SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Primary Schools (Swimming Lessons)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that every local authority provides at least one course of swimming lessons to all pupils prior to their leaving primary school. (S1O-6409)
The Executive has now published its audit of swimming in Scottish schools. It shows that, although there are some excellent examples—such as Glasgow, which now has free swimming for all children and free lessons for children in primary 7—swimming provision varies considerably from one local authority to the next. Ministers want every child in Scotland to get the opportunity to learn to swim. I will be writing to each local authority asking them to take action on the audit report.
I thank the minister for instructing the audit of school swimming. I know that he shares my disappointment that the report shows that more than a quarter of schools make no provision at all for swimming lessons. Will he assure me that sufficiently robust guidelines will be put in place to ensure that local authorities can no longer cut swimming lessons as a soft option when budget savings are required? After all, swimming is one subject on the curriculum that could save a life.
I agree with Kay Ullrich. That figure of 25 per cent or more is unacceptable. I will consider the suggestion of guidelines or guidance on that area.
Does the minister agree that he will find it much easier to meet his target of every primary school child being instructed in swimming if sufficient physical education specialists are recruited to teach in primary schools?
I agree that we need to extend the number of PE specialists in Scotland's schools. That means examining carefully the number of PE specialists we train and the nature of that training. I would like there to be much more of a cluster approach in which the secondary school PE teams are also able to go into our primary schools and give the quality, specialist education that many members would like to see. For that reason, we have increased the priority that will be given next year to the recruitment of PE teachers in the advice that has gone out to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.
National Health Service (Ancillary Workers)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote harmonisation of the terms and conditions of national health service ancillary workers. (S1O-6424)
If it is accepted, the modernised pay system—set out in "Agenda for Change: Modernising the NHS Pay System"—will introduce harmonised terms and conditions for all NHS non-medical staff.
I welcome "Agenda for Change", which holds the prospect of a minimum wage for non-clinical staff in the NHS. However, I raise concerns about the disparity that continues to exist in some other conditions of service, such as sick pay and pensions. Some porters and domestics still do not have the occupational sick-pay schemes that clinical staff enjoy. That is not justified. Therefore, will the minister assure me that there will be a programme in future to eradicate those inequalities so that our poorest paid are protected?
One of the many changes from "Agenda for Change" will be that sick pay will start from day 1 of employment, unlike the present situation.
Recycling (Fife Council)
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with Fife Council on improving the council's record on recycling. (S1O-6421)
The most recent discussions between Executive officials and Fife Council have covered the expenditure profile for an application submitted by the council to the strategic waste fund and the council's proposals for use of the £374,000 recycling grant that was awarded in December 2002.
The minister will be aware that, according to the performance indicators that were recently published by the Accounts Commission for Scotland, Fife generates more waste per head than any other council in Scotland and recycles less than most. Does the minister think that Fife's Labour administration is aware of the national waste strategy's waste hierarchy, which is to reduce, reuse, recover and only then dispose? What bids has Fife Council made to the strategic waste fund to address its appalling record?
A number of councils may be under the illusion that, by simply moving towards a greater recycling target, they will solve the problem. The member's general point about every council in Scotland having to address the question of waste minimisation is crucial to the success of the national waste strategy.
Before calling further supplementary questions, I remind members that this question relates to Fife Council.
My question is very relevant, but it is not on Fife.
In that case, I call John Scott. Is your question about Fife, Mr Scott?
Well, it is about recycling.
I am sorry, but it has to be about Fife Council. We will move to question 4.
Locally Based Companies (Investment)
I have a more general question.
Growing businesses is a key priority of our strategy for the enterprise networks. Local economic forums provide a mechanism for driving forward an agreed economic development agenda in each local area. We have refocused our regional selective assistance scheme to help locally based companies access support.
That is encouraging. What other measures are in place to help people to set up companies and develop them, other than money, although money is important? Many people have good ideas, but not the technical, legal or planning skills to implement them. Is there enough support to help such people to develop their new companies?
The small business gateway has been key to streamlining and increasing the effectiveness of the kind of support to which Mr Gorrie refers. It ensures that services and support can be provided by accredited business advisers or by lawyers and accountants—whichever are required for the various aspects of people's plans—and can be accessed through one website or one telephone number. We have worked hard with those involved to ensure that it is much easier now compared with how it used to be for people who have a good idea for starting up a business to access not just grants and money but expertise.
As the minister said, one of the main measures for helping businesses to grow is regional selective assistance. How much of the funding for the current financial year is still left in the RSA budget? In other words, what has been neither committed nor spent? How will that money be recycled to help local businesses?
As Mr Neil will understand, the RSA scheme operates day by day, and discussions on potential grants, applications and so on take place every day, so I do not have a figure to hand. Mr Neil will also know that one of the changes that I have made on RSA has been to publish quarterly reports, so that details about the grants that have been offered and accepted are clear and transparent.
The minister will accept that a congenial business environment would help local investment in locally based companies. If the minister and the Scottish Executive accept the need to mitigate the rates burden—which they have done by conceding a freeze on business rates—why will they not go the whole hog by restoring a uniform business rate to achieve real competitiveness and to give real help to locally based companies?
Miss Goldie knows the answer to that question. There is a difference between both the rates poundage and rateable values in Scotland and England. For that reason, the burden imposed on businesses is the same in Scotland and England. We have said that we will freeze business rates. That measure will come into force in the next financial year and will help businesses. However, all the other measures that we are taking to improve the skills of the work force are also important. If we took money from those programmes simply to reduce business rates, we would be cutting off our nose to spite our face.
In the light of the recent decision by the Boots Company to close its Airdrie factory, does the minister agree that the workers in Airdrie require a two-pronged approach? Such an approach will ensure that they receive the maximum redundancy package, assistance in retraining and new job opportunities. It will also involve a strategy to support and nurture local companies, so that employment opportunities can be created locally.
Karen Whitefield is absolutely right. She has already been involved in discussions with the company, local agencies such as Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire Council about how to do what she suggests. There is no point in going over old ground, but we all wish that we could have started those discussions at a much earlier stage in the process.
Rail Services (Aberdeen and the North-east)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve rail services around Aberdeen and the north-east. (S1O-6434)
Our investment in rolling stock, announced in December, will result in new trains operating on the Aberdeen to Edinburgh and Aberdeen to Glasgow routes. In addition, the Scottish Executive has supported the cost of progressing the Aberdeen crossrail proposals and is working with the Strategic Rail Authority to improve services on the Aberdeen to Inverness line.
As the minister knows, the railway line passes through industrial areas to the south and north of Aberdeen and through Dyce, where the work force for offshore oil channels. Given the enormous potential of the crossrail project to tackle congestion, which is one of the top 10 transport priorities, will he assure me that he is doing everything possible to advance it?
I agree entirely about the potential benefits of additional services on this route. Nora Radcliffe mentioned Dyce and other industrial areas around the city. The challenge is to link improved rail services to other aspects of the public transport network, such as the evolving strategy for public transport access to Aberdeen airport, which is important. We will consider the crossrail proposals as they evolve to the next stage and encourage work on them to continue. We will examine the proposals with a clear view of the important contribution that they may make to the public transport network in and around the city of Aberdeen.
The minister will be aware of reports that seem to suggest that, rather than trying to improve services, the Strategic Rail Authority is seeking to reduce them by instructions that it is giving to ScotRail. Did the minister give directions and guidance to the SRA to do that? If not, on what basis did the SRA act? Is that not clear proof that we need to take the ScotRail franchise back into public ownership?
Order. That question is well wide of the mark. The minister need not answer it.
How does the minister see the proposed Aberdeen crossrail scheme complementing the western peripheral route, to which the First Minister made a very welcome commitment when he was in Aberdeen recently? Both are part of the modern transport system that is being developed for Aberdeen and the north-east.
As Elaine Thomson is aware, we will proceed with the construction of the western peripheral route around Aberdeen. That is one of the key projects in the modern transport strategy that has been developed by Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council. The strategy comprises both public transport and roads investment, which is a good, balanced approach and we will continue to work with the authorities in carrying it forward. Of course, we will continue to provide direct instructions to the Strategic Rail Authority on matters relating to the Scottish rail passenger franchise.
Recycled Aggregates
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it has made to support the increased use of recycled aggregates. (S1O-6433)
Improving Scotland's resource use is a key priority in our approach to sustainable development. We have allocated £1 million from the aggregates levy to the aggregates programme to be run by the Waste and Resources Action Programme, with the objective of reducing the demand for primary aggregates through the greater use of aggregates from recycled and secondary sources. The programme will provide a comprehensive information service to stakeholders in the aggregates supply chain, support research into aggregates-related issues and provide capital support to stimulate the development of secondary and recycled aggregates infrastructure in Scotland.
Further to the answer that I received from the Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning two weeks ago, does the minister believe that the pursuit of the use of recycled aggregates will in any way offset the cost to the Scottish economy of the aggregates tax? Is he in a position to calculate what the cost of that tax will be to the Executive's road building programme?
Mr Johnstone is obviously very persistent in pursuing the matter, on which Lewis Macdonald gave what I thought was a comprehensive reply.
Order. The minister must not start asking questions.
I ask the minister to comment on the fact that cullet is being used extensively for road fill rather than as recycled glass. United Glass Ltd in my constituency has found the local authorities to be very tardy in responding to its proposal, which would significantly increase the recycling of glass. Will the minister undertake to work with the glass industry to ensure that local authorities do more to promote the recycling of cullet for glass bottles? Will he meet representatives of United Glass and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to examine how his department can help match the French and Dutch in effective recycling?
Yes. I am well aware of the potential for using recycled cullet in road building materials. I am disappointed that there has been tardiness in co-operation between United Glass and the respective local authorities. I am certainly happy for my officials to work with local authorities and private companies to try to bring them together.
Low Pay
To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees are officially low paid and what action it is taking to address the issue of poverty because of low pay. (S1O-6457)
Around 100,000 people are entitled to rises as a result of the October 2002 increase in the national minimum wage. The new lifelong learning strategy, which I launched on 11 February, shows our determination to create a Scotland in which people have the knowledge, creativity and skills to participate fully in economic, social and civic life and enhance their earning capacity.
That is rather inadequate. Is the minister aware that the number of Scots living below the official poverty line is now greater than it was five years ago and that the single biggest growth area is among the working poor? Will the Executive take the radical action that is required and introduce a proper Low Pay Unit-set minimum wage of £7.32 per hour for public sector workers to eradicate the scourge of low pay within the public services?
In the past, Mr Sheridan has shown that he is happy to move between relative and absolute measures of poverty as and when it suits his argument. The first step towards the eradication of poverty in Scotland is the eradication of mass unemployment. We have taken that step. That must be built on by eradicating the lowest pay. We have done that by introducing the national minimum wage. The next step is to provide support for families in particular circumstances through measures such as the child tax credit. Next we must give Scottish workers the opportunity to increase their skills, so that we can aspire not only to full employment in Scotland, but to the most fulfilling employment that it is possible to provide for our people. That is our strategy.
The minister made reference to the eradication of mass unemployment. Is he aware of the findings of the Scotecon study at the University of Stirling—funded by the Scottish Executive—which reveal that Scotland has one of the highest rates in the industrialised world for the number of households with no one in employment? Does he acknowledge that although many families might be off the Government's unemployment statistics, that is not a reason to put them out the Government's mind altogether? When one in four households in Strathclyde has no one in employment, how can the minister say that he has conquered unemployment? Is it not the case that, for too many families in Scotland, Labour is not working?
Mr Wilson will no doubt also be aware of the labour market figures that came out earlier this week, which show further falls in unemployment and the claimant count to levels that have not been seen for almost 40 years. That gives us the opportunity to focus support on those who are furthest from the labour market and have the greatest barriers to overcome to access the opportunities that we have created.
I am sure that the minister is aware that a significant majority of low-paid workers are women. That is partly because of their need to be flexible to meet their disproportionate care responsibilities and partly because of job segregation, which means that women's jobs are less valued and therefore lower paid. What steps are being taken to address the underlying inequality in the work force that creates the pay gap? I seek the minister's assurance that any strategy to address the problem of low pay will recognise the particular and pressing needs of women.
We are fully engaged in the "Close the Gap" initiative, which is a UK-wide initiative. My colleague Margaret Curran and I have been involved in that. When we talk about improving skills and providing more opportunities for the work force, it is important that we pay particular attention to creating such opportunities for women. We can use a range of means to do that. For example, we have provided additional support for child care for those who study in further or higher education. As I have said, the enterprise networks have particular targets for helping women to start new businesses. It is pleasing that there has been significant success in that area.
Can the minister confirm that all employers in Scotland are meeting the minimum wage requirements? If that is the case, can he explain why Jobcentre Plus staff ask every employer whether they are prepared to guarantee such payments and register some surprise when people enthusiastically embrace the targets? What effect has the minimum wage had on poverty?
The Low Pay Commission is in no doubt that although the national minimum wage has not been the only contributor to the reduction in poverty that has taken place, it has been one of the most significant contributors. The national minimum wage is a powerful tool. We have to ensure that employers are aware of and are complying with the requirements of national minimum wage legislation because we had to wait a very long time for a minimum wage in this country. It is right and proper that we are always vigilant that it is being complied with.
Out-of-school Care
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support out-of-school care provisions. (S1O-6454)
Earlier today I launched "School's Out", which provides information, examples of good practice and guidance to help to develop out-of-school care. I have asked local authorities to review local out-of-school care provision and to set targets, agreed with us, to meet shortfalls in provision by 2006.
As the minister knows, a lot of good work is happening in the Stirling constituency. Will she give an assurance that long-term sustainability will be central in future policy making, especially for clubs such as Playhaven in Raploch, where parents need to be able to take advantage of education, training and work opportunities as part of the regeneration of that area?
I agree with Sylvia Jackson that sustainability is important. That is why sustainability is a central feature in our recommendations.
Is the minister entirely happy that some out-of-school care projects are very dependent on the vagaries of lottery funding? In view of the fact that lottery sales have decreased by over 5 per cent since last year, would it not be better for such projects to be funded from the education budget, so that more lottery funding would be available for sport and the arts?
A range of funding provision is available for out-of-school care and additional funding has been made available through child care strategy moneys over the next three years. Money is also available through the changing children's services fund and through a number of other funding streams. The New Opportunities Fund has relaxed some of its restrictions so that some out-of-school care provisions are now able to secure three-year funding rather than the one-year funding that was previously the case. Out-of-school care provision makes a huge and welcome contribution to young people's involvement in sports, drama, the arts and a whole range of other activities.
Housing Associations (Insolvency)
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures it follows if a housing association becomes insolvent. (S1O-6412)
The procedures for dealing with a housing association that becomes insolvent are set out in detail in schedule 8 to the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. They impose an immediate moratorium on the disposal of land or properties held by the landlord. The moratorium enables Scottish ministers—working through Communities Scotland as the housing regulator—to step in and work with all interested parties to develop proposals for the future ownership and management of the landlord's land and properties. The procedures are designed to secure their continued proper management within the housing association sector.
I thank the minister for her full answer. She will be aware that housing associations hold a funding pot for repairs and maintenance that is made up of contributions from residents, both tenants and those who have bought their homes. Will she give a guarantee today that such funds will not be lost if a housing association becomes insolvent?
I am sure that, like many in the chamber, David Davidson is aware that we in Scotland have never faced the situation of a housing association becoming insolvent. That is largely because of the work of Scottish Homes, the powers of which were enhanced through the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and the creation of Communities Scotland. I am sure that I can give the guarantee that we could protect the moneys of tenants to ensure that proper works are carried out.
Fishing Industry
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the fishing industry and what matters were discussed. (S1O-6428)
I last met representatives of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation on 11 February, when the main topic of discussion was the implementation of the Executive's package of support measures for the industry.
On that support package, if there must be some decommissioning of the white-fish industry, as the Scottish Fishermen's Federation agrees, will the minister accept that white-fish quota must be retained in Scotland's fishing communities? Given the fact that beef quotas are subject to a siphon, which means in effect that the Government owns the quota as a tradeable asset, does he accept that there must be a mechanism for the Government to purchase white-fish quota to prevent other European Union member states from buying that entitlement to fish?
Since the measures emerged I have always accepted that there were serious issues to be addressed in relation to quotas. The member is right to say that it was one of the issues that were discussed on Monday evening. He will also agree that it is an extraordinarily complex measure and, although I am grateful to him for drawing the potential parallel with the beef quota, there is a slight difference between that and a siphoning mechanism that deals with a very small percentage.
Did the minister discuss with the Scottish Fishermen's Federation the fishing communities' strong views that the Executive's proposed package is balanced far too much in favour of decommissioning and that it is not a recovery plan but a redundancy plan? Will he accept that there is a need for flexibility in considering how that money is spent to ensure that we will have a fleet that can go to sea and bring back the catches that we all want?
As a starting point, I have set out that there are two sides to the equation that have to be addressed. One is to deal with the conservation measures and the need for us to address the serious issue of conserving stocks in the North sea. The other is to address the need to have a sustainable fishing fleet. I believe that the Executive's £50 million package of measures is one of the largest that has been directed to an industry of that size. It is a real expression of the earnest will of the Executive to sustain the fishing industry. We can compare that amount with the cost of the last decommissioning scheme, which removed 10 per cent of the fishing effort. The target this time is 15 per cent so, by using very simple arithmetic, we can see how we have come to the balance.
The £10 million part of the package that has been allocated to transitional funding presumably covers the six months of interim measures that will, hopefully, end in July. Bearing in mind the fact that the European Union has rejected cod recovery plan proposals on more than one occasion in the past, is the minister confident that those draconian interim measures will end in July? What provision has he made if they do not?
I am not in a position to speculate on exactly what is going to happen in the new council. Even after the council had ended, I was conscious that there were going to be some difficulties. There are a number of options for addressing those difficulties and we began discussing those with the fishing industry on Tuesday evening. It is imperative that the Executive gets alternative proposals on the table and begins those discussions and we gave the industry an undertaking that we would.
Caledonian MacBrayne
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the management of Caledonian MacBrayne and what issues were discussed. (S1O-6407)
Scottish Executive officials meet the management of Caledonian MacBrayne whenever necessary, most recently on Monday of this week, when the future investment programme for Clyde and Hebrides ferry services was discussed.
The minister will be aware of the European Union regulations that encourage and require bids for public service obligation services to be at the lowest possible cost to the public purse. The evidence of the Deloitte & Touche report was that the removal of the frequency restriction on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry run would allow more sailings, more profit and so lower subsidy and greater competition. Given that, does the minister recognise that unless he removes the frequency restriction, he might be in breach of the EU regulations and might leave the Executive open to a legal challenge?
I am afraid that Mr Hamilton is slightly out of date with developments. Some weeks ago, I announced that we will issue shortly a draft service specification for the Gourock to Dunoon service that will separate it out from the overall network. The requirement that the service should be let to the operator that provides the service at the lowest possible cost accompanies the requirement that the service should be compliant with the terms of the tender. In letting the service specification and the tender, it is for the Executive to define the terms of the tender. We will accept the bid that is compliant with the requirements of the tender and that comes in at the lowest possible cost.
When will the consultation on the draft specification for the Gourock to Dunoon route begin?
We expect to begin that consultation shortly. We will have to ensure that the necessary amendments are made to the wider draft service specification, as well as prepare the current draft service specification for the Gourock to Dunoon route.
On the restriction of services, I point out that young people who use public transport are particularly disadvantaged if the Gourock to Dunoon ferry does not operate into the late evening. I ask the minister to examine whether it is the passenger aspect or the vehicle aspect of the ferry service that the European Commission wishes to restrict with the new contract. If it is not the passenger aspect, will he consider how he might deliver public transport later into the evening for young people in Dunoon?
The point on restrictions is similar to the one raised by Duncan Hamilton. It was made clear in our most recent discussions with the European Commission that a proposal that was founded on the existing restrictions on the service would be more likely to survive any challenge that might be made by a third party. That advice and the discussions that we had drew us to reach our conclusions and to produce the proposals. Clearly, we will take into account the need for public transport services on the route when we produce the final service specification.
Public Transport (Access for Disabled People)
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on promoting access for disabled people to public transport. (S1O-6430)
The Executive is committed to an accessible public transport system that allows people with disabilities to enjoy the same opportunities to travel in Scotland as other members of society. To achieve that, we will work with public transport providers and others to improve access to services and facilities across Scotland.
Does the minister share my concern that Prestonpans, Longniddry, Drem and many other railway stations are still not accessible to passengers with physical disabilities? Railtrack Scotland has told me:
I agree that we expect the providers to sort out whatever differences they have to sort out, and to make the facilities accessible. On coercion, there is the ultimate coercion of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. We expect providers to understand their obligations under that. On occasion, we have received applications to fund such improvements, through the public transport fund for example, and we have looked positively on many of them.
It goes without saying that there are barriers in the way of people with wheelchairs. We need to do something about that soon. With the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 due to be fully implemented in 2004, what action has the Executive taken to ensure that public transport is also fully accessible to people with learning disabilities, hearing difficulties and sight problems?
The DDA covers all forms of disability, not just wheelchair use. Three sets of regulations have added further detail to that, including the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998, and other regulations that cover buses and so on. I believe that there is still some discussion around the final form of the regulations covering taxis, but in all cases those disabilities should be addressed. One support in aid that we have is the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland. We look forward to its first annual report towards the end of this month, and we will take up its suggestions.
There are plans to replace existing rolling stock over the next few years. Has there been any consultation on the iniquitous design of many railway carriages, which makes it difficult for normal pedestrians to get on and off the train, irrespective of people who are disabled? Have there been any specific discussions with the authorities on the matter of a redesign? Most foreign railway carriages, in particular those on the continent, are far superior to the ones that we have here.
The new rolling stock will have to meet the new Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998. If anyone is aware of a continuing difficulty, I am happy to be made aware of it. The fact is that the new rolling stock should be as accessible as is rolling stock anywhere else in the world.
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