SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Civil Service
To ask the Scottish Executive what its current policy is in regard to civil service job dispersal within Scotland. (S1O-1657)
The Scottish Executive's policy on the location and relocation of civil service jobs remains as set out by the First Minister in his answer of 15 September 1999 to question S1W-1558 from Duncan McNeil. We are committed to the policy and will address location issues for bodies covered by it as opportunities arise.
Does the Scottish Executive plan to establish any new agencies or units or to reorganise any existing ones? Has a clear, open and transparent bidding process been established for such location and relocation decisions? Will preference be given to areas such as Fife and Dundee, both of which have a low ratio of civil service jobs per 10,000 population—three per 10,000 in Fife and eight per 10,000 in Dundee?
The policy is clear. Where existing leases in Edinburgh are coming to an end, the location of departments or agencies will be reviewed. Where new agencies or departments are being created, or where existing agencies or departments are being merged, new locations will be considered. That will happen on every occasion.
We all believed that the establishment of the Scottish Parliament would ensure that there would be no M8 corridor. As someone who represents a Highland seat, I think that that is very important. Will the minister comment on the situation at the Customs and Excise office in Elgin, where there will be a 60 per cent reduction in staff, rather than the 6 per cent recommended by the Government? If the Executive is to take action on dispersal, will it consider the need to retain existing expertise and knowledge, particularly in a field as sensitive as the work of Customs and Excise, which deals with not only the whisky industry in the area, but the problem of illegal drugs entering the country?
We are dealing with agencies and departments that come within the remit of the Scottish Executive and of this Parliament. For the Highlands, the issue is not just about dispersal from Edinburgh or from the M8 corridor. Even within the Highlands, there may be issues surrounding dispersal from Inverness to ensure that prosperity is shared. These are important issues, and I hope that we can address them all in due course, particularly for areas such as Moray.
New Deal
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ask the appropriate joint ministerial committee to initiate a review of the new deal. (S1O-1679)
The new deal continues to perform well in Scotland. Since the programme was introduced, 23,000 young people have secured jobs. We are committed to a continuous improvement strategy for the new deal and the Scottish new deal advisory task force is actively monitoring performance and progress.
We all share the objective of getting people off welfare and into work. However, will the minister take cognisance of the report published last month by the House of Commons Select Committee on Education and Employment, which concluded that the new deal was not operating effectively enough in areas of high unemployment? In view of the fact that less than a fifth of the new deal budget for Scotland has been spent in the past three years, does the minister think that now is the appropriate time to devolve all responsibility for the new deal in Scotland to the Scottish Parliament?
No, I do not think that that would be an appropriate course of action to take. Alex Neil knows that there is a constant review of the new deal. The recent changes, with an improved advisory process and the addition of a range of external gateways, are addressing some of the issues for the new deal for the 25-plus age group. Improvements to the new deal for the 55-plus age group are also being introduced.
Housing (Glasgow)
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the proposed Glasgow housing association's VAT liability. (S1O-1694)
VAT implications will depend upon the structures that are ultimately put in place.
The minister will be aware of the Ernst & Young report, which states that the VAT liability is likely to be £200 million. Does he recognise that the UK Treasury is unlikely to allow the books to be cooked to mitigate that liability? Does he admit that, if the Glasgow scheme is done on a private basis, it could cost £200 million more than if it were done through the public purse?
That report indicates that there is a potential liability of £200 million, but Fiona Hyslop omitted to say that that figure should be measured against the figure of eight times that amount—the development will allow for investment of £1.6 billion. The proposal that is being developed in Glasgow will deal with debt, invest in housing, have greater tenant involvement and rent stability and create 3,000 jobs. That will all be done before we reach the SNP's mythical independence date of 2007.
I thought that Frank McAveety was really one of us.
Local authority responsibility for demolition primarily lies with Glasgow City Council. The framework document for developing the Glasgow housing association requires that, in future, tenants will be fully involved in any decisions about demolitions in their area.
Is the minister aware of the genuine concern felt by many communities in Glasgow that their homes will be demolished following the proposed Glasgow housing stock transfer? Will he advise the chamber how many homes will be demolished following stock transfer, when tenants will be notified and where they will be rehoused?
It is important that we handle any debate on renewal of housing sensitively. Like many other MSPs who are former members of local authorities, I think that the matter should be dealt with in an understanding fashion.
Does the minister agree that, if the stock transfer does not proceed, and if the appropriate investment in Glasgow's housing is not made, demolition will become commonplace in Glasgow, rather than occasional as it is at present?
We must ensure that we have the investment in place that Glasgow requires over the next period. The framework document lays out in outline terms how we can best deliver that investment. Ultimately, this is for the tenants of Glasgow to decide. I have great confidence in the people of Glasgow; they are fairly pragmatic and realistic and will determine their views once they have received fuller information. I am fairly confident that once that is done we will have the investment, which will meet the aim that Bill Aitken and I share—that people should have decent and affordable social rented housing in Glasgow.
Scottish Arts Council
To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Scottish Arts Council will play in the development of the creative industries. (S1O-1663)
The creative industries make an enormous contribution, both culturally and economically, to the lives of people and communities throughout Scotland, and have been identified as one of the key areas to be addressed in the development of the national cultural strategy. The Scottish Arts Council will have an important role to play, in conjunction with Scottish Enterprise, in developing the sector in the future.
Can the minister give specific examples of the areas of work that are to be prioritised?
The priority areas, in which Scots are already making their mark worldwide, are music, publishing, games software and crafts, and increasingly digital media, design and architecture. Currently, the creative industries account for approximately £5.3 billion in the Scottish economy and contribute 70,000 jobs.
Can the minister tell us the current position of the national policy on architecture that the Scottish Executive is developing? What part will the Scottish Arts Council play in that?
We are at the end of the consultation period on the national policy on architecture. We will be publishing a response to the consultation in the summer, and the policy document will be in place early in the new year.
Homelessness
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take as a result of the recent survey into begging and homelessness carried out by the University of Glasgow on behalf of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. (S1O-1665)
The Executive welcomes the report, which sets out important new information on the overlap between rough sleeping and begging in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The findings of the report support the Executive's approach of providing £36 million for the rough sleepers initiative to address causes and to find sustainable solutions. Suzanne Fitzpatrick, one of the authors of the report, is also a member of the Glasgow review team and the homelessness task force.
Does the minister agree that the magazine The Big Issue in Scotland provides a valuable source of income for homeless people and often helps them to avoid crime? Does he also agree that any resettlement package that is put together with homeless people in mind should take account of the fact that there is a need to provide all-round support and assistance, particularly with regard to income?
I agree with Patricia Ferguson. We need to find ways in which to support individuals who find themselves rough sleeping. In addition, there must be support services to ensure that people do not return to rough sleeping, even after a short period of rehabilitation. We want to work closely with organisations such as The Big Issue in Scotland Ltd, which will itself address many of the issues that are raised in the report. We hope that we have all-party support—I think that we have—to deliver an approach that will ensure that rough sleeping is eliminated in the lifetime of this Parliament.
Does the minister agree that it did not say much for Scottish generosity and hospitality when recently some asylum seekers were arrested and sent back to London for allegedly begging in the streets of Scotland? Will the Scottish Executive send appropriate guidance to all Scottish local authorities and police forces to ensure that there is no repetition of such an occurrence and that people who seek refuge in Scotland are given a more positive reception?
In that instance, one of the findings was that many of the individuals who were involved in those activities were not necessarily those who had been sent up to the city of Glasgow under the refugee programme, but those who, in fact, had slipped through the net. We share the concerns that have been raised. We should ensure that people behave appropriately in such situations and that the public interest is looked after. On balance, the local authority was left with little or no choice but to return those individuals, but I contrast that with the tremendous support that Glasgow City Council has given to the refugee programme and with the fact that it has pioneered some good developments in that respect. On balance, the local authority has been positive rather than negative.
Tiree Mart (Funding)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding for the new mart facility on Tiree will be made available. (S1O-1688)
I am sorry to say that it is too early to give such a firm commitment. I intend to use the new European rural development regulation, which will be available later this year, to assist in such projects, and I am especially anxious that the use of that regulation should be of particular benefit to those in remote and rural island communities.
I am glad that the minister is aware of the work that is being done by crofters and farmers, Argyll and Bute Council, Argyll and the Islands Enterprise, and United Auctions, which between them have managed to raise half the funding that is required for the mart. Will the minister consult, or agree to meet, one or all of those groups when he considers the decision?
I am certainly happy to encourage the widest possible community debate to try to resolve the problems that prevented the success of the earlier application for funding. I—or the department—will be happy to co-ordinate with all the bodies. Indeed, we are in discussions with almost all the bodies that are working on the project.
Industrial Museums
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address the financial situation of industrial museums in Scotland, particularly the Scottish Mining Museum at Newtongrange, Midlothian. (S1O-1646)
We have made it clear that we have a statutory responsibility to provide funds for the national museums and galleries, but cannot be expected to fund museums in the independent sector for which we have no responsibility. Nevertheless, last year we made available £100,000 to the Scottish Mining Museum to keep it in business and to engage consultants.
I thank the minister for his full reply. From his answer, he is no doubt aware that industrial museums, such as Summerlee—the birthplace of Keir Hardie—are important in Scotland.
As Brian Monteith knows, the problem is that we have 160 independent museums in Scotland, all of which were set up without reference to the Executive and many with unrealistic projections. We cannot be expected to fund all those museums.
The Wanlockhead Lead Mining Museum was recently given one of the Scottish Tourist Board's highest accolades. Does the minister agree that we do not want to lose vital parts of our national heritage, and vital businesses in economically deprived areas, because of temporary factors such as the downturn in tourism that has been caused by the high value of the pound?
Again, I reaffirm my support for industrial—indeed, any—museums that are part of our national heritage. The problem arises when a large number of such museums are set up without any reference to the Executive—they are set up without any realistic projections and we cannot be expected to fund them all. We do what we can, but the Executive has responsibilities to our national museums, which must take priority.
The minister will be aware of the financial difficulties that are faced by the Scottish Maritime Museum in my constituency. Will he give an assurance that he will work with the museum's directors to try to find a resolution to the funding difficulties so as to avoid the loss of some 80 jobs and an essential part of Scotland's maritime heritage?
I recently visited part of the Scottish Maritime Museum—and a splendid museum it is. I dealt with this issue in my previous role as a Scottish Office minister, when I made available additional funds to the museum so that it could review its structures and its future. In all such cases, we are willing to work with the museums and do what we can, because all museums play a vital part in the nation's culture. Again, however, I enter the caveat: the Scottish Executive cannot simply be expected to fund museums that have been set up independently.
Wick Airport
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-1544 by Sarah Boyack on 6 April 2000, whether the necessary funding will be made available for resurfacing the main runway at Wick airport. (S1O-1659)
The operator of Wick airport, Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, is continuing to give the highest priority to making preparations for the resurfacing of the airport's main runway.
I am sure that the minister will agree that the state of the runway presents a threat to the economy of the far north. Some say this and some say that, but it is not clear to the general public whether HIAL has already been given the money for this project or whether it is seeking additional funding from the Scottish Executive. Will the minister look into this problem as a matter of some urgency?
I am well aware of the background to this issue. Over the past couple of years, HIAL has had to cope with unexpected financial as well as regulatory pressures, which has put pressure on the organisation. I am currently considering HIAL's funding arrangements and intend to make an announcement shortly.
The minister has conceded that the resurfacing work is vital to the whole economy of Caithness. Will she also concede that money for the work was in the Highlands budget for last year, but that that had to be rejigged because of the scandal of the Ministry of Defence charging £1 million for the purchase of the airport in Stornoway, under the threat of selling it to the private sector? Is that not another example of why Scotland needs to be independent, so that we can deal with the Ministry of Defence?
I am extremely sorry to have to disappoint Dr Ewing, but that is not the case. As I stated to Mr Jamie Stone, there were unexpected financial as well as regulatory pressures, such as the removal of oil-related traffic from Sumburgh to Scrabster and the withdrawal by KLM UK of its services from Inverness to Stansted and Amsterdam. HIAL must also deal with regulatory issues, including the level of fire cover at its airports and environmental works relating to the use of de-icer fluid. As I told Mr Stone, I am currently considering the funding arrangements for HIAL and I expect to make an announcement shortly.
Mobile Phone Licences (Funds)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with Her Majesty's Government about the application in Scotland of the funds raised during the current mobile phone licence auction. (S1O-1647)
No.
I thank Mr McConnell for at least answering the question. Does the minister agree that in the 21st century information and communications technology will be as vital an infrastructure as road and rail were in the 20th century? Does he accept that asymmetric digital subscriber line and wireless application protocol mobile phone technology will not be available to everyone in Scotland if only commercial considerations apply in its deployment? Does he agree that public investment in Scotland's ICT infrastructure would be a good use of the funds raised during the licence auction?
In this financial year there is a record level of public investment in services and infrastructure across Scotland. That is good news for Scotland and one of the benefits of having a prudent approach to the economy, as Mr Mundell knows. Although technology and infrastructure is important in the 21st century, it is also important that the private sector recognises its responsibilities. It is making a lot of money out of this new technology and its infrastructure, and it should be investing to ensure that that is in place right across Scotland, including rural Scotland.
I have a simple question. Why has the minister not asked the chancellor about the licence auction money?
Because the discussions that we have with the Treasury—with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury as well as with the Chancellor of the Exchequer—are about the implementation of the funding policy that secures Scotland a higher-than-average increase in expenditure on every occasion that public funds are distributed. That is a good deal for Scotland and, when the chancellor pays off the national debt, that assists us.
National Health Service
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for walk-in-walk-out hospitals and one-stop clinics in Scotland. (S1O-1686)
We are currently taking forward the commitment set out in our programme for government to launch a new generation of walk-in-walk-out hospitals and to establish an additional 80 one-stop clinics by 2002.
Given that one-stop clinics and walk-in-walk-out hospitals require considerable investment in diagnostic scanning and radiography equipment, will the minister explain how that will be achieved when capital spending on equipment is currently less than half what it was in 1997; when, as tonight's Edinburgh Evening News shows, in Lothian it is down by 75 per cent over the past four years; and when even her own proposed future increases will still leave the national health service with less capital spending than there was under the Conservatives in 1995 and 1996?
Let us keep the discussion to walk-in-walk-out hospitals, please.
I remind the member, and other members in the chamber, that delivering the new, effective and more responsive types of care to which we are committed requires additional investment, changes to working practices and investment in infrastructure. We are delivering on all those things.
I remind members that questions must relate to the main question.
If walk-in-walk-out hospitals and one-stop clinics are to be successful, among the main reasons for that will be a redesign of services and new ways of utilising staff. What discussions has the Executive had with professional staff bodies and unions about the impact of ambulatory care and diagnostic centres and one-stop clinics on working practices, training, grading and professional boundaries?
We now have a continuous dialogue with professional bodies, in relation not only to new ways of delivering services, but to the much wider range of changes and developments that are taking place in the service. The essence of the partnership working approach that we are trying to establish in the NHS in Scotland—towards which we have taken significant steps—is that we do not just bring people together once and once only on a specific issue, but have a continuous dialogue.
Railways (Electrification)
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made or proposes to make regarding the electrification of the east coast main line. (S1O-1664)
The Scottish Executive will be able to issue advice to the strategic rail authority on the strategic priorities for the east coast main line franchise. It will be for the train operating companies and Railtrack to provide the necessary infrastructure to meet the terms of that franchise.
Given that Virgin and Great North Eastern Railway are seeking a 21-year or 22-year franchise, if a generation is not to pass without electrification, will the minister confirm to the Parliament that she will give direction and guidance that will make it a condition of the franchise that there will be electrification north of the city of Edinburgh, allowing electrification from London through to Aberdeen? Will she make that a condition? Will she give that direction and guidance?
I know from Mr MacAskill's series of questions on electrification that he is extremely interested in the issue. I repeat to him the point that I have made on previous occasions: the critical issue for the east coast main line franchise is the quality of service that can be provided by the rail companies. Passengers are not interested in how the train is powered; they are interested in the regularity and comfort of the trains. They are interested in our ensuring that the franchise that we get is better than the one that we have at the moment. That will be my priority.
I thank Sarah Boyack for that answer. Will she confirm that Railtrack has published its view that a two-hour journey time can be achieved between Aberdeen and Edinburgh, using modern diesel trains, by 2011? Will she also confirm that a commitment by the strategic rail authority to bring forward that target date from 2011 to 2006 would meet many of the aspirations for rail enhancement on the east coast main line?
I am happy to confirm the points that Mr Macdonald made. The key issue is that constructive dialogue is taking place within the rail industry and with the communities that are served on that route. The challenge before us is to maximise both the quality of service and the line speeds. I think that the measures in place will give us that.
In giving guidance to the Government about the award of the east coast main line franchise, has the Executive considered making a willingness on the part of Virgin or GNER to fund a central Borders railway line one of the key criteria for deciding which bid to recommend?
I do not think that that is to do with the east coast main line, if my geography serves me right.
It is in relation to the east coast franchise, which has been the subject of the questions asked so far.
No. We will move on to question 13.
Manufacturing
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement about productivity levels in Scotland's manufacturing industry and any work it is undertaking in conjunction with industry to improve productivity in Scotland. (S1O-1691)
Estimates suggest that, while manufacturing productivity has grown strongly in Scotland over recent years, the level of output per person employed in the sector is marginally below that in the UK. The latest figures are £33,435 per person in Scotland and £33,614 per person in the UK. The Scottish Executive's strong commitment to helping manufacturers raise productivity is reflected in "Created in Scotland—The Way Forward for Scottish Manufacturing in the 21st Century", which was published in March. It was one of the first and most important documents to be produced by the enterprise and lifelong learning department. It indicates a wide range of measures to improve competitiveness and productivity. It has been widely welcomed by the manufacturing industry.
I thank the minister for his response.
Exchange rates are clearly a factor, but it is interesting to note that there has been continuing growth in manufacturing exports from Scotland. In the year to the end of 1999, there was a growth of manufacturing exports of 6.6 per cent. Government can support, but it cannot create. That is the challenge for Government: to support more innovation and encourage an environment where there is greater investment in research and development, greater investment in new technologies and, most important of all, greater investment in new skills and knowledge.
I will ask about the coherence of the Executive's position on manufacturing strategy. Since the general election in 1997, 25,000 jobs have been lost in the manufacturing sector. Will the minister tell us whether he supports the comment of the Minister for Rural Affairs that the strength of sterling is now a serious problem? That seems to contradict Duncan McNeil's argument. How many times has the Scottish Executive told the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in no uncertain terms, that UK Government economic policy is harming the manufacturing sector in Scotland?
As I said at the start of my previous answer, exchange rates are clearly a factor, but they are only one of the factors that create problems for our manufacturing sector. Despite that, our manufacturing sector has continued to do well.
Does the minister accept that all his words of reassurance seem like so much wringing of hands by Pontius Pilate, given that, if one's manufacturing industry is in the west of Scotland, one is just about stymied by completely inadequate transport links? Furthermore, those who are unfortunate enough to be trying to operate out of the west of Glasgow are in an impossible situation because of what is happening with the Kingston bridge and the M8.
It is difficult to know where to start to answer such a question from the Conservative party, which presided over the biggest decline in manufacturing in the 20th century. The issue of infrastructure is important and investment in infrastructure is clearly important for our businesses. We have received representations on that. [Interruption.]
Order.
From a sedentary position, Phil Gallie suggests that the Conservatives invested in infrastructure. The Conservative Government also presided over a very significant decline in investment in transport infrastructure. The problems flowing from that are evident.
Draft Land Reform Bill
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government or other bodies on the use of private land for defence training purposes and what consideration has been given to this in the draft land reform bill. (S1O-1655)
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including defence. Agreements for the use of private land for defence training are negotiated directly between the Ministry of Defence and the land agents concerned.
Can the minister give an assurance that any legislation on land reform in Scotland that is pursued by the Executive will guarantee that training facilities for our armed services will not be lost? Will he ensure that the interests of those who are tenants or who own land that is used by the services will not be saddled with undue burdens?
I can give a categorical assurance on that point.
Road Safety (Children)
To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the findings of the recent study "Road Accidents and Children Living in Disadvantaged Areas", what steps are being taken to address the link between child pedestrian accident rates and social exclusion. (S1O-1683)
The Scottish Executive will take the study's findings into account when targeting road safety campaigns and developing social inclusion strategies for disadvantaged areas. That will help us to make progress towards meeting our target of a 50 per cent reduction in the number of child road deaths and serious injuries by 2010.
Does the minister agree that recent initiatives such as Grampian police's speedwatch blitz, which resulted in a 34 per cent drop in the number of people who were caught speeding, are playing a significant role in reducing the number of child pedestrian accidents and fatalities? Does she agree that such initiatives are particularly important in deprived areas, where a larger number of children walk to school?
Initiatives on speeding are important in reducing inappropriate speeds in areas in which children are playing or walking to school. We need to do more on safer routes to school and on road safety campaigns that are targeted at children. One of the key points to emerge from the study was that the risk of death to child pedestrians was strongly class related: children in the lowest socio-economic group are four times more likely to be killed than their counterparts in the highest socio-economic group. We need general campaigns, but we must also target them in the right areas.
Before we move on to First Minister's question time, I am sure members would like to welcome the visitors in the VIP gallery—38 members of the European Parliament, led by Pat Cox from Ireland, who are here to observe our proceedings.
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