SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Environment and Rural Development
European Fisheries Council
To ask the Scottish Executive what its assessment is of the effect on the Scottish fishing industry of the outcome of the December 2005 meeting of the European Union fisheries council. (S2O-8684)
I believe that, at the December fisheries council, we secured a satisfactory outcome for Scotland's fishing industry. We negotiated a substantial increase in Scotland's nephrops quota and successfully reduced the cuts in the haddock quota from the original 41 per cent to 13 per cent and in white-fish days at sea from 15 per cent to, in effect, 1.1 per cent. The precise impact of the settlement will depend on the circumstances of individual fishermen. However, it is clear that we achieved our overall aim of a settlement that promotes sustainable fisheries and ensures a fair deal for Scotland's fishing communities.
I thank the minister for his efforts at the fisheries council. However, does he accept that, despite those efforts, the cumulative effect over recent years of reduced haddock quota and reduced days at sea is estimated to have cost the Orkney white-fish fleet some £0.25 million simply to stay still, if skippers choose to buy or lease in additional quota or days? What plans does he have to rethink haddock management in the North sea? Does he accept that the scope that he—or indeed any minister—had to negotiate a better deal on haddock was limited by the outcome of the EU-Norway talks that took place before the council, at which no minister was present and which was dealt with by officials? Will he, before this year's talks, try to ensure that there is ministerial representation at the EU-Norway negotiations, which are fundamental to the ultimate outcome of the council? [Interruption.]
Order.
I shall take the latter point first. As Jim Wallace well knows, the EU-Norway discussions have always taken place in that way, and they affect a range of member states. The negotiators for the EU-Norway talks require a slightly more specific mandate. As he suggests, those talks would be improved by having ministerial representation, although we would have to cover the position of a large number of member states and other coastal states that take part in those talks.
Does the minister acknowledge that not only Jim Wallace but his ministerial and party colleague Tavish Scott do not accept that the deal in December was a good one for Scotland? Indeed, Tavish Scott's comments attracted the headline "Scott urges better deal for Shetland fishermen" in The Press and Journal last week.
As one would expect, Mr Lochhead has paid more attention to a headline written by a sub-editor of a newspaper than the substance of what Mr Scott said.
What is the story?
The story is quite simple. The story as told by the SNP is that all we have to do is declare independence and suddenly there will be more cod in the North sea. That is the story that the SNP continues to peddle. The management of fisheries stocks in the North sea is an extraordinarily serious issue that requires careful attention. We take seriously the science that supports the management of haddock and cod; we take seriously the management of all white fish and the position of the white-fish fleet. As I said in my answer to Jim Wallace, if we are going to make progress we must put ourselves on the front foot in the review of the haddock management plan that is due this year. There is also a requirement for us to review the cod recovery plan, on which we intend to take exactly the same position. We will engage with our fishermen, our scientists and other stakeholders to ensure that the proposals and propositions that are put forward by Scotland are at the forefront.
I will adopt my best consensual mode and say that it would be churlish not to welcome the minister's efforts to secure increased quotas of nephrops. I particularly welcome the news that the Pittenweem non-sector and under-10m prawn fishermen are to have enhanced quotas as a result. However, will the minister confirm that the quotas will be carried over on a month-to-month basis if inclement weather or any other factor makes it impossible for the fishermen to catch the quota in any single month?
That is a matter that will require further discussion between ourselves and the producer organisations. I certainly would not want us to impale ourselves on a particular allocation as opposed to the annual allocation. I am happy to look into the matter further if the member has the impression that the overall annual allocation might be impaired.
I begin by warmly congratulating Ross Finnie on the significant and pivotal role that he played in the United Kingdom team that so successfully argued for such a significant uplift in prawn quota on the west coast of Scotland—a 39 per cent increase. [Interruption.]
Order.
Will the minister explain the role that new scientific methods played in helping him to make the case for the substantial uplift in prawn quota? Will he assure me that the plans for a regional management committee for the Western Isles are proceeding as planned?
This year, we benefited enormously from taking advantage of the enhanced photographic evidence. It took some time to persuade not only our own scientists, who played a part in that, but other scientists who study the North sea that the evidence is substantive and robust enough to enable them to make a stock assessment. The evidence was hugely helpful in establishing that approach. We propose to work with the scientists to continue to develop the technology because it is helpful to us in Scotland if we have data that can be updated quickly and reliably, as is the case with the data on nephrops.
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the performance of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. (S2O-8662)
The annual report that SEPA published in October 2005 explains how the agency performed in 2004-05 against the key objectives that were agreed with the Scottish Executive. Although SEPA recorded a number of encouraging successes, there are some areas for the agency to improve on.
One of those areas might be the contribution that SEPA makes to the efficient government initiative. What specific plans does the Executive have to force that agenda on?
SEPA is delivering efficiency savings. It is delivering cash-releasing savings by reducing expenditure on a wide range of supply costs, by reducing staff in a number of business areas and by realising benefits from the introduction of a national laboratory system. It is delivering time-releasing savings by making more efficient use of office space, by improving the efficiency of its finance processes and support services and by absorbing additional work in the existing workforce. Those steps are helping SEPA to meet the costs of an increasing workload.
I give the minister an illustrative case study of a person who is building a house in an area in which a main sewer exists. He has been refused permission to access the sewer because the sewage system is at capacity. SEPA says that it will allow a temporary septic tank to be installed if a definite date can be given for its removal. Scottish Water says that it cannot give a definite date by which capacity will have been upgraded— at which time the tank could be removed—so SEPA says that it will not give permission for the temporary septic tank, which would have been allowable otherwise. Does the minister think that that is justifiable?
I do not want to comment on particular cases, but we have advised that constraints should be removed where possible. If the member wants to write to me with specific information, I am more than happy to respond.
Question 3 was not lodged.
Sustainable Development Strategy
To ask the Scottish Executive how the sustainable development strategy will be put into practice. (S2O-8647)
Putting the sustainable development strategy into practice will require action from portfolios across the Executive, including the eight main delivery programmes that are specifically identified in paragraph 4.14 of the strategy. Action will also be required from a wide range of other organisations.
Does the minister agree that a commitment to local environmental justice is crucial to that implementation plan? Will he give an assurance that he will work in partnership with stakeholders and local communities so that they feel that they have a voice and can contribute to and participate in the sustainable development of their areas?
The importance of the well-being of the individual and how that plays into the sustainable development agenda was widely acknowledged in yesterday's debate on the sustainable development strategy. I am grateful to Irene Oldfather for emphasising that point. Delivering environmental justice and engaging with local communities to establish the delivery programme to which I referred will involve engagement with stakeholders and local communities.
Odour Emissions (Commercial Premises)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has sufficient powers to deal with odour emissions from commercial premises. (S2O-8639)
In Scotland, local authorities are generally responsible for regulating odour emissions from commercial premises.
I am surprised at the minister's response. My colleague Karen Whitefield, our constituents and I have complained about the noxious odours that emanate from the rendering plant in Newarthill—which is in my constituency—that is operated by William Forrest & Son (Paisley) Ltd. Those odours directly affect us. SEPA deals ineffectively with the complaints and a great deal of buck passing goes on between Scottish Water, the local authority and SEPA. That is part of the problem. May I advise the minister that, in spite of constant complaints from myself—
Could you perhaps ask the minister a question?
I was doing that, Presiding Officer.
No, you were advising her—I think that that is what you said.
Is it a lack of effective powers or a lack of resources for SEPA that allows that intolerable situation to blight the lives of the people of Newarthill, Clelland and Salsburgh?
I am aware that the Forrest Newarthill plant has a history of complaints relating to odour. The member is quite right in saying that it is SEPA's responsibility to take enforcement action to address breaches of the environmental authorisations. I understand that SEPA has already sent a report to the procurator fiscal concerning odour-related problems at the plant and is considering a separate report following further investigations.
Is the minister aware that Michael McMahon and I will meet SEPA representatives on 27 January? Can she assure us that she will discuss our concerns about the failure of William Forrest & Son to comply with its operating conditions prior to that meeting? Will the minister give a commitment to examine the resources that SEPA has at its disposal to monitor and police the operating conditions of such plants effectively?
I am absolutely convinced that we need to ensure that such plants operate satisfactorily and that local communities are not subject to completely unacceptable odour. I am more than happy to keep a close eye on the situation as it develops and to work closely with the members concerned in view of the seriousness of the case.
Scottish Water (Development Constraints)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the quality and standards III investment programme for Scottish Water will address the water and sewerage needs of housing developments in the Highlands and Islands. (S2O-8634)
The Executive recognises the important role played by Scottish Water in economic and other development. In the next investment programme, ministers have set Scottish Water the objective of providing sufficient strategic capacity to meet the needs of all estimated new development throughout Scotland. Where current infrastructure constraints are preventing the provision of an adequate housing supply, we are determined that they should be overcome.
Neither Scottish Water nor Highland Council seems to be acting as if it is aware that that is the case. Is the minister aware that almost 50 communities in the Highland Council area alone are presently experiencing development constraints for both private and social housing, for larger developments as well as for single houses, and that particular concerns have been expressed in the Cairngorms national park area and in Skye and Lochalsh, where it is felt that Scottish Water's response has not fully addressed the reality of those concerns? People there have found it difficult to engage Scottish Water in discussion.
Could you come quickly to the point?
Will the minister give a strong signal to Scottish Water to begin discussions with those communities on their needs in the light of the coming into effect of Q and S III in March?
I understand that Scottish Water has already been in dialogue with Highland Council. Its representatives met a delegation late last year to discuss the need for investment in water supplies and waste water treatment in the Highland Council area. Working within the framework that Scottish ministers have set out, it is for Scottish Water to work directly with local authority partners and others to identify need and to improve the planning and delivery of new capacity. I am happy to ask Scottish Water to reply to the member about the specific issues that she raises.
The minister has said that she has set the objective. Scottish Water says that the cost of the investment programme will be £3.3 billion, while the Water Industry Commission for Scotland says that the figure will be £2.1 billion. Obviously, both of them cannot be right. Is it not the case that the Executive has sat on the sidelines, leaving matters entirely to the regulator? If the sums are wrong, as I believe they are, will not that have momentous consequences for the next seven years, because there will be insufficient money to achieve the Executive's objective and areas such as Badenoch and Strathspey will have no new houses whatever, with the catastrophic consequences that that will bring about?
As Fergus Ewing well knows, the Scottish Parliament voted almost unanimously for a system with an independently regulated and publicly owned and controlled water industry. The Water Industry Commission set out the amount of money and investment that would be required to meet ministers' objectives. Scottish Water has until the end of January to decide whether it can meet the objectives or whether it will need to go to the Competition Commission. That is the position that the Scottish Parliament set out and agreed to.
Health and Community Care
Elderly People (West of Scotland)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to maintain the health and well-being of elderly people in the west of Scotland. (S2O-8670)
We have introduced a range of policies that are designed to assist older people to live healthy and independent lives. When we launched "Delivering for Health" on 27 October, we emphasised the importance of strengthening and enhancing primary care services; of anticipatory care and management of long-term conditions; and of investing additional resources in disadvantaged areas to address health inequalities.
I am happy to support many of the measures that the minister outlined.
I am aware of the matter that Mr Maxwell raises. He will recognise that it is properly a matter for North Ayrshire Council to determine. We have set a clear policy direction, which is that people should be supported to stay in their own homes, when that is possible, and to stay in supported care homes when that is the next best alternative. It would be inappropriate for central Government to dictate to local authorities how best they should secure that provision.
Obesity
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to improve lifestyles and diet in an effort to reduce obesity across all age groups. (S2O-8636)
Our health improvement programme focuses strongly on improving diet and raising physical activity levels for all age groups—an approach that has been endorsed by the World Health Organisation and other key stakeholders.
I commend the minister and the Executive for what has been done. Recent statistics highlighted the scale of obesity in Scotland's young people. The British Heart Foundation's food 4 thought campaign and the Executive's hungry for success programme are aimed at changing young people's eating habits. As a former catering professional, I welcome that. How is the minister monitoring and evaluating the success of those programmes? Is he aware of the innovative work that is being done in Fife schools, particularly to show street traders how they can profit from selling healthy foods? I invite him to see what is being done when that programme is rolled out in my constituency.
I am happy to continue to see the innovative work in Fife, where I recently had the pleasure of visiting a community neighbourhood shop. The initiative that we are supporting with traders allows community shops to present healthy choices at the front of the shop, which makes such choices easier for consumers.
Is it right that, every time someone pays to visit a council-run leisure facility to improve their lifestyle, Gordon Brown takes 17.5 per cent of the charge in VAT? Is that not just a tax on health? Would not it be sensible for such facilities to be tax exempt, to help to keep charges down or to prevent councils such as Dundee City Council from having to hand over their leisure facilities to a charitable trust to avoid paying tax? Will the minister make representations to that effect to the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
The member has closer contacts with individuals who can deal with that matter than I have. Perhaps she might want to engage in that conversation.
The minister will no doubt be aware of the positive endorsement, which is detailed in the recent evaluation, that the Executive's free fruit in schools initiative has received from schools and local authorities. What plans does he have to pursue the recommendation that that initiative should be expanded to include children in more age groups? Does he agree that the success of the measure exemplifies the potential of the universal provision of healthy food to improve children's diets, health and well-being?
We should not forget the member's contribution—I refer, of course, to the Breastfeeding etc (Scotland) Act 2005, which clearly makes a contribution towards addressing the key question of obesity.
The minister emphasises diet. I accept his arguments, but he also mentioned physical activity. As the Minister for Health and Community Care, what concerns does he have about the apparent loss of playing fields throughout Scotland? Should not such a trend be reversed?
I do not agree that there is an overall loss of playing fields. The matter is closely monitored by organisations that are independent of the Executive, which ensure that when one playing field has to close, another one will replace it. That is done frequently throughout Scotland.
Specialist Nurses (Parkinson's Disease)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to recruit and train specialist nurses to work in the community with sufferers of chronic conditions, such as Parkinson's disease. (S2O-8610)
Individual national health service boards have primary responsibility for workforce planning. That responsibility includes the recruitment and training of specialist nurses who work with sufferers of long-term conditions such as Parkinson's disease. However, we have initiated a Scotland-wide review of community nursing, which will set the direction for creating a modern, redesigned community nursing service. The review is intended to contribute to the reduction of hospital admissions, improve the management of patients with long-term conditions such as Parkinson's disease, facilitate hospital discharges and support the care and treatment of patients in their homes and community settings.
I pay tribute to the work that the Minister for Health and Community Care, Andy Kerr, has done on long-term conditions and draw to his attention the work of the expert group that is currently producing a Parkinson's disease plan for Lothian and the Borders, which may act as a prototype. The expert assessment is that six to eight nurses are required, but there is currently only one nurse. Therefore, there are obvious resource implications, as there are with lymphoedema nurses. I know from a successful meeting that I had with the minister that there is an on-going review and ask the Executive not to shy away from providing the additional resources that will be required, because the service will be much enhanced if the current plans are properly seen through.
We recognise the importance of the areas of specialism to which Margo MacDonald refers. We will take into careful consideration the findings of the reviews to which I and Margo MacDonald referred and will make decisions based on the evidence.
Is the minister aware of the excellent work being done at a day clinic at Borders general hospital? I know that the minister has visited it. It specialises in clients who have Parkinson's and treats them clinically and holistically. I recently met 100 of those clients. Could I suggest that, as part of the review, either the minister or the deputy minister goes to that day clinic, meets the professionals and clients and learns from them about how they deal with such a dreadful and debilitating disease while keeping up their morale and staying in the best health possible?
I certainly want to ensure that when our officials carry out the review, they take evidence from those with first-hand experience of what is required. I will, of course, pay due heed to the advice that they give me.
I remind the minister that key generic issues for specialist nurses or those who aspire to become so are time and resources for training and professional development, and support for the establishment of such posts. An additional key problem has been the patchy and ad hoc development of such posts across the country. In that context, what is the Executive doing specifically to support the development of clinical nurse specialist posts in NHS Scotland in general?
All national health service organisations have a duty to ensure that all staff have personal development plans, which includes identifying the specific training needs of members of staff. They also have a responsibility for nursing and midwifery post-registration education and for working in partnership with staff to ensure that they are supported and encouraged to maintain and develop their skills.
Smoke-free Policies
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is promoting smoke-free policies to local authorities. (S2O-8682)
Local authorities, like all other employers, will require to comply with the smoke-free law that will come into effect on 26 March. Recently, we issued guidance to local authorities, national health service organisations and other care service providers to help them to do so. The guidance also provided advice on how organisations might work towards comprehensive smoke-free policies for the benefit of staff and those who use their services.
Will the minister please confirm that the scare stories about a total ban on smoking in places outside are just that—scare stories? Does he agree that we should encourage best practice such as that of public bodies in Lithuania, where smoking on school and health premises is prohibited by local regulations; in New Zealand, where the buildings and grounds of schools and early childhood centres became smoke-free in January 2004; in Sweden, where smoking is prohibited in schoolyards and other outdoor areas; or even in Texas, where smoking is prohibited within 15ft of the entrance of any public building? Will the minister encourage local authorities and health boards to follow such good practice to protect our children and to stop us having to run the gauntlet of smokers as we enter public buildings?
I share many of those views and it is useful to have the opportunity to clarify the situation given the article with the headline, "Scotland extends smoking ban to the great outdoors". It was made clear to the journalist concerned before publication that that was simply not true. Therefore, I confirm that our legislation is about substantially enclosed public spaces. Of course, the powers that the member is asking about are given in the guidance. Several of our local authorities already—sensibly, in my view—ban smoking in children's playgrounds. That seems to be a sensible precautionary policy that our local authorities should use to protect our children. All the possibilities that the member mentioned are available under the guidance but, as he quite rightly said, they should be matters for local discussion, decision and implementation.
I am glad that the minister has taken the opportunity to clarify the situation. As he well knows, Irene Oldfather lodged stage 3 amendments to the bill that sought to extend the ban to outside areas. I spoke against those amendments. Indeed, the minister said:
The member is falling into a trap that should not be there. A journalist inquired whether the Executive intends to extend the ban on smoking to public open spaces and we said no; yet we read a headline in a paper that states, "Scotland extends smoking ban to the great outdoors". That headline has set off the debate. The point is not that I need to make clear in the chamber now that the ban will not be extended. I made that clear before the journalist wrote the story and all the nonsense that followed from it. The article is bad reporting and is bad for the Scottish people. It threatens to undermine the well-supported legislation that we have passed. The Scottish Executive has no intention of extending the ban in the manner that the member described. As I made clear when we debated Irene Oldfather's amendments, doing so would require further legislation.
I declare an interest: I am a director of Motherwell Football Club.
I am always interested in innovative ideas. The member's idea is a good one and I am happy to consider it. I would have liked to have one at Clyde's ground last Sunday, but that is another matter entirely. The idea will receive good support from the First Minister. We need to innovate in how we try to enable the public to understand what we are doing. In the run-up to the introduction of the ban, that will involve a letter drop and a leaflet to every household in Scotland. I am very interested in the member's suggestion.
Audiology Services (Improvements)
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific improvements in service, including reductions in waiting times, have been experienced by patients as a result of the Executive's modernisation plans and extra investment in audiology services. (S2O-8624)
Waiting times have been reduced in the majority of NHS boards. An important part of the modernisation agenda focuses on monitoring and encouraging the reduction in waiting times and providing support to boards, where required. Boards that have not yet met waiting time targets will be supported to do so.
I welcome the progress that has been made. Does the minister share my concern that, despite substantial additional investment and numerous reports, plans and other work, improvement in many areas has been disappointingly slow? Here in Lothians, patients can still wait a year for an initial assessment. Does the minister acknowledge that the pace of progress must be sped up? Does he also acknowledge that getting the necessary workforce in place is critical? For instance, I understand that in Lothians the service has around half of the qualified staff who are needed. Specifically, I ask the minister to ensure that the important new BSc audiology degree at Queen Margaret University College, which is welcome, is properly supported, developed and put on an equal footing with other allied health profession courses in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole.
I do indeed recognise Susan Deacon's concerns about the position in Lothian. We have recognised the particular challenges there and have asked NHS Lothian to produce a clear and robust action plan in the course of this financial year to indicate how it will make further progress to meet the targets that have been set for it.
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