Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Thursday, January 13, 2011

Official Report 1179KB pdf

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Scottish Executive Question Time

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General Questions

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School Closures (Highlands and Islands)

1. To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding school closures in the Highlands and Islands. (S3O-12543)

The decision to close any school lies with the relevant council. The Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 ensures that when councils propose the closure of a school, a robust, open, transparent and fair consultation process is followed. The legislation also enables ministers to call in decisions, and ultimately block them, should a council not adhere properly to the process.

Since the act came into force last year, councils in the Highlands and Islands region have closed a number of schools and therefore Scottish ministers have received representations from many interested parties, requesting that certain of those decisions be called in.

The minister is on record as stating that eight or nine of the schools earmarked for closure in Argyll and Bute should be closed. Will he now name them?

I dealt comprehensively with the issues that Rhoda Grant raises yesterday, and indeed some of the issues were raised in the debate this morning. The reality of the situation is that Rhoda Grant has been stirring the issue for the past seven days. I have known her for a long time and my best advice to her is this: “When in a hole, stop digging.”

You’re a charlatan.

Order. Lord Foulkes, I will not have that sort of personal intervention across the chamber from a sedentary position.

Presiding Officer, he is a charlatan. [Interruption.]

Withdraw!

I warn Lord Foulkes that if he continues with that he will force me into taking an action that I am very reluctant to take, which might include exclusion from the chamber.

I call Alasdair Allan.

What representations has the cabinet secretary received about schools in the Western Isles, and does he agree that the decision he took yesterday to save four island schools was both necessary and welcome?

In all such cases, apart from those where I have resiled an involvement and insulated myself from the process—a matter that I described yesterday—I consider very carefully the documentation that comes to me and the legislation. In all those circumstances, I then come to a conclusion. The conclusion that I reached about Carloway, Shelibost, Shawbost and Lionel was that the legislation required me to make the decision that I did. I am glad to have done so.

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Planning (Hunterston Power Station)

2. To ask the Scottish Executive, with specific reference to any application for planning permission for a clean-coal-fired power station at Hunterston, whether the presumption of need conferred by “National Planning Framework for Scotland 2” will remain in place until at least the conclusion of the statutory five-yearly review. (S3O-12570)

As indicated in the written answer on 16 December to the member’s previous question on the subject, there are no plans for an early revision of any aspect of the national planning framework.

I want to press the minister on that point. Page 6 of the recent draft electricity generation policy statement is explicit in saying:

“NPF2 does not set policy in stone”.

That could not be clearer. However, a coal-fired power station at Hunterston is specified in NPF 2, which, under section 3A(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, as inserted by section 1 of the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006, gives it the status of being the land use that the Scottish ministers believe could and should be developed. How does the minister square those two totally conflicting positions?

I start by saying that I cannot comment on a live application. Furthermore, the question time format is a difficult environment in which to answer a question as detailed as this one, so I offer the member a briefing with other members to open up the issue and look at it in further detail, especially in light of Chris Huhne’s statement, in which with reference to electricity market reform he said:

“An emissions performance standard will reinforce the existing requirement that no new coal is built without carbon capture and storage.”—[Official Report, House of Commons, 16 December 2010; Vol 520, c 1065.]

The issue is complex. I understand Ross Finnie’s concerns and acknowledge his hard work on and knowledge of the subject. I want to weave that in to obtain the best result for Scottish communities and the Scottish electricity consumer, so I offer the meeting that I described.

Will the minister confirm that, as the draft electricity policy statement that was launched on 17 November said, thermal requirements will fall from an estimated 50 per cent to 20 per cent of Scotland’s requirements by 2020 and that fewer new power stations—even those with partial carbon capture and storage—will be required than was previously thought?

Yes—I believe so. In the light of our work and United Kingdom electricity market reform, the main elements of our future energy mix look to be more renewables, decarbonisation of fossil-fuel plants to ensure that we have full carbon capture and storage and the development of an increasingly smart grid. I offer Mr Gibson the chance to join us in ensuring that we produce the optimal results for Scottish communities and consumers.

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Electronic Overhead Gantry Signs

3. To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has given to Transport Scotland regarding the use of electronic overhead gantry signs. (S3O-12593)

Transport Scotland is part of the Scottish Government. Through its traffic Scotland service, variable message signs are used to warn drivers of emergencies, incidents and road closures. When the signs are not required for those purposes, they are used to promote road safety, network operation and related campaigns.

I suspect that I am not the only member who has received representations from constituents about the rather bland and at times irrelevant messages that appeared on some motorway gantry signs in the recent bad weather, which did not relate to the up-to-date road conditions. I appreciate that the wording of the messages is a matter for Transport Scotland, but does the minister agree that it is his responsibility to consider new ways of ensuring fully effective communication between Transport Scotland, our police, the Met Office and groups such as BEAR Scotland to provide motorists with accurate real-time information?

Following the motorway closures last month, Transport Scotland and the police identified the need for co-ordinated and consistent high-level warning messages to help to guide the travelling public’s decisions during the bad winter weather. Transport Scotland worked with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland to produce a nationally agreed set of warning messages that local police forces can use when they issue travel warnings for roads.

The onus in deciding to issue such travel warnings remains fully on police forces. Transport Scotland provides operational support to the police by disseminating messages via the traffic Scotland system of variable message signs, media broadcasts and website updates.

I understand Elizabeth Smith’s point about whether the signs could be more effective. We review that continually with Transport Scotland. She is a stakeholder, like everyone else, and we will take on board her point.

I will ask the minister about an issue that relates to the snow gates on the A93 heading north to Glenshee. Sometimes the police shut those gates—that is their responsibility—as a precaution overnight, but everybody knows that they will open in the morning. The overhead gantries on the main roads will say that the snow gates are closed, but everybody knows that the gates will be open by the time that people reach them. Will the minister take that issue to Transport Scotland? I appreciate that real-time information is wanted, but sometimes such information needs to be ahead of time.

I am more than happy to take on board Nigel Don’s point, with the proviso that closing the gates is the police’s responsibility, which I do not want to gainsay. The police have acted correctly at all times.

Nigel Don’s point about providing the maximum possible information to drivers ahead of time is extremely important. Through satellite navigation and other methods, we can do more to give drivers real-time information. We are considering how to do that.

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Teaching Posts

4. To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to guarantee that there are posts available for all newly qualified teachers on completion of their probationary year. (S3O-12541)

As part of the budget deal with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, local authorities have agreed to provide sufficient vacancies for all probationers who successfully complete the induction scheme in June 2011 to apply for. Of course, no individual can be guaranteed a post, and the posts will be available to all teachers who seek employment through fair and open competition. The deal also provides for further vacancies to reduce longer-term teacher unemployment. We have provided local authorities with an additional £15 million in the settlement to help to meet those teacher employment objectives.

I question how an assertion amounts to a guarantee and I welcome the cabinet secretary’s admission on that. What are the prospects for new teachers’ longer-term future? The Educational Institute of Scotland already warns of the decimation of teacher numbers across Scotland. In Dundee, one in 10 teachers has gone. How does the cabinet secretary propose to encourage new teachers to become the experienced teachers of the future, who are necessary for good education, when they can see the deprofessionalisation and casualisation of teaching as a direct consequence of his Government’s policies?

There is no deprofessionalisation or casualisation. I hope that Marlyn Glen was present during this morning’s debate. If so, she will have heard from me a comprehensive account of how the issue has been difficult for individuals and policy makers, how we have taken a number of steps to move it forward and how evidence is emerging that we have passed the worst.

As I said last night to two young teachers who were present at a highly successful engage for education meeting in Dundee, opportunity is ahead. Dundee City Council’s director of education, Jim Collins, was also present at that meeting. He was positive about the contribution that young teachers can make to the curriculum for excellence and the health of our schools.

The problem has been difficult. Much work has been done to try to solve it. I hope that Marlyn Glen might recognise that, but that will require her to take a fair and objective view of what has taken place.

Question 5 should be from Nicol Stephen, but unfortunately he is not in the chamber.

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Apprenticeships (Financial and Other Assistance)

6. To ask the Scottish Executive what financial and other assistance it has in place for people unable to complete their apprenticeships due to a company entering administration. (S3O-12566)

The Scottish Government has put in place specific measures to support our apprentices through the current downturn, including the adopt an apprentice and safeguard an apprentice schemes. Both schemes have been extended until March 2011.

The adopt an apprentice scheme offers employers a £2,000 incentive to employ a redundant apprentice. Skills Development Scotland advises us that, since the scheme’s launch in June 2009, it has supported more than 720 redundant apprentices, which has enabled them to find alternative employment and to continue their training.

SDS advises us that the safeguard an apprentice scheme, which provides a wage subsidy to small and medium-sized enterprises in the construction, manufacturing and engineering sectors, has supported 320 apprentices who would otherwise have lost their jobs.

Does the minister share my view that skills development through modern apprenticeships is a vital tool for industry and commerce? When Rok went into administration last year, 35 young people who were employed in the Highlands and Islands lost their jobs and their apprenticeships. Does the minister support my call for an apprenticeship summit to be held in Inverness next month? Would she or her officials attend that? If not, will she agree to meet me in Parliament to discuss the problem in more detail?

I certainly recognise and understand that the Highlands and Islands has been disproportionately affected by what happened to Rok. I appreciate Mr Stewart’s concern about that. In the first instance, I would be more than happy to meet him to discuss the matter face to face. In the meantime, I reassure him that all apprentices who might be affected by the Rok situation are receiving additional information and support to advise them best of the available options.

Question 7 was not lodged.

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Teacher Numbers

8. To ask the Scottish Executive how many fewer teachers it expects to be employed in schools during the lifetime of the current Administration. (S3O-12556)

As I said in this morning’s debate, I very much regret the reduction in the number of teachers who are employed in our schools since 2007. However, economic circumstances have changed since then in a way that could not have been predicted. We also need to recall that the 2007 level was artificially high and unsustainable at the best of times, let alone in the present financial circumstances.

However, I stress that evidence now shows that we have turned the corner on teacher unemployment. That provides a solid foundation for achievement of the teacher employment objectives in our budget agreement with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

Under the SNP Administration, teacher numbers have fallen by 3,000. I am concerned about the impact on music teachers and music tuition. Does the cabinet secretary recognise that some local authorities have made attempts to dilute the quality of music teaching in schools? Does he support the EIS charter for instrumental music and what it has said, which is that music should not be an “easy target” for cuts because of the huge benefits that music brings to children? In view of the threat to music teachers and tuition in schools, will he consider issuing guidance to local authorities on the Government’s expectations in relation to protecting music in our schools?

I have a great deal of sympathy with the issue, as the member will know. It is a pity that she was not in the debate this morning. She might have made that contribution and therefore helpfully contradicted those of her colleagues who were objecting to any interference by me in any school, authority or part of Scotland. That said, I am sympathetic to the issue of music and cultural instruction. I agree that it is no easy option to cut such things; it should not be an easy option to cut such things.

I recognise the great difficulties that Scottish local authorities have and the pressures on them—pressures that were forced, of course, by the cuts that the Con-Dem coalition has made too fast and too far and presaged by cuts that Alistair Darling told us would be considerably worse than Thatcher’s cuts. There are difficulties, but I have always stood four-square in defence of the arts and culture and teaching music and culture. I remain in that position.

The cabinet secretary will be aware that Glasgow City Council is responsible for more than a quarter of the fall in teacher numbers while also being the worst-performing council in terms of attainment levels. Does he agree that, instead of playing politics with our children’s education, Glasgow City Council, in particular Labour Party members on the council, should work constructively with the Scottish Government to ensure that Scotland’s education system remains world class?

I know that Sandra White knows that anybody would find me a constructive partner were they to wish to do so. I am always happy to work with local authorities on key problems or issues that they have. Many authorities have co-operated on class sizes and delivery and I am sorry that Glasgow City Council has refused to do so. The member is absolutely correct in what she says on teacher numbers. Glasgow City Council has been a significant contributor to the fall in teacher numbers. I recognise the pressure on local authorities, but it appears that the council that the Labour Party is not prepared to criticise is Glasgow City Council. Every other council can be criticised—provided, of course, that it is of a different political hue.

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M8 (Baillieston to Newhouse Upgrade)

9. To ask the Scottish Executive what the planned completion date was for the Baillieston to Newhouse M8 upgrade in May 2007 and what the current estimated completion date is. (S3O-12528)

The motorway and trunk road programme, which we published in June 2007, showed the estimated completion date for the M8 Baillieston to Newhouse scheme as 2012-13. Subject to parliamentary approval, the earliest completion date for the scheme will now be not before 2016-17. The M8 is a complex scheme and it is important that it has been developed in detail and consulted on fully to ensure a proper and robust solution. We are committed to commencing procurement of this key scheme in 2011-12.

Can the minister offer the chamber and country any explanation for the more than four-year delay that has occurred on his watch in completing the last 10 miles of motorway link between Glasgow and Edinburgh?

I am happy to point out that the explanation for the delays is remarkably similar to that for the delays on the M74. The member will be aware that major road schemes can involve public local inquiries and legal challenges. In this case, there was also delay because HM Treasury would not confirm the arrangements for the international financial reporting standards schemes. Since 2007, this Government, under my predecessor, has undertaken 17 road projects and five more are currently under construction. Of course, the M80 and M74 will also be completed on time and, in one case, ahead of budget and time.

I ask the minister to reflect on the fact that the public inquiry that he mentioned related to the Raith interchange. The M8 project was an entirely separate project when this Government inherited it. The public inquiry into the Raith interchange is no reason for delay on the M8 project.

I have already explained the circumstances behind the delays. It is funny how, when a project comes under Labour, the idea of a public local inquiry causing delay is acceptable, but it is not acceptable in this case. As I said, the simple fact is this: under my predecessor, 17 road projects—some on them ones that the Labour Party had committed to but made no progress on—were progressed. As I said, the M74 project will be completed ahead of time.