NHS Dumfries and Galloway (Governance)
Further to my answer to Mr Fergusson’s question on 11 December 2013, I can confirm that NHS Dumfries and Galloway has put arrangements in place to ensure that it has strong and effective governance until the new board members are appointed. The member will wish to note that recruitment of four new non-executives and a new chair to the board of NHS Dumfries and Galloway will begin in the near future. The governance arrangements that have been put in place will be kept under review throughout that process.
Further to the answer that the cabinet secretary gave me some weeks ago, I spoke to a number of elected board members, none of whom expected the pilot scheme to be extended. However, they expected to be able to see out the full terms of the offices to which they had been elected. The statutory evaluation of the experimental board was published a year ago but did not recommend early abandonment of the pilot scheme. Why, then, did the cabinet secretary choose to terminate so abruptly the elected board members’ employment—in effect, by sacking them—when he could have given them six months’ notice by simply announcing that the pilot would not be extended beyond its agreed date?
If Alex Fergusson checks the terms of the legislation that was passed, he will see that I am required to act as I did, given the timetable that is required for intimating whether we would extend the pilot throughout the whole of Scotland. I believe that I had no choice but to do what I did to meet the terms of the legislation.
Low-vision Aids
The Scottish Government recognises the benefit of low-vision aids for those who need them and values the work of local authorities, national health service boards and others in providing access to them.
The arrangements for community optometry seem to be working well, but does the minister recall that one of the original aims of the scheme was to
Boards across Scotland have arrangements in place to ensure that they are working in partnership with local optometrists, voluntary organisations and local authorities to make low-vision aids available, and all boards have services in place. In the NHS Lanarkshire area, there is a shared care arrangement with a range of local optometrists to provide low-vision aids. I am aware that there has been significant pressure on the service above what NHS Lanarkshire planned for. The board has engaged with local optometrists to adjust activity in order to allow them to bulk purchase more equipment, for which the board has provided an extra £20,000 in this year’s budget to bring in more equipment that can be made available to people in the NHS Lanarkshire area.
Is the minister content that sufficient functional vision training is being carried out at national level to ensure that people with severe sight loss are maximising their remaining vision?
It is extremely important to ensure that patients who have low vision are able to maximise their remaining vision. The vast majority of functional vision training is provided in a specialist way—largely by the voluntary sector working in partnership with NHS Scotland and local authorities. I am conscious that there are variations in its availability in different parts of the country, depending on the provision that is available from the voluntary sector. If Dennis Robertson has specific examples of where he believes there is a need for further improvements to functional vision training, I will be more than happy to meet him to discuss how we can achieve that effectively.
Sex Offenders (Management)
Scotland has in place a strong legislative framework and robust monitoring arrangements, and agencies work well together using their expertise to minimise the risks posed by sex offenders. Thirty-one of the 33 recommendations have been implemented. I note that only nine were implemented before 10 May 2007 and that 22 have been delivered since then.
The committee’s recommendation 20 refers to a requirement being placed on registered sex offenders to disclose the information that they are registered sex offenders during the housing application process. The cabinet secretary advises that he has received ECHR legal guidance on the matter. Is he willing to provide that information in public?
I have provided the information. The recommendation is not ECHR compliant. Paul Martin is well aware that Government legal advice is not normally published. We have sought to ensure that we deal with matters in other ways, which is why changes have been made in that the courts now have powers, whether in terms of disposals or sexual offence prevention orders, to ensure that we have notification. We are aware that there are difficulties in keeping track of individuals. As Mr Martin well knows, Government legal advice is not routinely published but, as I said, we are clear that the advice is that the recommendation is not ECHR compliant, and on that basis we have—with regret—been unable to implement it. We have, however, sought to ensure that the issues that Professor Irving raised are dealt with in other ways and that our communities are given that appropriate protection.
Does the cabinet secretary agree that, in the event of sex offenders on the sex offenders register breaching the register conditions by failing to report to a police station or to ensure that their whereabouts are known, their right to anonymity should be lost?
That is a matter for the police. If people seek to avoid compliance with the regime, we have to leave that to police officers. I do not think that any anonymity, as such, is given. In cases of pursuit by the police, to go public would sometimes cause greater concern because it would cause the person to evade detection and capture. We should trust the authorities to use their discretion. When it is appropriate that advice be given that an offender is at large and the public should be aware, that is done in order to ensure that the public are able to make appropriate arrangements. At other times, that could jeopardise the person’s apprehension or could cause them to flee when the police are closing in on them. We should leave the matter to the discretion of officers who are involved in such investigations.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board (Discussions)
The Scottish Government has regular meetings with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. My next such meeting with the SFRS chair happens to be tomorrow.
That is great timing. I have met the staff in the Edinburgh control room, who are deeply worried about the idea that they would relocate to another place if that control room was closed. They are also deeply worried that we would lose expertise that is critical to delivery of the high standards of safety that are at the core of the service. When the minister meets the chair of the rescue service, will she raise the issue of the Edinburgh control room’s strategic position in Scotland, both in terms of safeguarding jobs but also, crucially, in terms of ensuring that we retain the safety and security that is at the heart of the service?
When I meet the chair of the SFRS, our conversation typically encompasses all current issues before the SFRS for consideration. Sarah Boyack may be aware that the next board meeting, which is on 30 January, is the meeting at which a final decision will be made on control rooms. The only fixed position at the moment is that a decision has been made to maintain and continue with the Johnstone control room. The remainder of the control rooms scenario means that Edinburgh is being considered along with Aberdeen, Inverness and Dundee control rooms. The board will make the final decision, but it will be made taking into account all important considerations, which will no doubt include those that have been raised by Sarah Boyack.
I also record my support for continuing the operation of the Edinburgh fire control room. Does the minister agree that, when the board meets, it should take into account all the representations, including those from the Fire Brigades Union representatives whom I have met, which highlight issues such as the importance of Edinburgh as the second largest and second busiest site, the fact that the information technology is very much up to date, and that there is no financial benefit to closing the control room due to its co-location with an operational fire station?
There is little that I can add to what I have said. I reassure members that all those things will be taken into consideration by the board when it makes its final determination. The decision will be arrived at carefully, thoughtfully and with due care and regard to the principle of the safety of the public.
Cities Strategy (Support for Local Traders)
The Scottish cities alliance is responsible for delivery of the cities strategy and for developing opportunities for cities and their regions to collaborate and deliver investment to support economic growth and jobs. In parallel, the Scottish Government recognises that Scotland’s businesses are the drivers of sustainable economic growth and is committed to ensuring a supportive business environment. For example, we have removed or reduced taxation for two in five business premises and we will, from April 2014, expand fresh start business rates relief to a range of local traders including pubs, hotels and restaurants.
I thank the Deputy First Minister for that answer and I appreciate the work that is being done. She will be aware of the news that all traders at Glasgow’s Savoy centre in my constituency have been told that they have one week to vacate their shops, which is causing understandable concern among traders who are faced with losing their livelihoods, and anger that no discussion with the owners has taken place. What can the Scottish Government offer those traders, and will the Deputy First Minister meet me to discuss a way forward?
I am aware of the situation and am saddened to hear that that important Glasgow landmark is at risk. We have been in contact this morning with KPMG, which is the proposed liquidator. It has confirmed that it is currently in discussion with In Shops Centres Limited and In Shops Starters Limited in an attempt to resolve the situation. I have asked officials to keep me informed of developments, and I shall provide Sandra White with an update as soon as I am able.
With regard to the cities strategy, what percentage of the cities investment fund remains unallocated?
I am happy to write to Gavin Brown with a breakdown of the cities investment fund that has been allocated, what is unallocated and to what funds have been allocated. He will appreciate that the fund that we established is intended to be a catalyst to fund studies around the work that the cities alliance wants to engage in. It will be used to examine opportunities to lever in additional funding to cities for their investment priorities. I shall send Gavin Brown a detailed breakdown, accompanied by a summary of the work that the cities alliance has done to date, and its priorities in the months to come.
A9 (Dualling)
We are on course to have the first 4.6 mile section of dualling between Kincraig and Dalraddy under construction by December 2016.
This week, we learned in the update to the Public Audit Committee on major capital projects that the dualling of two sections of the A9—or about 13 miles—is in progress, which will bring the total for the road’s dualled sections to 43 miles. Given that the dualling of the Luncarty to Birnam section is due to start in 2017, can the minister tell us the timetable for the remaining 67 miles? Is the project on course to be completed by 2025?
Of course, we do not intend to dual the entire 67 plus 41 miles that were mentioned by Mary Scanlon; instead, we propose to dual the stretch from Inverness to Perth by 2025. I have to say, however, that two of the projects that we have already completed—the Ballinluig grade-separated junction and the Helmsdale single carriageway—at costs of £9.7 million and £15 million respectively, stand in stark contrast to the underinvestment by previous Governments. Moreover, we are the first Government to commit to a £3 billion upgrading and dualling of the A9, which is the biggest transport project by cost in Scotland’s history. That, too, stands in stark contrast to previous Governments’ lack of commitment. Of course, the Conservatives’ main commitment was to spend £3 billion on a tram system for Edinburgh.
Chief Constable (Meetings)
I met Sir Stephen House on Tuesday to discuss important issues around keeping people and communities safe in Scotland.
The cabinet secretary will be aware of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland’s review of incident and crime recording, which was published in December 2013. It recommended that Police Scotland, in co-operation with the Scottish Government and others, review the definition of serious assault, which can, as it stands, lead to serious assaults being recorded as common assaults. Does the cabinet secretary agree with that recommendation, and will he work with others to ensure that we have an accurate picture of the number of serious assaults that take place in Scotland?
Duncan McNeil has raised an important issue and I am more than happy to ensure that the Government makes the appropriate input. In fact, I not only met Sir Stephen House on Tuesday, but met George Graham of HMIC just yesterday, although I have to say that this particular matter was neither raised nor discussed.
East Ayrshire Communities (Support)
The Scottish Government provides a breadth of support to communities in East Ayrshire. It is the responsibility of the local authority and the community planning partnership to support local communities and to ensure that the resources they have available are directed according to local needs and circumstances. In 2013-14, East Ayrshire Council is receiving £229 million through the local government funding settlement, and East Ayrshire communities will also benefit from wider Government investment in, for example, transport, housing, health, justice, culture, sport and economic development.
Is the minister able to share with me the actions that the Government-appointed task force has decided to take to ameliorate the worst outcomes of the opencast mines debacle that is affecting East Ayrshire communities and which is likely to cost them more than £100 million to repair?
As Graeme Pearson will be aware, Mr Ewing has established the Scottish coal industry task force. Between the work of that group and wider Government strategies we are doing our best to support communities in Ayrshire and elsewhere that are affected by such issues. I am more than happy to write to him about the actions that are being undertaken.
National 4 and 5 Exams (Support for Teachers)
Answer briefly, if you can, Dr Allan.
The Scottish Government, the Scottish Qualifications Authority, Education Scotland and other partners have put in place unprecedented levels of support to help teachers to deliver the new qualifications, and that support will continue and will be enhanced over this year. Further support to address some of the areas that have been identified by EIS members was already being planned, including early feedback to schools on assessment standards, additional SQA subject experts to provide continuous professional development for teachers in priority subjects, and curriculum for excellence leadership events in February and March for all secondary headteachers. We continue to listen to teachers to provide any help they need.
Briefly, Ms McTaggart.
Does the minister intend to delay the system’s introduction?
That was brief. Be equally brief, please, minister.
I can be almost equally brief. The Government does not intend to delay CFE. The timetable for its implementation was agreed several years ago, and there is cross-party agreement on it. However, we will be open to providing all the support that is necessary to ensure that CFE is the success that we all know it will be.