SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Environment and Rural Development
Rural Communities (Growth)
To ask the Scottish Executive what factors currently inhibit growth in Scotland's rural communities. (S2O-11067)
Evidence suggests that Scotland's rural communities are growing, with stronger population growth and proportionately more new businesses started than in the rest of the country. More than two thirds of residents rate their neighbourhood as very good, while employment and household incomes are higher than elsewhere. Nonetheless, we are working with stakeholders to review and refresh our strategy for rural Scotland to ensure a strong rural economy and to help to sustain those communities.
I am particularly interested in that issue. The minister must be aware that there are serious concerns about what might be called the missing generation in many rural communities. The demographic shift he mentioned means that inward migration is generally of economically inactive people and outward migration is of the generation aged between 18 and 34, who are effectively driven out of rural communities in Scotland because of a lack of jobs and affordable housing. Does the minister share my concern about that? If so, will he suggest how that trend can be reversed?
I acknowledge Roseanna Cunningham's considerable interest in the matter. She is correct—the recent data that I summarised in my first answer point to an inward migration of economically inactive people, although those people are making a significant contribution to the gross domestic product of their local communities. However, that does not mean that there is no need for us to act. In the strategy review to which I referred, we have used the figures available to identify certain issues, including educational opportunities and access to broadband and other technologies for new businesses. There is a high incidence of new starts in the rural economy—[Interruption.] It is unusual to be interrupted from behind the person who asked the question. I apologise to Roseanna Cunningham for her colleagues' interruption.
Many of the constraints on development in rural Scotland are still caused by the lack of provision of water and water services. To what action is the minister willing to commit himself to stop the development constraints that so affect rural Scotland? Further, given that earlier in the week the minister and his deputy chose to heap praise on Scottish Water for its performance, is the matter entirely a ministerial responsibility?
Alex Johnstone makes a rather generalised comment about development constraints. Like every other member, he will have received a communication from the chair of Scottish Water some months ago, addressing precisely what Scottish Water was doing about development constraints. There is now agreement on the issue, particularly on the problems in Argyll and Bute, and, largely, on those in the Highland region, although there are still problems in parts of Perthshire. By and large, due to a completely refreshed analysis, there is far greater co-operation with local authorities and a real distinction between pie-in-the-sky applications and actual developments. Scottish Water has given clear commitments and undertakings and the situation is nothing like as bad as it is being portrayed as being. Therefore, it was right for us to praise the management for taking steps to improve the situation.
Biomass Heating Systems
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to assess the environmental impact of the use of biomass heating systems, such as that recently introduced at Taylor high school in Motherwell, and whether it has any plans to roll out the use of such systems. (S2O-11082)
The specification and assessment of the environmental impact of particular heating systems in schools and other buildings is a matter for those who are responsible for the management of the buildings.
Given that climate change requires urgent, universal action, it is a wee bit remiss just to wait for initiatives to be developed. There has been an increase of 80 per cent in fuel prices and a corresponding increase in the obscene profits of companies such as Scottish Power. Surely there is an urgent need to develop alternative systems to alleviate fuel poverty and environmental damage. Will the Executive make a commitment to be proactive and to ensure that every new public building in Scotland has a sustainable, clean heating system, or will it abdicate responsibility?
Absolutely not. Far from abdicating responsibility, we are taking definite steps to ensure that building programmes are carried out sustainably. Earlier this year, Nicol Stephen announced details of the new clean energy programme. In the next two years, some £20 million will be provided to support projects using marine and hydrogen power, microrenewables and biomass. Biomass will receive £7.5 million from the programme and a scheme will be launched in December, subject to state-aid clearance and other processes being in place. It will provide grants to support both the supply chain and heat, power and combined heat and power installations. It will be open to a wide range of organisations, from producer groups to private businesses, and will include public-private partnership and local authority projects.
The minister will be aware that it is not just public procurement projects that will require access to biomass supplies. The proposed biomass plant that will replace the coal-fired system at Tullis Russell Papermakers in Markinch will also require supplies. Has the minister identified a date for the meeting that she promised me and Tullis Russell to discuss the matter? Also, what discussions, if any, is she having with potential growers of biomass crops to ensure that there is security of supply?
I agreed to meet Christine May and Tullis Russell. I do not have the date of the meeting with me, but I am more than happy to give Christine May the date when I get back to my office.
Given that members have been asking such questions for almost eight years, is it a fact that the Executive's progress in the area has been lamentably slow?
Absolutely not. Many exciting developments are going on. The member will be aware of the developments for schools in Aberdeen and the money that was allocated recently to the Perth and Kinross schools project. There is also a possibility of biomass heating in Scottish Borders schools, and the Forestry Commission is doing a lot of work to provide biomass heating in its buildings. It is an exciting time for biomass. That is why we decided that it requires an important cash injection and a biomass strategy, and work on that has been on-going for several years now.
Depleted Uranium Contamination
To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring is carried out of the effect of depleted uranium contamination on the environment. (S2O-11080)
The Ministry of Defence is responsible for monitoring the effects on the environment of the test firing of depleted uranium. A programme on terrestrial and marine sampling is undertaken twice a year. The ministry regularly publishes reports on the monitoring programme.
Is the minister aware of the concern people felt when they recently learned from a BBC Radio 4 programme that the United States of America has been suppressing information on the potential effects of depleted uranium? Will the minister confirm that the British Government and, therefore, the Scottish Executive have access to that suppressed information through the MOD? Will he pass that information to people in Scotland and to this Parliament? Will he confirm whether the US has permission to fire depleted uranium at or around Cape Wrath?
The final question was perhaps a matter for the Secretary of State for Defence, but the Minister for Environment and Rural Development can answer the earlier questions about the information that he has.
I am grateful for that helpful distinction between different people's responsibilities and roles.
The minister's responsibilities include the protection of the environment from radiation and the monitoring of such effects. Will he say whether the MOD keeps him informed about the number of shells that are fired from ranges such as Dundrennan? How much depleted uranium is in the Solway? What concerns does the minister have about the effects of low-level radiation in those areas?
We are not aware of there having been any recent firings; they ceased some time ago, particularly in the Solway firth.
Recycling (Glasgow)
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will monitor the effectiveness of the new funding provided for the provision of back-court recycling in Glasgow. (S2O-11119)
Glasgow City Council will submit six-monthly progress reports detailing the performance of and participation in the schemes. The system of reporting will be reviewed in due course to ensure that information on the effectiveness of the schemes remains up to date.
I welcome the significant funding settlement for recycling in Glasgow's tenement properties. In the six-monthly reports, will there be discussion of how to encourage people who are not using doorstep facilities to do so? Does the Executive acknowledge the huge challenges in tenement areas and in areas where there are houses in multiple occupation? In such areas, larger bin storage areas tend to be needed. Will the Executive ensure that landlords and owners work at solutions to accommodate recycling bins so that we can spread the coverage of back-court recycling?
The broad answer to all those questions is yes. I am sure that Pauline McNeill is aware that local authorities carried out two pilot schemes before we approved the substantial funding to councils that were experiencing difficulties in dealing with HMO and tenement properties for the reasons that Pauline McNeill has just set out. We proceeded with the funding on the basis of those pilots and will encourage local authorities to ensure that residents are able to participate.
Agriculture
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it shares the Prime Minister's reported view that the future of agriculture for this country is more likely to be in organic niche farming than in extensive tracts of genetically modified crops. (S2O-11136)
A key factor in determining which forms of agricultural production will be most successful in Scotland will be the market. "A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture: Next Steps" highlights the importance of responding to market demand. At present, there is strong demand for organic produce but no market advantage in growing genetically modified crops in Scotland.
Will the minister confirm whether she is aware of the legal opinion that the Soil Association and others have obtained that highlights areas of the consultation by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on GM co-existence that appear to be at odds with European Union law? Will she confirm that she will give her opinion on those specific concerns before publication of the consultation by the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department? Furthermore, will she confirm that she will take steps to ensure that the future of all Scottish farmers is protected by not allowing routine contamination of Scottish farms, foods and food products with GM material?
I confirm that we have received a copy of the legal advice from Friends of the Earth Scotland, the Soil Association and GM Freeze. I will reply to those organisations shortly. We will put the issue of GM co-existence out to consultation next summer. It is an important issue, but it would be premature to consult at the moment as we are awaiting critical EU-wide decisions on the threshold for GM presence in organic products. When we first announced that we would consult stakeholders on co-existence measures, in 2004, it was feasible that GM crops that might be suited to Scotland would be available in the next few years. That is no longer the case.
Green Spaces and Parkland
To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports the creation of green spaces and parkland. (S2O-11101)
Scotland's local authorities spend about £143 million per annum on the development and management of parks and open spaces, a significant proportion of which is funded by the Executive through the local government finance settlement.
Will the minister consider and support—as I do—the friends of Kelvin valley's campaign to secure the green space of the Kelvin valley between Cumbernauld and Kilsyth as a park? Does she agree that the combination of the canal, the boating marina, the Kilsyth hills, the nature reserve, the paths system and the Antonine wall make an attractive setting and would offer the potential for increasing tourism as well as local employment if that green space was developed as parkland rather than for extensive housing developments? Will the minister consider that in the context of the funding that she has announced, and will she visit the area to see for herself the worthwhile facility that could be provided?
I am aware of the steps that are being taken in the Kelvin valley and of the establishment of the friends of Kelvin valley. The group is important in providing a co-ordinated voice on green space issues in the Kelvin valley. Cathie Craigie will be aware that the Forestry Commission Scotland currently provides support to Kelvin Clyde Greenspace. It is a wonderful area for natural heritage and built heritage, and I am aware of North Lanarkshire Council's aim of preparing an open space strategy. I welcome the encouragement that is being given to local residents such as those in the Kelvin valley to submit their views and advice on the matter, and I would be delighted to visit.
Ship-to-ship Oil Transfers (Firth of Forth)
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent developments have taken place regarding the proposed ship-to-ship transfer of oil in the Firth of Forth. (S2O-11111)
Ross Finnie and I met Forth Ports in late August and received reassurances that Forth Ports acknowledges its responsibility as a competent authority for the purposes of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c) Regulations 1994. Forth Ports is engaging with Scottish Natural Heritage and will assess all relevant environmental considerations. It is understood that Forth Ports has commissioned further work from consultants. Once that is complete, revised documents will be made available to stakeholders before a decision is taken on whether the proposed ship-to-ship transfer operations in the Firth of Forth should proceed.
As the minister knows, in my constituency and the length and breadth of the Firth of Forth there is, to say the least, considerable objection to the proposal. I am pleased that she has agreed to meet Catherine Stihler MEP and me to see how we can work with the European Parliament on the matter. Will the minister come together with the local councils concerned and the European Parliament to examine what can be done together, because that is the best way to act against the proposal?
I am acutely aware of the concerns that have been expressed both by MSPs, including Marilyn Livingstone, Christine May, John Home Robertson, Mark Ruskell and many others, and by councils. As I said, Forth Ports has commissioned further work from consultants. We do not know what the outcome of that work will be. I understand that Forth Ports is aware of its responsibilities under the habitats regulations. I would be happy to meet councils and members to discuss the complex legislative framework that surrounds the application.
Health and Community Care
Health Initiatives
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that national health service boards and local authorities address the need to make commitments to support community-led and voluntary sector health initiatives in their strategic planning processes. (S2O-11135)
We have commissioned the community-led supporting and developing healthy communities task group to consider how best to support the continued sustainability of community health initiatives. The task group will publish its recommendations very soon. Ministers will consider those in the usual way.
Given the reports that core funding for community health projects has been cut by up to 50 per cent, does the minister recognise that there is a crisis and that we need to act immediately on the task group's recommendations? Will he draw together the group's recommendations into a strategy that ensures that the funding that is allocated to community health is spent on community health?
I do not want to prejudge the group's recommendations, which will be made public very soon and to which we will respond. It is important that we ensure that the evidence base for the recommendations is understood, and the task group is doing that work. It is doing it because we recognise the need for a coherent approach to such issues across the board. I look forward to seeing the recommendations in the near future.
Charitable Housing Organisations (Funding)
To ask the Scottish Executive what annual funding it makes available, for the provision of long-term care services, to housing organisations with charitable status. (S2O-11046)
The Scottish Executive makes provision for £1.7 billion in grant-aided expenditure to local authorities for community care services, with a further £400 million of supporting people funding for housing support services that are registered with the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care as care services. How much of that funding is allocated to housing organisations with charitable status is not recorded centrally.
That is a pity—it would be useful if it were. Given the growing problem of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in an increasingly elderly population, I commend to the minister the pioneering work of the Angus Community Care Charitable Trust in opening its latest housing project in Montrose, which allows family carers to stay with relatives and to have help and assistance readily available to them. Will the minister increase the resources that are available to such successful charitable trusts to cater for specific niche and specialist interests?
The main responsibility in that regard lies with Communities Scotland and with the Scottish Executive Development Department, rather than with the Health Department. However, the funding for Balmain Court, a commendable new development by the Angus Community Care Charitable Trust that was opened recently, was publicly supported to the tune of approximately 71 per cent; that happened in the context of a public funding cap, as a result of European state aid requirements, of 75 per cent. Mr Welsh will find that the level of public funding for that project was nearly as high as it could have been.
Is the minister aware of the current concern regarding the future of Ark Housing Association projects across communities in Aberdeenshire? Does he agree that already hard-pressed council budgets in the north-east are resulting in inadequate financial support for charitable housing associations in the area, and that they could result in the consequent loss of many valuable services for vulnerable people?
I am certainly aware of the issue to which Nanette Milne refers and I am concerned about the future provision of services of the type that she describes. However, I do not accept the view that an issue has arisen because of an inadequacy of the overall funding that is provided to local councils. The issue is the way in which local authorities deliver support to the voluntary sector. That relates closely to the question that was asked a moment ago by Mark Ruskell about community health initiatives, as a similar point could be made in relation to care services. The voluntary sector works with local government, and we want to ensure that, in the future, a coherent approach is taken to those matters and that projects receive stable and reliable funding from their public sector partners.
Respite Care
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to increase the provision of respite care for those being cared for at home. (S2O-11123)
Provision of respite care has continued to increase in recent years, and we have introduced a requirement that local partnerships must report to ministers annually on local improvement targets for carers' assessments and respite services. In addition, we set up a respite task group earlier this year, as part of our response to the care 21 report, to update the guidance that we issue on access to respite services. The group is also gathering evidence to inform future decisions on service provision.
I recently attended the Carers of West Lothian annual general meeting, and I know that the minister is aware of the superb work that the organisation does. As part of the discussion at that meeting, the need for further respite care was raised. Does the minister accept that there is a pressing need for respite care, for children and young people in particular, and does he agree that that care needs to be flexible and adaptable so as to accommodate family life, particularly where there are siblings involved?
I agree entirely that children and young people who find themselves in the position of being relied upon as the main source of unpaid care have particular and often significant needs, including the need for respite. It is not our policy that young people should be put in that position, but when it happens we want them to have support. There are 57 projects across Scotland delivering support of that type.
BCG Immunisation Programme
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to communicate, and to promote understanding about, recent changes to the BCG immunisation programme. (S2O-11102)
The changes to the BCG immunisation programme were communicated to the national health service by the ?deputy chief medical officer on 8 July 2005. Thereafter, NHS boards cascaded the information to health care professionals in their areas. A range of publicity materials was produced by NHS Health Scotland for the public and for health professionals.
I thank the minister for his answer and for the previous correspondence that I have had from his deputy on the subject. I am sure that many members recognise the need to review and change immunisation programmes regularly, but we also recognise that, when major changes such as the ending of the universal schools programme take place, it is vital that those changes are communicated effectively.
I appreciate the member's point and will be happy to consider what further communications we require to undertake. The constant re-evaluation of immunisation programmes is a job for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, but I will reflect on the point about the provision of further information.
Question 5 has been withdrawn.
Dental Services (Highlands)
To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest position is regarding the provision of national health service dental services in the Highlands. (S2O-11112)
I look forward to opening two dental centres in the Highlands later this month: a three-surgery extension at Culloden and a new five-surgery dental facility in Wick. NHS Highland employs 51 salaried dentists and it will continue to develop its network of salaried dental services. I expect further new developments in Grantown-on-Spey and Fort William to be completed early next year.
I thank the deputy minister for that welcome news. Many people in Caithness have had to register, against their will, with private dentists and they are keen to transfer to the national health service. Such people include pregnant mothers who are entitled to free treatment on the NHS. How might patients on the NHS dental waiting lists be prioritised so that those who are in greatest need and those who are entitled to free treatment, such as those whom I have mentioned, will be seen promptly despite having had, perforce, to register privately?
NHS Highland operates a dental helpline that deals with inquiries from members of the public who seek to access either emergency treatment or early treatment on registration. Decisions on both types of inquiry take into account the clinical position of the individual. Expectant mothers who have not seen a dentist for two years will automatically be fast tracked so that they receive early attention from NHS dental services. The policy of prioritisation in those circumstances will always be based on clinical assessment.
I am being inundated with communications from constituents in Moray who are unable to access NHS dentistry. The minister may be aware that the Grampian NHS Board area has one of the worst problems in the whole of Scotland and that Moray has perhaps the worst problem in the Grampian NHS Board area. Will he therefore investigate the situation in Moray and report back—I hope to me—on the best way forward and what can be done to help the many patients who are excluded from NHS dentistry?
I can report to Mr Lochhead now that NHS Grampian has put in place plans for new dental developments in Elgin, Keith, Buckie and other places in the north-east following the opening of the Aberdeen dental institute only a few days ago. All those developments will help to address precisely the issues that he mentions.
Scottish Regional Treatment Centre
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the contract that has been awarded to establish the Scottish regional treatment centre at Stracathro hospital. (S2O-11070)
The contract is between NHS Tayside and the provider. Therefore, it is not within the Scottish Executive's remit to publish the documents. NHS Tayside intends to be open and transparent about the contractual arrangements and will publish as much information as possible relating to the contract once the necessary consent has been obtained from the provider.
I am surprised to learn that, although the minister is providing £15 million for the contract, he plays no role in releasing information about it. Does he view sympathetically many people's concern that, in order to test properly whether the contract represents value for money, we have to see its full detail? I hope that he will make it clear in his answer—because it was not clear from his previous answer—whether commercial confidentiality will be cited as a reason why some of the contract's details cannot be published.
I find the member's response very strange. The SNP advocates more powers for boards, but when I indicated that it was within the board's powers to deal with this issue, the member criticised my response. Moreover, his question is a thinly disguised expression of the SNP's dogma with regard to the private sector. I prefer to put the patient first, not to slam the door in their face because of dogma and policy.
Alzheimer's Disease (Treatment)
To ask the Scottish Executive what drug treatments are currently available on the national health service in Scotland for the treatment of mild, moderate and severe Alzheimer's disease and whether this position is likely to change in the near future. (S2O-11124)
A variety of drugs can be used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and associated symptoms; those that are currently available include donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine. I expect NHS Quality Improvement Scotland shortly to recommend that those drugs should be used only for the treatment of moderate Alzheimer's disease, at which point they will no longer be recommended for people in the early stages or with a mild form of the disease.
The minister will be aware that carers and Alzheimer's sufferers are campaigning for the National Institute of Clinical Excellence's recommendations for England and Wales on this matter not to be followed in Scotland. Does the minister acknowledge that in many other countries—as in Scotland at the moment—those drugs are available to all Alzheimer's sufferers? Will he consider aligning Scottish policy with the policy in those countries rather than that in England and Wales?
I am aware of the campaign. However, as we pointed out last week in the chamber, this is clearly a matter for NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, which is responsible for considering NICE's recommendations and their applicability in Scotland. Although NHS QIS has not yet published its recommendation, I understand that it intends to recommend that the national health service in Scotland should follow NICE's recommendations on the availability of these drugs. Given that it is conducting the scientific investigation of those matters, I do not think that it would be appropriate for us to second-guess the scientific evidence and advice.
Aboyne Maternity Unit
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Health and Community Care will announce his decision regarding the closure of the Aboyne maternity unit. (S2O-11090)
I understand the concerns raised by the member and, indeed, by the local community, and I reassure him that I will reach a decision very soon on all the proposals that have been submitted to me on service change in Aberdeenshire. However, I require some further information before I can do so.
I am delighted that the minister is taking time to get all the information that he needs to make the right decision. However, I remind him that the campaigners are asking not only for 12 months in which to prove the case for keeping the Aboyne maternity unit open but, in the event that the minister decides to keep it open for another 12 months, for the health board to promote the unit effectively.
I have not made my decision on the proposals that have been submitted to me. However, the member can rest assured that I learned a great deal from the campaigners when they visited the Parliament, and I should say that I was also visited by campaigners from Fraserburgh who were accompanied by Stewart Stevenson MSP. I am aware of all the issues. However, I am still going through the documents and representations in great detail and will reach a conclusion in due course.
I call question 10.
Stracathro Hospital
Well done, Presiding Officer.
The member should have said, "Well done, minister", although that is another matter entirely.
Mr Fraser should be glad that I did not call him on question 7.
Such foresight, Presiding Officer.
We have set out clearly the requirements of our national health service in relation to the consultant contract and our relationship with consultants and other staff. I reassure the member that the recruitment of staff will have no impact on the health service locally. We set that condition as part of the process. The additional work that is done in the unit will not be done in NHS time and any consultant or other member of staff who works at the facility must seek the prior agreement of the NHS.