Plenary, 15 Nov 2001

Meeting date: Thursday, November 15, 2001

Official Report 658KB pdf

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Question Time

The first item of business this afternoon is question time.

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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

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Inverness Airport

To ask the Scottish Executive what incentives Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd can offer to encourage provision of new services at Inverness airport. (S1O-4076)

HIAL offers substantial discounts to support the introduction of services at Inverness airport and elsewhere.

Will the minister tell me what those discounts are and whether they are available to current operators? Furthermore, are they available to new low-cost operators? Finally, how do those discounts fit into the Executive's strategy to encourage air travel to and from the Highlands and Islands?

HIAL offers discounts over the first three years of a new service: in the first year, it offers a 75 per cent discount; in the second, 50 per cent; and in the third, 25 per cent. In comparison, British Airports Authority airports such as Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh offer 50 per cent, 30 per cent and 10 per cent discounts over three years. It is clear that HIAL offers generous discounts, which have helped to attract low-cost operators such as Easyjet and ScotAirways to Inverness. The same discounts would be available to any other operator that wished to provide a service from that airport.

Does the minister agree that it is widely accepted that it takes three years to establish any new route? The real problem with Inverness airport is that its usual landing charges are on average, 30 per cent higher than charges elsewhere in Scotland, which seriously disadvantages Inverness airport's competitive ability to attract new and secure routes.

As I explained, Inverness airport's discounts compare well with those that are offered at lowland airports. That said, the fact that it takes three years to establish a commercial service is precisely the reason why HIAL offers a three-year discount programme. We are encouraging any operator that believes that it can start a service from Inverness airport to put its money where its mouth is and submit a proposal, which will then be discussed with HIAL.

In the light of recent events that have opened more slots at Heathrow airport, will the Scottish Executive use its influence to press for landing slots for Inverness traffic at both Heathrow and Gatwick?

No. If Jamie McGrigor had taken on board the points that I made when we debated the subject the other day in Parliament, he would understand that our case for a public service obligation to protect slots at Gatwick rests on the presumption and argument that we need the Inverness to Gatwick route to sustain the economy of and tourism in the Highlands and Islands. Arguments about slots that do not exist and that do not currently provide a service would be a complete distraction from the case that the Scottish Executive, Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are making jointly to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

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Railtrack

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Railtrack plc going into administration will have on planned joint capital projects with public and private sector organisations. (S1O-4086)

Before going into administration, Railtrack indicated that many projects throughout the UK would be put on hold, because of its concerns about availability of key resources, notably signalling. At present, Railtrack plc is being run by the administrators that were appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. I will meet the administrators presently to press the case for key rail projects in Scotland.

I welcome the minister's response. She will be aware of the delays that face the joint project to redevelop Gourock waterfront. What particular assistance can she offer to ensure that Railtrack quickly prioritises sufficient technical resources for that project and that it also deals with the limits of the station regeneration budget so that they do not become another constraint to the project?

I assure the member that we are raising the case with all the key people. Crucially, I have met Richard Bowker from the Strategic Rail Authority and John Spellar, and I intend to press the case further. I am aware that Gourock is a particular problem because there are time constraints to consider. We need to ensure that projects such as the redevelopment of Gourock waterfront go ahead.

I refer the minister to table 3.3 in the document "Strategic Priorities for Scotland's Passenger Railway", which is headed:

"Most favoured major development projects".

Beneath that table, the document states:

"The Waverley Route through the Borders was the specifically named project most favoured by"

individuals. It also states:

"This stood out from all other proposals."

My information is that civil servants in the minister's office—

Will the member ask a question?

The question is coming. My information is that civil servants in the minister's office are lukewarm, to say the least, about that project. Will the minister confirm or deny the attitude of her civil servants? Is that one of the key projects that she will refer to Railtrack?

I am amazed that Christine Grahame wanted to make that point—it is total fiction. The question is about current projects that have been held back not just by Railtrack going into administration, but by problems that the company faced. I am looking forward to considering the new franchise. That is the context of new rail projects such as the Borders line and the Bathgate to Airdrie projects. Such projects are longer-term projects. The key challenge is to unlock rail projects that are on the books and to which we have already signed up.

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Ophthalmology Services

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the statement by Professor John Forrester in the Aberdeen Evening Express of 26 October 2001 regarding the possibility of patients losing sight unnecessarily because of shortages of resources and basic equipment. (S1O-4085)

Provision of services that are safe, high quality, sustainable and affordable is the responsibility of national health service boards. The organisation and development of specific local health services are best dealt with at local level.

I understand that NHS Grampian is working with Professor Forrester and others to review the provision of ophthalmology services in north-east Scotland.

Is not it a source of embarrassment to the Scottish Executive that the resources that are available for health service provision in north-east Scotland are now so thin on the ground that such a situation has become inevitable and is likely to be repeated?

That is a tired old line that members follow in respect of the NHS in Grampian. Let us deal with the facts. The NHS in Grampian is benefitting from record additional investment, as is every part of the country. It is important that that investment is used well to address the many different and often competing needs in different areas. Ophthalmology services are important and I am pleased that Professor Forrester referred in the same article to the fact that the Government's efforts have improved in cataract services, for example. I am also pleased that three new consultant ophthalmologists have been employed. Real improvements are taking place. Of course, more must be done, but we are focusing on ensuring that that real additional investment is being put to good use in Grampian and elsewhere.

Does the minister agree that thanks to free eye tests for the elderly, which have been delivered by the Labour party, eye diseases such as glaucoma are diagnosed and treated earlier? The minister said that Professor Forrester acknowledged the improvement in the treatment of cataracts. That is of real benefit to people in Grampian.

I can hear SNP members trying quickly to dismiss what Elaine Thomson said and I am not surprised by that. Elaine Thomson referred to one of the real and significant improvements that Labour Government policy has made to the health of older people in this country. In case SNP members did not hear what Elaine Thomson said, latest figures show that more than twice the number of sight tests are being carried out in the NHS in Scotland than were carried out a decade ago. That is a result of the Labour Government's extension of free sight tests to adults aged 60 and over and to those who are at risk of developing glaucoma. That has been a major success and has meant real benefits for thousands of people throughout Scotland. We can be proud of that.

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Devolved School Management

To ask the Scottish Executive how a balance will be struck between any benefits from decision making through devolved school management schemes and the additional work load for headteachers. (S1O-4116)

An effective devolved school management scheme provides schools with the opportunity to make budget decisions that best suit local circumstances. The intention is that, when those schemes are operated effectively, devolved school management should ease head teacher work loads.

I thank the minister for his answer. I will wait to find out whether head teachers agree with him. Does the minister agree that devolved school management is about forming local priorities with pupils, parents and the community? What plans does the minister have to ensure that examples of good practice are communicated to all schools? What plans does he have to monitor the success of the devolved school management schemes?

I agree that we should roll out good practice throughout Scotland.

A report was published on 26 October—following work that was done by a review group that was commissioned by the education department—which made it clear that research had established that, when they work effectively, devolved school management procedures lead to considerable benefits for schools, pupils and parents. However, the performance of devolved school management is patchy throughout Scotland. Much good research is associated with that report and it is vital not only that we implement devolved school management, but that we implement it well throughout Scotland.

Will the Executive meet the target that was set by the working group on devolved school management last month and complete by December the review to establish the number of full-time equivalent staff that are employed specifically to operate devolved school management? Will the minister confirm that that information will be updated annually?

That is our intention. Clearly, one of the considerable benefits of the settlement that was reached with teachers organisations and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities earlier this year to create the new teaching profession for the 21st century is that more staff can be used to implement devolved school management. That will take the administrative burden off teachers and ensure that the education department devolves more responsibility to local authorities and that the local authorities devolve more responsibility to local schools.

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Primary Care Trusts<br />(General Practitioner Services)

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to intervene so that the additional money it made available to primary care trusts specifically for improving local general practitioner services is not reallocated to other areas of service provision. (S1O-4118)

It is the responsibility of local national health service management to ensure that investment moneys are used appropriately to address the health needs of the population in accordance with national and local priorities. The health department's role in relation to the performance management and accountability of NHS Scotland is set out in "Rebuilding our National Health Service", which was published in May 2001.

Is the minister aware of the deep concerns that were expressed last week by general practitioners in Argyll and Bute over the failure by Argyll and Clyde Health Board to pay out its share of the £30 million package for primary care that she announced in August? If she is aware of that, what action did she take to try to resolve the GPs' concerns? Does she agree that that situation highlights the need for better accountability and more openness in the operation of NHS quangos?

I am aware of the concerns that were raised by GPs and other primary care practitioners in Argyll and Clyde about additional money that they wanted to be invested in primary care services and, when I visited Oban recently, I discussed the matter at some length. I looked into the issue more fully and am pleased to say that, on 8 November, John Mullin, the chair of Argyll and Clyde Health Board, announced that an extra £507,000 would be invested in primary care in Argyll and Clyde this year and next. That is excellent news for those services.

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Deafblindness Services

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14825 by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 April 2001, whether it will now issue guidance similar to that issued in England and Wales under section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970, regarding social care for deafblind children and adults. (S1O-4103)

There are no plans at present to issue similar guidance in Scotland. However, the Executive is taking similar steps to ensure improvements in care of deafblind children and adults in Scotland through implementation of the recommendations in "Sensing Progress" and the certification and registration working group.

I am sure that all of us in the chamber will agree that to lose one of our senses is bad but that to lose two is something that makes carrying out everyday tasks difficult.

The guidance that was issued in England and Wales was issued because of compelling evidence that certain measures could make a difference to the lives of deafblind people. Will the minister make it a priority of the Executive to issue the necessary guidance that will ensure that local authorities identify and make contact with all deafblind people to assess their needs in order to provide the necessary support, and that the assessment is carried out by people who are specifically trained in deafblindness?

We attach great importance to services for people who have sensory impairments, but we are going about our work differently from England and Wales. We are monitoring progress in the matter and the chief social work inspector will report on it in his annual report.

As Cathie Craigie knows, one of the recommendations of the report was to set up a certification and registration working group. We are currently consulting on that group's 15 recommendations. We will progress those with an Executive response in the near future.

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Strathclyde Passenger Transport

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to assist Strathclyde Passenger Transport with improving the integrated transport facilities of west central Scotland. (S1O-4115)

In the most recent round of public transport fund awards, I announced more than £14 million of funding for Strathclyde Passenger Transport to purchase new rolling stock, to refurbish existing trains and to develop plans for better transport interchanges. That came on top of previous awards of more than £5 million from the public transport fund, which funded projects such as the Partick interchange and a previous refurbishment of rolling stock. Our £21 million investment in the Larkhall to Milngavie rail link consisted of £16 million for infrastructure plus £5 million for the additional rolling stock that was required. We have also made significant increases in SPT's capital allocation from the Executive.

Is the minister aware that Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive is the only dedicated passenger transport executive in Scotland and that there is inertia in relation to the crucial and long-outstanding Glasgow crossrail project and the Glasgow airport link? Can the minister tell Parliament why there is not even a formal proposal to the Scottish ministers on either of those projects? Will she tell Parliament where the buck stops among SPTE, Glasgow City Council, Railtrack and the Executive? When can the people of Glasgow expect movement—in all senses of the word—on those crucial matters?

The critical issue to which Mr Brown alludes is partnership. We have a framework for that through the west of Scotland transport partnership, with local authorities working closely together. There is also SPTE which, as Mr Brown rightly says, is the sole passenger transport executive in Scotland.

A range of projects is currently being implemented. I have not yet received a proposal on the Glasgow crossrail from SPTE. It is for SPTE to work out that project and then to consider future funding options.

Mr Brown can be assured that many projects are being delivered in west central Scotland through SPT and funding from the Executive.

I have many papers and answers to questions regarding studies that have been carried out on the Glasgow crossrail and the Glasgow airport link. Does the minister agree with many people—not only with me—that there have been enough studies and that not enough action has been taken?

Will she fulfil her responsibility to our public transport system and show some initiative, provide the necessary investment and take the action that is required to make those long-awaited schemes reality?

I disagree fundamentally. Unless we have proper robust studies, we cannot implement projects that require major investment. We have a number of projects going ahead at the moment only because there was a robust, value-for-money case for them. If we are to finance projects by attracting money from the private sector, we need to ensure that we have good business cases. That is why we will study rail access to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports. That work is absolutely critical. It is absolutely crazy to pretend that we can go ahead with a project without a good case.

Is the minister aware of the many failings that passengers on the Glasgow to Ayrshire rail lines are experiencing? Will she say what assistance SPT has sought in resolving those problems?

Part of this year's public transport fund award to SPT was specifically for new rolling stock for Ayrshire commuters, who come from Kilmarnock and Ayr. I know that there are key issues with passenger comfort on those routes to Glasgow. SPT received such a large award from the public transport fund this year especially to tackle the problems on the Ayrshire routes.

Does the minister agree that information in the multimodal study update to the effect that 3,500 journeys a day are made between North Lanarkshire and West Lothian, and that 96 per cent of those are made by car, significantly strengthens the argument for reopening the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line?

The key point that came across from the consultants' presentation yesterday, which many members attended, was that our existing public transport network cannot meet the transport needs that the consultants identified in relation to the motorway.

We need to consider carefully a range of issues, for example strategic bus routes and new railway opportunities, such as the one that Karen Whitefield mentioned. Yesterday, the key issue for me was seeing how many people travel alone in their cars. Choice is not available to them. That re-emphasises the need not only to ensure that the money that we have spent on public transport is implemented, but that we have long-term and sustainable funding for a range of projects throughout west-central Scotland.

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New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the new Edinburgh Royal infirmary will offer an enhanced service compared with the present services provided by the Royal hospital for sick children, Princess Margaret Rose orthopaedic hospital and the existing Edinburgh Royal infirmary. (S1O-4096)

The £184 million new royal infirmary of Edinburgh will offer a significant improvement in the quality of service offered to the population of south-east Scotland. The new hospital will offer first-class surroundings and state-of-the-art equipment to match the excellent clinical care already delivered by health professionals in Lothian.

I thank the minister for her answer. Will she expand on why she has such faith in the service being provided and in the new infirmary being an enhancement, given that between 138 and 160 jobs will be lost? Those will include accident and emergency nurses, clinical nurse managers, diabetes nurse specialists and radiographers—to mention just a few.

It is disappointing, to say the least, to hear the range of numbers that are being bandied about in relation to money and jobs in the project, which are undermining the confidence of staff and the public.

Margo MacDonald is in danger of missing the point. Let us remember that this is the biggest hospital-building project not only in Scotland, but in the whole of Britain. It will provide, for example, new single-sex accommodation throughout the hospital, en suite toilet facilities for patients, greater privacy and dignity and proper organisation of facilities in which staff can do their job better. I say to anybody who has had occasion, as I have, to visit or be in the old Edinburgh royal infirmary recently that the new facilities will be like night and day compared to the present ones. We must now allow local management to get on with the task of ensuring that services are transferred properly and delivered effectively in the future—and yes, I do have confidence in their ability to do that.

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Dumfries and Galloway Health Board<br />(Dental Services)

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Dumfries and Galloway Health Board concerning dental provision in the area. (S1O-4087)

No recent discussions have taken place concerning dental provision.

I thank the minister for that informative answer. Is he aware that Dumfries and Galloway has the fewest dentists per head of population in mainland Scotland, which results in my constituents having longer waiting times, difficulties in registering with a dentist and considerable distances to travel to a dentist if they do get registered? I know that getting the answer that I want might be a bit like pulling teeth—[Members: "Aw."]—but can he give my constituents any prospect that the situation will improve?

I am well aware of that problem and that is why the Executive recently set up the national expert group on the recruitment and retention of dentists in remote and rural areas. We are mindful that there are issues that have to be addressed urgently. There are, of course, initiatives under way that are already having some effect—such as the Scottish dental access initiative. I know that there have been some awards to dentists in Dumfries and Galloway under that initiative.

There is also the possibility of having salaried dentists and perhaps an approach will be made from Dumfries and Galloway about that. There are also financial incentives for dentists who commit themselves to the NHS. There are many on-going initiatives—that is true of dentistry overall. I am sure that we all welcomed the announcement by Susan Deacon this morning of £3.8 million for the improvement of dental practices throughout Scotland.

I am grateful to the minister for outlining some of the projects that are under way, but I wonder whether he is aware how urgent this problem has become in Dumfries and Galloway and, indeed, in the town of Dumfries, where—sadly—dentists are leaving the national health service and going into private practice. I have constituents who have serious decay problems and are in considerable pain, but who simply cannot get a dentist in Dumfries. It is affecting adults, children, and, unfortunately, pregnant mothers. In that area dental health figures are below the average for Scotland. I am grateful to the minister for his various actions, but is he aware how urgent this matter is becoming in Dumfries and Galloway?

I know that Elaine Murray has taken a keen interest in the issue. I would be pleased to meet her, as the constituency MSP, to discuss the matter with her.

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Teacher Training (Mature Students)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether transitional arrangements will be made for mature students currently on teacher training courses so that they are not financially disadvantaged by any changes instigated under the McCrone settlement. (S1O-4064)

The decision on whether or not to accept the proposed changes to pay for probationer teachers, including any transitional arrangements, is a matter for the Scottish negotiating committee for teachers—the SNCT—whose next meeting is on 5 December.

Is the minister not concerned that mature trainee teachers, who were promised higher rates of pay in recognition of their age and real-life experience, feel that they have been grossly misled over starting salaries, and that, because of the implications of the probationary year, they might, in some cases, lose as much as £10,000? Is he aware that many of them are considering leaving their courses because of the prospect of significant debts and of a wage that is lower than anticipated? Does he acknowledge the concerns of the six Scottish teacher training establishments, which have warned that the proposals could ultimately lead to a teacher shortage? When will the minister end the uncertainty and confirm the pay scales for mature entrants to teaching?

The direct answer is that I would be very concerned if some mature student teachers had been misled. I know—as does Jack McConnell, who has received representations on the issue from a group of mature students—that some of them feel that they have been misled. We have received many representations, and I am sympathetic to the proposal that those who are currently going through teacher training and who would be disadvantaged by any new proposals should benefit from transitional arrangements, which would provide one way to ensure that there is no disadvantage. The Scottish Executive, along with teachers organisations and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, is represented on the SNCT, and will make its views on the matter known on 5 December.

It is important to underline that all teachers in Scotland will be getting a very significant increase as a result of the new pay and conditions package. All of them will receive more than 21 per cent extra over the next three years. The probationers' salaries, once they have gone through training, will be on a range from £21,588 to £28,707. That is the sort of starting salary that I believe will attract new people into teaching and that members of the Parliament want to see.

What action, if any, is being taken to encourage mature men, in particular, into primary schools, given that the gender imbalance in primary schools is becoming a particular problem?

It is not becoming a particular problem—it has been a problem for a significant time. The intention behind the new pay and conditions package is to attract a range of individuals from a variety of backgrounds into teaching and to encourage into the profession individuals who would perhaps not have considered teaching as an appropriate career choice or profession in the past. That means ensuring that we get well-qualified teachers—male and female—into the profession and start to tackle the current imbalance in primary schools.

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Debt Advice

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that debt advice is widely available and accessible. (S1O-4106)

To ensure that people get free, high quality debt advice, we are working with advice agencies and other partners, including the financial sector, to establish a national debtline service, which will be piloted in Fife early in the new year.

Does the minister agree that a key difficulty that people have in tackling their debt problems is the delay in getting to the stage of receiving help and support? How does the minister envisage increasing awareness of the services that are available and of the importance of seeking help early? Does she recognise the importance of ensuring that such debt advice is sufficiently resourced to make help real and effective in local communities, especially where increased awareness has increased the number of people seeking that help?

I always find that I agree with Johann Lamont. We are taking a number of initiatives to address the issues that she raises. Not least, we are considering alternatives to people getting into debt in the first place, through a £1.5 million package to develop and support credit unions in Scotland. The report "Striking the Balance—a new approach to debt management", which has been published by the working group on a replacement for poinding and warrant sale, is concerned specifically both with how we increase the provision of debt advice and advice in general, and with how we ensure that the timeous advice that is so helpful in preventing people from getting into a worse position than they are in already is available throughout Scotland.

What guidance has the Scottish Executive issued to local authorities on the funding of agencies that provide debt advice?

As Kenneth Gibson will be aware, currently the funding of advice and information in a generic sense is the responsibility of local authorities. However, the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 places a statutory duty on local authorities to provide housing advice and information. We have resourced that provision, together with the full homelessness package, with £27 million. Guidance has been issued to local authorities on how to develop the provision of housing advice and information.

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Nursing Students (Financial Treatment)

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to ensure equitable financial treatment of students undertaking nursing diploma courses and those undertaking nursing degree courses. (S1O-4078)

The Scottish Executive is taking forward a range of measures to improve support for nursing students. As part of that on-going work, I am pleased to announce that, from autumn 2002, all new and second-year nursing students undertaking nursing degree or diploma courses will receive the nursing and midwifery student bursary. That will end the inequity that currently exists between degree and diploma students.

I thank the minister for that reply, which deals with a substantial part of my supplementary. Does the minister share my concern about the unpaid hours that degree nurses have to undertake as part of clinical placements? Will the minister consider proposals to ease the additional financial pressure on nursing students, given that we want to improve recruitment to the nursing profession?

I am pleased that we have made progress in a number of ways that will genuinely benefit both nursing students and nurses. I agree that we need to continue to work on this issue, to ensure that we have the nursing professionals in the NHS that we need, both now and for the future. The issues that Tavish Scott has raised are among many that Malcolm Chisholm and I will discuss at the nursing convention that is to be held next Monday.

I have been lobbied on this issue. Will the minister tell us whether she will address the concerns of third-year and fourth-year students?

Second-year students have been included in the provision for the nursing and midwifery student bursary because, when we announced last year that this was a matter for review, we explained that any changes to the arrangements would in effect be backdated to cover those beginning courses last year. All new students will be covered by the new arrangements throughout their studies.

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Oil and Gas Sector<br />(Scottish Executive Strategy)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has, within its overall enterprise strategy, any plans to publish a strategy for its future role in relation to the oil and gas sector in Scotland. (S1O-4077)

The Scottish Executive fully recognises the vital importance of the oil and gas industry to the Scottish economy. We are working through the joint Government and industry PILOT task force to ensure that the industry retains its importance for many years to come. As vice-chairman of PILOT, I will continue to promote and safeguard Scotland's interests in the oil industry.

Every oil and gas executive in the north-east of Scotland to whom I speak favours the publication of a specific strategy by the Scottish Government for the oil and gas industry. Despite the tragic announcement from Grangemouth earlier this week, the industry still employs approximately 170,000 people in Scotland. Although for the time being licensing and taxation may be reserved to Westminster, every other policy area that impacts on the industry is the responsibility of this Parliament. Will the minister introduce a specific strategy for the offshore industry in Scotland?

Mr Lochhead's supplementary contained the usual measure of ignorance and sanctimony. I remind him that PILOT was established two years ago. Last year, capital investment and expenditure levels reached the PILOT targets of £3 billion. This year, investment has been increased by £1 billion. In case Mr Lochhead has difficulty making the calculation, that takes the amount to £4 billion. That increase is due to a number of factors, not least the excellent collaboration between the industry and the Government.

Given this week's announcement from BP about the loss of up to 1,000 jobs at Grangemouth, what steps can the Executive take to support those who face redundancy? How will it help to support the local economy in Falkirk?

On behalf of my colleague Wendy Alexander, I thank Cathy Peattie and other MSPs from constituencies adjacent to hers for their assistance over the past few days. We will assist the industry and the work force and try our utmost to safeguard the remaining jobs at Grangemouth. BP has told us that it continues to recruit modern apprentices and graduate trainees and will retrain its remaining work force as required. BP management has given Wendy Alexander an undertaking that it will continue to work with local agencies to prepare a robust action plan to broaden and enhance the area's economy.

Is the minister aware that the announcement will mean redundancy for 40 per cent of the BP Grangemouth work force? That will be a devastating blow for the economy of the whole of central Scotland. Will the minister urge the company to enter into meaningful consultation with the trade unions to minimise the number of redundancies? Will the Executive also set up a task force to regenerate and diversify the economy of the Falkirk-Grangemouth area so that the workers find alternative employment?

We fully appreciate the magnitude and significance of this week's announcement. I give Mr Canavan the undertaking that we will have close and detailed discussion with the company. Mr Canavan attended the meeting yesterday, so he will appreciate that the unions were present at that. We will continue to pursue a number of lines in relation to health and safety and on a number of the important issues that Mr Canavan has raised.

I am sure that the minister is aware that Richard Lochhead is not the only MSP to whom the oil and gas industry speaks. What actions does the Executive propose to take to help the oil and gas industry meet the present skill shortage?

Let me point out that Mr Lochhead is not the only ignorant and sanctimonious MSP. We will continue to address the concerns over skill shortages. I give Mr Davidson a cast-iron guarantee that that important work is currently being undertaken.

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Science Research and Development (Funding)

Before I ask my question, let me tell the chamber that we are joined in the visitors gallery by a large number of our leading scientists, who are participating in the first "Science and the Parliament" event. [Applause.]

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to boost funding for science research and development from both private and public sources. (S1O-4114)

We plan to raise public expenditure on science research by 15 per cent in real terms over the lifetime of the Parliament. Additional funding has also recently been provided to various initiatives. Those include: the small firms merit award for research and technology and the support for products under research scheme, both of which are for companies; the proof of concept fund, which is for academics; and the enterprise fellowships, which are for postgraduates. All of those will stimulate research and development by the public and private sectors.

I am delighted with the minister's answer. Given the fact that the annual economic rate of return from academic research has been estimated at 20 to 28 per cent, there should be a direct payback. A supply of scientists is needed to maintain our science base. What is being done to encourage young people to make a career in science?

My colleagues in the education department, Jack McConnell and Nicol Stephen, are looking at how we encourage young people to pursue science through their school career. Through the activities of the Scottish Institute for Enterprise, we are encouraging undergraduates who are taking science and technology courses to consider moving into postgraduate work and pursuing an enterprise fellowship and a career in enterprise.

The issue is at the top of the agenda as we reshape the whole approach of both the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and the enterprise network, focusing Scotland on its real strengths—the skills of our people and the quality of the research in our higher education institutions.