SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
Council Tax
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to impose a freeze on council tax levels. (S3O-586)
The Government's intention is that the council tax freeze will be achieved through constructive discussion and agreement with local authorities.
As it is now clear that the cabinet secretary is not going to take the powers to deliver a council tax freeze, it has become another soundbite pledge that the SNP has dropped.
For the first time in many years, a constructive discussion is going on between central Government and the local authorities. The Government is determined to pursue that discussion. As I told Parliament last week, I have met 18 local authorities and have scheduled meetings with others. In those discussions, I am determined to ensure that we support the continuation and development of our excellent public services. I am also determined to guarantee that, for the first time in a long time, the Government will work with local authorities to provide respite to hard-pressed council tax payers. I would have thought that Richard Simpson would find that agenda worthy of support.
Will the cabinet secretary commit to funding fully the cost of freezing council tax rates in Dumfries and Galloway? If not, and if Dumfries and Galloway Council feels compelled to increase council tax rates, what will he do?
As I said in my response to Dr Simpson, the Government is determined—I am determined—to hold constructive discussions with the local authorities to seek agreement on a council tax freeze. In fact, very shortly, I will meet the leader and chief executive of Dumfries and Galloway Council to take forward issues that they have raised, which I acknowledge have to be addressed as part of the local authority settlement. However, the most effective way in which to take forward this line of argument is to seek agreement with the local authorities on working together to deliver excellent public services and some respite from council tax for council tax payers.
In its constructive discussions with the local authorities and as part of its view of an appropriate level of local government funding, will the Government take account of the very different efficiency levels in local authorities across the country? Will he ensure that the impacts of any council tax freeze or local government settlement that the Government introduces will not hit disproportionately councils that have already taken difficult decisions to become more efficient and give those that have not done so a relatively easy ride?
As Mr Brownlee will be aware, the Government has made it clear that we expect local authorities to take full part in the 1.5 per cent efficiency gains targets that the Government has set. In my experience, local authorities have contributed a significant amount to that agenda in recent years, as the published reports from the predecessor Administration highlight.
National Health Service Dental Services (Fife)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve access to national health service dental services in Fife. (S3O-609)
The responsibility for the overall provision of NHS dental services in an area rests with the NHS board. NHS Fife has a number of projects under way that propose to create, over the next two years, an additional 27 salaried general dental practitioner surgeries over five sites throughout Fife to help to increase access to NHS dental services in its area.
The Scottish National Party's manifesto stated:
I gently remind Mr Smith that his party's Administration had eight years in which to resolve the very difficult issues in NHS dentistry. In the four months that this Administration has been in power, we have ensured that the matter has been given the highest priority in our discussions with every NHS board in Scotland. We have ensured that boards are clear about their plans to expand the salaried dental service. I can tell the member that we will leave NHS dentistry in a far fitter state at the end of our four-year term than his party did after eight years of failure.
Regeneration (Levenmouth)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for regeneration within the Levenmouth area of Fife. (S3O-571)
Plans for regeneration of the Levenmouth area of Fife are first and foremost the responsibility of Fife Council and its local partners in the Fife partnership. Through Communities Scotland, the Scottish Government has invested more than £5 million over the past four years and it will invest a further £2.7 million this year.
What specific plans does the minister have to build on the successful local regeneration initiatives in my constituency? In particular, what does the SNP Administration have planned for Buckhaven, given that it plays a pivotal role within the Levenmouth area and that its social and economic success is important to the local communities? What specific policy initiatives does the Administration have for the area? The minister mentioned that the Administration will spend £2.5 million this year, but what budget increases will be committed to the on-going regeneration of our villages and towns? I am concerned that little has been said on the issue so far.
Clearly, the local community regeneration partnership has responsibility for deciding the priorities in Fife. However, it is clear that some areas have received more funds than others. In the next short while, we will announce our overall strategy and plans on how regeneration will be taken forward over the next four years and on what priority will be given to it. Those plans will be outlined before Christmas. On the budget issue, the member will be aware that the spending review is still on-going. When the spending review is completed, we will announce plans on how much money will be made available for regeneration.
Is the minister aware that the average weekly household income in Levenmouth is £100 less than that of the rest of Fife and of Scotland? Does he agree that the Levenmouth area was devastated by the closure of the pits and by the past 10 years of criminal neglect by the Labour Party at every tier of government?
I absolutely agree with the member for Central Fife that the deplorable situation in some areas of Fife is the result of many years of mismanagement both at local and national Government level. That is just a matter of fact. I am more than happy to meet the member to discuss issues that fall within my responsibility; I am sure that other ministers will be happy to meet her to discuss issues that fall within their responsibility.
Tricia Marwick has already covered some aspects of my question. In addition to the restoration of the rail route, which has been asked for by Diageo and which would help companies such as Tullis Russell, a passenger service to link Methil and Leven to the Fife circle is a possibility. Could the minister update us on how the Government plans to advance those proposals?
Clearly, transport matters are outwith my responsibility, so the member might want to write to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change about such issues affecting Fife.
Does the minister agree that, with Aberdeen recognised as Scotland's oil capital and Dundee recognised as our capital of life sciences, it is time that Fife—and, in particular, the Levenmouth area through its regeneration project—was recognised as being at the forefront of renewable energy production and that it should be given the appropriate support to achieve that?
I think that the people of Fife do an excellent job in the work that they do, whether that be in the production of renewable energy resources or in other sectors. We need to ensure that every sector in Scotland—whether it be renewable energy or oil and gas or any other area of manufacturing and production—is not just a leader in Scotland but a world leader. Such things should not be just a sop to the local area but should be because we are at the cutting edge of technology. Renewable energy is a priority for the Government. We will ensure that each area that is involved in that gets the chance to show what it can do.
Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route
To ask the Scottish Executive when it now expects construction work on the Aberdeen western peripheral route to begin. (S3O-592)
We expect construction of the Aberdeen western peripheral route to begin in 2010.
I thank the minister for that reassurance. One of the greatest causes of concern and potential delay is the mystery that surrounds the decision-making process that preceded the announcement of the final route some 18 months ago. Will the minister undertake to approach previous ministers to ensure that papers that informed the decision-making process are made available to the local inquiry?
The member will be aware that the consultation on the AWPR received some 8,215 responses, so it represents a substantial issue that requires to be dealt with. The Government will certainly ensure that any public local inquiry is informed to the maximum extent possible. If previous ministers have papers to which I do not have access that might help to inform that inquiry about the decision-making processes, I seriously encourage them to make them available to the inquiry.
In connection with the timing of the construction of the Aberdeen western peripheral route, will the minister consider starting on the northern leg first?
The member makes an excellent suggestion, which we are certainly considering. A number of practical problems are associated with it, however. To enable construction to take place, we have started the process of land acquisition, and we will continue to pursue that at best speed. We will continue to consider the proposal and I will try to promote it.
Edinburgh Airport Rail Link
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report back to the Parliament on its work on continuing to progress the Edinburgh airport rail link project. (S3O-602)
As promised, we will report back to Parliament at the end of the month on the review of governance issues identified in the Audit Scotland report.
I thank the minister for his answer. I remind the minister of two points. First, the terms of the motion on EARL that the Parliament agreed on 27 June were:
I assure the member that we continue to engage with the governance issues. I refer her to the answer that I gave to Tavish Scott on 6 September, which refers to meetings that John Swinney has had with BAA and Network Rail. Those form part of a continuing programme of engagement with this important issue, which precisely addresses the governance issues that were contained in the motion that was passed by the Parliament.
Would the minister not accept that it is a strange definition of "continue to progress" to suspend the work that is being done on a project? Would he not accept that it is his responsibility, as Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, not just to bring the interested parties and stakeholders together but to tell them to get on with the work and to progress the project, which was agreed to by Parliament?
Mr McNulty might not have been listening. We are firmly engaged in addressing the governance issues that the Auditor General for Scotland identified. By the end of the month, we will present our response to what we have found and on what we can do now.
Local Enterprise Companies
To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits of local enterprise companies are in relation to growing the local economy. (S3O-606)
Local enterprise companies provide a mechanism for local engagement, particularly from the business community, in local economic development activity.
I was going to thank the minister for his reply, but there was not much to it. The minister will know that the Borders still faces considerable economic pressures and needs support. Its dedicated economic strategy and its dedicated economic development body, Scottish Enterprise Borders, have been fundamental to taking the economy forward, with growing expenditure. Will the minister assure the Parliament and the Borders that he will not abolish Scottish Enterprise Borders or cut its functions?
I will not pre-empt the announcement that we will make to Parliament later this month, but I can tell the member that we had constructive and reflective dialogue with Scottish Enterprise Borders and the chairs of the other LECs at an open session on 17 August, where we gathered around 100 flip-charts of information—[Interruption.]
Order.
John Swinney and I also had a detailed and extensive dialogue with LEC chairs. [Interruption.]
Order.
If members do not like the fact that we are listening, that is unfortunate.
Does the minister agree that Highlands and Islands Enterprise is widely regarded as a highly successful economic development agency? It has different powers from Scottish Enterprise; those powers embrace social development. Will the minister guarantee that any changes that he plans to make to the enterprise structure will not diminish Highlands and Islands Enterprise's capacity to continue to succeed and to support that region?
I can give a short answer. On the contrary, we intend to ensure that Highlands and Islands Enterprise is much better able to engage with its business community and with economic development issues, to produce much better results.
Before we move to First Minister's question time, I am sure that the Parliament will wish to join me in welcoming the Portuguese ambassador, His Excellency António Carlos, and the High Commissioner of Malawi, Dr Francis Moto. [Applause.]
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