Teachers (Number in Post)
To ask the Scottish Government how many teachers are in post and how this compares with May 2007. (S4O-03683)
Between 2007 and 2010, the number of teaching posts fell by 3,077. Almost half of those posts—48.3 per cent—were lost in just eight Labour councils, and one in five of those posts was lost in just one council, Labour-run Glasgow City Council.
Since 2011, we have had an agreement with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to maintain the pupil teacher ratio, which has remained at 13.5 in publicly funded schools, and the number of teachers has stabilised at around 51,000. That agreement remains in force for this year, and we are discussing future years with COSLA.
Despite that, Glasgow City Council has continued to cut the number of teachers, including by 146 in 2013. Therefore, the real question is perhaps why Labour keeps cutting the number of teachers.
The cabinet secretary can blame whoever he wants, but the facts speak for themselves: there has been a reduction of 4,000 in the number of teachers since 2007. Can he confirm that the number of teachers has fallen every year since 2007—since the SNP Government came to power—and every year since he became the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning?
Teachers, parents and pupils are concerned about the increasing pressure on the education system. The Educational Institute of Scotland has raised concerns about the possibility of pupils being sent home due to a lack of teaching supply. Can the cabinet secretary guarantee that no pupils will be sent home due to a lack of teaching supply—yes or no?
The facts speak for themselves, and I gave Mr Bibby the facts. Glasgow City Council has continued to cut the number of teachers, but we have stabilised the number of teachers owing to an agreement that I secured with COSLA—I think, yet again, without the support of the Labour Party, which never supports any reasonable actions to ensure that our schools operate well. If Mr Bibby would like to continue to support me in ensuring that COSLA members do not cut the number of teachers, I would welcome that support. The first thing that he could do is go and speak to Gordon Matheson and tell him to stop cutting the number of teachers.
Construction Industry (North East Scotland)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the construction industry in North East Scotland. (S4O-03684)
We continue to support the construction industry in the north-east and throughout Scotland by investing in capital expenditure despite cuts of around one quarter to our capital budget by the United Kingdom Government.
In the north-east, investment in infrastructure has a share of the £10.8 billion local government allocation. There is continued investment in, for example, both Alford and Ellon academies, the new Inverurie health centre hub and the Aberdeen royal infirmary campus. There is also investment in the Aberdeen western peripheral route, the Balmedie to Tipperty scheme, the Aberdeen to Inverness rail improvements, the A96 Inveramsay bridge, the A947 mini-interchange hubs and Her Majesty’s Prison Grampian, as well as in the building of Mearns academy in Aberdeenshire—and that is to name but a few. In the interests of time, Presiding Officer, I have not covered the many other investments in the north-east, nor those outside Aberdeen city and shire.
I am grateful for your brevity, minister.
I could suggest a few more. The construction of the Aberdeen western peripheral route offers significant opportunities for the construction industry in the north-east, which has seen closures and job losses over recent years. Can the minister assure me that, in concluding the final contract with the preferred bidder for the AWPR, the right emphasis will be placed on the use of community benefit clauses, which will help to create a level playing field for local businesses that bid for subcontracts? Will those clauses also be given the appropriate weighting in tenders? If they are weighted at a small fraction of the weighting that is given to cost, as has been the case in the past, that will weaken considerably the impact of their inclusion in those contracts.
Mr Baker makes some reasonable points. He will be aware that I am not the minister who is responsible for overseeing the implementation of procurement contracts. However, I shall certainly have discussions with my colleague Keith Brown, who has that responsibility. I am pleased that the Labour Party recognises the great value of the investment in the Aberdeen western peripheral route and the Balmedie to Tipperty scheme, which are expected to bring in an additional £6 billion to the local economy and create 14,000 new jobs. I assure all members that those things are hugely welcomed by everyone in Aberdeen city and shire.
Mental Health (Treatment)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that anyone who may need help with a mental health problem can access appropriate help easily and receive treatment quickly. (S4O-03685)
We have made significant progress in delivering the commitments in the “Mental Health Strategy for Scotland: 2012-15”. For example, Scotland was the first part of the United Kingdom to introduce a target—from December this year—for speed of access to mental health services.
We know that waits of up to one or two years were common before we introduced the targets. We still have further improvements to make, but the latest position shows that the average wait for access to psychological therapies is eight weeks and access to specialist child and adolescent mental health services is nine weeks. I am sure that the member would recognise that that is significant progress.
Given that the Scottish Association for Mental Health recently reported that in Scotland 25 per cent of people who experience a mental health problem will wait more than an a year before seeking help, and that an estimated 800,000 adults a year do not know where to access help, does the minister agree that having trained mental health first aiders in all our communities would help to quickly identify those who need assistance and direct them to support services? What is the Scottish Government doing to promote the mental health first aiders programme and increase the number of trained mental health first aiders in Scotland?
The member makes a good point. It is widely recognised that many individuals who may have a mental health problem leave an extended period before they seek assistance from clinicians. A key part of our strategy to encourage people to access help is the see me anti-stigma campaign to remove the stigma that is often associated with mental health and which can act as a barrier to individuals seeking help.
The mental health first aiders programme has a valuable and important part to play. One of the areas of work that we will take forward as part of the mental health strategy is how to continue to improve access to mental health services, including the mental health first aid programme. I would be more than happy to discuss the matter in more depth with the member if he would find that helpful.
In this week of remembrance, does the minister agree that organisations such as HorseBack UK are to be congratulated on providing mental health services for veterans? It is a most unusual, but very therapeutic service.
Yes. Such organisations have an important part to play. I recognise that the best way that we can continue to improve mental health services is by working with the voluntary sector and statutory agencies to ensure that we deliver the best possible services to those who can benefit from them.
Civil Service Jobs (Dundee)
To ask the Scottish Government how many civil service jobs it has transferred to Dundee, or has established in the city, since 2007. (S4O-03686)
The Scottish Government currently has 105 members of staff working in the city of Dundee mainly within the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and Education Scotland and those staff move across the Scottish Government on assignment.
Labour transferred those staff to Dundee. The Scottish Government has not transferred one single civil service job to Dundee since it came to power in 2007. That is despite the fact that SNP members in Dundee have made their names by campaigning for Scottish civil service jobs to be transferred to our city. These are the press releases from Shona Robison—[Interruption.]
Order. Can we have a question, Miss Marra?
We are still waiting for the 750 renewables jobs that the SNP Government promised Dundee. What progress is the Government making on that?
I am unaware of having received any specific suggestion from the member—[Interruption.]
Order.
I am unaware of having received any specific, positive or constructive suggestion from Jenny Marra or her party that involves relocating any specific public body or part thereof to Dundee. I gently point out that it is open to the Opposition to make policy proposals.
Dundee is a great city to which the Scottish Government is entirely devoted and of which it is supportive. That support has included £26 million of capital from NHS Scotland’s pharmaceutical special service, the recent announcement of £20 million for Dundee community care centre, two new schools, the reprovisioning of the adolescent mental health in-patient service and, of course, the V and A on the Tay—a £45 million project—which will create local jobs and contribute significantly to the regeneration of the city.
The Government is entirely supportive of Dundee. We are investing in the city and will continue to do so.
I gently point out to ministers and members that, if we are going to make progress, the questions and the answers need to be a bit shorter.
Primary School Children (Music Experience)
To ask the Scottish Government what importance it places on the delivery of a high-quality music experience for primary school children. (S4O-03687)
We attach great importance to the delivery of a high-quality music experience for all children, including those in primary schools. Every school pupil is entitled to a broad general education within curriculum for excellence. That includes specific experiences and outcomes in music education in the expressive arts curriculum area.
The provision and delivery of education services, including music, is for each local authority to decide based on local needs, circumstances and spending priorities. The Scottish Government has invested a total of £107.5 million in the youth music initiative over the past 12 years.
Is the cabinet secretary aware that Stirling Council’s Labour-Conservative administration has again proposed a savings option to remove specialist music teaching, which will have a huge impact on the musical experience of about 6,000 pupils? Does the Scottish Government share my view that to bring back that savings option only eight months after having discounted it will have a severe impact on the morale of the music teachers involved, will leave parents and parent council members feeling that they have not been listened to and is no way to treat people?
I hear noises off, which seem to be arguing that all education should be entirely run from the centre. That was the burden of Mr Bibby’s question and is the burden of the muttering that I heard from Labour members when Mr Crawford asked his question. If that is the Labour members’ position, let them advance it. If it is not, let us acknowledge that, when local authorities make their decisions, they are subject to review and, sometimes, criticism.
I am aware of the proposal. It is disappointing, particularly given the work of David Green, which was supported across all parties. Indeed, part of his report was launched at an event sponsored by a Labour MSP. A priority should be given to music education and I am sorry that the cut is back on the agenda. [Interruption.]
I hear Labour members still shouting about it. If they want a centralised service, let them call for it. If they do not, let them come up with an idea—any idea, because there are usually no ideas from Labour.
Does the cabinet secretary agree that every local authority in Scotland faces another round of savage cuts and, therefore, has been forced to examine all potential savings, however unpalatable many of them are to every member of the Parliament? Does he also agree that, until the Government stops the council tax freeze—which is not a progressive tax measure and which Labour said in its manifesto would stop after two years—and releases local authorities from the straitjacket that it has imposed on them, councils will continue to have to examine unpalatable cuts?
There are so many answers to that that I almost do not know where to start. Let me start with the Dunfermline by-election, in which the Labour Party argued that it had invented the council tax freeze. Now, apparently, Labour does not even want to acknowledge it.
The reality of the situation is that local authorities make their decisions on education in the context of a budget that has been protected by this Government. This Government has worked incredibly hard to protect that budget, but—and this is a big but—actions have consequences. Some months ago, Dr Simpson argued that we were better together. Let him prove it, because it looks to me as if, in financial terms, that simply is not true.
A937/A90 at Laurencekirk (Grade-separated Junction)
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on the provision of a grade-separated junction for the A937/A90 at Laurencekirk. (S4O-03688)
The Scottish Government is committed to identifying a robust solution for access to Laurencekirk as soon as possible and is currently working with partners the north east of Scotland transport partnership—Nestrans—and Aberdeenshire Council on that.
A public exhibition on the options at Laurencekirk is planned for January, at which the outcomes of the study will be shared prior to finalisation early next year. A decision will then be taken with our partners on a preferred solution that best meets the objectives for improving the A90 at Laurencekirk.
I thank the minister for his reply, but I draw his attention to information that I have received from Transport Scotland on determining applications for planning consent in Laurencekirk. Transport Scotland states:
“we have maintained our position that no new development should proceed before a scheme of grade-separation is delivered.”
As I read that, that means that nobody can get a planning application for housing or a business passed until we have a grade-separated junction. How on earth are we going to get past that impasse?
Planning decisions are, of course, taken by the planning authority. Transport Scotland is obliged to make recommendations, and its priority is and always will be to ensure that we maintain the road safety record on the road in question. There have been no fatal or serious accidents since 2005. We want to protect and continue that record.
However, the principle is that local authorities will take decisions on planning matters. For my part, I am willing to be as flexible as possible with the local authority in how we phase this. I have asked officials to establish a meeting with the local authority and with Nestrans to see whether we can advance the report that I mentioned as quickly as possible and come to a solution. People want to develop in the Laurencekirk area and we want to have the best possible road safety record. Those two things should come together and I intend to ensure that that happens.
Living Wage (Small Businesses)
To ask the Scottish Government how it will encourage and support small businesses to pay employees the living wage. (S4O-03689)
The Scottish Government fully supports the living wage campaign and we recognise the real difference that the living wage can make to the people of Scotland. The Scottish Government is the first and only Government in the United Kingdom to include the living wage in its pay policy and we have done so for the past five years. Although we cannot set pay levels in the private sector, we encourage all public, private and third sector organisations to ensure that all staff on lower incomes receive a fair level of pay. To that effect, the Scottish Government is funding a pilot by the Poverty Alliance with the aim of increasing the number of employers across Scotland who pay the living wage. I am pleased to say that the number of accredited companies in Scotland has tripled since that work began earlier this year.
I welcome the progress that has been made, but many people, including me, believe that, over time, Scotland’s minimum wage should be brought into line with the living wage. Does the minister agree that control over all the levers of taxation—particularly, in this instance, national insurance—could support businesses in moving towards the living wage and that, ultimately, control over the minimum wage should be devolved to Scotland so that, in future, we can work towards putting the living wage on a statutory footing for all workers in Scotland, whether in the public sector or the private sector?
Members will be unsurprised to learn that I agree entirely with Mr Doris’s sentiments and views, because the UK national minimum wage has not increased in real terms in nearly a decade, and every year since 2008 it has failed to increase in line with the cost of living. Of course the Scottish Government is clear that we need substantive new powers to address the issue of low pay. I am delighted that—since this is the last occasion on which I can say so—our esteemed First Minister announced plans to establish a fair work convention on 15 October 2014. What another golden legacy to add to his collection.
Before we come to the next item of business, members will wish to join me in welcoming to the gallery the speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Mrs Maja Gojkovic. [Applause.]