SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Education and Young People, Tourism, Culture and Sport
Regional Visitor Numbers
To ask the Scottish Executive how it and VisitScotland respond to changes in visitor numbers on a regional basis. (S2O-7541)
Scotland is just one relatively small destination within the global tourism market, and we compete with about 200 other countries for visitors. The integrated VisitScotland network is about growing the value of tourism across the whole of Scotland but, of course, particular areas have their own attributes, which contribute to the rich diversity of Scotland as a destination. VisitScotland will continue to market those attributes strongly in response to customer demand.
My question was prompted by concern in the north-east that, while much was made of the fact that the number of bookings made through visitscotland.com was up 20 per cent nationally, that was not reflected in visitor numbers in the north-east. There was concern that regional variations were being masked by Scotland-wide good news. Can the minister guarantee that regional variation is monitored and that an appropriate and equitable proportion of VisitScotland's marketing and resources is allocated to promoting each region in Scotland?
Ms Radcliffe makes a valid point, and I know that VisitScotland is conscious of it. In fact, its own international tourism expo has been held in Aberdeen in the north-east in the past two years. Also, our wider events strategy, of which VisitScotland is an integral part, has very much seen events being sponsored in the north-east. In particular, I draw attention to the castle trail that is being promoted in the north-east, which has been successful. As described to me, VisitScotland sees the menu that we have to offer as a national dish with local flavours. Ms Radcliffe can rest assured that we will continue to ensure that all parts of Scotland are marketed.
For years there was concern that the Scottish Tourist Board was overcentralist. Now, with the demise of the area tourist boards and with local councils only being represented by whatever service agreements they reach with VisitScotland, concern is on-going that inevitably there will be a centralising tendency over time. Will the minister assure me that she will keep her eye on that on behalf of all parts of Scotland?
It is important to point out that while we now have an integrated network—as called for not just by members of the Scottish Parliament but by the industry—that will work to great effect for tourism in Scotland in the years ahead, 95 per cent of VisitScotland's staff are still based outwith Edinburgh, where the head office is. The member can rest assured that the entirety of Scotland is being marketed and that we look for opportunities to promote particular local areas, whether by allowing them to benefit from our events strategy or through direct marketing. I take Alasdair Morgan's point.
Special Educational Needs<br />(Mainstream Schools)
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to assist mainstream schools to support pupils with special educational needs. (S2O-7533)
I am pleased to say that a wide range of mechanisms are in place to assist mainstream schools to support pupils with additional support needs. Those mechanisms include funding, guidance, resources and staff training.
Is the minister aware of the problems around transitional arrangements for pupils who leave school? In its inquiry on disability—removing barriers and creating opportunities—the Equal Opportunities Committee heard that a number of pupils wait nine to 12 months before the arrangements are put in place. Often, when pupils go on to college they have to fight again to get the additional educational support that they require to enable them to participate. Colleges are saying the same thing. Will the Scottish Executive examine the issue?
Cathy Peattie makes a valid point. The matter that she raises is at the heart of the arrangements that will come into place under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, which comes into force in November. Transition training, not least for the transition between the world of school and the worlds of work and further education, is at the heart of what we are trying to do through the act. Local authorities will be required to ensure that, at least a year before people leave school, arrangements for what will follow are in place and have been discussed with the appropriate authorities.
The minister will be aware of the successful campaigns to maintain two dedicated special needs schools in Aberdeenshire. Those schools also provide support to linked bases in primary and secondary schools throughout the shire, which places a great strain on staff, although the schools do wonderful work to support other teachers. Can any specific aid be directed to Aberdeenshire Council to provide more support for the upgrading of the training facilities at those special needs schools?
As Mr Davidson is well aware, particular arrangements in local areas are a matter for local authorities. However, more than £200 million of funding has been put into such work since 2003, when the change in policy in the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Act 2000 took effect, so local authorities have been given considerable resources to make appropriate local arrangements. The Executive supports the range of provision that is available in areas such as Aberdeenshire to deal with the different needs of individual children.
The importance of training teachers to support children with special needs has recently been brought to my attention. The minister mentioned training in his response to Cathy Peattie. How does the Executive ensure that staff, through continuing professional development, are updated on new methods and knowledge and can provide the sort of support that we expect children to receive?
Mary Mulligan makes a good point. A series of issues are involved, one of which is initial teacher training. My colleague Peter Peacock has been encouraging universities to ensure that quality standards are in place. Another issue is monitoring, which happens largely through Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education. Arrangements are in place to ensure that the effect of the 2004 act is monitored and we will consider the effects of the code of practice about a year or 18 months down the line. Another issue is resources, which I touched on. It is worth saying that, of the £200 million that I mentioned, £7.2 million is dedicated to staff training of teachers and auxiliaries. A lot of effort is going into ensuring that the system improves and becomes more effective so that we deal with some of the problems on which Cathy Peattie touched in her initial question.
In his answer to Cathy Peattie, the minister said that arrangements for dealing with young people with special needs who are moving from school into further education or other arrangements should be made a year in advance. However, I am sure that all members have had cases in which that has not happened. Notwithstanding what the minister said about the requirements of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, will he consider reminding local authorities about the importance of early planning in managing those transitions?
I will simply echo what I said earlier. The 2004 act takes on board the issue on which John Swinney rightly focuses. Although it will take a little time for the measures to come into effect uniformly throughout Scotland, the intention behind the act is to produce better planning and better resources than there have been at some stages in the past. We will return to the code of practice on additional support for learning in 12 to 18 months to ensure that it is working well, but it is being implemented across the board. We will also be advised by HMIE on the matter and, where issues develop, we will take them on board. If either John Swinney or Cathy Peattie has particular concerns, I am more than happy to discuss them to find out whether we can make progress.
Notwithstanding the additional resources and the ability of local authorities to plan ahead, is the minister aware that smaller local authorities such as Scottish Borders Council willingly accommodate the supervision and education of children with special educational needs but perhaps face an additional burden when families that include such children move into the area during term time? Will the minister consider central provision on which local authorities that face that additional burden could call when there are problems during term time?
I am happy to talk to Jeremy Purvis about particular problems that may exist in his local area, but I think that I am right in saying that the grant-aided expenditure allocation provides both the general distribution and a specific allocation for smaller authorities to deal with such issues. Some problems emerge from the relationship between councils, for example when there are placing requests and cross-border movements. The Education Committee touched on those issues in its report on the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill and they are currently being examined further by Scottish Executive officials. I am happy to talk to Jeremy Purvis about the matter and the issues involved.
Dance
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in promoting dance in Scotland. (S2O-7510)
The Scottish Arts Council established a dance department in 2000. The key aim of its strategy for dance is to encourage an environment that supports a wide range of high-quality dance activity with opportunities to create, perform, participate in and enjoy dance. The Scottish Arts Council currently funds eight dance companies and organisations across Scotland.
Does the minister agree that Dundee's contribution to the highly acclaimed performance of the Scottish Dance Theatre at the recent Edinburgh festival is to be celebrated, particularly given the co-operation between Dundee College, the Scottish school of contemporary dance and the Dundee Rep? Will she join me in praising Dundee's success as the centre of dance in Scotland?
I certainly share Marlyn Glen's sentiments. The Space in Dundee, which is the home of the Scottish school of contemporary dance, is a facility that all MSPs should be very proud of, not least members who happen to represent the area. It is worth noting that as little as 10 years ago there were no purpose-built buildings for dance in Scotland and we now have both Dance Base and The Space in Dundee as well as the other dance agencies throughout the country.
Football Supporters' Trusts
To ask the Scottish Executive what help is available for football supporters' trusts wishing to develop community links, especially with schools, colleges and the voluntary sector, to encourage young people to participate in sport. (S2O-7517)
HM Revenue and Customs is working with Supporters Direct to develop guidance for trusts on how they can best organise their activities, in particular to help to develop and run their community activities by registering as a charity or as a community amateur sports club. The Executive has arranged for 80 per cent mandatory rate relief for community amateur sports clubs. The Executive also provides financial support for the activities of Supporters Direct in Scotland.
Is the minister aware of the very successful fundraising campaign that is being conducted in my constituency by the Raith Rovers supporters' trust? The trust is working tirelessly to ensure that any changes that take place within the club have the community at their heart. Will the minister agree to meet us to explore all the available options?
I am certainly aware that fundraising efforts are going on at Raith Rovers and I would be happy to meet the member to discuss what might be the ultimate conclusion of those efforts. Obviously, it is worth emphasising that, when there are difficulties with a particular football club, the Executive cannot necessarily step in and bail it out as it is, in effect, a business.
Physical Education
To ask the Scottish Executive whether physical education is a more attractive school subject to students now than it was in 1999. (S2O-7484)
The evidence is that physical education is a more attractive subject now than it was in 1999.
I thank the minister for that short and sweet answer.
I very much hope that, in years to come, some of the young people who are sitting in the gallery today will be able to compete in the Olympic and Commonwealth games if that is what they wish to do. Our PE review was reported on last year and we have committed not only to increase the number of PE teachers and put more emphasis on time for PE, but to give young people more choice about what they do by way of physical education, which was one of the big things in the review. We want to ensure that young people can do what they want to do and take part in activities that are attractive to them. That certainly includes athletics, but it would not be proper to pick out and emphasise one particular dimension of physical education. Young people, with their teachers, should be given a range of choices to allow them to pursue activities that capture their enthusiasm and develop their skills.
Will the minister update the Parliament on what progress has been made on increasing the amount of PE that is available in the curriculum? When does he think that the conclusions that were reached by the PE review group can be implemented?
Inevitably, these things take time, because we are making very radical changes. The evidence from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education is that the amount of physical activity in schools, particularly in primary schools, is increasing significantly. In some local authority areas, around 90 per cent of young people are now involved in physical activity in a way that they were not before. We have been gathering all sorts of evidence on that from our universities. We are expanding the number of places available for PE students, and those are being taken up. We are also recruiting PE teachers from other parts of the country. We are on the move, and we will be making big progress and big changes in schools, although there is still some way to go.
Question 6 was not lodged.
Sport (Promoting Participation)
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to promote greater opportunities for young people to participate in sport. (S2O-7481)
We are investing about £12 million annually in active schools which, in time, will increase the number and range of opportunities for young people to participate in sport and other physical activities, both in and around school.
Does the minister agree that one of the best things that we could do for the young people who are here in the gallery today and living throughout Scotland would be to allow them the opportunity to participate in outdoor education and sports of all varieties at least once a year—preferably at Glenmore Lodge and other excellent establishments lying within the boundaries of my massive constituency?
I am always gratified to hear Scottish National Party members supporting our ambitions for sport and physical activity. The member might be interested to learn that we have someone working on precisely that idea in Learning and Teaching Scotland.
Given the important role of amateur sports clubs in promoting sports opportunities for young people, what action is the Executive taking to discourage sports clubs from selling off their land and other assets to big property developers who have no interest in maintaining sports facilities?
As members will know, and as I mentioned in my response to Marilyn Livingstone, it is now possible for community amateur sports clubs that are registered as such to be eligible for 80 per cent mandatory rates relief. If trusts are to be wound up, to which Mr Canavan alludes, it would be open to the local authority to revoke the relevant part of that arrangement, and it would also be necessary for the club to pay capital gains tax. Furthermore, any money that might have been invested by sportscotland in that club could be reclaimed. I hope that the member will accept that we understand the problem and are working hard to ensure that the situation that he described does not transpire.
Finance and Public Services and Communities
Planning (Affordable Housing)
To ask the Scottish Executive how the new legislative proposals in relation to planning will assist in the provision of affordable housing. (S2O-7515)
The planning white paper, which was published in June 2005, proposes a comprehensive modernisation of the planning system. The proposals will make the determination of planning applications for development more efficient, which in turn will assist with the provision of affordable housing.
Will the minister consider providing powers for Scottish planning authorities to release land to build affordable housing specifically designated for the social rented sector?
Planning advice note 74 on affordable housing, which was published in March this year, provides detailed advice on ways in which planning authorities can support the delivery of affordable housing and emphasises that that must be done through the development plan, taking account of the local housing strategy. As part of that, planning authorities can specifically allocate sites for affordable housing within the development plan. It is open to the planning authority to prepare supplementary guidance in the form of a development brief for a housing site, setting out the type of development that is sought for the site and requiring the involvement of a registered social landlord.
The minister will be aware that land prices are extremely high in a number of pressured housing markets. Is he also aware that Scottish Homes is often unwilling to give sufficient grant-aid support to housing associations to allow them to compete effectively in those markets either for brownfield or greenfield sites? Will he take the opportunity of the planning bill to introduce a separate use class for affordable housing or rented housing? If not, will he seek additional resources for Scottish Homes specifically to allow the payment of higher levels of grant aid to housing associations in pressured market areas?
I do not think that a separate use class is required, because, as Murray Tosh would know if he had listened to my first answer, that matter is already dealt with under PAN 74. Obviously, there are still issues about the price of land. Communities Scotland has a bigger budget this year than it has had for many years for distributing to housing associations. There has also been a separate fund to buy land. The other important development, through PAN 74, is the support of mixed housing developments and the possibility in pressured areas for the local authority, if it so wishes, to have 25 per cent of a private development designated as affordable housing. That, of course, helps to deal with the issue of land prices for registered social landlords in pressured areas.
In considering how to increase the supply of affordable housing, has the minister received the booklet published today by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, which argues that the policy of extending the right to buy to new tenancies is a significant threat to the supply of affordable housing? Will he confirm that he has an open mind about whether the policy should continue to be pursued?
I remind Mike Pringle and others of the existing policy, which is outlined in an act passed by the Parliament: as from 2002, where there is a pressured area, the local authority can apply for an exemption from the right to buy for tenancies. As was highlighted this morning in the media, East Renfrewshire Council and other local authorities have done that. The provision enabling local authorities with specific difficulties to do that is an important part of the housing legislation that the Parliament passed a few years ago. Looking to the future, we are committed by the same act of Parliament to make a report to the Parliament on the effect of the right to buy by September next year, which we will do. We have good provisions in place for those who feel that they are under local pressure.
Does the minister believe that there is a requirement for new legislative proposals in relation to the supply of affordable housing to overcome constraints created by the investment programme of Scottish Water? What priority is he able to secure to guarantee that those obstacles, which are now a real impediment to the development of affordable housing in countless areas of Scotland, are removed?
I do not think that we need legislation to do that. We need two things. First, we need money. The investment has been provided—Lewis Macdonald announced it earlier in the summer when he was Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development. The second thing, of course, is to ensure that there is proper co-ordination between the housing plans of local agencies and the investment plans of Scottish Water. I accept that there is still more to be done to ensure that that happens effectively. However, that, rather than new legislation, should be the focus of our collective attention.
Free and Open Source Software (Public Sector)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that the public sector gains the greatest possible benefit from the use of free and open source software. (S2O-7549)
The Scottish Executive has set up the open source software working group to examine the role that open source and free software could play across the Scottish public sector. The group will consider the implications for Scotland of the Office of Government Commerce report and the Cabinet Office policy statement on the matter, which were both published in October 2004.
That answer is encouraging, but it would be helpful if more people in the field were aware that that work is going on. Those to whom I have spoken continually refer back to United Kingdom Government policies that the Scottish Executive has referred to and feel that nothing else is happening.
That is why the working group has been set up. Mr Harvie will be comforted to know that the group will examine the role that open source and free software could play in current and future projects across the Scottish public sector—for example, in support of shared services. The group is scheduled to meet soon and its programme of work will be agreed at its first meeting. We hope that it will report in early 2006.
If he has not already done so, will the minister consider ensuring that the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, as part of the public sector, is involved in the process? Introducing the software to members of the Scottish Parliament would be a quick win, in that it would reduce our running costs and, of course, would broaden the understanding that some of us, who use Firefox, Thunderbird and OpenOffice.org—
Question, Mr Stevenson.
We use those products instead of the expensive commercial products that are currently installed.
I hope that Mr Stevenson will forgive me, but I would not dare to speak on behalf of the SPCB in this forum. However, if he took the matter up with his party's representative on the SPCB, we would certainly be pleased to ensure that the corporate body's needs are taken care of as part of the working group's work in the coming months.
Transco Fine
To ask the Scottish Executive how the £15 million fine imposed on Transco in respect of the Larkhall gas explosion will be spent. (S2O-7509)
We are legally bound by the Scotland Act 1998 (Designation of Receipts) Order 2004 to pay all fines and fixed penalties, with the exception of those detailed in the order, from the Scottish Executive to the Scottish consolidated fund. The £15 million fine from Transco will fall into that category, which means that the money will be transferred to the Treasury. It is, of course, important that judges should be able to determine fine levels without consideration of other matters, which can be addressed through a different route.
I thank the minister for his answer, which does not surprise me. Will he make representations to the Treasury to ensure that at least some of that money can be spent on providing extra resources to the Health and Safety Executive, so that the lessons of this tragic case can be learned?
I am glad to see that the member's interest is predicated on safety and on preventing such a terrible tragedy from afflicting other families in Scotland. That is commendable. I assure her that we will continue to advocate the highest levels of health and safety and we will do our best to ensure that resources are provided to achieve that end.
Fuel Poverty
To ask the Scottish Executive what new steps it is taking to address the issue of fuel poverty. (S2O-7553)
We are in discussion with the Scottish Executive fuel poverty forum about the future of the central heating programme and the warm deal and will soon discuss our proposed approach with a wider group of stakeholders.
The minister will be aware that, since the latest figures on households in fuel poverty were published in 2002, fuel prices have risen sharply by between 30 and 40 per cent. Given that for every 5 per cent increase in fuel prices, another 30,000 households return to fuel poverty—despite the millions of pounds that are involved in the warm deal—does he agree that only dramatic improvements in home energy efficiency and increased support for home renewables can halt the sharp decline in one of the Executive's key sustainability indicators?
We will certainly take action on the front that Shiona Baird flags up. Fuel poverty is a complex issue that involves several factors. She is right to remind us of the great progress that was made on fuel poverty in the late 1990s and into the new millennium. The proportion of people who are in fuel poverty fell from 35 per cent to 13 per cent in six years. We do not have up-to-date figures, but the situation will be better than that now.
Does the minister believe that fuel poverty is about to escalate as winter approaches, particularly in rural areas where many households rely on oil for heating and cooking? In Aberdeenshire, 17,000 households rely on oil for those purposes. Given escalating oil prices, does he accept that there is a particular problem in our rural communities? Will he explain why the fund to which households could apply for a grant to change to alternative fuels was closed in the past few days? I understand that the Scottish community and householder renewables initiative has been closed and will not be topped up until next year.
Question, Mr Lochhead.
That will cause major problems for households that want to change to alternative fuels as winter approaches and for the many companies that install alternative equipment.
The problems that relate to the oil price have been discussed at First Minister's question time and elsewhere. As I said in my last answer, we expect action to be taken to protect vulnerable customers in that situation. The nature of fuels will be considered and I will look into the point that Richard Lochhead has made.
The Executive is to be warmly commended for its central heating programme and has been so by pensioners in my constituency. Coupled with the winter fuel allowance of £200 per year from Gordon Brown, that means that pensioners can for once effectively heat their homes. However, genuine concern has been expressed—
Question, Ms Baillie, please.
Genuine concern has been expressed about the recent dramatic price rises from Scottish Gas. Aside from suggesting that Scottish Gas should not pass on the full cost of the rise to pensioners, will the minister seek an explicit commitment that the scheme that the company puts in place to protect vulnerable and frail elderly people will be simple to operate?
I want to examine in more detail the new scheme that Scottish Gas announced for its vulnerable customers. We should remember that it has an existing scheme under which the recent price increase will not affect pensioners who are on pension credit. We should welcome that protection for those people, but I will examine in detail what Scottish Gas proposes over and above that for other vulnerable customers.
Council Tax (Abbeyfield Homes)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the residents of Abbeyfield homes are not unfairly disadvantaged with regard to their council tax levels as a consequence of amendments made to the Local Government Finance Act 1992. (S2O-7536)
We have recently issued a short and targeted consultation document to the relevant organisations. Once we have analysed the responses, we will decide on a suitable way forward.
Does the minister share my concern that severe financial hardship is being caused to my elderly constituents in the Airdrie Abbeyfield house and many other Abbeyfield tenants who must pay large council tax bills each month? Will he say when the consultation will end and when he intends to introduce legislation to address the anomaly? Will he assure me that moneys that have been paid will be reimbursed as appropriate?
The issue is complex and the views of individuals in the housing support service industry differ, but we will vigorously encourage housing support service providers to help vulnerable individuals who face bills that they cannot afford to pay to obtain the benefits to which they are entitled. The central thrust of our policy is to provide maximum assistance to pensioner households in Scotland. We are achieving that aim through the central heating programme—which has just been discussed—free off-peak bus travel and free personal and nursing care. Those initiatives are being complemented by the United Kingdom Government through the winter fuel payment, free television licences and a new £200 council tax refund for the over-65s. I assure the member that we will vigorously examine any unintended consequences of the changes as soon as we can and that I will consider reimbursement once we have had the chance to examine the responses to the consultation. I congratulate the member on consistently raising the issue in the chamber and in other places in her attempts to represent her constituents properly.
Question 6 has been withdrawn.
Single Status Pay Agreements
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that public services are protected as a result of negotiations of single status pay agreements between local authorities and employees. (S2O-7540)
The Executive had no involvement in the negotiations between local authorities and the trade unions that resulted in the single status pay agreement of 1999. It is for local authorities to consider the implications of agreements that they negotiate with other parties.
Notwithstanding the minister's answer, will he condemn any local authorities that use the threat of moral blackmail with respect to recruiting new teachers or staff or the threat of so-called bankruptcy for the local authority if the settlement is implemented in full? What powers does the Executive have to ensure that the delivery of public services is not put at risk by the implementation of such a long-overdue settlement?
As I made clear in my first answer, local authorities have the autonomy to deliver the level of local services that they believe reflects local priorities. The Executive considers that it is important for local authorities in implementing the agreement to strike the right balance between what is fair and equitable for the staff concerned and what is fair and equitable for council tax payers, not only in what they pay, but in the services that the council delivers. I hope that Scottish Borders Council will consider all those factors in trying to reach an agreement on the matter.
The minister will be aware of Aberdeen City Council's current problems. Further to what he has said to Jeremy Purvis, will he give an assurance that he will intervene if any attempt is made to put the costs of the agreement on to the council tax payer? What action does he propose to take against councils that have failed to make any preparations since the beginning of 1999 for the implementation of the agreement, whether or not those councils were in power before the last election?
In my previous answer, I made it clear that it is ultimately for local authorities to take decisions on such matters. As I said, the Executive considers it important that local authorities strike the right balance between what is fair and equitable for the staff concerned and what is fair and equitable for council tax payers in respect of council tax and the services that the councils deliver. I hope that every council will consider that and get the balance right in trying to reach a solution to the problem.
G8 Summit
To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons have been learned for Scotland from the G8 summit. (S2O-7500)
The G8 summit was extremely successful. World leaders were able to take major decisions that will affect the lives of millions of people in a safe environment. At the same time, Scotland was projected around the world as a country that can host and police major events effectively and as an attractive destination for tourists and businesses. All the Scottish agencies that participated in planning ahead of the G8 are evaluating their experiences and the costs and benefits of the summit. I will, of course, report to the Parliament once that evaluation process has been completed.
We would be grateful to hear more now or later about how the lessons that have been learned from the G8 will feed into future plans of the Executive and its agencies for the international promotion of Scotland.
That is an extremely important aspect of the experience that was gained from the G8 summit. Among the activities that are on-going, Scottish Enterprise is carrying out an economic impact study, from which lessons will be learned. Also, an analysis is being carried out of the media projection of Scotland around the world—we will learn lessons from that, too. We will also closely examine the synergies that were established between different organisations and put that experience to good use as we promote our country in the future. We are determined to bring the different agencies together to learn from the way in which they planned the G8 summit, so that all that experience is used better to promote our country around the world in the years to come.
Previous
First Minister's Question TimeNext
Teachers