SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
Bridge Tolls (Review)
To ask the Scottish Executive when the conclusions of the review of bridge tolls will be announced. (S2O-8101)
We are considering the findings of the tolled bridges review phase two and will announce our decisions on the outcomes in due course.
While I do not wish to anticipate the results of the review, I advise the minister that there will be widespread anger in Fife if the only bridges that will continue to have tolls are on the Forth and the Tay, particularly when the capital cost of the Forth and Tay bridges was paid off many years ago.
As I am sure Tricia Marwick would expect, those matters are being considered as part of the review. We continue to analyse the responses. There has been considerable consultation with regard to those points, and we will make our announcements in due course.
I hope that the outcome of the bridge review will be the scrapping of the tolls on the Erskine bridge. Will the minister meet me and my local government colleagues regarding transport links along the north bank of the Clyde between Glasgow and the Erskine bridge, as I believe that a number of strategic projects need to be taken forward?
We had an interesting discussion the other day at the Transport and Local Government Committee about strategic, and indeed local, projects and how they should be taken forward in the context of the establishment of regional transport partnerships. I am keen for those partnerships to produce proposals and ideas for the road, rail and other public transport links that they regard as important in their areas. I would be happy to discuss those issues further.
Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to monitor the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 to ensure that emergency workers are protected from assaults and harassment when carrying out their duties. (S2O-8123)
We all depend on emergency workers for the vital services that they provide. I am sure that the Parliament will join me in condemning those who carry out such disgraceful attacks. The Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005, which came into force in May, makes it clear that the Executive will take action to ensure that such behaviour is punished appropriately. The Lord Advocate confirmed on 3 November, in response to a parliamentary question from Marlyn Glen, that court proceedings have commenced on 92 charges under the act. The Executive will keep the operation of the act under review, which will include collecting and analysing appropriate data, with the aim of ensuring that the legislation is being used effectively.
Does the minister share my concern—and, I imagine, that of most members and the public—regarding the unbelievably lenient sentence that was handed out recently to the two men who carried out a serious attack on two paramedics? Is she aware of any plans to reconsider that sentence? Will she reassure me that the Scottish Executive is serious about wanting to stop attacks on firefighters, paramedics and the police, and that those who carry out those attacks will not be encouraged to think that their behaviour is acceptable by being given sentences that are, quite frankly, an insult to emergency workers in Scotland?
I make it very clear that I condemn absolutely, as others have done, any attack on an emergency worker as they perform their duties. As I said in my earlier answer, we depend, as do members of the public, on those workers for the vital services that they provide. Members will have heard me say previously that I cannot comment on the individual sentence that has been handed out. The judiciary has to consider all the facts before it. Because of concerns that have been raised, however, I have spoken to the Lord Advocate in relation to the case and I understand that he is awaiting a report on the matter. He will then decide whether any further action is merited. We will keep Parliament updated.
Does the Executive have any plans to introduce a high-profile advertising campaign that is aimed at stigmatising those who carry out attacks on emergency or public sector workers when they are acting in emergency circumstances?
Alongside the legislation, there is an awareness-raising advertising campaign to tell people about the measures that are being put in place and to show the wide range of circumstances in which public sector workers sometimes face either verbal or physical attacks from the public. We will look at the effectiveness of that campaign and continue it in the future.
Legislation (Miscellaneous Provisions)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a miscellaneous provisions bill that will enable any necessary modifications to be made to legislation already passed by the Parliament. (S2O-8116)
The Executive has no plans to introduce such a bill.
I am sure that the minister agrees that every Parliament in Europe is at some time faced with the need to amend or change laws that have been passed in good faith. In the welcome absence of a second chamber, does the minister accept that it makes sense to review and, if need be, to amend legislation that we have passed? How do we do that?
I agree that at times it is appropriate to review and amend legislation and a variety of mechanisms are available to do that. We would never close our minds to other mechanisms should they be required. Sometimes the mechanisms are built into the legislation; sometimes they are part of the review of guidance procedures. A variety of other opportunities also present themselves.
If the Executive were to consider the introduction of a miscellaneous provisions bill to amend legislation that has already been agreed by the Parliament, would it consider incorporating in such a bill the terms of my proposal to extend the boundaries of the Cairngorms national park to include the areas of Highland and eastern Perthshire that are in my constituency and which were excluded through mistakes that were made by Parliament in the legislation? In that way, an injustice that has been inflicted on my constituents could be righted.
Nice try, Mr Swinney.
Battle Sites (Protection and Promotion)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to protect and promote the sites of historical Scottish battles. (S2O-8090)
There is no statutory protection for battlefields in Scotland. However, Historic Scotland is actively developing a strategy for their identification and protection. It has recently commissioned the Battlefields Trust to create a gazetteer of key sites and will liaise closely with planning authorities on its development.
Is the minister aware that the proposed Denny to Beauly power line encroaches on the Sheriffmuir battle site? If that proposal is successful, it will neither protect nor promote that site.
When determining an application for consent under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989, ministers are obliged to consider all material considerations, including the potential impact of development on historical sites. Historic Scotland is a statutory consultee in that process and will feed back its comments in due course.
The minister might be aware that I corresponded with her predecessor about the condition of the Ardoch Roman fort in Perthshire. That historic monument is being destroyed by the action of burrowing rabbits. I know that Historic Scotland tried to reach a deal with the local landowner to control the action of the rabbits, but can the minister give us an update of where matters stand in this serious situation? [Interruption.]
I realise that the matter is the cause of some hilarity to some members, but Mr Fraser raises an important point. The situation at Ardoch causes concern in the archaeological and historical communities. I am not sure whether the Roman fort is a battle site or how relevant it is to the original question, but the matter is being actively considered and I will write to Mr Fraser with an update on the latest progress.
Rosyth Ferry Port
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with freight transport operators, the wider business community and current and future ferry operators regarding the Rosyth ferry port. (S2O-8108)
The use of the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service has been discussed on a number of occasions at meetings with the Scottish freight industry and other interested parties. I met representatives of Superfast Ferries on 10 November.
The minister is well aware of the disquiet that greeted last month's announcement that the number of Superfast sailings from Rosyth to Zeebrugge would be halved. Does he agree that Rosyth offers an excellent link to northern continental Europe and that, from an environmental point of view if nothing else, we should encourage and develop links to and from the port? Moreover, does the minister agree that Rosyth—rather than Hull, as at present—is ideally situated to be Scotland's premier European port?
I very much accept Mr Barrie's points about the importance of Rosyth, its facilities and the ferry link. I hope that the company will be able to put the operation back on its previous footing; indeed, I discussed both that issue and the service's financial future when I met its representatives.
I thank Scott Barrie for asking the question. The matter is very important and I know that the minister is more than aware of the importance of the Superfast line to the port of Rosyth.
I hope that Mr Crawford accepts that there is a difference between telling a commercial operator what it can do and being as constructive as possible, through agencies such as Scottish Enterprise and privately run organisations such as the Forth Ports Authority, to ensure that Rosyth is cost attractive and that Scotland has a viable enough economy and the sheer weight of freight to ensure that, in turn, the ferry service is viable and can return to its previous occupancy levels. We need to address some issues in that respect but, as I have said, I cannot tell the operator what to do. I can only strongly encourage and work with our agencies to ensure that we have the best possible service.
In its first two years of operation, the Rosyth ferry generated around £150 million for the Scottish economy for only £1 million of Government investment. However, the air route development fund generates less than £50 million for every £1 million that we put into it. Is it not time to prioritise the development of ferry routes from Rosyth and other Scottish ports and to rein in spending on air routes, which could ultimately undermine the competitiveness of future ferry services?
One important aspect of the Rosyth to Zeebrugge service was the growth in tourism that it encouraged in both directions. We want that growth to be not only maintained but enhanced.
Question 6 was not lodged.
School Meals
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts that there is increasing evidence that free healthy school meals for all children would have a major impact on child obesity, child poverty and the educational attainment of all children and what its response is. (S2O-8093)
There is increasing evidence that healthy school meals have a significant impact on child obesity and attainment. That is why the Executive is investing an additional £70 million to build on the achievements of the hungry for success initiative. However, the Executive does not accept that there is any convincing evidence that universal free school meals would be the most effective way of reducing child obesity or child poverty, or of improving educational attainment.
Is it not the case that the train is moving off and the Scottish Executive has been left at the station? On board with the free school meals campaign are the Association of Head Teachers in Scotland, Children 1st, NCH Scotland, the Child Poverty Action Group, health boards, education authorities, nutritionists and parents associations—the list is too long to mention them all. Why does the Executive not accept that it is just plain wrong on the issue and that now is the time to board the free school meals express?
Far from being wrong, the Scottish Executive's approach has been approved by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education, which has identified the significant improvements that have been made, particularly in primary schools, as a result of investment to provide water and free fruit, and as a result of the local authorities' ability, with the funding that they have been given, to make advances on such things as breakfast provision and better dietary information. The important aim of that investment is to ensure increased and improved provision for all. I am surprised that Frances Curran should support a universalist approach, which has the incidental effect of putting more money behind the better-off people who can afford to pay for school meals.
Is the minister aware of recent research findings that estimate that poor dietary health in Britain costs the national health service £6 billion a year, which is four times the cost associated with smoking-related illness? Given the Executive's robust stance on smoking, does not the minister consider that simple economics dictate that we should take an equally vigorous stance on improving dietary health? Does he not therefore agree that the universal provision of nutritious free school meals would be a prudent investment in the future health and well-being of our nation?
The Scottish Executive is making substantial, sustained and sustainable investment in improving the dietary habits of young people. People such as Elaine Smith make a mistake in the propositions that they put to the chamber, because there is a difference between providing the meal and creating a situation in which children actually eat their meals.
Scottish Banknotes (Consultation)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to HM Treasury, the Bank of England or the Financial Services Authority regarding the recent consultation on Scottish banknotes, reflecting the concern of the financial services industry in Scotland over potential implications of proposals contained in the consultation paper. (S2O-8132)
The Executive recognises the concerns of the banking industry in relation to the recent HM Treasury consultation on banknote issue arrangements in Scotland and Northern Ireland. I have written to Ivan Lewis MP, the Economic Secretary, welcoming the extension to the consultation and urging him to work with the industry in Scotland to ensure that all the issues that it has raised are fully explored before any legislative change is proposed.
If some of the proposals were taken up and Scottish banks were no longer able to issue their own banknotes, has the Executive given consideration to what cost would be involved in changing the name of the Bank of England to the Bank of the United Kingdom, and would the Executive be expected to make a financial contribution?
The intention of the Treasury consultation was not to discourage note issuing. Rather, the proposals were intended to protect note holders and to support a competitive financial services industry. Scottish banknotes have a long and proud heritage and have been issued for 300 years. We do not want to see them disappear. They should not disappear as a result of the consultation, so the other points that were raised by Mr McNulty should not and, I believe, will not arise.
In his submission to the Treasury, will the minister point out that the proposals could cost Scottish banks up to £80 million a year? Will he suggest to the Treasury and the Bank of England that, instead of trying to scrap Scottish notes, they should try to ensure that Scottish notes are made as acceptable as English notes, in England and throughout the world, at the proper exchange rate?
The consultation, which has now closed, received 30 or so responses. That is why continuing discussions between the Treasury, Scottish Financial Enterprise and the Committee of Scottish Clearing Bankers are so important. There is an issue of the impact on and potential cost to the industry. However, there should be—and, I believe, there will be—no restriction on the Scottish banks' ability to issue notes. Scottish banknotes will continue to be very much part of the strength of the Scottish financial community.
Previous
Dentistry