SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Question 1 has been withdrawn, so we move to question 2.
Primary Schools (Early Intervention Programme)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the early intervention programme in primary schools. (S1O-3426)
All local authorities are involved in the early intervention programme and are encouraged to adapt it to the needs and circumstances of children in their areas. The programme is aimed directly at raising the standards of literacy and numeracy skills in the early years of primary school education.
The early intervention programme, which was piloted in Dundee, has had significant and wide-ranging benefits. Will the minister address my concern that the programme is not necessarily closing the gap in achievement of all children, but seems to be raising standards in general, with children who are ahead when they start school remaining ahead? In the light of that concern, are there any plans to provide additional resources to support the development of early intervention programmes in pre-school settings, particularly in areas such as Dundee, where there is a high level of social disadvantage?
One of the challenges we face in discussion with local authorities is to ensure that the work we are doing to expand pre-school education and the early intervention work in the early stages of primary school can be linked into what then happens in the later stages of primary school. We must consider that as part of our review on the future of the programme. It is also vital that the programme closes the gap. We do not want to reduce attainment levels for anybody; we want everybody's attainment levels to go up. We certainly want to increase significantly the achievement and attainment levels of those who have a less good start in life and ensure that they have the same opportunities in years to come. As a matter of some urgency, I want to discuss with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities the future of the programme and how resources can be better targeted in future to ensure that the gap is closed.
Employment (Over-50s)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage employment opportunities for those aged over 50 years. (S1O-3428)
Since its launch just over a year ago, the new deal for over-50s has helped more than 4,000 people in Scotland to find work. From April this year, those aged 50 and over have also been entitled to immediate entry to the training for work programme, which the Scottish Executive runs at its own hand.
I ask the minister to look around the public gallery today and see the number of our citizens who are over 50—I am sure that they will not challenge me on that—including the Chapelhall senior citizens and the East Kilbride retired civil servants. The minister may argue that they are here for a laugh. I cannot guarantee that they will not get a laugh on a Thursday afternoon—we usually do—but I think that they are here because they are interested in how we are running this Parliament.
Trish Godman and those in the gallery might be encouraged to note that, on Monday 11 June, which is the first day we can announce new initiatives again, the very first engagement that I am undertaking is to go to Strathclyde University to launch a report on the opportunities that should exist for older workers in Scotland and to confront Scottish employers with the wealth of talent among the over-50s that they are missing.
I declare an interest, as I am currently seeking another job. [Laughter.] Will the minister say what special support can be given to those who are over 50 who have a lifetime of business experience and who want to change direction and set up small businesses?
I suggest to Phil Gallie that I am more than happy that the training in work programme for unemployed adults may be something that he might want to take advantage of on Monday 11 June.
Doubtless the minister will know that we have an aging population in Sutherland. It is not so much an opportunity as a necessity for over-50s to care for older relatives. Can I have an assurance from the minister that her department will work closely with other departments to ensure that those people get the maximum possible advice and practical support in this endeavour?
Absolutely. It is, of course, why Scotland is going to be the first part of the United Kingdom to pioneer an all-age guidance service. I hope that the over-50s will, in the months to come, take advantage of the leadership that Scotland is showing in this matter.
If the minister knows an employer who is looking for an experienced street fighter over the age of 50, will she recommend the Deputy Prime Minister?
The minister is not responsible for that.
I will certainly be saying to the Deputy Prime Minister that, this week alone in Scotland, more than 2,400 new job opportunities have been created by companies such as the Halifax. That is a sign of health in the Scottish economy, which he—in his role in the UK Government—has contributed to bringing about. We are keen to encourage people over 50 to look to the almost 2,500 new jobs that have been created in Scotland this week.
Question 4 has been withdrawn, so we move to question 5.
Drug Misuse
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that initiatives to combat drug misuse are firmly rooted in communities. (S1O-3457)
Tackling drug misuse at grass-roots level is at the heart of our drugs strategy. We reinforced that through additional funding in the £100 million package for drugs over the next three years. We issued with that package a planning framework for drug misuse services, which makes it a requirement that community views should inform the work of drug action teams and constituent agencies.
I thank the minister for that reply. Will he specifically endorse partnerships such as that developed in Kilmarnock and Loudoun by Kilmarnock Football Club, East Ayrshire Council and partners in the private sector, to take the anti-drugs message into schools and directly to children? It is vital that our young people hear and understand the anti-drugs message as early as possible. Will he give an assurance that the lessons of such an approach will be spread across Scotland?
When I launched our targets against drug misuse in December, I said that if we were to succeed in achieving them, everyone in every sector in Scotland must be involved. That includes not only health boards and local authorities, but the business and sports sectors. I welcome this kind of innovative partnership.
The minister will be aware that the development of community initiatives throughout Scotland is very patchy. Can he reassure us that he will direct or at least encourage DATs, and in particular their funding partners, to develop further community initiatives against drugs throughout Scotland?
The answer to that question comes in two parts. We are currently involved in examining the response of drug action teams to the planning framework. As I say, there is a requirement that they involve the community in their planning and clearly respond to needs that are identified by the community. Beyond that, the Scottish communities against drugs fund is specifically geared at providing support for small, community-led organisations, which are often very good at ensuring that the services that are required in their communities and neighbourhoods are provided. That is essentially the purpose of the fund and over the next months it will begin to make the kind of contribution that we all want.
How will the resources be monitored to ensure that community-led organisations access them?
The Scottish communities against drugs fund will have a board and administration and accountability matters will be handled for the Executive by Scotland Against Drugs, which has considerable experience in ensuring that applications for any funding—whether for its own funding or for challenge funding—have an impact and are sustainable beyond the initial funding period. Because 80 per cent of the projects that the organisation has supported have continued beyond that initial three-year funding period by finding new sources of support, I am confident it will be able to help us to ensure that the fund has the impact that it is designed to have.
Police (Race Relations)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in ensuring good relations between the police and ethnic minority communities. (S1O-3452)
Considerable progress has been made by the police in Scotland in ensuring good relations with minority ethnic communities since the publication of the Stephen Lawrence report in February 1999. I have worked closely with the police on this area, not least through the steering group that has been set up to implement the Lawrence inquiry in Scotland.
The minister will be aware of the rise in reported incidents with a racial aspect in the Central region area and I am sure that he will welcome the initiatives that Andrew Cameron, the chief constable of Central Scotland police, introduced at the meeting at Inchyra that involved the Commission for Racial Equality. Will the minister say whether any research is being done in Scotland to determine whether the increases in such reported incidents reflect the increasing confidence in ethnic minority communities in police and policing or a real increase in racially motivated crime?
I certainly welcome the initiatives that have been introduced by the new chief constable for Central Scotland and similar initiatives that have been taken by the police in constabularies throughout Scotland. I am sure that the whole Parliament deplores attacks that are motivated by the colour of someone's skin or by their ethnic status. We unreservedly condemn such pernicious attacks.
International Student Advisory Council (OSPREY)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will offer support to OSPREY International Student Advisory Council in Scotland, in order to save it from closure and enable it to continue its work in offering advice and assistance to overseas students studying in Scotland. (S1O-3455)
I understand that although the City of Edinburgh Council, the main funder of OSPREY, plans to reduce its contribution from 2001-02, it remains committed to the future of OSPREY. The council is working with OSPREY to secure increased funding contributions from the further and higher education institutions in Edinburgh. I agree with the council that the institutions—which benefit most from the service—should be asked to meet the majority of its costs.
Does the minister agree that OSPREY's work in advocacy and guidance to international students is very important? Approximately 20,000 students are enrolled in Scottish institutions and such an important group needs help. The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council has said that it cannot support the organisation because its work centres more on the recruitment than on the retention of students. It seems that this is a grey area and that someone needs to ensure that such a valuable service continues to be available.
I agree with Ian Jenkins. There is no doubt that OSPREY does excellent work for international students. The difficulty is that, in the long term, it is inappropriate for City of Edinburgh Council to be called on to provide almost 70 per cent of the resources of an organisation that primarily serves international students while Edinburgh universities and colleges contribute less than 20 per cent towards the costs of running the service.
Pupil Attainment
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any research exists to suggest that pupil attainment has increased since 1997. (S1O-3451)
There is evidence of significant gains in pupil attainment since 1997 from the Scottish Qualifications Authority examination statistics, the national five-to-14 attainment survey, the assessment of achievement programme and Her Majesty's inspectors of schools' reports on the early stages, which demonstrate gains at all stages of schooling. For example, the national five-to-14 attainment survey, which compares performances in 1999 and 2000, shows that performance in reading, writing and mathematics has improved at almost all stages.
I am sure that all members will wish well the students who are this week starting their standard grade and higher examinations. I am especially concerned—as was Kate MacLean in her earlier question—that those who started at a disadvantage should improve their attainment through education. Would the improvement that has been identified continue if Scotland were to take its share of the £20 billion cuts that are proposed by the Tories?
The significant reductions in budgets that are proposed by at least one political party honestly—and perhaps by others by stealth—would have a drastic effect on Scottish education. The improvements that have been made in Scottish education have not happened by accident. The early intervention programme, the out-of-school-hours activities, the investment in new community schools, the investment in new technology and the investment in books, equipment and school repairs have resulted from deliberate decisions and a stable economy that can finance them, to the benefit of every pupil in Scotland now and in the future. It would be a disaster for Scottish education if those benefits were withdrawn as a result of cuts that may be proposed by the Conservative party, should it ever win a general election.
Is the minister aware of research, especially that from the student:teacher achievement ratio project—the STAR project—that has established a positive relationship between reduced class sizes and improved pupil performance? Does he concur with the findings of that project, which confirm that the benefits are most evident during the first three years of formal schooling and when class sizes fall to 18 pupils or fewer—which he will recognise is SNP policy? Further, will he concede that tinkering at the margins, by reducing class sizes from 33 to 25, which is a target that is still not being achieved by new Labour after four years, makes little material difference in matters of pupil attainment?
The target was to reduce class sizes to a maximum of 30 and that is being achieved.
I shall restrict my response to a verbal punch. The Conservatives in Scotland spent more on education than the Executive—a painful fact for the minister to acknowledge. Is the minister satisfied not only that pupil attainment is increasing, but with what pupils are attaining? Is he satisfied that that matches the needs of the outside world?
As I have said before, one of the tragedies of last year's examinations chaos was the fact that the new national qualifications were perhaps discredited. In rebuilding confidence in the education system, we must say that although internal assessment arrangements perhaps need to be improved, those new qualifications are good for Scottish education, good for Scottish business and good for the future employment and skills of the young people of Scotland.
As a constructive contribution to the debate that follows on from last year's fiasco arising from the exam structure, would the minister consider setting up an authoritative and neutral study of the quality of attainment by our pupils and students through the exam system? There is a sort of middle-aged view that exams are constantly getting easier and I think that it would be helpful if that were studied scientifically and either proved or disproved.
There have been such studies. The HMI, which is now an independent agency that works completely separately from the department, although it follows a clear annual agreement, will help provide the kind of independent and objective assessment that Mr Gorrie calls for.
Non-departmental Public Bodies
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make members of non-departmental public bodies accountable to parliamentary committees. (S1O-3422)
The Executive is taking a radical look at the way Scottish quangos operate as part of the review of public bodies. That is a key element of our drive to modernise government in Scotland following devolution. The review is examining all aspects of the accountability of quangos, including their relationship with Parliament. I shall be announcing the outcome of the review next month.
Does the minister agree with the view of the First Minister, who was reported by Scotland on Sunday on 7 January as saying:
As usual, Mr Neil makes me a seductive offer, to pledge my support for his bill before it has been published. I have had two meetings with Mr Neil to discuss the detail of his bill and I envisage further communication before the bill is printed.
When the minister conducts his review, will he bear in mind the parallel set of non-local government organisations that operate what we used to think of fondly as public services, which were owned by the public and run for the public? I refer particularly to Edinburgh Leisure. Will he take into account the fact that public services have been handed over lock, stock and barrel to people who are not able to run them like private businesses yet are expected to apply the lessons of the market?
As the Minister for Finance and Local Government, I have been subjected continually to arguments from local government—and from members in the chamber who purport to support local government—that ministers should not interfere in the affairs of local government, should not advance hypothecation and should return as much flexibility to local government as possible.
Scottish Executive Consultation Exercises
To ask the Scottish Executive how it differentiates between technical and other types of consultation exercise. (S1O-3443)
Individual decisions on the nature of consultation exercises are made on the basis of the particular issues involved.
In the words of the minister's leader, Tony Blair, I will put the minister down as a "don't know".
We are in the midst of a consultation on the timing of local authority elections, which started on 30 March and does not end until 21 June. We are gathering evidence and the Local Government Committee is examining the matter. I do not accept Mr Harding's proposition. We all know from our experience of the 1999 elections that the turnout for local government elections increased dramatically as a consequence of their being held on the same day as the Parliament election. That increases the legitimacy of local government, which is what members of the Labour party and the Liberal Democrats want to achieve—we want to increase, not diminish, the legitimacy of local government.
Integrated Administration and Control System
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the 2001 integrated administration and control system will take into account the introduction of the less favoured area scheme. (S1O-3432)
Yes. The integrated administration and control system—IACS—2001 area aid application, or AAA, includes the application for the less favoured areas support scheme, or LFASS, for 2002.
Given the foot-and-mouth outbreak and the fact that rural affairs department officials have not been able to visit farms and crofts in recent months, certainly not before the closing date for applications under IACS, will the minister ensure that, where amendments are being made with regard to forage areas—in the light of the importance of making changes in those areas in the context of the introduction of the less favoured areas scheme—applicants will not be penalised?
I can confirm that if a producer genuinely considers that the forage is to be improved—rather than left rough—and if there is clearly no attempt to defraud the system, there is no question of penalties being applied in any of the cases concerned.
What progress is being made to develop the payment options that are available to producers under the environmental part of the LFASS to lessen the impact of the reduction in the safety net figure from 90 per cent to 50 per cent?
As Mr Scott knows, there are two elements to reducing the impact of the reduction in that figure. One concerns the setting-up of the working group to investigate more precisely the impact of the change to LFA support. Regrettably, the intervention of foot-and-mouth disease has delayed that process, although I hope that it will be picked up rapidly in the next week to 10 days. As for the mechanisms for payment options for LFASS environmental payments, we have announced that we are making improvements. I hope that that will be of assistance to all producers.
Foot-and-mouth Disease (Tourism Businesses)
To ask the Scottish Executive what further plans it has to provide emergency cash flow aid for tourism businesses in the areas affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. (S1O-3437)
Tourism businesses in the affected areas have received substantial aid from the £13.5 million package of emergency relief announced on 28 March and from the additional £5 million made available to Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway on 10 May. Executive officials are discussing with interested parties the medium and longer-term measures that are contained in the Dumfries and Galloway recovery plan.
It is estimated that the Scottish Borders alone stand to lose £30 million over the forthcoming tourist season. It is estimated that Dumfries and Galloway's small business base might be destroyed by up to 90 per cent. How much of the money to which the minister referred has gone directly to businesses and how much is going into the pockets of consultants, lawyers and accountants? The minister will agree that the small business people concerned know how to run their businesses and do not need extra advice from lawyers and accountants; they need cash flow aid now. Will the minister ensure that businesses get cash in hand, so that they can survive the summer?
The case for Dumfries and Galloway has been articulated ably by the member for Dumfries, Elaine Murray, since the outset of the current situation. I, of course, welcome Dorothy-Grace Elder's interest. We are aware of the acute need for support in Dumfries and Galloway and have demonstrated that clearly with the emergency package that has been announced. The First Minister will shortly be meeting with a delegation from the Borders to discuss further issues of interest.
The minister will agree that there is a desperate need for low-interest or no-interest loans to enable businesses to start to recover. How many, if any, low-interest or no-interest loans have been granted?
Again, those issues are discussed with officials. We are aware of the needs of businesses. The emergency package that we have put in place is assisting the businesses that Alasdair Morgan mentions. We announced an emergency package at the end of March and our officials, my colleagues and I will continue to discuss with people in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders how exactly we make further progress.
I understand that although local authorities have received the very welcome funds from the Executive, small tourism businesses, which are in sore need of financial help, may not yet have felt the benefit. That point was made to me in Nairn last week. Will the minister examine the time that it takes to deliver rates relief to tourism businesses? It may be that local authority finance departments are overstretched by the number of applications. What help can be given to councils to speed up the process?
I am delighted to tell Maureen Macmillan that I discussed that issue earlier with Peter Peacock. He and I will work closely to ensure that the issues that she raises will be addressed.
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to assist myalgic encephalomyelitis sufferers. (S1O-3454)
We look forward to the report of the working group that was set up by the Department of Health's chief medical officer. We will wish to consider how best the conclusions of the report, which is expected this summer, can be put into practice in Scotland.
Does the minister accept that many of the problems of ME are due to the lack of diagnosable symptoms, which can affect care, support and treatment and assistance from benefits? What can be done to address those issues?
There will be action once we have received the report, which is imminent. The report will map out the best practice that is to be implemented. We will seek to improve the quality of care and treatment by adopting some of its recommendations. The ME alliance has been involved in that work, as has the Scottish Executive. In developing services, it is important to involve ME support groups and I am pleased that several health boards are doing so.
Does the minister agree that there is a need for important research in Scotland to establish the causes of ME? Will he consider the concern that has been raised by the cross-party group on ME and ME sufferers that the English working group has been too influenced by psychiatrists? Does he agree that if we are to examine seriously what we will recommend in Scotland, we should take that concern on board?
I will be interested to read the report when it is published. Obviously, we do not have to follow all its recommendations. Research is an important issue. People can make applications to the chief scientist office in the usual way.
Quarrying Industry
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any impact assessment has been or will be carried out to quantify possible job losses in the quarrying industry in Scotland if a flat rate tax of £1.60 per tonne on all aggregates extracted in Scotland is introduced from April 2002. (S1O-3419)
The aggregates tax is a reserved matter. Assessment of the impact of the tax throughout the UK is a matter for Her Majesty's Treasury. No separate assessment has been undertaken in Scotland.
I am somewhat disappointed by the minister's response. Given the responsibilities of her portfolio, it is difficult to explain why she is not concerned about possible job losses. I appreciate that the Scottish Executive is more conversant with holes that it digs for itself than with holes that are dug by other people, but even allowing for that positive experience, is not the minister concerned that a recent survey produced by the Quarry Products Association showed that in the remoter areas of Scotland, where quarrying is significant, it is anticipated that the tax may involve the loss of 1,600 direct jobs and 1,000 related jobs? Surely that is relevant to the minister's area of responsibility.
It is certainly the case that, in the interests of the environment, we want to see a move from primary aggregates production to recycled aggregates. It is interesting that the proposed tax is a flat-rate tax, as it rather puts me in mind of the poll tax.
Why does the minister, who is responsible for enterprise in Scotland, take no interest in the impact of London fiscal policy on Scottish businesses?
That is absolute nonsense. My answer suggested the significance of maintaining a level playing field on taxation and a single market across the UK, rather than creating barriers that tear us apart.
Health Improvement Fund
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on use of the health improvement fund. (S1O-3449)
Health department officials are working with health boards to prepare a report on the use of the health improvement fund. I will ensure that that information is placed in the Scottish Parliament information centre as soon as it is available.
Will the minister comment on the work being undertaken in Scotland on nutrition, in particular on the detection of food allergies and intolerance? There is a perceived need to invest greater resources in that vital work, as allergies can be a matter of life or death and intolerance can contribute to illness. Does the minister envisage the health improvement fund being involved in such work?
Food allergy and food intolerance are important matters and I will ensure that I raise Helen Eadie's point with the Food Standards Agency Scotland when I visit it in Aberdeen next week. I am sure that the food labelling action plan, which will be produced later this year, will contribute to dealing with the problems of allergy and intolerance.
British Sign Language
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to officially recognise British Sign Language. (S1O-3446)
The Executive has established the British Sign Language and linguistic access working group to develop a strategic approach to BSL issues in Scotland. The establishment of the group has been welcomed by organisations of and for deaf people.
I thank the minister for her reply, but I am not sure that she answered my question.
As Adam Ingram is probably aware, the Disability Rights Commission has recommended to the UK Government that BSL should be formally recognised as a language. The Scottish Executive is working closely with the UK Government on its consideration of that recommendation.
The minister was right to point out that recognition of BSL is reserved to the UK Parliament.
We are maintaining close links with the UK Government on this issue. Cathie Craigie was right to point out that the UK Government ratified the Council of Europe's charter for regional or minority languages at the end of March. By so doing, it accepted a binding commitment to protect and preserve the many languages that make up our cultural heritage.
The next four questions have been withdrawn.
Scottish Enterprise Borders (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Scottish Enterprise Borders. (S1O-3448)
The Scottish Executive regularly meets representatives of Scottish Enterprise Borders. I met its chief executive, Jim McFarlane, to discuss the impact of foot-and-mouth disease on 2 April. I visited the Scottish Borders economic development forum in February and talked about wider economic issues that affect the area.
When the minister discusses businesses in the Borders, will she intervene to accelerate payment of the first instalment of the £900,000 regional selective assistance awarded to Signum Circuits? It appears that only bureaucracy is impeding payment to the business, which urgently needs the assistance now.
I can confirm that my officials have been working diligently in recent weeks to ensure that an acceptable RSA scheme can be found. We must ensure probity in the use of public money for the RSA scheme, but intensive efforts are being made and I would be happy to write to the member with further details of the point the discussions have reached.
Will the minister confirm that she and the First Minister will meet the delegation from the Scottish Borders economic development forum and that they will consider the whole economic strategy for the Borders as well as foot-and-mouth disease and tourism?
The First Minister, with colleagues, has committed to meet representatives of the Borders by the end of the month. We are ensuring that we consider closely the impact of foot-and-mouth disease on the Borders in our economic assessment work.
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