SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Education and Young People, Tourism, Culture and Sport
Business Tourism
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the business tourism market benefits the whole of Scotland. (S2O-5846)
VisitScotland's business tourism unit exists to promote the facilities that the whole of Scotland has to offer for hosting conferences and incentive programmes. The VisitScotland integrated tourism network will maximise the considerable benefits of business tourism across the whole country. Previously, there was no dedicated convention bureau presence in areas such as Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders. The new network will be structured into northern, central and southern regions to serve the whole of Scotland.
I acknowledge that our cities will always be the main sites for business tourism and major conferences, given the location of venues and hotel accommodation. However, does the minister agree that areas such as Dunfermline and west Fife can benefit from spin-offs from major events in Edinburgh? Does she also agree that the financial benefits that accrue from business tourism should be spread to other communities so that the whole of Scotland can benefit?
I agree entirely with what Scott Barrie says. He is right to identify the possibilities that exist. We reckon that some £1 billion a year of business tourism income is spread around Scotland and that business tourists spend on average twice what leisure tourists spend. The market is, therefore, very lucrative. He is also right to recognise the role that the cities play. We want to encourage those who are booking conventions and conferences to incentivise other parts of their programmes so that people come to areas such as Fife and take advantage of what those areas have to offer. Fife is ideally placed to take advantage of business tourists who come to Edinburgh and I hope that the royal Dunfermline partnership, which is looking into regeneration and the promotion of Dunfermline in particular, will have a role to play in encouraging that kind of activity.
Does the minister accept that the operators of small hotels, bed and breakfasts and other small businesses are the backbone of tourism in Scotland? Does she also accept that the local knowledge that used to be supplied by the area tourist boards may be lost as a result of the new set-up? What does she intend to do to prevent that from happening?
I do not agree with Jamie McGrigor that that will be a consequence of the reform of the network. In fact, I am hugely encouraged by the fact that VisitScotland has allocated some 97 per cent of its staff to positions outwith Edinburgh. There is absolutely nothing for the local and rural areas in which Mr McGrigor is interested to worry about in the transformation. The opportunities for them are immense. He is absolutely right to identify the fact that local knowledge is important. That is why I am encouraged by the steps that VisitScotland is taking to ensure that its staff are spread throughout the network and that there is expertise in local areas as well as at the centre.
Tourism (Fife)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote tourism in Fife. (S2O-5804)
The additional resources that have been made available by the Scottish Executive to increase the marketing power of VisitScotland are aimed at increasing the volume and value of tourism right across Scotland. However, each area has distinctive attributes and attractions, such as golf in Fife, which VisitScotland markets as part of its product portfolio.
Does the minister agree that one of the great success stories in Scottish tourism is the Fife city of St Andrews, which, according to the latest figures, attracts in excess of £50 million of tourist revenue a year? I am grateful to the minister for discussing with me personally the possibility of Executive support for St Andrews in its bid to become Scotland's fifth world heritage site. Discussions on that are now under way with the relevant bodies. Will she be good enough to reiterate in the chamber the Executive's support in principle for that initiative?
I am aware of Mr Brocklebank's keen interest in promoting St Andrews and the surrounding area. Any decision on whether the city should be considered as a world heritage site will require the local communities to draw up character assessments of the area. We want to support the local community in beginning that process as soon as possible, so that it can start to go through the many hoops that it will need to go through if it wants St Andrews to be considered as a world heritage site.
Partly in relation to Scott Barrie's earlier question, I am sure that the minister is aware that St Andrews is already a good destination for business conferences. Indeed, the number of Government ministers who attend such events in my constituency is testament to that.
This year, Scotland is in a unique position and Perth and Fife will act as Scotland's showcase to the world. We are encouraged by the progress that has been made in ensuring that Scotland is top of the agenda in the coming year. The activities of local VisitScotland offices in Perth and Fife will be enormously helpful in ensuring that both areas are equipped to take best advantage of the opportunities that will be offered.
Rothesay Academy
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Rothesay Academy is under consideration as a potential participant by the panel overseeing the schools of ambition programme. (S2O-5820)
Local authorities have been invited to submit bids for the schools of ambition programme by tomorrow. I would not be surprised if Rothesay Academy were to be nominated for consideration, if not in this first round, then in a further round later in the year.
I take it from the minister's reply that the application has still not been submitted. That news surprises me and I am sure that the parents of pupils at Rothesay Academy will be equally disappointed to hear it. Given that, because of the poor report that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education gave Rothesay Academy, the school should qualify for the programme, will the minister explain whether Argyll and Bute Council will have other opportunities to apply to the scheme and will he reassure me that the door is not closed to that prospect?
As I have indicated, the deadline for applications for the first round is tomorrow. I cannot say whether Rothesay Academy has submitted an application. I repeat that I would not be surprised if such an application had been submitted, although an application might be made later in the year. I reassure George Lyon that we intend the scheme to be a rolling programme. Although applications are being made now, some schools—of which Rothesay Academy might be one—might think that they need more time to work on proposals before they come to us. The door will not be closed to future applications.
Social Work Review
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will co-ordinate the review of social work with other initiatives. (S2O-5888)
The review has successfully co-ordinated its work with a broad range of policy and practice developments, both within the Executive and across the social care field.
Now that the review is under way, it is generating attention. However, some concerns have been expressed about its focus and about the need to ensure active participation. How will the minister ensure that the review group provides clear opportunities for wider involvement? Will he explain why it was decided not to include a front-line social worker in the group and say whether it will be possible to rectify that situation?
On the final question, I understand that the review group includes at least one front-line social worker. I suppose that that all depends on how one defines the term "front-line social worker", but I am happy to double-check and discuss with Mr Harvie his definition.
In relation to the review of other initiatives, will the minister consider the genuine concern of staff in the City of Edinburgh Council about the integration of education and social work and the potentially excessive and undue responsibility that is being placed on junior staff, both in education and social work?
I am reluctant to ask the review group to get involved in a specific geographic location in Scotland in the short-term way that the member seems to suggest. It is for the City of Edinburgh Council to manage with its staff the political decisions that it has made on the direction in which it wants its services to develop.
Does the minister agree that it is essential that, in the ambit of the review, social work and social welfare services should never be seen to stand alone and that it is essential that central and local government services in the social care sector link up effectively with other services, particularly criminal justice, education and community services?
Scott Barrie has great experience in such matters and is absolutely right to raise those points. Indeed, the need for far more supported close working between the different professions that deal with the issues that he and others have dealt with all their working lives is ever more apparent to ministers. For that reason, we have included in the review group representatives of the police force, the education service, the voluntary sector, the health service and others. All those professions and interests require to be brought to bear on the problems of today, which are immensely complex. The member is right that social workers cannot deal with such problems by themselves.
Public-private Partnership Schools<br />(Renewable Energy)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that PPP schools make use of renewable energy sources. (S2O-5828)
Sustainable development, including energy use, is a key component of the school estate strategy in Scotland. Last December, we launched the publication "Sustainability", which focuses specifically on how to achieve sustainable schools, irrespective of the means of procurement. Energy use is a constant theme throughout.
I was told anecdotally of a PPP scheme in which there was resistance to the use of a wood-fired central heating system because that system was not proven technology. That is patently absurd. Will the Executive be more proactive through information, advice and education and go as far as to take and use powers of direction to ensure that that sort of excuse will not be entertained?
I would be disappointed if innovative ways of using energy in a sustainable manner were not being considered. The Executive indeed assists with advice and information and tries to extend good practice throughout Scotland. The member might be interested to know that in most school PPP projects the energy costs associated with the running of the buildings over the 25 to 30 years of the contract will be borne by the contractors, so it is in their interests to ensure that innovative and sustainable ways of using energy are incorporated into the buildings. As to the suggestion that we should give direction, that is not something that we would seek to do, because local government must take decisions on such matters when it signs the contract. We encourage councils to use every opportunity to promote the sustainable use of energy sources.
Although I understand the minister's courtesy in turning towards the questioner, I ask him to speak more directly into the microphone, as I think that people in the gallery may be having difficulty in following some of what he said. [Interruption.] That was strictly out of order, but the applause was perhaps understandable in the circumstances.
The minister will be aware of the difficulties that Perth and Kinross Council is facing in seeking to install new biomass heating systems in the schools in its area. That is primarily because the private finance initiative contractors are not eligible to apply for Executive funding. The door is starting to close on the opportunity to get renewable energy into the 300 new schools that the Executive is rolling out. When will Mr Robson's fellow ministers complete the review of the Executive's funding mechanism and change the rules so that the new PPP schools can get renewable energy systems installed?
As I said, we commend the use of renewable sources of energy in a number of the publications that we have produced, including "Sustainability". In addition, the Executive funds the Scottish community and householder renewables initiative, which is operated by the Energy Saving Trust and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The initiative provides grants to communities and householders to enable them to evaluate and install renewable energy systems. Local authorities and schools may apply for that funding, so I believe that opportunities exist and that local authorities and contractors should take them.
In his answer to Nora Radcliffe's question, the minister said that the Government was supportive of sustainability in school heating systems, regardless of how schools were funded. The Scottish National Party supports that admirable objective.
I am grateful to the member for raising the issue, which he has raised on a number of occasions previously. I acknowledge his interest in the matter and his desire to make progress on behalf of his constituents. Ministers are having meetings on that subject and we will keep him advised of the results of those meetings.
VisitScotland Reforms (Benefits to Perthshire)
To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits of reforms to VisitScotland will be for tourism in Perthshire. (S2O-5833)
The integrated tourism network will build on the expertise of both VisitScotland and the area tourist boards to support the growth of tourism across Scotland. Each area has its own distinctive attributes and attractions, such as the adventure activities in Perthshire, which VisitScotland will continue to market strongly as part of its product portfolio.
The minister may be aware that a number of service providers that have contracts with area tourist boards are worried about their future as VisitScotland moves towards more centralised procurement. Will she do what she can—for example, by examining the packaging of tendering—to ensure that small local firms in areas such as Perthshire do not lose out in, and are not disadvantaged by, the new system?
I am grateful to Mr Fraser for bringing to the chamber an issue that has not been raised with me directly before. On the face of it, I see no reason why local firms should lose out under the new set-up, but I will take that up with VisitScotland and will be happy to communicate to Mr Fraser the outcome of those discussions.
Autism (Education Funding)
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding education funding arrangements for local authorities reporting a higher-than-average incidence of autism. (S2O-5854)
The Scottish Executive is not aware of any such representations.
The minister may be aware that the incidence of autism in Aberdeenshire is growing and is currently almost 70 per cent higher than the national average, which places a considerable financial obligation on the local authority in terms of the care and education that it has to provide. With that in mind, will he consider making special financial arrangements for local authorities such as Aberdeenshire that have a high autistic school roll? Does he agree that resources must be made available to secure the future of excellent special needs schools such as St Andrew's School in Inverurie and Carronhill School in Stonehaven as stand-alone facilities?
The future of those schools is a matter for the local authority to discuss with local residents, teachers and the parents of the children at the schools, as we have made clear on a number of occasions. Local authorities always have the opportunity to make representations through the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities for additional funding. As the member knows, a review of local authority funding is under way, to which local authorities may also make such points. The review will be able, if it sees fit, to include those points in its eventual report.
Finance and Public Services and Communities
Affordable Housing (Rural Areas)
To ask the Scottish Executive how the additional funding announced for affordable housing will benefit rural areas. (S2O-5876)
Rural areas will benefit significantly from the increased funding of £1.2 billion for affordable housing over the next three years. In the coming financial year, we will invest £97 million in rural areas, which will fund more than 1,900 affordable homes.
We heard yesterday how the Chancellor of the Exchequer has helped first-time buyers. Will the minister ensure that all the measures that he announced this month will provide more affordable housing in rural areas as well as in urban ones? Will he also ensure that the welcome participation of north-east housing associations in some of the new schemes will alleviate the situation in Aberdeenshire, where the waiting list for council rented property has risen by 20 per cent?
A significant increase has been made in the amount of money that is going into rural areas. Indeed, funding for rural areas now accounts for 29 per cent of the Communities Scotland programme as compared to 19 per cent when the Parliament was established. Clearly, funding is an important issue, but, of course, the other initiatives to which Richard Baker referred are also highly relevant. The extra money will go not only to social rented accommodation, but into the new shared equity schemes. I was in Aberdeen last week and was glad to hear that the city will be involved in the scheme. I am sure that the rural areas in that part of Scotland will also become involved.
What mechanisms will the Executive put in place to co-ordinate the award of funding with Scottish Water initiatives under quality and standards III to remove sewerage constraints?
I am sure that Alasdair Morgan heard the significant announcement that Lewis Macdonald made on that subject two or three weeks ago. The most significant thing to say about affordable housing is that the Executive is giving an extra £14 million specifically to the registered social landlord sector to enable the sector to pay its contribution towards infrastructure costs. We have made a significant increase in the investment in water and sewerage infrastructure and I know that that increase has been well received by housing providers throughout Scotland.
Is the minister aware that the second-home market can distort the availability of affordable houses for local people, particularly in rural areas? Will he give an undertaking to examine that area of housing need to see what can be done to ensure that rural communities have access to affordable housing?
I am aware that Maureen Macmillan is actively pursuing that issue and has held a series of meetings with our officials on the subject—I am following the discussions closely. Like her, I am looking to see whether any new measures can be found to address the serious problem that she has flagged up. I congratulate her on all the work that she is doing on the matter.
Question 2 has been withdrawn.
European Union (United Kingdom Presidency)
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to take advantage of the United Kingdom presidency of the European Union in 2005. (S2O-5851)
The Scottish Executive continues to work closely with the UK Government to ensure that Scotland contributes fully to the UK presidency of the European Union later this year. The Executive will assist the UK Government to deliver a successful and effective presidency and use the opportunity to promote Scotland as a vibrant, dynamic and welcoming country that is playing its full part in Europe.
Have any bids been made to the UK Government to secure high-profile ministerial events in Scotland in relation to the UK presidency so that we can showcase some of the expertise that we have in this country? Energy comes to mind as one example. Were any bids made to the UK Government for hosting an informal council of ministers in Scotland? Such an event would bring all 25 energy ministers to Aberdeen so that we could showcase the city's role as Europe's energy capital. If such a bid has not been made, were bids made for events in other areas?
About 30 presidency-related events are taking place all over Scotland. This year, not only does the UK have the presidency of the European Union, but the G8 countries are meeting here in Scotland. Therefore, Scotland could hardly be more at the forefront of international focus. Specifically in relation to the EU presidency, more than 30 events are taking place in Scotland, including the meeting of permanent representatives, the EU poverty round-table and the European social services conferences, to mention just a few. Here in Scotland, we will play a very significant part in the UK presidency and there will be a great many events. As I said, we will use the opportunity to promote our country and to underline the fact that we welcome the opportunity to be Europeans in every sense.
Will the minister join me in welcoming the commitment of the Committee of the Regions commission on a European economic and social model, of which I am a member, to hold its November meeting not just in Scotland but here in the Parliament? Does he agree that such sectoral meetings provide a unique opportunity to showcase not just Scotland but the work of the Scottish Parliament, particularly in relation to some of the innovative work that we are doing on health?
I can only agree that that meeting will be extremely important, especially in showing the various participants at the event how the Parliament works and how we want to be involved in Europe. I would caution the member, however: a particular job will need to be done to counter those—usually those sitting to my left in the chamber—who are consistently determined to talk down Scotland and to convince people that we live in some dark and desperate place. Of course we know that that is not the case at all; we are at the centre of Europe and we will remain at the centre of Europe. I congratulate the Committee of the Regions commission on its wise decision to come here.
I think that, geographically, we are at the periphery of Europe, rather than being at the centre of it. Aside from that little difficulty, in his answer to Mr Lochhead, the minister indicated that there is a particular opportunity to welcome many people to Scotland under the UK presidency of the European Union. That is undoubtedly true. On the subject of those welcoming arrangements, can the minister tell us when the Government will publish the findings of its welcome tsar?
We might be on the periphery geographically but, much as it rankles with people such as Mr Swinney, we are politically, and in every other sense, at the heart of Europe, which is to the benefit of our citizens. That is what rankles with SNP members, as they try once again to look inwards, to ignore the rest of the world and to ensure that Scotland is a backward nation, not a forward-looking nation. We will publish the report to which Mr Swinney refers, along with the Executive's response, in the very near future.
Telecommunications Masts
To ask the Scottish Executive whether planning decisions should take account of the health effects of radiation from telecommunications masts. (S2O-5886)
The Scottish Executive's guidance on the matter is set out in national planning policy guideline 19, which states that planning authorities need not treat radio frequency emissions as a material consideration where a development complies with the public exposure guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection.
The minister will be aware that the ICNIRP guidelines, which are endorsed in the United Kingdom by the National Radiological Protection Board, take account only of the quantity of radiation, not of the qualitative effects that are increasingly being linked to health concerns. Will she take all the appropriate steps necessary to ensure that all the potential health effects of radio and phone masts are taken into account when such planning matters are considered?
In compiling its guidelines, the ICNIRP reviewed the broad base of the scientific evidence, as we would encourage it to do. The member will be aware that the recent NRPB report "Mobile Phones and Health 2004", which was a follow-up to the Stewart report, specifically considered whether the issue of public health should be addressed by planning departments when determining whether to grant approvals for mobile phone base stations. The board supported the view that,
Will the minister share with us the knowledge that the Executive has of objective measurements of radiation from terrestrial trunked radio pulses and what effect a booster for the TETRA system will have on members and employees of the Parliament?
I am not sure that that is a matter for the minister or that it is a supplementary to a question on planning policy, so, if members will forgive me, I will move to question 5.
Subsidised Low-cost Homes
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will increase the number of subsidised low-cost homes. (S2O-5868)
Following the spending review, we announced our plans to deliver nearly 5,000 homes for low-cost home ownership across Scotland over the next three years. That represents an 80 per cent expansion of our low-cost home ownership programme. Last week we launched homestake, a new home ownership scheme based on shared equity. Homestake will help first-time buyers and people on low incomes who are unable to afford to buy a house on the open market. The first houses under the new scheme will be available later this year.
Are representations being made to the lending organisations? The initiative gives them an opportunity to consider how, instead of imposing bank charges, they can assist people in the early stages of taking up home ownership.
We are in discussions with mortgage lenders about the matter, because we hope that we might even be able to improve on the announcement that we have made if we can reach an agreement with them. As those discussions are still under way and I am to meet the Council of Mortgage Lenders next week, I do not want to go into the detail, but I agree with the thrust of what Paul Martin suggests. We have already announced a good deal, as a result of which we will get almost 5,000 homes for low-cost home ownership, but I hope that we will be able to increase that number, and to move in the same direction as England will be able to do after the budget yesterday.
Does the minister acknowledge that water and sewerage infrastructure issues are as relevant on brownfield urban sites as they are in rural areas? Does he acknowledge that even when new developments are built where houses have been before, there are development on-costs in relation to infrastructure, because of previous overcapacity and historic maintenance problems? Will he take on board the point that such infrastructure has to be funded to keep down development costs and, therefore, rents?
Nobody is denying that, but the point that has been made is that there is a significant difference between what Linda Fabiani is talking about and completely new sites where there is no water and sewerage infrastructure at all. Nevertheless, I take on board what she has said. The £14 million for registered social landlords to which I have referred will be able to deal with those issues to the benefit of housing associations.
Scottish Cities (Gross Value Added)
To ask the Scottish Executive how Scottish cities compare with English and European competitors in respect of levels of gross value added per capita. (S2O-5878)
The Executive published "Competitive Scottish Cities? Placing Scotland's Cities in the United Kingdom and European Context" on 2 March 2005. The report shows that Scottish cities perform well. Gross value added per capita in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow is well above the UK average. The Scottish cities also compare favourably with many other leading European cities on gross domestic product per capita, with Edinburgh and Glasgow outperforming all the English core cities. We are working together with our partners throughout the public and private sectors to ensure that Scottish cities continue to compete effectively on the international stage.
The technical note to that report identifies regional population as a key determinant in cities' success. The population of my constituency in Glenrothes and Levenmouth is an essential part of the wider Edinburgh region. Will the minister say what steps are being taken to ensure that the interests of regional populations are taken into account in the consideration of investment and growth in cities?
When we talk about successful cities, we are of course talking about city regions. The economic success that our major cities enjoy spreads out widely to the surrounding areas. As we seek to grow the entire Scottish economy, it is inconceivable that we would in any way ignore important areas such as Fife. The Scottish economy is successful, although some members try continually to deny that. Our interest and unemployment rates are low and our employment rate is high—we have the second-highest level of employment among countries in the European Union. Given that our successful economy is driven by successful city regions, it is important that we pay particular attention to areas such as Fife as we continue to make progress.
Housing Associations (Renewable Energy)
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is enabling housing associations to use renewable energy in new and existing developments. (S2O-5829)
Sustainable development principles and eco-friendly features are becoming common aspects of housing that is funded by Communities Scotland. Good examples exist in Lochaber and Shetland of housing developments that use biomass and waste-fuelled heating systems. In Orkney, there is an example of the application of a passive solar system and, in Highland and Shetland, heating systems that use heat that is extracted from the ground are in use. Communities Scotland will continue to consider innovative approaches of that type.
It is good to know that innovative schemes exist, but they should be mainstream. Will the minister consider providing additional targeted funding to encourage such schemes to become mainstream, so that tenants in affordable housing have affordable running costs, too?
The member should know that 97 per cent of new-build houses that Communities Scotland funded in the previous financial year achieved that body's energy efficiency target. That is evident mainstreaming. In 2003-04, the average level of CO2 emissions from new-build properties that were funded by housing association grants was 1.7 tonnes, which was down from the figure of 2.9 tonnes in 2002-03. The Scottish Executive has confirmed funding of £6.6 million in the next three years for the Scottish community and householder renewables initiative. In 2004-05, the SCHRI is funding 17 capital projects for housing associations, with a total grant of £410,000. The member will accept that, given our successes on the issue and our funding commitment, the Executive regards such schemes as mainstream and is committed to them.
I welcome that positive response from the minister and the good examples that she gave of practical schemes throughout Scotland. Given the positive benefits of such schemes, does she agree that we should ask Communities Scotland to consider the provision of appropriate renewable energy schemes throughout Scotland—whether using solar heating panels or thermal energy—so that every housing association property that is built benefits from the new technology? That would create lower heating bills and affordable warmth and, crucially, it would contribute to tackling the climate change challenge.
As Communities Scotland's name suggests, it has a commitment throughout Scotland. We are always in the business of promoting good practice. As I said, 97 per cent of new-build houses that were funded by Communities Scotland in the previous financial year achieved the body's energy efficiency target. Communities Scotland and the Executive are committed to such schemes. I am happy to discuss with Communities Scotland how it intends to use its experience of funding in the past to make progress.
Affordable Rented Houses
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make an assessment of the number of affordable rented houses that are required to ensure an adequate supply to meet the needs in each local authority area. (S2O-5797)
Local authorities are statutorily required to assess housing needs as part of their local housing strategy. As part of the affordable housing review in 2004, we published the results of a modelling of net need throughout the country. We will continue to work with local authorities to improve the basis of housing needs assessment, nationally and locally.
As the minister will be aware, East Lothian's population is 95,000 and growing, but its stock of 10,000 council and housing association houses is diminishing at a rate of about 300 a year under the right to buy. Does the minister acknowledge that councils such as East Lothian Council have to allocate almost all new lets to homeless people, which means that there is less hope for hard-working, young families who want to rent houses, or for pensioners who need to transfer to more suitable accommodation? Will the minister consider seriously the housing crisis in areas such as East Lothian when the Executive reviews the right to buy next year?
There are a range of issues in that question. Obviously, I am concerned about the situation of hard-working families. However, I am sure that John Home Robertson will acknowledge that many homeless families are in the same category. Clearly, a balance has to be struck. I welcome the fact that East Lothian Council has adjusted its allocation policy. Of course, that does not mean, in the long run, that all the allocations will go to homeless families.
General Questions
Aiding and Abetting Torture
To ask the Scottish Executive what the status of aiding and abetting torture is as a crime in Scots law. (S2O-5842)
It is an offence under Scots law to aid and abet the statutory offence of torture. The penalty would be the same as for the statutory offence, which is up to life imprisonment.
On several occasions, an unmarked plane has been seen landing and refuelling at Prestwick airport. It is alleged that it is operated by the United States of America's Central Intelligence Agency and is involved in the transport of tortured prisoners. Given the minister's reply to my question, does the Executive agree that it is unacceptable and criminal for transport that is used to aid and abet torture to land on Scottish soil?
The control of flights in and out of Scotland is a reserved matter. The Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation entitles foreign civil aircraft to make technical stops to refuel, for example, without requiring the permission of the state that they stop in. I make it clear to Chris Ballance that I will not comment on allegations. If anyone has any evidence that any form of torture is being committed on Scottish soil, that would be a serious matter and the police ought to be made aware of it.
Is the minister aware of press reports that say that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment has suggested that the situation in Barlinnie prison and certain police establishments in Glasgow is not as it should be? Does the minister agree that prison is not a home from home?
I am aware of more than just the press reports; I am aware of the full report of the committee and of the Executive's response. If Mr Gallie has not yet seen those, I commend them to him. The report picks up on a number of issues relating to the custody facilities in our police stations and to the situation in our prisons. Most of those issues are already being dealt with by the Scottish Executive, and Mr Gallie will be aware of our programme to upgrade the prison estate and the amount of money that is being spent in that regard.
Question 2 has been withdrawn.
Lismore (Petrol)
To ask the Scottish Executive what help it can provide to the islanders of Lismore to resolve the petrol situation on the island. (S2O-5827)
I share the member's concerns on this issue. The problem has serious implications for all the island's residents. Officials from the transport division have already had discussions with Argyll and Bute Council and are treating the issue as a matter of urgency. I am hopeful that a solution can be found.
The minister will be aware that one of the long-term solutions might be to install a community petrol pump and tank to ensure that petrol can be safely stored on the island. Will the minister ensure that the enterprise company that administers the Scottish Executive's rural petrol scheme does everything in its power to assist the islanders? Will his officials use their influence with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to try to come up with a flexible interim solution? Currently, the island is grinding to a standstill because no petrol is getting on to the island to put into cars and motorbikes, which are important for lambing at this time of year.
I understand the significance of the problem for the islanders and, as I said, options are being investigated as a matter of urgency. Those might involve the use of another vessel and there is a possibility of using the Caledonian MacBrayne vessel that serves the island from Oban. The option of a community fuel tank, which is the solution that has been used on Colonsay, Eigg and Iona, is also well worth investigating. Whatever happens, we must ensure continuity of supplies in the next few weeks, particularly for medical emergencies, until we find a more permanent solution. I am determined to do all we can, and to use all the flexibility of the rules of our grant schemes, to ensure that a solution is found.
Will the minister explain why carrying petrol in jerrycans is suddenly not allowed? After all, jerrycans are designed for the safe carriage of such fuel. How are the islanders of Lismore meant to cope without petrol?
The answer is straightforward. The ban was imposed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency because the ferry did not meet the required safety standards for carrying the fuel. In those circumstances, it is not for the Executive or the council to challenge that decision. Instead, we must come forward with a solution.
Z-berths
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Ministry of Defence regarding the relocation of Z-berths away from population centres. (S2O-5818)
The operational arrangements for nuclear-powered warships are reserved to the Westminster Parliament and all questions of detail on the matter are for the Ministry of Defence.
The minister will be aware that the MOD has consulted on supplying iodine pills to the three local communities in my constituency that have Z-berths nearby. Does he understand that that is causing a great deal of concern? Will he make representations to the Westminster Government to seek the relocation of the Z-berths away from areas of habitation, simply for the peace of mind of the many families in the area?
I repeat that this is a matter for Westminster, and specifically for the Ministry of Defence. It is for the MOD to consider whether any new risks arise from time to time due to any changes in its operational arrangements. It does so in consultation with the relevant local agencies and groups, including the Scottish Executive, and I am sure that health issues, such as that mentioned by John Farquhar Munro, are carefully considered. I suggest that he should raise the matter with his member of Parliament, so that proper representations are made in the proper way through the Westminster Parliament.
Nuclear Weapons Convoys
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the changes to the route of nuclear weapons convoys travelling through Scotland en route from Burghfield to Coulport and what assessment it has made of any additional risk to the environment. (S2O-5877)
The operational arrangements for nuclear weapons convoys are reserved to the Westminster Parliament. The MOD is responsible for risk assessment in relation to the convoys and it carries out regular exercises to test contingency arrangements.
I thank the minister for that enlightening answer. However, clearly if there was an accident involving a nuclear convoy there would be aspects that would concern the devolved Administration. Changes to the route or timings of nuclear warhead convoys are of concern to local residents in places such as Stirling, where, due to recent changes, convoys will now run in the hours of darkness rather than in daylight. Who should provide the residents in Stirling with information on the risks associated with nuclear convoys?
Again, as I said in my answer to John Farquhar Munro, it is for the Ministry of Defence to consider whether any new risks have arisen as a result of operational changes. The proposition that, from time to time, the Ministry of Defence should consider changing routes is reasonable. There would be more security issues if when and where convoys would be moving about were easily predictable. A concordat covers the general principles of the Scottish devolution settlement as they affect defence, which involves arrangements for consultation, the exchange of information, confidentiality and security. However, the communication of information about the convoys is reserved.
Antenatal Screening
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to extend the provision of antenatal screening checks. (S2O-5832)
The Scottish Executive is liaising with NHS National Services Scotland to define the financial and personnel resource implications of and possible timescales for delivery of the pregnancy screening recommendations that are contained in the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland health technology assessment report entitled "Routine ultrasound scanning before 24 weeks of pregnancy".
The minister will be aware that it is now exactly a year since NHS QIS published the report to which he refers, which did indeed recommend that all pregnant women should routinely be offered a second ultrasound scan by 24 weeks of pregnancy. I am sure that the minister is also aware that there is a huge variation in practice throughout the country and that the protracted uncertainty about the implementation of the report is adding to variations throughout Scotland. Will he give an assurance that he will seek to accelerate progress on implementing the report and will he ensure that there is clarity of policy and consistency of practice in such an important area for pregnant women in Scotland?
I share the member's concern and reassure her that 50 per cent of pregnant women in Scotland receive a second trimester scan. However, that does not solve the issue that the member raises, and I am concerned that we have not managed to resolve some difficult issues.
Drug Trafficking
To ask the Scottish Executive how effective the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency has been in tackling drug trafficking. (S2O-5866)
In the first half of 2004-05, in co-operation with Scottish police forces and other law enforcement organisations, the SDEA seized more class A drugs than were seized in the whole of the previous year, arrested 157 people, disrupted 48 criminal networks and identified more than £8.5 million in realisable assets for possible confiscation.
I note that Fife constabulary has had recent success in seizing a large quantity of drugs and that it has applied to seize a dealer's assets. The minister has previously said that she would like those assets to be used for rehabilitation. It is important that rehabilitation places are offered. Does she agree that it is also important that organisations such as the Drugs and Alcohol Project Levenmouth in my constituency are helped to get people out of rehabilitation and back into normal, mainstream life?
It is important to recognise that a range of initiatives exist. Of course, some finances that are seized from drug dealers are being used to fund the current campaign, in conjunction with Crimestoppers. We also intend to ensure that some of the seized assets go back into local communities, particularly those that are most ravaged by drug misuse problems. Through the drug treatment and rehabilitation review, we have identified additional funding that we want to use specifically to increase the range and availability of treatment and rehabilitation places in Scotland. I am keen that that should enable us to ensure that people not only come off illegal drugs, but move from substitute prescribing and get the support that will enable them to come off methadone, for example, so that they can get back into their communities to live constructive lives as decent citizens.
There appear to be 51,000 injecting heroin users in Scotland and English figures suggest that the average injecting heroin user spends £36,500 a year on their habit. That would make the Scottish drugs industry—if I may call it that—worth as much as perhaps £2 billion. In the light of that, should there not be much higher levels of recovery and should we not return to drug rehabilitation perhaps as much as £100 million in the first instance?
Again, I want to record in the Official Report the work that the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency has done since it was launched. In the period until 31 March 2004, class A drugs were seized that had a street value of more than £85 million. In addition to the figures that I quoted earlier for the first six months of 2004-05, in the period to 31 March 2004, some 736 people were arrested, there were 333 disruptions to criminal networks and £10 million of realisable drug trafficking assets were identified.
Smoking Ban (Implementation)
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the cost in respect of police resources of implementing the proposed ban on smoking in public places. (S2O-5802)
We do not anticipate any additional costs to the police. Local authorities, which already deal with other licensing regimes, will be responsible for implementing the ban on smoking in public places.
I am glad that the minister takes that view. How does she expect local authorities to be able to implement the ban? Will they incur additional costs as a result?
The matter is being addressed through the work that is being done on putting the ban in place. I put on record the experience of other places where bans have been put in place, which is that the majority of people are law abiding and respect the law. I expect that the majority of people in Scotland will do the same and I hope that the Conservative party will support people in upholding the law when it is passed.
Renewable Energy Generation (Charges Cap)
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Trade and Industry regarding the proposed cap on charges for renewable energy generation on Scottish islands. (S2O-5822)
I am delighted that the United Kingdom Government has agreed with our representations that the powers available under the Energy Act 2004 should be invoked to adjust the level of transmission charges payable by renewable energy generators in the northern isles and Western Isles. We have also kept alive the possibility that generation in northern mainland Scotland should enjoy similar protection. I understand that the DTI will shortly consult on the level of charges that should apply and their geographical coverage. We will of course stay closely involved in that process.
Will the minister consider making representations for the whole Scottish mainland, not just the remote northern part of it?
I assure Nora Radcliffe that the representations that have been made to date have not been exclusively about the islands but have been about the potential for renewable energy right across Scotland. As she will accept, those are reserved matters, but I assure her that we will continue to press hard for the interests of Scottish generators and businesses as we have done until now.
The success of any producer in Scotland in selling their renewable product will depend on how their price compares with that of their competitors. Is it intended that Scottish producers should not be at a price disadvantage compared with producers in other parts of the United Kingdom?
I do not want Scottish producers to be at a disadvantage, which is why we argued for the capping power and why we have succeeded in invoking it for the northern isles and Western Isles. It is also why we will continue to press Scottish interests.
National Health Service (Dental Patients)
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS-registered dental patients there are compared with in 1999. (S2O-5825)
There were 2,651,704 patients registered with a dentist under NHS arrangements at 31 March 2004 compared with 2,617,452 at 31 March 1999.
Without wishing to pre-empt what the minister might be about to tell us, I believe that we have a plan and that it might well be costed. Will the minister assure us that, when tackling the problem, the plan will be implemented to its full extent?
I am confident that we will find out within the next few minutes that the Executive has listened to communities around Scotland and public health professionals about how to ensure that we have a proper system of properly funded dental care. My colleague will make that announcement in due course.
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