SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
Teaching Jobs
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the teachers who finished their probationary year in June 2007 have failed to find a job in teaching during the current academic year. (S3O-2933)
The General Teaching Council for Scotland's survey of post-probation teachers in October 2007 showed that 87.8 per cent of respondents had gained employment as a teacher. The GTC will carry out a further survey next month, which will show the position closer to the end of the school year.
It is profoundly worrying that you seem to take comfort from the figure of 87.8 per cent, because it includes those who are on temporary or short-term contracts and who have failed to get a permanent job, which means that 20 per cent of those teachers have still to get a job. Renfrewshire Council is cutting at least 55 to 60 secondary teaching jobs, which will make it more difficult for new teachers to obtain employment. Minister, do you have any concerns about what Renfrewshire Council is doing?
Before the minister speaks, I remind members that the word "you" should be applied only to me. I really have to say that too often.
I will answer the second part of the member's question first. Renfrewshire Council has allocated £1 million for class-size reduction in early years and £0.5 million to increase the hours of nursery education for every three to four-year-old. That is not counting the efficiency savings that the council can recoup and reinvest, which it could not do in the past.
Does the Scottish Executive agree that one way in which to avoid the problem arising in the future would be to set up a formal forum in which all the local authority education departments can meet the GTC for Scotland on a regular basis? That would bring together the two bodies that know best what teachers are required and what skills are available.
That is precisely what we believe and know that we will be able to achieve with the concordat and the single outcome agreements that we have with local authorities. It will now be much easier to have a better knowledge of local authorities' requirements for teacher employment.
Joint Ministerial Committee
To ask the Scottish Government what issues will be discussed at the next joint ministerial committee. (S3O-2883)
The First Minister is currently in discussion with the United Kingdom Government and the other devolved Administrations about what issues should be discussed at the joint ministerial committee. Of course, at this stage the main priority for us is to ensure its successful reinstatement, so that we can build on the good work that the Government has carried out in the joint ministerial committee on Europe.
The minister will be aware that the Glasgow passport office—Scotland's only passport office—is to be run down, which will lead to the loss of more than 100 jobs. The same fate may befall the offices in Northern Ireland and Wales, leaving all the devolved Administrations without full passport services. Does the minister agree that that would be totally unacceptable? Will she consider raising the matter at the next JMC meeting?
There is great concern throughout Scotland about what is happening at the passport office, and I am glad that our colleagues at Westminster are raising the issue directly.
Alongside the JMC, in the relationship between the devolved Administrations and the United Kingdom Government, are the concordats. Before last summer, the Scottish Government announced its review of the concordats. Has that review been concluded, and will it be published?
Discussions with the UK Government are, of course, on-going. However, the most important thing just now is to get the JMC set up properly. After all, it will be the first JMC plenary meeting since 2002. Our desire to get the JMC set up shows the importance that this Government places on looking after the interests of Scotland.
Alternative and Augmentative Communication Aids
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to monitor the provision of alternative and augmentative communication aids by individual health authorities. (S3O-2859)
It is for national health service boards to provide alternative and augmentative communication aids that best meet the needs of their local populations, in partnership with education services, social services and other service providers, as necessary.
Does the minister agree that the current provision is rather patchy, and that the significant improvements in those aids have meant that their provision to stroke victims, for example, can result in much better outcomes?
I am aware of the concerns that Brian Adam raises. I have agreed to meet the alternative and augmentative communication services campaign group on 12 May to discuss its concerns, including those raised by the member, and to examine what steps can be taken to improve the services.
Fairer Scotland Fund
To ask the Scottish Executive what savings have been accrued from the merger of the seven previously available funds into the fairer Scotland fund. (S3O-2926)
The fairer Scotland fund is allocated to and managed by community planning partnerships. By replacing seven individual funding streams, each with its own separate administrative arrangements, the introduction of the fairer Scotland fund should generate real benefits for local authorities and their partners through reduced bureaucracy and more streamlined monitoring and reporting requirements. However, it is for each individual partnership to estimate and manage any resultant savings.
The minister has said that efficiency savings will accrue as a result of the change. Is he concerned, as I am, that uncertainty is arising as a result of the merger? People are on redundancy notice; they may or may not be made redundant. Funding streams have not yet flowed through to the very organisations that need them most. Will the minister consider the merger carefully and review it? Will he also consider the request that I made to him previously—to give regard to the special circumstances of Glasgow, in the same way as the Executive has hinted that it will give regard to Edinburgh? Will he consider setting up a separate fund to address Glasgow's particular needs?
The only uncertainty in this area is caused by the continual scaremongering of Labour members. We have had a whole morning of it, and now we are having it yet again during question time. It is reprehensible and irresponsible to continue this kind of scaremongering, with its tactic of crying wolf. The fairer Scotland fund was called for by the Finance Committee. At the time, that committee was convened by Des McNulty, and I am sure that other Labour members on the committee supported the establishment of a single deprivation fund. We have brought it about and that has been very much welcomed.
Does the minister agree that the fairer Scotland fund provides a simpler and more effective method of distributing funds to local communities? What has been done to improve public awareness of the fairer Scotland fund and access to it?
The fairer Scotland fund is intended to be a streamlined and simplified system for allocating funds. It was called for by a committee in the previous session of Parliament, and it was called for by this Parliament. Now that we have implemented the fund, it is a bit rich of members of Opposition parties suddenly to condemn the very thing that they called for when they were members of particular committees.
Border Television Area (News)
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government regarding ITV's proposals for news broadcasting in the Border Television area. (S3O-2858)
The Scottish Government has not raised the matter with the United Kingdom Government, because it is primarily a matter for the Office of Communications, the communications regulator. My officials are in regular discussion with Ofcom on this and many other matters.
Does the minister agree that ITV's proposals represent a huge diminution in the amount of local news and current affairs coverage available in the south of Scotland?
I understand that for some, in particular those who live closer to Edinburgh than Carlisle, the service of Border Television is distant. It may be that Border Television can develop services that meet needs across its region. I am happy to await the report of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission for advice on this issue. Likewise, we will consider how to respond to Ofcom's consultation review as and when appropriate and taking into consideration the work of the Broadcasting Commission.
Historic Scotland
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the performance of Historic Scotland. (S3O-2878)
I understand that Historic Scotland expects to meet all 10 of the key performance targets set for it by the Government for 2007-08.
I draw the minister's attention to the Rowallan development in an unemployment blackspot in East Ayrshire, where Historic Scotland has done severe damage to the fabric of the old castle but is still holding up £60 million of development. It has employed what can only be called heavy-boot tactics in dealing with the developer. Will the minister try to resolve the situation, and will she introduce a policy for the disposal of properties in care?
As Mr Neil knows, the case is currently the subject of a public inquiry. Therefore, I am constrained in responding to the particular issues. However, I will make a general point. In the period from 2005 to 2008, Historic Scotland received 798 applications for scheduled monument consent and approved all but one of those applications. Therefore, it approved almost 100 per cent of such applications.
Is the minister aware of the ludicrous situation at Crail airfield in Fife? The airfield was scheduled as a national monument by Historic Scotland more than a decade ago. Is she aware that, because of its listing, this ramshackle collection of huts, which never saw a shot fired in anger, has continued to disintegrate while the local farmer has, in effect, been prevented from developing or farming his land? Will the minister undertake to meet Historic Scotland to bring about an early resolution, so that the farmer can take control of his land while preserving the most significant parts of the airfield?
One thing that I learned very quickly as a minister was that I can always rely on Mr Ted Brocklebank to come up with something that is not in my briefing notes. I am more than happy to admit to having no idea about the particulars of that case, and I will ensure that it is discussed in detail at my next scheduled meeting with the chief executive of Historic Scotland.
Cash and Valuables in Transit Industry
I declare an interest as a member of GMB.
Offences of that nature are very serious, often involving organised criminals who have no hesitation about using violence. Although the matter is one of operational policing, the Government has a part to play. That is why we recently announced a three-year funding package of £778,000 for the Scottish Business Crime Centre.
I welcome the fact that the cabinet secretary recognises that Scottish cash in transit workers are vulnerable to violent attacks on the job. Does the minister agree that the threat of violence should never be seen as an occupational hazard? Will he note that workers in the industry are reporting a rise in incidents? Given that, and the fact that the Home Office has already taken steps to reduce this type of crime by getting the parties together to discuss what can be done, will the cabinet secretary consider having a meeting with interested parties, including GMB, which will represent the workers, to discuss our concerns?
Absolutely. No one in any occupation should have to view violence against them as part of their job. That applies to those who work in the transit of cash industry and equally to police officers, who should not be viewed as punch-bags for whoever seeks to take out their ill humour on them.
Housing Strategy
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Communities and Sport will produce his strategy for housing. (S3O-2957)
The Scottish Government's discussion document "Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland", which was published in October 2007, sets out our vision for the strategic future of housing in Scotland. Earlier this month, we published an analysis of the consultation responses and we will be involved in discussions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and other stakeholders during the coming weeks, with the aim of making a policy statement before the summer recess.
I thank the minister for his answer, although I am not sure that all those who are connected with housing will.
The report to which the member refers was an analysis of consultation responses so of course it will not talk about all the things that he claims are missing from it. I reiterate that there will be a debate in Parliament and an opportunity for committees to consider the housing strategy, and all stakeholder organisations, including COSLA and all the housing associations, will have the opportunity to take part in further consultation once the statement has been made.
Kinship Care
To ask the Scottish Executive whether guidance has been issued to local authorities regarding the payment of kinship care allowances. (S3O-2948)
Yes. The Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities have issued a joint information note to local authorities regarding the payment of kinship care allowances.
Does the guidance state that kinship carers who previously applied for residency orders on the advice of social services, as was the case for Dumfries and Galloway kinship carers, are to be excluded from kinship care payments?
As the member will be aware, she is referring to section 11 orders, which define kinship care for non-looked-after children. Local authorities have discretion to provide payments to children and families in need, so the premise of her question is factually inaccurate.
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