Plenary, 18 Sep 2003

Meeting date: Thursday, September 18, 2003

Official Report 658KB pdf

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Question Time

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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

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Lothian and Borders Police (Funding)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make extra funding available to Lothian and Borders police in recognition of the additional responsibilities that are caused by Edinburgh's capital city status, including policing state occasions, the Parliament and the Edinburgh International Festival. (S2O-418)

Lothian and Borders police already receive additional funding in respect of certain pressures that arise from Edinburgh's capital city status. Other pressures on the force are being assessed within the on-going review of police grant-aided expenditure allocations, which is due to be completed in spring 2004. The chief constable of Lothian and Borders has recently submitted a case for further additional funding to be made available outwith grant-aided expenditure. The Executive is now considering that request.

I welcome the minister's reply. Those of us on the ground know that the need to operate capital city policing in Edinburgh affects the force's ability to deliver operation capital and to provide effective community policing in many of our areas. I am glad that the minister will look at the issue again. Is she happy to meet local MSPs, including me, to discuss this important matter?

I am aware that a number of MSPs have taken an interest in the issue. However, I restate that police deployment is a matter for the chief constable. We must recognise that funding and police officer numbers in Lothian and the Borders are at record levels. The number of police officers as at June 2003 was 2,752, up by 152 on the figure for June 2000. I am happy to hear representations from local MSPs and to listen to their views at an appropriate meeting.

I thank the minister for her willingness to meet local MSPs. Is she aware of the added strain that is felt not only by the force as a whole but by individual serving officers? Does she accept that the result of the increase in work load is that there are too few officers and that they are required to do too much work? That is evidenced by the high sickness and retirement levels in the Lothian and Borders force.

I hope that Kenny MacAskill heard my response to the previous question, in which I gave an indication of an increase in police numbers. It is not for me to intervene in how the chief constable chooses to use those resources.

We must also recognise the issue of the age profile of the police, which, over the coming years, will be felt right across Scotland. Plans are under way to put in place the recruitment exercise that will ensure that police numbers continue at record levels. As I indicated, I am more than happy to hear the views of MSPs who have a direct interest in the matter.

The minister will be aware of the scale of the operation that is under way in Midlothian following the tragic death of Jodie Jones. The operation is the biggest that Lothian and Borders police have undertaken for 30 years. Given that the force is already stretched by its investigations into terrorist and paedophile activities, can she assure me that she will consider additional funding for the force?

I have just received the correspondence that Rhona Brankin sent me on that issue, so I am aware of her concerns. I will look into the matter and reply in due course.

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General Practitioner Services

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it will make for out-of-hours general practitioner services in rural areas following the introduction of the new GP contracts. (S2O-442)

Under the terms of the new United Kingdom general medical services contract, by 31 December 2004, the vast majority of GP practices will be able to apply to have responsibility for providing out-of-hours services transferred to their local NHS board. The boards will be required to have in place alternative arrangements that will need to meet mandatory accredited standards.

Planning for the new out-of-hours arrangements is under way. As part of the implementation process, a national working group has been set up to look at the issues around out-of-hours services across Scotland, in both rural and urban settings.

The minister will be aware that the funding formula does not contain a specific allocation for the extra costs of out-of-hours services in rural areas, which can be substantially higher than in urban areas. In Dumfries and Galloway and other rural areas, NHS boards are concerned that they will not be able to source GPs to provide out-of-hours services and that, even if they can source them, they will not be able to afford the service. If the minister receives requests for extra funding from Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board or any other health board that covers a rural area, will he undertake to consider such requests sympathetically?

The reality is that, on the back of the new contract, there is a 33 per cent increase in the resources that go into primary care. There is also a minimum practice income guarantee so GP practices in rural areas—like GP practices elsewhere—should be better off than they are now.

Financial arrangements are also in place for the funding of out-of-hours services. We are beginning to see new innovative models of care. For example, when I was in Moray during the summer I saw new arrangements that are already being developed and which involve a new role for paramedics. A lot of work is going on.

One of the key points about the new contract is that the money follows the patient. That principle will apply to the out-of-hours services as it does to everything else.

I thank the minister for the response that he gave to Alasdair Morgan, which went some way towards solving the financial problems. My concern is over where the medically qualified people that the health boards will be able to call upon will come from, as that will be a problem in some instances. What about remote and rural practices that are quite a distance away from the usual paramedic services? Where will they get the cover from? If they overextend their hours, they will suffer themselves and will be unable to provide a full-scale service.

It is accepted as part of the contract that in a small minority of cases in the most remote areas it may not be possible for GPs to opt out. I stress that that applies only to a small minority of cases. In the vast majority of cases GPs will be able to opt out if they want to do so, although David Davidson will have heard representatives from the British Medical Association state at the Health Committee that although many GPs might opt out of responsibility for out-of-hours services, they would still wish to provide those services.

One of the other great advantages of the new contract is that it is a practice-based contract. If practices want to employ more GPs and more practice nurses, they can do so. I am sure that David Davidson welcomes last year's unprecedented increase—of about 90—in the number of practice nurses in Scotland. For all the complaining that some people have been doing about the number of people undertaking GP training, there has been an 18 per cent increase in GP registrars since 1997. As David Davidson will know, I assured members at the Health Committee last week that, contrary to what had been reported in some newspapers, the increase that was put in last year would be maintained this year.

Can the minister give a guarantee that, after the new contract has come in, support for the 69 inducement practices throughout Scotland will be continued at existing levels at least? If so, can he say when the doctors involved will be informed of that?

Some details are still to be finalised, but the inducement practices will also be subject to the minimum practice income guarantee, so none of the GPs in those practices will be worse off. They will have the opportunity of being a lot better off if they take on, for example, enhanced services. They will also not have the clawback that sometimes takes place under the current arrangements. Those practitioners can certainly be reassured by that.

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Scallop Fishing

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to assess the number of scallops caught around, or beyond, the 12-mile limit and landed at non-Scottish ports. (S2O-451)

I have made a commitment to keep scallop technical conservation measures under review and to develop with industry a long-term strategy for scallop management. The on-going assessment of all scallop-fishing activity in the Scottish zone will form an important part of that exercise.

I thank the minister for that answer. My question was prompted by concerns expressed at the Environment and Rural Development Committee during its consideration of a statutory instrument on prohibition of fishing for scallops about the level of fishing activity by non-Scottish vessels in the Scottish zones. An official from the Scottish Executive told the committee:

"With regard to what we know about other vessels' activities in the Scottish zone, we have looked at the landings data and, as far as we can see, there has been little or no landing into Scotland from EU vessels fishing for scallops. That is not to say that there cannot be landings elsewhere in other countries, but at the moment we are not aware of a lot of activity by other member states."

In response to another question, we were told:

"We would certainly be able to find out from other sources where any stocks fished in the Scottish zone were being landed."—[Official Report, Environment and Rural Development Committee, 10 September 2003; c 121.]

Can we please have your question?

I invite the minister to agree that accurate data on depletion of stocks through fishing activity are essential in any meaningful evaluation of whether conservation measures are effective.

There seems to be a long time available to me, Presiding Officer.

My colleague Allan Wilson and I are obviously well aware of what was said in the debate to which Nora Radcliffe referred. We have considered the issue thoroughly. I can only repeat, in perhaps a shorter form, that all our statistics and evidence, which are backed up by the observations of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency, completely confirm that the scallop fishery is dominated by UK vessels. However, we recognise the potential threat from non-UK vessels fishing in our waters and landing overseas. Therefore, the constant review of the measures that we put in place will have to involve a continual review of those who are fishing in UK waters, even if they are not landing scallops at UK ports.

The Scottish Scallop Association believes that scallop fisheries around the 12-mile limit have increased in importance for UK vessels to the extent that, if larger vessels are rendered unviable because of the provisions of the Prohibition of Fishing for Scallops (Scotland) Order 2003 (SSI 2003/371), which reduces the number of dredgers that UK vessels can carry, the measure will do nothing for conservation and place larger Scottish vessels at a severe disadvantage when competing with vessels from member states of the European Union. Does the minister accept that view?

No, I do not. I hope that Ted Brocklebank, having looked at the entire Scottish scallop fishery, will accept that, although the Scallop Association has a particular view, it has proved impossible for my officials and me over the past three years to arrive at a consensus on how we regulate for larger vessels as well as for those in the inshore and smaller fisheries, which have been severely disadvantaged in recent years.

The Scallop Association suggests that its members are being unfairly discriminated against. Close reading of the provisions of SSI 2003/371 will show that zonal management applies to all zones. The fact that some of the larger vessels currently exceed the SSI's limits means that they pose a greater threat to conservation. There is a cost to those conservation measures, but they mean that no vessel in any zone should now exceed the SSI's limits. I believe that the SSI will make a valuable contribution to the conservation of the scallop fishery.

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Bail

To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances it will give to address concerns regarding serious offenders being released from custody on bail. (S2O-461)

In "A Partnership for a Better Scotland", which sets out the Executive's policies for the next four years, we undertook to set up a judicially led sentencing commission that will, as part of its remit, review the use of bail and remand. Lord MacLean has been appointed to chair the commission.

I thank the minister for her answer. In view of the Executive's commitment to supporting vulnerable witnesses, what reassurances and support will be given to such witnesses, who will be put into a state of fear and alarm if a person who is charged with a serious violent offence is bailed?

It is important to recognise that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service can object to the use of bail in circumstances where public safety is seen to be threatened. However, we intend in the High Court reform bill to introduce proposals for the electronic monitoring in some circumstances of those who are released on bail. That could also reassure those who fear further harassment.

Is it not alarming that, instead of there being a presumption in favour of public safety, there is a presumption in favour of allowing persons who have been charged with serious crimes out on the loose?

I think that I made it clear that the COPFS can look closely at issues of public safety. I look forward to support from Annabel Goldie and her colleagues for the proposals that we will introduce in the High Court reform bill. In particular, I hope that they will support the introduction of restriction of liberty orders to deal with serious public safety issues.

The last time that I looked, people in Scotland were innocent until proven guilty. Is it not bizarre to ask a question about "serious offenders" being released from custody on bail before such people have even had a trial?

I hope that Mike Rumbles understands that, in the case of very serious offences, it is right and proper that people may be required in some circumstances to be held in custody for reasons of public safety. I also hope that he understands that there are circumstances in which, to protect people, it would be appropriate to consider the use of electronic monitoring.

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Cohabitee Rights

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reform the law to give cohabitees the same rights as married couples. (S2O-430)

The Scottish Executive is committed to reforming family law for all Scotland's people. The extent and nature of legal rights for cohabiting couples will be considered in that context. This winter, we will issue a consultation paper that will set out our plans for reform and invite views from a wide range of stakeholders, organisations and individuals.

The minister will be familiar with the Registrar General for Scotland's recent report on Scotland's population. I wonder whether she is aware that the report shows that, in the past 10 years, the proportion of households with dependant children whose parents are cohabiting has doubled to almost 14 per cent and that, in 2002, 44 per cent of all births in Scotland took place outside marriage. I ask her whether she will assure us that the Executive will work to ensure that policy and legislation in Scotland will address those changing family patterns.

Susan Deacon draws the Parliament's attention to an important point. That is why I want the family law reforms to involve close examination of the issue. In some cases, people who are not in married relationships might believe that they have rights in relation to children. It is important that we consider the issue carefully in the coming months.

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European Structural Funds

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that the east and west of Scotland European consortia meet the conditions of the N+2 rule in respect of the payment of European structural funds. (S2O-466)

N+2 action plans for each programme were agreed in 2002. They cover a range of actions to ensure that commitment and expenditure levels reach the targets that are to be met by the end of 2003. In addition, the Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning recently wrote to project managers to encourage the timely submission of claims.

Does the Minister for Finance and Public Services agree that that is one of the main challenges that confronts the Executive during the Italian presidency, as the N+2 rule obliges the European Commission to take back any structural fund budget allocation for 2001 that remains unspent by the end of this year? I invite him to indicate what sums are involved for the east of Scotland programme and the west of Scotland programme and to explain how we got ourselves into such a position. Is it true that there is also a risk that objective 3 funds will not be fully spent by the end of the year? If so, how much money is involved?

The situation changes regularly. I can give the member an assurance on objective 3 funds, in relation to which there are no such difficulties.

The Executive is taking action. We have set up a series of meetings with the groups that are involved and have written to 40 sponsoring organisations to ensure that they get their act together by ensuring that the funds are applied for and claimed in accordance with their anticipated plans. We have emphasised the need to check up on all the N+2 guidelines, which has involved the Executive in running seminars on the rules that govern the process, creating stimulus for more ideas, providing assistance with writing applications and monitoring techniques to ensure that forms are completed more appropriately. We need to monitor what is going on in the networks to ensure that Scotland does not lose out in relation to spend under the N+2 guidelines.

In addition, Scotland has submitted important, innovative and creative projects to Europe, which we expect to be successful, although they have not yet come back from Europe. Those projects will help to close the gap in Scotland's wealth that might be created by any loss of European funding. All those measures, as well as the regular meetings that officials have with those in charge of the programmes, will ensure that the spend is maximised and reaches its greatest potential.

The current arrangements for European structural funding run out in 2006. What is the minister's response to the view of the south of Scotland alliance on the Department of Trade and Industry's so-called guarantee, which is that it is not sufficiently robust for a well-funded, ring-fenced regional policy that will benefit the south of Scotland?

I must be honest and admit that I am unaware of that organisation's view on the matter. However, we seek to ensure that Scotland will lose no funds and that the subsidiarity rules will apply to our ability to make decisions about how best we spend those resources in Scotland. The matter has not yet been resolved in Europe and we seek to continue to influence the debate.

Is the minister convinced that the administration procedures that lie behind the applications and the audit trails that are provided do not create a massive time block on the swift processing of applications?

I would have agreed with that comment 18 months ago. When the matter initially came into my portfolio, I sought to ensure that we reduced the bureaucracy. Hence, we have introduced web-based applications and gateway measures to ensure that applications are submitted correctly.

Of the 1,600 or so applications that have been made to date, all have been submitted timeously. The applications that have been submitted correctly have come out of the different processes quickly. However, when we encounter problems with an application, we work hard with the organisation that submitted it to ensure that the application is corrected as quickly as possible so that the funds become available.

We have tried to reduce the bureaucracy. The web-based system is working effectively.

The minister will no doubt be aware that the N+2 situation was raised at the most recent European structural funds forum. Can he assure us that he will continue to report progress on the matter to the Parliament as and when the situation develops and becomes clearer?

I hope that we will be able to report positively to the Parliament on the measures that we are taking. We strongly believe that our N+2 plans are being properly administered by the sponsoring organisations. The pressure is on them. We have made it absolutely clear that they have a duty and a responsibility to spend to the anticipated level that was agreed. We are doing our best not only to support those organisations but to ensure that they know where the responsibility for such measures lies.

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VisitScotland

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the board of VisitScotland. (S2O-429)

The Executive keeps in regular contact with the board of VisitScotland. The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport will next meet the board on 2 October to discuss the further development of our strategy for Scottish tourism.

I am grateful to Mr Wilson for that answer and I appreciate that he is standing in for his colleague. I advise Mr Wilson that a fortnight ago, when I challenged the reductions in expenditure on the VisitScotland budget by 18 per cent last year and 12 per cent this year, Mr McAveety disputed the figures. Given that Mr Peter Lederer, the chairman of VisitScotland, has said that it is make or break time for the industry and that

"we need a big step change … VisitScotland should have its £30 million budget increased",

will Mr Wilson ask Mr McAveety whether he will review his position on the funding—or lack of it—of VisitScotland?

I think Mr McAveety has already met Mr Lederer to discuss the statements that were made. Of course, those statements preceded the establishment of the ministerial group, which was set up partly in response to those problems.

Mr MacAskill is trying to spin an undoubted success story into a tale of failure. The facts are that from 1998 VisitScotland's funding has increased from £19.8 million to £33.2 million and it is proposed that it will increase even more in the next three years to £36.1 million, including £5 million for EventScotland.

I welcome the fact that many discussions appear to be taking place between VisitScotland and the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport. The Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development has promised that he will relay to them today's discussion in the chamber. Will he also ensure that, in future, Edinburgh's role as the gateway to Scotland will be properly funded so that we can ensure that the many new visitors that come to Scotland do not stay just in Edinburgh and that we are successful in encouraging them to visit the whole of Scotland?

We certainly wish to encourage tourism spend to spread from Edinburgh throughout Scotland so that everybody in Scotland benefits from it. Of course, Edinburgh is but one gateway to Scotland. The reason why I am standing in for Mr McAveety is that he travelled from Prestwick to Spain. Part of the reason for his trip is to encourage Catalans to use the new links to expand tourism throughout Scotland so that everybody can share in the economic benefits that the new links bring.

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MTV Awards

To ask the Scottish Executive what role it will have in the MTV awards in Edinburgh in November 2003. (S2O-426)

The Executive is delighted that we have secured Europe's biggest music awards for Scotland. We are confident that this will enhance our international reputation as an outstanding destination for major events, as well as generate millions for the Scottish economy.

Scottish Enterprise, EventScotland and VisitScotland are working hard with City of Edinburgh Council and MTV on a number of initiatives to ensure that the awards generate maximum benefit for Scotland. Those initiatives will not only deliver an excellent event, but showcase Scottish creative industries and promote Scotland and Edinburgh as a tourism and major event destination.

I am pleased to hear that we are making the most of this significant event, which I am sure members agree is a major coup for Scotland. Does the minister agree, however, that it is high time that the Scottish Enterprise network recognised that we have a distinct music industry, and that we could generate even more benefit to the economy if we nurtured Scotland's many talents and skills? Will the minister indicate that he might support a planned 12-and-a-half-seater arena—[Laughter.]—as a dedicated concert venue at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in my constituency in Glasgow?

I think that the member meant a 12,500-seat facility.

I share the member's interest in such matters; she has championed the cause of the creative industries in the Parliament for years. The First Minister is to host an evening at Edinburgh castle for the creative industries of Scotland to show their wares to networks from throughout the world. A pack will be provided to every delegate and journalist attending the awards to ensure that they get the message about Scotland being open for business and about the role that is played by our creative activities. We will provide a week-long networking opportunity for those who come to Scotland for the event.

Vitally, MTV has itself set up a number of workshops to ensure that local businesses are involved in what will undoubtedly be a successful event. Production companies, hairdressers, limousine hirers, equipment hirers and lighting specialists have already been recruited. Another recruitment evening will be held to ensure that local businesses play a full role. The event represents a £4 million injection into the Scottish economy. Scotland has won a very successful event and 6,000 hotel rooms have already been booked. I share Pauline McNeill's commitment to the music industry's making a massive impact on the Scottish economy, and I will ensure that our views are expressed to those with the relevant authority so that we pay due cognisance to the creative industries.

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Scottish Agricultural College

To ask the Scottish Executive when an announcement will be made on the future of the Scottish Agricultural College. (S2O-424)

As the member may be aware, the outcome of the college's strategic review was announced earlier this week. The college's revised proposals mark a significant change to its earlier plan. Sub-degree education will continue to be offered on a geographically dispersed basis. Delivery will be developed in partnership with other organisations locally. That will go a long way towards addressing concerns about access to education, particularly in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire. The SAC will work closely with local authorities, the Scottish Enterprise network and other organisations to find alternative uses for the Auchincruive and Craibstone campuses. I believe that those changes to the SAC's original proposals should be welcomed.

I do not know whether to thank the minister for his response or not, but I do not believe that his assessment of the quality of the outcome is shared by many people in Aberdeenshire. Will he consider part of the report to which he referred, which says:

"Any configuration of SAC's estates (even the present one) could be made viable with sufficient grant aid funding"?

Will the minister accept that he bears some responsibility for the problems in the SAC? Will he encourage the SAC to work with partners in the areas concerned to ensure that the amount of grant aid funding that is required is minimal, given that the SAC has not—we believe—come up with the most efficient solution? Does he accept that a more efficient solution could have been arrived at by engaging with local stakeholders?

Brian Adam's first point is absolutely untrue. The Scottish Executive funds agricultural education at a level that is 40 per cent higher than is the case for any other equivalent education college. It could hardly be said that underfunding is responsible for the current crisis. Indeed, quite the reverse is true: it is the result of the failure of the Scottish Agricultural College to deliver a quality education in line with funding arrangements from the funding councils. This fallacy that the problems are to do with the Executive's underfunding of the college really has to get knocked on the head. We recognise that the Scottish Agricultural College has over the years unfortunately been attempting to deliver education with an estate that grossly over-provides for that education.

I turn to the member's second point. We have an opportunity before us and, as I have included in the conditions, I want to see precisely what arrangements are to be made using partnership agreements in both Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire. However, I have also stated clearly the Scottish Executive's view that the SAC must work with the local authorities, the local enterprise companies and all other relevant local agencies to ensure that those valuable and important local sites are developed properly and appropriately.

I welcome the SAC's proposal to retain some education services—in particular, the organic research farm at Craibstone—as a step in the right direction. However, we have some way to go before many of the fears of staff and students are allayed. Will the minister urge the SAC to consult the Executive fully this time when developing its proposals, which still represent the scaling down of SAC education services in the north-east?

As I said in my response to Brian Adam, in attempting to make the books balance, to make better use of the sites and facilities and to provide the highest possible quality education, there will have to be changes in the SAC. It is not sustainable in the long term for the Scottish Executive, either through the Environment and Rural Affairs Department or through the funding councils, to fund that branch of education at a level that is 40 per cent higher than the level at which it funds other branches. We must make some changes and that is what we are doing.

The more dispersed nature of the education that is proposed will address many of the fears of staff and employees of the SAC. I have made it clear that I share Richard Baker's view that it was a gross failure of the SAC that it did not consult adequately its staff and employees on the first round of proposals. I hope that that failure will not be repeated.

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Central Heating Installation Programme

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will extend the central heating installation programme to people over 80 who have partial or poorly functioning central heating systems. (S2O-419)

As announced in the 2002 spending review, from April 2004 the central heating programme will be extended to cover applicants who are 80 or over and have partial or inefficient central heating systems.

The minister may be aware of circumstances such as those of my constituent Mrs Thompson, who is 80 years of age and whose application for central heating was turned down by the Eaga Partnership because she had two storage heaters, one of which was in the stairwell.

I do not have a supplementary question, but I congratulate the Executive on making funding available to help older pensioners whose so-called central heating is not up to the job.

I thank Elaine Murray for that comment.

From 2004, each year 2,000 vulnerable people who are 80 or over will benefit from central heating. The change will benefit a total of 4,000 people and represents significant progress in addressing the needs of elderly people and tackling fuel poverty in Scotland.

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Marine Fish Farming

To ask the Scottish Executive when and how the transfer of planning control for marine fish farming developments from the Crown Estate to local authorities will take place. (S2O-447)

Stakeholders are helping us to draw up detailed proposals, with a view to conducting a full consultation in 2004. We intend to introduce subordinate legislation in 2005 to extend planning controls to all marine fish farms.

Will the minister consider a further legislative review, perhaps leading to a single marine act that will unify the many strands of legislation that relate to the marine environment, including those concerning planning?

As the member is aware, there are a number of complex issues involved in combining marine and terrestrial planning. I will meet my ministerial colleagues down south to discuss some of the overlaps between devolved and reserved issues, which relate in part to inshore fisheries management. I would have been more impressed by the member's argument if he had, rather than opposed them, supported the conservation measures for scallops that the Executive proposed to the Rural Development Committee last year.

Question 12 has been withdrawn.

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Glasgow Housing Association

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to meet the Scottish Tenants Organisation to discuss the effect of the new Glasgow Housing Association tenancy agreement on its clients, including elderly people and people with mental incapacities. (S2O-465)

The Scottish Executive has no plans to meet the Scottish Tenants Organisation to discuss that issue.

That was short and sweet. Does the minister agree that the concerns of the STO are merited, given tenants' inability to access decent housing, the fact that owner-occupiers have been sent exorbitant bills and the GHA's admission that it has failed to collect £10 million in rents? Does she also agree that she should comply with the Scottish Executive's guidance on tenant participation and meet the STO as soon as possible?

That is an interesting question. I have been looking forward to having an argument, so I am grateful to get a question from Sandra White. The question is particularly interesting, given that the Scottish Tenants Organisation is not particularly active in Glasgow. Sandra White will know from our many debates on the experience in Glasgow that the Glasgow Housing Association has inaugurated the sort of involvement of tenants in Glasgow that has not been seen for generations. Tenants are involved actively in making decisions about the quality of their housing in a way that they never were before. I appreciate that Sandra White is not really in touch with the details of that, given that she and some members of her party—although not all—consistently opposed the stock transfer and do not have the graciousness to live with the democratic will of the tenants in Glasgow who decided that that was the way forward.

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Community Recycling Groups

To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to ensure that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency effectively monitors the involvement of community recycling groups in the implementation of area waste plans. (S2O-443)

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency chairs and is involved actively in the waste strategy area groups. In that capacity, part of its duty is to monitor community sector involvement.

What is the minister's view of the worrying situation whereby local authorities throughout the country appear to be going into competition with community recycling groups, rather than working with them in partnership as they have done for many years?

One such example is Stirling Council, which has chosen to spend more than £100,000 of public funds to replace Alloa Community Enterprises Ltd, which is an organisation with 20 years' experience of recycling and reuse. How can such organisations be discarded in that way?

There are two things that I would say to Shiona Baird. First, the "Strategic Waste Fund Guidance for Local Authorities" sets out explicitly our wish that local authorities should involve the voluntary sector. I am well aware that examples of that involvement throughout Scotland are extremely patchy—I concede that and I am disappointed by it. The composition of the local committees that award the contracts and take the decisions was, I think properly, left to the local areas. It would not have been appropriate for ministers to decide on the composition of local area waste committees.

Secondly, the voluntary sector was heavily represented in the national implementation strategy, so I am disappointed by what Shiona Baird told us has happened. I am well aware of the example that Shiona Baird cited, but I am not sure how that degree of competition can be stopped. When we have met councils, we have said the same as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, namely that insufficient recognition is being given to the work that was done in the past and that it would be a shame if that work were to be cast aside. I can try to prevent that competition only by informing those whom we meet of our opinion. I do not think that there are any powers open to me to demand that such competition does not happen, but that is clearly stated in the guidance on the strategic waste plan.

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Healthier Lifestyles

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage healthier lifestyles. (S2O-440)

Good health is fundamental to the happiness and prosperity of individuals, families and communities. The Executive is determined to take a wide range of measures to improve Scotland's health record and encourage healthier lifestyles. We have made that commitment clear in "Improving Health in Scotland—The Challenge" and through the "Partnership for a Better Scotland" white paper. As members will know, we have also devoted a full day today for a debate on health improvement.

Does the minister agree that nicotine replacement therapy is an integral part of any strategy to improve health? Will he give an assurance that money will be made available to ensure that NRT goes hand in hand with support and counselling to help people to give up smoking?

I am more than happy to give that assurance. I am pleased to reiterate the commitment that was given this morning by the Minister for Health and Community Care, who announced a further £1 million for smoking cessation services in Scotland. We are determined that that money should make a real difference, that health boards should apply it in partnership with their local partners, and that people in Scotland be encouraged to consider giving up the habit of smoking.