SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
School Buildings (Funding)
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it is making available to local authorities to prepare bids for public-private partnership funding for school buildings and how they are being informed of the availability of pump-priming funding and other forms of assistance. (S1O-2211)
We are making £5 million available this year. We will issue a circular to local authorities tomorrow explaining the arrangements. Copies will be available in the Scottish Parliament information centre.
I thank the minister for his response. He may be aware that Dumfries and Galloway Council has been investigating the possibility of school rebuilding and new building in my constituency, at Heathhall, Lockerbie and Moffat. The council's preliminary investigations suggest that funding those necessary projects through PPP may result in a revenue shortfall of between £3 million and £5 million. Will the Executive consider measures to help councils that are in that position to bridge the funding gap?
As the Parliament will be aware, local authorities receive an annual consent for capital and it is up to them to prioritise their expenditure. In Dumfries and Galloway, for example, £10 million will be spent on Stranraer secondary school. The funding that we have made available this year is intended to help to prepare public-private partnerships as part of the pump-priming activity that we want to happen, so that we can extend the building programme. Next week—who knows—we might be able to make some progress on that, in financial statements.
Does the minister accept that Lockerbie is an exceptional case, given that the primary school has been burned down, the secondary school is falling down and there is an outstanding fund for leisure facilities, and that the town is worthy of the visit that Dr Murray and I have asked him to make?
Dr Murray and Mr Mundell have suggested that I visit Lockerbie the next time I am in Dumfries and Galloway. I would be happy to consider that as part of the programme. The insurance fund that was available to Dumfries and Galloway Council to contribute to the replacement of the local primary school can be applied to that purpose but, as Elaine Murray has explained, the council is considering a public-private partnership arrangement. I hope that it will continue to view that positively. We will consider anything that we can do to assist with it.
Is the minister aware of the desperate situation at Airdrie Academy? Will he consider North Lanarkshire Council's application for special borrowing consent to allow it to make urgent, necessary repairs?
Karen Whitefield made me aware of that situation a week or so ago, before she attended a school board meeting at Airdrie Academy. I asked her to encourage her council to make an application under the insurance fund, and I repeat that request today. The fund exists to help local authorities prepare the ground for much more capital investment. That is what we want and what we are successfully achieving, but we can take the matter further—hence the fund.
Health Services (Tayside)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in relation to public consultation on the Tayside acute services review. (S1O-2237)
The Executive expects local health services to have effective consultation mechanisms in place to effect service changes such as local acute services reviews. It is for each local health board to determine the best way in which public consultation and involvement can be effected locally.
It is not always the case that those mechanisms are effective. Does the minister agree that the public have a right to be consulted and informed about the options that are involved in the fundamental reorganisation of health services in Tayside? Is she aware that, after more than a year's deliberation, the next round of public consultation will—yet again—be conducted on the basis of uncosted, generalised options? Will she intervene to ensure that the people of Tayside will be consulted, not insulted?
It would be more appropriate for Mr Welsh to welcome the fact that decisions about the future of the health service in Tayside are being made and discussed openly. Increasingly, that is true of decisions that affect the NHS throughout Scotland, and it will continue to be so. It is a marked change from what has occurred in the past.
Given the present financial constraints on the NHS, does the minister accept that whatever its outcome, the acute services review will not keep everyone in Tayside happy and that there will be losers who will be angry, disappointed and frustrated by whatever changes are proposed? Will she accept that that is not inevitable and that part of that anger and frustration will be because the review has been conducted by those who are neither elected by nor accountable to anyone in Tayside? Therefore, as part of her consideration of the wider NHS plan, will she revisit the old Labour idea—a very modernising idea—of trying to democratise the quangos that run one of the biggest public sector businesses in the country?
I do not know whether John McAllion had a capital O on "old Labour idea" or whether he was talking chronologically. In either case I have déjà vu—John McAllion and I had a similar exchange of question and answer last week and I repeat the assurance I gave then: that the question of effective systems, structures, governance and accountability is at the heart of the current debates taking place on the modernisation of the NHS in Scotland. It is a question on which all members of this Parliament ought to feel able to contribute, that I hope the Health and Community Care Committee will contribute on and that I hope will result in improvements. However, it is important to ensure that, alongside looking at how we improve and develop, we maintain stability. There has been a lot of structural reform in the health service and it is important to maintain sufficient stability to operate services effectively and efficiently in the future.
Does the minister accept that much of the drive for centralisation in Tayside has been portrayed as being driven by the requirements of the colleges? Is she aware that there is widespread concern among the public and GPs on Tayside that far from being driven by clinical guidelines, the acute services review is being driven by cost? Does she agree that it would be a mistake to remove maternity and other services from Perth royal infirmary on the basis of cost?
I repeat something I have said before in this chamber. It is not for me to comment on the detailed local review of health services, particularly when they are going through a process of local consultation and debate. It is for me to set out the broad parameters within which such reviews should be conducted, and that includes the need for openness and consultation and that the reviews are taking place within the context of greater investment. As to the other detailed points Nick Johnston raises, they were set out in the national strategy document the "Acute Services Review", published in 1998. That is what is being put into effect now. The key aim is quality and it will continue to be so.
Unison (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Unison and what issues were discussed. (S1O-2231)
I met Unison on 28 June to discuss a wide range of issues affecting local government, including the post-McIntosh discussions, the forthcoming housing bill and local government finance.
As the underlying cause of the current pay dispute between Unison and the councils is that for seven years successive Governments have not helped councils to fund pay increases for their staff, will the minister help to create a better atmosphere in which to negotiate an end to the dispute by announcing as soon as possible what practical help the Executive intends to give councils in the three coming years to pay their staff increases in line with inflation?
For clarification, for the past seven years half of all pay awards have been met by central Government. The issue of concern in the dispute is the other sector of local government employees. As to our intentions, I have been working extensively behind the scenes with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and others in local government to address the future financing of local government in relation to the comprehensive spending review and the issue raised by the trade unions on pay for future years. We hope that that will be part of the process with local authorities in the future.
Does the minister agree with Unison that a 2.5 per cent pay increase for local government workers is totally inadequate? Will the Scottish Executive make a statement as soon as possible on exactly how much additional money will be made available in order to give local government workers a fairer offer and to avoid the strike that is planned for next Wednesday, which could have a serious effect on local government services that are already threatened because of the fuel crisis?
The negotiations, as Dennis Canavan knows, are a matter for COSLA and the employees. For the broader issues, we should await the announcements in the comprehensive spending review. Members can be sure that the Executive values local government and that that will be reflected in how those issues are addressed in the CSR.
On Monday evening, I met 20 local government shop stewards from City of Aberdeen Council. The message that they wanted me to bring to the minister is that morale in the council is at rock bottom. There are two main reasons for that: deteriorating wages over the years and the fact that, because of Government policies, vital services for the elderly and other groups are having to be cut. One lady had moved from nursing into local government in 1993. If she had stayed in her old job, she would now be earning £2,500 more. Does the minister think that that is acceptable? If not, what will he do about it?
In case it has escaped Richard Lochhead's notice, I have visited 31 out of the 32 councils. I have taken every opportunity to meet staff in those authorities to discuss shared issues. Underpinning much of our discussion has been the addressing of future issues for local government funding. The Scottish National Party has made no commitment in any real sense to local government funding. Even in its celebrated, but failed, penny for Scotland campaign, local government would not have benefited.
Dental Services
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to increase the number of national health service dentists and what specific action is planned to assist in the reduction of levels of tooth decay in adults and children. (S1O-2221)
The Scottish Executive published on 18 August "An Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland". The action plan outlines a number of initiatives to improve the dental health of the people of Scotland and proposes a number of actions to improve service availability and access to dental services.
Does the minister agree that dental charges, which were introduced in 1989, have led to a general reduction in the number of NHS dentists and in the number of people attending them? Will the minister consider the wider introduction of salaried dentists? If we are serious about having a comprehensive plan for tackling oral health problems, we cannot allow dentistry to be the poor relation of the NHS.
The Scottish Executive recognises the importance of dentistry and the need to think widely and creatively to ensure that people across Scotland have access to the dental services they require. Around 40 salaried dentists are now working in Scotland. The Scottish dental access initiative continues to provide grants to dentists who are willing to set up or to expand NHS practices in areas where there is high oral health need or where patients cannot find a dentist who is willing to treat them on the NHS. We will continue to support and develop that scheme.
Given the minister's commitment to increase the number of dentists, how will the capacity and resources of our dental hospitals be increased to allow them to train and educate additional dentists? I believe that they are currently working to full capacity.
Only a few weeks ago, I met representatives of the British Dental Association—in fact, it was on the same day as we published the dental action plan. Education and training was one of the issues that was discussed and it will continue to be one of the issues that is discussed. Just as in other areas of the NHS in Scotland, we are determined to ensure that we have the capacity and the skills—not only now, but for the future—to meet the needs of the Scottish people. A lot of planning and investment issues arise, but we are actively addressing those issues.
South of Scotland University
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by the committee on the establishment of a south of Scotland university since the commitment to its establishment in the partnership agreement. (S1O-2244)
"Partnership for Scotland" included an undertaking to investigate a south of Scotland university. The steering group that was established to take that forward has met twice so far. The next meeting has been arranged for Tuesday 10 October in Dumfries. The group hopes to make an interim report to ministers in the early part of 2001.
Although the minister's helicopter was not working properly the day he was supposed to visit the campus, I am sure that he will agree that the Crichton campus is one of the most exciting further and higher education development sites in Scotland. Will he ensure that the committee on the south of Scotland university works as closely as it can with the existing institutions on that site, and the developments that they have in hand, and does not try to reinvent the wheel?
I would have been very happy to visit the Crichton campus on that occasion, but it was not thought appropriate for a Scottish Executive minister to arrive by helicopter.
Landfill
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the level of monitoring by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency of the Paterson's landfill site. (S1O-2227)
Yes. SEPA is the waste regulation authority and it regularly monitors Paterson's site to ensure that the conditions in the waste management licence are met. SEPA's monitoring has been enhanced in recent months in response to complaints about odour problems from residents near the site.
Perhaps the minister should not be so satisfied. Does she appreciate the deep frustration that is felt locally at SEPA's failure to ensure that Paterson's fulfils the conditions of its licence and deals with the pernicious odour emanating from the site? Does she appreciate that life in the vicinity of the odour is intolerable? Will she direct SEPA to take decisive action to eradicate the odour and thus begin to win back the confidence of local people?
It is important to emphasise to Margaret Curran that I am satisfied in the context of the extra monitoring that is now being carried out—largely because of the demands that have been made by her constituents about the problems that have been experienced at the site. Usually, the site receives a minimum of two visits per week, but that has been increased because of the local complaints. I accept the member's point about the need to ensure that the problems are dealt with effectively. That is why it is important that additional monitoring—as well as regular out-of-hours checks—is carried out. Some of the problems do not relate just to daylight hours—there are problems at the beginning of the day. We need the extra monitoring that is currently being carried out.
I appreciate what the minister is telling us, just as I appreciate the fact that SEPA has taken some action, but deep frustration is felt locally because every time Paterson's says that it is taking action, the problem persists. There is a condition in Paterson's licence that stipulates that it must deal with the odour. Time and time again, the company has been told to deal with the problem. It is time to take action against the company and to shut the site until the odour can be removed—so that people can live in acceptable circumstances.
The only point that I would add is that monitoring that is independent from the operators of the site is now being carried out. I am keen that we get decisive action so that residents are content with their experience of living in the area.
Local Government
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by the working group set up to consider the Kerley committee's proposals and when it expects its findings to be published. (S1O-2233)
An ad hoc ministerial working group has been established to consider the recommendations of the renewing local democracy working group, better known as the Kerley committee. The ministerial group has begun its work. It will report to Cabinet and Cabinet's conclusions will be announced in due course.
In Midlothian Council, there are 17 Labour members and one hard-working, effective, but heavily outnumbered Liberal Democrat—[Members: "Aw."] In such councils, the electorate feels that there is no satisfactory machinery to scrutinise, analyse and challenge the decisions of the ruling group. There are no SNP councillors, no Conservatives and no Green members. Does the minister accept that there is a democratic deficit that must be addressed? When can we expect a bill to address the Kerley and McIntosh proposals for local democracy?
I think that the partnership arrangements to which the member alludes work rather well here and perhaps work rather well in other parts of the country. Let me make a serious point. Proper consideration of these issues cannot be sacrificed for the sake of speed. The proposals that Kerley has made would introduce different electoral systems for all four nationwide elections: to the European Parliament, to Westminster, to the Scottish Parliament and to local government. Some of those elections, with different systems, could take place on the same day. Those are some of the complexities that the ministerial group is wrestling with, and it will report in due course.
As there is to be no local government bill before the autumn of 2001, are any changes likely to be implemented before the next scheduled local government elections in 2002?
As the member knows, the timing of the next local government elections was commented on by the McIntosh commission, and it is something that this Parliament will have to take a view on in due course. As I said, the issues are complicated and interrelated. In due course, the Cabinet committee will report on the timing of elections and on electoral systems.
Given that the Liberal Democrat worm is finally beginning to turn on this issue, will the minister advise me when local government will be informed whether the next local government elections will be held in May? If they are not held then and they are delayed, possibly by a year or even longer, will they be fought under a system of proportional representation?
The member raised the issue of whether we move to a four-year term for local government. In the answers that I have just given, I have tried to allude to the complexity of this matter. Moving toward the recommendations would involve using four different electoral systems, some of which would be used on the same day. This is a complex matter and we look forward to everybody contributing to the debate in the interests of the welfare of local government in Scotland.
Digital Hearing Aids
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects digital hearing aids to be made available through the national health service in the Grampian area on the basis that was proposed for all NHS areas from April 2000. (S1O-2242)
This is a matter for Grampian Health Board. The decision to prescribe a digital aid for a patient must be taken at local level based on clinical judgment and clinical priorities. Nine different types of digital hearing aid are available to the NHS in Scotland through the central contracts negotiated by Scottish healthcare supplies.
The minister must know that digital hearing aids are not available on the NHS in Grampian. Regardless of the matter being one of trust prioritisation, does the minister share my concern that patients in Grampian, Orkney and Shetland are being disadvantaged and are not able to benefit from the latest technology?
Digital aids are not suitable for all patients, but we are aware that local advice to patients is not always consistent. Indeed, we have asked our officials to approach health boards and trusts, find out the current position, assess it and report to us. If Mr Rumbles has specific information that he wants to send to us, I will ensure that it is fed in to the process.
What targets have been set for the screening of pre-school children for hearing difficulties that can lead to learning disadvantage?
Through different members' debates we have had some consideration of screening. We are advised on this matter by the national screening committee. The point that the member raises is under consideration, and we will consider the committee's recommendations when they are given to us.
St Abbs Harbour
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide financial assistance for repairs to St Abbs harbour. (S1O-2238)
We will be able to consider the case for assistance for repairs to St Abbs harbour if and when an application is received from the harbour trust.
I understand that a formal application is imminent. Can the minister confirm that the Executive understands the difficulty for harbour trusts in raising funds for major repairs, especially for small harbours such as St Abbs? Is advice available in his department about additional or alternative sources of funding from other bodies?
Limited funds are available for emergency repairs to fishing harbours. My officials are aware of the problem at St Abbs and they have discussed the situation with representatives of the harbour trust. Indeed, that is when they gave the trust an application form. I understand that, as of this morning, no application has been received. If, in due course, we receive an application from St Abbs harbour trust, I can assure Euan Robson that it will be considered fairly and perhaps even sympathetically.
Social Inclusion Partnerships
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received concerning the allocation of social inclusion partnership funds in Glasgow. (S1O-2216)
The Scottish Executive regularly receives representations from individuals and organisations on the allocation of SIP funds in Glasgow.
Is the minister aware—I presume that she is if she has received individual applications—that in some areas, particularly in the north of Glasgow, some groups have waited more than a year for decisions, then have been asked to resubmit their applications? They may eventually not even receive a grant. In Drumchapel, one such group has withdrawn its application. Drumchapel, an area that desperately needs social inclusion partnership funds, is fed up with the way it has been treated. Has the minister heard any other concerns on that matter?
I would be interested to hear more about the concern that the member raises. We are keen to ensure that social inclusion partnership moneys are well targeted, which is why it is appropriate that the applications that we receive are scrutinised with care. However, there should be no unnecessary delay in the process.
Aggregates Tax
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the impact of the aggregates tax in Scotland. (S1O-2239)
We are in contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the aggregates tax.
I am grateful for that informative reply.
The point that was missed out in the question is whether Mr Morgan accepts the need for the principle of an aggregates tax. It is important that we accept that principle. I am happy to write to Mr Morgan about the specific points he has raised. If he accepts that there is a need for the aggregates tax, it is important that we make it work in Scotland's interests.
It may be a problem in its own right, but does the minister accept that it must be particularly difficult to have meaningful discussions with the chancellor if she does not have the specific background on the effect of this impost on our Scottish quarrying industry to which my colleague Mr Morgan has referred?
Absolutely not. The key point of importance for us is that we have been extensively involved in discussing the implications of the aggregates tax for Scotland. One of the reasons we feel that an aggregates tax is an appropriate response is that the proposals that were put forward by the Quarry Products Association were not in Scotland's interests. The proposals did not recognise our land designation system or key issues about procurement guarantees given by the Government in a way that was acceptable to us. The suggestion that we have not considered this issue from the Scottish perspective is unfounded.
Manufacturing
To ask the Scottish Executive what the changes in manufacturing output and Scottish gross domestic product were in the most recent quarter for which official figures are available. (S1O-2218)
In the first quarter of 2000, Scottish manufacturing output fell by 1.7 per cent compared with the previous quarter. Over the same period, Scottish GDP fell by 0.2 per cent.
Does the minister remember that, in February 2000, he told the Parliament:
That was really pathetic, even by the SNP's usual standards of intervention in economic debates. The SNP is a party that has no economic strategy and that will talk down Scotland on every occasion. [Members: "Answer the question."]
On a point of order.
The GDP index was published on 2 August and showed that quarter 4 of 1999 remained unchanged and that there was a slight reduction in quarter 1 of 2000.
On a point of order.
When the figures between the two quarters are calculated—
There is a point of order.
Because those figures are unrounded, one ends up with 0.1 and 0.2.
There is a point of order.
Order. There is a point of order.
The SNP has no policy other than to seek mischief while Scotland enjoys substantial economic success. [Interruption.]
Order. A point of order may take time away from the supplementary question that I was going to call.
I hope that my point of order does not take time away from a supplementary question, Presiding Officer, as the minister has singularly failed to answer the original question. On a point of order—
No. I am sorry, but the content of answers is not a matter on which points of order can be raised.
Perhaps, in his long ramble, the minister might have liked to admit the fact that GDP output in Scotland declined for two quarters in a row—the classic definition of a recession. Why cannot the minister answer a straight question with a straight answer?
I understand that the Scottish Executive cannot produce statistics to cope with SNP holidays. This matter was debated in Scotland on 2 August. Four weeks later, the possible leader of the SNP enters the fray, and two weeks later, Mr Wilson enters it.
On a point of order. The minister makes speeches to cover up the fact that he has no answers.
COSLA (Meeting)
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Finance last met representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and what issues they discussed. (S1O-2214)
I met representatives of COSLA on Monday 11 September. We discussed the 2000 spending review and the reform of local government finance.
I thank the minister for his answer.
It would be inappropriate to state that we will fully fund pay increases that have not yet been negotiated. That would be irresponsible in the extreme—for the Executive and for the local authorities that have to conduct those negotiations. I hope that, over the next three years, partly because of the resources that will be made available by the Scottish Executive, local authorities will not only have successful negotiations on pay increases but will continue to improve performance and management. If that can be achieved with the resources that we will make available, that will be a good thing for people throughout Scotland.
Does the minister agree that many of the problems that face local government are a legacy of the 18 years of under-investment by Conservative Governments, which consistently failed to understand the importance of the services that local government delivers?
Mr Harding always personified that record during his time as leader of Stirling District Council. It would be good to see him here next Wednesday. Not only can we compare the spending plans of this Administration with those that were in place during the years of Tory government at Westminster; we can compare them with the plans that might be implemented if the Tories were to take power again. The £16 billion that would be cut from the UK's public finances would decimate Scottish local government again. We shall not allow that to happen. Next week we will announce our spending plans to invest in public services in Scotland.
At the meeting with COSLA, the minister was presumably made aware of the distribution committee's recommendation that, in principle, Argyll and Bute Council should receive payment under the special islands needs allowance. Will the minister give personal support to that principle? Does he accept that it has been central to the campaign for SINA for the Argyll and Bute area that no other area will lose out? In other words, the Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland, North Ayrshire and Highland should not lose SINA if Argyll and Bute gets it. If he accepts that central principle, will he tell the chamber why the SINA payments have been reduced from £28 million to £13.4 million?
First of all, SINA payments have not been reduced. Secondly, the consultants report discussed by the distribution committee is a long way from being anything like a Government policy. Thirdly, the review of SINA, which has been going on for about two years and is about to come to a conclusion, will be carried out in a proper and responsible manner by local authorities and by the Executive. I welcome Duncan Hamilton's late entry into discussions on SINA for the Argyll and Bute Council area. In the interests of members and local residents in Argyll and Bute, I record the fact that the only political party in this Parliament that has never written to me about SINA is the Scottish National Party.
Housing Bill
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish its draft housing bill. (S1O-2240)
We published our detailed proposals for the housing bill on 5 July and the First Minister will confirm later today that we plan to introduce the bill into Parliament before Christmas. Fiona Hyslop will recall that, since the day and hour this Parliament convened, we have made it clear that we intend the housing bill to be one of the flagships of the second year of our legislative programme, and that is how it will be.
The minister will remember that she first promised the bill in the first six months of 2000. I ask her to comment on her June statement on local government, when she said:
Order. That is enough. You have made your point and should now let Ms Alexander answer.
I do not want this to be an issue of division. Colleagues in all parts of the chamber are aware of the pressure on draftsmen's time. We are proud of the fact that we said we would publish our plans for the housing bill in July and that we did, not in the form of draft legal clauses that require draftsmen, but in an accessible form that could let people contribute to the process. As I said, the bill will have reached stage 1 before Christmas. If the SNP's only criticism of the most radical housing bill in a generation is that we did not monopolise draftsmen's time, I plead guilty.
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