an estimated 116,000, or 2 per cent. The main factor contributing to the decline over that period is a net migration out of Scotland of some 136,800 people. The figure is offset by a natural increase of 20,800. In more recent years the rate of net out-migration has fallen. As the birth rate has fallen, deaths have exceeded births and natural decrease has become a more important component of population change than migration.
I am grateful to Dr Simpson for his reply. However, as a doctor, does not he accept that he is mistaking symptoms for causes? [Interruption.] The Labour back benchers will have to employ their ears more often.
The answer to almost 98 per cent of Andrew Wilson's question is no. However, I say to him that, in the year 2000-01, there was an increase in the population. The estimates showed a net in-migration of 9,900. That figure was offset slightly by a natural decrease of 3,900. The figure demonstrates that the Executive's policies are working. It also demonstrates that the Executive has reversed a long trend and that Scotland, as part of the United Kingdom, is a very attractive place to be.
I do not pretend to be an expert on breeding, but I ask the minister whether there is concern about the composition of the population? It seems that, whatever the migratory movements, we are heading towards a more elderly population. Does the minister anticipate that that will give rise to a serious problem in respect of skills provision?
The problem of an aging population exists in all developed countries and it is one that we must address in a range of areas. We must consider the question of ageism because there are many skilled people out there who, having completed a first career, are able to go on to a second. I like to think that I am one of them.
The grain of the Scottish population reflects changes that are happening throughout highly developed countries in the west—in contrast to the still steeply rising populations in poor countries elsewhere in the world. Does not that imbalance in population growth make a nonsense of asylum and immigration policies throughout the west that seek to keep out the very migrant workers who could breathe new life into stalled and dying communities here in the west?
The question of asylum seekers is a serious one. We received some 5,500 asylum-seeker migrants into Scotland in the past year. We are doing our bit to accept people who genuinely need asylum. They can make a major contribution to our society.
Is the minister aware of a serious report in today's edition of The Herald about the 16 per cent drop in the population of Shetland and the Western Isles? As the situation is so serious, I suggest that the time to disperse jobs to those areas is now.
It is slightly beyond my ministerial remit to answer, but the Executive is examining appropriate dispersal of civil service jobs. The question that Mrs Ewing asked, however, is broader: it is a question about rural communities. My colleague Ross Finnie has done much to support rural communities to make them vibrant and alive. That is crucial to a dynamic Scotland, which is part of a dynamic United Kingdom.
Question 10 has been withdrawn.
Alcohol (Highlands)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce binge drinking in the Highlands. (S1O-5721)
The Executive's "Plan for Action on alcohol problems", which was published in January, sets out a range of measures to reduce binge drinking; indeed, reducing binge drinking is one of the plan's two key priorities. The "How Much is Too Much?" national communications strategy, which was launched in April, specifically targets male and female binge drinkers. The plan requires alcohol action teams, including the team covering the Highlands, to assess needs in their areas and to produce local prevention and communications strategies to address those needs by April 2003.
I am sure that the minister is aware of the need to tackle the apparent culture of alcohol misuse among our young people, particularly in the Highland area. The problem often starts when people are young because, in many Highland villages, the pub is the centre of all community activity. Will the minister commit the Executive to exploring the possibility of expanding the number of youth cafes and community centres in Highland areas?
Changing the culture of alcohol use in Scotland is one of the biggest tasks facing the Executive and it will not happen overnight. The Executive is committed to considering a range of measures—both local and national—to address the problem. In the past, we have spoken about specific measures for young people, such as drop-in cafes and education programmes. We want to support such measures to ensure that, in the long term, we bring about a change in attitudes towards drinking.
What is the Executive doing to ensure long-term funding for alcohol and drugs counsellors? Mid Argyll council on alcohol and drugs receives referrals from local doctors, hospitals, social work departments, the reporter to the children's panel and the courts, as well as from clients who refer themselves, on a budget of £2,500. That council wrote to me recently to say that it will have to close at Christmas unless further funding outwith the core of £2,500 can be found and quickly—
Order. The member must not add supplementary information to his question.
As I said, it is important that we support local projects. Once the alcohol action teams have produced their plans for action, we will consider what resources are needed. The Executive has already set money aside under the health improvement plans. Within that budget, we will be seeking to allocate money specifically to local projects.
Fireworks
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce misuse of fireworks. (S1O-5718)
The sale and supply of fireworks are consumer protection matters and as such are reserved. The Department of Trade and Industry runs annual firework safety campaigns, to which the Executive gives its full support. Fire brigades undertake local work in schools and the wider community and the Scottish Executive supplements that by funding regular publicity on fire safety.
It is quite clear that the voluntary code on the sale of fireworks is not working and a Convention of Scottish Local Authorities working group has been set up to consider the issue. Will the minister give an assurance that the Scottish Executive will look seriously at the COSLA report when it is published, as it will deal with the need for giving local authorities full licensing powers? Will he consider that report while allowing MPs at Westminster to press for even tighter controls using their reserved powers?
We will certainly look closely at the COSLA working group's report when it comes out. I take this opportunity to stress that it is important that the voluntary code should be followed and that fireworks should be sold only in the three weeks before 5 November and for a few days afterwards. It is imperative that the voluntary code is followed in every regard—fireworks simply must not be sold to children. That is absolutely vital, this year perhaps more than any other year. We will look closely at the COSLA report and decide whether there are further measures that the Executive can take.
Is the minister aware of the all-party support for my proposed bill, which I lodged today, to introduce a licensing scheme for retailers of fireworks? Will he listen to the concerns of members of all parties in the Parliament, to COSLA, to the police and to the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, as well as to the public? Will he agree to use the powers that he has under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 to amend the current law by regulation, so that we can bring a speedy solution to the gap in the legislation on fireworks? I also ask him to contact Melanie Johnson MP, the minister with responsibility for consumer affairs, who has clearly said that she is happy for Scotland to move ahead on the issue.
It is important that we study the COSLA working group report, which my colleague Dr Jackson mentioned, to see what additional powers are needed. If additional powers are needed and it is appropriate for us to take them, we will consider that carefully. Shona Robison is right to say that the issue is serious, as the cross-party signatures to her bill indicate. We will consider the matter carefully.
Does the minister agree that the problem of fireworks for the public is becoming increasingly bad day by day? In substantial measure, the problem relates to young people. Is he in a position to consider urgently questions of enforcement and of raising the age at which young people can buy fireworks? If he can reduce the supply, perhaps the inconvenience to the public will also be reduced.
The issues that Robert Brown has raised are important. The numbers of people injured in the past three years have been 89, 66 and 82 respectively. Those injuries are often horrific. As a doctor, I have experience of young children who have been injured not because they have been sold fireworks but because fireworks have been used inappropriately or because an accident has occurred. It is horrendous to see the burns that can occur in such situations. It is important that the law is enforced and I know that the police are fully aware of the problem. Beyond that, it is much more important that safety measures are taken. This year of all years, I urge that private bonfire parties, if they are held, be held under the closest possible supervision. Preferably, people should go to large, outdoor events where safety is properly monitored; that is a more appropriate way of celebrating the annual feast.
Will the minister join me and other members in condemning retailers who have ignored the voluntary three-week code on the sale of fireworks—particularly R S McColl in Stewarton in my constituency—by selling fireworks at half price outwith the three-week period? [Applause.]
The response from members speaks for itself. It is absolutely imperative that all people who sell fireworks should adhere to the code. If members are aware of people who do not follow it, they should expose those people in the way that Margaret Jamieson has.
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