Plenary, 15 Nov 2007

Meeting date: Thursday, November 15, 2007

Official Report 697KB pdf

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Question Time

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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

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Health and Wellbeing

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British Red Cross (Financial Support)

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it will provide to the British Red Cross in Scotland in 2008-09. (S3O-1223)

As the outcome of the spending review has been announced, consideration will now be given to new applications for funding during 2008-09 from the British Red Cross and other voluntary organisations.

The cabinet secretary will be aware that, in partnership with the Scottish Ambulance Service, the British Red Cross operates community first responder schemes in Scotland. Under the four schemes, Red Cross volunteers delivered thousands of on-call hours over the past year. What plans does she have to develop such schemes throughout Scotland?

The Scottish Government has made a clear and welcome commitment to support voluntary sector organisations, such as the Red Cross, that deliver health and social care services in our communities. Will the cabinet secretary confirm her commitment to work towards flexible contracts and full cost recovery for such organisations?

I can confirm that the Government appreciates and greatly values the voluntary sector's contribution in health care and in the other sectors in which it is engaged. We will always seek to work to make it easier for such organisations to make that contribution and to ensure that their role is protected and enhanced.

First responder schemes make an enormous contribution to the delivery of emergency ambulance care to people throughout Scotland. As Kenny Gibson rightly said, the British Red Cross is currently involved with the Scottish Ambulance Service in four community partnerships: Kyle of Lochalsh, Aberdeen, Forth Valley and Grangemouth. Those schemes are examples of what can be achieved with close working between the health service and the voluntary sector. I would be very interested in having discussions about how we can further roll that out across the country. I am more than happy to keep Kenny Gibson involved and up to date with progress.

I call Bill Kidd.

Sorry. I beg your pardon. I have lost my place for my supplementary. Sorry, I was not aware.

We will move on to the next question.

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Cetuximab

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to make cetuximab freely available across the national health service in Scotland. (S3O-1248)

The Scottish medicines consortium has considered cetuximab for use in the treatment of certain conditions. I expect NHS boards and clinicians to take full account of the SMC's recommendations in the decisions they make. When drugs are recommended, I expect them to be made available in line with that advice.

The minister will be aware that a number of my constituents have been in touch with me about the drug because I have written to her on the general issue and on the case of a particular individual. I understand that, in exceptional circumstances, health boards can review whether specific treatments should be provided. It is also my understanding that patients in Wales can access the drug on the NHS.

As the cabinet secretary will probably know, the leading charity Bowel Cancer UK believes that proof of the efficacy and benefits of the treatment is growing all the time, especially for people in the later stages of the disease. Given the stark consequences for the individuals involved and their families and friends, will she assure us that she will do everything in her power to ensure that health boards are provided with the necessary resources to allow cetuximab to be made available to those who are in most need of it? Will she assure us that decisions will be made solely on the basis of clinical and medical need and will not be coloured by any financial considerations?

I thank Bill Butler for the constructive way in which he asked his question. I am very aware of the case to which he refers—as a result of his correspondence and following representations from Richard Lochhead, who is the individual's constituency MSP. I have enormous sympathy for the position in which the individual finds himself. None of us can fully appreciate what he is going through.

This is an extremely serious and difficult matter. I hope that everyone in the chamber, regardless of their political persuasion—this is not a political issue—appreciates that it is essential to have in place a system for approving new drugs, and that that system must be expert led and evidence based. In Scotland, the process is conducted primarily through the Scottish medicines consortium. New evidence will always be considered, because it is vital that decisions should always be taken on a clinical basis. Everyone in the chamber will agree that it would be invidious and totally wrong for decisions about what drugs can be prescribed and to whom they should be prescribed to be taken by politicians. None of us wants that situation to develop.

I confirm that, when the Scottish medicines consortium has not approved a drug, it is open to any clinician to put the argument to a health board that a particular patient is an exceptional case. That underlines the assurance that I give Bill Butler that such decisions will always be taken on clinical grounds.

Members will have seen the widespread publicity about our constituent, Michael Gray, and the letters that we have received from many of his friends. It is concerning that, while a trial for cetuximab has been taking place in Aberdeen, it has not yet been possible for Mr Gray to benefit from the drug. Can the cabinet secretary help us in this case—and more widely—by telling us how bowel cancer policy nationally will cope with the development of science and the interventions that will be required, despite what some of those may cost initially?

Tackling cancer generally, and bowel cancer in particular, is a key priority for the Government. We are in the process of rolling out bowel cancer screening across the country. That has the potential to save many lives. It may also lead to more cases being diagnosed earlier, which places an obligation on us to ensure that the necessary treatment and services are available. I assure the chamber that the Government places the highest possible priority on giving the best possible services to cancer sufferers. That is why I have made it such a personal priority to meet the 62-day waiting time target for cancer patients.

As I said to Bill Butler, the process that we have, which is the right process, will inevitably lead to very difficult and, often, painful decisions. I appreciate the personal trauma that that will cause individuals in particular cases, but it is essential that an evidence-based, expert-led system is in place, as is the case in Scotland. If new evidence emerges on any drug—cetuximab has been assessed by the Scottish medicines consortium on two occasions—it will be considered by the SMC, as is right and proper.

As Nicola Sturgeon said, these are difficult issues. I am disappointed that her response was not more encouraging, but I would like to push her further on the issue. In the case to which she and Rob Gibson have referred—and to which Richard Lochhead cannot refer because he is a minister—it appears that NHS Grampian is prepared to fund the use of cetuximab when it is believed that, in his or her particular circumstances, a patient might benefit more from it than is the norm. That is an extraordinarily fine judgment for a consultant to have to make. Until the drug is tried, it is not possible to say definitively that a patient would not benefit more than other, similar, patients would. The only way of getting any equity and justice in that situation is to ensure that the drug is available when the consultant believes that it should be; I gather that that is the case in this instance.

In the case that we are discussing, there is literally no time to spare. I urge the cabinet secretary to refer the matter back to the SMC, in the light of the changing evidence to which Bill Butler referred, and to do so without delay.

Rightly, the SMC is an independent body. It will consider new evidence as new evidence emerges: it does so all the time. In my answer to Bill Butler, I made it clear that there is a process for dealing with situations in which the SMC has not approved a drug: individual clinicians who believe that individual patients are exceptional cases put that argument to the NHS board in question. I appreciate that that requires clinicians to make fine judgments, but I believe more than anything that those are clinical judgments, not judgments that politicians should try to make.

NHS Grampian is very aware of the case and will be aware of developments. We all have the most enormous sympathy for the predicament of the individual involved. Such cases are always difficult and painful, but we must have in place a system that is evidence based and expert led—and that is what we have. In such a system, new evidence will always be considered.

Question 3 has been withdrawn.

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Childhood Obesity

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to combat childhood obesity. (S3O-1191)

A wide range of actions that contribute to children achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is delivered through implementation of the Scottish diet action plan and physical activity strategy. Those actions are complemented by the on-going implementation of the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007.

During the next three years, we will invest £4.9 million a year, in addition to increased spending on healthy eating and physical activity, in initiatives dedicated to tackling obesity. Those initiatives will include programmes to address childhood obesity through community-based and family-focused interventions. We will provide further detail on the initiatives as part of our plans on diet, physical activity and obesity, which will be published in the new year.

Given that physical education is recognised as vital in combating childhood obesity, can the minister confirm that the Scottish National Party pledge that every child in Scotland will receive

"2 hours of quality PE each week delivered by specialist PE teachers"

will be honoured? If so, when and how will that happen?

Physical education will be an important element of the outcomes for health and well-being that are being drafted as part of the work on the curriculum for excellence. As part of the curriculum review, a new model is being developed for managing the curriculum and the commitment on two hours of PE will be considered in the context of that work.

I assure the member that physical activity among children is a priority for the Government. We will ensure that we increase physical activity levels as part of the wider strategy for tackling childhood obesity.

I am delighted that children from Rogerfield primary school are in the gallery to hear us discuss childhood obesity.

The SNP said in its manifesto that to deal with childhood obesity it would, in government,

"introduce annual health and fitness checks in schools, delivered by doubling the number of school nurses."

Are those commitments costed in the recently published budget? If so, when will annual health and fitness checks be introduced? Will the number of school nurses be doubled and, if so, when?

We are working on the best model to deliver that manifesto commitment. There is resource in the budget to take it forward. We are developing models of care, which will include health checks and increased health care capacity in schools. A range of health professionals will be involved, including nurses, because we acknowledge that other health professionals have an important part to play in delivering the model. In rolling out increased health care capacity in schools, we will initially focus attention on schools in the most deprived communities. I hope that Margaret Curran will agree with that approach.

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Scottish Diabetes Framework Action Plan

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in implementing the Scottish diabetes framework action plan 2006-09. (S3O-1283)

All national health service boards are working towards achieving the action points set out in the Scottish diabetes framework action plan. Diabetes managed clinical network managers provide the Scottish diabetes group with regular updates on delivery and we are encouraged by the progress that has been made to date.

The cabinet secretary will be well aware that diabetes is the main cause of blindness in people of working age and is responsible for half the non-traumatic lower limb amputations. Does she share my view that we need a Scotland-wide high-risk screening programme for people who are more than 45, people who are overweight and people who have a family history of diabetes? In that way, we can tackle a condition that maims, kills and blinds.

I recognise the scale of the issue. I had a presentation from a general practice in Lothian earlier this week, which revealed the staggering statistic that some 8 per cent of people who are in our acute hospitals at any one time have diabetes. They might not be in hospital because of the diabetes, but their diabetes tends to prolong their stay in hospital. That is just one example of the scale of the issue.

The member says, rightly, that diabetes is a major cause of blindness. That is why one of the aspects of the action plan is to give people access to retinopathy screening—it is important that we encourage everybody with diabetes to take advantage of that.

I recognise that the wider issues concerning screening are very important, and we acknowledge the principle and the importance of early diagnosis. We take evidence and follow advice from the national screening committee—and the advice is that screening adults on a whole-population basis would not be the most effective way forward. I think that the member recognises that.

The committee's advice is that groups that are at high risk of type 2 diabetes, such as people who are overweight or who have a family history of diabetes, should be screened. In addition, the current SIGN guideline 55 recommends that people with conditions such as cystic fibrosis or coeliac disease are also screened for diabetes, and vice versa. We take those things seriously and we will continue to ensure that the practice of screening reflects the best advice that is available.

Diabetes is underdiagnosed: many people with diabetes do not have a family history of the condition and might not fall into the categories the minister mentioned. What is being done to ensure that such people get early diagnoses and treatment as soon as possible—particularly on the basis of primary care—to ensure that what David Stewart mentioned is alleviated?

That is an important question, as diagnosing diabetes as early as possible is critical. I mentioned some of the important things in my answer to the previous question, but there are other initiatives in our national health service that contribute to early diagnosis, such as the keep well pilots, which focus on the people in the age group 45 to 64 in our most deprived communities who are considered to be at the highest risk of heart disease.

SIGN guideline 97 recommends that all adults over 40 should be screened for cardiovascular risk at least every five years. The connection to diabetes is that that provides a data source for early identification of people who are at increased risk of diabetes. I recognise the importance of the points that have been raised in the course of this question, and I offer reassurance that we are keen to do everything we can to ensure the earliest possible diagnosis of diabetes.

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Warm Deal

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have benefited from the warm deal since its introduction in 1999. (S3O-1285)

Up to the end of October, more than 255,000 households had benefited from insulation measures under the warm deal programme.

I am sure that the minister saw the report in the Sunday Mail last weekend that highlighted the fact that almost 11,000 pensioners will have to wait until next year to get a new central heating system installed under the warm deal. I heard him discussing the matter on the radio earlier in the week, so I am sure he agrees that that should not be tolerated. When he promised to review the scheme, what did he mean? When will the review be complete, so that those pensioners can look forward to a warm home before—and not after—the onset of winter? Perhaps the minister could change the regulations to allow for the replacement of a boiler only, instead of a whole system, in cases where that is appropriate, so that things might be speeded up.

The current situation, in which just under 11,000 people are on the waiting list, is of concern to all members. The programme is exceptionally popular because it is so effective. One of the problems—and the reason I am reviewing it—is that there are concerns about its implementation, the effectiveness of implementation, and the time it takes to get systems installed.

The internal review that I am conducting is about the effectiveness of the fuel poverty programmes in Scotland. It is important that we keep them under review and ensure that they are focused on fuel poverty, that there is no drift, and that they do what was intended, which is to deal with pensioners who are in difficulty and fuel poor. That is the intention of the internal review, which I will conclude as soon as possible. I am keeping in mind the necessity to reach the end of the review as quickly as possible to help those who are still waiting.

I am afraid that I must now move on to questions on rural affairs and the environment. I will allow a moment for ministers to change places.

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Rural Affairs and the Environment

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Foot-and-mouth Disease (Interim Payments)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make interim payments to farmers and crofters to alleviate the impact of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. (S3O-1213)

Given that European Commission regulations do not permit single farm payments to be made in full before 1 December, the Scottish Government has been working towards paying as many eligible claims as possible from the first possible banking day, which will be 3 December. That approach will ensure that the greatest possible number of producers both within and outwith less favoured areas will be paid in full at the earliest opportunity. I am advised that that will mean paying at least £300 million in single farm payments in December.

I am sure that bringing forward the payment date for schemes such as the LFA scheme and the beef calf scheme would help to address the serious cash flow problems in the industry, as would action by the minister to ensure that all crofters and farmers receive their single farm payments on time next month. Will the minister do everything he can to ensure that single farm payments will not be delayed as they have been in years past?

I have every reason to believe that there will be no delay whatsoever. As I said, £300 million of a total payment of £406 million will be paid from 3 December onwards, which is—I believe—earlier than in previous years. My officials in the Scottish Government are pulling out all the stops to get the payments out to farmers and crofters the length and breadth of Scotland as soon as possible, especially given the difficult situation that the industry faces at present, to which the member alluded.

Given the United Kingdom Government's refusal to take responsibility in the aftermath of the foot-and-mouth crisis, what action is the cabinet secretary taking to ensure that Scottish farmers and crofters have access to the compensation that they deserve?

It remains the Scottish Government's position that the UK Government has a moral responsibility to compensate Scotland's farmers and crofters and the industry for losses that have resulted from events that are outwith their control. That continues to be the subject of negotiation between the Scottish Government and the UK Government. As members from throughout the chamber are well aware, we are facing a lot of resistance from the UK Government on the issue, which has incurred the anger of Scotland's rural communities and will, no doubt, continue to do so. However, we also continue to work closely with NFU Scotland and other organisations in Scotland on the matter.

I raise the plight of Scotland's pig farmers in relation to foot-and-mouth disease. As the minister knows, the pig sector has faced extreme difficulties since the foot-and-mouth outbreak, and those difficulties are combined with high grain costs because of other events that are taking place worldwide. Pig farmers are losing substantial sums and are in a parlous state. What does the minister plan to do to support the sector?

I am sure that the Presiding Officer will be aware that I do not want to pre-empt the oral question that will be asked in a few minutes, but I say to Peter Peacock that we are well aware of the difficult challenges that the pig industry in Scotland faces. He alluded to the fact that the difficulties are not simply due to fallout from the foot-and-mouth crisis—the industry was facing financial problems because of high cereal prices before the foot-and-mouth crisis. We are engaging with pig industry leaders in Scotland. I met them a couple of weeks ago and my officials continue to have regular meetings so that we can work up a plan of action to help the sector, if that is possible.

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Flooding and Coastal Erosion (Forth Estuary)

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last had discussions on flooding and coastal erosion issues in the Forth estuary with the Forth Estuary Forum, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and relevant local authorities. (S3O-1252)

Officials have had regular discussions with Falkirk Council concerning the Bo'ness flood prevention scheme, and I regularly meet authorities and SEPA. No discussions have taken place with the Forth Estuary Forum regarding flooding and coastal erosion, but I am sure that the member would join me in welcoming the fact that in the next three years the funds that will be available for dealing with flooding—£126 million—will be up 34 per cent. That is good news for Scotland's communities that are threatened by flooding.

It would be even better news if there were discussions with local authorities in the Forth estuary area. There are critical concerns regarding flooding and coastal erosion. Why did the minister refuse to meet me and others to discuss those issues, despite our having written to him? How will he take forward the issues regarding planning officials and the Executive reporter giving planning permission for lands around the Forth estuary—lands for which planning permission should not have been given because of the risk of flooding and coastal erosion?

It is not always possible fully to understand what Helen Eadie is talking about in this regard. I have never refused to meet her, and I would be happy to do so. She may have been trying to meet ministers over a planning issue, but there are—of course—restrictions on that, given that planning applications may be called in.

As far as I am aware, I have also never refused to meet a local authority to discuss flooding. I remain open to meeting all the relevant local authorities to discuss serious issues.

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Sustainable Development (Carbon Emissions)

To ask the Scottish Executive what practical sustainable development measures are being taken in 2007 and 2008 to achieve a 3 per cent per annum reduction in carbon emissions to fulfil the Scottish National Party commitment to reduce Scotland's carbon footprint. (S3O-1274)

We are committed to consulting on proposals for a Scottish climate change bill, including our ambitious commitment to reduce emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.

Additionally, we are ensuring that tackling climate change becomes part and parcel of how Government and the wider public sector behaves, and is not an optional extra. Our spending review makes it clear that public spending programmes must take account of, and contribute to, the action that is needed to meet our emissions targets. The Government economic strategy, which was published earlier this week, has emissions reductions as one of its targets and is providing a key yardstick by which our commitment to sustainable economic growth will be judged.

We are committed to taking early action on climate change. We will continue to invest in the development of renewable energy and in measures to improve public transport. The report of the expert panel on a low-carbon buildings standards strategy for Scotland will be published before the end of the year, and it is expected to recommend a route map towards the goal of zero-carbon buildings in Scotland. That will inform future changes to energy standards.

The minister will recall that, in the SNP manifesto, there was a commitment to annual targets for climate change reductions—I think that was the first broken promise from the SNP. The SNP said that the reason for breaking the promise is that it is not possible to take annual measurements, but it said that it would set periodic targets. The budget document for 2007 to 2011 contains not a single numerical target: there is no short-term target for climate change. When are ministers going to stop talking big and doing little?

So, budget proposals have to contain numeric targets on CO2 reduction, do they? The member should exercise a little patience and wait for the adumbrated consultation on the climate change bill, which will start around the turn of the year.

In going forward, we will report annually on our progress towards the 2050 target of achieving an 80 per cent reduction in emissions. That is a long-term target and I hope that it will gain support from people of every political persuasion and from every member of Parliament. The target will transcend any single Administration or even a single life. I will be 104, God willing, come 2050, when I hope to see that we have all—together—worked towards the target and the ambition of this Government, and that we have succeeded.

Will the minister advise local authorities to support voluntary sector best practice in recycling and reuse when they are considering their budgets? The voluntary sector's service level agreements can often show larger organisations, such as councils, innovative ways of reducing CO2 emissions.

Rob Gibson will welcome, as I and many others outside Parliament do, the concordat between the Government and local authorities. It is a vital part of re-empowering local authorities to take appropriate local action. We will, of course, work with local authorities on the issues that the member has raised.

It will, of course, be for the whole Parliament to decide the nature of the targets in legislation when the climate change bill comes before us. Whether those targets are ambitious or unambitious, and whether they are annual or five-year targets, they will not be reached unless—as the original question implies—the right measures are put in place.

Does the minister recall that one of the environmental justifications for the air route development fund was that it would cut the number of direct internal flights in the United Kingdom between Scotland and London? The Executive has decided not to enter into new subsidies for aviation expansion. What other measures will be taken to cut the number of unnecessary domestic flights?

Patrick Harvie will be aware of the First Minister's comments on the increase in capacity and speed of rail links to London, which will be a fundamental part of ensuring that while we have good communications across these islands, we can reduce our dependency on aviation.

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Animal Rendering (Capacity)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scotland has the required capacity for rendering animals. (S3O-1271)

The vast majority of animal waste generated by our livestock industry is ultimately processed by the two main rendering facilities in Scotland, which are located in Dumfries and in Newarthill near Motherwell.

I thank the minister for his response—especially in relation to the rendering plant at the Omoa works, which is run by William Forrest and Son (Paisley) Ltd in Newarthill in my constituency. Will the minister join me in welcoming the decision of Scottish Environment Protection Agency to refuse the plant's pollution prevention and control permit application and to withdraw its current air pollution control permit application? The decision was based on the historical failure of the company to operate its plant properly. The company has blighted communities in my area and in my colleague Karen Whitefield's area for almost four decades. During that period, the company has tried to blackmail local communities by arguing that if the company did not exist it would have to be invented because of the shortage of capacity to render in Scotland. Will the minister assure us that he will not give in to that blackmail? Will he support SEPA in its efforts to get the company to clean up its act or clear out of our communities?

As the member quite rightly suggests, the issues are largely for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, especially in its role as the enforcement agency for the relevant regulations.

I wrote to William Forrest and Son on 14 November after receiving representations from a wide range of interests on both sides of the argument. As the members suggested, SEPA has invited the company to submit representations concerning the agency's intention to revoke the air pollution control authorisation. SEPA has a clear duty to ensure that industrial plants comply with relevant environmental legislation. In this instance, SEPA is clearly taking its responsibilities seriously. I understand that SEPA is looking for a clear programme of action—the intention being that the plant should come into compliance with existing legislation.

On the plant's overall role, it is fair to say that there may be disruption to the livestock sector in Scotland were the plant not to fulfil its role. It is not really my place to say whether that would be short-term or longer-term disruption—that is for the market to decide. The issues that have been raised by Michael McMahon are being taken seriously by SEPA—I trust that the member has also taken them up directly with SEPA.

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Biodiversity

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to fulfil its commitment to safeguarding Scotland's biodiversity, as stated by the Minister for Environment on 9 October 2007. (S3O-1205)

The Scottish Government is carrying forward a wide range of measures that support implementation of the Scottish biodiversity strategy across the public and private sectors. Those include enhancing public understanding and participation, as well as providing support to Scottish Natural Heritage and other public sector partners. The Scottish biodiversity indicators, which I launched in October 2007, demonstrate the success of the work carried out and what still needs to be done. We will also be providing financial support to land managers through the Scottish rural development programme to encourage land management practices that benefit species and habitats.

I welcome that answer. Will the minister provide assurances that the importance to Scotland's biodiversity of the special protection areas, ancient woodland sites, and Ramsar wetland and waterfowl sites in Queensferry in my constituency, and elsewhere around the Firth of Forth, will be given full consideration by the Scottish Government in any decisions relating to development in that area, particularly the construction of the new Forth crossing?

I am happy to give that assurance. There is always a balance to be struck, but increasingly the balance has to take into account the absolute need to protect not just individual species or habitats but the entire rich, diverse and precious ecosystem in which we live.

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Environmental Organisations (Meetings)

To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with environmental organisations since May 2007 and what issues were discussed. (S3O-1197)

The Scottish Government meets environmental organisations regularly as part of its day-to-day business. Indeed, later this afternoon I shall be meeting RSPB Scotland, among others. Most recently, on 7 November 2007, Richard Lochhead and I had a very full meeting with Scottish Environment LINK, in which we had an extremely constructive discussion about how we can work together to deliver the Scottish Government's five strategic objectives.

Does the Government accept that the composition of Scotland's waste is not ideally conducive to large-scale household segregation, particularly given Scotland's traditional housing mix? Is he also aware that technologies exist that prevent the need for large-scale source segregation, while ensuring that local authorities are able to meet their environmental obligations? In the light of that, does the Government intend to encourage deployment of mechanical biological treatment to ensure that Scotland meets its international landfill directive recycling and recovery targets for 2010, 2013 and 2020? Leicester City Council, through a partnership with a private industry partner, has deployed simple ball-mill technology to ensure that it meets its environmental target obligations and provides the people of Leicester with a cost-effective long-term waste disposal system.

Those are interesting and full questions—and perhaps they have answers. We should recognise the success of household waste recycling, which has reached nearly 30 per cent. That is a considerable increase from a time when we thought it was not possible to make such good progress. There are a number of innovations in that field. As an MSP for the South of Scotland, I was fortunate last week to see the new eco-deco plant at Dumfries in operation. It is technologically most impressive and environmentally very advanced. We have to meet our targets, and the work that we are doing with local authorities and the responsibilities that are being laid on them in outcome agreements will be part of that.

We are keen to ensure not only that targets are met but that we tackle waste not just at the end of the process but at the beginning too, so that far less waste goes into the system. I note what Mr Carlaw said: it will inform my colleague Richard Lochhead's deliberations as he develops the waste strategy.

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Pig Industry

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to support the pig industry. (S3O-1189)

We are working with representatives of the pig sector to identify appropriate support measures. An options paper is being developed and we expect to take decisions soon.

I know that the cabinet secretary is acutely aware of the current crisis facing the pig industry in Scotland. Given the low uptake of the sheep disposal scheme that was put in place following the foot-and-mouth outbreak, will he look into the possibility of funds being transferred from that scheme to allow for a one-off payment to help support the hard-pressed Scottish pig industry?

What communication has the cabinet secretary had with retailers to encourage them to invest in the future of Scottish pork, for instance by committing to a clear labelling policy to encourage consumers to actively support Scottish farmers by buying locally produced pork?

I reiterated many of the Government's concerns in an answer that I gave earlier.

I assure Nanette Milne that we have made vigorous representations to the retail sector. The First Minister has written to the chief executives of all the UK supermarkets and I have written to the public sector bodies in Scotland. We have been doing our utmost to encourage more orders and greater consumption of the fantastic product that is Scottish pork.

On direct assistance to the sector, I explained that we are working up an options paper. I am sure that we will not be able to deliver everything that the sector would like. If we were to transfer funds from any underspend on the sheep welfare scheme to help the pig industry, the implementation of a scheme that involved a similar payment to the headage payment that has been used for the sheep sector could present significant difficulties under state-aid rules, so that is potentially an extremely difficult road to go down. However, there are other ways of helping the sector and we are exploring them in detail.