Good morning. The first item of business is general question time.
Antisocial Behaviour
Tackling antisocial behaviour and making communities safer and stronger remain a top priority for the Government. In March 2009, the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities jointly published their framework for tackling antisocial behaviour, “Promoting Positive Outcomes: Working Together to Prevent Antisocial Behaviour in Scotland”. That recognised that prevention, early and effective intervention and diversion should be at the framework’s heart.
There is no doubt that antisocial behaviour affects communities throughout Scotland. In South Lanarkshire, some 36 per cent of people are affected by it, and 35 per cent have a fear of crime in their neighbourhood. In checking the Government’s progress on tackling antisocial behaviour, I noted that it published the first annual report on the antisocial behaviour framework in November 2010, but there has been no report since then. Has the minister given up on promoting activity to combat antisocial behaviour?
Hardly. The member no doubt will be happy to hear that a post-implementation report on the antisocial behaviour framework will be produced later this year. Of course, the Government has taken forward a massive programme of reform since 2007—and indeed 2011—that contributes to tackling antisocial behaviour and delivering improvements for the people of Scotland. We have done a number of things, including taking forward measures to address antisocial behaviour in housing, which I know is a particular concern for a lot of people. All of that has meant that the timing of the second report to Parliament has been attenuated somewhat. However, as I said, it will be published later this year.
On housing, I ask the minister to consider revisiting the process for evicting antisocial tenants, particularly where there is mixed-tenure occupancy. In my neck of the woods, with Scottish Borders Housing Association, it is certainly not operating effectively.
I am aware of the situation that pertains in the member’s constituency. The Scottish Government has consulted on a range of proposals to toughen up the tenancy rules for affordable rented housing tenants who engage in antisocial behaviour. They include measures to allow previous antisocial behaviour to be taken into account in the allocation of housing, antisocial tenants losing tenancy rights, and a simplification of the process for evicting the worst offenders.
Schoolchildren (Additional Support Needs)
The reason for the increase in the number of pupils with additional support needs in Scotland is well understood. Prior to 2010, only pupils who had co-ordinated support plans or individual education programmes or who were attending a special school were recorded and reported as having additional support needs. In 2010, that was extended to include anyone receiving additional support, regardless of whether that was under a formal plan. That accounts for the large increase in the number of pupils who are recorded and reported as having additional support needs since 2010.
I note what the cabinet secretary says, but he will be aware from the statistics that even before 2010 there was a substantial year-on-year rise in the number of pupils with additional support needs. Although some of that can be put down to better recognition and diagnosis, does the cabinet secretary agree that we need some proper scientific and medical research on whether underlying societal, medical or environmental factors are driving the increases? That could include, for example, looking at the increasing number of youngsters who are identified as being on the autistic spectrum.
I am glad that Murdo Fraser accepts the reason that I gave for the change in statistics. It is very important to separate out the reason for the change in those statistics and statistical reporting from the issue to which he refers, which is worthy of further discussion.
Unscheduled Care (NHS Lanarkshire)
We have put in place a £50 million action plan to improve how quickly people are seen and who treats them, so that they can leave hospital as soon as they are ready. We are also improving links with other areas of healthcare so that support is in place for people to be treated at home if possible.
I take this opportunity to impress on the Scottish Government the scale and urgency of the problem in accident and emergency units in Lanarkshire, where there were more than 11,000 breaches of the waiting times standard last year. Up to the middle of last month, 51 out of 73 of the longest waits—waits of more than 12 hours—in Lanarkshire occurred at Hairmyres hospital, and I have continued to receive reports of bed shortages and patients waiting beyond the four-hour target.
Can we get a question, Ms McCulloch?
How exactly will the action plan help to bring down excessive waits in Lanarkshire, and what assurances can the cabinet secretary provide that he has a grip on the health service, after months of bad reports about waiting times in Lanarkshire emergency rooms?
I assure Margaret McCulloch that I have got a grip.
I seem to remember that the Labour Party wanted to close Monklands A and E.
Can we just get a question, Mr Lyle? It is a supplementary.
Has there been an increase in the number of A and E staff in NHS Lanarkshire in the past five years?
In NHS Lanarkshire, the number of medical healthcare science staff who work in the emergency medicine speciality has increased from 58 in September 2008 to 66 in December 2012—an increase of eight, which is equivalent to almost 14 per cent. In NHS Lanarkshire, the number of consultants who work in the emergency medicine speciality has increased from 12 in September 2008 to 29 in December 2012—an increase of 17, which represents a 142 per cent increase.
Question 4, from Richard Simpson, has not been lodged. The member has provided an acceptable explanation.
Dental Services (NHS Ayrshire and Arran)
Since May 2007, NHS Ayrshire and Arran has made substantial progress in the provision of national health service general dental services. From March 2007 to September 2012, the proportion of children registered with a dentist under national health service arrangements increased from 71.2 per cent to 88.9 per cent; for adults, the increase was from 53.2 per cent to 83.9 per cent. In 2007, approximately 42 per cent of dental practices in Ayrshire and Arran accepted new NHS patients; the current figure is 93 per cent.
I thank the cabinet secretary for detailing the tremendous progress that has been made under this Government in providing dental services in Ayrshire and Arran. What further improvements will be made to those services, and what will be the timescale for their delivery?
By the measure of the proportion of patients registered with an NHS dentist, NHS Ayrshire and Arran is the leading board in Scotland. As a result, the board’s future plans reflect the need to consolidate the successes that have been achieved as well as the need to address new challenges in future oral health priorities. Although it will continue to promote dental registration, the board also has plans to improve access for certain priority groups, such as dependent older adults, adults with additional needs and homeless people. More work is planned on developing pathways of care to give those groups of people better access to dental care. The board is also committed to the development and delivery of specialist oral healthcare services, such as oral surgery and restorative dentistry, with greater focus on the provision of those services in a primary care setting.
Lands Tribunal for Scotland
There is a right of appeal to the Court of Session against a tribunal decision within 42 days of the decision. If an individual wishes to consider raising an appeal outwith that period, independent legal advice should be sought.
I thank the minister for that answer. A constituent of mine believes that he has recently had sight of documents in the National Archives of Scotland that were not shown some years previously and which, in fact, prove his case. Having exhausted all available funds in trying to prove his case over the years, does he have any other recourse?
As the member will be aware, I cannot provide specific advice, because the issue will always depend on the facts of the case. I have already indicated the option of making an appeal to the Court of Session, and the member’s constituent could go down the road of raising a further case with the Lands Tribunal for Scotland or in the Court of Session. However, if he feels that the material that he has found indicates an inaccuracy in the register, he can take the matter up directly with the keeper of the registers of Scotland in the first instance.
Question 7 is from Liam McArthur. I note that he is not in the chamber. I expect an explanation from him as soon as possible.
Hairpieces Contract (NHS Scotland)
National contracts are a matter for the national procurement division of NHS National Services Scotland. The Scottish Government has no direct involvement.
The cabinet secretary might be aware that if the contract is cancelled, the service offered in Fife will be greatly diminished and clients will be left with the options of having to travel or using mail order, which are either inappropriate or not possible for many. Although disabled access is the issue that has been highlighted, the salon itself is compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and has clients’ confidence and trust. Although I appreciate the cabinet secretary’s response with regard to the Scottish Government’s role in the matter, I urge him to do all that he can to reverse the decision.
I am happy to write to the member, but I point out that Sheds Hairdressing, which is based in Dunfermline, did not tender for the new contract; instead, it was put forward as an agent for A&A Studios, which was one of the successful tenderers. The member might have a total misunderstanding of the contractual position, and I am happy to write to her to explain it.
I have had numerous pieces of correspondence from constituents about the issue, including from Sue Cumming, who said:
I am happy to investigate why that has happened but, of course, the tender, like every other tender, has to comply with European Union procurement rules, and the rules said that the contract had to go out to tender. It is fairly straightforward to see that, if the company did not tender for the contract, it could not win it. The company was an agent for another tenderer, which was a successful tenderer for the contract. I am happy to provide members with detailed information on the issue, because I think that there is a misunderstanding of the contractual position.
Will the minister meet with concerned members? I, too, have had representations, not just from that particular company, but from an Edinburgh-based company that had to close its doors. The fact is that the cabinet secretary’s officials offered an agent in Falkirk a stairlift, but it did not offer that to Sheds in Dunfermline. Why is one being treated with a degree of equity when another is not?
The obvious question in my mind is about why A&A Studios—for which Sheds Hairdressing is an agent under the contract—is not offering the service. I am more than happy to arrange to meet members from Fife so that we can try to bottom out the matter.
Funeral Directors (Accreditation)
Information on the accreditation of funeral directors, which are private sector organisations, is not held by the Scottish Government.
That might not help me with my next question, which is whether there are plans for an information or training campaign for funeral directors before the full implementation of the Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011. That follows confusion that has caused constituents of mine a great deal of anguish at a difficult time.
The trade body, the National Association of Funeral Directors, is represented on the death certification national advisory group, which is directing the implementation of the work. More specifically, the association is working with the Scottish Government, the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management and the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities to ensure that awareness raising takes place and that relevant guidance is provided to the industry in advance of national implementation of the 2011 act.
Early Years Strategy
The Scottish Government welcomes the report from Save the Children and the focus that it brings to the importance of high-quality support for women and their children. Our early years framework clearly sets out the steps that we need to take to make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up. Our multi-agency early years collaborative, which brings together partners from across civic Scotland to deliver with and for our children and families, is part of that activity. Indeed, one of the collaborative’s three stretch aims is to reduce stillbirth and infant mortality in Scotland.
Will the minister join me in congratulating Finland on being named the best country in the world in which to become a mother? Does she share my disappointment that the United Kingdom has fallen from joint 10th to 24th? Will she outline what steps the Scottish Government can take with the powers that it has to emulate the work that is being done in Finland and other small, independent countries, so that we make Scotland the best country in the world in which to become a mother?
Yes, I will join the member in congratulating Finland on being named the best country in the world in which to become a mother. I note with interest the progress that has been made by Finland, which is a small, independent country in northern Europe that is in full control of its destiny and is an example for us all.