Good morning. The first item of business this morning is general question time. As ever, in order to bring in as many members as possible, I ask for short, succinct questions and answers to match.
Fuel Poverty Eradication Target
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is on track to meet its fuel poverty eradication target. (S4O-03841)
The Government remains committed to eradicating fuel poverty. Unfortunately, we have the powers to influence only one of the levers to tackle fuel poverty—the energy efficiency of housing. As the most recent Scottish house condition survey results show, our investment to improve domestic energy efficiency has helped to mitigate the 7 per cent rise in fuel prices that we have seen in the past year.
We continue to focus on increasing the energy efficiency of homes in Scotland, and last week I urged the United Kingdom Government to use its powers to increase the level of the warm home discount and to fund that through central resources. Today, we are publishing a progress report on the Scottish Government’s fuel poverty statement.
We are going backwards in relation to the target, which will now need to be met within two years. What assessment has the Scottish Government made of the cost of meeting the target?
As I said in my earlier answer, we are publishing a progress report today, which will be available for all members to see. We are currently spending unprecedented amounts of money—£94 million this year and £94 million next year—on making homes energy efficient, and we are levering in more than £260 million from the energy companies. We are doing everything that we can to employ energy efficiency measures in homes, but we cannot control fuel prices or the minimum income to improve people’s standard of living.
National Health Service Recruitment (Consultants)
To ask the Scottish Government whether the recruitment of consultants in Scotland could be affected by any move to privatise NHS services in England. (S4O-03842)
NHS Scotland offers consultant staff the opportunity to work in a world-class healthcare system in modern and well-equipped hospitals and on competitive terms and conditions that offer a good work-life balance. We will continue to look at how we can attract the best talent to NHS Scotland, and we will monitor the situation to see whether the direction of travel in England is having any impact on our ability to recruit to vacant posts.
The cabinet secretary may be aware that Dumfries and Galloway has one of the highest levels—if not the highest level—of consultant vacancies in Scotland. Although many factors feed into that, I was alarmed to be told recently, by health board contacts, that the increase in the amount of private work that consultants in England can undertake is affecting Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board’s ability to recruit. Does the cabinet secretary agree that that illustrates clearly that changes to the NHS in England can have a detrimental effect on our independent NHS here in Scotland?
The board has advised us that there may be a recent case whereby a consultant resigned due to the inability to undertake private work. However, the board has just started a new piece of work to measure and improve knowledge about its workforce. That work started approximately two months ago, and the board has undertaken to keep us up to date on progress.
We are undertaking a large amount of work on the key specialisms that have the highest vacancy levels and the least attractive posts. We recognise that we need to do more to ensure that those posts are made more attractive, particularly in remote and rural areas. I will write to the member with some of the detail of that work.
I suggest that the private practice element is a total distraction. The new cabinet secretary might like to look at the response that I received to a freedom of information request to boards, which indicates that, far from consultant contracts being offered on a split of 7.5 to 2.5 sessions, which is the national contract, 60 per cent of all new consultant contracts in Scotland have been offered on a 9:1 basis. That is unsustainable and untenable. Frankly, any consultant who accepts the job on that basis rather than the national contract that they are offered in England—although their doing so is brilliant from our point of view—is making a big sacrifice.
I hope that Richard Simpson is not trying to deter consultants from taking up posts in the Scottish health service, as that would be a very negative thing to do.
I have just said that it is brilliant.
We are looking at how we can fill consultant vacancies across the whole NHS in Scotland.
One reason why we have consultant vacancies is the fact that we have more consultant posts to fill because of the massive expansion in the number of posts, including consultant posts, across the health service. The consultant establishment in Scotland has grown massively. There are record numbers of consultants, but it is harder to fill posts in some specialities, particularly emergency medicine.
We have responded to that situation in a number of ways. For example, a number of NHS boards have established local medical banks services, which have been very good indeed, and we also looking at ways of improving working lives and the work-life balance. We are also improving junior doctors’ working hours—there have been recent announcements about limiting the number of days and nights that they can work.
I will be looking at how else we can ensure that we fill these vacancies, which have arisen from the background of there being more posts than ever before.
Food Banks (Trends in Use)
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has about trends in the use of food banks in Scotland. (S4O-03843)
There is no comprehensive national data collection on those who access emergency food in Scotland. However, on 24 November the Trussell Trust reported that a total of 51,647 people picked up a three-day supply of groceries from its Scottish food banks between April and September 2014. Of those, 15,424 were children. The total number had risen by 124 per cent since the previous year.
The trust highlighted welfare problems as the biggest contributor to those numbers, stating:
“benefit changes and benefit delays have had a real impact this year”.
I thank the minister for her answer, which is very disappointing. Will the welfare powers coming to the Parliament from the Smith commission process allow us to turn back and eradicate the shameful growth of food poverty in this country, which has been created by United Kingdom austerity policies?
I agree with Adam Ingram—[Interruption.]
Can we do something about the minister’s microphone?
As we have made clear repeatedly, we welcome the new powers that will come to this Parliament, which we will always use to act in the best interests of the people of Scotland.
Research shows that the UK Government’s welfare reforms are a major cause of some of the big issues that our country faces, such as the worrying rise of people visiting food banks. Sadly, the Smith commission’s proposals will not give us the powers to tackle those issues effectively and coherently.
NHS Lanarkshire (Out-of-hours Service)
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on NHS Lanarkshire’s out-of-hours service. (S4O-03844)
All territorial national health service boards are responsible for the design, delivery and management of out-of-hours services for their population. NHS health boards are responsible for ensuring an accessible process of public consultation is employed for any proposed service changes that may affect users. NHS Lanarkshire has informed us of its plans for public consultation on changes to its out-of-hours services. It has also informed the Scottish health council, whose role is to ensure that its patient engagement responsibility is honoured.
Clearly NHS Lanarkshire’s service is under pressure. Two options are being consulted on, as the minister mentioned. One is to have centres in both Hamilton and Airdrie and the other is to have only one centre, in Hamilton. Does the cabinet secretary agree that it would be unacceptable for my constituents to lose their local service in Airdrie and, if so, will she take steps to ensure that the board is clear that that is not an option?
Elaine Smith will be aware that there has already been extensive consultation with stakeholders. During the three-month consultation, we expect NHS Lanarkshire to ensure that people in communities who could be affected have the information and support that they need to play a full part in the process. I am sure that Elaine Smith and her constituents will do just that.
NHS Lanarkshire must demonstrate that it has held a wide-ranging consultation that has taken all reasonable steps to take account of any differences of view—which there are, as Elaine Smith as highlighted. Throughout the process, the Scottish health council will work closely with the board to make sure that it adheres to the proper engagement process. If the board wishes to proceed with the proposal to change services following the consultation, it should enclose the Scottish health council’s assessment report when submitting its proposal to the Scottish ministers for their approval in due course.
I am sure that Elaine Smith will find her way of influencing that consultation. Of course, the proposal will come to me at some stage in the process should the board proceed, but I am happy to continue a dialogue with Elaine Smith if she would find that helpful.
Road Improvements (North Ayrshire)
To ask the Scottish Government what road improvements in North Ayrshire are planned over the next five years. (S4O-03845)
The Scottish Government is currently progressing schemes in North Ayrshire at Dalry and Beith. Those will be taken forward to construction subject to satisfactory completion of the statutory process. Some £7.3 million-worth of structural maintenance works is also included in the current three-year rolling maintenance programme. [Interruption.]
I ask whoever has their phone on to switch it off.
The cabinet secretary will know that North Ayrshire Council defines the A78 as a strategic route for heavy goods vehicles. Furthermore, it would be the key route for the transportation of radioactive waste to Hunterston if the Scottish Environment Protection Agency accepts EDF’s application.
There have been numerous accidents on the road, which passes very close to the front of houses with, in some cases, no footpath between. What assurances can the cabinet secretary give that the Scottish Government is considering upgrading it to improve safety for residents, pedestrians and other road users, particularly if SEPA accepts EDF’s application?
We are concerned with safety on the A78. For that reason, a range of measures has been put in place to manage vehicle speeds at points such as Fairlie, where we have included new vehicle-activated signs and improved road markings. We are also investigating whether a speed-reduction measure can be installed at Fairlie that will activate the traffic signals to red when vehicles approach them.
I take the point that Margaret McDougall makes about the wider issue of the transportation of radioactive waste. If she wants further information on that and wishes to have a meeting with the Minister for Transport and Islands on the issue, I am sure that that can be arranged. However, she should be reassured that we are taking measures on safety on the A78, not so much in relation to radioactive waste transportation, which might happen, but in relation to large heavy goods vehicles going through some of the areas that she has described.
I look forward to the conclusion of the public local inquiry into the Dalry bypass in January next year. Will the cabinet secretary continue, along with his predecessor, to meet local community representatives in Cunninghame North, as he has done on a number of occasions in recent months, to discuss safety improvements to the A78, over which he had responsibility as transport minister?
In this case, I think that I might be my own predecessor. However, I am more than happy to ensure that the Minister for Transport and Islands carries on that engagement, which is important to the local communities on that route. I will make sure that that is passed on to him.
I am still trying to work that one out.
Cycling Initiatives
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce initiatives to encourage cycling beyond its present commitments. (S4O-03846)
Yes. We are committed to delivering the shared vision of 10 per cent of everyday journeys being made by bike by 2020, which is set out in the cycling action plan for Scotland. To do so, we will continue to invest in new and improved on-road and off-road cycle routes and behaviour change initiatives that encourage people to choose cycling for shorter journeys.
The Scottish Government will receive an additional £213 million in Barnett consequentials as a result of the autumn statement. Will it spend any of that money on cycling infrastructure?
Cameron Buchanan will be aware that the Deputy First Minister, subsequent to his budget announcement, has already announced an additional £10 million for active and sustainable travel, so additional resources for cycling are certainly being considered.
The Conservative Party should really subject the consequentials that Cameron Buchanan mentions to further scrutiny because they have nominated them for all sorts of different uses, including health, an upgrade to the A1 and upgrades to roads in the north-east of Scotland. The money cannot be spent more than once.
On the basic point of his question, Cameron Buchanan should be assured that the Deputy First Minister has already committed an additional £10 million of funding in 2015-16 to support sustainable and active travel.
A801 River Avon Gorge Crossing
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Falkirk Council and West Lothian Council regarding the upgrading of the A801 River Avon gorge crossing. (S4O-03847)
Since Mr MacDonald and I met to discuss the matter in April, Transport Scotland officials have met both councils to discuss the A801 project on several occasions.
As the cabinet secretary will know, the A801 forms a key strategic link between the M8 and M9 corridors and provides a strategic freight route between Grangemouth docks and various distribution centres in West Lothian. The business communities in both council areas are keen to see the project move forward with an agreement to proceed. On the basis of a 25:25:50 split in funding and in the spirit of Christmas, can the cabinet secretary give any indication of when funding might be available to ensure that this long-overdue project proceeds?
In the spirit of Christmas, I can say that the Scottish Government has already approved Falkirk Council’s tax increment financing business case, which envisages a £6.67 million contribution from the TIF towards the A801 Avon gorge upgrade. Further contributions are assumed from West Lothian Council and the Scottish Government.
The business case notes that, in due course, a review will be required to confirm that the upgrade is viable to commence. Any potential allocation of funding to the project by the Scottish Government will be determined by its fit with other ministerial priorities and, of course, the availability of resources in future spending reviews.
Local Government Services
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how local government services impact on various social groups. (S4O-03848)
The Scottish Government is strongly committed to reducing inequality and poverty across Scotland. The national performance framework sets out in the purpose and the national outcomes a clear and unified vision of the kind of Scotland we want to see and how our actions will improve the quality of life for the people of Scotland. It uses a wide range of indicators that provide a broad measure of national and societal wellbeing, and it incorporates a range of economic, social and environmental indicators and targets. Local authorities and their partner bodies in community planning partnerships are expected to ensure that each of their local priorities aligns with one or more of the national outcomes.
Will the new minister acknowledge—unlike his predecessor—that his Government’s local government budget cuts and shackling of our councils have impacted most on services for the young, the elderly, the disabled and the vulnerable? Is he proud of that?
The face of the local government minister may have changed, but the questions from Mr Findlay are still the same. [Interruption.]
Order.
I will repeat what my predecessor said: the share of expenditure that goes to local government is higher now than it was in 2006-07, when Mr Findlay’s party was in power. The council tax freeze has ensured that there has been a broad benefit to households across Scotland, which, proportionately, has helped the bottom 10 per cent by income twice as much as it has helped the top 10 per cent. It is up to local councils to set their own priorities, having fulfilled their statutory obligations, and we are happy to continue the dialogue on that process to ensure that councils deliver for the people in their areas.
Early Learning and Childcare (West Glasgow)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that Glasgow City Council provision in the west of the city is meeting the Government’s aim of providing expanded funded early learning and childcare. (S4O-03849)
Like all local authorities, Glasgow City Council has a statutory duty to secure early learning and childcare for eligible children whose parents wish it. When children become eligible, local authorities will do their best to meet the needs of each parent, and they can offer places through their own settings or through private and third sector providers. We would expect local authorities to do their best to meet the needs of parents.
The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 puts flexibility on a statutory footing for the first time. Local authorities are now required to consult groups of parents at least once every two years on patterns of early learning and childcare provision. That will increase parental choice and better meet the needs of families.
I thank the minister and her expected progeny for that response. [Laughter.]
I have been contacted by a number of concerned constituents who tell me that they continue to have problems with the flexibility of the system and its responsiveness to local circumstances. Is there a route for addressing the inefficient system in Glasgow, whereby some parents must pay for their child’s nursery place in a partnership nursery up front and then claim the money back?
Minister, I think that it is you we want the answer from.
Yes. Thank you. I will not blame the answer on any baby brain.
Like all local authorities, Glasgow City Council is under a duty to consult parents on the patterns of provision that would best meet their needs. We recognise that the move away from what has been a default model of 2.5 hours a day towards a more flexible model will take time, and additional funding has been provided for that.
It is for private partner nurseries as independent businesses to make charging arrangements. The partnership contract between the council and partners asks that they are transparent and communicate with parents on how the funding will be applied, but the detail is left to the individual partner provider to decide what suits its business model.
I am happy to meet Bill Kidd to discuss specifics, although Fiona McLeod might have to take up the meeting with him.