Culture and External Affairs
Cultural Issues (Aberdeen City Council)
The Scottish Government regularly meets Creative Scotland, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and VOCAL Scotland to discuss issues and share information in relation to culture and cultural services in a local authority context. The Scottish Government has not had recent discussions with Aberdeen City Council about cultural issues, although my officials met council officials in November when their United Kingdom city of culture bid was raised.
Our libraries are great cultural assets. Aberdeen faces the threat of library closures emanating from the Labour-led council, even though in The Press and Journal on 8 January 2010, the current Labour candidate for Aberdeen Donside said:
The threat of library closures in Aberdeen is deeply disappointing, as it might be in other areas such as Moray. I remind those in the chamber that local councils’ only statutory duty in culture is in relation to libraries: they have to make sure that there is adequate provision for all.
I am very pleased that the cabinet secretary supports Willie Young in his view of the importance of libraries in Aberdeen and elsewhere. Given that she agrees with him, will she agree also to work with Aberdeen City Council to take forward the modernisation and further improvement of a fantastic public library service in the city?
I have never met Willie Young and it is difficult to agree with somebody you have never met.
The cabinet secretary mentioned that she discussed the city of culture bid. Will she give me and the people of Aberdeen an undertaking that she will take no action prior to 2017 that will deny us the opportunity to have the United Kingdom city of culture in the north-east of Scotland?
I am delighted that the quality and range of and enthusiasm and opportunities for culture in Aberdeen and in Dundee have been recognised by both cities in putting forward bids to be city of culture. I am delighted that they will be able to progress that and we look forward to seeing whether they make the shortlist in June this year and the announcement that will be made in November.
Poland (Social, Cultural and Business Links)
The links between Scotland and Poland are varied and long-standing. The Scottish Government promotes social, cultural and business links with Poland in a number of ways.
Recent research by the University of the West of Scotland illustrates that ethnic minority entrepreneurs often fail to seek support from readily available Government sources and that immigrants in Scotland are less likely to make use of key public services. An estimated 80,000 Polish nationals are resident in Scotland. Does the minister agree that such research suggests that the Scottish Government could be doing a huge amount more to engage with those from an eastern European background who are living in Scotland?
The research is very interesting indeed and I agree with the member on the opportunities for entrepreneurs from different communities. Clearly, if opportunities are not being taken up, we must look at the services that are provided to those in communities such as the Polish community who are setting up new businesses. That would be a useful area to explore with the business gateway and local authorities to see how local communities can best be supported.
Question 3, in the name of Drew Smith, has been withdrawn. The member has provided an explanation.
Cultural Achievers
The Scottish Government supports work to recognise and promote achievements by individuals, projects, communities and places locally through grant funding to Creative Scotland—Scotland’s national agency for the arts, screen and creative industries. Creative Scotland recognises and promotes Scotland’s cultural activity through its investment programme, which supports artists and organisations across Scotland.
We are delighted to have that recognised locally.
I visited the heroes centre, in which the proposal is meant to be developed, in July last year and was very impressed by it. It showed a great deal of energy and was a way of putting a spotlight on our local heroes. It is important that we also look at the cultural programme around the Commonwealth games, when we will be supporting our sporting heroes. My colleague Humza Yousaf will take forward the Commonwealth games aspects of the cultural area, which will involve ensuring that all of Scotland, including Helensburgh, can benefit. I think that the idea that was mentioned is very good.
The cabinet secretary may be aware of the celebrating Lanarkshire 2013 initiative, which recognises and celebrates the region’s achievements over the past 200 years and coincides with the bicentenary of the birth of Dr David Livingstone. Will she join me in commending that excellent initiative, which showcases the contribution that Lanarkshire has made not just to Scotland but to the world over the past two centuries?
I am very pleased to support that passionate endorsement of Lanarkshire. The celebrating Lanarkshire 2013 initiative, which allows communities to celebrate past achievements and cultural endeavours, sounds like a great one.
North America (Ministerial Visits)
The First Minister carried out an extensive programme of targeted business engagements with top companies in the United States and developed both new and existing relationships. Those meetings covered 220 new jobs, 34 safeguarded jobs and more than £12 million of new investment. The First Minister addressed an audience of more than 300 top US-based business leaders at the New York St Andrew’s Society’s business networking dinner, delivered a speech at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, and gave a public lecture at Princeton University. In Washington DC, he delivered an address at the Brookings Institution.
I thank the cabinet secretary for that detailed answer.
Scotland week 2013 was not only supported by ministers, of course; it was well supported by the Scottish Parliament. I congratulate the Presiding Officer on announcing that the US National Conference of State Legislatures conference will take place here between 10 and 12 July. It is quite correct to identify the huge opportunity that the Scottish Parliament has afforded us to ensure that we can connect as a country with legislatures around the world, and I look forward to the very interesting programme that I know the Parliament is putting forward. I am sure that the Presiding Officer can speak for herself in promoting that great opportunity. Stewart Maxwell is right to draw members’ attention to the very important announcement that the Presiding Officer made during Scotland week 2013.
Celebrating Creative Places
As well as attracting visitors and inward investment, creative and cultural activity helps to support and shape our communities and places, and fosters and reinforces people’s sense of identity and community cohesion. Creative Scotland’s creative place awards, which are now in their second year, provide inspiration for people throughout Scotland as well as our visitors by encouraging and celebrating the exceptional creative programmes in towns, villages and communities across the country and supporting the development of projects that might not otherwise get recognition.
The cabinet secretary is probably aware that Huntly in my constituency of Aberdeenshire West was one of the small towns that won a creative place award. Will she join me in congratulating the community in Huntly, and especially Deveron Arts, on the hard work that they do in encouraging creative arts in Huntly? Will she agree to visit Huntly in the summer recess?
I am delighted to congratulate Huntly on that award, which it was successful in winning in January of this year. The member might not be aware that I have already accepted an invitation to visit Deveron Arts during the summer recess to see its work at first hand. I look forward to the member joining me on that visit so that we can find out more about the exciting work that it is doing in promoting Huntly in his constituency.
Does the minister agree that a marvellous creative place to celebrate in Scotland would be a dedicated film studio with related facilities? When does she expect Scotland to get its own Hollywood or Pinewood?
The member will know that I have repeatedly called for an effective business plan to be presented that would allow Scotland to take the opportunities that are available. I am highly enthusiastic about the film industry in Scotland and the opportunities that a film studio would afford. I understand and share the frustration that exists at the lack of movement. For that to be addressed, the industry will require to put forward some firm proposals, but I and the Government’s agencies stand ready to help to support a film studio, should a proposal be made that can be supported by public money and for which there is an effective business plan.
Commonwealth
The Scottish Government has had contact with a range of member states of the Commonwealth of Nations. That contact includes recent ministerial visits to India, Malawi and Canada, which are three of our priority countries. We look forward to welcoming the nations of the Commonwealth to Scotland for the 2014 Commonwealth games.
The minister may have seen The Guardian’s report of 5 May that detailed the brutal treatment by British forces of Kenyans who were involved in the Mau Mau rebellion. Does the minister agree that it is important for historical wrongs, either at home or abroad, to be addressed in a manner that will build mutual respect?
I did see the report in The Guardian. My mother and her family had to leave Kenya shortly after the emergency period because of the hostilities that arose as a result of the suppression of the Mau Mau people. It would be inappropriate for me to comment directly on the case in question, which is still going through the legal process.
Kurdistan
I put on record the member’s dedication and hard work in working with the Kurdistan community here in Scotland.
I thank the minister for that detailed answer. As he will know, my region of Glasgow has a large Kurdish community, many of whom were present in the chamber during my members’ business debate to pay tribute to Scotland’s Kurdish diaspora and to recognise the horrific genocide of Halabja and Saddam Hussein’s horrific al-Anfal campaign. Will the Scottish Government work with the Kurdistan Regional Government to ensure that the Halabja and al-Anfal genocides are recognised by the international community? My constituents in Glasgow and Kurds around the world feel that recognition of the horrors that befell them during a dreadful period in their history is a vital step.
The Scottish Government will do that. When Bob Doris brought his members’ business debate to the Scottish Parliament, I congratulated him on raising an internationally significant issue and said that it is correct that the Parliament and the Government should respond. Scotland values its relationships with Governments around the world. As a good global citizen, we are happy to discuss issues of fundamental human rights.
Infrastructure, Investment and Cities
Roads
The condition of Scotland’s roads has been raised in general discussions between ministers and local authorities. In addition, a strategic action group has been set up to oversee the implementation of 30 initiatives flowing from the national roads maintenance review. Those initiatives are aimed at ensuring that all road authorities in Scotland efficiently manage and maintain our roads. I jointly chair the group with Councillor Stephen Hagan, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities spokesperson for regeneration and sustainable development. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 26 June 2013.
The minister will be aware that a survey that was published by the Automobile Association earlier this year found that Scotland’s roads are in the worst condition of any in the United Kingdom and that more than half of Scottish drivers believe that the condition of council-maintained roads has deteriorated since last year. In view of those concerns, as well as the huge backlog of road maintenance work that is faced and the funding constraints on Scottish councils, what further practical steps will the Scottish Government take to help to deal with the poor state of our non-trunk roads?
I take John Scott’s point about the financial constraints on our councils, but he really must ponder why they have those financial constraints. We have had one quarter—about 26 per cent—of our capital budget constrained, and we have to pass that on to local authorities. Our revenue budget is also being constrained. We are giving a larger proportion of our budget to local authorities than previous Administrations have done. The member really must accept some responsibility for the fact that we are living in these constrained times because we have to rely on money from the UK Government.
Question 2, in the name of Patricia Ferguson, has been withdrawn. The member has provided an explanation.
Small Businesses
We are working hard to maintain Scotland’s position as the best place to do business. Despite United Kingdom Government funding cuts, our business rates relief package will reduce business rates taxation by £560 million this year. As part of that, two in every five business properties across Scotland benefit from zero or reduced rates through the small business bonus scheme.
The Scottish Government’s action is most welcome, and traders in my area tell me so. However, the cabinet secretary will be aware of the situation in Byres Road and High Street in my constituency, where many small businesses have closed, leading to concerns among traders and communities. Does the cabinet secretary agree that, if those areas are to survive and flourish, urgent action is needed, in particular by Glasgow City Council and its arm’s-length external organisation City Property, which we know is under investigation? Will the cabinet secretary agree to meet me and interested parties to discuss the situation and perhaps address the issue?
I very much recognise that town centres and high streets can be—and are—a central component of successful local economies, as they offer a base for small businesses and jobs. That is why we have under way a town centre review, which is under the leadership of Malcolm Fraser.
“Scotland’s Digital Future—Infrastructure Action Plan”
The Government has made significant progress towards our aim of having world-class digital infrastructure across Scotland by 2020. We have committed more than £240 million to our step change programme, which will deliver access to next-generation broadband for 85 to 90 per cent of premises in Scotland. The contract for the Highlands and Islands project was awarded to BT in March, and we remain on schedule to award the contract for the rest of Scotland by the end of June.
Is the cabinet secretary aware of recent reports of difficulties facing the broadband pilot project in Annan in the South Scotland region? Can she update us on any discussions that she has had on that matter?
I am aware of the Annan pilot, which I can confirm is going ahead. As a cutting-edge project that is being led by Dumfries and Galloway Council, the pilot aims to open up the existing public sector pathfinder network to deliver broadband services to the community while trialling white space technology. I know that, following the emergence of some teething issues with the technology, Dumfries and Galloway Council has taken the decision to limit the trial, but the pilot will still bring an enhanced next-generation broadband service to 25 small and medium-sized enterprises, community facilities and residents in the town. The pilot has already confirmed that the existing public sector pathfinder network can be used to deliver broadband services to the wider community, which was the key objective of the trial.
When will there be further details of the individual local schemes across Scotland, including in the north-east, where schemes have been proposed by local councils? Is the Scottish Government on target with its aim to have above-average uptake of broadband in Scotland by this year?
On Richard Baker’s first question, as I said in my original answer, the Highlands and Islands contract has now been signed and the details of the roll-out will be announced very soon. Obviously, we cannot get to that stage with the rest of Scotland until the contract has been signed but, as I said in my initial answer, we are on track to achieve that by June this year.
Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme (Croy)
A number of station platforms along the Edinburgh to Glasgow route, including those at Croy, will be extended to accommodate longer trains, which will deliver significant improvements in capacity and journey times for Croy passengers. There will be no diminution in the frequency of services to Croy station.
I have been advised that, during the engineering works, Edinburgh to Glasgow trains will be diverted via Cumbernauld. When it was opened by the minister, Croy station’s park-and-ride car park was Scotland’s largest, with 915 spaces. What arrangement will be put in place to accommodate the high volume of commuters who use Croy station car park and to mitigate the potential impact on communities around the alternative Cumbernauld stations?
It is probably best to deal with that with the member. I can go through the exact programme that has been agreed as part of the project. There is no question but that the project involves elements of disruption, which is inevitable with a project of this scale. I am happy to meet the member to go through exactly how that will be dealt with.
Question 6, in the name of David Stewart, has not been lodged. The member has provided an explanation.
Bus Regulation
The Scottish Government is committed to improving bus services and the workings of the current regulatory framework. We will study the detail of the proposed bill from that perspective.
I am pleased that the minister is prepared to study suggestions that are designed to provide a framework for better bus services. Would the minister be willing to meet me to discuss the proposed bill and how we can work together to improve the framework for bus services?
I am of course happy to meet the member. There are a number of different views about what the regulatory framework for bus services should be. We are involved in a discussion with a number of bus stakeholders through the bus stakeholder group, the basis for which is the series of proposals that were made by Strathclyde partnership for transport around some elements of regulation and other improvements.
Airports
When the First Minister met Sir Howard Davies, the chair of the Airports Commission, in October 2012, he noted the reduction in Scotland’s access to London airports, in particular Heathrow, in recent years, and the constraints that that places on the Scottish economy. The Scottish Government will continue to make that point as the work of the commission progresses, including at the Scottish stakeholder event that we are facilitating for the commission on 5 June.
Because of the dilatory and insular approach of successive Westminster Governments, the UK airports strategy is in tatters. Will the Scottish Government produce a Scottish air transport strategy that looks beyond the narrow focus of Westminster on south-east England airports and recognises the significant, positive impact that the removal of the air passenger duty and more direct flights would have for the Scottish economy?
I acknowledge the work that Chic Brodie and Colin Keir have done on aviation. Our strategy on air passenger duty and the improvement of Scotland’s international air connectivity is well documented, as is our advocacy of the need to secure Scotland’s access to the airports in the south-east of England. We want to have policies that are geared for the reality of the needs of aviation in Scotland, rather than in the congested south-east of England. Until we have control of all the policy and regulatory levers relating to aviation, we will have to continue to advocate changes reflecting our ambitions to the UK Government strategy.
The minister will be aware that the cross-party group on aviation met last night. He will wish to know that concerns were expressed that, as yet, there is no successor programme to route development funding. The industry and MSPs have been told since January that an announcement is expected soon. When will the industry be consulted, when will the work be completed and when will the new programme be put in place?
Substantial work has been done and continues to be done on this area. It is not straightforward. Some of the fundamentals on which the strategy will have to rely, such as air passenger duty and European regulations, change over time, and that will have to be taken into account. However, I give the undertaking that, as the work progresses—substantial progress has been made already—we will keep John Scott and other members informed.
Affordable Housing
We are investing £860 million in housing supply in the current three-year period. Last year, we introduced a resource planning approach for the three years to March 2015, bringing council and registered social landlord funding streams into one budget for the first time. Our approach will enable each council to exercise its strategic role more flexibly, and to bring to Government a programme of social and affordable housing developments, based on its local housing strategy.
Angus Council, working in partnership with the Scottish Government, is in the midst of delivering a programme of additional affordable housing across the county that, once completed in 2015, will result in the provision of around 200 properties. The council will provide just over £18 million towards the cost and the Government will provide approaching £5.5 million. Will the minister confirm that the Government will continue to engage with Angus Council and the RSLs to enhance affordable housing in Angus?
We will, of course, engage with Angus Council and all other local authorities across Scotland to improve access to affordable housing. Angus Council has been allocated resource planning assumptions of just under £9 million for the three years to March 2015. For the longer term, all councils have been asked to draw up strategic housing investment plans for affordable housing completions over the next five years. We have also been able to provide minimum planning assumptions for the three years to March 2018 to permit the necessary advance planning.
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth recently made an announcement in the form of an answer to a written question on the Barnett consequentials arising from the United Kingdom budget. Does the minister anticipate that local authorities and housing associations will benefit from those funds?
The recent announcement is correct, and that is still under discussion but, yes, we hope that there will be some consequentials to housing associations.
Unregulated Letting Agents
Recent action by the Scottish Government has improved protection for tenants and landlords. In 2012, we clarified the law on premium payments, making it clear that tenants should be charged only rent and a refundable deposit when a tenancy is granted, renewed, or continued. Last year also saw the introduction of three national tenancy deposit schemes to safeguard tenants’ money and provide a free dispute resolution service.
I am sure that the minister will be aware of the increase in the number of constituents throughout Scotland who have experienced significant difficulties through being exploited by unregulated letting agents. Has the Government considered the possibility of putting a more effective regime in place to regulate the industry and ensure that the exploitation of tenants and landlords is addressed?
I share the member’s concern. It has certainly been brought to our attention that some letting agents are flouting the law. We have recently consulted on our strategy for the private rented sector, including options for further regulation of the letting agent industry to raise standards of practice. We are now actively considering that matter.