SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Europe, External Affairs and Culture
Public Libraries (Investment)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to invest in and support the public library network. (S3O-588)
The Scottish Government core funds the Scottish Library and Information Council with £220,000 in 2007-08 and is funding a new public library quality improvement matrix with £500,000 a year in 2006-07 and 2007-08. The matrix is designed to be used by local authorities as a self-evaluation tool, encouraging continuous improvement in public library services.
Does the minister have a view on whether library services could be delivered by trusts or, as John Swinney has suggested, by community councils? Can she say how, regardless of the delivery mechanism, the quality of provision of library services will be improved and evaluated?
It is, of course, up to local authorities to take legal advice when they are deciding on the arrangements for the management and delivery of local libraries, museums and galleries. The precise nature of the contracting-out arrangements might well be a material factor in that. In our view, there is no legal bar to a local authority contracting out museum and gallery provision. However, there is an area of doubt over local libraries.
Given the importance that the minister has attached to the public library quality improvement matrix, does she agree that the funding that she referred to as being available in the previous financial year and the current financial year should be continued beyond the end of 2007-08? Would she consider giving a three-year rolling commitment to that funding so that SLIC has certainty about its plans and the delivery of services across Scotland?
As the member will know, the on-going two-year programme has had some success. Obviously, all such matters will be evaluated as part of our wider cultural agenda.
Culture (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent meetings it has held with interested parties to progress its priorities for culture. (S3O-572)
The Scottish Government meets regularly with a wide variety of interested parties to progress its priorities for culture. For example, in the last 10 days, I have had meetings with, among others, representatives from the Scottish Arts Council, the Saltire Society, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland.
Will the minister join me in commending projects such as the Northern Rock recording studio and Toonspeak Young People's Theatre in my constituency, which give people—particularly young people—opportunities to access culture and elements of the arts? Can she assure us that such projects, which have experienced difficulties with funding, will see a more consistent approach to securing a long-term funding package so that their future can be ensured?
There has been concern for some years about the consistency of the approach that has been taken to the funding of many such projects. I am unaware of the particular projects to which Mr Martin refers but I would be interested to know more. Of course, until I know how they are funded—whether it is via the lottery, the local authority or various other pots of money—I am unable to speak further about them.
I thank Linda Fabiani for her support for the permanent return of the St Ninian's Isle treasure to Shetland. I ask her to thank Mr Salmond for his support as well—he signed Alistair Carmichael's early-day motion in the House of Commons in his capacity as a constituency member of Parliament.
Mr Scott is obviously talking about the Scottish National Party policy that was decided on at our national council meeting in June, which called for the St Ninian's Isle treasure to be returned to Shetland.
Will the minister make support for the arts in regeneration areas one of her priorities for culture? In connection with that, will she read carefully a letter that was sent to her today by the north Edinburgh arts centre, which serves a regeneration area in my constituency and in that of Margaret Smith? In that letter, she will read of the funding difficulties that have suddenly arisen for that body and of a report that is to go to the City of Edinburgh Council from officials, recommending the withdrawal of funding. Will she prevail upon her SNP colleagues in the administration of the City of Edinburgh Council to reject the report and support that highly valued project? Will she also raise the matter with the Scottish Arts Council, which has also been approached for funding support?
In answer to the first part of Mr Chisholm's question, I confirm that our agenda for widening access to culture and the arts incorporates particular types of projects in areas of disadvantage.
The minister will be aware of the exciting new season that is planned by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Will she give an undertaking that, under the forthcoming spending review, the orchestra will continue to be funded at least to the level that was set by the previous Administration?
Mr Brocklebank is right to talk about the exciting work that is done by the RSNO. I thoroughly enjoyed the orchestra's final concert at this year's festival and I am looking forward to the next one, which will feature one of my favourite pieces, the Firebird suite.
St Andrew's Day
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to promote the celebration of St Andrew's day this year. (S3O-597)
We are committed to making more of our national day and we are currently working with local authorities and other partners to develop a programme of events. I will make a full announcement as soon as plans are confirmed. We are excited about the plans that are being formulated by our six cities and far beyond.
Does the minister agree that the celebration of our national day should focus on a nation that is brimming with musical, artistic and sporting talent and a welcoming people who are eager to spread the good news? Will her plans include showcasing contemporary Scottish culture at key overseas locations such as Scotland house in Brussels, British embassies and North America?
I am happy to agree that we have a hugely talented people here in Scotland—it is wonderful. We are organising events in Brussels, for example, where arrangements are being made in a partnership between the Scottish Government's European Union office and Scotland Europa. We very much want to mark St Andrew's day in Brussels. Some of the plans are still being worked up, but we have confirmed two literary events in the Scottish writers series. There will also be the annual Scotland house St Andrew's day lecture, which this year will be given by Richard Holloway, and a St Andrew's day concert featuring Scots and Gaelic song with pipes and fiddles. That addresses the part of Mr Gibson's question about music.
Question 4 has been withdrawn.
European Treaty (Discussions)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is in discussions with the United Kingdom Government about the European treaty. (S3O-616)
Yes. The Scottish Government continues to contribute to UK negotiating lines at the intergovernmental conference on the European Union reform treaty. I attended the joint ministerial committee on Europe ahead of the European Council, and the First Minister has written to the Foreign Secretary to make clear our constructive approach to developing UK negotiating lines and to set out issues of particular interest to us.
Although the treaty is clearly reserved, will the Scottish Government seek to advise the UK Government on the desirability of holding a referendum on the matter, particularly given that the proposed measures in the treaty are exactly the same as those in the discredited European constitution?
Although it is only proper that we respect the confidentiality of on-going international negotiations, and although members should be aware that the intergovernmental conference has a limited scope, I should make it clear that, given Scotland's very distinct legal and judicial system, we have a particular interest in the operation of the UK's justice and home affairs opt-in protocol and emergency brake procedure. We agree with the UK on other elements of the treaty, but we cannot under any circumstances agree to so-called redline issues such as the inclusion of the conservation of marine biological resources under the common fisheries policy.
Tartan Day
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review arrangements for the annual tartan day celebrations in the United States of America. (S3O-595)
As we all know, tartan day represents an excellent promotional opportunity for Scotland in our most important market. The Scottish Government is currently considering its involvement in the event to maximise its obvious potential.
In light of the criticism in an independent report published in February that the 2006 tartan day event was let down by
We are aware of, and have closely studied, the research that Mr Brocklebank mentioned. Indeed, that is why we are reviewing our position on tartan day—or, rather, on tartan week, because the celebrations have been marked by a week of events. The First Minister has already made it clear that this Government will be the most outward-looking that Scotland has ever had, and we consider tartan week to be a very important promotional tool for raising Scotland's profile in the wider world.
I have seen at first hand the excellent work that is done in New York and Washington and I have participated in superb tartan day events in Milwaukee. I therefore ask the minister to consider the potential for encouraging tartan day events and activity in other population centres in the United States that have strong Scottish connections and in the large number of states that have adopted unique state tartans. I commend to her the pioneering work of Angus Council in positively promoting international friendship and connections through tartan day events.
I am happy to commend Angus Council's work on that. I remember Andrew Welsh's members' business debate on the issue, during which many members were fascinated to learn about the work that the council has done to create friendship links. We also heard about the number of people who have been attracted to the area because of the council's outward work. Many of the people who are involved in tartan week are not part of the Government and are not publicly funded and they, too, should be commended for the links that they are trying to make.
The Scottish secretary who is based at the British embassy in Washington has taken a key role in organising tartan day and in representing Scotland at events such as the St Andrew's day celebration. As the current incumbent of that post is, I think, coming back to Scotland at the beginning of October, will the minister say whether a decision has been made to replace that person at the British embassy in Washington? If the decision has been made, when will she be able to give us further information about that?
The Scottish Government is considering how we can make tartan week, Scotland week and Scotland's engagement in the US and North America generally so much better. I cannot talk about particular personnel issues, but I will let members know fairly soon what will happen in the office in Washington.
As I represent the area that has Scotland's biggest tartan manufacturer, Lochcarron in Selkirk, will the minister assure me that she will work closely with the tartan industry and manufacturers to ensure that the tartan day celebrations—which I was privileged to join with Mr Welsh last year as a representative of the Parliament—are focused on business needs as well as political and social ones?
I value all strands of our promotional work in the US. Scottish Development International is involved in the business aspect and I am confident that Jim Mather, as the relevant minister, and SDI, will be interested in the member's comments.
Roman Heritage
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the preservation of Scotland's Roman heritage. (S3O-617)
Historic Scotland is in frequent discussion on our behalf with many people, including local authorities, private owners and international experts, about the preservation of Scotland's Roman heritage.
I welcome the bid for world heritage status for the Antonine wall. However, will the minister reflect on the fact that Scotland's Roman heritage extends further north than the Antonine wall? She will be unsurprised by my continued insistence that the Gask ridge should have been included in the original submission for world heritage status, but does she agree that we should consider adding it to the bid? Further, is she as concerned as I am about the disrepair into which some Roman sites in Scotland can fall? Again, she will be unsurprised to learn that I have Ardoch fort near Braco in my constituency at the forefront of my mind when I express that concern.
I understand completely the issues that exist in Roseanna Cunningham's constituency. Unlike the continuous Antonine wall, the Roman installations along the Gask ridge consist of a series of individual sites, so it was decided at the time of application for world heritage status that they should not be included in the bid. I understand that the bid cannot now be reopened and will therefore go to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as being for the Antonine wall. We should find out the result of the bid next year.
The minister has had the pleasure, as have I, of meeting the Antonine Guard, who re-enact Roman encounters.
We have seen the pictures.
I am sure that the minister would join me in praising the Antonine Guard for its sterling work in keeping alive Scotland's Roman heritage. Is she aware of its campaign for a Roman heritage centre in Scotland? Is she sympathetic to that cause?
I am very aware of the Antonine Guard and I have the pictures, in which I look quite nice.
Education and Lifelong Learning
Question 1 has been withdrawn.
Primary Schools (Modern Languages)
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop the teaching of modern languages in primary schools. (S3O-596)
We plan to build on the success of existing modern languages learning and teaching in our primary schools. More than 99 per cent of primary 6 and primary 7 pupils are currently learning a modern language—indeed, many begin earlier, for example in pre-school. We know that there is good practice in schools throughout the country. The forthcoming curriculum for excellence draft outcomes on modern languages will take account of that good practice and set out expectations clearly. Glow, the national intranet for Scottish schools, will also support better sharing of good practice in modern languages and more cross-curricular collaboration, ensuring that primary pupils will be able to extend their horizons and enjoy wider opportunities in secondary education and later in life.
I thank the minister for her comprehensive answer. Given last night's fantastic scoreline in Paris, it might have been appropriate for her to answer in French—although I am grateful that she did not.
I think that parliamentary protocol precludes me from answering questions in French, German, Doric or even tentative Italian. Mr Rumbles could testify that my Italian would be tentative: not that long ago we both started learning Italian at a local secondary school.
Teachers
To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers were employed in Scottish education on 31 August 2007. (S3O-559)
The 2006 teacher census showed that there were 51,659 class-based teachers in primary, secondary and special schools, 1,666 pre-school teachers and another 1,160 visiting specialist teachers. Figures for the 2007 census will be collected this month and will be published in March.
I thank the minister for that answer and for confirming that Labour's manifesto commitment on the number of teachers in Scotland has been met and, indeed, exceeded. I invite her to tell us how many teachers are needed to fulfil her party's manifesto commitment to cut class sizes, and to indicate the cost of meeting that commitment, and when it will be met.
As was mentioned during this morning's education debate, we will give those answers once the comprehensive spending review has told us how much money is available. Clearly, the fact that we have already introduced another 300 teachers and 250 training posts into the system will ensure that we go some way to meeting that commitment.
That simply will not do. We might need to wait for the comprehensive spending review to find out what resources can be applied to the issue, but the minister ought to be able to tell the Parliament how many teachers will be required. I presume that she has made a bid to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth to enable her to meet the commitments that have been made. If she cannot give us those figures, will she explain in some detail why not?
Of course we have made a bid to meet those commitments. We will wait to find out what resources are available from the comprehensive spending review.
The minister will know that, over the years, the Labour Fife Council axed teachers' jobs to save money. I raised the issue on many occasions before the May election. Will she therefore accept my thanks for and congratulations on the provision of 20 additional teachers in Fife, five of whom will serve the Levenmouth area of my constituency? If Patricia Ferguson does not want extra teachers in her constituency, I will take as many as she can give us.
I thank the member for pointing out that Fife Council, like a number of other councils, is happy with the extra commitment that we have given on teacher numbers. Over the summer, I visited 11 local authorities, all of which, to a man and a woman, were highly supportive of our work in adding teachers to the system and in concentrating on primary 1 to primary 3.
The 300 extra teaching places are welcome, but does the minister not accept that too many of this year's probationers have serious anxieties about their employment prospects and their future in the teaching profession? Does she not also accept that, given that more than half of all probationers are over the age of 30, many of them are unable to move around the country to find jobs? Will she agree to work with local authorities and others to address those issues, so that confidence in our teacher training system is not eroded through lack of Government action? Such a commitment will not necessarily require any funding.
The member can be assured that we will continue to work with local authorities. No Government trains teachers for the dole queue. Members of the 2007 cohort of about 3,350 probationers are able to apply for posts, and around 3,000 of them are already in post. Over the past month or so, more than 600 posts have been advertised. Given that we know that we must train teachers for the whole of the year, we believe that almost all those teachers will be in post. There are many jobs out there, including supply posts. We do not want teachers to have the worry that other graduates have of not finding a post as soon as they finish their courses, but we believe that, in the light of the additional posts that we have announced, there will be a balance between the number of people who are trained and the number of posts that are available.
Like Ken Macintosh, I have been contacted by several constituents who are teachers who have highlighted to me the increasingly acute problems that they encounter when seeking suitable posts in schools during and following their probationary years. For example, one lady told me of a post for which she applied that attracted 250 applicants.
As I said, we are in on-going discussions with local authorities on that matter. We are also in discussions with the higher education establishments that provide teacher training to ensure that there are sufficient teachers to fill the posts that must be filled throughout Scotland.
Gaelic Education
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources it intends to make available for the provision of Gaelic education. (S3O-603)
The Scottish Government recognises the vital role that Gaelic education plays in creating a sustainable future for Gaelic in Scotland. All issues regarding the allocation of resources are being considered as part of overall considerations for the next spending review period.
I thank the minister for that encouraging response, but she will be aware of the increasing numbers who are entering Gaelic-medium education, which inevitably will require additional financial and staffing resources. Will the Government ensure that local authorities are given additional financial resources in order that excellent Gaelic-medium education can continue to develop and expand?
Like John Farquhar Munro, I am pleased at the number of primary school children who are educated by the Gaelic-medium method. My colleague Fiona Hyslop visited first-year students in Inverness high school recently. We know that a new Gaelic-medium primary school opened in Inverness this term.
A dh'fhaighneachd do Riaghaltas na h-Alba am bi iad ag ionnsachadh bho eisimpleir nan sgeamaichean làn-thìde anns a' Chuimrigh airson luchd-teagaisg a tha ag iarraidh Cuimris ionnsachadh gu fileantas. An smaointich an Riaghaltas air sgeamaichean dhen aon seòrsa airson na Gàidhlig?
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will learn from the example of sabbatical schemes operating in Wales for teachers who wish to learn the Welsh language to fluency. Will the Government consider a similar scheme for Gaelic?
I congratulate the member, who is not a native Gaelic speaker, on his Gaelic. It shows how the various methods can make one extremely fluent in Gaelic.
The minister will be aware that class-size maxima in Gaelic-medium units and schools are lower than those in English-medium schools. Has a target been set for Gaelic-medium class sizes to match the target for the reduction of class sizes in English-medium schools? If so, how many additional Gaelic-medium teachers will be required by 2011?
The Scottish Government is keen to ensure that the number of Gaelic-speaking teachers matches the desire for Gaelic-medium education. The member will know that we must ensure that more secondary school teachers can teach their subject in Gaelic. They must be given the chance to improve their Gaelic in order to meet the requirements of teaching their subject in Gaelic. That is an on-going project for the Government.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. You will recall that in my question to the Minister for Schools and Skills, I specifically asked how many teachers were needed to meet the Scottish National Party's manifesto commitment to reduce class sizes. The minister did not give a figure, but she alluded to calculations that have been done and information that has been provided to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth so that a bid can be made for the required number of teachers. Her answer did not give me the information that I asked for, but it contained the implication that the minister has that information, which my colleague Cathy Jamieson also asked for during First Minister's question time. Given that the Scottish Government has the information but is refusing to share it with the Parliament, I would be grateful if you would comment.
How ministers reply to questions is a matter for ministers. It is also the responsibility of ministers to bring to the Parliament as much information as possible.
Further to that point of order, Presiding Officer, a number of written parliamentary questions have been lodged to ask specifically how many teachers will be required to meet the SNP pledge in full. Is there an opportunity for members to review the questions that have been answered? If information has been withheld, there has been a discourtesy to members.
I am afraid that my answer is still the same. Answers are a matter for ministers, but ministers should remember their responsibilities.
Young People
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to enhance the lives of young people across Scotland. (S3O-600)
The Scottish Government is committed to providing life-enhancing opportunities for young people, through a wide range of policies across its full remit. We are supporting young people to develop their skills and confidence, by providing access to a wide range of opportunities in sports, arts and youth work.
I am sure that all members will join me in congratulating young Scottish Borderer Ruaridh Cunningham—I say to Christine Grahame that he is from Jeremy Purvis's constituency—on his success in winning the downhill mountain biking world championship in Fort William at the weekend. [Applause.]
I, too, congratulate Jeremy Purvis's constituent.
The minister said that he is committed to enhancing the lives of young people in Scotland. Does that include young people at Lasswade high school in Midlothian? He might be aware that the previous Government acknowledged the appalling state of the school buildings. Will he commit to replacing Lasswade high school?
I can commit to considering the circumstances that Ms Brankin describes, and I will be happy to discuss the matter with her.
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