SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Education and Young People, Tourism, Culture and Sport
European Championships 2012
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make a solo bid to host the European championships in 2012. (S2O-3220)
That is a matter for the Scottish Football Association. The SFA has not approached the Scottish Executive about bidding to host the European championships in 2012.
I know that 2012 seems a long way away—Scotland will be independent by then and the minister may well be back on civvy street—but I am sure that Mr McAveety will agree that we have to start the ball rolling sooner rather than later. Is he willing to go on record saying that Scotland is perfectly capable of making a solo bid and that that should be the preferred option next time around? Will he reconsider his decision to keep confidential the report that was commissioned into the lessons learned from the failed 2008 bid? We should start the ball rolling so that we can try to win the huge economic and sporting benefits that could be secured for Scotland.
As an individual who is often accused of lacking in self-confidence, I say that there is as much chance of Scotland being independent by that time as I have of being selected for the Scottish football team.
As a strong supporter of the joint bid for 2008, I suggest that, with the benefit of hindsight, we might have had a better chance of success with a solo bid. Even some of my Irish friends now agree with me on that. What lessons have been learned from the last bid so that a future bid by Scotland will have a better chance of success, which would be of immense benefit to Scottish sport, to the Scottish economy and to the promotion of Scotland throughout the world?
One of the key lessons that we learned from the previous experience was about our capacity to navigate the tortuous waters that surround the international football bodies. A key lesson was that, in partnership with our colleagues throughout the United Kingdom, we must maximise the influence of the British football associations to ensure that we maximise opportunities that arise for the home nations. Like Dennis Canavan, I was a keen advocate of the joint bid in order to try to maximise the opportunity that arose. Another key lesson that we learned was about the stadiums and the technical assessment. I felt that Scotland had a strong bid in that sense, but that the nature of the voting process resulted in our not being successful. Until we get the UEFA guidelines and have the views of our governing body, it would be premature to say here and now that we will go for a 2012 bid without looking at those issues, never mind considering the resource implications for the Executive.
Schools (Physical Education)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in plans to increase physical education in schools. (S2O-3230)
I have outlined a 10-point action plan that is aimed at providing more time for physical education in our schools, more teachers of physical education in our schools and more choice in physical education for our pupils. The Scottish Executive Education Department is working with Learning and Teaching Scotland, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education and other stakeholders to take those pledges forward.
I am pleased to hear the minister promise more physical education teachers in our schools. Will he tell us just how many more teachers we can expect? Does he agree that only by encouraging more children to participate will we be able to help them to achieve successes like Andrew Murray's recent achievement?
Janis Hughes makes an important point about Andrew Murray's success, which the First Minister highlighted earlier today. We want that kind of success in our schools and we want young people to come through with those kinds of skills. However, we also want more people to participate actively in sport. That is why we will increase the number of PE teachers by 400, which is a significant increase. Our teacher training colleges and universities have already taken on many more trainees—this year's intake of PE teachers has increased by 300 per cent—to ensure that we can fulfil that pledge of providing 400 extra teachers.
Does the minister agree that it is important not only to increase the level of physical education in our schools but to ensure that the physical education programme is varied? On that note, is he aware that 350 young people from 30 different countries gathered at the Adventure Centre at Ratho last weekend to participate in the world rock-climbing championships? Does he agree that education authorities across the central belt could utilise the Ratho centre to provide a varied PE programme? Given the Ratho centre's financial difficulties, what action will he take to ensure that education authorities use that world-class facility?
I remind Mr Matheson that he may ask only one supplementary question of the minister.
I agree entirely about the need to increase the available choice in physical education programmes for young people in our schools. A key recommendation of our PE review made that very point. We need to widen choice so that we can engage young people in the things that they enjoy doing. Having participated in rock climbing when I was a good deal younger, I would very much welcome it if more young people were involved in that sport. I have been to the Ratho facility, although I have not yet climbed there—
It is very good.
I take the member's word for it. I will be happy to try the facility out when I regain some fitness.
What progress is being made through the active schools programme to improve the involvement of parents and volunteers in the provision of after-school sports clubs?
Lord James highlights an important issue. Developing sports and increasing capacity are not only about increasing the number of teachers in our schools—although that is an important part—but about encouraging links between schools and the voluntary associations that provide a great deal of high-quality sport in Scotland. Our active primary school programme now extends to more than 600 primary schools in Scotland and to all local authorities except one. We have employed co-ordinators to develop the initiative. The thrust of the programme is to ensure that more young people are more active within the school, but we also need to take activity beyond school, so we require the help of volunteers in that process.
Scottish Traditional Music
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to support Scottish traditional music in responding to requests for examples of Scottish cultural excellence to be performed at overseas events. (S2O-3199)
The Scottish Executive is conscious of the scope for using both traditional and contemporary Scottish music during overseas promotional activities and does so whenever appropriate. Examples of that can be found in our recent promotional programmes in Sweden, Catalonia and the tartan day events in the United States.
In answer to my question earlier this year, the minister's colleague Andy Kerr dismissed a request to support the invitation to Scottish pipers to play at a tartan day event that was to be organised in Paris. He described the event as "commercial", but what else are the American tartan day events? Does the minister recognise the contradiction in the Government's behaviour in that regard? Will he send an unambiguous message to the Scottish traditional music community by adopting transparent and well-publicised guidelines for any overseas invitations that are received and by showing that our Government is proud to promote our unique culture around the globe?
We actively support traditional music in Scotland. I assure the member that, in any projects and developments in which we are involved, we want to maximise the opportunities for promoting our indigenous culture, traditions and music. That is why a number of visits that ministers have carried out in the past year or so have involved substantial contributions from traditional musicians, such as those who attended the Smithsonian folklife festival, where the stellar talents that we have in Scotland exhibited their work and went down a real storm, so much so that the Scottish Arts Council produced a wonderful CD—"Scotland the Real: Music from Contemporary Caledonia"—which is an opportunity to profile and maximise the wonderful talents that we have in the country.
I am sure that Rob Gibson and the minister will share my delight that the group Gizzen Briggs is coming down from my home town of Tain to play on the day when the Queen comes to open our splendid new Parliament building. The minister mentioned a CD. Does he agree that we could probably go a little further to help recording facilities, which would really promote our local music groups?
Throughout Scotland, local recording studios have been developed through a combination of lottery, local authority and Scottish Arts Council funding. During the summer, I visited one such centre: the Lews Castle College centre for music development in Benbecula. One of the key elements of that project is to enhance the work that has been done in the development of music. Another benefit is that the Scottish Arts Council has developed the tune up programme, which covers a variety of forms of music and aims to showcase the best talents that we have in Scotland. I assure the member that we are working on the issue. We can and wish to do much more, but we are working in partnership with other organisations to maximise the opportunities.
Question 4 has been withdrawn.
Schools (Rugby)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to ensure that all secondary school pupils have the opportunity to participate in rugby. (S2O-3161)
It is for individual education authorities and schools to determine what sporting activities are offered in schools. However, I hope that the excellent work of the Scottish Rugby Union, supported by the Executive, will continue to widen opportunities for schools to offer rugby as an option.
Rugby is one of the Scottish Institute of Sport's core sports, yet less than 30 per cent of our state schools participate in the annual schools cup. Does the minister agree that the promotion of rugby as part of the physical education curriculum could be seen as encouraging a form of social inclusion and that allowing more people to participate could, I hope, improve the success of our national team?
As someone who was brought up in Hawick, how could I possibly disagree with that proposition? I enjoyed playing rugby while in school.
We thought that the minister was climbing.
When I was not climbing, I was playing rugby. I had the great privilege to have Bill McLaren, the voice of world rugby, as my PE teacher. He was a true inspiration and we saw the product of that in contemporaries of mine who went on to play international rugby, such as Jim Renwick, Colin Deans and later Tony Stanger. Hawick has been a rich stable for rugby players and I would love that to be the case more widely throughout Scotland. I will seek to do anything that I can to support that.
Wildlife Tourism
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take as part of its efforts to support growth in wildlife tourism to address any increasing risk that operators and visitors can inadvertently disrupt wildlife and their natural habitats. (S2O-3245)
We are keen to support the development of the tourism sector, particularly green tourism and wildlife tourism, and we have been delighted to support that sector in the past few months and years. The new direction of VisitScotland includes a focus on those niche markets to try to maximise the opportunities that arise from them.
On 20 May, the minister kindly offered to report back to me on VisitScotland's plans to produce a brochure to advertise the green tourism business scheme, but, to the best of my knowledge, I have not yet received such a reply. I would be grateful if I received a detailed reply on exactly how the scheme will be promoted and when the booklet will be printed.
I would be happy to pursue that matter on behalf of the member. As I said, we are keen to ensure that we maximise the opportunities with which wildlife tourism presents us. The member will be aware that in North Berwick recently we launched the wildlife Scotland initiative, which will allow us to examine ways in which we can develop wildlife tourism with a number of major operators while protecting and respecting the environment. If we get that balance right, we can take advantage of wildlife tourism to a greater degree.
Local Tourism Hubs
To ask the Scottish Executive what the funding arrangements will be for the new local tourism hubs. (S2O-3198)
Local tourism hubs will be funded through partnerships with other bodies in their areas, just as area tourist boards are now. That will include funding from local authorities, VisitScotland, Europe and tourism businesses, which will be charged for services such as marketing and quality assurance.
Can the minister clarify what transitional funding arrangements will be in place between the time when ATBs, as they currently are, receive membership fees from businesses and the time when the hubs receive those fees? What will the arrangements be should gaps arise in that period?
We will continue to work actively on that issue and others as we develop the tourism network for Scotland over the coming period. On the issue that Mr Mundell raises, we are waiting for final recommendations from the working groups.
I understand that the new service-level agreements have been designed to ensure that the vital funding link between local authorities and networks remains strong. However, what input will local authorities have in the new structure to enable them to steer local strategies towards encouraging visitor numbers in their areas? I have in mind facilities such as North Lanarkshire Council's Time Capsule, Summerlee heritage park and Drumpellier park in my constituency.
I recognise that we need to resolve that issue over the period of the negotiations, which is why I have been meeting the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and local authority representatives and leaders. I assure the member that the local networks that will develop will be autonomous with regard to some of their resources. We want to ensure that those local authorities and other partners who invest money can demonstrate that it maximises local provision. However, the real trick is to maximise what is done locally while linking that with what we have nationally. That is the sort of integration that we are seeking. I am confident that we are moving forward in that regard. As I said in response to David Mundell, we are actively working on that issue and hope to report soon on the progress that we are making.
Tourism (Jura)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the tourist potential of Jura as the location where George Orwell wrote "Nineteen Eighty-Four". (S2O-3158)
I always found George Orwell's book to be an interesting examination of totalitarianism and absolutism in politics. I am sure that, as he is a libertarian socialist like me, Colin Fox shares my view.
Having trekked to the Barnhill site on Jura, I know how difficult it is to visit it, so I welcome the minister's answer. I hope that he will take the opportunity to press VisitScotland on its plans to tap into what I believe is an enormous potential for cultural tourism connected to sites in Scotland. I am thinking not only of Orwell in Jura but the Grassic Gibbon Centre in Kincardine and so on. Will he press with VisitScotland the case not just for Orwell, but for Lewis Grassic Gibbon and others?
I thank the member for that contribution. In the past couple of months, I visited the Grassic Gibbon Centre in Kincardineshire, which is a positive development. Any way in which we can maximise the contribution that writers, intellectuals and creators have made to our understanding of society would be beneficial. That is why, as well as supporting Jura, we are committed to exploring the option of world city of literature being awarded to Edinburgh through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and will press the case over the coming period. I acknowledge the contribution that such individuals and writers can make to our understanding of a place and its people.
Finance and Public Services and Communities
Land Price Inflation (Social Housing)
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to address the impact of inflation of land prices on the construction of social housing. (S2O-3225)
As part of the review of affordable housing, we have carried out an analysis of price inflation of residential land, which we will factor into the outcomes of our review.
I thank the minister and put on record the thanks of communities in the Borders for the £1.5 million additional housing support to buy land for social housing there. Is she aware of statistics that the Bank of Scotland sent me over the summer showing that, in my constituency, the average property price is now nearly £139,000, which is an increase on the previous year of 44 per cent? Is she aware of the difficulty that that will cause younger people in particular who are trying to enter the housing market or secure social housing? Will she ensure that her department works with Communities Scotland and the lenders to see whether there are productive ways for us to address the issue?
Yes. I am grateful for the response from many organisations in the Borders to the extra resource of £1.5 million. I am sure that Jeremy Purvis will appreciate that that came out of his invitation to me to visit the Borders, where I saw at first hand some of the challenges that communities there face. I understand some of the particular issues around house price inflation that we have in Scotland, which is why we initiated our affordable housing review. I will ensure that the points that Jeremy Purvis made are factored appropriately into that review.
I do not think that I will be part of this love-in. Given that applications for social housing in the Scottish Borders rose from 582 last year to 817 this year, which is an increase of 40 per cent, will the minister consider—for the whole of Scotland, not just the Borders—introducing the right for local authorities to acquire 20 per cent of development sites purchased by private developers for the provision of affordable housing and requiring that developers who have acquired such zoned land have a time limit for completion of the project?
Those kinds of issues are among the ones that we are considering in the review of affordable housing. The member will know that we are considering the modernisation of planning, into which those issues will factor.
Voluntary Sector Funding
To ask the Scottish Executive how voluntary sector funding will be reformed. (S2O-3255)
The Executive is currently undertaking a strategic review of voluntary sector funding in partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. We are now agreeing a joint action plan to take forward key recommendations, which we expect to publish shortly.
We look forward to seeing the definition of "shortly". I am sure that the process has been constructive and we all look forward to reading the published document. How might the Executive's intentions to make efficiency savings in spending on public services impact on the voluntary sector and the overall intentions of the strategic funding review?
As Chris Ballance indicated, we have a constructive working relationship with the voluntary sector and with all key partners, including COSLA, which is part of the discussion. We intend to take forward with those organisations any efficiency proposals that we have. Broadly, most of them would be up for an efficiency agenda because, like us, they share a strong commitment to ensuring that resources are directed to front-line services.
Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the commissioner for children and young people on the impact of the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004. (S2O-3261)
Ministers on the Cabinet's children and young people delivery group met the commissioner in June. They had positive discussions about the commissioner's priorities and about the Executive's agenda to support and encourage young people to achieve their potential and to make positive lifestyle choices. That includes diverting a small minority of young people away from antisocial behaviour.
That is excellent, as far as it goes. Will the minister consider using the commissioner as one method of reassuring young people that they are not being stigmatised, because a lot of the publicity surrounding antisocial behaviour—which I am sure did not reflect anything that the minister said, although the message appeared in the media a lot—was seen by young people as anti-them? Anything that we can do to persuade them that the act is not anti-them would be helpful. The commissioner could help in that way.
I appreciate that the commissioner could be helpful, but I would not want to suggest to her what her agenda should be. However, Donald Gorrie is correct in saying that at no time during the debate on antisocial behaviour did any minister say that the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 was anti-young people. In fact, we continually reiterated the point that it was often young people themselves who were the victims of antisocial behaviour.
I hope that the minister agrees with me that in any future dialogue with the children's commissioner it is important that ministers express the strong view that the needs of young people such as those in my constituency who are chased away from youth facilities because of the behaviour of a small minority, or who are kept in their homes because their parents are afraid to let them go out as a result of what is happening in their communities, should be discussed. The commissioner should be listening to those young people as a matter of urgency and working with the Executive and other agencies that are trying to make our communities as safe as possible.
It is clear that our reason for progressing the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 was to improve the quality of life of all people throughout Scotland, which includes children and young people.
Council Tax
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the council tax to be a fair system of local authority taxation. (S2O-3216)
With due respect to the member, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the issue when the Scottish Executive has recently instigated an independent review in order to look at local government finance. Once the review team has submitted its recommendations, we will respond to them.
I thank the minister for that brief reply. Does he agree that, when local taxation requires pensioners to pay 9.2 per cent of their income, whereas the Prime Minister pays only 0.6 per cent of his income, it is time that Scotland took the lead and replaced the property tax with a fair local income tax?
All forms of taxation will be tested to destruction through the work of the independent review committee. For people on low incomes, there is a council tax benefit system. Indeed, a quarter of households in Scotland benefit from that system, as do 40 per cent of the elderly population. I quote the Help the Aged campaign report:
The minister did not mention the part of the report that says that the council tax is a pensioner tax. Who is on the independent review for which the minister took nine months to develop a remit? When will it report to Parliament on its findings?
I am surprised that the member does not know that the review is being led by Sir Peter Burt, who is being supported by others. It would be inappropriate for ministers to instruct an independent body on when to report. All forms of taxation, including the very regressive form advocated by the member, will be tested to destruction and destruction is what will happen to that particular form of taxation on hard-working families in Scotland.
Council Tax (Second Homes)
To ask the Scottish Executive how the discretion given to local authorities to reduce the current 50 per cent discount on council tax on second homes and long-term empty properties will benefit rural communities. (S2O-3190)
The responses to our consultation made it clear that, in rural areas, second home ownership has an adverse effect on the availability of affordable housing for local people. Therefore, the money gained from reducing the discount will be routed to registered social landlords for the provision of affordable housing. We believe that that is a balanced decision that will reassure those who are paying the revised amount of council tax that the money will be spent wisely.
I know that rural councils appreciate what has now happened and the fact that they will be able to use the money for housing. However, Highland Council wonders why 10 per cent is being retained and why it cannot completely abolish the discount and keep all the money for housing.
I am well aware of the member's work in the Highlands, particularly the work she does for Highland Council's homeless for Christmas campaign.
Planning Regulations
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review planning regulations to increase the ability of local communities to develop vacant properties or land. (S2O-3221)
The Scottish Executive is taking forward a range of measures designed to strengthen and enhance public and community involvement at all stages of the planning system. Planning policy encourages the redevelopment of vacant sites and premises. The ability of local communities to develop vacant property or land depends on a number of factors, in particular ownership.
Does the minister agree that more should be done to give urban and rural communities the ability and powers to access vacant land and properties that can be used to benefit the community? We all have examples in our constituencies of local communities that have spent years jumping through hoops to access such sites. Is that not now an important issue that the minister must address urgently? Will the minister use this opportunity to put my mind at ease, given that a local government source has told me that, as part of the current planning review, a change in compulsory purchase powers has been ruled out from behind the scenes?
On Mr Lochhead's final point, he will be aware that we are considering proposals for a planning bill to be introduced later in this parliamentary session, so several discussions are going on at the moment.
Scottish Executive Procurement Policy
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures in its procurement policy will contribute to a sustainable Scotland. (S2O-3257)
The Scottish Executive's procurement policy is contributing positively to a sustainable Scotland. The Executive has published a considerable amount of guidance and information for both purchasers and suppliers, which underlines the important role that procurement must play in delivering a sustainable Scotland. The guidance that is available from the Executive's website requires that procurement processes take full account of relevant sustainable development objectives and policies, such as the requirement for suppliers, where relevant to the contract, to have in place environmental management policies and systems. In May this year, the Executive published guidance on integrating sustainable development into public procurement in food and catering services.
The minister may be interested to know that the newly formed cross-party group on food will consider the issue of procurement at its inaugural meeting on 6 October. I believe that an invitation to the minister will be forthcoming. In advance of that meeting, it might be interesting for us to know how far we have progressed towards having Scottish-produced food, especially organic food, served in our institutions, in particular our schools and hospitals.
That seems like an invitation that my dietary habits would probably accept fully.
Affordable Housing
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage the provision of affordable housing for first-time buyers. (S2O-3156)
This year we have increased the funding for a range of low-cost home ownership schemes to £17.6 million, which is up by 9 per cent on 2003-04 and has accelerated the supply of such schemes, particularly in pressured areas. Our plans for a future programme of support for low-cost home ownership to help those on low or modest incomes, including first-time buyers, will be announced shortly.
Does the minister believe that the measures that the Executive has taken so far are adequate to extend opportunities of home ownership to those who live in our high-pressure areas, especially those who are employed in our public services, who in the long term want to have the opportunity to buy their houses, rather than simply rent them?
I find myself in the surprising position of agreeing with Alex Johnstone. I hope that that never happens to me again. The issues that the member raises are exactly the issues that we want to address in our review of affordable housing. The Executive supports completely people's aspiration to be home owners. We want to lower the barriers that people encounter on their way to becoming home owners and we recognise that key parts of Scotland are under particular pressure. For a variety of reasons, we want to attract essential workers to those areas. That is a key component of our review.
I am interested to hear about the review. It is nice to be back in a situation where I can monitor it. Will the review also examine some of the infrastructure problems that exist, especially in rural areas but also in urban areas? Will it examine issues such as serviced land initiatives and equity sharing? Will the minister take on the issue of shared ownership schemes, which we should be considering? Those who buy half of their house and rent the other half are at a great disadvantage. Will the review consider ways of creating a better shared ownership scheme for people who want to buy their houses?
I recognise the fact that Linda Fabiani has considerable knowledge in this area, both from her work in the Parliament and from her previous experience as a housing professional. I reassure her that we are trying to incorporate precisely such experience in the affordable housing review. The review will consider not only past schemes that did or did not work, but a variety of different mechanisms that can facilitate ownership and the supply of appropriate housing, especially in areas of need throughout Scotland.
Does the minister agree that the provision of affordable housing depends on the provision of affordable land? Some time ago, I asked the minister whether she would meet Andrew Bradford, who represents the lairds and landowners, to see how they could be involved in releasing land. Has she met him and, if so, what was the outcome of the meeting?
Timing is everything in politics. I gave Mary Scanlon a commitment that I would meet Andrew Bradford and I met him yesterday. Despite some of the politics and the prejudices that I hear around me, in meeting housing needs in Scotland, the Executive is prepared to consider all options and nobody will be turned away from a minister's door if they have constructive options to offer us. I met Andrew Bradford, my Executive will look in depth at the analysis and the options that he has provided to us and we will make decisions on that in the best interests of public money and housing supply in Scotland.
General Questions
Scottish Water
To ask the Scottish Executive how Scottish Water will be involved in its community planning process. (S2O-3201)
As required by statute, Scottish Water has a consultation code that provides a framework for its engagement with its customers in relation to major investment. Scottish Water engages with communities in a number of ways, including through the water customer consultation panels, via its participation in a number of community planning partnerships throughout Scotland and by contacting its customers directly.
Does Mr Finnie appreciate the frustration that many local authorities and community partners feel? Having achieved progress on community planning, they feel that Scottish Water's actions and its development constraints are undermining the community planning process.
I do not accept that, as David Mundell knows. We have to understand that, although the serious problem of development constraints has grown considerably in even the past 12 months, the same local authorities and others were part of the consultation process that preceded the determining of the £1.8 billion—the largest ever single investment in Scottish Water. At no point in that consultation were development constraints raised as a major item. The programme was fashioned on the basis of the evidence that was produced at the time and directed Scottish Water in dealing with regulatory requirements for public health, the quality of drinking water and outfall sewerage.
Congestion Charging
To ask the Scottish Executive whether congestion charging can assist in improving public transport options. (S2O-3171)
The Scottish Executive recognises the potential benefits of congestion charging. It can reduce congestion; allow faster and more reliable public transport; raise revenues for transport infrastructure; reduce journey times; and improve the environment.
Does the minister agree that the provision of a reliable rail service between Airdrie and Bathgate would go a long way towards relieving congestion on the M8? Does he further agree that it is essential that the scheme is established and operational to ensure that the people of Lanarkshire and West Lothian can leave their cars at home and not have to face congestion charging?
I agree that the Airdrie to Bathgate rail scheme is an important project and I would like to see it proceed. As Karen Whitefield knows, the Executive supports the scheme. The work that is being done at the moment has been valuable in laying the ground for the development of the line. In due course, there will have to be a bill in the Parliament and consideration of whether the business case for the scheme offers value for money.
NHS Argyll and Clyde <br />(Clinical Services Review)
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money NHS Argyll and Clyde has allocated for the current consultation on its clinical services review. (S2O-3148)
I am told by NHS Argyll and Clyde that it has set aside £100,000 to cover the costs of consultation on the proposed clinical strategy.
That figure sounds a bit low. The board might well have allocated that amount, but I bet that the bill will be a lot higher by the time the consultation is finished.
I think that we all agree that good public consultation is important. When considering proposals from boards, I obviously look in great detail at the precise nature of the consultation.
I am pleased that the minister agrees that as far as public consultation is concerned the issue is not just how much it costs but how to ensure that those who undertake it actually listen.
I certainly welcome Professor Kerr's comments and the interest that he is showing in Duncan McNeil's area and throughout Scotland. I echo his general approach to these matters. Of course we must listen to the public. Indeed, that is as critical in NHS Argyll and Clyde as it is everywhere else in Scotland.
I welcome the minister's commitment to wait until the national framework is in place before he takes any decision on NHS Argyll and Clyde. However, does he acknowledge that, although the volume of protest is not of the essence, the fact that 23,000 people have signed a petition saying no and that 5,000 people from my area have written to the health board saying no is an indication that this particular health board thinks more about boundaries than about the people it serves? Will he send it back to think again?
I know that Jackie Baillie and Duncan McNeil have highlighted the issue of boundaries as a key feature and I am sure that many of the public responses are picking that up. I repeat the point that I made last week and have made many times before that NHS boards must consider these issues across board boundaries, because such boundaries are of no interest to patients. I believe that NHS Argyll and Clyde is getting that message and that it is carrying out further work with NHS Greater Glasgow in particular to examine these matters in a patient-centred way, which means examining them across board boundaries.
Heroin Prescription
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering the prescription of heroin under clinical conditions as part of a drug treatment plan. (S2O-3140)
We have no plans for a centrally supported initiative. However, it is already possible for suitably qualified clinicians in Scotland to apply for a Home Office licence to prescribe diamorphine as a treatment for drug addiction. It is important to stress that decisions on treatment plans are for individual patients and their clinicians. I should also point out that a range of treatment and rehabilitation interventions for drug addiction is already available and is supported by record levels of investment from the Executive.
Will the minister consider examining the work that is being carried out on this matter in Germany and Switzerland? In particular, will he try to take some time out of his busy schedule to meet Nicole Stutzmann, the head of the heroin-assisted treatment unit of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, who will address the cross-party group on drugs and alcohol on 29 September?
We always try to make time to meet people who are making a contribution to evidence-based solutions to drug addiction or any other issue that affects us in Scotland. However, in this case, there has been no request for a meeting. If Dr Stutzmann makes a formal request for one, it will be considered appropriately.
Higher Education (Participation)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the participation of young people from underprivileged backgrounds in higher education. (S2O-3200)
The Scottish Further Education Funding Council and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council have, in the context of the Executive's commitment to widening access, a range of measures in place to increase participation in further and higher education by under-represented groups. This year, the councils have made a total of £20.5 million available for that purpose. There are also a number of local initiatives in schools to support the widening access agenda, and I know that the Lothian equal access programmes for schools will be of interest to Rhona Brankin.
The minister is aware of my concerns about the low percentage of young people in my constituency who go to university from school. Is he aware that other former coal-mining areas in Scotland share those low participation rates, and will he agree to meet me and representatives of the Coalfield Communities Campaign to discuss how we can ensure that more young people from former coal-mining constituencies can benefit from a university education?
I am certainly anxious that not only young people from former coal-mining communities but those from other parts of Scotland and from other groups that have traditionally been under-represented in further and higher education should be encouraged to come into further and higher education. I shall certainly take further with Rhona Brankin the specific proposals that she has mentioned with regard to a meeting.
Climate Change
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review its policy on climate change in light of recent flooding and landslides. (S2O-3251)
The "Scottish Climate Change Programme", published in November 2000, contained a commitment to review the effectiveness of the policies it contained. We have been working with the UK Government on the terms of reference for a review of the Scottish and UK programmes. Those were published yesterday and they demonstrate the Scottish Executive's commitment to tackling the causes of climate change and helping to protect Scotland from its impact.
I am sure that the minister will be aware of the words that the Prime Minister used this week when he talked about the "catastrophic consequences" of climate change. The M74 motorway extension will make a significant contribution to climate change pollution, producing an incredible 1 per cent share of all our CO2 emissions from Scotland by 2010. Will the minister argue in the Cabinet for a delay—just a delay—in the decision on the M74, until he has completed the review of his climate change strategy?
No. I understand and share the concerns that the Prime Minister expressed about the potentially catastrophic effects of climate change, but sustainable development, which is the answer to the problems posed by climate change, has three important pillars. One of them is environmental protection, but there are two other important pillars—economic development and the social division that is caused by a lack of economic opportunity. It is as important to place emphasis on those when we develop our sustainable development strategy, and an integrated transport policy is very much part of that. As a resident of the West of Scotland, I know—and I am sure that the same is the case in Mid Scotland and Fife—that the real blight on communities has been unemployment. Developing sustainable economic policies that address unemployment and the social division that it causes is as important as environmental protection.
Will the minister give an undertaking that any action taken by Government in relation to climate change will be taken as a result of informed discussion rather than the reactionary approach?
I assure the member that there will be no reactionary approach from this Administration.
The minister is well aware of the importance of flood protection measures to the progress of the Clyde waterfront initiative. Can he assure me that such issues will be given a high priority when infrastructure expenditure is considered? Can he also assure me that he will look beyond the boundaries of Glasgow and take into account West Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire?
Absolutely. The member makes an important point, which we have recognised in our development of sustainable flood management: the matter cannot be compartmentalised into local authority areas and we must consider river catchment areas—I see that my colleague the Minister for Finance and Public Services is nodding in agreement. We will consider the Clyde basin in a sustainable and cross-boundary way. We understand the real importance of the strategy to economic development as well as to the sustainable environmental protection of the Clyde basin.
The minister might be aware that Selkirk in my constituency has suffered two floods in two years, which had a major impact on the local authority, local estates and private enterprises, such as Selkirk Rugby Football Club—the club's field was flooded twice. In his discussions with the UK Government, will the minister consider the support that might be available outside the Bellwin scheme to benefit private enterprises, charities and housing associations in future?
As part of our overall policy on sustainable flood management, we consider assistance to communities that suffer the effects of flooding and we try to alleviate the effects of such floods and to adapt engineering solutions to them. We are concerned to ensure that when floods take place that are inevitable, the citizens and residents of the areas that are affected, such as Selkirk, are assisted in every way possible. I give the member an undertaking to consider the matter in concert with colleagues down south.
National Health Service (Consultants)
To ask the Scottish Executive how the shortage of national health service consultants is impacting on communities. (S2O-3159)
NHS boards seek to respond to short-term shortages in consultants in a way that has a minimal impact on communities, for example through the deployment of locum staff. NHS consultant numbers increased by 307 between 2000 and 2003 and continue to rise in line with the partnership agreement commitment to expand the number of consultants in Scotland.
As the minister knows, there are nearly 200 vacancies for NHS consultants in Scotland, 90 of which have been empty for six months or more. The minister will be well aware of the furore—that is the appropriate word—in West Lothian over the potential loss of services at St John's hospital, precisely because of the shortage of consultants there, which will mean that people will have to travel into Edinburgh. What new plans does the minister have to solve the acute and chronic shortage of consultants, in the short and the long term, given that previous plans have gone so seriously wrong?
There are problems in particular hospitals in particular specialties, some of which are to do with past defects of work-force planning. In the past, in certain specialties—radiology is one example—not enough people were put into the training process, which obviously should have started several years ago. However, the overall picture is of an increasing number of consultants and the commitment in the partnership agreement to provide 600 extra consultants represents an unprecedented growth in the consultant work force. That is the general picture, although of course I accept that there are difficulties in particular hospitals for particular specialties. Sometimes a reconfiguration of services is required to deal with the issue.
I share concerns about the shortage of NHS consultants. What can the minister say about the interconnected problem of junior hospital doctors potentially spending less time on training, as a result of the European working time directive? I am sure that that will impact on communities.
We must, of course, comply with the working time directive, and everybody knows that it has had a major impact on the delivery of health services. That has been particularly true in the United Kingdom because, traditionally, all the countries within the United Kingdom have relied more on junior doctors than have other European countries. We must address the issue, which has implications for training, as Nanette Milne points out. We have a whole project called modernising medical careers, which is addressing the issue of doctors' training in the new age and in the new circumstances. Scotland is very much ahead of the field in its preparations. The guardians of standards in the training of doctors are confident that the requisite amount of training can be given within the new arrangements.
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