Good morning. The first item of business is general questions. I would like members to try to keep their questions as short as possible and I am sure that ministers will reciprocate by keeping their answers as succinct as possible.
Passenger Rail Franchise (Bicycles)
The next ScotRail franchise will commence in April 2015. Bidders will be required to develop plans to improve rail’s integration with the wider transport system, which, of course, includes improvements to facilities for cyclists. In the next rail investment period, from 2014 to 2019, Network Rail is required to work with partners to deliver improvements at stations through the £30 million Scottish stations fund, including more and better facilities for cyclists.
I thank the minister for that answer, in particular for the information about the pop-up workshops.
It is worth saying that the specification for the franchise is deliberately designed to encourage the bidders to come forward with their own proposals. In some bidders’ minds, there is a much greater emphasis on having access to bikes at stations—as happens in Amsterdam, for example—rather than on taking bikes from station to station on a train. If they want to do that, they have to have secure cycle storage facilities, as the member suggests.
The minister is well aware of the many cycling events and things that can happen in the Borders in the likes of Gala, Walkerburn and Glentress. With the opening of the Borders railway, is the minister in dialogue with anyone with regard to the storage of bicycles on trains?
The same conditions will apply as I outlined in my previous answer, in as far as storage will come with the new franchise, over and above the development of the Borders railway itself. It will be the same as the rest of the rail network; there will be cycle storage facilities on board and the franchisee will be required to balance the needs of cyclists and non-cyclists. Of course, there is an alternative Dalkeith cycle route to replace the paths that will be lost to the railway.
What work was done by the Government, as far as legally possible, prior to the pre-qualification questionnaires to encourage a non-profit bid for the franchise?
The member should be aware that we are not able to encourage one form of bid over another. To do so would be to breach the procurement regulations. We said that we were more than happy to receive a not-for-profit bid. We made it clear that any not-for-profit bid that came forward would have to contain an element or a partner that had substantial experience in running railways. Beyond that, it is not for us to go and encourage bids. In fact, we are specifically precluded from doing that by European procurement law.
I am a regular train traveller, as the minister is aware. On the train, designated spaces for cycles and designated spaces for people with disabilities are often taken up by luggage and by people without disabilities. What assurances can the minister give to cyclists and to people with disabilities that those spaces will be prioritised for their proper use?
The member will be aware that we have to balance the requirements and competing demands of foot passengers, cyclists, wheelchair users and others on the available on-train space. The current franchisee provides wheelchair spaces that can be reserved on longer express routes, and priority seating is provided on almost all ScotRail services. The assisted travel team in ScotRail can help to make reservations and can arrange assistance for individuals. In the next franchise period, from April 2015, we will continue to work to ensure that rail services in Scotland are accessible to all.
Cycle Paths
The updated cycling action plan for Scotland, which was published in June 2013, makes clear our commitment to the continued development of cycling infrastructure in communities as well as the continued development of the national cycle network. That commitment was reinforced in the draft budget that was announced yesterday by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth. We are further increasing our expenditure on cycling infrastructure by £10 million in each of the next two years. To clarify, that is in addition to the £58 million that the Scottish Government has already allocated to active travel since the 2011 spending review, using the opportunities for further investment that have arisen. Local authorities, as the local transport authorities, also have an important role in delivering on infrastructure improvements in their communities.
I welcome the extra funding that was announced yesterday. The minister will be well aware that there are notable old railway lines running from Montrose south towards Arbroath and north towards Inverbervie. There seems to be an excellent opportunity for family recreation routes accessible by railway. Is that something that the Government might be able to support? Might he be able to support access to European funding for that, if it were available.
Yes, of course. Last week I was on a former rail line that is now used as a cycle track and for walking, and such routes offer excellent opportunities to develop the cycle network. Local authorities are best placed to determine what cycle routes should be developed in their areas. Where there are local opportunities to encourage wider participation in cycling, particularly for everyday journeys, I would encourage people to consider them carefully.
Cluff Natural Resources (Meetings)
It is a key part of my job as energy minister to routinely meet representatives of companies to discuss their plans for potential employment and investment as they relate to Scotland. Along with Scottish Government energy officials, I met representatives of Cluff Natural Resources on 27 August 2013. We discussed the company’s plans and we understand them to be at an early stage of development. We understand that no applications for planning permission have been lodged in Scotland by the company. As is routine in such meetings, I made it clear to the company that applications for development of any energy sources in Scotland will be determined on their merits. Each proposal will be considered through the normal planning process and the appropriate regulatory regimes.
I thank the minister for the update. He will be aware of Cluff’s proposals in Fife. Concerns have been raised by the local communities, along with environmental organisations, regarding underground coal gasification proposals for Largo Bay and Kincardine. With international pilot testing resulting in the contamination of local water, does the minister share my concerns over potential mine-water pollution in Fife? Is he confident that sufficient and robust safeguards are currently in place under the regulatory regime?
I make it clear that environmental issues are of extreme importance. I informed the company that, on these matters, we take an evidence-based approach, appropriately considering environmental matters and encouraging any such companies to engage in appropriate community engagement.
Patient Safety (Monklands, Wishaw and Hairmyres Hospitals)
A review has already been announced. It will be carried out by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and it will consider the causes and reasons behind the pattern of aggregated mortality statistics—hospital standardised mortality ratios, or HSMRs—in Lanarkshire, which do not reflect the reduced mortality ratios that have been recorded by other Scottish territorial health boards. It will identify whether any additional action needs to be taken, or whether any aspects of NHS Lanarkshire’s existing action plan need to be strengthened or accelerated.
Can the cabinet secretary confirm that, from 2012, Healthcare Improvement Scotland worked with NHS Lanarkshire to reduce the mortality rate by 15 per cent by 31 March 2013 from a baseline of November 2007? When did the cabinet secretary first become aware of the potential problem with the above-average mortality rates at Monklands and Wishaw? Will the findings of any work undertaken by HIS be published? Will the cabinet secretary outline what progress has been made to reduce mortality rate figures and to ensure that lessons are being learned in order that those hospitals can continue to deliver a high standard of care to all patients?
Obviously, I cannot say what the action will be until we have had the findings from HIS and NHS Lanarkshire. However, whatever recommendations are made about improvement, they will be implemented, because we are determined to ensure that we have the safest possible hospitals in Lanarkshire and, indeed, elsewhere in Scotland. I can confirm that we will publish the report when it is available from HIS.
Is the cabinet secretary aware of the lack of capacity in neurology departments in NHS Lanarkshire hospitals? I know of cases where people are so worried about the length of time that it is taking to get scans and so on that they are potentially putting themselves into debt to pay to have the scans carried out privately. Will the cabinet secretary consider meeting me and perhaps Siobhan McMahon and other members to discuss the apparent capacity issues in NHS Lanarkshire to try jointly to find a way forward for the benefit of all patients in Lanarkshire?
There is a wider problem of capacity in neurological consultancy. I am happy to meet the member or, indeed, any member or collection of members to discuss the specific issues in relation to NHS Lanarkshire. Clearly, we do not want to be in a position in which people feel that they have to go private because they cannot get the service timeously within the national health service.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Ministers and Government officials regularly meet with national health service boards, including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, to discuss matters of importance to local people.
As the cabinet secretary will be aware, in August 2011 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde published its property asset management strategy, which showed a maintenance backlog bill in Port Glasgow health centre of £240,000, one in Gourock health centre of £20,000 and a staggering bill in Greenock health centre of £900,000, which surely puts it beyond repair. What can the cabinet secretary do to ensure that capital moneys are targeted at those areas with the greatest need to ensure that they have effective community health services?
NHS boards have to work towards priority criteria. I fully understand and appreciate the concerns of the member, who represents one of the poorest constituencies in Scotland. I am more than happy to arrange a meeting between NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the member to see how we can take those projects forward faster.
Broadband (South Scotland)
The cabinet secretary will be aware that this issue is being followed closely in rural south-west Scotland, where many of the most rural communities currently have very slow connection speeds. With a possible viable interim measure being distributed satellite broadband, will the Government look at ways of supporting communities that might feel that to be an option for them?
Aileen McLeod raises a matter that is obviously of great importance to those communities that she represents. In my original answer, I mentioned community broadband Scotland, which is a £5 million initiative that is specifically designed to provide support to rural and remote communities to help them deliver their own broadband solutions. The CBS team includes five dedicated project officers, who are providing very important on-the-ground support to communities across the country. I advise any community considering delivering its own broadband solution to contact community broadband Scotland. I am happy to write to Aileen McLeod to ensure that she and, by extension, her constituents have the full details of the support that is available to them.
Forth Crossing (Local Jobs)
Can the cabinet secretary justify to this Parliament why an accommodation ship is said to be moored in the River Forth for over 100 Spaniards working on the new Forth crossing, along with a freight ship with all the requisite food from Spain, which is denying local shops and businesses much-needed trade? That is against a background where Fife still experiences very troubling high levels of unemployment.
I am more than happy to meet Helen Eadie to discuss any particular issues of local concern, but I really think that we should be focusing on the massive positive economic benefit of the Queensferry crossing that is being delivered not just to Fife and Edinburgh but to communities across Scotland.
Speed Limits (A9)
Available research shows that average speed cameras will improve safety for all users, whether the HGV speed limit is retained at 40mph or increased to 50mph. However, our evidence suggests that a greater reduction in accidents will result if the 40mph speed limit is retained. As I have said before, we have not ruled out a pilot scheme to increase the speed limits of HGV vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes on single carriageway stretches of the A9 from 40mph to 50mph if the evidence supports that and the A9 safety group is currently undertaking further investigation work to better understand the suitability of such an increase.
I am sure that the minister is aware of the widespread concern that exists in the Highlands and Perthshire that introducing average speed cameras without addressing the question of HGV speed limits might increase the number of accidents on the A9, because it will add to driver frustration. I listened with great interest to what the minister had to say. Will he undertake not to progress the introduction of average speed cameras without first seriously addressing the question of the HGV speed limit?
I think that I have already said that further evidence is currently being gathered by the A9 safety group, which I think is the correct way to proceed. These are serious matters involving the safety of motorists. We want to try to make the road as safe as possible. The best way to proceed is to make sure that we garner all the evidence. I have said in debates in the chamber in the past that I am sympathetic to the idea of a 50mph speed limit for various reasons, but we have to proceed on the basis of the evidence. I should say that I have written today to all local and list MSPs to invite them to a presentation to talk about both the average speed cameras and the possible introduction of a 50mph speed limit.
I remind all members that electronic devices, particularly mobile phones, should be switched off. I am not looking at you, Mrs MacDonald.
And I am not looking guilty.
I call David Stewart.
As a road safety campaigner, I strongly support increasing the speed limit for 7.5 tonne HGVs from 40mph to 50mph on single carriageways. Will the minister think again about trialling that proposal on the Inverness to Perth section of the A9 to build up evidence in favour of a wider roll-out across Scotland?
I think that I have answered that question. I hope that the member, who has a track record in road safety, agrees that the best way to proceed is on the basis of real evidence. Work is currently being undertaken by the A9 safety group and I think it best to await that evidence and then decide how to proceed after that.