Independent Expert Panel on Unconventional Oil and Gas
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made by the independent expert scientific panel on unconventional oil and gas. (S4O-03007)
The independent expert scientific panel was convened by the Scottish Government with a remit to review the scientific evidence on unconventional oil and gas and provide a report. The panel has met several times and is considering evidence from a variety of interested stakeholders, covering planning, economics, geology and environmental issues.
The minister will be aware of the concerns of my constituents in Canonbie, where permission to explore for coalbed methane was granted under delegated powers. My constituents are concerned that the make-up of the expert panel focuses too much on those with a background in petrochemicals and not enough on those with a background in toxicology and the impact of such developments on communities. Can the minister offer any reassurances in this instance?
I reassure the member that the membership of the expert scientific panel was based on recommendations that were made by the chief scientific adviser, and the panel’s expertise spans a breadth of disciplines in unconventional oil and gas, environmental, geological and engineering processes and resource extraction.
The Ineos plant at Grangemouth is depending for its feedstock on shale gas being shipped across the Atlantic from the USA in a fleet of tankers that are being constructed in China. Surely it would make more sense with regard to the viability of that business and, indeed, its carbon footprint if it could instead depend on a source of domestic unconventional gas. Does the minister agree that the Scottish Government should be encouraging that?
I hear what the member says. It is a matter for the company how it sources its feedstock. I understand that it has made a decision to proceed with the importation from the USA, and we note that. Of course, we take an evidence-based approach to all these matters. That is the correct approach. We await the findings, later this year, of the panel of experts, who include people with expertise across a range of issues. That evidence-based approach is one that the Scottish Conservatives adopted when they said that all new technologies must be evidence led. I agree with the Conservatives in that respect.
The problem is that the energy minister tends to regard all fossil fuels as an economic resource while the climate change minister accepts the global evidence that most fossil fuels must remain unused if we are going to have a chance of preventing catastrophic climate change. Is the Government any closer to resolving that contradiction between its climate and energy policies?
We do not accept that the contradiction exists.
Glasgow Queen Street Station (Upgrade)
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding the upgrade of Glasgow Queen Street station. (S4O-03008)
Transport Scotland, working with Network Rail, has had productive discussions with a number of stakeholders. These include First ScotRail, the Buchanan Partnership, the Millennium hotel, Glasgow City Council and Strathclyde partnership for transport. We will continue to work closely with our key stakeholders as we progress the transformation of Queen Street station.
The minister will be aware of the announcement by Network Rail that Queen Street station will be closed for four months—an announcement that was not conveyed to Glasgow Chamber of Commerce or any local businesses. What contingency plans have been made for users of the station? Will there be a consultation? Who will be involved in it?
It is important to be clear that the closure by Network Rail is not part of the Edinburgh to Glasgow improvement programme. Rather, it is related to the renewal of the existing trackbed in the Queen Street tunnel. We would certainly want to have further discussions with Network Rail on the points that the member raises.
On disruption in and around Queen Street, a disruption management forum is to be convened by Transport Scotland, involving stakeholders such as Glasgow City Council, SPT, Network Rail, First ScotRail and Passenger Focus. That group will be tasked with minimising the impact of any disruption to the travelling public, including Sandra White’s constituents.
As has been said, Queen Street station’s upper level will be closed for approximately 17 weeks, according to officials who are working on the project, as a result of the replacement of the slab track. What level of disruption are passengers likely to experience in terms of journey-time increases or service reduction, and will the closure coincide with the closure of the Winchburgh tunnel?
I am not sure whether Mark Griffin heard my response to the second question from Sandra White. I have just made it clear that this closure by Network Rail is to do with maintenance, not EGIP. If he is referring to the disruption that will result from EGIP, I advise him that, as I have mentioned, there is a group looking at how best we can minimise that disruption. [Interruption.] The member is shouting from a sedentary position, but I am not sure what he is saying. Nor am I sure what the question was if it was not about disruption resulting from EGIP or the maintenance of the tunnels. EGIP is a £3 billion investment in infrastructure—an investment that should have been made many years ago—that will create many jobs and will dramatically improve the service. [Keith Brown has corrected this contribution. See end of report.] The project will necessarily cause some disruption, but we will minimise that disruption by taking the measures that I have outlined.
Rail Travel (South Scotland)
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support rail travel in the South Scotland region. (S4O-03009)
The Government is delivering substantial improvements to the rail network in the south of Scotland. We are investing £353 million in delivering the Borders railway, which is due in 2015 and will re-establish passenger services for the first time since 1969. We are also re-letting the £2.5 billion ScotRail franchise that aims to deliver faster and more efficient passenger services, which will strengthen connections between our cities and regions.
The minister will be aware of the campaign to have Beattock railway station, near Moffat, reinstated. Does the minister agree that a rail link to Beattock and other stations in the south-west, such as Thornhill, Eastriggs and Glenluce, would be a huge boost for tourism, local commuters and business? Does he support the reinstatement of those four stations, and will he agree to have a short meeting with the Beattock station action group to hear about its plans?
As the member is aware, in re-letting the franchise we have created a £30 million fund for either improvements to existing stations or the establishment of new stations. That is the appropriate way for proposals for new stations to be made. I have seen the representations relating to Beattock, and I will continue to follow that situation. However, the fact that £2.5 billion is going into a new franchise that will improve services, with a subset of £30 million for new stations, shows that we are addressing what Patrick McLaughlin recently conceded has been “decades of underinvestment” in our transport infrastructure in Scotland in a way that has not been seen before.
The minister and Transport Scotland officials recently met RailQwest, which is seeking to promote greater connectivity between Ayrshire and the south of Scotland, and eastern Scotland—an aspiration that I share, as it could also benefit the future of Prestwick airport. Does the minister share that aspiration? If he does, how might the electrification project be taken forward?
I was interested to meet the representatives of RailQwest and listen to the points that they made. I made the point to them that the way to take the matter forward would be to take it to the regional transport partnership or local authority in order that a proper appraisal could be undertaken so that the proposal could be properly considered. It is an interesting proposal, but it would not quite do what some people imagine that it would do, which is connect the two main stations in Glasgow. Nevertheless, it is an interesting proposal and the correct way to pursue is to have it assessed objectively against the Scottish transport appraisal guidance criteria.
E-commerce
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to boost e-commerce. (S4O-03010)
The Scottish Government has established a business excellence partnership to help Scottish businesses to develop the confidence, capabilities and skills that are required to take advantage of digital opportunities. One good example of the work that our enterprise agencies are already doing is the partnership between Scottish Enterprise, ScotlandIS and the smart exporter programme to deliver the e-commerce Scotland programme. That provides practical support and ideas for all types of businesses and is designed to help them to grow their online sales both at home and throughout the world.
According to the Office for National Statistics, total e-commerce sales for the UK reached £492 billion. What is the Scottish Government’s estimate of annual total e-commerce sales in Scotland?
The Government’s assessment, which was contained in the SQW report on Scottish e-commerce that was published in May 2012, is that e-commerce sales in Scotland totalled £31 billion per annum.
Scotland Food & Drink (Export Plan)
To ask the Scottish Government how Scotland Food & Drink’s new export plan will support Scottish produce abroad. (S4O-03011)
Last week, I was delighted to launch Scotland Food & Drink’s new export plan at Nairn’s Oatcakes in Edinburgh. The plan is a fantastic example of collaboration between the industry and Government and it will capitalise on the industry’s tremendous success by focusing on key export markets over the next five years. That will be done by deploying a team of global experts across those markets to open up new opportunities and drive up international sales. I am fully confident that that will reap huge rewards for Scotland in the coming years and help the industry to meet its new ambitious export target of £7.1 billion by 2017.
We all know that barriers are put in the way of Scotland using United Kingdom embassies, which charge us for their services. Does the cabinet secretary agree that, with more effective overseas representation, we would promote our produce abroad better and tackle barriers to trade that are not prioritised by the Westminster Government?
An independent Scotland would be able to do a lot more to increase exports and to ensure that we target key markets. I recall that, during a visit to Tokyo in 2012 with Scotland’s biggest food and drink mission, the UK consul general in Tokyo told me, much to the alarm and surprise of the Scottish delegation, that getting Scottish beef into the Japanese market was not a priority. Scottish representatives would ensure that getting Scottish beef into the Japanese market would be a priority. That is just one of many examples how we could boost international export sales with independence.
Structural Defects (Assistance for Home Owners and Council Tenants)
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance is available for home owners and council tenants when structural defects are identified in their homes. (S4O-03012)
Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure that homes that are let to their tenants are wind and watertight and otherwise fit for human habitation and that any work that is needed to comply with that duty is carried out in a reasonable time. Private home owners are primarily responsible for work that is required on their own homes, but the local authority has discretionary powers to provide a broad range of assistance.
The minister will be aware that up to 90 properties in Silverton in Dumbarton have unforeseen structural problems, leading to a number of families being decanted. The cost of rectifying the structural problems is beyond many of the home owners despite the council’s pledge of assistance. Will the minister meet me, the council and a small of residents to explore possible solutions?
I am aware of the issue that the member raises and I have sympathy with the situation that many home owners are in. My officials have offered to meet the local authority to look at solutions. However, I am willing to take up the member’s request and meet her and the residents to hear about their issues.
Tuition Fees (Scottish and non-Scottish Students)
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the comment by the European Commissioner for education that any attempt to treat Scottish and non-Scottish students differently could be regarded as “a covert form of discrimination on grounds of nationality”. (S4O-03013)
I read, with great interest, Commissioner Vassiliou’s response of 7 February to the question that was posed by David Martin MEP. Her response makes it clear that it would be possible for an independent Scotland, as part of the European Union, to maintain our policy of enabling universities to charge students from the rest of the United Kingdom tuition fees by objectively justifying that position. That is what we have set out on page 199 of “Scotland’s Future”.
Our policy approach has been made necessary by the imposition of fees of up to £27,000 over three years on students in other parts of the UK. In order to protect places for Scotland-domiciled students, we had no option but to take decisive action.
Drew Smith is wrong in his assertion that Scottish and non-Scottish students are treated differently. That is the case now and it would be the case in an independent Scotland. Our policy is based on residence, not nationality.
When it has been pointed out previously that the Scottish National Party’s plans to discriminate against English students in an independent Scotland are illegal under EU law, the cabinet secretary has suggested that University Scotland’s legal advice backs up his position. How does he explain the fact that University Scotland is publicly calling for
“robust and legally defensible certainty”?
Is it not the case that the organisation that he claimed backs him up is calling for him to avoid protracted court action, leaving him to defend an indefensible policy and a £150 million black hole in university finance?
No. All that is simply not the case. [Interruption.] It is not the case and it does not become the case simply because Drew Smith says that it is the case. It is misleading to quote Commissioner Vassiliou’s opinion without quoting all her opinion. She says:
“Unless justified by objective considerations independent of the nationality of the persons concerned and proportionate to the legitimate aim pursued”.
She also says at the start of her answer:
“It is not the role of the Commission to express a position on questions of internal organisation relating to the constitutional arrangements of a particular Member State.”
Therefore, I think that Commissioner Vassiliou would be unhappy with Mr Smith. Indeed, many people in Universities Scotland would also be unhappy with him, because he has misrepresented their position as well.
Scottish League Cup Final (Supporters from the North and North-east)
To ask the Scottish Government what special measures are being put in place to allow families from the north and north-east of Scotland to attend the Scottish league cup final in Glasgow on 16 March 2014. (S4O-03014)
I can advise that special train services for supporters from Aberdeen and Inverness to Glasgow have been arranged between the clubs and ScotRail, with a significantly reduced fare for children travelling with adults.
On the roads, Traffic Scotland will provide a higher level of monitoring on all routes leading to Glasgow. The overhead variable message signs will be used to highlight any delays and queueing traffic as required. The use of all the other platforms, such as Traffic Scotland radio, website and Twitter alerts, will highlight the increased traffic on the day.
The minister will be aware that ScotRail is now filling a third football special from Aberdeen to Glasgow on Sunday, which is welcome. She will also be aware that its reduced fares policy allows a parent to buy a specially priced ticket for only one accompanying child. Will she thank ScotRail for its efforts so far but ask it to reconsider its family tickets policy before the next time Aberdeen fans travel in such large numbers to a cup final in Glasgow, which may not be long?
I will certainly thank ScotRail. Of course, it always keeps such issues under review.
I wish both teams—Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Aberdeen—all the best in what I am sure will be a good show for Scottish football on Sunday.
I call the other half: Dave Stewart.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I share Mr Macdonald’s concerns. Sunday will see a modern-day Highland clearance as thousands of Caley Thistle fans decant in Glasgow for a special day. However, traffic congestion, delays and hold-ups are a worry to many supporters. Does the minister share the concerns of a young Caley Thistle fan, who told me this morning:
“Caleythistle may go ballistic but the A9 is atrocious”?
As I said, a lot of work and effort has been put in on the rail and road networks to ensure that both sets of fans get to the game safely. I am sure that we will see a great display of football come Sunday.
Independence (Economic Benefits)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the economic benefits of independence. (S4O-03015)
Yes, I am delighted to provide an economic update. The Scottish Government has set out in “Scotland’s Future” and the economic choices paper a detailed analysis of the potential opportunities and benefits of independence. Independence will allow Scotland to use its resources and shape its fiscal and economic policies to meet the needs of its people.
Does the cabinet secretary agree that, following the citing by credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s of
“high-quality human capital, flexible product and labor markets, and transparent institutions”
as reasons for confidence in the Scottish economy, it is time for opponents of independence to realise that Scotland is wealthy enough to be an independent country and that it is time that we used that wealth to improve Scotland rather than sending it to be squandered by the Westminster Treasury in London?
Mr Dornan makes a fair and dispassionate point. [Laughter.] He is right to cite the evidence advanced by Standard & Poor’s, which noted that, even without North Sea oil and calculating per capita gross domestic product based only on on-shore income, Scotland would qualify for its highest economic assessment. That demonstrates what we all know: Scotland is a strong and wealthy country that is able to contribute to the international community, deliver prosperity for its people and tackle the inequality that has been a hallmark of the United Kingdom.
Will the cabinet secretary confirm that Scottish spending as a percentage of UK spending was greater last year than Scottish revenues as a percentage of UK revenues? Will he confirm that that has been the case for 17 out of the past 23 years, contrary to the distorted claims of the yes campaign?
I am delighted to confirm to Mr Chisholm that, when we look at the past five years’ performance—[Interruption.]
Order.
When we look at the past five years’ performance, we see that public expenditure as a share of GDP was 45.4 per cent in the UK, while in Scotland it was 44.2 per cent. That deflates the nonsense that Mr Chisholm has just come out with.