General Questions
Fuel Poverty (Impact of Price Increases)
To ask the Scottish Government what impact it considers the recently announced increases in domestic energy prices will have on its efforts to eradicate fuel poverty. (S4O-00022)
Price increases such as those that Scottish Power announced last week could undermine the Scottish Government’s commitment to eradicating fuel poverty by 2016 as far as is practicable. In Scotland, 770,000 households are in fuel poverty. Despite the successes to date in helping more than 200,000 people to improve the energy efficiency of their homes through the Scottish Government’s energy assistance package and home insulation schemes, it is estimated that as many as 46,000 more households—2 per cent of households—will be pushed into fuel poverty every time energy prices rise by 5 per cent.
I am sure that the minister agrees that, without the power to regulate our energy market, what our Scottish Government can do to tackle fuel poverty is restricted. However, given the clear success—which he mentioned—of our groundbreaking energy assistance package, which focuses Scottish Government support on those who are most at risk of being in fuel poverty, what further steps will the Government take to continue to target support on those people and to mitigate where possible the worst effects of the unacceptable price hikes?
Bob Doris is right to make his point. Many people in Scotland are struck by the contrast between an energy-rich Scotland and the price hikes that severely affect many of the vulnerable in Scotland.
The energy assistance package is aimed at a much broader range of people who are in fuel poverty than the previous central heating programme was. The EAP provides support to pensioners and families who live in the most energy-inefficient housing. Recently, eligibility has been extended to support the most vulnerable disabled people, and we will shortly extend it further to include the most vulnerable carers.
Commuter Rail Services (Fife)
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with First ScotRail regarding the provision of commuter rail services in Fife. (S4O-00023)
Transport Scotland meets First ScotRail regularly to discuss matters that relate to rail services, including those in Fife. The issue has also been raised at general meetings that I have held with Steve Montgomery, First ScotRail’s managing director.
The minister will be aware that the CrossCountry Trains daily 7.35 service between Dundee and Edinburgh was withdrawn from 23 May, which has resulted in overcrowding on southbound ScotRail services—especially the one that calls at Leuchars at 7.20 and Cupar at 7.28—and has created a gap of more than an hour in the timetable of trains to Edinburgh. Will the minister intercede with the management of CrossCountry Trains, perhaps through Transport Scotland, with a view to having them reconsider the withdrawal of the 7.35 service?
I assure Roderick Campbell that Transport Scotland officials will continue discussions with the Department for Transport next week about options for providing additional cross-border train capacity through Fife into Edinburgh in the mornings. ScotRail has monitored patronage on its remaining morning peak services between Dundee and Edinburgh and will continue to monitor the demand for those services, so that it can present proposals to manage overcrowding by the end of July.
Roderick Campbell is aware that the situation results from the decision by CrossCountry Trains. Lord Adonis wrote to my predecessor, Stewart Stevenson, about the proposals back in 2009, when we said that any diminution of cross-border services would be unacceptable. I have also written to the Minister of State for Transport, Theresa Villiers, and received a more positive response. Discussions will continue to try to address the implications for Scottish services of the changes that have been made.
When the minister meets First ScotRail, will he raise the question of capacity on the Fife commuter line? Even before the service to which Roderick Campbell referred was cancelled, peak-time services could be extremely overcrowded, as I am sure you know, Presiding Officer.
I am more than happy to do what Murdo Fraser has asked. Indeed, if he provides specific details of the affected services, I will be happy to look into them. Although ScotRail should be doing that anyway, things are made difficult when services are changed by rule of the Department for Transport. Such moves have implications for Scottish services and it is very hard for ScotRail to fill in the gaps; indeed, there is also a cost attached to that. We are trying to pursue the matter and if we get a good response from the United Kingdom Government on the implications of its changes, it will be easier for us to deal with overcrowding on existing services.
A77 (Improvements)
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on improvements to the A77 south of Ayr since 1999, how much it plans to spend in the future and what it considers the economic benefits of such expenditure to be. (S4O-00024)
Since 1999, a total of £32.2 million has been spent on delivering schemes on the A77 trunk road south of Ayr, £30.3 million of which has been delivered by the Scottish Government since 2007, and we are currently progressing schemes worth an estimated £23.5 million of future investment in that key route.
The economic benefits are substantial. These investments help to improve access to the south-west of Scotland, which supports long-term sustainable economic growth and improves reliability for companies and individuals using the ports at Stranraer and Cairnryan.
I thank the minister for that detailed answer. Earlier this week, during his visit to Maybole, the First Minister expressed his support for a bypass for the town and suggested that acquiring additional borrowing powers from Westminister could provide a potential solution to a current funding problem. Will the minister agree to review the priority status of the bypass project, the need for which will become ever more pressing in light of the fact that traffic flows on the A77 are set to increase by up to 30 per cent as a consequence of the new Irish ferry services becoming operational later this year? Is he willing to visit Maybole with me so that he can increase his understanding of the issue and meet local campaigners?
I certainly agree that increased borrowing powers will make a major difference, particularly with regard to infrastructure projects. This is the time to invest in transport, housing and other such matters, given that at this stage of the economic cycle we can do things much more cheaply.
That said, I recognise the importance of the Maybole bypass to Maybole residents and businesses and for wider links with the Loch Ryan ports, and I will be very happy to accompany Mr Ingram on the visit that he has suggested.
As the minister knows, the strategic transport projects review identified the considerable benefits of dualling the A77 around Ayr and grade-separating local junctions on that section of the carriageway. Given those clear benefits, which include reduced journey times, additional capacity for traffic—which is required to allow the town to expand—and improved access to the ports on Loch Ryan and Stranraer, will the minister confirm that the Scottish Government intends to proceed with those interventions and is he able to offer a timescale for their commencement?
John Scott must acknowledge that our budget has just been cut by £1.3 billion, £800 million of which is capital funding, and that such a cut puts a strain on the STPR. We would like to progress many of the projects in the review right now but cannot do so because of finance. However, I take his point and assure him that we are looking at the situation. As soon as we have the money to take forward the scheme that he has referred to and, indeed, other schemes, we will do so.
Before we come to question 4, I just want to say that I would like to make a bit more progress and, as a result, I ask members for short questions and ministers for short answers.
Severe Winter Weather (Damage to Roads)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made towards reinstating roads damaged by severe winter weather conditions. (S4O-00025)
Recognising the impact of last winter’s severe weather, the Scottish Government gave local authorities an extra £15 million—three times the previous year’s level—and Transport Scotland an extra £4 million to allow works to be programmed to address sections of road most in need of repair. On trunk roads, we have now completed 96 per cent of permanent winter pothole repairs.
The minister will be aware that the section of the A90 between the north and south Brechin junctions in my constituency is constructed of concrete, which makes it a great deal more difficult to repair. Even the small holes that are left will become cracks in next winter’s freeze-thaw cycles.
Can we have a question please, Mr Don?
Will the minister take specific notice of the fact that that particular section needs to be dealt with differently?
We are aware of the defects on the A90 Brechin bypass concrete carriageway and in the past have found a flexible asphaltic material for pothole repairs to be very effective. The potholes are monitored and repaired as necessary following weekly inspections. However, because that carriageway is made of concrete, larger-scale repairs are generally gathered together into a single repair programme carried out later in the year. If Mr Don so wishes, I am happy to discuss this particular issue with him.
Early Years Framework
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to take forward its early years framework. (S4O-00026)
Since its publication in December 2008, we have made excellent progress on implementing the framework and over the next five years we will build on the legacy of the previous parliamentary term and continue to push forward with our ambitious early years programme.
Does the minister agree that preventative spending in early years is crucial in ensuring that vulnerable and disadvantaged children secure a good start in life? If so, how will the Scottish Government progress that?
I certainly agree with the member. There is very compelling evidence that every £1 spent on the early years saves £9 later on. Of course, there is a moral as well as an economic imperative to early intervention and, as Mr Gibson may know, the Government is committed to introducing legislation and a £50 million change fund.
I recognise the minister’s personal commitment to the early years agenda. She will acknowledge that, just before the election, considerable momentum built up in the Parliament with regard to preventative spending, particularly in the first three years of life, but how will she ensure that the priority that the Government and Parliament have attached to the agenda is translated into action by local authorities throughout Scotland? Does she think that there needs to be more central direction to ensure that the priority is implemented throughout Scotland?
I thank the member for his interest in this issue. He is right to highlight the importance of the very early years. First and foremost, the Government intends to take the matter forward with its local government partners through dialogue; nevertheless, we have made a very clear commitment to bringing forward early legislation to embed the early years framework and getting it right for every child throughout Scotland. I am more than happy to have a more detailed conversation with Mr Chisholm on the matter.
Social Housing (Rural Communities)
First, I should declare the interest noted in my register of interests.
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that provision is made for extra costs associated with social housing in fragile rural communities. (S4O-00027)
We are making a decisive change in our support for new housing developments by using Government funding to lever in maximum investment from other sources and thereby maximising construction. Housing association bids to the new innovation and investment fund will be assessed against a benchmark of a £40,000 subsidy per unit, but we have also made it clear that we retain the flexibility to consider higher subsidies where, for example, projects require additional support to reflect the challenges in some remote and rural locations.
The minister has partly answered my supplementary, but is he aware that the reduction in the affordable housing grant has made it very difficult for housing associations and other organisations to consider building houses in the most fragile rural areas in the Highlands and Islands region? These are often the most remote communities where, although building costs are the highest, sustainability can be assured by the construction of a very small number of houses.
I am aware that the reduced subsidy for affordable housing will increase the challenges of building in our more remote rural communities. To assist such development, we have made it clear that, in assessing submissions to the innovation and investment fund for projects in more remote and rural communities, we will retain flexibility in considering the levels of subsidy. I should tell the member that the assessment process has only started and that announcements on the bids will be made in the autumn but, nevertheless, I am happy to discuss the matter further with him if he so wishes.
Does the minister recognise that in certain urban communities the concept of the balanced community is also very fragile? In East Kilbride, for example, that manifests itself in a critical lack of social rented housing. Will the minister commit to meeting me and appropriate representatives from East Kilbride soon to discuss this increasingly concerning situation with a view to considering the kind of viable solutions that he has just outlined in some measure in his response to Mr MacKenzie?
Of course, I am unable to wish away these particular budget pressures. However, I am aware of the challenges facing different communities and am more than happy to meet the member to discuss the matter.
Asylum Seekers (Education)
To ask the Scottish Government what statutory duties local authorities have for the provision of education for those seeking refugee status. (S4O-00028)
Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, local authorities have a duty to provide adequate and efficient provision of school education for all children residing in their local area. That duty does not distinguish between children and young people on the basis of their asylum or refugee status.
Can I ask that next time the minister—or the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning—sends round a circular to the heads of education in local authorities, reminds heads of education of their duty to provide education for all children throughout Scotland, particularly those seeking refugee status, and that vulnerable minority groups be treated with dignity and respect in relation to placing requests?
If Mr Wilson thinks that that would be helpful, I am sure that the cabinet secretary and I would be happy to oblige.
Civil Law (Representation)
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to members of the public who are unable to obtain legal representation in a civil law case. (S4O-00029)
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people get the support they need in the civil courts. Members of the public are supported in finding a solicitor by means of telephone and web-based advice services provided by the Scottish Legal Aid Board and the Law Society of Scotland. We are also providing £1.3 million of funding in 2011-12 for a network of civil legal assistance offices in particular areas of Scotland and £1.8 million for both solicitor and lay advice services and a network of in-court advisers. Finally, we legislated in 2010 to give the Scottish Legal Aid Board responsibility for monitoring the availability and accessibility of legal services in Scotland.
I have some constituents whose lawyer is no longer practising—the firm is no longer practising—and who have been through a myriad of organisations to try to get a lawyer to take on their case. Bearing in mind the information that the minister has provided, will she please meet me to sit down and discuss providing further information or assistance to my constituents?
If a legal firm representing someone has ceased to operate for whatever reason, the Scottish Legal Aid Board would not terminate an existing grant of civil legal aid—I assume that that has not happened. In such circumstances the person concerned would obviously have to find a new solicitor to represent them but, as I indicated, they would be able to draw on the support of the Scottish Legal Aid Board and the Law Society of Scotland in doing so. I am happy to sit down and discuss with Stuart McMillan how successful or otherwise his attempts thus far have been. I am not sure whether the roll-out of the civil legal assistance offices is a help in this particular case, but we are also targeting funding programmes that could provide assistance to a person lacking representation. I am happy to discuss all that with the member.
Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Budget and Staffing)
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the budget and staffing for Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland have been reduced. (S4O-00030)
Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland is a new organisation with a new budget. In creating the new organisation from the previous bodies—primarily the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and the Social Work Inspection Agency—efficiencies have been made in administrative and management costs and in rationalising certain aspects of inspection activities.
The reduction from the combined budgets of SCSWIS’s predecessor bodies in 2010-11 to the SCSWIS budget for 2011-12 is from £35.894 million to £35.444 million, a reduction of £0.45 million, or just over 1 per cent. The allocation for future years will be set in the context of the forthcoming spending review.
The cabinet secretary knows that the overall reduction in the budget is 25 per cent. Does she consider that a reduction of almost 20 per cent of staff in the care inspectorate, the majority of whom are front-line inspection staff, is in keeping with securing the highest possible standards of care?
As we discussed in a debate last week, Jackie Baillie will know that, although she is insinuating that there has been a 25 per cent reduction in the budget this year—if that indeed is what she is doing—that is absolutely not the case.
I am under no illusions—I am sure that no member is under any illusions—about the fundamental, critical importance of a robust inspection agency. This Government will always take all steps necessary to ensure that we have that system in place to protect the interests of the most vulnerable in our society.