Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Thursday, April 19, 2012

Official Report 1110KB pdf

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Scottish Executive Question Time

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General Questions

It is a wee bit early to move on to general questions, but I see that everybody is in their places, so we will just start.

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Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011

1. To ask the Scottish Executive how many acres of farmland it estimates will be affected by the proposed changes to the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011. (S4O-00879)

We estimate that very few acres of farmland will be affected. Those who are in receipt of the single farm payment and rural development programme funding already have similar controls under cross-compliance legislation.

I have been contacted by many farmers from the Borders who are extremely concerned by the proposed rule changes to ban farmers from applying slurry, fertilisers and solid manures on fields where the land is on a gradient of more than 12 degrees. The proposals come from a Government that portrays itself as the farmer’s friend, yet they would render many of Scotland’s farms completely uneconomical. Why is the cabinet secretary trying to burden Scottish farmers with yet more red tape, and why did the Government try to introduce such a controversial rule change in such a low-key manner, with a consultation of only four weeks at the busiest time of year for farmers?

As I am sure the member is aware, the industry met Government officials just last week and left that meeting reassured that the proposed changes will not add any unnecessary red tape to industry. There was perhaps some misunderstanding about their potential impact.

I am sure that the member agrees that it is important that we protect our water environment. Agriculture has a role to play in that, hence the European legislation that is in place at the moment, which we have to enforce in Scotland—often for very good reasons, and supported by many farmers in Scotland in the first place.

Nevertheless, I am keen to get to the bottom of why there was such a misunderstanding in the first place. I am currently discussing that with officials and the industry. In the meantime, I can assure the member and the chamber that our objective is not to add any unnecessary red tape or bureaucracy and not to stand in the way of any farming businesses in Scotland that are acting responsibly.

I am sure that the cabinet secretary will agree that we should deplore the “shoot first and ask questions later” approach of the Tory and Lib Dem spokespersons on this issue. These light-touch regulations will be necessary to bring the binding rules up to date. Will he reassure crofters and farmers in my constituency, many of whom have steep land on their farms and crofts, that the general binding rules will not be overburdensome to them?

Yes, I can give that guarantee to the member’s constituents, as I have done to many farmers throughout Scotland over the past few days. However, I cannot assure him that I will be able to stop the Tories and Lib Dems in this chamber from jumping on bandwagons and adding fuel to fires that do not exist.

I cannot speak for the Tories but I can assure the cabinet secretary that I could never be accused of such a thing.

There were two criteria in the consultation: whether there was a slope of more than 12 degrees, and whether the land was next to water. A press release from the Government and NFU Scotland stated that the changes would apply only to sloping land that goes into water. Will the minister clarify that?

The legislation should impact only on those farmers whose slopes go directly into watercourses and will ask them to take extra precautions to protect those watercourses. That is for good environmental reasons. Many farmers I speak to agree that we have to protect the water environment and that agriculture has a role to play in that.

I am happy to send further background information to all members who have rural constituencies to ensure that they have the up-to-date information at their fingertips and that any comments that they are making to the media are based on accurate information.

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Local Authorities (Pay and Conditions)

2. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with local authorities on the issue of staff pay and conditions. (S4O-00880)

As independent corporate bodies, local authorities are responsible for the pay and conditions of their employees. There have been no specific discussions recently on those matters, although local authorities have been fully involved in discussions on the reform of local government pensions.

I thank the minister for his response. As he is aware, there has been criticism of the continued use of performance-related pay for senior management at North Lanarkshire Council. Can the cabinet secretary tell me how many other local authorities in Scotland deliver that type of bonus and whether discrimination could be a factor, since other employees of North Lanarkshire Council are not in receipt of that type of special payment?

I thank John Wilson for that immediate promotion to the cabinet.

Nicola Sturgeon should watch her back; he is clearly ambitious.

My promotion is supported by Jackie Baillie.

It is entirely a matter for North Lanarkshire Council, as an independent corporate body, to justify its decisions. However, I can inform the chamber that no other local authority uses a similar performance pay system for its senior managers. For senior managers in the public sector for whom the Scottish Government has pay responsibility, we have suspended pay progression for 2012-13. All staff access to non-consolidated performance pay is also suspended. That seems like the right thing to do in these circumstances.

Has the minister any progress to report on whether he will produce positive guidance for local authorities that are tendering work to ensure that we tackle low pay and deliver a living wage across our local communities?

We continue to make progress on the living wage—we might return to the numbers later in this question time. More councils are delivering on the living wage, so progress is being made in the right direction. Political parties have also made commitments to that. In terms of procurement and public sector spend, the living wage will be a consideration in the forthcoming procurement bill, which will be introduced to the Parliament shortly.

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Graduate Employment

3. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to help new graduates acquire jobs in their chosen fields of study. (S4O-00881)

The Scottish Government encourages universities to work with businesses in Scotland to ensure that their degree provision is relevant to business need. New graduates are advised to work with their university careers advisers, who offer a range of services to help graduates to find employment in their chosen field.

The underemployment of graduates has a knock-on consequence for the rest of the jobs market, particularly for youth employment. How do the Scottish Government and its agencies help to ensure that students and graduates are provided with the skills that they need to succeed?

Whether a young person is a school leaver, a participant in a training programme or a further or higher education graduate, we want to get them into work that is suitable to take full advantage of their skills and qualifications. In addition to being determined to tackle unemployment, we want to tackle full on underemployment and displacement in the labour market, particularly among those who do not have a degree.

The universities sector benefits from £1 billion of investment by the Government, therefore we expect the sector to do everything that it can to ensure that young graduates have the right skills. The Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council has produced its “Learning to Work Two” action plan, which includes a number of recommendations to ensure that employability is embedded within all learning and teaching.

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Welfare Reform (Carers)

4. To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an assessment of the likely impact of United Kingdom Government welfare reforms on carers in Scotland. (S4O-00882)

The UK Government’s welfare reform measures will impact on carers and those to whom they provide care in a number of different ways. Those include the personal independence payment as a gateway to receipt of the carers allowance, the earnings disregard and the cap on benefits. Some of the details will not be in the public domain until draft regulations are available. We have made our views known to the UK Government about welfare reform and the specific impacts on carers, and we are working with Carers Scotland and others to assess the impact of the reforms.

The minister will be aware that the carers allowance, although unaffected by the reforms to the benefits system, remains a pittance and that the cost of living is significantly beyond the means of many carers. Can he advise what representations have been made to the UK Government to improve the support for Scotland’s carers and the vital work that they do?

My predecessor, Shona Robison, made representations to the UK Government on several occasions regarding the level of the carers allowance. At that time, the UK Government’s response was that the matter would be considered in the context of welfare reform. Additionally, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy has made representations to the UK Government on a number of occasions regarding our concerns about welfare reform. I know that carers say that the carers allowance should be paid at a higher level and that the cost of caring can be extremely challenging. That is why, in the areas within our control, we have provided resource to health boards to focus, through the carers information strategy, on providing support around income maximisation. The UK Government intends to consider provisions around the carers allowance and will take that work forward as part of its programme for the universal credit. We are asking for further details from the UK Government on the exact nature of the changes that it intends to make.

I welcome the minister’s concern about the implications of welfare reform. He will be aware that the Welfare Reform Committee has been considering that this week.

There is concern about the level to which the Scottish Government can mitigate some of the effects, particularly in relation to council tax benefit. Will the minister confirm that the discussions between the Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities are leading to a situation in which COSLA might have to pick up a sizeable chunk of the deficit in council tax benefit that is being passed to the Government? If that is as much as the mooted £17 million, a huge chunk will come out of local government funds, which could impact adversely on carers and others who depend on services.

We have had positive discussions with COSLA about its concerns in relation to council tax. We are taking forward work to ensure that we put in place the right provisions for a successor, following the changes, when the matter is handed over to the Scottish Government.

The member will be aware that the UK Government has said that it will transfer the money that is available for council tax benefit, minus 10 per cent. That does not demonstrate much in the way of the respect agenda that we were promised from the UK Government.

We as a Government will look at what we can do. Our discussions with COSLA recognise the serious financial challenges that have been created by the UK Government’s decision to cut 10 per cent from the fund when it is transferred.

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Forensic Services (Relocation of Post-production Staff)

5. To ask the Scottish Executive when the decision was taken to relocate post-production staff in the forensic services. (S4O-00883)

Decisions on the deployment of forensic services staff are for the Scottish Police Services Authority. I understand that the authority has relocated a number of posts as part of its on-going modernisation programme. They include those involved in post-production—that is, printing and processing of images that are taken at crime scenes.

It would help if Mr Macdonald put his card into his console before he spoke.

Thank you, Presiding Officer—my card is now in the slot.

Does the cabinet secretary understand why such imposed changes have only further demoralised staff at the forensic laboratory in Aberdeen, given the events that have affected them in the past five years? Will he give a personal assurance that he will reject any proposal that comes to him to close the Aberdeen forensic laboratory in this parliamentary session, whether as part of the creation of a single police force or in any other context?

The proposals that have been referred to were not imposed but discussed between management and unions. Photo processing currently takes place in eight places—at one location in each existing police service area. The original proposal was to have one site but, after discussion with staff and unions, it was agreed to have two sites. There will be two main outstanding hubs in Dundee and Gartcosh and the matter is between management and unions.

As for protecting Aberdeen, we consolidated forensic science services almost two years ago. That was criticised by a colleague of Mr Macdonald and by other Opposition members, but we have preserved the integrity of a public service. We have an outstanding facility in Dundee and will have one at Gartcosh. There are also locations in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. That contrasts with what has played out south of the border, where the coalition Government has privatised the Forensic Science Service lock, stock and laboratory. We have retained a public service and we should receive credit for that.

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NHS Lothian (Management Culture Inquiry)

6. To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive a report from NHS Lothian on its inquiry into its management culture. (S4O-00884)

I have asked the chair of NHS Lothian to review the board’s organisational culture, which will include scrutinising senior management behaviour, and I expect to see the outcome of that work by the end of April.

The cabinet secretary will recall that, following her statement to the Parliament on 21 March, I raised the importance of having an independent investigation into the management culture at NHS Lothian. I welcome the reappointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers, which conducted the initial investigation into waiting times management, and I welcome in particular the appointment of Mr David Bowles, who has an outstanding record of tackling bullying and target-driven cultures in national health service organisations south of the border and has proven himself to be a forceful and fearless advocate of putting patient care first. Will the cabinet secretary join me in welcoming his appointment?

Yes, I welcome the fact that the investigation is now under way and I welcome the way in which the investigation is being conducted. I make it clear today—as I have made it clear on previous occasions in the chamber—that I expect the investigation to be robust, transparent and firm in any recommendations that it sees fit to make. I assure members that any recommendations will be fully implemented within NHS Lothian.

I thank the cabinet secretary for her commitment in this area. Will she tell the Parliament what steps she took after Audit Scotland’s warning—in its 2010 report—about variation in the use of social unavailability codes in relation to the new ways waiting times programme? Does she share my continuing concern that the use of the codes has trebled since 2008? The rising trend stopped only after I raised issues about Lothian in autumn last year. Does that fact give pause for thought? Will she now undertake an inquiry—similar to the Lothian inquiry—in each health board in which there is either higher use of the codes or variation from month to month in the use of the retrospective correction mechanism, which is supposed to be for exceptional cases only?

I will make a number of brief points. As we discussed during health question time before the recess, there is a relationship between the rise in social unavailability and the shortening of waiting times. The vast majority of cases of social unavailability occur when patients are unavailable for a very short period—for example, because they are going on holiday. The shorter waiting times are, the less notice people get of appointments, and that is a very important relationship.

As Richard Simpson knows, I have asked that this issue be included in the audit arrangements of all health boards. As I said in the chamber before the recess, we will consult Audit Scotland on the terms of the exercise.

As for the 2010 report, we pay close attention to and act accordingly on all Audit Scotland’s comments and recommendations. Richard Simpson will know that Audit Scotland conducted and published a follow-up report in 2011, and said that there was no need for any further work. The member can take it from me that I treat this area with the utmost seriousness. I expect waiting times not only to be delivered but to be managed transparently. Anything that ever needs to be done to ensure that that happens will be done by me.

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Social Impact Bonds

7. To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the use of social impact bonds in the delivery of public services. (S4O-00885)

The Scottish Government is committed to working with stakeholders to find new ways of adding value to, and improving the delivery of, public services. This includes exploring the potential of innovative approaches to social investment, including what might be learned from work around social impact bonds.

Will the minister concede that the use of social impact bonds involves the leveraging of private finance—normally through social enterprises—into the delivery of public services, and that that has been recommended for use in offender rehabilitation, alcohol and drug services? Where does that sit with the Scottish Government’s commitment not to use the private sector or allow it to become involved in the delivery of health services?

There is to be an evaluation of social impact bonds, and we will consider it closely in our efforts to match our aspirations on preventative spend in this outcome-focused Government. Of course, to create a better society, we will consider using resources from wherever they may come. That does not mean the privatisation of services; it means accessing innovative funding packages to make a difference in our country. I am sure that that is something on which we can all unite.

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Graduate Unemployment and Underemployment

8. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle graduate unemployment and underemployment. (S4O-00886)

We are committed to improving labour market conditions in Scotland and are continuing to liaise with representatives from the higher education sector to support the excellent work being carried out in conjunction with employers from all of Scotland’s key industries, to encourage the provision of good-quality graduate-level opportunities.

We are also continuing to provide support for graduate placement programmes. For example, over the past two years, we have provided funding of almost £350,000 to the highly successful adopt-an-intern programme run by the Centre for Scottish Public Policy. The programme matches graduates with businesses offering paid, meaningful and career-enhancing internships in Scotland. Nearly 61 per cent of the centre’s interns have since moved into full-time employment—almost half remaining with the original host organisation.

Very briefly, Mr Biagi.

Does the minister consider that the time may have come to revisit the advice that is given to young people about the value, which is perhaps exaggerated, of some degrees in the arts and social sciences, which mainly promote transferable skills—

Please get to the question.

—and do not necessarily offer the same career opportunities now that they may have done 30 or 40 years ago?

No learning is ever wasted; all learning has a value. The key purpose of my appointment is to ensure the connectivity between the world of education and the world of work. We want to prepare our young graduates for work.

Before we come to the next item of business, members will wish to join me in welcoming to the gallery a delegation of Arab ambassadors to the United Kingdom. [Applause.]