SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Finance and Public Services and Communities
Local Government Pensions (Rule of 85)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support local government workers in protecting their pensions by rescinding its intention to abolish the rule of 85. (S2O-9271)
The reason why the rule of 85 must be removed from the local government pension scheme this year is that it is directly discriminatory on age grounds and inconsistent with the European Union directive on equal treatment in employment. However, I am exploring whether there are ways that can be objectively justified of allowing retention of the rule's benefits for existing members of the scheme.
The deputy minister will be aware of the conflicting legal advice on the rule of 85 and the dodgy dossier that has never been published. I remind him that millions of local government workers will take strike action on 28 March, in the biggest confrontation since 1926. I would like a commitment from him that the Executive will do everything that it can to ensure that local government workers have all their pension rights protected to avoid such a confrontation. It is a pity that the minister himself is not here, because George Lyon has not been a minister for long. Is he aware that if Tom McCabe gets turfed out next year—because he has made so many local government workers angry—his pension, after just eight years' service, will be a grand total of £14,500 a year? Given that the average pension for local government workers is £3,600, and less than that for women, is it justified to force local government workers either to work until they are 65 or to have a third of their pension removed? Will the minister ensure that that does not happen?
On such a serious matter, on which there are genuine concerns throughout the chamber, the member would have been safer sticking to a factual question rather than personal abuse. The Executive is in dialogue with trade unions and is considering options for a solution in Scotland. There is no desire whatever to see local government employees being treated any less favourably than other employees in the public sector. However, any solution will have to be objectively justified in respect of the European directive and our legal advisers are urgently considering that matter. I would hope that the trade unions would delay any strike action and continue constructive dialogue with us to see whether a solution can be identified.
Is the minister aware that the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 specifically provide that different pension schemes can be offered to employees based on different ages and different lengths of service. That strikes me as the type of exemption that would justify the continuation of the rule of 85. Is the minister aware of that exemption? Is he aware that the exemptions established in the Department of Trade and Industry consultation paper aim to allow pensions schemes to operate largely as they do now after the regulations have come into force? If that is the case, what is the justification for abolishing the rule of 85?
As the member will be aware, the current rule of 85 provides for some members to retire with an unreduced pension before their normal pension age. The factor that decides who can access that benefit is a combination of age and service; hence, if there are two members with exactly the same service, it is solely their age that will determine whether they qualify under the rule. The Executive considers that that is likely to be unjustifiable, in which case the rule will have to be removed as it is incompatible with the directive. That is the difference between the local government scheme and other schemes. I repeat to the chamber that the Executive is in dialogue with the trade unions. We are considering options for a solution in Scotland. As I said before, there is no desire to see local government employees being treated any less favourably than other employees in the public sector.
LGBT People (Prejudice)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to challenge any prejudice against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Scotland. (S2O-9338)
The Executive's equality strategy commits us to working with Scotland's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities to ensure that the Executive's policies and practices take account of their needs. We intend to build on the work that we have already undertaken and to establish a forum that will help us to develop an action plan for challenging prejudice.
I commend the Executive for the work that it has undertaken so far. Following the announcement earlier this week that United Kingdom ministers intend to use their powers under the Equality Act 2006 to outlaw discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation in the provision of goods and services, what role does the Executive see for itself in promoting the culture change that will be necessary to ensure that people can access those rights and that enforcement is rarely needed?
The Scottish Executive is committed to education and to challenging attitudes, prejudice and discrimination. I am sure that the forum will have a perspective on the measures that we can take in relation to the issues that Patrick Harvie raises. In education, in health and across its whole range of responsibilities, the Executive is committed to taking every opportunity to create a culture in which prejudice and discrimination are unacceptable.
Housing Stock Transfer
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review its policy on capital housing debt write-off for those local authorities whose tenants have rejected wholesale stock transfer in recent ballots and, if so, when it will do so. (S2O-9263)
The Executive will not review its policy on council housing debt write-off.
I cannot thank the minister for that reply. I am sure that she is aware of the recent rejection of wholesale stock transfer in Edinburgh, but she may not be quite so aware of that in Aberdeen. In a ballot a little while ago, tenants in Aberdeen rejected stock transfer by 19 to one. Does the minister accept that part of council housing debt relates to the discounts and debt associated with sales of council houses and that the remaining tenants must bear the whole burden? Why does the minister think that that is fair? Why does she consider that discriminating against tenants who reject stock transfer is fair when it comes to writing off capital debt, much of which has nothing to do with tenants but instead relates to the policies of successive Governments on the sale of council houses?
Her Majesty's Treasury has made it very clear that it will provide the resources to deal with residual local authority housing debt only following a housing stock transfer. It is evident that that policy will not change. The same arrangement applies throughout the United Kingdom. We have discussed and continue to discuss with local authorities that have chosen to retain their stock other opportunities for meeting the Scottish housing quality standard, through prudential borrowing and working together.
Registers of Scotland (Head Office Location)
To ask the Scottish Executive which bodies are being consulted and what issues will be considered before it reaches a decision concerning the future location of the head office of Registers of Scotland. (S2O-9292)
During the Registers of Scotland relocation review, a full range of stakeholders were consulted, including customers, staff, the Public and Commercial Services Union—PCS—and the local authorities that were shortlisted at the end of stage 1 of the process. The relocation review report considers in detail all the criteria and issues that are specified in Scottish Executive guidance on relocation. That will form the basis of any decision.
As the minister is aware, the Registers of Scotland headquarters employs more than 1,000 staff and provides a range of vital services to the public, business and a wide range of agencies. Does he agree that the costs and operational risk of relocation are, therefore, considerable? From where would such costs be met? Will he give a clear assurance that the decision will be based on sound value-for-money criteria and the operational effectiveness and efficiency of this important agency?
I am happy to give the member the assurance that value-for-money considerations will be part of the review process and of the final decision making. The process in which we have been involved has been staged, and the first stage was concluded last year. It covered the whole of Scotland and a wide range of possibilities for the agency's future location.
Will the minister take this opportunity to reiterate the Executive's determination to spread the benefits of Government employment throughout Scotland? Will he agree that we cannot afford to treat every potential substantial move of employment out of Edinburgh or Glasgow as a special case?
As I made clear in evidence to the Finance Committee, the objective of the Executive's policy remains to spread jobs throughout Scotland. However, we need to examine the process and the review before decisions are taken. We have made good progress in the first stage and I hope that we will be able to come to a view on the matter once the next stage of the review has been completed.
Question 5 is from Frances Curran. Let the record show that Frances Curran is not present.
Fife Council (Planning)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet Fife Council to discuss planning issues. (S2O-9274)
Officials from the Scottish Executive liaise regularly with officials from Fife Council to discuss planning issues. However, there are no firm arrangements for any meetings in the immediate future.
Perhaps the minister should be contacting council officials reasonably soon. She might not be aware that, under Fife Council's recently published structure plan, the town of Cupar is facing the imposition of a minimum of 1,500 new houses over the planning period, which represents a population increase of around 38 per cent. Is the minister aware that a proposed new relief road around the town is to be used as bait for developers planning large-scale housing developments that are simply not needed? Does the minister agree that what Fife Council is proposing for Cupar is not so much a planning process as a bargaining process with developers?
I am sure that Mr Brocklebank appreciates that it would be totally inappropriate for me to comment on matters covered by the structure plan of Fife Council or any other local authority. The council is charged with the responsibility of delivering a structural plan. As Mr Brocklebank will be aware, that structure plan will shortly be submitted to the Executive for approval. The process is a rigorous one.
When the minister gets round to examining Fife Council's structure plan, will she ask the council some difficult questions? Will she ask it to justify the proposed number of houses given the actual population and sustainable housing projections for Fife, rather than accept the number of people whom the council wishes to attract from other local authority areas in order to grow the population artificially, which would result in real strain on Fife's economic, environmental and social infrastructures?
I do not "get round" to things; I deal with matters as they reach my desk in a serious and rigorous manner. As I have already indicated, it is not appropriate for me to comment on matters that are dealt with in a structure plan before it is submitted to the Executive for approval. We recognise the role of local authorities and we understand the challenges of developing affordable housing throughout Scotland, which is another area of responsibility. Although I cannot comment on the specifics of the Fife structure plan, the member will know that the Executive takes the process extremely seriously and will follow it with rigour.
Elderly Care (Local Government Funding)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities have been allocated sufficient funds under the local government finance settlement to implement the elderly care package commitments. (S2O-9283)
We have made substantial provision in the local government finance settlement for services for older people. That includes amounts for free personal and nursing care, for care home fees, for faster access to services and for the increasing number of older people. Total provision for spending by local authorities on community care is £1.6 billion this year, of which about £1 billion is for the care of older people.
Given the concerns about funding that many councils have expressed, is the minister confident that local authorities are not delaying assessments for elderly care packages because of a lack of resources? What is he saying to the authorities that have a waiting list of people who have been assessed as requiring a care package but have not yet received it?
It is for local authorities to assess and meet the community care needs of older people, including the provision of free personal care and nursing care where appropriate. However, I am aware that a number of local authorities are operating waiting lists for personal and nursing care. My officials are pursuing that with the councils in question and we will work with them to help them to understand and address their responsibilities for the provision of care and to ensure that older people are able to access the services to which they are entitled.
How long will it take to get sufficient ancillary workers to complement the Executive's excellent plan for free home care for the elderly? When will the Executive meet its targets for conscripting or bringing those people into the system?
I was not aware that the Scottish Executive had the power to conscript workers into its services. As I said, it is for local authorities to assess and meet the community care needs of older people, including the provision of care services. I am aware that a number of councils have had difficulties in that area and my officials are engaging with them to try to get to the bottom of that. We intend to continue such dialogue with councils to ensure that every elderly person in Scotland who is entitled to care services receives them.
Last week, Dundee City Council told the Health Committee that, as far as it is concerned, the problem is that it does not have enough money. On the one hand, the minister tells us that he has given the council enough money and, on the other hand, the council tells us that it does not have enough money. In the meantime, my constituents and their families are on waiting lists for free personal care. What will the minister do to resolve that?
As I said, we have made substantial moneys available to local government for the delivery of care services. In 2004, when the spending review was completed, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities agreed with us that we had met fully the costs of the services over the spending review period. That is why we are now engaging with councils to ascertain why the position has changed.
Public Housing Stock (Micro-renewables)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to ensure that micro-renewables are introduced into the public housing stock to reduce fuel bills and benefit the environment. (S2O-9299)
The Scottish community and householder renewables initiative, established in 2002, promotes the development of new community and household renewable energy projects in Scotland and has supported a number of community housing projects.
The recent successful climate change and renewable energy seminar in Stirling shows that there is considerable interest in micro-renewables. Is the minister considering further pilots in this area? Is it possible to meet her to discuss how to maximise the take-up of micro-renewables not only in local authority and community ownership housing but in private housing and in future as well as existing developments?
Yes. We are producing a planning advice note on micro-renewables, which is to be published in April. An interim review of the Scottish community and householder renewables initiative will consider how it can be taken forward. We will ensure that our energy-efficiency strategy is fully informed by that work.
Affordable Rented Housing
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase the supply of affordable land for affordable rented housing. (S2O-9298)
The proposals in the current Planning etc (Scotland) Bill will revitalise development planning in Scotland, and the new planning advice note on affordable housing that we published last year is beginning to have an impact. To build on that, the Minister for Communities intends to chair a joint housing and planning forum to establish what more can be done at local level to improve delivery in the areas of greatest need. The Minister for Communities has also commissioned a short research project to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the various options, including a separate use class for affordable housing.
l am grateful for that positive reply. The minister understands the desperate situation in several local authority areas, including East Lothian, where the urgent need for affordable rented housing is far greater than the supply of council and housing association housing. Perhaps if certain Scottish Executive officials were to sit in on one of my surgeries, they might have a better understanding of just how serious the situation is for many families in our constituencies.
If I were not aware of the challenging issues around affordable housing in East Lothian, it would be because I have not been listening to John Home Robertson lately—he has been more than persistent in pursuing those matters. We recognise the different housing challenges in areas such as the one that the member represents and in others throughout Scotland.
Education and Young People, Tourism, Culture and Sport
Schools (Health Promotion)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken in schools to support health promotion. (S2O-09318)
A great deal of action is being taken by the Executive to support health promotion in schools. The concept is embedded in our health promoting schools programme with all schools set to be health promoting by 2007.
Given that this is national obesity awareness week and that the Executive will soon publish its infant feeding strategy for Scotland, is the minister aware of any plans to raise awareness among children of school age of breastfeeding as a healthy lifestyle choice that protects against obesity? Is he aware of best practice in my constituency, where the healthy lifestyle project has successfully piloted a curriculum-based initiative in Rosehall high school that has shown positive results?
I am not aware of Elaine Smith's specific point about the approach to educating young people in schools about breastfeeding, but I will look into it and send her a reply. We seek to put her more general points right at the heart of our curriculum in trying to encourage young people to think about their health and well-being—we are encouraging schools to think much more effectively about that than they have done in the past. The curriculum review exercise that is under way will ensure that all health-related matters are embedded in our curriculum into the future.
School Sport (Out-of-hours Provision)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to monitor and review the provision of out-of-hours school sport. (S2O-9294)
The Scottish Executive does not monitor or review out-of-hours school sport specifically. It is for local authorities and schools to decide on what out-of-hours school sports opportunities to offer. However, the Executive strongly supports increased out-of-hours provision of all kinds, including sports. Through the national priorities action fund £12 million has been made available to local authorities to deliver out-of-hours learning opportunities. That is on top of other funding streams and the work of active schools co-ordinators.
There is genuine concern in the sporting community that the money is not finding its way to deliver out-of-hours school sport. The minister will be aware that I wrote to his colleague, the Minister for Education and Young People, on that matter. However, I was disappointed that the response came from the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport. There is a lack of joined-up thinking in the Executive between the departments with responsibility for education and for sport, particularly in relation to out-of-hours sport and physical education. I would be grateful to know whether the deputy minister would at least be prepared to attend the meeting that has been offered by the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport so that we can begin to have that joined-up thinking between the two departments.
I know that Karen Gillon's long interest in this issue goes back to her days as convener of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee and I am well aware of her exchange of correspondence with ministers on the matter. However, the meeting with the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport that she referred to has yet to be set up, as the minister has not returned from Melbourne. I am happy to be involved—or, indeed, for my colleague to be involved—in that meeting on behalf of the Education Department, because I accept entirely that the issue cuts across several departmental boundaries.
Tourism (Highlands and Islands)
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is holding with tourism stakeholder groups in the Highlands and Islands on the future of the industry. (S2O-09278)
The Executive and VisitScotland regularly talk to stakeholder groups in the area to discuss ways of growing tourism revenues in the Highlands and Islands.
The minister might be aware that Golf Scotland has been charged with reviewing regional golf. However, is he also aware of concerns in the Highlands and Islands tourism industry that funding is being awarded only to new tourism initiatives, often at the expense of long-established, successful and tried-and-trusted projects such as Golf Highland? That organisation, which represents many smaller courses in the region, is apparently unable to apply for funding and is therefore forced to rely on its membership. Will the minister examine the situation and ensure that Golf Highland and other such well-established groups are not penalised by their success?
I will look into the matter and discuss Mr McGrigor's point with Patricia Ferguson when she gets back from Melbourne. We are right to promote golf as a major plank of our tourism strategy. Of course, the Highlands and Islands in particular has some of the finest golf courses that can be found anywhere in the world. I know that in my own town of Nairn—which has two superb golf courses that people are most welcome to play on—many organisations and tourism businesses have put serious effort into using the excellence of the quality of golf in the area as a means of promoting the area itself. I am sure that that approach, which has brought many benefits, will go from strength to strength and bring many benefits in future.
Child Protection
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has implemented all 17 recommendations in the child protection report, "It's everyone's job to make sure I'm alright", published in November 2002. (S2O-09320)
The three-year child protection reform programme was established to take forward the issues raised in "It's everyone's job to make sure I'm alright" and other relevant work. Of the 11 recommendations for the Scottish Executive, six have been achieved and five are in progress.
The minister will be aware that the deadline for implementing those recommendations was November 2005, which has passed. When the First Minister says that everyone involved in child protection has a responsibility to fulfil their duties, does he include himself and the Scottish Executive? The Executive is seeking later this year to introduce laws that will penalise child protection workers who do not share information. When will it implement the child protection report's recommendation that there be a national scheme to allow professionals in different areas to assess and share information?
I know that, like all members in the chamber, Fiona Hyslop is concerned about these complex issues. However, this issue is less about ticking boxes than about carrying out effective work to make things better in this difficult area.
School Leavers (Qualifications)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards reducing the number of young people in Dundee leaving school without any qualifications. (S2O-09266)
In common with all local authorities, Dundee City Council is implementing a range of changes to practice that are designed to improve the performance of those who are performing least well in our schools. More widely, curriculum changes that are under way will impact on that group, in particular by opening up new academic and vocational options.
Does the minister share my concern about the latest available figures, which show that the proportion of children in Dundee who leave school with no qualifications is well above the national average? Nearly one child in 10 leaves school without a single standard grade to their name, which is more than twice the national average. Is it likely that the figures that are due to be published next month will show any improvement? What else does the minister intend to do to turn around a situation that is failing too many young people in my constituency?
I cannot comment on unpublished figures to which I have not yet had access, but I share the member's concern that in Dundee, as in some other communities, the proportion of young people who leave school without qualifications is significantly above the national average. As Shona Robison mentioned, the rate in Dundee is twice the national average, although it has noticeably improved since 2001, when it was even higher.
Probationary Teachers
To ask the Scottish Executive how many probationary teachers are expected to enter employment in schools this year. (S2O-09319)
Based on current student numbers, we expect around 3,500 newly qualified teachers to join the teacher induction scheme in August. That is an increase of 800 over last year's probationer numbers.
I hope that the minister recalls his recent visit to Alexandra primary school, where he met probationary teachers and their mentors. Does he agree that the teacher induction scheme for probationers has provided positive benefits to many schools, including Alexandra primary school, despite its need for a new building? Does he further agree that the scheme is contributing to improving the quality of teaching in Scotland?
I recall my visit to the school. The point was made to me then, and has been made to me umpteen times since, about the school's need for physical upgrading. I assure the Parliament that the local member has been assiduous in pursuing that point with me and colleagues.
Swimming Baths (Free Access)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to introduce free access to swimming baths for children and senior citizens in the central region. (S2O-09275)
It is for individual local authorities to determine whether to charge for entry to their swimming pools. However, it is open to authorities to offer children and senior citizens free swimming under the Scottish Executive's quality of life fund and the community regeneration fund.
What does the minister intend to do to get rid of the postcode lottery whereby people in South Lanarkshire get free access to bathing facilities, whereas the cost of a season ticket for a pensioner in North Lanarkshire rose by 50 per cent in the past year?
I make the point again that that is a matter for local authorities. It is the essence of local democracy that there will be different provision in different parts of the country, which is as it should be. Having said that, although the cost of entry is important, it is not the sole issue—issues about supporting clubs, community involvement and the comradeship of sport come into it as well. It is important that an holistic view is taken about these things, as all the research suggests that simply dealing with access costs does not produce a sustained increase in the number of people who use a facility.
In the Highlands and Islands there are many areas, such as the Black Isle, where access to swimming pools is limited. In the light of population increases in those areas, what is the minister doing to remedy that situation?
I can only repeat that it is a matter for local authorities in their own areas. They are given substantial funding of one sort or another to support swimming pool facilities and access to them. I have in front of me a substantial list of facilities—which includes projects in the Highlands—that have been built or renovated over recent years, totalling around £50 million of investment. A good deal is being done throughout Scotland to support those important facilities.
Schools (Army Recruitment)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to prevent Army recruitment officers from entering schools. (S2O-09281)
Army careers advisers usually attend careers fairs at the invitation of local authorities. We have no plans to change that.
They also speak to children who are on education initiatives. Is the minister not concerned that many of the young people who are targeted by Army recruitment are vulnerable? The offer of three meals a day, a roof over their head and training is attractive, but it does not do what it says on the label, and they often find themselves in the front line in Iraq or Afghanistan when they should be in college, at work or in training. Is the minister aware that many of those young people come from the poorer backgrounds that he talked about earlier, and that they are disadvantaged in many ways, as Gordon Gentle was? Does the minister share my concern that those young people are, basically, economic conscripts and that schools and education initiatives should not be used for recruitment to the armed forces?
Joining the Army is a legitimate choice, among a range of careers, for any young person in our society. I believe that Army careers officers behave in a professional way in conducting their activities. They fit within a wide range of careers that are opened up for young people. Young people are then quite legitimately given the opportunity to make choices. We need good entrants into the Army as we need good entrants into other professions. Young people who enter the Army benefit from good training. They are aware of the dangers of the job—they are pointed out to them as part of the recruitment process—and, generally speaking, they make the decision with their families. We have no plans to change what is currently happening. It is successful.
sportscotland (Headquarters)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on the location of the headquarters of sportscotland. (S2O-09306)
A number of issues affecting the future location of sportscotland's headquarters are still under active consideration. An announcement will be made once that is complete.
I welcome the minister's comments about active consideration, as it has been two years since active consideration was given to the issue. I recognise that a decision may be imminent—I hope that it is imminent—but does the minister acknowledge that it would be unacceptable to locate our national sports headquarters anywhere other than in the east end of Glasgow, where the new national arena will be, because that would let down not just the city of Glasgow but Glasgow's Commonwealth games bid on behalf of Scotland? Does he agree that the comments that were made by the chairperson of sportscotland about the impact on staff of any relocation weaken the Commonwealth games bid and are unfair to staff in this sensitive situation?
As members will know, Frank McAveety is a strong advocate for his city. He has written to Patricia Ferguson about this matter and he spoke to me about it as I walked with him down the Royal Mile after this morning's question time—in fact, he spoke about nothing else as we walked the length of the Royal Mile. He has made his points very clearly.
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First Minister's Question Time