Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Thursday, September 13, 2012

Official Report 957KB pdf

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Scottish Government Question Time

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General Questions

Question 1, from Margaret Burgess, has been withdrawn, as Ms Burgess now has ministerial responsibilities.

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Welfare Reform (Food Parcels)

2. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Citizens Advice Scotland’s report suggesting that the number of Scots receiving food parcels from charities has doubled in the last two years due to changes to the benefits system. (S4O-01267)

It is clear from the report that the United Kingdom Government’s welfare reforms are already having a negative impact on the most vulnerable people in our communities and placing them at greater risk of poverty. That underlines the urgent need for decisions about welfare to be taken here in Scotland. Until that happens, the Scottish Government will, of course, continue to do all that we can within our current powers to support families and individuals during these difficult economic times.

Will the cabinet secretary undertake to raise the Citizens Advice Scotland report with the relevant minister in the UK Parliament to ensure that that fact is highlighted? Does she agree that the welfare cuts that the UK Government is introducing will drive more Scots into poverty and that it is only through Scotland becoming an independent country that we can and will look after all who live here?

I assure Richard Lyle of three things. First, I will raise the Citizens Advice Scotland report and its findings with UK Government ministers. Secondly, I hope to meet representatives of Citizens Advice Scotland shortly to discuss the report in more detail. Thirdly, I agree with Richard Lyle about the impact of the welfare reforms.

We share the grave concerns that the Welfare Reform Committee raised in relation to the Welfare Reform Act 2012 and the impact that it will have on some of our poorest and most vulnerable people. For example, a recent Institute for Fiscal Studies analysis suggests that the changes will mean that an additional 700,000 children across the UK will be living in poverty by 2020. That is unacceptable, and it underlines the need for Scotland to be an independent country with the power of decision making over these vitally important matters.

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Robroyston (New Railway Station)

3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support the building of a railway station in the Robroyston area of Glasgow. (S4O-01268)

I call the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities.

My apologies—it should be Keith Brown.

My apologies—my script tells me that Nicola Sturgeon was to answer the question. I call Keith Brown.

The Scottish Government welcomes proposals—[Interruption.]

Please can we have Mr Brown’s microphone on?

The Scottish Government welcomes proposals for new stations such as Robroyston, which could be considered under the £30 million station investment fund that will operate from 2014 and which aims to lever in third-party funding.

Given the importance of encouraging local communities to use public transport, and the fact that the developer is willing to provide the necessary funding to ensure the development of Robroyston railway station, I would welcome a more detailed reply from the minister to advise whether the Government will ensure that that particular project is taken forward.

My apologies—I assumed that the member knew more about the background than he does. He will be aware that Glasgow City Council has attached a condition to the application that requires a STAG—Scottish transport appraisal guidance—appraisal to be undertaken. The evidence of that appraisal has not yet been presented to Transport Scotland, which is waiting for it.

I am aware that one of the viable options would be for a new station to be created once the Cumbernauld line is electrified.

It is unfortunate that the member has taken the approach that he has, because each time that he has asked questions on the subject or asked to meet me we have taken a positive approach, and we remain positive about it. We would not be investing £40 million in the fastlink project or £300 million in the Glasgow subway if we were not positive about public transport services in Glasgow. We are positive about the proposal, but there are processes that must be gone through first.

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Winter Festivals Programme 2012-13

4. To ask the Scottish Government what key events are planned for the 2012-13 winter festivals programme. (S4O-01269)

Scotland’s winter festivals celebrate our nation’s rich culture and heritage and showcase Scotland on an international stage. Negotiations with event organisers are on-going, but we will publish the winter festival programme of events later this autumn. Through EventScotland, we will support a broader geographical spread of events than last year, engaging Scots the length and breadth of the country in winter festival celebrations including St Andrew’s day, Christmas, hogmanay and Burns night.

As the cabinet secretary knows, the year of creative Scotland started with the big Burns supper festival in Dumfries. Burns night is one of the lynchpins of the winter festivals programme. Will she do everything that she can to encourage further investment in the big Burns supper in Dumfries so that it is the key Burns event in the winter festivals programme, given that Burns lived so much of his life—and, indeed, died—in Dumfries?

As an Ayrshire lass, I must be careful about designating any key areas for Burns celebrations. I was very impressed with the big Burns supper when I attended it in January, and I know that Joan McAlpine is an enthusiastic champion of it. Bearing in mind that 10,000 attendees were at the big Burns supper in Dumfries at that time, I think that the quality of the productions will be very attractive to investors. In championing the big Burns supper, Joan McAlpine is supporting another Burns event that we will come to love in years to come.

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Accident and Emergency Units (Waiting Times)

5. To ask the Scottish Government what the reason is for the reported rise in the number of people arriving at accident and emergency units who were not admitted, discharged or transferred within eight hours. (S4O-01270)

Since 2010-11, 16 hospitals have reported a reduction in the number of people arriving at accident and emergency units who were not admitted, discharged or transferred within eight hours. Twenty-two hospitals reported an increase in that number. Most of the increase has been concentrated in a small number of hospitals, with one hospital accounting for nearly half the increase. The Scottish Government has been providing tailored performance support to those hospitals to identify the root causes of delays and to implement effective strategies to address the issues.

I welcome the cabinet secretary to his new post.

There is no doubt that, across the chamber, we are all right behind the front-line staff in our A and E units, but we must ensure that the system is geared towards supporting those staff, even when it is under pressure. What impact does the Scottish Government believe that its decisions to cancel minor injuries units and to let nursing jobs go from the national health service throughout Scotland are having on the front line? What steps are being taken to control the number of patients who are experiencing the longest waits at A and E units, which doubled under the previous health secretary?

I thank the member for her congratulations.

So far, the work that has been undertaken with those hospitals indicates that none of the reasons that the member has outlined is a major contributing factor to that increase. It would have been much worse if the Labour Government’s proposals to close the accident and emergency units at the Monklands and Ayr hospitals had gone ahead. That would have made the problem much worse.

I was going to welcome the cabinet secretary to his post, but I have thought better of it in the light of his comments. Does he agree that it is unacceptable for the number of people who are waiting in A and E units for more than eight hours and more than 12 hours to double? I have heard what he is going to do about that, but I would be interested in knowing the reasons for the doubling in the number of people who wait for that length of time. Does he not agree that, as NHS staff are increasingly finding, it is the SNP cuts to both staffing numbers and the overall NHS budget that are causing those long waits?

I thank Jackie Baillie for her non-congratulations. She has a cheek talking about cuts when Alistair Darling was the one who implemented the cuts, which were deeper and tougher than those that took place under Margaret Thatcher.

I also say to Jackie Baillie that she should at least deal in the facts. Over the past few years since we came to power, there has been a net increase of 2,500 in the total manpower in the NHS in Scotland. We are delivering a more effective service, with higher throughput and better outcomes for our people.

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Commonwealth Games (Benefits Outside Glasgow)

6. Good morning, Presiding Officer.

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that cities and towns beyond Glasgow benefit from the 2014 Commonwealth games. (S4O-01271)

Good morning, Mr Malik. I call Alex Neil.

The Scottish Government is committed to creating a lasting and positive legacy for the whole of Scotland from Glasgow hosting the 2014 Commonwealth games. The Scottish Government’s legacy plan, “On your marks … Get set … Go: A games Legacy for Scotland”, sets out a variety of opportunities that aim to create a flourishing economy, healthy individuals and an enhanced international reputation.

We continue to work closely with our national and local delivery partners to fulfil our collective ambitions to ensure that individuals, communities and businesses across Scotland get every possible benefit from the games and other major events over the coming years.

I thank the minister for that positive response. As a Glasgow MSP, I am delighted that the 2014 Commonwealth games will showcase that great city. However, they also present a unique opportunity to sell the whole of Scotland to the world. I want the 4,500 competitors to return home to the four corners of the globe singing the praises of Scotland as an historic and holiday destination. What consideration has been given to providing athletes from the 72 competing nations with concessionary travel within Scotland and what consideration has been given to Scotland’s marketing ability?

One of the major areas of preparation is not only concessionary travel but ensuring that the whole transport infrastructure can accommodate the Commonwealth games. Indeed, one of the major reasons why we gave the go-ahead to the completion of the M74 after 50 years was to ensure that the transport infrastructure in and around Glasgow was fit for the games in 2014.

I share Hanzala Malik’s ambition to ensure that the games are an international event and that not only the participants but those who are with them—the international media and all those who attend the games in Glasgow in 2014—go back home with a positive and upbeat image of Scotland, knowing that, by that time, we will be within a few months of voting for independence.

The cabinet secretary will recognise that Dumfries and Galloway occupies a strategic location for welcoming visitors—particularly those from Ireland and Northern Ireland—to the Commonwealth games through the Loch Ryan ports.

What consideration has been given to ensuring that the Commonwealth games legacy extends to the far south-west of Scotland so that people there can also benefit from the opportunities that arise from the games?

A range of initiatives involving Scottish companies and Young Scot in youth employment, volunteering and a range of other activities is going on throughout Scotland, including in the south-west.

I will highlight one specific way in which we can do more in the south-west. If the current experiment in reducing the cost of train fares between Stranraer and Glasgow by a substantial amount—from £43 return to £15 return—works, one of the most effective ways in which we can ensure that people from the south-west and, indeed, people who use the port at Cairnryan can benefit from the Commonwealth games will be by providing a cheap, fast rail service between Stranraer and Glasgow.

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Childcare Places

7. To ask the Scottish Government how it assists local authorities ensure that childcare places are available for working parents. (S4O-01272)

It is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to secure pre-school provision for three and four-year-olds. The Scottish Government increased the entitlement from 412.5 hours a year to 475 hours a year in 2007.

Under proposals that are currently being consulted on as part of the children and young people bill consultation, the Scottish Government will provide more free early learning and childcare hours than anywhere else in the United Kingdom and offer more flexible choices of delivery, including compressed hours and hours during holiday periods. The aim of the proposals is to improve outcomes for young children and reduce the barriers to work and training that many parents face.

The minister may be aware that the on-site nursery at Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in East Kilbride, which currently provides places for 59 children of working parents, has given notice of closure. That, coupled with people’s admirable commitment to early learning and childcare provision, means that there is real concern in East Kilbride that the town does not have enough spare nursery capacity. That is a real worry, particularly for working parents who are concerned about work schedules and starting times. The council is, of course, endeavouring to be helpful to working parents, but can the minister offer any further assistance?

I am aware of the issue that Linda Fabiani raises, and I know that South Lanarkshire Council is working closely with on-site nursery providers on providing the affected children with alternative full day care options in the local authority area.

The Scottish Government realises the real pressure on families to have a work-life balance. That is why John Swinney and I hosted a summit, to which business leaders were invited, to discuss more flexible working patterns and working at home, which increase productivity and staff morale. We understand that there is a real issue for parents throughout Scotland, not only in East Kilbride. I offer my support to Linda Fabiani in her work to represent her constituents, and I would be happy to meet her to discuss the matter further if she wanted to. However, I know that South Lanarkshire Council is working hard to support the children who are affected by the closure of the nursery provider.

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Broadcasting (Proposed BBC Job Losses)

8. To ask the Scottish Government what impact the proposed job losses at the BBC will have on broadcasting in Scotland. (S4O-01273)

The 35 job losses in BBC Scotland that were confirmed at the end of August are very disappointing, particularly as fully 17 of them are in news and current affairs. The BBC should be enhancing rather than reducing that area at this important time in Scotland’s history. I have written to the director general designate of the BBC to make representations on the matter, and the First Minister discussed it with him earlier this week.

Does the cabinet secretary understand the mood of despondency among BBC Scotland staff and trade unions as a result of the scale of the cuts? Does she agree that undermining the work of dedicated staff and short-changing licence fee payers in Scotland at a time when the national debate needs to be rigorous and extensive are not only damaging to the BBC’s reputation as a world-class public service broadcaster but nothing short of a national disgrace?

I share the member’s concerns. Indeed, in the context of democratic representation in broadcasting, the whole Parliament should be concerned about the level of the cuts and exactly where they are taking place. With the most momentous decision in more than 300 years ahead, diminishing BBC Scotland’s news and current affairs capability in such a way is unacceptable, particularly if we contrast the £320 million that the BBC raises through licence fees in Scotland with a budget for BBC Scotland that will fall to only £86 million in 2016. It is of further concern that the distribution of the cuts in Scotland is entirely the responsibility of the BBC director for Scotland.

Question 9, which was lodged by Mark Griffin, has been withdrawn for understandable reasons.

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National Football Academy (Bidding Criteria)

10. To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the bidding criteria for the proposed national football academy. (S4O-01275)

The bidding guidance and associated documents will be available to potential hosts in December 2012, as set out in the letter of 30 August from the chair of the national performance centre steering group. I reiterate that the whole process will be fair, open and transparent.

Briefly, Ms Marra.

I am glad that the criteria will be published, as they were meant to be just after March. The sports minister will be aware that 5,000 Dundonians have signed up to the campaign—

Can we get a question, Ms Marra?

I welcome the cabinet secretary’s announcement.

Briefly, cabinet secretary.

I welcome Ms Marra’s welcome.