Plenary, 12 Dec 2002

Meeting date: Thursday, December 12, 2002

Official Report 803KB pdf

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First Minister's Question Time

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Cabinet (Meetings)

To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Scottish Executive's Cabinet. (S1F-2337)

Among other matters, the next Cabinet meeting will discuss Scotland's response to today's unfortunate announcement that Austria and Switzerland have been successful in securing the European football championships in 2008. We should congratulate Austria and Switzerland and wish them well, but also express our disappointment at the outcome. The 2008 tournament in Scotland would have been a fantastic festival for football. It would have shown everything that was good, as well as being financially beneficial to the Union of European Football Associations and, more important, to Scotland.

We should thank and congratulate those who were involved in the bid. That includes the Scottish Football Association, our colleagues in Ireland and, more than any others, the tartan army, whose members have done so much to promote our bid and to secure for Scotland the international reputation that has kept us on the world map over the years. I am sure that the 2008 bid will ensure that we are now on the world map for major events in the years to come. We intend that that should be so.

I associate the Scottish National Party with the disappointment that was expressed by the First Minister and the sincere congratulations to everyone who played a part in taking the bid as far as it has gone. The bid has produced tremendous benefits for Scotland, even though it has not been successful today.

Does the First Minister agree that the important lessons from the bid are, first, that any bid needs adequate time for preparation to give it the best chance of success and, secondly, that the process has proved that Scotland can compete on the world stage?

Preparation is important, as is momentum, but so are passion and a clearly thought-out strategy for winning a bid and delivering a tournament. In Scotland, we have the facilities to do that. We have the sporting commitment and history to do that, and we now have a longer-term strategy to achieve that. The creation of EventScotland and our major event strategy, which can deliver other major sporting and cultural events to Scotland in the years to come, is the right way ahead. We are on track to securing Scotland as one of the top-league destinations for major cultural and sporting events in the world. The success of taking the 2008 bid from absolutely nowhere to being a front-runner today has helped to contribute to ensuring that Scotland is considered in that way.

The First Minister spoke about the need for a long-term strategy to be successful. In recognition of that, does he consider it appropriate today to signal the Government's intention to include in that strategy the preparation of a bid for the Euro 2012 championship? Does he recognise that, to have a reasonable chance of success, we have to gather together support in Scotland with international support to make that possible? Does he agree that a bid for 2012 would be a successful long-term ambition for everyone in Scotland today?

It is clear from the events of this year that the staging of the European championships or such an event in Scotland is an achievable ambition and one that would bring benefits to our country. Today is probably not the right day to make a firm decision on 2012, or 2016. I suspect that our colleagues in the SFA will want to discuss that with us, but we will need to take several factors into account. To be frank, we will have to consider what the opposition might be for that occasion, and other factors.

I genuinely thought that we had a serious chance on this occasion. Austria and Switzerland are neighbouring countries to Germany, which will host the world cup in 2006. I believe that it would have been not just right for football for the tournament to take place in Scotland and Ireland, but fair for Europe to share out the spoils more geographically evenly. However, that is not to be. We will now need to consider the contest for Euro 2012, and we will discuss the issue with the SFA and others in the weeks to come.

Does the First Minister accept that one of the lessons that can be learned from the allocation of successful bids in the bidding process is that the more frequently a country, or consortium of countries, bids, the more they have a chance of becoming successful? I know that, in such circumstances, it is difficult to take decisions on a particular day. However, will the Government give the most serious consideration to a bid for Euro 2012? There is tremendous appetite for such events throughout Scotland, and what we need is clear and decisive leadership from the First Minister.

Mr Swinney has suggested one possibility, and we will discuss it with the football authorities in the weeks to come. However, we face an immediate objective. Our national team has slipped down the international league; the reorganisation and modernisation of the football set-up in Scotland is, to be frank, long overdue; and we need to regenerate our youth football structure to ensure that, in the future, we have the talent that we once had. That is why Mike Watson and I have made it clear today that we will see through our financial commitment to Euro 2008. A substantial amount of the money that would have been invested in the infrastructure for the tournament will be invested not just in youth football, but in youth sport in general to secure for Scotland a legacy from the bid and some hope for the future. That is the challenge that we face, and the SFA and others will join us in achieving that aim.

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Prime Minister (Meetings)

To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister and what issues he intends to raise. (S1F-2340)

I expect to meet the Prime Minister early in the new year. However, this morning, I discussed with him next week's negotiations on the Scottish fishing industry. He has given me a categorical and enthusiastic assurance that, during his visit to Copenhagen today and tomorrow, he will raise with the most senior figures in the European Union the case for the Scottish fishing industry and for a revised set of decisions to be made next week that will ensure that we both protect the stocks in the North sea and secure long-term strength and sustainability for Scotland's fishing communities. I welcome the Prime Minister's support and his active engagement in our campaign over the next few days. I am sure that the Parliament also welcomes that.

I am sure that it does. Certainly the Conservatives do, as I indicated last week when I asked the First Minister about that very subject.

Will the First Minister also ask the Prime Minister to explain why £520 million of public money was this week awarded to Manchester by the Secretary of State for Transport, Mr Darling, for the extension of its tram system? In contrast, are not such major improvements in Scotland being financed from general taxation? Why is Manchester to get even more trams from our taxes, whereas Edinburgh is being told by Labour that there will be no trams without tolls?

That is just not true. For example, the three-year budget that was announced in December contains the highest ever level of investment in transport infrastructure in Scotland. Furthermore, investment from UK resources into some of those key infrastructure projects is absolutely vital. We need to do an awful lot over the next few years to improve that transport infrastructure, mainly because of the lack of investment in it over the past 20 years. However, we will make that investment, and a decade from now Scotland will have a much better transport system than it has had in the past two decades.

What the First Minister has just said is certainly not true, because it is well known that the Labour council in Edinburgh has made it clear that there will be no major improvements, such as the tram programme, without tolls. As far as the past 20 years are concerned, I should point out that the Labour Government and then the Scottish Executive froze the Conservative road-building programme in Scotland. That programme has still not been restored to the levels that applied in real terms in 1997.

If Labour gets its way, people in Scotland will have to pay tolls to come into Edinburgh and other major cities. Furthermore, the Cabinet document that was leaked last week shows that road-user charging is to be extended. In other words, even more tolls and taxes are on the way. Will the First Minister confirm that, if voters in Scotland re-elect his one-party coalition next May, further road tolls and workplace parking charges will be introduced?

As we have made clear since David McLetchie made that claim last week, there are no plans of that sort. The great tragedy of the frozen roads budget was that there was not very much in it to start with, back in 1997.

I remind Mr McLetchie, who apparently represents Edinburgh in the chamber, that the Edinburgh cross-rail project, which has been opened this year, is the first rail project to be opened in Scotland since 1993. That says a lot about the record of the Conservative Government at that time. Now, in Scotland, not only do we have those improvements and improvements in our airports—

Privatised railways.

Order.

When the privatised rail network needs its infrastructure, it knows where to come to get resources. We will ensure that the resources are available.

Not only have we done that, but there has been modernisation of the ferry services, modernisation of Scotland's airport services in the Highlands and Islands, and long-overdue improvements in roads, which have been a key factor in Scottish business confidence over recent years. The M74, the M8, the A80 and a host of other roads projects are being tackled by the Executive. The Tories never tackled those projects, but they will now be tackled.

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Sectarianism (Local Authority Powers)

To ask the First Minister whether proposed measures to tackle sectarianism will impact on local authority powers in respect of public order. (S1F-2353)

The report of the cross-party working group, "Tackling Religious Hatred", made no recommendations on local authority powers regarding public order, but it recommended that local authorities use existing powers more effectively to control sales by street vendors outside football grounds.

The First Minister is aware that in many parts of Scotland, such as Aberdeen, sectarianism is largely absent. In particular, marches by sectarian associations are not held. There is wide consensus within the Aberdeen community that such marches are not desired in Aberdeen. However, last year, after a court case was lost, a march took place that resulted in some angry protests. I ask the First Minister to consider how councils in such situations can be assisted in reflecting the wishes of their communities and maintaining public order.

My understanding of the situation in Aberdeen last year was that the local authority's difficulty in taking the action that it wanted to take was that the advice of the chief constable was that there would not be a problem if the event took place. Perhaps some lessons could be learned from that in relation to the advice that is received from chief constables. Lessons need to be learned in Aberdeen. I hope that we can have constructive relationships between local authorities and chief constables so that, if there is any danger that any march of any kind would lead to civil disorder or to sectarian violence or religious hatred being expressed on our streets in Scotland, the chief constables and local authorities will be able to take action.

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Edinburgh Fire

To ask the First Minister what the up-to-date position is on the handling of the fire in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh; what the extent of the damage is; and what the long-term implications are of the fire. (S1F-2335)

I pay tribute to the emergency services for their efforts in tackling the fire last weekend. It is clear to us all that without their expertise the outcome would have been much worse than it was.

The damage from fire, smoke and water has been extensive; 11 premises have been destroyed and a further six have been damaged. Control of the site has now transferred from the emergency services to the City of Edinburgh Council. The police and fire brigade will soon begin a joint investigation into the cause of the fire. The City of Edinburgh Council, Historic Scotland and the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust will determine priorities for demolition on public safety grounds and assess what can be retained.

While congratulating the firefighters of Edinburgh and thanking them for their excellent work, in which they definitely risked their lives, may I ask whether the First Minister will allow his civil servants to engage in discussions with the City of Edinburgh Council with a view to finding the best ways forward in respect of demolition, clearance and future development of this significant area of the old town, which had a high-density population?

The Executive will be involved in the appropriate way, which is through the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, whose repair grants programme we fund jointly with the City of Edinburgh Council. The trust and the council must determine jointly whether additional financial assistance from public funds is appropriate in this case. It is probably too early to make that judgment, given that insurance assessments will follow, but it is important that we are willing to be involved in the discussions through the appropriate channel, which is the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, which we fund.

I welcome the fact that the fire was limited, that there were no fatalities and that no housing was destroyed, but the fire has had a major impact on local retail and entertainment businesses. Does the First Minister agree that the City of Edinburgh Council should be given every support to regenerate the site? Will he endorse my calls for the community of the old town to be consulted on proposals for the future of that historic area?

As I have explained, it is important that we use the existing channels for finance. It is also important that the community in the old town has the opportunity to participate in the process. Sarah Boyack, who is the local member of the Scottish Parliament, has visited the site, as has Mike Watson, who is the minister with responsibility for heritage. I hope that we give as much support as possible to the local community as it tries to repair the community spirit that existed before the fire. The site was not just a heritage site or a commercial area; it was a living, breathing community. It is important that that community is not only retained, but developed.

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Community Pharmacists

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Executive supports the continued existence of community pharmacists. (S1F-2355)

Yes. "The Right Medicine: A Strategy for Pharmaceutical Care in Scotland", which we published earlier this year, clearly sets out the importance of a modern network of community pharmacies to provide front-line care for patients across Scotland.

I thank the First Minister for that reassurance. Is he aware of the threat of deregulation of community pharmacies as a result of the Office of Fair Trading's pharmacy inquiry report, which is due soon? Does he agree that the last thing on earth that we need, on top of the decline of post offices and suburban shopping areas, is the loss of much-needed community pharmacists? Can the Scottish Executive protect community pharmacists against the threat and will the First Minister undertake to do everything possible to protect the network?

Community pharmacies and pharmacists are important in Scotland, not least in our rural communities, where they have a key role as part of the network of local services to which Robert Brown referred. Community pharmacies can also have—increasingly, they do have—a key role in the health improvement strategy, which encompasses much more than the work of Government, health boards and health trusts. The advice that community pharmacists give in communities is vital for local people who need suggestions and advice on the medicines that they use and other provisions that they buy.

Community pharmacies are particularly important in Scotland. We await with interest the publication of the report to which Robert Brown referred and we will engage in the process when the report is published.

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Biological Terrorist Attacks

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Executive is taking to protect the public from any possible terrorist smallpox or anthrax attacks. (S1F-2339)

I want to make it very clear that we have no current warning of a specific threat of a smallpox or anthrax attack on Scotland by terrorists. As part of our contingency planning, we published last week the "Interim Guidelines for Smallpox Response and Management in Scotland in the Post-Eradication Era". In addition, advice on anthrax was provided to all general practitioners in Scotland on 19 October 2001.

Given the British Government's desire to follow the United States into an unjustifiable colonial war in Iraq, and in light of recent reports that the US Administration is prepared to use nuclear weapons in response to an attack involving weapons of mass destruction, does the First Minister agree that that policy will only increase the likelihood of terrorist attacks on the west? Does he agree that we are worryingly unprepared for such attacks because essential drugs and vaccines have been supplied under a postcode lottery?

I do not think that standing up to international terrorists, whether they are in or outside a Government, increases the threat of a smallpox or anthrax attack. The measures are designed specifically to stop that happening in the first place. It is right and proper that we take appropriate precautions, but it is also right and proper that we fulfil our international obligations, through the United Nations, to ensure that threats to our country or the world as a whole are dealt with properly.

The question was whether the preparations to bomb Iraq would cause problems in this country. As far as the Central Intelligence Agency is concerned, the Al Qa'ida network is not active in Iraq, so those preparations are not part of the war on international terror. Does the First Minister agree?

That was not the question, and I do not think that the First Minister is responsible for that.

In answer to Tommy Sheridan's question, no, I do not agree.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. You are normally very fair at First Minister's questions. Can I ask why no Scottish National Party members were called to ask supplementary questions?

No, you cannot ask that. That is not a point of order.