SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Environment and Rural Development
Biomass
To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution biomass will make to its climate change programme, for example by increasing microgeneration. (S2O-11620)
The Scottish climate change programme highlights how carbon savings can be made by substituting biomass for fossil fuel and makes commitments for developing the biomass sector. The Executive will shortly publish a biomass action plan, will award grants under a Scottish biomass support scheme and is developing a renewable heat strategy. All those projects will ensure that biomass makes a significant contribution to the Scottish climate change programme.
I look forward to the publication of the action plan. Will the cities, as well as rural communities, be able to reduce their carbon footprints through the use of wood as a fuel? Are plans being made to increase the use of wood as a construction material, utilising its ability to act as a carbon sink to combat global warming?
I do not wish to anticipate the details of the action plan prior to its publication, but it is our hope that biomass will be used where it is appropriate. The proximity of the supply to its use in a biomass plant has an effect on maximum efficiency. However, as Marlyn Glen knows, biomass will be used for generating electricity in other schemes in Scotland, so it may be that cities will benefit across the piece in any event. We will have to consider the detail of the specific proposals in the action plan.
Does the minister accept that, although wood is being seen as the primary source for biomass fuel, there are other technologies? Does he also accept that if the objective of using biomass is to tackle climate change and reduce our emissions, we should consider other biomass technologies, not least anaerobic digestion, which is being pursued in the island of Westray in my constituency? Will he confirm that, as the Deputy First Minister has indicated, not only people who run wood-fuel biomass plants but those who run other types of biomass plant should register an interest in the biomass support scheme and that the biomass action plan will not be confined solely to wood fuel?
I am grateful to Jim Wallace for making that valuable point. It is clear that anaerobic digestion and other techniques play a part in the overall strategy. I am aware of the plant in Westray. There are also plants just north of Turriff and elsewhere in Scotland and there is an experimental plant in the south-west of Scotland. They are an important element of the plan and I confirm that people who run such plants should register for the proposed biomass support scheme.
I am sure that the minister is aware of the proposal by Tullis Russell Papermakers for a 50MW biomass power plant in my constituency. During a visit by the Deputy First Minister to the plant on Monday, an issue arose about the problem of biomass supply. Will the minister speak with his colleague about that and will he agree to meet the Forestry Commission to discuss what actions it can take to guarantee supply for that worthwhile project?
On his return from the plant on Monday, the Deputy First Minister immediately briefed me about the problem that had been raised with him. I confirm to Christine May that I am happy to take up with the Forestry Commission the many points that the managing director of Tullis Russell made during the course of that visit.
Scottish Water (Expenditure)
To ask the Scottish Executive how much Scottish Water's revenue and capital expenditure will be in 2007; what its projected expenditure is for future years, and whether the south of Scotland's share of spending is proportionate to need. (S2O-11648)
Scottish Water's plans for delivering ministers' objectives for 2006 to 2010 are set out in its delivery plan as approved in May 2006. In those objectives, we have specified the standards that apply to the whole of Scotland. Through working with its quality regulators, Scottish Water will ensure that, over the life of the four-year programme, investment is targeted in appropriate areas, including the south of Scotland, to meet those standards. Expenditure will accordingly be appropriate to need in relation to those objectives.
Some have suggested that, even if additional money is given to Scottish Water, it is operating at the limits of its capacity. Does the minister agree with that?
That might be possible because, of course, Scottish Water is delivering the highest level of capital investment of any water company anywhere in the United Kingdom. Therefore, it might not be a surprise that it is at the upper end of performance in relation to capital delivery. I am not sure quite where Mr Brownlee is driving. Scottish Water is delivering a level of investment that is at the highest end of the investment of all of the water companies in the United Kingdom.
Will the minister respond to concerns that regulatory capital value, which is the approach that is endorsed by Ofwat—the Water Services Regulation Authority—and is used by the Water Industry Commission for Scotland to set Scottish Water charges, is responsible for the high charges that have enabled Scottish Water to release back to the Executive, this year, £161.8 million of capital allocated to cover its capital expenditure, given that that constitutes a stealth tax on the people of Scotland and a perverse incentive for Scottish Water to prioritise new infrastructure over the maintenance of existing infrastructure?
As Jim Mather knows, I am not about to agree with his position because I do not agree with the premise on which he advances that argument. He is perfectly entitled to that argument, which is one that, to be fair to him, he makes consistently. However, it is an argument that is not supported in terms of its analysis of how Scottish Water has conducted its affairs. It has not been supported by the water industry commissioner, commission officials, the Audit Committee of this Parliament or the financial adviser to the Audit Committee. Mr Mather and those who support him are entitled to their view but they are in the minority.
Coastal and Marine National Park
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects a decision to be made regarding the location of Scotland's first coastal and marine national park. (S2O-11639)
The Scottish Executive has consulted on a range of matters in relation to the establishment of a coastal and marine national park in Scotland. The consultation has included the criteria for the choice of area and location of the park as well as key benefits that a park could bring and the functions and governance arrangements that the park authority should have. The consultation closed on 10 January.
The minister will be aware that a meeting with stakeholders was held in Dumfries on Monday. I know that the Solway may not be Scottish Natural Heritage's favoured location for the park, but I seek an assurance that its merits will be carefully considered. At that meeting, Claudia Beamish, the Scottish chair of the Socialist Environment and Resources Association, was advised that some people have raised concerns about the implications of a marine national park. I seek the minister's assurance that, where concerns have been expressed, there will be adequate consultation in order to ensure that those views are taken on board if the Solway is chosen as the location of the park.
As I have said on several occasions, the first thing that we must do is analyse all the responses, which contain many detailed points. We have always made it clear that, after that, there will be further consultation before any specific proposal is established. I hope that, if the options were to include the Solway, further consultation that would address the matters raised by the member would be carried out.
Is the minister aware that the Clyde Fishermen's Association, the Mallaig and North West Fishermen's Association and the Western Isles Fishermen's Association have this week submitted a joint submission, in which they state that
Naturally, I am well aware of Fergus Ewing's opposition to a marine national park. Indeed, I was aware of it at least 12 weeks in advance of the consultation paper being issued. Obviously, I can respect such a consistent view, even if it is not informed by the documentation that accompanied the consultation.
Glasgow Parks Young Park Rangers Scheme
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will monitor the work of Community Service Volunteers in setting up the proposed Glasgow parks young park rangers scheme. (S2O-11629)
The scheme is one of a number of green-space-related projects that the Executive is supporting this financial year. The conditions of our grant to Community Service Volunteers include a requirement for progress reports to be provided at least every three months during the period of the grant. The first report, covering the period to 31 December 2006, is expected shortly. At the local level, CSV and Glasgow City Council's land services department have agreed management arrangements that include regular monitoring and assessment of the projects that are under way. Those will feed through to the progress reports.
I am grateful for that detailed reply.
I do not wish to pre-empt the response that might be given by my future deputy minister—who I hope will be formally appointed later today—but one might anticipate that her diary will be a little more accommodating than my own. If her appointment as deputy minister is confirmed later, I am sure that she will give every consideration to the member's suggestion.
Genetically Modified Food
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the view of Scotland's new chief scientific adviser, Professor Anne Glover, that people should embrace genetically modified food as an answer to poverty, hunger and toxic pollution. (S2O-11645)
First, as an independent chief scientific adviser to the Scottish Executive, Professor Glover is entitled to express her own views on scientific matters. On genetic modification, she has clearly indicated that the role of scientists is to provide the evidential base but decisions on the wider policy are for politicians. The Executive's position on genetically modified food is unchanged. Our position remains that we want to safeguard human health and to require labelling that allows consumers to make their own choices.
As the minister will be aware, European consumers have rejected the idea of GM food time and again. Our shoppers increasingly say that they want natural, local and traceable food. This week, Friends of the Earth International produced a report that reveals that GM crops use more pesticides, involve higher costs and produce lower-quality crops. Will the minister encourage Professor Glover to read that report and to give advice that ensures that the clean image of Scotland's food brands remains one of quality, distinctive taste, and safety for the environment in which they grow?
It would be disappointing if Professor Glover did not keep herself apprised of developments in the scientific evidence on GM foods and food safety. Mr Gibson was moving into areas of food safety that are really for my colleague the Minister for Health and Community Care. As Mr Gibson knows, the Food Standards Agency Scotland takes a keen interest in developments and papers in relation to genetically modified food. The agency has from time to time made pronouncements on these issues.
I stumbled this week across the launch of the Executive's consultation on environmental liability, and I noted that there was no accompanying press release to let people know about it. I also noted that there was no mention of strict liability for environmental damage. The Welsh Assembly Government consultation identifies strict liability as the preferred option, but the Executive's consultation seems to be somewhat lacking. Did Professor Glover have a role in advising the minister's department on the options for the consultation?
Having stumbled into the consultation, Mr Ruskell appears also to have stumbled into drawing conclusions based on very little evidence. I hope that he did not hurt himself while stumbling—that would have been unfortunate. It stretches credibility too far to suggest that an article in the Sunday papers in some way influenced the publication of a paper on strict liability under the environmental directive. We have launched our consultation and I look forward to hearing Mr Ruskell's response.
Agricultural Colleges
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to assist agricultural colleges to fulfil their potential in helping to develop the rural economy. (S2O-11592)
The Scottish Executive assists agricultural colleges directly through the commissioning of services from the Scottish Agricultural College and indirectly through the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council's funding of Barony, Elmwood and Oatridge colleges.
The agricultural colleges tell me that—because they are relatively small compared with the big city colleges, and because of the sort of work that they do—they come out rather badly from the existing funding formula. The agricultural colleges feel that, in addition to acting as colleges providing education for individual people, they could make much more of a contribution to the rural economy—for example, by developing interesting projects—if they had a little bit of support. The colleges wonder whether they could receive support from the minister's department as well as from the people who normally support education colleges.
Donald Gorrie's question was specific to the agricultural colleges. In addition to commissioning substantial amounts of research, education and wider rural development from the Scottish Agricultural College, my department is the prime funder for the Scottish agricultural and biological research institutes, which also contribute to wider rural development.
Contaminated Land Clean-up Funding (Glasgow)
To ask the Scottish Executive how Glasgow will benefit from its allocation of the funding to clean up contaminated land. (S2O-11624)
Glasgow City Council will receive £540,000 from the package of resources announced on 12 December 2006 for specific projects that are aimed at cleaning up contaminated sites in 2007-08. That will enable the council to carry out remediation work at the site of the proposed national indoor sports arena and at four other locations in the Clyde gateway regeneration initiative area in Glasgow's east end.
I am delighted to hear that, and I know that some of that money is coming to Govan. I have spoken today to representatives of Govan Workspace who are delighted that they will now be able to do things that they were previously not able to do. However, it is an on-going problem and it is a big programme, as there is a lot of contaminated land in the area. Will the programme to which the minister has referred be a continuing programme? Can we look in future years to further investment in this important and much-needed area?
I am grateful to the member for mentioning his constituency interest. He is absolutely right to ask about continuing investment. The initial sums for Kintra Street, Dunsmuir Street and Neptune Street are the first part, but the central Govan action plan, which was approved by the council committee in December, has also identified another five sites, some of which will be part of the projects that will have to be considered as part of the wider allocation of funds within the scheme.
Health and Community Care
Community Hospitals (Western Isles)
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the strategy to enhance community hospitals will have on health care in the Western Isles. (S2O-11636)
We believe that "Developing Community Hospitals: A Strategy for Scotland" will have a positive effect on health care in the Western Isles. The strategy, published on 20 December 2006, provides a blueprint for national health service boards and their community health partnerships to develop modern, locally sustainable community hospital services.
I thank the minister for that response, and I also formally put on record my thanks to him for his decisive action in his intervention last summer, which ensured that the management of Western Isles NHS Board was placed firmly back on track.
To the question, please.
Yes, Presiding Officer. Mr Gibson betrayed his ignorance when he asked a parliamentary question before the Christmas break about a hospital that had not even been built. He looked for data for the years between 1998—
A question, please, Mr Morrison.
Does the minister agree that such a staggering level of ignorance demonstrated by a legislator does not inspire confidence, and does he agree that it is a relief that Mr Gibson has nothing to do with the delivery of health services in the Western Isles?
What inspires confidence is the Kerr report, which provides a national framework. What inspires confidence is "Delivering for Health". Medical leaders—particularly the British Medical Association in Scotland—recognised recently that our strategy, which has community hospitals at its heart, cannot be unpicked. Our vision for the future of health services in Scotland, as set out in "Delivering for Health", demands that new approach, and the report to which Alasdair Morrison referred suits the different needs of all parts of Scotland in different ways. I am sure that that will translate into more effective local services, closer to where people want them.
Will the minister authorise the funding of terminal care units in NHS hospitals in small island communities, such as St Brendan's hospital in Barra, where a local hospice campaign has strong support, so that such facilities can meet local needs locally, instead of there being a wrench for families when their loved ones need to be taken to larger units far away from home?
I am always happy to consider such ideas. Of course, I would need much more detail on the project to which Rob Gibson refers. We will continue to support the hospice movement throughout Scotland both here and through our national health service, with funding, resources, support and medical and other clinical advice. I repeat that I am happy to consider all proposals like the one that Rob Gibson makes. I am involved in the hospice movement and I understand the key role that hospices play in communities, by doing a different thing from our national health service. I am sure that the hospice service is recognised by all in this chamber.
Will the minister give assurances to patients in the Western Isles that such enhancements as have been mentioned will offset some of the frequently documented problems with NHS Highland and NHS 24?
The member refers to frequently documented problems, but I suggest that he cannot be looking at up-to-date material about the delivery of health care services throughout Scotland, including the Highlands and Islands and the Western Isles. Despite all the press coverage about the management of Western Isles NHS Board, I have to say that the delivery by staff in the Western Isles was second to none. They performed extremely well and their performance was innovative and creative, leading to substantial reductions in waiting times and waiting lists and providing local services such as the renal service.
Free Personal Care (Waiting Lists)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in reducing local authority waiting lists for free personal care. (S2O-11644)
Local authorities are responsible for managing their services, which should include the active management of any waiting list for the provision of services to meet an assessed need for community care. We are working with councils and other partners to evaluate the operation of the free personal care policy and we will publish our findings shortly.
We welcome the comments by the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform on 13 December, when he conceded that free personal care requires to be more adequately funded. However, does the minister agree that too many people are still on waiting lists for free personal care and that it is unacceptable to expect those people and their families to wait until April for a better financial settlement? What action will the minister take now to end waiting lists, which have been operated by three quarters of Scotland's councils?
If Shona Robison had listened to my answer, she would have understood that it is for local authorities to take action. We are working with local authorities on that. I hope that Shona Robison can find it in herself to welcome the progress that has been made by her local authority, Dundee City Council, which has achieved a significant reduction in the number of service users who are awaiting funding for care home placements and has reduced to nil the waiting list for self-funders, including those in residential homes, in respect of free personal care. Other councils have achieved similar success.
In view of on-going concerns about the provision of free personal care, can the minister say when the Executive will publish the results of its review into the funding of the policy?
Yes. As I said, I expect to publish the results shortly. I hope to attend a meeting of the Health Committee during the next few weeks to comment on the findings.
Carers (Respite)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to increase respite provision for carers. (S2O-11584)
Local partnerships are required to report to ministers annually on local improvement targets for carers' assessments and respite services, and recent performance indicators from Audit Scotland indicate that the provision of respite care continues to grow. We have also set up a task group in response to the care 21 report "The Future of Unpaid Care in Scotland", which is updating guidance on access to respite services and gathering further evidence on respite care provision and need.
Does the minister agree that in Scotland we owe a tremendous amount—morally and in monetary terms—to the people who spend so much time and who sacrifice so much of their own lives supporting people who are less well off than they are? Does he also agree that it is essential that there is sufficient respite provision to help carers, some of whom care for people 24 hours a day?
I agree with Bill Aitken's comments on the important role that is often played by unpaid carers in providing care to relatives and others who need care. We acknowledge that respite provision is a key issue if we are to improve the circumstances in which carers deliver support, which is why we have significantly increased the amount of funding we provide through grant-aided expenditure to local authorities for the delivery of respite care. I am pleased that funding is increasing. Bill Aitken is right to highlight the issue, which carers themselves raised as the care 21 report was prepared. We are taking forward our work on the matter.
The minister will be aware of recommendation 20, on the improvement of respite care services, in the care 21 report. Does he recognise that respite care is perhaps the biggest issue that concerns carers? As Mr Aitken said, carers are perfectly willing to deliver the required level of support to those in their families or others, but a little bit of respite support would make all the difference to carers in Scotland. Will the minister give Parliament a sense of the quantum improvement in respite services that the task group is considering? How does he monitor whether local authorities are delivering his expectations through increased GAE funding?
The task group is currently assessing evidence. I do not want to prejudge its conclusions. However, recommendation 20 in the care 21 report, to which Mr Swinney referred, indicated a significant level of need and we do not dispute it. That is why we have more than quadrupled support for local authorities for the provision of respite care.
Lanark Community Casualty Facility
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the new community casualty facility in Lanark to be operational. (S2O-11619)
I am advised by NHS Lanarkshire that the Lanark community casualty unit will be operational by this time next year.
I am sure that the facility will be very much appreciated by my constituents. When NHS Lanarkshire determines the level of service that will be available in the community casualty facility, will the minister urge it to ensure that there is adequate consultation of all stakeholders, particularly local service users and patients, who are crucial to the success of the facility and moving demand away from the front door of Wishaw general's accident and emergency unit?
I am happy to provide that assurance. Karen Gillon referred to the need for community casualty units to deal with the demand in communities. We recognise that, which is why I am pleased that NHS Lanarkshire will be able to make the CCU operational as early as it can. I understand that it will consider further the levels of service in the unit. I expect it to make the availability of services in the unit as widely known as possible. I also expect it to continue to consult local stakeholders, including Karen Gillon, other stakeholders to whom she referred and the local public partnership forum, in order to assess need and the wishes of the local community in developing the services at that unit.
Accident and Emergency Services<br />(Ayr Hospital)
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the recent announcement by the Minister for Health and Community Care about accident and emergency services in Ayrshire and Arran, when the downgrading of Ayr hospital's accident and emergency department will begin. (S2O-11650)
The plans are not about downgrading Ayr hospital. The proposals that I approved under NHS Ayrshire and Arran's review of services project will result in more than £40 million of capital investment in Ayr hospital. Ayr will become the major planned care hospital for Ayrshire and Arran, with dedicated in-patient facilities, theatres and the support services that are necessary to provide a wide range of safe, effective and highly specialised services. The £30 million that the Executive is making available will allow the cancer unit to be developed two years ahead of plan and the theatre unit to be progressed one year ahead of plan.
I pick the minister up on his pledge to maintain Ayr hospital's A and E unit until all community casualty facilities and community-based services are in place. Is not it the case, as Professor David Kerr has intimated to local elected representatives, that such a pledge cannot be fulfilled in the real world? Staffing the new services will require redeployment of existing staff who are currently based at Ayr hospital. In other words, building up the new services can be achieved only by winding down the existing A and E department. The pledge is worthless, is it not?
The member is thoroughly mistaken, and he is putting doubt in the minds of the community in Ayrshire and Arran when there is none. I have made it clear to NHS Ayrshire and Arran that the community casualty facilities must be up and running before any changes can take place to the A and E unit in Ayr hospital, and I have received an assurance from Professor Stevely, who is on the board. I dutifully request that the member stop putting about misinformation about the investment that we are making and that he stop using the language of closure and downgrading when we are seeking to improve the services for the community in Ayrshire and Arran.
St John's Hospital (Admissions)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards rezoning medical admissions to St John's hospital in Livingston. (S2O-11637)
As the member will be aware, that is a matter for NHS Lothian. However, I understand that the NHS board is on course to meet its target of February 2008 for completion of the work. It has carried out preliminary scoping work on current patient flows and travel and transport issues and has established a range of basic principles. The board now intends to engage with patient groups—including representatives from West Lothian—at a workshop on 1 February. The aim will be to develop firm proposals for further consultation. That is a positive step, as input from people who are likely to use services at St John's is crucial.
I am sure that the minister will be aware that, in late 2004, NHS Lothian gave a number of key commitments to maintain the sustainability of services at St John's. Several have been met, including those on maintaining intensive therapy unit services, additional consultant posts in obstetrics, a centre for head and neck surgery, and university teaching status.
I detect a developing theme—one of investment from the Executive on the issues that Bristow Muldoon raises. That includes the renal unit, the centre for mothers with severe post-natal depression, the phototherapy unit, an enhancement of cardiology services, university teaching hospital status and on-going work on short-stay surgical patients. The other part of the theme is the Scottish National Party's issuing of a leaflet saying that the hospital was going to close, again creating mischief and unnecessary concern in communities. Our record of investment in a hospital that the SNP said would close shows that to be nonsense.
In a note of positive unity, I echo Bristow Muldoon's emphasis that rezoning is vital for St John's. I want also to point out that the SNP has never indicated that the hospital would close.
The latter point is part of the process that the board will be involved in. The purpose of the consultation is to ensure that such views are taken on board. I, too, share the view that zoning is extremely important for St John's, and I am sure that the process will go extremely well.
The rezoning is essential to ensure the optimal use of St John's hospital, but it will also provide a more effective and efficient service for the people of Edinburgh and the Lothians. Does the minister agree that the key to making it work will be ensuring that Edinburgh patients can reach St John's hospital, just as my constituents have issues about travelling to hospitals in Edinburgh? What progress has he made in discussing with transport colleagues in the Executive how best to meet the transport needs of all patients?
We continue to work with the boards, the Scottish Ambulance Service and others on the transport challenges that we face. With investment, we have continued to improve the ambulance service and patient transport significantly. I take the member's point about building a service that connects the single system that we have in our NHS in Scotland to allow patients from all parts of Scotland to use appropriate NHS facilities. We will continue to do that. As in Lothian, that can be done elsewhere in Scotland, such as in Ayrshire and Glasgow, only with proper and appropriate transport. I will continue to work with individual boards on their transport plans. An increasing emphasis is now being placed on the recruitment of transport specialists, as it is on investment in patient transport. I should, of course, mention in that regard our continuing investment in the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Community Care
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the quality of the care provided in the community if primary care levels are increased above the current 98 per cent as a result of the planned reduction in hospital intervention. (S2O-11586)
I do not recognise the figure of 98 per cent in the member's question. I have said on many occasions that 90 per cent of patients' interaction with the national health service starts and ends in primary care, which may be what the member is referring to. Continuous improvement in the quality of care is paramount to all health services, whether they are provided in hospital or community settings.
As the minister will appreciate, it is essential to retain experienced nurses within primary care, particularly given that they may have to deal with more complex cases. Over recent weeks, many nurses have told me of their complete demoralisation because of their new banding under agenda for change. Nurses with between 20 and 30 years of experience, and who have additional certificates in, for example, the treatment of asthma and leg ulcers, have been put into the same band as newly qualified nurses. If something cannot be done about that, it will be difficult for us to retain them. What can be done to retain our experienced nurses, whom we definitely need to keep?
I agree absolutely with the member's final point on the need to retain nursing professionals in the health service. The agenda for change process is the most significant industrial change in the history of the NHS in Scotland. The changes are being made hand in hand—in absolute partnership—with the trade unions and workforce representatives. Measures are in place in every part of the process to ensure that appeals can be made and consideration given to cases where people feel that their grade as a result of agenda for change is not right. Appeals are part of agenda for change and we want them to be heard. Agenda for change is a big job, but it is being done in absolute partnership with the trade unions. It was set up in that manner in order to ensure the quality of and confidence in the process.
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