SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Enterprise, Lifelong Learning and Transport
Question 1 has not been lodged.
Workplace Skills (Young People)
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the number of 16 to 19-year-olds who have no workplace skills. (S2O-6052)
Although the Scottish Executive does not measure the skills profile of 16 to 19-year-olds, Futureskills Scotland provides us with evidence from employers on the skills needs of the wider workforce. Those surveys have shown that the labour market works well for most employers. In order better to assess the particular skills needs of young people, Futureskills Scotland has recently commissioned a study into the work readiness of school leavers. It is anticipated that that research will be published in May.
Does the Deputy First Minister agree that addressing young people's lack of skills on leaving school is vital both to meeting Scotland's skills shortages and to giving our young people the best chance to fulfil their potential in life? Will he report to Parliament in due course on the outcome of the study, with particular regard to whether we are making headway? Can he give me an indication of what the Scottish Executive is doing to motivate young people—particularly those who are turned off by the school experience—as they move into adult life, with regard to well-organised work experience placements, learning in a more adult environment and encouraging them to set themselves objectives, all of which the Careers Scotland research has shown to have a vital link to attainment?
I certainly take the underlying point of Robert Brown's question. We take seriously the issue of school leavers who are not in employment, education or training. Indeed, studies show that there is a close correlation between those who did not get into education, employment and training on leaving school and worklessness in later adult life. That is a loss to the community as well as being an indication that such young people are not fulfilling their potential. That is why we are engaged in developing an employability framework and is part of the reason for the emphasis that the Executive places on closing the opportunity gap.
M74 (Economic Benefits)
To ask the Scottish Executive what the economic benefits are to the west of Scotland economy arising from the commitment to proceed with the M74 motorway link. (S2O-6142)
Completing the M74 will bring significant economic and social benefits to the west of Scotland. It will improve the efficiency of transport, support new housing, leisure and industrial developments and help to create around 20,000 jobs in the Glasgow and Clyde valley area.
I welcome that commitment from the Executive and agree that the M74 will assist in the major economic development of the west of Scotland economy. Does the minister agree that the Clyde gateway project in the east end of my constituency will benefit enormously from the M74's completion and that the increasing economic benefits brought by the M8 to Easterhouse and by the M77 to Pollok, for example, demonstrate the worth of such projects? Does he further agree that opposing the project by using the language of the ned and threatening to "pay a visit" to any companies that are involved in it is utterly inappropriate and that we want to maximise the benefits for the communities that are most affected?
I agree with Frank McAveety that there is potential for the regeneration of the parts of Glasgow that he mentioned. As everyone would agree is appropriate in relation to such a project, I have seen the length of the route of the new motorway and can say that those parts of Glasgow are in desperate need of regeneration, new jobs and new opportunities. The project will have a central role to play in delivering that. The project will also be good for road safety, as it is expected that it will result in around 50 fewer road injury accidents a year. Further-more, everyone who travels on the M8 and attempts to cross the Kingston bridge during rush hour will be aware of the serious congestion problems that exist there. The new road will help to tackle those problems. That must be good not only for the Glasgow area but for the whole of the west of Scotland and for Scotland's future economic development.
I assure the minister that although some people might make threats, others make promises of peaceful, assertive protest on the issue.
It is important that we invest in the regeneration of areas in a substantial way, alongside investing in the motorway project. I accept that a single project on its own is not enough, but the M74 project will be central to the opening up of new opportunities in the areas concerned. That is why it has been supported not only by a significant number of people in the Glasgow area but by those in the local communities that are affected. The project will help to remove congestion from local roads; it will also help with the regeneration initiative. The approach must be integrated.
As the minister knows, the Scottish National Party has supported the M74 project from the outset. Given that his arguments are correct, would it not have been better for the project to have gone ahead five or six years ago? Given that the cost has doubled, does he agree that the money that would have been saved could have been used to fund other projects, such as the dualling of the A9? Is he concerned about what will happen if there is any delay to the M74 project? In the words of the trade representative body, there is no plan B and any delay may lead to Scottish workers being handed P45s and chasing construction work down south.
I prefer to look to the future and to try to be positive about the investment that we are making in transport. I look forward to the day when Fergus Ewing takes a similar approach.
Bus Services
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to improve the quality and reliability of bus services. (S2O-6115)
We provide substantial funding to improve the quality and reliability of local bus services. On 8 March, I announced the initial award of funding for the bus route development fund, which amounts to £12.2 million for 27 projects throughout Scotland. At the same time, I announced indicative allocations of a further £10.3 million against which local authorities may bid in the current financial year. In addition, we support the bus industry directly through the bus service operator grant and we have also agreed to fund an increase in the number of Scottish bus compliance officers from two to six.
It would be nice to see some value for that money. Is the minister aware that companies such as FirstBus are still running seriously unreliable services in clapped-out buses in some parts of Scotland? I have had letters this week from passengers who had to get out of a fume-filled bus on the Edinburgh city bypass. When they were picked up by another bus, it broke down in Tranent. We are about to pay those companies to provide free transport for pensioners on such services. Does he accept that the situation is not tolerable? Will he take action to ensure that FirstBus and other companies provide satisfactory services for the passengers they carry?
Such situations are unacceptable. We need to improve the quality and reliability of public transport across the board, both in relation to train services, which were the subject of yesterday evening's members' business debate on Scott Barrie's motion on problems with rail services in Fife, and in relation to bus services, on which John Home Robertson is right to raise his constituents' concerns about poor quality. That is why it is so important that public transport receives new investment not only from the Government but from private operators.
On the quality and reliability of bus services for school runs, the minister will be aware that I have taken up with him a number of cases, including that of the students of Peebles High School, whom I joined recently at a meeting that we had with FirstBus. What priority does the minister expect local authorities to give to new investment in bus services to ensure that such services are not only reliable and of the right quality but safe?
It is important that children have a positive experience of public transport and that they get into the habit of either walking or cycling to school or making use of the bus. That is why I want to see a system that allows for proper investment in bus services for school runs. Too often, the vehicles that are used are the oldest coaches and the poorest quality vehicles. We need to raise the standards of bus services for schools and education providers. A number of pilot projects are considering ways in which that might be achieved and more funding has been allocated to the issue in the latest Scottish budget. Over the next 12 months, I will address the issue. I hope to report back to Parliament on further proposals in due course.
A8000
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure the prompt delivery of the A8000 project. (S2O-6076)
We are working closely with the City of Edinburgh Council and the Forth Estuary Transport Authority—FETA—to ensure that work can begin on this important project as soon as possible.
The minister will appreciate that the A8000 project is a major issue for my constituents, who share my concern about the number of delays to the project and its rising cost. Will he assure me that the Scottish Executive will underwrite part of the funding for the A8000 project to cover a temporary—I hope—funding gap that has been caused by the public inquiry and judicial review of tolls, which is currently delaying this crucial project? Will he agree to an urgent meeting with FETA, the City of Edinburgh Council and me so that we can investigate options to allow the project to go to tender in the next few weeks, as was previously intended by the FETA board?
Margaret Smith has written to me on the issue and I will be pleased to have a meeting with her. I also look forward to meeting the council and FETA. I do not rule anything out at this stage. If there are constructive proposals that would help such an important project to go ahead, I will give them serious consideration. I want to ensure that we get cracking with the project and get construction under way so that it can be completed on schedule for 2007.
The proposed improvements to the A8000 are welcome, but will the minister ensure that my constituents in the village of Newton, which is on the A904, do not suffer further pollution and inconvenience from traffic as people try to avoid the road works that will be required? As I have asked frequently, will he also ensure that, once the improvements to the A8000 have been completed, drivers are encouraged to use the road so that the heavy traffic through the small village of Newton can be reduced?
The most convincing answer that I can give is that I will ensure that the A8000 project is completed as quickly as possible. I give Mary Mulligan that guarantee. I am convinced that once the road is properly dualled and brought up to the high standard that the City of Edinburgh Council proposes, the congestion problems affecting the village of Newton and other communities will be swept away, because people will make use of the new road. In the meantime, if the community has proposals that it wants to put to the council, to FETA or to me on how the current difficult position could be improved, I will certainly give them serious consideration.
The A8000 is not part of the trunk road network. Can the minister tell us why not?
The last trunk road review was held back in 1996, so perhaps I should pass that question to Conservative members. We are reaching the stage at which we need a fresh trunk road review, and I hope to announce the second stage of the toll bridges review next week—I note that the Forth road bridge itself is not a trunk road. Those are issues for the future, although I agree with the sentiment that I think lies behind Alasdair Morgan's question. We need a sensible approach for the future, but it would not be possible to give a sound and logical answer to the question without Lord James Douglas-Hamilton being present.
Hydro-electric Power
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to encourage the development of small-scale hydro-electric schemes. (S2O-6235)
New and existing hydro schemes below 20MW are eligible for support under the renewables obligation in Scotland. Since the obligation was introduced we have consented to three small-scale hydro stations and a further three proposals are being considered.
The minister may be aware that changes that are being proposed to the rating system would have the effect of increasing the rateable values of small-scale hydro schemes by including the value of renewables obligation certificates as part of the rateable value. The impact of that would be to increase substantially the rates bills for many such small schemes. Those proposals apply only north of the border and will not affect hydro schemes in England and Wales. Given the Executive's commitment to renewable energy, will he undertake to examine the issue and bring forward proposals to try to alleviate the impact of the changes on hydro schemes?
The member is correct to point out that, in November 2003, the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform announced that from 1 April the practice of setting rateable values or related formulas for certain industries would be abolished. That means that the formerly prescribed industries, which include the electricity industry, now have their valuations done conventionally. That means that all ratepayers are treated on the same basis and are valued by an independent assessor. The industries affected now have a right of appeal, which they did not have under the prescription regime.
Competitiveness
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that Scotland remains competitive with the new European Union countries in terms of jobs and business opportunities. (S2O-6216)
"The Framework for Economic Development in Scotland" sets out the Scottish Executive's approach to continued economic development in a rapidly changing global economy.
Will the minister assure the Parliament that the impact of the first year of European Union expansion on the Scottish economy will be assessed to ensure not only that we are responding to the threat of the increasingly attractive business opportunities that many global companies are finding in eastern Europe but that Scotland grasps the opportunities presented by EU expansion?
Mr Lochhead, you are wandering. Can you please ask your question?
Will the minister take a close interest in the situation at RB Farqhuar and find out from local agencies what he can do to help to protect those jobs?
I will certainly follow up the point that Mr Lochhead has raised.
The minister is aware of the European Commission's recently published document, "Restructuring and employment—Anticipating and accompanying restructuring in order to develop employment: the role of the European Union", which proposes reforms to the European economic and employment strategy. Does he agree that many of the document's proposals on anticipating and managing economic restructuring are to be welcomed? Moreover, does he believe that some of the proposed joint technological initiatives might offer opportunities for us in Scotland?
The general thrust and tenor of that document is very welcome. For example, it notes that, as long as there is adequate anticipation, companies can manage any restructuring effectively.
Justice and Law Officers
Fatal Accident Inquiries
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the operation and effectiveness of fatal accident inquiries. (S2O-6251)
I am aware of some concerns about the operation and effectiveness of fatal accident inquiries. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has been reviewing its practice and procedure in the area of investigation of deaths and the preparation and conduct of FAIs, and will issue new guidance and training to procurators fiscal. However, this issue is not just for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and I expect all agencies involved to pursue continuous improvement in their operations.
The minister will be aware of the cases that I have raised of my constituents James Mauchland and Nicola Welsh, and their families' concerns about the FAI system. Is she aware that the system can be very lengthy, intimidating and costly for families who wish to be represented in court and that, because the conclusions and recommendations of an FAI are not legally binding, they do not need to be implemented? Will she agree to meet both families to discuss their views and concerns in more detail and ensure that those are fed into the process that she has outlined?
I am aware of the concerns because of the raising of correspondence by Shona Robison, Iain Luke and the Public Petitions Committee. Although for the majority of situations the current system appears to work well, some concerns have been raised.
During a recent fatal accident inquiry into five separate deaths at Dumfries and Galloway Royal infirmary, the bereaved families were utterly distraught at the procedures and processes which left them feeling excluded, unwanted, misled and ignored. I have written to the Solicitor General on the matter. In any review, will the minister ensure that bereaved families are fully included and, above all, informed about the procedures of fatal accident inquiries so that these emotions are not experienced in future?
I am not aware of the details of the cases that Mr Fergusson mentions. If he has written to the Solicitor General, I am sure that she will respond in due course. Mr Fergusson raises exactly the kind of issues that the current review will consider.
Home Detention Curfews
To ask the Scottish Executive for what categories of crime an individual could be given a home detention curfew. (S2O-6242)
It is important to recognise that home detention curfew is not a sentencing option for the courts. It is, however, a way for selected low-risk prisoners to spend the last part of their sentences in the community. Home detention curfews would only be granted following a risk assessment. Some categories of prisoner will be excluded completely, including those serving an indeterminate sentence and those on the sex offenders register.
The minister will know that, in England, assurances were given that such curfews would be given only to low-risk prisoners. However, since the curfews came into operation, 2,107 released prisoners have reoffended. They have been responsible for 3,748 crimes, including 525 crimes of violence. Does the minister accept that the only way to prevent such needless crimes from being committed is to end automatic early release, thus ensuring that a prisoner serves the sentence that has been handed down by the court? That would afford greater protection to the public.
It is important that prisoners serve their sentences. It is also important that sentences include an element of punishment and an element of rehabilitation. The purpose of the home detention curfew is to ensure that low-risk prisoners who are to be released in the not-too-distant future—towards the end of their sentences—get the opportunity to be in the community, under strict supervision. I believe that that will assist in the process of reintegrating people into the community.
Question 3 has been withdrawn.
Her Majesty's Prison Kilmarnock
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish the latest report of Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons on HMP Kilmarnock. (S2O-6182)
The report by the independent HM chief inspector of prisons on HMP Kilmarnock will be published on 26 April 2005.
Is the minister satisfied that it takes six months from the completion of the investigation to the publication of the report?
I am sure that Alex Neil will read the answers to the large number of questions that he has lodged on this issue, and he will see from the figures that the suicide rate at Kilmarnock prison is similar to that in other similarly sized prisons in Scotland.
Prisons (Drug Rehabilitation)
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is regarding the rehabilitation of drug users in prison. (S2O-6037)
The Scottish Prison Service recognises that many offenders have addiction problems. On their admission to prisons, priority is given to attending to their immediate health care needs. Offenders are also offered programmes to help tackle their addiction problems, and to prepare them for a return to the community.
Will the minister guarantee that every prisoner who seeks to come off drugs will have access either to a methadone reduction programme or to an abstinence programme, according to his or her needs? Does she agree that it is absolutely unacceptable that any prisoner in a Scottish jail who seeks that support should not be given it? Does she further agree that, if a failure to access that support resulted in a prisoner having to resort to self-help by illegal means to address their drug dependency, that situation would be intolerable?
As I said in yesterday's debate, when people who have drug misuse problems come into prison, I want those problems to be addressed. I want people to come out of custody in better shape than they went in and more ready to go back and lead decent lives in their local communities. It is right and proper that each prisoner who has an addiction problem receives an assessment and that the appropriate course of action is then taken. That ought to involve a range of different options, and people who are in custody ought to have access to the same range of options as those in the community. I am pleased to hear Margaret Mitchell accept that there may need to be a range of options, from substitute prescribing right through to abstinence, because that seems to be a welcome change in direction from the Conservatives.
The minister will be aware that Craiginches, like many other prisons in Scotland, has a situation where the majority of inmates are drug misusers. How does she measure the effectiveness of the drug programmes that are delivered in our prisons? Do we measure the number of inmates who are given drug programmes but are then sent back to prison for drug-related crime, showing that the programmes did not work?
Richard Lochhead has asked a specific question about measurements of people who are sent back to prison for drug-related crimes, and I am not sure that we currently have all the information that we might require to answer that question. We do, of course, focus on reducing reoffending. It will always be the case that we want to try to deal with addiction problems, because that in itself will reduce the likelihood of reoffending. I am very concerned about the number of people who come into our prison system who have drug misuse problems. It is important that we get treatment and rehabilitation services right, but it is also important that we do not have to wait until people are in prison before they are able to access those services. That is why we want to consider such things as arrest referral schemes and why we are also considering the introduction of mandatory testing where there are drug-related offences, to try to ensure that people get into treatment and rehabilitation at the earliest possible stage.
Civil Law Review
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the operation of civil law. (S2O-6039)
As set out in the partnership agreement, the Executive is committed to continuing to modernise the law and legal system. We have already made significant progress through initiatives such as abolishing feudal tenure and reforming the diligence system. More reforms are planned, for instance through the Family Law (Scotland) Bill, which is presently before the Parliament. We are also continuing to support the work of the Scottish Law Commission in reviewing the law and making recommendations for change.
I put on record my support for the work that the Executive has done in modernising our criminal justice system. I welcome the minister's answer, because I think that there should be some focus on and attention to the reform and modernisation of civil justice. I would like a commitment from the minister to consider three areas of civil law in the Executive's review: the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 in relation to time limits and the interpretation of those limits; damages for cases such as those of asbestos victims; and the accessibility of the civil courts with regard to costs and the length of time involved, particularly in relation to family law.
Pauline McNeill's final point is a more difficult one to address. We recognise that there are concerns about the length of time that it sometimes takes for cases to go through the courts system, and we have been considering ways of improving access to justice across the range of our courts. On accessibility and costs, I understand the concerns about how much it takes to get cases resolved.
Offending on Bail
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to reduce the likelihood of offending by people on bail. (S2O-6149)
We are determined to reduce the abuse of bail and to deal effectively with people who offend while on bail. That is why we asked the Sentencing Commission for Scotland to review the use of bail and remand as its first priority; the commission's recommendations were published on 5 April. Electronic monitoring as a condition of bail in certain circumstances is being piloted from this month.
Is the minister aware that a young accused person is nearly six times more likely to offend while on bail than an older person? A recent report shows that the rate of offending while on bail for people aged 16 to 20 is 35 per cent, whereas the rate for people aged between 41 and 60 is only 6 per cent and the overall rate is 29 per cent. Does the minister agree that that situation is unacceptable? Will she give an assurance that the proposed changes will tighten up the existing bail system and ensure that many of the people who are granted bail are subject to greater restrictions, such as the electronic monitoring that she mentioned?
I accept that the situation is serious. The Sentencing Commission for Scotland's report certainly raised concern that some people do not seem to respect the bail conditions that are imposed on them or to understand the seriousness of keeping to the conditions and turning up at court when they should do. The proposals that we will pilot will tighten up the situation. In some circumstances, people who would currently receive bail for serious offences, in particular rape and murder, will potentially be electronically tagged. In certain circumstances, a person who has been remanded and who has a stable address and can give assurances that they will be able to comply with the conditions has the option to request that electronic monitoring be made a condition of bail, to allow them to be bailed. Through the pilot schemes, we can begin to address some of the anomalies that Michael McMahon described.
Crimestoppers
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in tackling drug dealing using the crimestoppers freephone telephone number. (S2O-6089)
The First Minister launched the "drug dealers don't care, do you?" campaign on 15 February. There has been an excellent response and 3,339 calls about drugs have been made to crimestoppers since the campaign began—four times the normal volume of calls. The information and intelligence that has been gathered through the campaign is starting to yield arrests and drug seizures.
Will the minister clarify whether the opportunity for anonymity, which I understand is available to callers, is encouraging people to come forward who in the past might have hesitated to get in touch because of the fear of intimidation? Does that account for the rise in call volume since the campaign began?
The campaign that was devised for and implemented throughout Scotland was based on a successful local campaign, Renfrewshire against drugs. Anonymity was a feature of the Renfrewshire campaign. It is particularly important that people who live in communities that are ravaged by drugs should have the confidence to report drug dealing and other such matters to the police. We acknowledge that many people have legitimate fears and concerns about intimidation and downright threats and violence, so anonymity and confidentiality are an important, guaranteed feature of not just the telephone calls, but the thousand responses that I think were received in slightly more than a week to the leaflets that were put through people's doors.
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